Diane Miller, a parent with children in both Lester B. Pearson (LBP) high school and the Robert Bateman high school stood before Margaret Miller, the provincially appointed Reviewer to conduct a review of the process the Halton District School Board used to decide to close two of the seven high schools in Burlington.
“I was going to use my three minutes to stand in complete silence” she said.
“Why you might ask given the importance of our time with you and this Accommodation Review?
Diane Miller, a Lester B. Pearson high school parent, reading her delegation to provincially appointed Reviewer Margaret Wilson.
“Because I wanted my silence to represent how much weight, importance, and consideration that I felt my correspondence to the HDSB, Trustees, Local MPP, Ministry of Education & Premier meant. No matter what came out of my mouth or via email, I felt it wasn’t heard or listened to.
“No matter how much research, how many logical facts, how many ideas either myself or our LBP group or Bateman group presented, they were discarded. The five minute delegation, which I spent hours on, was discounted and forgotten by the time the next person came up to speak. I might as well have said nothing at all. That is how I felt.
“Today I am hoping you will hear me and that this terrible flawed decision, based on a flawed process, will result in a call for this decision to be revisited.
“Communication by definition is an of exchange of ideas. It is a means of connection between people.
“During the Program Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) review process there was no direct communication between the PARC representatives and the school trustees. The information was filtered or directed to/from the HDSB. While the trustees could attend PARC meetings or public meetings there was no discussion or Q & A with them.
“The public is unaware if there was ever a time when the trustees met to discuss the ideas presented other than at the public HDSB meetings. Trustees seemed to be discouraged from engagement.
“How is this meaningful?
“As delegates we were given five minutes to rush through our presentations. If the trustees had questions then one had the ability to expand on their topic. If not, that was all. No feedback. Nothing.
“The trustees indicated they read through 700 emails (so someone – HDSB? perhaps) was keeping track of that number. Good to know as only two or three trustees ever responded to my correspondence and then only one or two provided more than the automated, I have received your message response.
During the first public meeting in December 2016 parents were asked to answer questions put up on a screen using hand held clickers. The school board was gathering data – the parents thought they were at a meeting where they could ask questions.
“During the first public meeting in December, which most participants seemed to think was a Q & A meeting, the discussion, led by the consultant, appeared to be one way. The audience was given clickers, very slanted questions were put up on a screen and the audience was instructed to click on one of the answers.
“Any questions were met with either silence or that the information was being collected. It was highly frustrating. The process got off to a very bad start.
“It was difficult to get information about the PAR / PARC process to the general public who were not online.
“The information on the HDSB took a bit of searching for some to get updates. It wasn’t until the second PARC meeting in January (2017) that the LBP PARC representatives contact information went up on the LBP website. Principals were under the impression that meeting space and other resources were to be made available. In fact, when I called to ask if a student council meeting, where our trustee would be attending, would allow for Q & A, the principal said she did not know and for me to contact the trustee.
“Community members, at their own cost, and during their own time distributed literature, held meetings, and tried to get information to the students that someone was fighting for their school and for them. It was difficult. The HDSB had all the contact information; the resources to disseminate their information. It was a tilted playing field.
“Is this what the board determines is “communication”?
“Community members were not the only ones who were led to believe that their input would be of value. Students also had that impression.
“In December, before the 1st PARC meeting, a student survey was sent out. The PARC members had no input into the questionnaire. The results of this survey were shared with parents, with the PARC members.
“However, while it is an appendix in Mr. Miller’s report, the contents do not appear to have shaped the decisions made. For example, LBP students marked the fact that teachers knew them; they were there to help them by a large percentage. They were known.
“That is important and impacts learning. It impacts social interactions and mental wellness. LBP is a smaller school. Yet at a HDSB meeting, when asked if he had considered a smaller school within the HDSB parameters moving forward (and I paraphrase here) Mr. Miller said, “no he had not considered a smaller school”. Students were told there would be interaction, yet none seemed to appear during the execution of the PARC phase.
Survey stations were set up at one of the public meetings.
“Question – Why do a survey if you are going to ignore the data? Especially by the group that you say you are most interested in – the students.
“Teachers who have first hand knowledge into the learning behaviours of their students and interact with them the most had no seat at the PARC table. A survey to capture teacher input was done but with seeming reluctance by the HDSB. The information was given to the trustees but not to PARC members. The rationale was that much would have to be redacted as there would be personal identifying factors. Yet, even redacted, it was not made available to the public. One wonders if the responses did not fit the HDSB narrative.
“The PARC members met seven times yet it was just at the end they felt a positive discussion on innovative ideas was happening. The public, some of whom felt this was a done deal, was left wondering with a variety of both rumours and facts, as to what was going on.
“In a city that is growing why were two schools being targeted for closure? Given that LBP was on 12 of the proposals for closure is it any wonder that the population felt targeted. One still wonders if this process was done in good faith. Why do I ask that?
“a) Our school population, along with Bateman was left to starve of students with the reduction in the number of feeder schools
b) During the PARC a boundary review of a new build happened without LBP (the closer school) even being considered
c) Rumours abound that LBP is to be the home of the HDSB Administrative buildings – I have yet to hear an out and out denial of this rumour. If true, one wants to know when this decision was made. If made prior to the PAR/PARC review or during the review then this process was not entered into in good faith.
e) Bateman is a one of a kind school – yet was put on last minute as a closure and is slated to cost $12 M to replicate at Nelson (everyone knows this figure will balloon)
The PARC consisted of two representatives from the seven high schools; a trustee representative and a city of Burlington representative. The debated issues on one side of a room while the public sat on the other side. There wasn’t any
“PARC was going to be an island. Only selected participants were going to be allowed onto the island. Communications were to be minimal if non-existent at best. The HDSB wanted to meet the “minimum” requirements to say they went through the process.
“On June 7th, delegations were heard, prepared speeches were read, a vote was held. Two schools were to close. Tell me did those delegations mean anything at all? Especially given the prepared statements that were read that night of why trustees were voting in favour of closure. Did the 10 day between delegations and a vote violation mean anything to the HDSB or the trustees?
“Communication is actively listening, speaking, considering, answering and responding. It is two way. This did not happen.
“The end result. The closing of two schools in a growing community. Schools that are overpopulated; schools that will be thrown into overcapacity with the two school closures.
“A flawed process resulted in flawed decisions.
“Revisit this decision.”
Margaret Wilson listened carefully – took copious notes and at the end of the evening, after listening to everyone who wanted to speak she said the the audience: “I have heard what you had to say.”
The process of being heard for parents who have students at Lester B. Pearson high school and the Robert Bateman high school began last night at the Gary Allen high school on New Street.
Margaret Wilson, the provincially appointed Facilitator who was tasked with meeting with all the parties involved and preparing a report for the Ministry of Education on whether or not the Board Program Accommodation Review (PAR) policies were followed, set up a series of public meetings at which parents could delegate. The large room certainly wasn’t filled but the comments made were what parents needed to say – and last night they were heard.
The process put in place allowed for three delegations from each school. The speakers had a set amount of time to speak – but Wilson found she was able and prepared to extend those time slot to let people finish their delegation.
George Ward being interviewed by Cogeco TV
George Ward, one of the Pearson high school delegations, was direct – at times almost pugnacious in his comments.
Ward argued that delegations at the Halton District School Board (HDSB) were in some cases refused, that the Board would send email notifications late in the evening on the night before the delegation day, requesting a 250 word description of the delegation. Ward charged that this was done to “deflect” delegations.
“There is no Board policy requirement for a 250 word outline to be presented prior to delegation” said Ward who added that “in spite of providing the last minute 250 word outline I was still refused to delegate on two occasions May 17th and June 7th.”
There were, said Ward 65 delegations presented over four evenings – 95% of the delegations indicated that it was totally inappropriate to close two Burlington high schools.
