 By Staff
September 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It is that time of year again when everyone is asked to pitch in, pull together and raise the funds the United Way needs to support those in need.
This Saturday, September 16th, United Way and UPS Canada will bring together community partners to pull a pull a 200,000 lbs Airbus A300 as a demonstration of what can be done when everyone pulls.
The event will take place at the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.
 United Way Plane Pull 2016 Each team will get one opportunity to pull the plane 50 feet across the tarmac in the shortest amount of time. The fastest three teams will participate in a pull-off.
Prizes will be awarded to the three fastest teams, top fundraising team, and teams with the most spirit.
The United Way is a different organization now. We used to know it as the Burlington Greater Hamilton United Way – they outgrew that name and are now United Way Halton & Hamilton and include all the municipalities in the Region rolled into the one organization
It was a controversial move – didn’t get the required number of votes the first time around but after some lobbying and frank conversations all the municipalities were brought to realize that his kind of structure is what was needed.
 The new organization will be “showing the flag” in all five communities it serves this weekend! Look up into the sky Saturday morning to see a surprise, sponsored by Cogeco! Share your photos on social media and include @UnitedWayHH and #improvingliveslocally.
All those whose living depend on photo ops will be on hand on Saturday at the airport. Scheduled to attend:
 United Way Executive Director Jeff Valentin MP Bob Bratina, Hamilton East — Stoney Creek
MP Karina Gould, Burlington
Sam Oosterhoff, Niagara West—Glanbrook
Mayor Burton, Town of Oakville
Jeff Vallentin, CEO United Way Halton & Hamilton, will deliver opening remarks.
Ken Smithard, CEO Cogego & United Way Halton & Hamilton Campaign Chair will deliver remarks and reveal the 2017 campaign goal.
It all takes place Saturday, September 16th, 2017 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
 Former City general manager Kim Phillips gives it more than the old college try for the United Way. In the past few years the Gazette has watched the public face of the United Way change. We used to see city hall much more engaged. The equipment pulls used to take place on Brant Street outside city hall with a BBQ lunch where staff got to pony up.
The city was always very good in the way they supported the United Way. The occasion was fun and at the same time told the story about the need.
It seems more corporate these days – which has not been the United Way in the past. Supporting people is a human endeavour – it’s a heart to heart thing – not a page of talking points.
 Someone at city hall decided to hold a content – and had each department competing with the others on how they would tell the United Way story. One department had two teams. Everyone had fun – and they raised more from the staff than they had in the past. United Way is a people story which the city staff once told very very well.
By Staff
September 14, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service has concluded its 2017 fundraising initiative in support of Special Olympics Ontario. Throughout the year, Halton Regional Police officers have been working with community partners to raise funds in support of our Special Olympians.
One of this year’s highlights was the annual “Cops for Cowboys” night at Lone Star Restaurants in Milton and Oakville. For this event, officers donned western apparel and partnered with restaurant staff during dinner hours to serve patrons. All gratuities were donated to Special Olympics Ontario.
In June, 1 District (Milton and Halton Hills) hosted the Halton Regional Police Service’s Law Enforcement Torch Run/Ride (LETR). The LETR for Special Olympics engages law enforcement officers worldwide who champion acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the LETR, a fundraising event was planned in Milton. Officers and community members cycled, ran or walked more than 65 kilometers to raise money for Special Olympics Ontario. All participants were also invited to 12 Division in Milton for an afternoon barbecue.
On Tuesday September 12, 2017 fundraising results were calculated and more than $5500.00 was presented to Special Olympics Ontario at 12 Division in Milton.
