By Staff
June 3rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
James Burchill has been broadcasting Smartcar Coffee Confidential interviews for a number of months. With a municipal election to take place in October Burchill has used his car to give the public a glimpse of what some of the people running for public office have to say.
On Friday he will broadcast his Mike Wallace interview. Based on the short clip the Gazette has seen it might well be titled: Upclose and uptight with Mike Wallace.
We will bring you the full broadcast on Friday when we will ether be trying to recover from the provincial election results or breathing a sigh of relief.
Mike Wallace with James Burchill during a Smart Car Coffee Confidential interview.
By Staff
June 2, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It took some time to get to the point where there is a PRIDE month.
The bathhouse raids took place in Toronto in 1982.
People lost their jobs because of their life style choice.
Students coming to terms with their sexual identity needed time to figure out what was happening. For far too many years the best much of society could do was bully and shame these boys and girls.
It all took time but June is now PRIDE month.
Doug Ford, who wants enough of us to vote for him and make him Premier of the province next Thursday has yet to commit to marking in the PRIDE parade in Toronto. Not there yet
The acronym PRIDE stands for Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education.
By Staff
June 2, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
In 2013 Dan Lawrie, Hamilton businessman and Burlington resident, made a 10-year commitment to donate sculpture to Royal Botanical Gardens which has created The International Sculpture Collection.
Hamilton businessman and Burlington resident Dan Lawrie.
Through Lawrie’s generosity, this permanent collection grows in Hendrie Park each year, with the addition of new works from around the world.
Peter Killeen’s Boddhisattva Hare.
The most recent donation is the Boddhisattva Hare.
These hares will be installed this summer at for the Royal Botanical Gardens as part of the Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection. Cast in Ireland, each tall-eared form has been masterfully cast using the Cire Perdue (lost wax) method of bronze casting.
Artist Peter Killeen began his career working with the highly regarded CAST bronze foundry. Killeen’s experience of working in foundries in Ireland and Australia is evident in the execution of his art. Careful consideration and skill are required to finish each piece.
Bronze sculptor Peter Killeen
The work has been described as “immensely appealing and timeless representations of small birds and wild animals have a distinctive and very particular charm, each warmly animated and softly rounded in form with carefully worked, richly coloured patinas.”
By Staff
June 2, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The City has launched a new, free community space called “Haber Hub” at Haber Recreation Centre at 3040 Tim Dobbie Dr.
This is a great example of giving sponsors value for their money. In June of 2013 Chris Haber, a personal injury lawyer, signed a 20 year deal with the city for the naming rights for the new Recreation Centre in the Alton Village. The $1.3 million dollar deal was for a 20 year agreement.
The Haber name gets a bit of a boost with the Haber Hub added. No word on if the city picked up any additional funds or f they gave it to the family as a freebie.
From the left, Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster signs the 20 year $1.3 million naming rights deal with Chris Haber in the Centre. Chris Glenn, Director of Parks and Recreation is on the right.
Haber Hub space is free to any neighbourhood or community group looking to provide free community programs and events to Burlington residents.
The space is also available for rent for those looking to host an event or program that is charging a user fee or is a private program or event.
This is a good first step, it will be interesting to see how this innovative program come to life.
Part of the massive gym set up in the Haber Recreation Centre
Follow up on this at – www.burlington.ca/communitysupport or email communitysupport@burlington.ca.
Denise Beard, Manager of Community Development explained that “The ultimate goal of community development is to have community groups working to provide their own programs and events that benefit either the smaller community or the city on a larger scale.”
By Ray Rivers
June 1, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
I got an EV (electric vehicle) earlier this year. It is really quiet and really fast. No more oil spills on the driveway, no more stinking exhaust fumes nor visits to drive clean, and no more oil change stickers plastered on my windshield. And best of all I now just smile when I pass gas stations with their pixel boards displaying those ever escalating pump prices. I feed my EV on a diet of electrons from the comfort of my garage every evening. So I can say thanks but no thanks to Doug Ford and his maybe ten cent gas price cut.
There are thousands of small solar panel installations like this across the province – they work very well and in many cases provide revenue for the owners.
The oil industry is dirty and toxic and otherwise environmentally destructive. And the oil sands are arguably the worst example of all that. So I’m one of those who has always been in favour of ending the subsidies for that sector – or at least offering the same level of subsidy for greener energy sources, like wind and solar – to level the playing field and encourage the transition to green. Canada is the fifth or sixth largest oil and gas producer in the world but we’re also the seventh biggest in wind power.