Ward pointed out that Board policy states: The Director’s Final Report will include a community consultation section that would include:
• Feedback from the public delegation will be compiled and included
• The Director will present the Final Report, including the compiled feedback from the public delegations
He added that the Director’s Final Report on community feedback is only 5 lines on page 20 and includes only delegation dates with an incorrect number of delegations reported.
Ward took exception to the statement in the HDSB response to the Pearson Administrative Review request that said: “One local Burlington Councillor provided feedback on the closure of Robert Bateman …”. In fact there were four submissions from city Councillors expressing concern with the closing of Burlington high schools.
Ward maintained that the records are incorrect and do not comply with the Board’s policies.
It was a tough meeting and the Chair, Kelly Amos didn’t always have have it under control.
Ward pointed out that at the June 7th meeting, at which the trustees voted to accept the recommendation from Stuart Miller, HDSB Director of Education, the Board Chair, Kelly Amos, failed to competently manage the sequence of voting motions and amendments. Despite having both the Board’s legal counsel and a Parliamentarian in the room Amos was still unable to competently conduct the sequence in orderly fashion and as a result lost control of the meeting.”
Ward said that at that point in the meeting, the Director of Education, said to Amos: “Perhaps I may be of assistance” then proceeded to filibuster on the recommendations in his Final Report, then called upon Board Superintendents who continued to delegate.
“After this extended acquiescing of control and inappropriate delegations of over an hour, a recess was called where the Director, Superintendents and Trustees save one, went into a segregated closed door meeting. Upon their return a vote was held which resulted in the Trustees voting to close two Burlington High Schools” said Ward.
“Thus we have incompetent meeting control with an inappropriate hour long school board last minute delegation that is non-compliant to the Board’s “No fewer than ten (10) business day Policy between delegations and the final decision of the Board of Trustees.”
Ward didn’t detail the “No fewer than ten business days” concern that many had. The PAR policy required to HDSB to hear delegations and then allow a period of ten days to elapse before a vote was taken.
The HDSB was hearing delegations as late as 11:00 pm, taking breaks during which trustees, some Superintendents and the Director of Education met for close to an hour and then returning to vote on the recommendation.
The ten day period during which trustees could think about all the delegations, review what they had heard during a process that started six month earlier and reflect was lost.
The vote took place after midnight of a meeting that started at 7:00 pm.
Many felt the fix was in – that the trustees had no intention of doing their jobs – but had decided they were going to go with the recommendation that came from the Director of Education.
For the first time parents from schools that were scheduled to be closed had an opportunity to say what they felt in a public meeting.
The first of the public delegations made to the Administrative Review facilitator Margaret Wilson takes place this evening.
Margaret Wilson
Ms Wilson met with the members of the Program Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) last night; not all of the 14 members showed up. Trustee Donna Danielli who was part of the PARC attended. James Ridge, Burlington city manager didn’t make it.
It was a private meeting – difficult to get much in the way of comment however there were people who attended who felt it was “cathartic” and that Wilson really listened and is reported to have said she watched a lot of Board meeting videos.
There was, apparently, good open dialogue between the PARC people and Ms Wilson. Tom Ward, a Ministry of Education official who is responsible for how the Halton and Peel Regions meet their obligations, sat in on the meeting and explained the procedure that will be followed.
Ms Wilson expects to have her report completed before Christmas.
Her report is given to the Minister of Education.
Her report is not public unless the Ministry decides to make it public.
The Ministry will then decide if the Program Accommodation Review (PAR) that the Board held was done according to the Ministry Guidelines.
Observing, listening or praying?
If it wasn’t – then the Ministry can direct the Board to hold a second PAR.
There was a rather significant point made during the private meeting having to do with the timing of the PAR meetings.
The Board has its delegation procedure; the Ministry had its own delegation procedures which trump those of the Board.
Fourteen citizens, pulled together to serve as the communications channel between the Board of Education and the community, while a Program Accommodation Review recommendation was being debated by the trustees.
There were, Apparently, a couple of significant Ministry policy violations – one relating to the number of days between the last of the delegations and when the trustees met to vote on the recommendation that had come from the Director of Education.
Was that violation significant enough to make a difference – many parents think so.
What most parents think is that the Ministry Guidelines were so flawed that a sound public review of the recommendations given to the trustees was not possible.
Four of the 11 Board of Education trustees sitting in on one of the PARC meetings.
What didn’t help was that the majority of the trustees were way in over their heads; they didn’t have the experience or the understanding to properly do the job they had taken on. I wasn’t an easy job.
City hall tells a group of citizens they cannot use space at city hall for a community meeting organized by a group that is opposed to a decision city council made to approve a 23 storey tower in the downtown core.
There are currently two well organized groups challenging city hall on significant matters;
The Tyendaga Environmental Coalition wants the city to step in and support their fight to prevent a shale mining operation from beginning to mine a quarry that is yards from their homes.
The Plan B group wants a better deal for the re-development of the Waterfront Hotel.
Less than six months ago city council attempted to limit the amount of time residents could have to delegate at city council meetings. The residents won that battle.
There are a lot of people who want to see genuine community involvement and not just lip service from those elected to run the city.
Quite recently the city had staff congratulating themselves for an award they were given for the quality of the city’s community engagement.
It is difficult not to be cynical when all the evidence is looked at.
It wouldn’t take much to pull together a group of at least 500 people who would stand at say that their city does not listen to them.
Thevideo the city posted on how engaged they think they are is like something out of a book written by George Orwell.
The only person who has said formally that they will be running for public office in the October 2018 municipal election is the Mayor – he wants a third term.
Jim Young sent us a note earlier today – a group of people who are very unhappy with city council’s decision to approve a 23 storey tower on Brant Street opposite city hall want to find a way to appeal that decision to the Ontario Municipal Board.
Jim Young
Young is the Aldershot resident who took city council to taskover their attempt to limit delegations to five minutes from the current practice of ten minutes.
421 Brant – a 23 storey tower approved by city council by a 5-2 vote.
He mentioned to us that the group, Engaged Citizens in Burlington, planned a meeting under very short notice – it was to take place at City Hall, but had to be hastily rearranged when city officials banned the group from using the city hall room.
Banning seems to have become a bit of a practice at city hall. It can only be described as an astonishing decision by people who have a limited understanding of what community engagement really means.
The group was able to pivot quickly and will hold their meeting on Saturday, November 25th at Bunton’s Wharf, Brant St. and Lakeshore, 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm. The entrance to the building is on the Brant Street side
Young describes the now approved tower as a “23 story monstrosity, so out of character, in conflict with city height bylaws and opposed by 1435 signatures on a petition collected over just one week, may be the final straw for people who are opposed to downtown development.
Both the Gazette and Spectator columnist Joan Little have written about the need for new forms of engagement in Burlington
Little suggested it may be time for the good people of Burlington to organize to fight back against their city council’s refusal to listen to their concerns. Citizens feel ignored on new street bike lanes, under funding for transit, lake shore hotels and condo developments and most recently on the 23 story tower on Brant Street just across from City Hall.
City hall has this annoying habit of thinking that if you say something often enough it will become true. In the comments made by the judges hat gave the reward they said:
The city knows “How to make P2 a part of everyday practice in the city of Burlington, through the Burlington Community Engagement Charter adopted in April 2013. Engagement was included as a strategic direction in 2016 Strategic Plan.”
“Employees now ask how to engage — not whether.”
“Engagement is part of the annual budget, has a dedicated, full-time staff person, and communications personnel promote and coach on P2.”
“Demonstrates an organizational long-term commitment to P2, beginning in 2013 and now enshrined in the 25-year Strategic Plan.”
The provincial Ministry of Government and Consumer Services charged a Burlington contractor for unfair practices that took place in September of 2014 – a conviction was handed down in provincial court recently.
Provincial Court – Burlington.