The Halton Regional Police Service would like to thank all members of the community who donated to this worthy cause including:
• Law Enforcement Officers across the Greater Toronto Area
• The Halton District School Board
• The Halton Catholic District School Board
• Provincial and Demonstration Schools Branch
• Lone Star Restaurants
• Mattamy Homes and Gee Wizz Portable Rentals
• Maple Lodge Farms
• Optimist Club of Milton
 (Left to Right – Inspector Derek Davis (District Operations), Sergeant Paul Harrower (Regional Community Mobilization Bureau), Cody Jansma (Special Olympics Ontario), Inspector Dave Stewart (Regional Community Mobilization Bureau)
 By Staff
September 14th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
As part of Culture Days, The Burlington Performing Arts Centre is hosting an Arts and Culture Marketplace, opening the doors to showcase local arts organizations, groups, and artists. The marketplace will be held in The Centre’s lobby on Saturday, September 30 from 10am–4pm.
The event is free.
 The Burlington Teen Tour Band will be on hand to tell their story. Stop by with your family and friends throughout the day to participate in arts and culture activities.
Meet The Burlington Performing Arts Centre’s Executive Director, Tammy Fox, between 12pm-2pm in the lobby.
 Some of the work hat has come out of the Kirkland Lynch Studio. Participating groups include: Aldershot Players, Arts & Culture Council of Burlington, Art Gallery of Burlington, Art in Action Studio, Burlington Civic Chorale, Burlington Concert Band, Burlington Fine Arts Association, Burlington Footnotes, Burlington New Millennium Orchestra, Burlington Public Library, Burlington Suzuki School of Music, FLK Taoist Tai Chi, Harbourtown Sound, Lowville Festival, Kirkland Lynch Studio Gallery, Mark Zelinski – Photographer, New Horizons Adult Concert Band, Red Leaf Cultural Integration, Rotary Burlington Music Festival, Sahaja Yoga Meditation, soFX, Symphony on the Bay, and The Burlington Slam Project.
Wow! That is an impressive list.
Each group will share their history, future plans, memberships, auditions, and information on upcoming performances.
Many people in the arts community are grumbling about what little is being heard from city hall on the Culture Day program.
By Pepper Parr
September 14, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
“You may have already had some feedback about the meeting with the Mayor, but wanted to provide some initial thoughts” said Steve Armstrong who was part of the four member delegation that spent an hour and a half with the Mayor and his Chief of Staff Mike Greenlee.
“Overall it went very well. Once the initial uncertainties melted away about our agenda we were able to have a productive discussion.
 Steve Armstrong, a Pearson parent who did some of the best analytical work on the enrollment numbers. “We brought some reasoned perspective to the table, and have promised to follow up with information backing up our talking points.
The Mayor agreed to a follow up discussion after he has had time to digest, and reflect more on the perspectives that he was given by the delegation.
That the meeting went longer then was scheduled, “is testament to a genuine interest.”
 Rory Nissan exchanging contact information with George Ward – both went on to become strong members of the high school group fighting to keep their school open. Rory Nisan who was also part of the delegation came away with basically the same impression. “The Mayor listened and we felt we were heard. He asked real questions.” The delegation talked about the population changes that are going to take place in the city and who was going to buy the homes that were being sold.
The group of seven were able to give the Mayor information he said he was not aware of. Additional information is to be put together and sent along to the Mayor. What will come out of the meeting? Depends on what and how he Mayor gets back to the Pearson parents with.
Nisan didn’t want to go on the record about some of the conversation other than to say that the group felt they had made their point and that they would be providing the Mayor with additional detail.
 George Ward. George Ward, another member of the delegation who has some very strong views on the decision to close Pearson high school was expected to be very direct with the Mayor.
He came away impressed, saying it was an excellent meeting and that the Mayor summarized what had been covered very well.
Let’s watch and see how the follow up with the delegation goes.
 By Staff
September 13th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The chair of Burlington for Accessible. Sustainable Transit (BFAST) says he wants an independent inquiry into the reasons for the mess the system finds itself in.
 “ ‘Disgraceful’ is not a strong enough word to describe the extent to which Council has overseen the decay of Burlington’s transit system,” said Brown. “We need an independent inquiry as to why this has been allowed to happen.”
“Not only has the transit system been starved of funds with the result that ridership has plummeted, but it has deteriorated to the extent that the safety of its passengers and other users of our roads has been called into question,” Brown said.