Despite government promises to the contrary, the oil industry still feeds at the public trough to the tune of over $3 billion dollars a year. So I wasn’t really surprised when the federal government announced it was buying up the Trans Mountain pipeline from Texas based Kinder Morgan (KM). KM is the son of Enron, the notorious and scandal plagued energy trading company which was once the fifth largest corporation in the US, and which became the largest bankruptcy in US history ($74 B) sending its CEO to prison for fraud.
Critics of the Finance Minster abound on this topic, as on everything else. Those opposed to oil sands and pipelines, like the Green Party, Neil Young, Al Gore and just about every environmental group, could be heard screaming out ‘climate change’ so loudly I could hear them even in the quiet of my EV. And many of those who support the pipeline, as does the opposition federal conservative leader, still found fault, complaining that the feds had paid too much, or they shouldn’t have had to pay at all.
There is this huge inventory of gasoline and diesel powered cars that are going to need fuel.
$4.5 billion is a lot of money. And then there will be at least another seven or eight billion more to complete the twinning and actually get the diluted bitumen moving. But finance minister Morneau is confident that the project is economically viable – after all the global demand for oil has been increasing almost every year and is likely to continue to do so into the near future. There is this huge inventory of gasoline and diesel powered cars which we’ve acquired over the years, and still more being sold as we speak.
Too bad Mr. Harper isn’t in the House to quell the ranks of his party by explaining why he bought into the Hibernia offshore oil project when it was failing, or why he decided to invest heavily into GM and Chrysler when they were heading for receivership. And what about Bill Davis and Pierre Trudeau buying into Suncor and saving Peter Lougheed’s sorry butt after Atlantic Richfield pulled out of the oil sands? And didn’t Pierre also create PetroCan? And none of this bankrupted the nation. Besides, it’s only right that Justin should try to save the industry his father helped build.
Like the railways and Trans Canada highways It is what Canadian governments since confederation have always done. And while many Albertans will always hate the Liberals because of something in the 80’s called the National Energy Program, at least the the political leader with the most at stake right now, Alberta premier Notley, doesn’t. She praised the move and offered to back up the deal with a couple billion dollars from her own treasury.
Close to 100,000 people work in the oil and gas extraction business
There are almost a hundred thousand Canadians involved in the oil and gas extraction business and most of those are in Alberta. But while this is a very important sector for Alberta, it is also essential today for the country as a whole. And without pipelines to convey the disgusting black gold to foreign markets offshore we are left with the railways and selling to and through the Americans, who are becoming more self-sufficient in petroleum products every year. Without the pipelines we are told that leaves about $15 billion off the table for us.
The Trudeau government’s intervention is a lifeline for the Alberta leader. And why not? For one thing she isn’t a Tory so she won’t be insulting him the way Alberta’s opposition leader Jason Kenny recently did. For another Notley gets climate change and wants to do something about it. Kenny doesn’t, much as Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe and Ontario’s Doug Ford don’t.
Notley, like the PM understands that while she must serve today’s market demands with her provinces petroleum products she needs to be thinking ahead to tomorrows markets. Which is why she introduced a carbon tax, and is diversifying Alberta’s economy, and moving the province’s electricity system off coal, as Ontario has done. For that is the future that we all should look to – the day when we will be driving electric cars and breathing cleaner air.
Ray Rivers writes regularly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Crude Oil Demand – Fossil Fuel Subsidies – Renewables –
By Staff
June 2, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Regional police had their hands full – two significant drug busts.
The Burlington Street Crime Unit (SCU), concluded a drug trafficking investigation that resulted in the arrest of a Burlington resident and the execution of a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a Burlington residence.
Seized as a result of the Investigation:
• 310 grams of marihuana
• 1 prohibited weapon (brass knuckles)
• $300 in cash
• Indicia of drug trafficking
The drugs have an estimated street value of $3,100. A 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer was also seized as offence related property.
The following person has been charged:
Joseph WELLS (36 yrs) of Burlington (Held for Bail)
• Trafficking a controlled substance (marihuana),
• Possession of a controlled substance (marihuana) for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of a prohibited weapon
• Breach of a weapons prohibition (4 counts)
Evidence gathered by police in the Wells arrests.
Earlier in May a Burlington couple was arrested for drug trafficking.
The Street Crime Unit concluded a drug trafficking investigation into a Burlington couple that resulted in both of their arrests. A Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant was also executed at a residence in Burlington and another one in Waterdown.