Justin Smith, operating as D & S Electrical Contractors accepted a deposit to supply and install a generator at a consumer’s residence. Work commenced, but was not completed and the generator was never delivered or installed.
On September 21, 2017 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Milton by Justice of the Peace Paul Welsh imposed the following against Mr. Smith:
• Payment of $7,500 in restitution to the consumer • Two-year probation with terms of restitution, a reporting requirement and reporting an address change
Consumer Protection Ontario suggests deposits should be no more than 10% of the estimated cost.
The Notice of Meeting was sent to Scott Podrebarac chair of the Program Accommodation Review (PAR) and to members of the Program Accommodation Review Committee (PARC).
It was sent on behalf of Margaret Wilson, Ministry of Education appointed Reviewer of the Burlington PAR
The language was stiff and stilted bit it did set out clearly what was going to happen.
Liz Sandals.ember of the Wynne government cabinet introduces Margaret Wilson.
“Margaret Wilson has been appointed by the Minister of Education to examine the Burlington PARC process relative to the Halton District School Board Program Accommodation Review (PAR) policy.
“Ms Wilson has been charged with the responsibility to review the process and has no authority to change the decision of the trustees of the Halton District School Board
“The purpose of this communication is to provide the details of the private PAR committee members meeting which is to take place, Wednesday, November 22, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Lockhart Room, New Street Education Centre.”
The Agenda starts with an introduction to the PAR process that will be given by Margaret Wilson followed by the introduction of the 14 members of the PAR committee members.
That is followed by feedback from the PAR committee members that will include brief remarks from each of the PAR committee members related to the PARC process – three minutes per presentation.
Then there is open discussion
The session ends with closing remarks from Margaret Wilson.
Neither media nor the public will be present at this meeting as it is private to members of the PARC.
On Thursday, the 23rd and on Tuesday the 28th parents from the schools get their chance to tell Wilson what they thought of the PAR process.
PAR committee members in one of the seven public sessions they participated in – they were never able to reach a consensus.
Time slots will be set aside for a spokesperson from the two schools that are scheduled to close; parents from any high school in the city are permitted to speak at these two meetings. Each speaker has three minutes to speak.
The presentation from the Bateman and Pearson high school parents get 10 minutes to make their point.
Wilson will not want to hear how unfair the decision to close a school might have been – she is there to review the process – did the HDSB follow the policy that was in place?
HDSB parents at PARC meeting looking less than impressed.
This is a very difficult for many parents to get their heads around – they are arguing that it is the process that was faulty to begin with.
Board of Education staff were not forgotten in this process. Ms Wilson met with all the Superintendents to set out for them their role in the review process. She explained to them what they can do and what they cannot do.
Ms Wilson will have gone over literally every piece of information. She will meet with the Chair of the PAR.
HDSB Director of Education at one of the many public meetings he took [part in.
Stuart Miller got a call from the Ministry of Education that gave him his marching orders. The Review is a Ministry of Education initiative that came about when parents from Robert Bateman high school and Lester B. Pearson high school requested an Administrative Review of the process that was used.
The role of the Board of Education – both staff and trustees is to step aside and let the Review take place.
A number of school boards across the province requested Administrative Reviews – the Halton Board schools were the only ones that got a positive response.
There are all kinds of theories floating around the community.
Many feel that the Ministry now realizes that the procedure they put in place for the school boards to follow was flawed and as a result of the realization the Ministry ordered the no new PAR’s be put in place.
Will the Wilson report touch on that point or will she write a report that says the Board followed the rules – can she say that the rules were less than fair and couldn’t result in a fair decision?
Will the Ministry realize that their guide lines – regulations were flawed and first change them and then direct the school boards to hold new PAR’s?
From the left: Trustees Papin, Reynolds, Ehl Harris and Grebenc observing one of the public meetings.
Where do the trustees fit into all this? They are the elected leaders of the Board – they set policy and decide where a school is to be built and where a school is to be closed.
Those who paid close attention to the way the HDSB handled the issue quickly came to the conclusion that the Halton Board trustees were not up to the job.
Would a second PAR be under the same procedures that didn’t work the first time?
While Burlington works its way through the Review – the province looks months ahead to June when there will be a provincial election. If the public elects a new government and makes Patrick Brown the Premier expect a significantly different set of education policies to be put in place.
The Pearson and Bateman high school parent groups are taking much different approaches to the Review process. Pearson is using a data approach while the Bateman parents are using a human rights approach.
There was a time when the two parent groups worked together but that didn’t last very long. Now there are reported rifts between the parents in the Bateman group. Some describe the Bateman parent leadership as “obsessed”.
The better observers seem to be coming around to the view that the process was indeed flawed and that the Ministry of Education has admitted as much.
Choosing Margaret Wilson as the Reviewer for the HDSB situation and the consultant who wrote a stinging report on practices and procedures at the Toronto Board of Education, suggests to these observers that she will ferret out all the concerns and give the Ministry as report that will allow them to revise the PAR process.
Pearson parents at a Board of Education meeting.
Will that result in a decision to have the Halton District School Board to do a second PAR? And how long will that take – and what will happen to the work being done now to integrate the Pearson students into M.M. Robinson.
Pearson is scheduled to be closed in June of 2018.
On November 21, 2017 at 9:50 am, two masked men entered the Royal Bank of Canada, located at 2025 William O’Connell Boulevard, Burlington.
They indicated they were armed and demanded money. The two men were unsuccessful in obtaining money and quickly fled that Royal Bank of Canada.
At 10:46 am, the same two masked men entered the TD Canada Trust, located at 2325 Trafalgar Road, Oakville.
This time, the two men received an undisclosed amount of money and fled to an awaiting Mazda 3 driven by a third culprit.
The Halton Regional Police Service quickly responded to the area and successfully followed the three culprits to a commercial plaza located at the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road West and Creditview Road, Mississauga.
All three culprits were safely arrested. Officers recovered a replica firearm, the undisclosed amount of money, clothing worn during the robberies, the Mazda 3 and a small amount of marijuana.
All three were transported to the Oakville police station where they were held in custody pending a bail hearing. The three culprits are expected to appear for a bail hearing at the Milton courthouse on November 22, 2017.
Arrested and Charged:
1. Abdeljhafour HOUEM (19) of Mississauga has been charged with: • Robbery (3 counts) • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose • Possession of a controlled substance (marihuana)
2. Kadir AIDARUS (18) of Mississauga has been charged with: • Robbery (3 counts) • Wearing a disguise during the commission of an indictable offence (2 counts) • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
A male youth (17) of Mississauga has been charged with:
• Robbery (3 counts) • Wearing a disguise during the commission of an indictable offence (2 counts) • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Constable Autumn Mills of the 2 District Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext: 2285. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
The Regional police contact officer on this case is: D/Constable Autumn Mills, 2 District Criminal Investigation Bureau , 905-825-4747 ext: 2285
Be reminded that all persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
With the re-developed Joseph Brant hospital now basically fully open the public is going to get a chance to make a different kind of use of the space.
An architects rendering of the new entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital which now faces the lake. .
This year, on Sunday, December 3rd, the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is hosting their first Join the Joy! Holiday Open House and Designer Tree Auction, held in the new Michael Lee-Chin and Family Patient Tower.
They want you to join them from 11:00 am-1:30 pm on the 3rd for some holiday family fun!
Proceeds from the Join the Joy Holiday Open House and Designer Tree Auction will support the Hospital’s Labour and Delivery program, helping to ensure the best possible care for our Hospital’s youngest patients.
General admission is free of charge and includes complimentary parking, hot cocoa and musical entertainment.