“Council must be accountable for this lamentable state of affairs and must get serious about Burlington’s transit service.”
 Doug Brown,chair of Bfast, knows that a well run bus service is a beautiful thing. Brown has long questioned the information Council has received from City staff on the transit file and says he was “not surprised” to find that the facts confirmed the system is in crisis.
Brown says the City needs a transit study that’s part of Burlington’s overall transportation plan. He says Council’s penchant for robbing the transit budget and “micro-management” of the system have been primary causes of its decay.
 By Staff
September 13th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 The willow trees and the gazebo lent the east end of Spencer Smith Park a certain charm. Those willow tree (there were two of them) that the city cut down because they were thought to be dangerous to the public did have one very small upside – people could get a piece of trees that were planted more than 70 years ago.
To mollify the public disappointment the city is handing out pieces of the tree – all you had to do was go on line and make a request.
Turned out it wasn’t quite that simple.
There was a glitch somewhere in the software that makes all these wonderful things happen – the techies recently discovered issues with some online forms completed by the public and is asking those affected to resubmit their information.
 The new gazebo – all metal and pretty sterile. In time, we suppose, the trees around it will grow and add some character. The technical issues affected Willow Tree wood request forms between Aug. 2 and Aug. 3 at www.burlington.ca/willowtrees and all applications for a 2018 Community Garden.
The technical issues have been fixed and the forms are now being received by the city. The Willow Tree Wood form deadline has been extended until Friday, Sept. 15, 2017.
 Special to the Gazette
September 13th,2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Transit violated provincial laws concerning hours of work and followed unsafe maintenance practices following cutbacks made by City Council to the system’s budget, according to an explosive report by City Manager James Ridge and senior staff at the beleaguered transit agency.
Ridge, Director of Transit Sue Connor and Business Administration Manager Colm Lynn painted a picture of a system stretched beyond its limits at a meeting of Council’s Committee of the Whole Sept. 7.
Councillors expressed shock that the cutbacks for which they had voted caused such chaos at Burlington Transit and directed staff to come up with a budget that would at least stabilize the system at its meeting on Sept. 11.
Ridge told the presentation that the deterioration of the transit system occurred under the City’s mantra of “doing more with less.”
 City manager James Ridge with Mike Spicer who at the time was the Director of Transit. Much of the damage done to the transit service took place on Spicer’s watch. The city manager does not appear to be amused. “With every exercise [in doing more with less] there’s a line you cross where you just provide crappy [transit] service that people don’t want,” Ridge said. “And I think we passed that line some time ago.”
Among the revelations in the staff report:
• A significant number of Burlington Transit drivers worked above the maximum weekly number of hours allowed by provincial legislation without a permit. BT never applied for such a permit, even though some drivers had worked more than 60 hours per week.
• Two thirds of the time, BT’s mechanics work alone, without supervision. The system has had to cut back on preventive maintenance and has the lowest ratio of mechanics to vehicle miles of its peers. If a bus breaks down, there are no replacements available. Reliability has plummeted, and BT’s new Director and staff have used their own cars to rescue passengers stranded by breakdowns. Ridge called these “fundamental safety issues [that] have to be addressed.”
• Drivers who are classed as casual employees are working an average of more than 40 hours per week, with minimal benefits and compensation below the level of Halton’s living wage. Of these employees, the annual turnover is more than 50% because Burlington pays its transit operators less than neighbouring municipalities.
• The City provides no capital funding for transit. All capital funding, which buys replacement buses, among other things, has come from federal and provincial grants and special programs.
• Ridership has declined by 16.5% as service has become less frequent and less reliable.
Citizen call for a public inquiry of the city’s public transit service.
Councillors expressed shock that the cutbacks they supported had caused such a mess.
 Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison has his own form of transportation. Isn’t believed to have been aboard a bus for more than a decade. “I didn’t realize that the sky was falling as badly as it appears to be,” said Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison, who supported diverting funds from the transit budget to “scrape-and-pave” projects on little-used residential streets.