Seized as a result of the Investigation:
• 28 grams of cocaine
• $7670 in cash
• Indicia of drug trafficking
The drugs have an estimated street value of $2,240
The following persons have been charged:
Isaiah JOHNSON PHILLIP (21 yrs) of Burlington (Held for Bail)
• Trafficking a controlled substance (cocaine)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cocaine)
• Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
• Fail to Comply with Recognizance (10 counts)
• Fail to Comply with Probation (5 counts)
Hailey SUTEJ (31 yrs) of Burlington (Released on a Promise to Appear)
• Trafficking a controlled substance (cocaine)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (cocaine)
Evidence collected during the Phillips arrest.
Anyone who may have any additional information pertaining to either of these investigations is asked to contact D/Cst. Greg Watt of the Burlington Street Crime Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 2356.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca
By Pepper Parr
June 1st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
For woman it is the hair salon – for men it is the barber shop.
That’s where the scoop and the gossip get exchanged.
A loyal and reliable Gazette reader got a haircut yesterday. He has been going to the same barbershop for years and as our reader said: “My guy has had these people as clients for years.”
The people he was talking about are those who own property on the north side of Fairview from the Burlington GO station o Guelph Line
Hottest property acquisition spot in the city. The Walmart development years ago started the trend. When the Molinaro’s began the five tower Paradigm project and the city began the push for the mobility hub concept there was no stopping the developers.
The shop is said to have to be vacated by the end of the year – according to the barber.
“I think he said that Liz at home on Fairview has just redecorated and doesn’t really want to sell, but maybe the price isn’t right yet.
“Holland Park sold for $45 million, after bickering.
“Better Bitters is said to have sold for $15 million.
“Offered 10, come back at 20, settlement 15.
Everything between Brant and Guelph that isn’t already being developed is being bought up. The Leggat dealership on the eastern end of the block of property could become an anchor, said the barber.
“Developers after Leggat’s property too but Doug Leggat is said to not want to sell – or that’s the story, maybe not right.
“Objective is to get the whole GO block from the GO station west to Guelph Line.”
Downtown the things are close to frantic – surveys are being done, renovations are being stalled. All the big money players in the game are moving rapidly – getting agreements in place with plans for nothing but growth.
The city has said the development is going to take place around the GO stations. These locations are being referred to as mobility hubs and the developers appear to be saying – that’s OK with us.
Speculation is rife.
At the same time there is a group looking for a way to appeal the decision that was made by city council to approve the 421 Brant project.
But it is all barbershop talk of course.
By Staff
May 31st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The objective is to get face time with a voter.
The election is just a week away.
Going door to door is one way.
Alvin Tedjo, the Liberal candidate for Oakville North Burlington
Alvin Tedjo, the Liberal candidate for Oakville North Burlington has come up with another way – get those voters to come to you.
Friday is a PD day– Professional development for the teachers – no school – what to do with the kids.
Drop them off at Camp Tedjo – it is a free PA Day activity for children and families that will run from 10 am to 1:00 pm.
A magic show and a Bubble party for the kids.
Parents do have to stay on the premises – it’s not a day care set up – but it is something different to do.
Location: Alvin Tedjo Campaign Headquarters – 1940 Appleby Line, Unit 22, Burlington.
Different.
By Staff
May 31st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The city is calling June Park and Play month and getting things started with the annual Kite Festival – that is taking place at Brant Hills Community Centre and Brant Hills Park.
Build a kite or bring your own to help fill the sky with colour and celebrate diversity. It is free family fun and if the wind is good and a few of the champion level kite builders show up it should be a delight to watch the wind pick up the kites and see them soar.
By Pepper Parr
May 30th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police announced earlier today that they have laid the criminal code charge of
Criminal Negligence Causing Death
Failing to Provide the Necessaries of Life
against Shaun Pennell, a 37 year old Aldershot resident.
Following an investigation into the sudden death of a young toddler in Burlington on May 23, 2018, the Halton Regional Police Service has laid the charges against the father.
Pennell was released on a Promise to Appear. He is scheduled to appear in Milton Court on June 27, 2018.
Just after 5:30pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 Halton Regional Police Service and Halton Region Paramedic Services responded to a call for an unresponsive child in a vehicle, located in a parking lot of a the rear of the Crossroads Centre on the North Service Road, Burlington.