There is a Children’s Festive Passport of Fun that is being sold for just $5.00 that will give your child (ages 2-12) full access to our holiday activities:
Picture with Santa
Festive Holiday Crafts
Teddy Bear Clinic (Children are encouraged to bring in a teddy bear, stuffed animal or doll)
Face-Painting and Balloon Animals
Make Your Own Finger Cast
Investigating Germs
Festive Photo Wall
Parents and Guardians are welcome to admire and bid on the beautifully decorated Designer Holiday Trees as well as take part in:
Silent Auction Children’s Gift Draw
WHEN: Sunday, December 3
11:00 a.m. to 1:30 pm
WHERE: Michael Lee-Chin & Family Patient Tower, Joseph Brant Hospital, 1245 Lakeshore Road
Please note: Children are not to be left unattended and are under the responsibility of their Parent and/or Guardian at all times.
Getting something from your bank that starts by calling you an “Esteemed Customer” tells you that the writer of the note knows nothing about banks in Canada.
This most recent attempt at Identity Theft got sent out to as many names as the thieves could lay their hands on. We don’t bank with the Royal – but for those that do – the note may have been something they would respond to.
Kiss of death if you do that.
Rule # 1 – if in doubt don’t.
There are some that will have clicked on the link – that will be a painful experience.
This email is filled with clues – why would a bank have the words hairdresser in the email address? And what bank do you know that would refer to you as an “esteemed customer”. Be vigilant and you will be safe. This form of Identity theft is with us for at least five years.
The Husky Gas Station at 5319 Lakeshore Road, was robbed on Tuesday at approximately 10:00pm.
A lone male suspect entered the gas station and approached the employee behind the counter. The suspect made a verbal demand for cash. The employee complied with his request and an undisclosed amount of cash was provided to the suspect.
The suspect fled the gas station and was last observed running northbound on Kenwood Avenue.
No weapon was observed during the robbery, nor was anyone injured.
The suspect is described as:
• Male, possibly black • 20 -25 years old • 5″8 to 5″9 tall • Slim build 140 – 150 Ibs • Black Jacket with fur rimmed hood • Black gloves • Black pants • Red bandana • Carrying a black backpack
Anyone with information regarding this robbery is asked to contact Detective Phil Vandenbeukel of the 3 District, Criminal Investigations Bureau – Robbery Team at 905-825-4747 ext. 2343. Tips can be forwarded to Crime Stoppers; “See Something, Hear Something, Say Something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.crimestoppers.ca or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
Detective Det. Phil Vandenbeukel, 3 CIB, 905-825-4747 ext 2343
It was close to a throw away idea, something that was put on the table, almost as a distraction.
The Halton District School Board trustees were debating the staff recommendation to close two of the city’s seven high schools.
No one was sure quite what to call the initiative: was it to be a theme school, an incubator, a magnet to attract a specific group of students.
Part of the reason for coming up with an idea was to give the Aldershot high school more of a purpose. There are elementary schools in Burlington that has a larger enrollment than Aldershot.
Despite how low the enrollment at Aldershot was – it wasn’t going to be possible to close that school.
Especially when during the early stages of the PAR process when Central high school was recommended for closure.
The idea for something different in Aldershot got included with the resolution the trustees were debating – it both didn’t have traction in the minds of any of the trustees and several didn’t event understand what the idea was about.
With the decision to close Pearson and Bateman done – the parent groups at both schools shifted their energy to getting a request for an Administrative Review approved by the Ministry of Education.
The schools that were to remain open settled back and resumed a normal life.
Superintendent Terri Blackwell talking to a parent during public meetings on high school closings.
Superintendent Terri Blackwell was given the task of overseeing the transition of the schools that were being closed into schools that were being kept open. She was also given the task of handling what became known as the Aldershot Exploration.
They started out by asking people for ideas – what did people want?
Blackwell was working with a clean slate. There was no agenda – it was almost as if they threw the spaghetti against the wall to see what stuck.
And a lot of that spaghetti did stick. There were more than 200 ideas sent in.
And they were good – so good that Blackwell and her team found that they had to create themes and came up with 15 of them – which is really quite remarkable.
The public got to see the themes at an Open House on November 13th. The ideas were set out on tables at stations where the themes were displayed.
The next step for the Blackwell is to narrow the 15 down to a manageable number. “We don’t have to choose the one theme – this is a wide open situation” said Blackwell. “We want to see where the interest is and then begin thinking how we could make what the public has suggested work.”
Making it work is not a simple matter – curriculum material has to be created, figuring out where the staff will come from and understanding where the students will come from are just part of the challenge.
Some of the parents who were on the PAR think the idea is a great one and has the potential to offer courses that meet the needs of the changing world high schools are going to be going into.
Blackwell is excited and the people working on the project are just as excited.
Steve Armstrong thinks this is an idea that could define what the Halton School Board is all about.
The final recommendation to the Board of Trustees will be a concept developed from one of these themes, a morphing of multiple themes or a yet to be developed theme as a result of continued input, ideas, and research.
The Halton District School Board has created a survey for the public to provide input on the themes identified.
We encourage parents/guardians, students and community members from Halton and beyond to give their input as it will further inform the Exploration Committee.
• All responses will remain anonymous. • The order in which the themes appear in the survey is alphabetical.
The HDSB has sent an email to parents/guardians of all current elementary and secondary students, as well as staff, with a link to the survey. Members of the public can complete the survey directly
The survey is available from Monday, November 13 to Monday, November 27, 2017.
The sprinkle of snow over the weekend told us that winter weather is upon us which means the Burlington Santa Claus Parade comes to town December. 3, with community floats, marching bands, costumed characters and, of course, Santa Claus himself.
The parade will start at 2 p.m. at the corner of Guelph Line and Prospect Street and make its way downtown along New Street. The parade then travels north on Brant Street and finishes at Caroline Street.
The Santa Claus parade has taken place for more than 48 years in Burlington. Organized by a citizens group that works out of the city’s Festivals and Events office it is the premier holiday event in the city.
This year’s parade will feature 82 entries, including floats, mascots and 16 bands. The parade will include traditional favourites, such as the Burlington Teen Tour Band, the Junior Redcoats, Top Hat Marching Orchestra and the Halton Regional Police Service Pipes & Drums.
Children are encouraged to bring letters for Santa, which will be collected by letter carriers from Canada Post along the parade route. Spectators may bring non-perishable food donations, which will be accepted by the Burlington Teen Tour Band boosters and the Gift of Giving Back. The Burlington Oldtimers Hockey Club will be collecting loonies and toonies to help support the operation costs of the parade.
Many local businesses have contributed donations, flatbed trucks, float entries and sponsorship funding to this year’s parade. For a complete list of sponsors, visit burlington.ca/parade. This year’s gold sponsor is BUNZL.
Spectators will have the chance to help choose the People’s Choice Award for best parade float. Voting will begin online after the parade at burlington.ca/parade. All entries will be entered in to a draw for a chance to win a prize.
Chris Glenn, director of Parks and Recreation
Chris Glenn, director of Parks and Recreation is “ very excited to have Santa back in Burlington for this annual family tradition. We know that thousands of people and families from across Burlington and beyond look forward to the parade to mark the start of the holiday season.”
The City of Burlington has repaired and replaced the playgrounds in three city parks after that equipment was severely damaged by arson in June 2017.
The playground and park equipment in Doug Wright Park, Emerson Park and Lansdown Park was damaged by deliberately-set fire, according to the Halton Regional Police Service. The playgrounds in each park have reopened to the public now that all work has been done to repair and replace the damaged equipment.
The playground equipment in Emerson Park was repaired at a cost of slightly more than $5,000.
The playground equipment, underground drainage and protective surface was replaced in Doug Wright and Lansdown Parks. The cost to complete the work in Doug Wright Park was about $85,000, and in Lansdown Park the cost was about $60,000.
Rob Peachey, Manager of Parks and Open Spaces
Halton Regional Police Service continues to investigate these crimes. Anyone with information please contact 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau 905-825-4747 ext: 2316 or tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the website at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca; or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
Rob Peachey, Manager of Parks and Open Spaces said “We recognize how important these playgrounds are to the families who use them. Replacing the play equipment was a priority for the City of Burlington.”