Councillors voted to take money out of transit’s share of the money the city gets from the federal gas tax to fund the shave – and-pave projects.
 Councillors Sharman and Lancaster both expressed shock, dismay and concern over the state of the city’s transit service. “Every budget over the last four years, we’ve talked about gas tax split and every year, I’ve asked the question ‘Do we have sufficient funds going into the … vehicle renewal fund that makes this [service] viable?’ And every year I’ve been told ‘yes’,” said Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman.
Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster said she was “just as shocked as anyone” by the information from Ridge and the transit staff. But she said councilors knew that the data they had been getting in the past was “compromised and not necessarily reliable.”
 Citizen taking part in a transit Forum put on by Bfast vents his concern over the quality of the service to the Mayo and the Director of Transportation. “I think there’s an extreme urgency” to address transit’s problems, said Mayor Rick Goldring, but the next budget cycle was “pretty soon.”
“But I don’t believe we should be waiting two cycles before we get the fix,” he said. “I think the sooner we can get our head around this and how we’re going to address it, the better.
“We don’t want to wait. We know we have to do something.”
Related news stories:
Transit riders get specific about service.
Politicians try to romance transit users.
By Pepper Parr
September 13th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
While the citizens of the city are asked to sit in on public sessions to discuss how we are going to Grow Bold and where all the high rise condominiums and apartment buildings are going to be located – the cranes towering above the city swing in back and forth and up and down with huge buckets of concrete as the development projects underway rise floor by floor.
 The Bridgewater as it will look from Lakeshore Road. That space on the left is not what the final view will look like. The Bridgewater on Lakeshore Road is now well above grade, the Paradigm on Fairview has three of the five towers on that development well underway – with sales reported to be very brisk.
The Berkeley on John Street is also well above grade.
The Molinaro project on Brock Street is getting ready for public review and the Carriage Gate project that is to be built opposite city hall is waiting for whatever the recommendation from the Planning department is going to be.
There are another couple of dozen projects that are in various stages of development; one a three tower structure on Brant Street at the Ghent intersection.
While all this happens the school board heads toward the actual closing of two of the city’s seven high schools and the city works at deciding when they should be pumping more money into transit.
The project that is going to have a significant impact on how people enjoy the waterfront is Bridgewater. The three structures are going to change how the way Lakeshore Road works and how people get to enjoy some of the eastern part of the downtown core waterfront.
The space between the 22 storey condominium and the eight storey hotel is going to be all people will be able to see from Lakeshore Road.
The opening between the two buildings is a bit bigger than we expected – but it isn’t wide open.
The public will be able to walk from Lakeshore Road through what is going to have to be well graded land. The original plans call for a reflecting pool in the middle.
Add to all this the development thinking being done on what will happen to the existing Waterfront Hotel and the plans the owner has to develop that property by demolishing the current structure and putting up a building that will be in the 20 storey plus hotel and a possible two other structures.
All this is putting some oomph behind that Grow Bold phrase.
 Aerial view of the hotel part of the Bridgewater project that will be on the corner of Lakeshore Road and Elizabeth and the Waterfront Hotel property to the west.  Bridgewater project from what will become the bottom of Elizabeth Street overlooking the lake.  The existing Waterfront Hotel wants to redevelop their property and put a much taller building on the site and add an additional stricture. There are issues to be worked out regarding the land south of the hotel that is to a large degree made up of landfill.
 An aerial view of the Bridgewater construction project. The red line between the buildings is the width of the opening the public will b able to walk through to get to the waterfront.
 By Pepper Parr
September 13th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Later today a small delegation from Pearson high school will be meeting with the Mayor during one of the Open Door sessions he holds for citizens who want to meet with him
 Showing the school colours. Pretty clear what the Pearson parents want to talk about – they want to know just where the Mayor was when the decision on closing schools was made. Those Pearson parents don’t buy the argument that it was just a school board trustee decision.