Despite lifesaving measures attempted by first responders, the child was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A post mortem was conducted on May 24, 2018 and the preliminary cause of death was determined to be hyperthermia, consistent with the child being left in a vehicle and exposed to high temperatures for an extended period of time.
The Gazette knows Shaun Pennell. He was involved in an initiative to turn parts of the Crossroads building into a work/play location that appealed to the younger entrepreneurial set that would have had a day care centre for children.
Pennell operated the Burlington Hive in the downtown core and then the Halton Hive that was located on Guelph Line at Harvester Road.
Shaun is a brilliant computer programmer who is imaginative and creative.
This tragedy is beyond understanding. The grief in the hearts of every member of the family cannot even be imagined.
The Courts will deal with the criminal charges. Those who know Shaun and his wife can only pray for them and support them in what is going to be a very hard period of time.
.
By Staff
May 30th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton Crime Stoppers had another successful shredding event – this year two locations were done back to back – they shredded 18,000 lbs between the Burlington and Oakville shreds and raised $6000.
The FileBank beast was used once again,
Funds raised through shredding are used to pay for crime tips that are sent to Crime Stoppers. How does that work? If Crime Stoppers is anonymous – how are the rewards delivered? The Gazette reported on that last year. Interesting story – if you missed it – here s a LINK.
The Beast is a truck, owned by the FileBANK corporation that shreds documents for Crime Stoppers.
By Staff
May 30th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was shortly after 3:00 AM on the morning of May 27th 2018 when police responded to 1300 Maple Crossing Blvd. in Burlington after a complaint was received about a possible stolen pickup truck in which two male youths were seen driving and subsequently leaving in the middle of the road.
Police located the pickup truck which was determined to have been stolen from an address on Hager Avenue in Burlington. A search of the area resulted in one of the youths being located and arrested.
Search efforts continued for the second youth when an officer observed a red Dodge Caravan being driven at a high rate of speed on Ghent Avenue by a lone male youth. The officer attempted a traffic stop however the driver refused to stop and a brief suspect apprehension pursuit commenced but was soon discontinued because the manner in which the fleeing vehicle was being driven posed a risk to public safety.
The vehicle was located a short while later abandoned on Hager Avenue and it was determined to have been stolen from 1300 Maple Crossing Blvd. Search efforts to locate the driver were unsuccessful but he was eventually identified, located and arrested later in the day.
A 15-year-old male from Burlington who cannot be identified due to his age was released on bail and will appear next in Milton Youth Court on June 21st 2018 charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5000.
A second 15-year-old male from Burlington who cannot be identified due to his age was released on a promise to appear in Milton Youth Court on June 21st 2018 charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 (two counts), dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and flight while pursued by peace officer.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jared McLeod of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2385.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca .
By Staff
May 30th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Another name will be on the municipal election ballot for the ward 2 city council seat.
Gerard Shkuda, filed nomination papers earlier this week. His contact information will be posted at a later date joins:
Kimberly Calderbank
Kimberly Calderbank
905-407-2063
campaign@kimberly.solutions
kimberly.solutions
David Cherry
1312 Hammond St., Burlington, ON, L7S 2C2
289-795-9203
info@davidcherry.ca
https://davidcherry.ca
Michael Jones
477 Holtby Ave., Burlington, ON, L7R 2R4
905-609-4305
jonesourward2@gmail.com
www.jonesward2.ca
Lisa Kearns
Lisa Kearns
416-414-5335
kearns_lisa@hotmail.com
Lisakearnsward2.com
Roland Tanner
Roland Tanner
357 Delaware Ave. Burlington, ON, L7R 3B4
289-259-4023
roland@rolandtanner.ca
https://rolandtanner.ca
This gives vote splitting a whole new dimension. In the 2014 election there were 10 candidates in ward 6 – the incumbent took the seat.
Ward 2 is one of those situations where the incumbent has vacated the seat to run for Mayor – so it was wide open with no heir apparent in place. A gong show now.
By Pepper Parr
May 30th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Andrew Drummond, the NDP candidate for Burlington, had no idea that things were going to work out the way they have.
He has been one of those behind the scenes political workers for the Burlington New Democrats – worked diligently and hoped that maybe at some point his political party would form a government for the province.
Early in his political life Drummond was a Young Progressive Conservative. Now he is a parent with two children edging into the teen years. Works as marketing type in Toronto and does the necessary trying to just keep up.
It is a busier campaign office now.
He felt he was ready for his first campaign but wasn’t able to take time off and devote himself to the campaign. The objective for the NDP in Burlington has been to keep the name before the public; showing the flag as it were.