It is when ordinary people see a decision made by a level of government that they do not agree with and turn to their neighbours and friends and decide to become agents of change that a city grows.
Susan Goyer has created Engaged Citizens of Burlington; a non-profit group working towards building a better Burlington for generations to come.
They will be virtual – all on-line, creating a community presence to help to build awareness on issues affecting Burlington residents and the community as a whole.
Small org – big hearts; a diverse group of residents and business people who want only the best for Burlington.
They want you to call, text, email and share their Facebook page with “those you would like to mobilize, and remember you’re not selling them anything or trying to convert them to a new religion.”
They are a grass roots based community trying to save a parcel of land – their fuel is passion which they find “ irresistible!” If you are excited about this cause and discuss it with those around you, they will naturally become engaged and interested in helping. Their virtual home is a Facebook page.
They define themselves as “caretakers of our environment and resident of Burlington who have a responsibility to ensure that building a better Burlington is a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
They talk a good talk: “All it takes is a few minutes of your time to advocate for a better Burlington.
“Volunteer: Recognize how your contribution is important to the people of Burlington. Leverage your amazing skills, we loved to be wowed, and we would be missing out if we didn’t have you!
Susan Goyer, first member of the Engaged Citizens of Burlington Facebook page would like people to like kittens.
“There are many opportunities to help, by helping to build our network, mobilize people in your community, and serve as an ambassador.
“Qualifications: Authentic, open minded, enthusiastic and a willingness to take on assignments to solve problems.
“Key Responsibilities: Attend city council meetings, events, raise awareness and achieve a win/win where gaps exists
Reflecting their sense of humour they suggest being “able to leap tall buildings; like kittens, puppies, like all animals really.”
Their first task is to take the city council decision on the 421 Brant project to the OMB. They are asking people to become part of a small (and growing) but mighty team to submit an appeal to the OMB on the recent approval of a 23 story building on Brant Street?
They maintain the approval by Burlington’s City Council exceeds the current 12 story limit for downtown Burlington. They want to have that decision reversed.
They plan to meet on December 13th to get the OMB appeal started.
The Regional Police havereleased data on the most recent Impaired Driving arrests made.
On Thursday, November 16, 2017, before 11:00pm, a traffic stop was initiated near the intersection of Mill Street and Martin Street in Milton. As a result of an investigation, Aaron Brouwer (43) of Wallaceburg was charged with driving over 80mgs.
Police doing RIDE checks – do they deter drivers who have been drinking?
On Saturday, November 18, 2017, after 2:00am, a traffic stop was initiated near Woodward Avenue and Ontario Street in Milton. As a result of an investigation, Jeremiah LeBlanc (27) of Milton was charged with driving over 80mgs.
On Saturday, November 18, 2017, after 5:30pm, Halton Police officers investigated a collision near the intersection of Guelph Street and Draper Street in Halton Hills involving an alleged impaired driver. Police charged Donald Bacon (79) of Brightsgrove with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and impaired driving over 80mgs.
On Saturday, November 18, 2017, after 7:00pm, Halton Police officers investigated a collision near the intersection of Guelph Line and Harvester Road in Burlington involving an alleged impaired driver. Police charged Renu Sethi (49) of Burlington with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and impaired driving over 80mgs.
On Saturday, November 18, 2017, after 9:30pm, witnesses reported a suspected impaired driver in Burlington. Adam Johnson (37) of Burlington was arrested near the intersection of Dundas Street and Rotary Way and charged with care or control while impaired and care or control over 80mgs.
On Saturday, November 18, 2017, after 10:00pm, witnesses reported a suspected impaired driver in Milton. Ravindra Gnanamuttu (56) of Milton was arrested near the intersection of Ontario Street South and Parkway Drive East and charged with drive while ability impaired and impaired driving over 80mgs.
There are signs along many highways – showing a small cross and an In Memory of – marking the location where a drunk driver lost control of a car.
The Halton Regional Police Service remains committed to road safety through prevention, education and enforcement initiatives.
Members of the public are reminded that driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is a crime in progress and to call 9-1-1 immediately to report a suspected impaired driver.
The Service’s Twitter and Facebook accounts should not be used for this purpose as they are not monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Please be reminded that all persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers have a more direct comment.
It was direct and to the point – the New Street Road Diet was to come to an end with instructions to the Director of Transportation that will be debated at city council November 27th.
Direct the Director of Transportation Services to convert the existing bike lane pilot project (New Street from Guelph Line to Walkers Line) to the original four-lane cross section.
Assuming city council members vote to approve the staff recommendation that will bring to an end a project that was poorly designed and poorly communicated to the public.
The idea of a Road Diet was about as divisive as they get. It was so bad that the Mayor found himself being challenged at the Y when he was getting in some exercise.
New Street was having new pipes put in which meant digging up the road in stages and then re-surfacing it all. Why not use the occasion to test the idea of a road diet – which is a re-configuring of the lanes to make room for dedicated bike lanes on both sides of the road.
The cyclists loved the idea. Those who drive their cars on New Street wanted everyone to believe that the world was about to come to an end.
And that was where the issue stuck in the craw of many – they didn’t feel safe sharing a roadway with vehicles.
Many pointed out that there was an excellent trail system yards to the south.
The trail runs parallel to New Street from Rossmore in the east to Martha in the West. The completion of the Elgin Street promenade will allow cyclists to get to the canal and on into Hamilton.
Neither the Transportation department nor most of city council could tap into the public concern.
The issues wasn’t about people riding their bikes – it was where they were going to ride their bikes and how safe they would be.
The cycling lobby, and there most certainly is a cycling lobby, wanted those lanes on New Street. Those people feel safe on their bikes in almost all forms of road traffic – they would feel save on the QEW if there were a HOT bike lane.
But for the average citizen who is Ok with the idea of hoping on their bike to run a short errand or visit with a neighbour – they just didn’t want to put themselves at risk.
The Cycling Lobby didn’t take the time to fully listen to the average citizen who understands the issues – they just don’t want to put their lives on the line to support a good idea.
The report goes to a Council Committee on November 27, 2017 and then to city council for approval on December 11, 2017
This city council needs a win badly on this one.
The Staff report sets out much of the detail and data collected during the Pilot Program.
Vito Tolone, Director of Transportation had to stick handle an awkward file – he was in a no-win situation.
The transportation people convinced themselves that providing cycling facilities, particularly throughout key transportation corridors, such as New Street, served to provide more mobility choice to the residents of Burlington, and ensures that all road users, including cyclists, have access to safe facilities.
The purpose of the pilot project was to provide an opportunity to evaluate the impacts and benefits of on-road cycling
The outcomes of the pilot project were to be used to help inform the development of future cycling projects and the Cycling Master Plan Update which is currently underway.
This all started in July of 2016 when City Council approved transportation services department report with the following direction:
Direct the Executive Director of Capital Works and Director of Transportation Services to report back on the performance of the pilot project prior to the top layer of asphalt being placed on the section of New Street between Guelph Line and Cumberland Avenue;
Following Council approval, staff converted New Street (between Guelph Line and Walkers Line) from a four-lane cross section to a three-lane cross section consisting of two through lanes and a centre two-way left-turn lane. The revised three-lane cross section included buffered on-road bike lanes. The pilot officially “launched” on August 23rd, 2016.
New Street is a minor east-west arterial that runs parallel to the QEW and Fairview Street, providing key connections to the major north-south arterial road system.
New Street accommodates both residential and commuter traffic and provides access to adjacent residential, commercial and institutional developments as well as the surrounding established neighbourhoods.
City hall went to great lengths to explain the project to the public – few people attended the information session at Bateman high school where there was a lot of detailed information.
24-hour traffic volumes along New Street range between 15,000 and 20,000 vehicles per day. Prior to installation of on-road bike lanes, an average of 60 cyclists per day used New Street.