The Program Accommodation Review (PAR) process that took place made provision for representation from the city – the Mayor chose to pass that task along to his city manager James Ridge and had the temerity to say at a city council meeting that he, the Mayor, couldn’t think of anyone more qualified to represent the city.
 Steve Podrebarac on the left and Burlington city manager James Ridge at a school board PAR meeting. At the time Ridge had been city manager for about 18 months, was not a native of the city and probably could not have named the seven high schools in the city.
Ridge attended most of the PAR meetings, spoke twice. On one of those occasions he said the school board should not sell any land. The school board isn’t permitted to just sit on land it owns – they have to use it or lose it. When they do sell the land, which a decision the Board makes when they declare the land surplus.
 Cheryl DeLught and Steve Armstrong – part of the Pearson delegation. When the Board makes that decision there is a hierarchy of organizations that have the right to purchase the land – the city is on that list. The city could be negotiating with the school board to move some of its staff into Pearson to keep the building until the city has a better view of just what the student population is going to be.
All the Grow BOLD discussion taking place are making mention of a population that is going to climb from the current 186,000 to something in the 215,000 range. Will there not be some students in amongst those new residents?
Hopefully the Pearson people meeting with the Mayor today will be bold and suggest that the city get onside.
By Staff
September 12, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington and the KaBOOM! Aldershot community planning committee will hold an official opening ceremony for the new playground at Bolus Gardens Parkette on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 at 1 p.m. during Alderfest.
Translation – Photo op for the Mayor and the Council member.
Aldershot community volunteers, organizations and businesses joined Foresters FinancialTM and non-profit KaBOOM! during a Build Day in August to create the new play space, which will serve more than 1,200 children and their families in the local community.
 This is what the community designed – the project is now complete and gets an official opening later in the month. The design for the new playground was based on drawings created by neighborhood children at a special Design Day event that was held in June when community members met with organizers from KaBOOM! and Foresters FinancialTM to design their dream playground. The drawings inspired the final playground design.
Mayor Rick Goldring and Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven will cut a special link ribbon made by community children on Build Day and will recognize the community residents and businesses that helped with the project.
Alderfest is an annual festival hosted by the Aldershot BIA, the Aldershot Lions and the Surrey Warwick Community Association. The family event celebrates the people, activities and services in the Aldershot Community.
Bolus Gardens Parkette commemorates the efforts of George Bolus and friends who transformed the area in the parkette for the community.
KaBOOM! is a national non-profit dedicated to bringing balanced and active play into the daily lives of all kids, particularly those growing up in poverty in America. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,700 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers and served 8.5 million children.
KaBOOM! creates places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy lives and communities. More on the KaBOOM Facebook page – facebook.com/kaboom.
By Staff
September 12, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
This is a photo op that will have gladdened the heart of Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon.
Anything to do with cycling and sharing the road in a responsible way gets her attention.
The announcement earlier today at the Appleby GO station that the province is going to install secure bike storage at GO station and car pool lots making it easier for cyclists to commute to and from work, school, and appointments.
 The construction of new, secure bike storage lockers at GO Transit stations and car pool lots across southern Ontario. This investment is part of Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan and is funded by proceeds from the province’s cap on pollution and carbon market.
Eight bike lockers will be installed at each of 15 commuter parking lots across the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, Niagara, and Simcoe Region for a total of 120 bike lockers. Work will be finished by the end of March 2018.
In addition, 28 bike rooms will be installed at 26 GO Transit stations in the Greater Toronto Area over the next four years as part of Ontario’s GO RER program, expanding storage capacity while enhancing security. The first locations, which will be complete by spring 2018, include: Appleby, Markham, Mount Pleasant, Bronte, Unionville, and Stouffville.
 Minister of Transportation Steven De Luca and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Eleanor McMahon were in Burlington today to launch the new Commuter Bike Parking Program, which will help encourage people to take their bikes as part of their daily commute.