Drummond attended the Bfast Transit Forum, which was the first truly public event; wearing the orange T-shirt sitting beside Walter Mulkewich who looked like a proud grandfather.
Drummond brought a lot more credibility to the race than past candidates.
The campaign team is small – but Drummond says he has knocked on more than 4000 doors and is at the point where he has had to order more signs.
Will Andrea be in the riding? Probably not said Drummond.
Burlington has never been seen as prime NDP territory – that stuff is in Hamilton.
His Dad went to Queen’s University and worked on the election campaigns that put the late Flora Macdonald into the House of Commons. “As a young man I worked on Conservative campaigns with my parents” said Drummond.
He went to the University of Waterloo and got a job with Rodgers where he now works on enterprise strategy – which means working out the details and the discounts for a client that buys 500 cell phones.
It was while he was at Waterloo that he got a look at the damage a government can do – the Mike Harris government was a political awakening for Drummond. His days at handing out campaign literature for the Conservative cause came to an end.
Drummond moved to Burlington in 2004, his children have grown up here – this is the kind of family community he likes.
He made is clear during the information session on Monday that his concern for community goes far beyond his own neighbourhood. He told that audience that he doesn’t understand how a developer can come in and raze an established community and more than triple the population through intensification; which is what is happening in the Warwick Surrey community in Aldershot. Many of the policies and regulations that make that kind of development possible are provincially based. Words like that should keep the “responsible development” people very happy.
Andrew Drummond and Jane McKenna – the body language tells it all. He could be first – she might be last.
His issues are family issues – school, health and safe streets.
He wants to see major changes in the wait time at the hospital. “If you have to take your child to the hospital in the evening – take a sleeping bag – you are going to be there a long time.”, said Drummond.
The decision to close Bateman high school is something he wants to see revisited. “I can save that school if I am elected,” said Drummond.
His views on transit are not as strong – Burlington was built for the car – a reality Drummond doesn’t see changing all that much. However he does want the municipalities to have sound funding and as much as 50% of their operational costs.
Educational funding is a major focus for him – he sees a situation where school boards create a program but are not assured consistent funding going forward. “It is difficult to plan a program without knowing if the operational funding is going to be there.”
Drummond doesn’t have any problems with the tax increases that will be needed to pay for the Pharmacare and the dental care. He feels that a 1% or 2% increase is more than manageable for those in the $220,000 household income levels.
Andrew Drummond at his first public event with former mayor Walter Mulkewich in a supporting role.
During our discussion with Drummond there wasn’t any of that always coming back to the role the unions play. His focus was on the quality of the lives people live and more sharing of the wealth we have. He understands that the NDP has deep union roots but he does not see himself as a “union man”. The only time he was a member of a union was when he was 17 working as a dishwasher.
He understands that hydro is an issue and believes there is a solution to the problem.
Not any mention of the plight of the indigenous community.
What Drummond isn’t is one of those “radical activists” that Doug Ford goes on about. Drummond is quiet by nature with the capacity to think through an issue.
His concern is people and the lives they get to live.
He is aware of the impact provincial policy is having on the need for Burlington to intensify
There are times when the pace of the election and the volatility of the change taking place seem to overwhelm Drummond.
Our interview took place before the Canadian Federation of University Women held their information night for all the candidates. During the evening one could begin to see the character and depth of the man – he not only handled himself very well – he exuded a level of confidence that was refreshing.
Andrew Drummond talking to a supporter during the CFUW event on Monday.
He is out 4 of the 5 weekday evenings and all weekend knocking on doors. The campaign has eaten up the vacation time he had coming to him. Securing the traditional NDP vote and coping with the people who now want to take a longer look at the New Democrats keeps him moving.
The Monday CFUW event was followed by a Chamber of Commerce event the next morning. Drummond reports that he was the only person that got a strong round of applause when he made his closing remarks.
The original objective was to keep the traditional NDP vote – that vote has grown requiring additional lawn signs.
What does all this mean to Andrew Drummond? Will he find himself sitting in the provincial Legislature in the fall? It is now something he thinks and wonders about.
He ran as the NDP candidate this time because he wanted to see the party get back to its traditional 19% share of the vote in Burlington. It was 14% in 2014.
What will it take to get that number high enough to take the seat?
That is something everyone in Burlington is thinking about.