Prior to the pilot project, this section of New Street consisted of a four-lane cross- section (two travel lanes per direction) within an overall roadway width of 14.0 metres.
The posted maximum speed limit throughout the corridor is 60 km/h exclusive of school zones.
The Pilot Project Design called for a reallocation of the existing roadway through the removal of two through vehicle lanes and introduction of a centre two-way left-turn lane. The preferred design achieved dedicated cycling facilities and reprioritized the function of the street in order to better accommodate bikes.
Lane configuration prior to the bike lane installation (left graphic) and lane configuration during the pilot project (right graphic)
3. Community Feedback
New Street has been identified as a key commuter cycling corridor given its continuous length, topography, and proximity to GO Stations. Under the previous lane configuration, New Street averaged 60 cyclists a day (June, 2016).
Installation of the pilot has increased cycling use to an average of 80 cyclists per day. Cycling volume data was obtained from a traffic camera situated at the intersection of New Street and Cumberland Avenue.
Based on feedback received from bike lane users, the pilot project has increased levels of comfort, safety and enjoyment of this mode of travel. Users also noted that extending the buffered bike lanes to Burloak Drive and connect to cycling infrastructure in Oakville should be pursued.
Vehicle volumes were collected using automatic traffic recorders used to measure the volume, direction of traffic flow, traffic speed and vehicle classification.
Recognizing that a reduction in lane capacity on New Street had potential to result in diversion, traffic data was collected to substantiate the impact of the pilot project to nearby neighbourhood streets.
The most notable change in traffic volumes (net increase) was recorded along Woodward Avenue where the daily traffic volumes rose by 16% and while the volume is within acceptable limits of the roadways classification it is an increase nonetheless. The pilot project resulted in negligible impacts to the other surrounding roadways.
Vehicle travel times were recorded before and during the pilot project in order to quantify the increase in travel times as a result of reducing lane capacity and introduction of on-road bike lanes. Bluetooth technology was utilized as a means to collect a large data sample of vehicles (30,000 vehicle sample) traveling through a predetermined section of the corridor.
Vehicle travel times were recorded before and during the installation of the pilot project and excluded the period during which watermain and other sewer work was actively under way and disruptive to traffic flow.
Data collected under stabilized conditions (post watermain work) indicates that the travel times have increased on average by approximately one and a half minutes during the evening peak hour in the westbound direction.
Collision experience was also examined as part of the evaluation of the pilot project. Before and after analysis appears to indicate a downward trend, however, with less than one year of collision data available under unimpeded road pilot conditions, staff are not comfortable drawing conclusions as it relates to the overall safety of New Street.
Staff received over 1100 comments and suggestions via e-mail, telephone, social media and in person. Feedback predominantly showed a lack of support for the on-street bike lane installation. Increase to travel time, increased traffic congestion and lack of use by cyclists were recurring themes in opposition to the pilot project.
It was all hands on deck – the city was promoting the use of bicycles – that got Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward on her bike – not something seen very often,
Positive feedback cited sense of improved traffic and safety conditions for those residents who reside on New Street. Cyclists who utilized the on-road bike lanes noted that they experienced greater comfort and convenience and felt they promoted safer cycling.
Cycling Master Plan Update
The 2009 Council approved Cycling Master Plan is currently being updated to determine the next critical steps in the evolution of the city’s cycling infrastructure. The focus of this study, which is being undertaken by Alta Planning and Design and led by Transportation Services staff, is to provide guidance and expert opinion on facility types and locations and to recommend a minimum network for cycling in the City of Burlington.
Within the scope of this study, New Street was examined to confirm its suitability as an east-west cycling spine and evaluate the most appropriate type of cycling for the corridor. The existing buffered on road bike lanes were not identified to be problematic and are an appropriate facility type, however, based on a preliminary review, a continuous higher order cycling facility on New Street would provide an important east- west connection for the City and is more likely to generate new cyclists to the corridor.
Transit Network
In recent months, Transit, Planning and Transportation staff have been working together towards developing a frequent transit network for the City of Burlington. The lane configuration on New Street was to play a prominent role in providing the necessary road infrastructure to accommodate high frequency transit service. From a transit perspective, a four-lane cross section best serves the needs of passengers when being dropped off at the curb without blocking bicycle traffic and having to merge back into traffic flow.
While cycling numbers have increased by 20 per day along the New Street corridor, it is not apparent that it can be attributed solely to the on-road bike lanes. Vehicle travel times have risen somewhat and traffic diversion to parallel routes has also increased.
Before and after collision data does not provide any conclusive evidence of any safety improvement at this time. Future frequent transit service along New Street is better served by a four-lane cross section.
An increase in cycling volume is not the only measurable considered however, with no clear indication that cycling volumes have increased as a result of the pilot coupled with the negative impacts to travel times, diversion and future transit, staff do not recommend carrying on with the pilot project or extending it to Burloak Drive.
New Street provides an opportunity to create a critical spine for a cycling network in the City of Burlington. The length, location and cross section can accommodate a number of alternative cycling facility types. The test of any selected facility is its ability to attract more regular everyday “commuter” type users if we are to achieve the goal within our strategic plan of a higher cycling modal share.
After considering which facility best fits our goal to increase the cycling mode share, staff have concluded that dedicated, off road paved cycle tracks provide the greatest advantage.
The cycle track option was presented in transportation services department report TS- 10-16 in July 2016 with some preliminary assessment completed to determine cost implications. Recognizing the considerable cost of such a facility, staff recommend pursuing senior government funding which has been available in the past for cycling related infrastructure.
Next Steps – New Street Resurfacing:
Resurfacing of New Street from Cumberland Avenue to Walkers Line was included in the 2017 Capital Budget and was deferred to provide for full test of the New Street pilot project. With Council approval of this report the lane configuration for New Street will be confirmed and the resurfacing of New Street from Guelph Line to Walkers Line can be completed. The total cost including, inspection, testing, net HST and contingency is $650,000.
The dedicated cycling lanes were not fully tested – road re-surfacing, sewer main replacement and repairs got in the way of a full fledged test.
Storm Sewer Repairs
During completion of the asphalt rehabilitation on New Street, east of Guelph Line a significant storm sewer failure occurred. Upon detailed investigation, it was determined that full replacement of 340 metres storm sewer and 3 maintenance holes was warranted. To ensure motorist safety and have the work completed as soon as possible to allow the road lanes impacted to be reopened; King completed much of this work in 2017, with a small section of sewer work still to be completed. The additional cost to complete the storm sewer replacement is estimated to be $335,000. The total cost including, inspection, testing, HST and contingency is $392,000.
Public Engagement Matters:
In the Staff report that will go to the Standing Committee on the 27th, they say: City staff created a project website (www.burlington.ca/newstreetpilot ) where all the information was posted and where residents were able to provide their input.
Based on the emails, letters, social media posts and telephone conversations, staff produced a summary of comments received in favour and opposition of the pilot project. As part of public engagement, staff also received a petition that contained over 2,700 signatures of Burlington residents who are in opposition to the pilot project.
Conclusion:
The evaluation and subsequent analysis indicates that desired increase in cycling activity has not materialized based on the data collected before and after the pilot project. It is difficult to confidently attribute the increase in bicycle volume of 20 per day solely on the buffered bike lanes. However, there is also a recognition that the cycling volume may have been negatively impacted by the limited length and lack of connectivity to a larger east-west cycling network.
Travel time, during the evening peak hour has increased and while not excessive, does add time to motorists evening commute. There has been some nominal traffic diversion to Spruce and Woodward Avenues and while considered to be within the volume threshold of both roadways classification, it is not the function of a collector roadway to facilitate what is essentially “through” volume.
New Street is expected to play an important role in supporting a frequent transit network that is currently being evaluated. The preferred lane configuration for higher frequency transit operation on New Street is a four-lane cross section.
Cycle tracks, provide the greatest level of protection and encourages more people to use cycling as a commuting mode of transportation. Increasing the cycling mode share is aligned with the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan and upcoming Transportation Plan.
The implementation of cycle tracks on New Street presents funding challenges, however, senior levels of government are continuing to invest in cycling infrastructure and New Street is an ideal candidate for consideration. Staff will consider for inclusion, the implementation of cycle tracks in the capital budget and forecast in future years and will continue to pursue funding opportunities from both the provincial and federal governments.
This is a Staff recommendation that Council will take to – Councillor Jack Dennison will remonstrate over the missed opportunity to get more people out on bikes – the two women who brought in several thousand signatures on a petition will sleep well when city council kills the idea on December 11th.
It has taken decades for Canadians to begin to come to terms with our Indigenous community.
The federal government took us through the Truth and Reconciliation process and the Halton District School Board (HDSB) has been very proactive in getting the subject of recognizing and respecting the people who walked this land long before white people first sailed up the St Lawrence River.
Burlington doesn’t have an Indigenous population – we don’t have any direct issues to deal with. Thunder Bay is in a very different situation – something they struggle with.
The HDSB now makes a practice of having the Chair reads out a statement at the beginning of each public meeting.
Statement read at the beginning of every public session of the Halton District School Board.
There was a time when that Board may have had everyone stand up and Sing God Save the Queen or O’Canada
Most of us knew the words or at least some of them.
The Chair of the Board read the Honouring the Land and Territory – she shouldn’t have, at least not until she has taken the time to learn the correct pronunciation and is able to get her tongue around the more difficult ones.
To read the statement so badly is an insult to the Indigenous people.
There are Indigenous people on staff that can help the Chair get the pronunciation right. Some of the words are not easy – practicing and getting it right is what we owe these people. If HDSB Chair Kelly Amos cannot do it right – better not to do it at all.
Our ancestors took their land, do we have to mangle their culture?
How can citizens have some control over the changes that are made to their city?
The current crop of politicians on city council take the view that they were elected to lead and so they bring their values and approaches to leadership – failing to connect in a meaningful way with what their constituents think.
That just might be changing in Burlington.
There are currently three community groups protesting against decisions that city council has made or might be making in the months ahead.
The 421 Brant development is a done deal. The best the citizens were able to do was put together a petition and pack the city hall chamber with unhappy people. City council paid even less than lip service to their concerns and approved the project. There is a rumbling going on about a possible appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) that doesn’t look as if it has any traction.
Approved by city Council November 13th, 2017
While the 421 Brant decision is truly trans formative for the city – there wasn’t a deep understanding as to just what it is going to mean longer term. And while there were some strong points made during the delegations at the council meeting where the development was approved – there wasn’t a focused group behind the protests.
And, not everyone was against the development.
Brant street is a bit of a mess – it is a location badly in need of some of that “vitality” many think it already has. There are those who want things to be the way they were 40 years ago. The decision to grow the population and the geographical boundaries the city has to work within meant growing “up” and not out. The Burlington we had 40 years ago is no more.
There are two other projects that have people upset: The plans Meridian Brick has to begin mining for shale in the eastern sector of their property off the upper part of King Road and the Tyendaga Environmental Coalition (TEC) group that wants to bring that to a halt.
West Have residents don’t want the third shale quarry site to get into production. Saving their homes and 9000 trees is seen as critical to a planet that is staring climate change in the face.
Then there is the Plan B group that wants to ensure that the city doesn’t screw up the re-development of the Waterfront Hotel site.
What a group of well funded citizens want the re-development of the Waterfront Hotel site to look like.
The TEC and the Plan B people are taking a much more focused and well-funded approach to their issues.
The best that the people opposed to the height of the 421 development could do was get the support of the ward Councillor and deliver a petition to city council.
The Plan B and the TEC group have gone to their community and raised funds and then retained professional help to take on city hall.
There is talk amongst the movers and shakers about creating a slate of candidates for public office in Burlington and electing a council that represents the interests of everyone and not just the limited understanding that most members of the current city council have.
City Council: Three of the seven were first elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. One of the other four has been around for as long as 24 years.
To be fair to this city council – they were all re-elected in 2014 after being elected in 2010 – they felt they had a mandate. The people that are complaining now are the people that voted them all back into office in 2014. Surely there was enough evidence at the end of their 2010 term of office to know what they were going to deliver.
Are they politically adroit enough to change course and get ahead of the parade of protest that is taking place?
Or will enough of them give it up and move on to retirement. Councillors Dennison and Taylor have been in office for more than 20 years, the Mayor and Councillor Craven have close to 15 years as public servants behind them.
The big question is going to be – where will the new blood come from? Are there any prospective candidates out there that show at least some promise?
Salt with Pepper is the publisher’s opinion column.
One as a matter of record. We feel the public should know what these corporations and organizations have done.
Second, to let the public see just who it is that is doing something to meet the climate warming challenge. It is real, very real. Next week David Suzuki, probably the best known environmentalist in North America and certainly someone most Canadians will at least have heard about – he is going to be in Burlington to tell us just how close we are to actually losing it all.
Third – how did these corporations and organizations get on the Conservation Hall of Fame?
Burlington Hydro explained that the criteria was straight forward – any company in Burlington that participated and completed a ‘Save on Energy’ For Business program between 2015 and October 2017, made the list The list is very diverse – from churches and sports clubs to larger commercial companies.
This is the 2nd Hall of Fame event. The first was held in 2015, recognizing 44 local companies that had participated and completed conservation programs between 2011 and 2014.
There is more information about the Save on Energy For Business on the IESO website.
Burlington Hydro delivers the programs and works closely with businesses to help them – https://saveonenergy.ca/Business.aspx
Our Conservation team helps companies with:
Complimentary site assessments · Helping them to find the conservation opportunities through our Energy Manager
Early project reviews · Confirming eligibility and best approaches
Vendor/Consultant referral · Experts with proven track record
From the Mom and Pop operation to the factory floor, over 160 local companies have participated under the
Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) ‘For Business’ program umbrella since 2015.
Whether it was a lighting incentive program for small business, or a larger retrofit program that upgrades the efficiency of industrial equipment, programs are available to suit most every need. Not only are operational efficiencies being met, but positive environmental outcomes are being realized.
Gerry Smallegange, President and CEO, Burlington Hydro believes Hydro is “making a difference by delivering incentive programs that are helping participating businesses become a little bit leaner, a little more power savvy and a lot more energy efficient.”
The conservation program portfolio is designed to help businesses from across the spectrum. The IESO’s ‘Save on Energy’ business programs have been developed in collaboration with electricity utilities, and are delivered by local utilities, including Burlington Hydro.
Under Ontario’s Conservation First Framework, the IESO has assigned Burlington Hydro a target of just over 99 million kilowatt hours (kWh) in power savings to be realized between 2015 and 2020. When achieved this will be equivalent to taking 12,380 average residential households in the community off the grid.
Burlington Hydro Inc. is an energy services company in the power distribution business. Serving approximately 67,000 residential and commercial customers, Burlington Hydro is wholly owned by the City of Burlington.
There were 44 organizations and corporations on the 2011-2015 Conservation Hall of Fame list. There are a lot that you will recognize – what really matters is – are you on the list?
You can be and you perhaps should be.
1213763 ONTARIO INC.
1225511 ONTARIO INC.
1602211 ONTARIO LTD.
744497 ONTARIO LTD.
975445 ONTARIO INC.
AHERN REAL ESTATE
CORPORATION ALDERSHOT TENNIS CLUB
ALTERNATE CHOICE INC.
AMHILL ENTERPRISES
ARDENT MILLS
ARGO INTERNATIONAL
ASBURY WILKINSON INC.
BANK OF MONTREAL, REGIONAL DATA CENTRE
BAYVIEW CEMETERY, CREMATORY & MAUSOLEUM
BAYVIEW FARM
BECKER’S STORE
BENTALL KENNEDY
BERICAP NORTH AMERICA
BGC FUNDING INNOVATION INC.