By Staff
May 30th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The results of the 2018 Canada Road Safety Week (CRSW) Enforcement initiative was nothing to be proud of – from May 15-21, 2018, the Halton Regional Police Service conducted heightened traffic enforcement on area roadways. Officers focused on what has become known as the ‘Big 3’ road safety issues: aggressive driving, distracted driving and impaired operation – by alcohol and/or drug.
During the Safety Week, which included the Victoria Day Long Weekend, Halton Regional Police Service officers laid a total of 2,538 charges and warnings related to all forms of driving offences.
The top charges laid were as follows:
1. Speeding, Careless Driving and Stunt Driving (1,381 charges);
2. Documentary infractions-licencing and insurance (210 charges);
3. Fail to Yield (202 charges);
4. Cell phone- electronic devices (146 charges); and
5. Seatbelts (20 charges)
The total number of charges laid represents a 22 per cent increase over the number of charges laid during the 2017 CRSW campaign and a 33 per cent increase over the number of charges laid during the 2016 CRSW campaign.
As part of CRSW enforcement, Halton Police conducted a variety of proactive initiatives, including R.I.D.E., to specifically address the ongoing concern of motorists choosing to drive while impaired, whether by alcohol and/or by drug.
The following results were obtained:
• 13 drivers were charged with driving while ability impaired and/or driving over 80mgs or Fail/Refuse to provide sample which resulted in criminal charges, an immediate licence suspension and vehicle impoundment (compared with 14 in 2017)
• 1 driver was charged with impaired by drug or Fail/Refuse to provide sample, which resulted in criminal charges, an immediate licence suspension and vehicle impoundment (compared with 3 in 2017)
• 13 drivers were found to be driving in the alcohol warn range, with roadside breath testing resulting in 3/7/30-day roadside suspensions (compared with 23 in 2017)
Of note, 3 of the 13 motorists who had their licence suspended for a warn range alcohol reading had their licence previously suspended for the same offence.
If you observe a vehicle being operated in a manner which places you or anyone else in danger, please call 9-1-1 for an immediate police response.
By Pepper Parr
May 29th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It wasn’t a debate in the full sense of that word but it was an opportunity for a full house at the Central High School Auditorium to hear what four candidates for provincial office had to say.
Andrew Drummond and Jane McKenna – he could be first – she might be last
The biggest surprise of the evening, there were several, was how well Andrew Drummond, the NDP candidate came across. Little has been heard from Drummond before Monday evening. He did say that at one point he was a young Conservative.
New Democratic candidate Andrew Drummond
He set out the NDP platform clearly and concisely. What was clear was that the New Democrats were prepared to tax more and spend more to improve the quality of life for the average person. The phrase “tax a little more” was heard often.
Pharmacare, dental care, more long term care beds, a better affordable housing policy. The quality of life was going to be better for the average person. Those who are truly poor will be able to live decent lives with dignity.
Drummond described Burlington as a wealthy community and Ontario as a province that can handle more in the way of taxation to improve the quality of life; Change for the Better or We can do better.
Drummond was very relaxed – he knew his file and was able to speak directly to his audience.
Paying for it all – he didn’t offer much in the way of explanation.
Vince Fiorito, the Green Party candidate, chose to refer to a binder that he had with all his briefing notes. Reading hurriedly due to the tight time limits, which the moderator was very strict about, made it difficult to keep up with what the Greens had to say.
Fiorito did however have the best line of the night. He said that many people are having difficulty making a decision and trying to figure out which was the better of two evils. Fiorito pointed out that choosing the best of two evils is still choosing an evil and said that there was nothing evil about the Greens.
Progressive Conservative candidate Jane McKenna
Jane McKenna tended to fall back on the Progressive Conservative party line. On the couple of occasions when she used the phrase “make Ontario Great Again” there was an audible groan from the audience.
Dorothy Borovich was the moderator, and mentioned that this was the sixth time she had served in that capacity. There was no nonsense with Dorothy at the podium. It was a typical polite Burlington event.
Eleanor McMahon, the incumbent had all her numbers at the end of her finger tips. She was supported by a solid team and didn’t apologize for the way she did her job.
Fiorito brought up the issue of multi-national corporations that draw water from municipal well, put it in plastic bottles and sell it – creating mountains of plastic waste. All the candidates agreed that what Nestle was doing was “atrocious”; that f they were going to be taking a public resource they should at least pay a fair rate – but not one of the candidates was able to point to a policy that there party had.
Liberal candidate and incumbent Eleanor McMahon
McMahon certainly had a command of the data but appeared a little hesitant at times. It was evident that the Liberals know they are under the gun and fighting to hold the office they have.