BRANT CYCLE & SPORT LTD.
BURLINGTON CENTRE FOR OSTEOPATHY AND ATHLETIC THERAPY
BURLINGTON DANCE ACADEMY INC.
BURLINGTON FITNESS & RACQUET CLUB
BURLINGTON HUMANE SOCIETY
BURLINGTON NISSAN
BURLINGTON YOUTH SOCCER CLUB
CADENA PROPERTY LTD.
CANADA POST
CANADAS BEST VALUE INN
CAPO INDUSTRIES LTD.
CAPREIT
CATEGORY 5 IMAGING INC.
CEDAR SPRINGS HEALTH RACQUET & SPORTSCLUB
CELADON IMPORTS INC.
CHOICE PROPERTIES R.E.I.T.
CHRISTOPHER TERRACE
CIMTEK AUTOMATION SYSTEMS
CITY OF BURLINGTON
CLV GROUP, INTERRENT REIT
CONCEPT LIGHTING GALLERY
CORPORATION OF CITY OF HAMILTON
COSTCO WHOLESALE LTD.
CROWN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
DESTARON
DISCOVERY FORD
DRYCO BUILDING SUPPLIES INC.
EARTH FRESH
EASTWAY BAKE SHOPPE
EDEN TILE INC.
ELIZABETH INTERIORS
END OF THE ROLL
ESSO (SONEIL GROUP)
ETRATECH MANUFACTURING
FAIRHAM INVESTMENTS INC. FAITH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
FARAWAY GREENS INDOOR GOLF
FIBRECAST INC.
FISHER & LUDLOW NUCOR GRATING
FREIGHTLINE CARRIER SYSTEMS
FRONTIER COMMERCIAL
GERRIE ELECTRIC
GPM REAL PROPERTY LTD.
GRAFTON-FRASER INC.
GURU RAVIDASS SABHA
HADRIAN MANUFACTURING INC.
HALTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
HALTON CONDO CORP. #34
HALTON CONDO CORP. #80
HALTON CONDO CORP. #85
HALTON CONDO CORP. #160
HALTON CONDO CORP. #174
HALTON CONDO CORP. #364
HALTON CONDO CORP. #371
HALTON CONDO CORP. #552
HALTON CONDO CORP. #574
HALTON HONDA LTD.
HALTON REGION & HALTON COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION
HALTON STANDARD CONDO CORP. #417
HALTON STANDARD CONDO CORP. #602 HALTON STANDARD CONDO CORP. #625 –
IRONSTONE CONDOMINIUM
HALTON STANDARD CONDO CORP. #630
HAMILTON KOREAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
HARVESTER HOLDINGS CORP.
HOME DEPOT CANADA
HOMESTEAD LAND HOLDINGS LTD.
HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY
HUMMEL BROTHERS AUTOMOTIVE
HUNTER AMENITIES INTERNATIONAL
IKEA PROPERTIES LTD.
IVANHOE CAMBRIDGE INC.
JACK ASTOR’S BAR & GRILL
JAMES DIEPPE LTD.
KRPAN GROUP L3 – WESCAM
LANDECK PROPERTIES INC.
LCBO
LEGGAT PONTIAC BUICK
LEON’S FURNITURE
LIEBHERR-CANADA LTD.
LJM DEVELOPMENTS
LOBLAWS INC.
LONGO BROTHERS
FRUIT MARKETS INC.
MARILU’S MARKET
MARS METAL
MCDONALD’S RESTAURANT – PLAINS ROAD
MENKES INDUSTRIAL PARKS LTD.
MERCEDES-BENZ BURLINGTON
METRICAN STAMPING CO. INC.
MICHAELS OF CANADA
MIKE ZAVERSHNIK
MODEL AERONAUTICS
MORGAN ADVANCED MATERIALS
NATURE’S EMPORIUM (BURLINGTON)
NORTHGATE PROPERTIES INC.
PACK & RAIL
POLLARD WINDOWS INC.
PROGRESS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LTD. QUALITY HOTEL BURLINGTON
RATHCLIFFE PROPERTIES
REVERA INC.
RHI CANADA INC.
RIOCAN HOLDINGS INC.
ROGERS AT&T WIRELESS
ROSELAND PRODUCE
ROYAL STONE GALLERY INC.
RUSCOTT INVESTMENT CORP.
RUSTON RV CENTRE
RYAN SGRO ENTERPRISES
SAMUEL, SON & CO., LTD.
SCAN DECOR
SCOTIA BANK – NEW ST. BRANCH
SEARS CANADA INC.
SELENEX CORPORATION LTD.
SHAPLEY B INVESTMENTS
SHIFT MOTORS INC.
SPX FLOW CLYDEUNION PUMPS
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
ST. JOHN’S ANGLICAN CHURCH
ST. PATRICK CHURCH
ST. RAPHAEL CHURCH
STARLIGHT INVESTMENTS
STOP RESTAURANT SUPPLY LTD.
STRESS-CRETE LTD.
SUN CHEMICAL LIMITED
SYNDICATE MANAGEMENT INC.
THE JUDGE & JURY PUB
THE WILLIAMSBURG RETIREMENT RESIDENCE
TIMBERCREEK ASSET MANAGEMENT
TUBE HONING & FINISHING INC.
VOORTMAN COOKIES LIMITED
WATERFRONT HOTEL BURLINGTON
WAVE HOCKEY INC.
WENDY’S RESTAURANT – FAIRVIEW ST.
WESTERN ONTARIO DISTRICT OF THE PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLIES OF CANADA WHITING DOOR MANUFACTURING LTD.
WOLSELEY CANADA INC.
WOODLAND CHILDREN’S CENTRE
ZETON INC.
ZIP SIGNS LTD.
ZOEY’S CONSIGNMENT COLLECTION
By Pepper Parr
“On June 7th, delegations were heard, prepared speeches were read, a vote was held. Two schools were to close. Tell me did those delegations mean anything at all? Especially given the prepared statements that were read that night of why trustees were voting in favour of closure. Did the 10 day between delegations and a vote violation mean anything to the HDSB or the trustees?
The Tyendaga Environmental Coalition wants the city to step in and support their fight to prevent a shale mining operation from beginning to mine a quarry that is yards from their homes.
The Plan B group wants a better deal for the re-development of the Waterfront Hotel.
The suspect is described as:
The idea for something different in Aldershot got included with the resolution the trustees were debating – it both didn’t have traction in the minds of any of the trustees and several didn’t event understand what the idea was about.
The public got to see the themes at an Open House on November 13th. The ideas were set out on tables at stations where the themes were displayed.
Blackwell is excited and the people working on the project are just as excited.
The HDSB has sent an email to parents/guardians of all current elementary and secondary students, as well as staff, with a link to the survey. Members of the public can 
They will be virtual – all on-line, creating a community presence to help to build awareness on issues affecting Burlington residents and the community as a whole.
The most notable change in traffic volumes (net increase) was recorded along Woodward Avenue where the daily traffic volumes rose by 16% and while the volume is within acceptable limits of the roadways classification it is an increase nonetheless. The pilot project resulted in negligible impacts to the other surrounding roadways.
Data collected under stabilized conditions (post watermain work) indicates that the travel times have increased on average by approximately one and a half minutes during the evening peak hour in the westbound direction.
Burlington Hydro explained that the criteria was straight forward – any company in Burlington that participated and completed a ‘Save on Energy’ For Business program between 2015 and October 2017, made the list The list is very diverse – from churches and sports clubs to larger commercial companies.
ALDERSHOT TENNIS CLUB
FAITH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
HALTON STANDARD CONDO CORP. #625 –
L3 – WESCAM
QUALITY HOTEL BURLINGTON
WHITING DOOR MANUFACTURING LTD.