McKenna frequently fell back on the party line which had McMahon rolling her eyeballs and shaking her head. McKenna didn’t point to anything specific she had done when she was the Member of the Legislature for Burlington; saying that she was part of the Opposition.
To the best of our knowledge McKenna didn’t introduce any bills.
The dead heat polling numbers at the leadership level was the 800 lb. gorilla in the room. What the audience wanted to know was: what were the different candidates going to do for the citizens.
Education, the hospital and the environment were top of the line issues. Fiorito wanted everyone to remember that the condition of the environment is something “we created” and his focus was on doing everything possible to “save the planet” – and he didn’t get any argument on that point – neither did he get a burst of applause; not that Dorothy would have permitted it.
On the occasions when there was real applause it was clear that McMahon owned the room.
The closing of two of the city’ seven high schools didn’t get as much attention as one would have thought. The problem the Tyandaga community has with the Meridian Brick works got glossed over. Their license was up to date – what more was there to say.
Maureen Weinburger – CFUW
It was a solid presentation of just where the candidates stood. Andrew Drummond made the most important point – choose the candidate that represents your values.
Fiorito asked that people not vote strategically – If you are a Green – vote as a Green.
The Canadian Federation of University have been doing these information sessions for years – the hope is that they continue to do so. They reflect the civility of the city – good on them.
By Staff
May 28th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Heather MacDonald is going to be the new Director of City Building effective June 25, 2018. In the past the position was known as the Director of Planning
Heather MacDonald appointed the Director of City Building.
MacDonald is currently the acting Vice President, Project Planning in Planning and Development at Metrolinx.
Previously, MacDonald has worked at the City of Brampton where she was Interim Commissioner, Planning and Development Services and at the City of Mississauga where she held series of progressive roles in human resources and planning, including Director, Policy Planning; Director, Organizational Wellness; and Director, Strategic Housing Initiatives.
MacDonald is a Registered Professional Planner and Certified Human Resources Leader. She holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and is a graduate of the Executive Program at Queen’s University and the Advanced Human Resources Studies program at the University of Toronto.
Bill Janssen, Burlington’s current acting Director of City Building will remain in the role until June 22, 2018.
City manager James Ridge is fleshing out his leadership team. The former Director of Planning, Mary Lou Tanner was made the Deputy City Manager. Ridge reports that: “After a comprehensive recruiting competition, the city is pleased to have Heather MacDonald who will serve as the new Director of City Building. Heather is “an accomplished veteran in the public sector with broad expertise in the municipal environment. As Burlington’s population continues to grow, Heather’s leadership skills and municipal knowledge will play a valuable role in guiding the city’s long-term planning vision, as set out by the new Official Plan.”
Bill Janssen gets thanked for “his guidance in leading the Department of City Building over the last six months, including the adoption of Burlington’s new Official Plan.”
By Staff
May 28th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery of Burlington is presenting the second AGB Ceramics Residency exhibition featuring the work of 2017/18 resident Karla Rivera.
Karla Rivera, Always Between the Fine Line, 2017.
With access to fully equipped studios, the residency allows artists to build their portfolio with diverse projects that support the Gallery’s programming. It provides the artist with the opportunity to teach in community and studio programs, and to present new work in a solo exhibition in the RBC Gallery.
Karla Rivera is a ceramic artist born and raised in Mexico City. After some travelling, she moved to Hamilton, Ontario. She started to listen to her artistic voice and got involved in the world of ceramics.
In 2015 she got a Ceramics Diploma from Sheridan College in the Craft and Design Program. In 2016 she got the position of Artist in residence in the Art Gallery of Burlington. While this happened she was chosen to participate in the Fusion program Creative Direction.
Rivera Red Dot vase
Rivera’s work consists of functional and sculptural ceramics. She is interested in the forms that make the connections between the structures of nature such as the shape of an island, and the emotional states of the human mind trying to interpret and project them.
The public reception takes place June 1 at the AGB – RBC Gallery from 6pm-9pm
By Pepper Parr
May 28th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
How many people in Burlington watched the last debate before the provincial election on June 7th? Who knows?
The election result is certainly going to be pivotal for the province. The choice is not an easy one. The Liberals have more than worn out their welcome.
Small audience – significant debate, which no one actually won. Burlington resident puts the question to the candidates.
Doug Ford doesn’t appear to be holding on to the massive support he had when the race started. It was hard to see anything new in his message Sunday evening – he stuck to a script that was a combination of being simplistic and fear mongering.
Andrea Horwath was strong and stood up well to both Kathleen Wynne and Doug Ford.
There is a risk with voting in a New Democratic government – we have been down that road before as Ford put it. However, it would appear that not as many people want to go down the road Ford is urging us to do with his simplistic statements. He seems to have become as good as Wynne became with the spending.
Martin Badger – Burlington resident.
The bright spot – the first question asked by members of the public who made up the debate audience came from Martin Badger, a 19 year old Burlington resident voting for the first time who asked: How do you plan to pay for the plans you have?
He got good answers. Was he satisfied with the answers?
That’s the question people across the province are going to ask themselves – which of the three political parties do you think can solve the problems?
Tough question!
By Pepper Parr
May 27th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
A request – it was actually more like a plea, from Trevor Copp more than five years ago for changes in the way culture is seen as part of the fabric of the city and the way it was funded, has developed some roots.
ACCOB, – Arts & Culture Council of Burlington, was formed, studies were done on what the public wanted in the way of culture and how that public was interacting with the cultural offerings.
Teresa Seaton, organizer of the Art in Action Tour, thinks through a response at one of the Cultural Action Plan sessions. She is one of 250 people organized as an Arts and Culture Collective in Burlington.
Money was put into surveys and the development of a Cultural Action Plan.
The manager of cultural services was taken out of the Parks and Recreation department and tucked under the wing of one of the General Managers the city had at the time.
Angela Paparizo in conversation with Trevor Copp during the unveiling of the Spiral Stella outside the Performing Arts Centre.
When a new Director of Planning was brought in – Culture got put into her job description.
The Arts were getting attention and a little bit of money and there were some interesting initiatives that had been in place for some time. The Art Studio Tour done each fall continues, they give a scholarship each year.
The AGB offers solid programs for children; the school board has hundreds of students in music classes, the art that we see from the elementary schools shows some promise.
But Burlington as an arts destination – not yet.
Sound of Music draws thousands as does Rib Fest.
The Performing Arts Centre has become a stop along the way for many of the touring shows.
Everyone wanted their picture taken with the Walt Rickli sculpture – then it was taken out of the Courtyard, put n storage where it appears to remain.
The Art Gallery took possession of a fine piece of sculpture that came out of the Walt Rickli Studio then was quickly put it in storage with a comment that a suitable location had yet to be determined. The funds that brought the Rickli sculpture to the AGB resulted in the Courtyard being named the Dan Lawrie Family Courtyard.
The Lowville Festival was created – they are now in their fourth year. It is an idea that has yet to find is place.
Trevor Copp put together a very successful and popular outdoor Shakespearian Festival at the RGB Rock Garden that has a following but has yet to achieve consistent success.
ACCOB was able to get the city to put real dollars on the table and to convince the city that ACCOB would play a significant role in how some of the public money was used.
There is now a BPAC / ACCOB Community Studio Theatre Initiative – a new funding opportunity for community artists and arts & culture organizations to help offset the costs associated with renting The Centre’s Community Studio Theatre.
Funds for this new initiative are raised through the Burlington Performing Arts Centre’s Annual Festival of Trees, the first of which took place in November and December 2017. Funds raised will be used to cover the base rent of the BPAC Community Studio Theatre for 4 days in 2018.
Burlington has a number of artists who work quietly and as effectively as they can on their own – looking for opportunities to promote themselves and from time to time sell a piece of their work.
The city does have groups that found their footing and have gone on to fame: The Spoons and Walk off the Earth are two examples. There are others.
Somewhere out there the leadership that is needed to galvanize a community, influence both a city administration and those elected to office that the arts are more than a nice to have, has yet to surface. A vibrant arts community is an economic force – the arts draw traffic.
Right now the city has a collection of silos – each with their own plan and agenda
The Tourism people have not yet found an effective way to promote the arts effectively.
Rendering of the Transformed Joseph Brant Museum site.
What impact the transformation of the Joseph Brant Museum is going to have is an unknown at this point in time. The museum board has said little – not even a “great things are to come” statement. The confidence needed to believe that great things are possible is not part of the way the city sees itself at this point in time. It will need direction that the Museums of Burlington have yet to experience. Could the transformed museum be the catalyst that is needed?
Only time will tell us that.
For the time being – celebrate that ACCOB can celebrate a first anniversary.
Salt with Pepper is the opinion, musing and reflections of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette.
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