Eight bike lockers will be installed at each of 15 commuter parking lots across the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, Niagara, and Simcoe Region for a total of 120 bike lockers. Work will be finished by the end of March 2018. In addition, 28 bike rooms will be installed at 26 GO Transit stations in the Greater Toronto Area over the next four years as part of Ontario’s GO RER program, expanding storage capacity while enhancing security. The first locations, which will be complete by spring 2018, include: Appleby, Markham, Mount Pleasant, Bronte, Unionville, and Stouffville.
Locations:
GO stations: Burlington and Appleby
Car pool lots: QEW at Guelph Line and Hwy 403 at Hwy 6/Plains Rd
No mention of any fee for use – they will all be in place before the June election – which is more than can be said for the Burlington GO station upgrades.
No report on whether or not the two politicians rode their bikes to the event.
This just might give cyclists a reason to use New Street now that it is still on its Road Diet.
Ontario is investing approximately $2.5 million from its carbon market to fund this project.
About 1.5 million people in Ontario ride their bikes at least once a week during the spring, summer and fall, and many cycle year-round.
The Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling Program is a commitment under Ontario’s five-year Climate Change Action Plan which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.
By Staff
September 11, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Four Halton residents have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). These are the first human cases for Halton this year.
 wev “The Halton Region Health Department works diligently to reduce the risk of West Nile virus in our community through both education and preventative programs such as larviciding. Until the fall frost, Halton residents should continue to protect themselves against mosquito bites and remove mosquito breeding sites,” said Dr. Daniela Kempkens, Acting Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region.
“While 80 per cent of people infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms, others will have West Nile fever consisting of fever, headache, muscle ache and a rash. If residents are concerned or experiencing symptoms, I would encourage them to visit their health care professional.”
Urban areas are more likely to have mosquitoes that carry WNV. The types of mosquitoes that transmit WNV to humans most commonly breed in urban areas and in places that hold standing water such as bird baths, plant pots, old toys, and tires.
Residents are encouraged to take the following steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes:
• Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly-woven fabric.
• Avoid being outdoors from early evening to morning when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, as well as at any time in shady, wooded areas.
• Use an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET or Icaridin.
• Make sure your window and door screens are tight and without holes, cuts or other openings.
• Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects, where possible. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.
As part of its ongoing West Nile prevention program, Halton Region staff continually monitor areas of standing water, eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites and larvicide when mosquito larvae is found.
By Staff
September 12, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It took a long time to actually get PopUp patios operating in the city.
 Outdoor dining – where few found the passing traffic to be a problem. The first was at what used to be the Test Kitchen on Brant Street – they closed but not because of the PopUp.
Papa Giuseppe’s moved into the location and put up a PopUp patio that was popular.
Then the Coop that set up shop in what used to be the Rude Native location put a PopUp outside their restaurant on Brant Street.
The city wants to know what the public thinks of the things.
 They weren’t obtrusive and they weren’t inexpensive to install. Took the city years to make a decision and the uptake by the hospitality industry wasn’t all the high – just two locations. The people who operate the restaurants that have PopUps outside would really like to city to lighten up on the rules and the paper work.
The survey is short – link to it is – you have until October 6th to say what you think.
By Pepper Parr
September 11th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The original headline on this article has been revised: a reader took exception to the use of the phrase: “pulling teeth from hens” which she felt was sexist. We didn’t see it that way and that certainly wasn’t our intention.
This is begining to feel like we are trying to pull teeth from hens: just release the documents.
A number of weeks ago the Gazette asked Ward 1 and 2 school board trustee Leah Reynolds if she would send us the complete contents of the texts she sent and received from Marianne Meed Ward during the June 7th Board of Education meeting. That was the meeting at which the trustees decided to close two of the city’s seven high schools.
We asked the same question of Marianne Meed Ward who is member of city council and served on the Program Accommodation Review committee that was not able to arrive at a consensus or send a direction or recommendation to the Director of Education and to the trustees.
Some would argue that writing a direction or recommendation was not part of their mandate. So?
Everyone seems to share the view that the process was flawed – any comment from the members of that PARC would have been welcome – and might have given the trustees a clearer sense as to what was wrong with the process used.
Reynolds replied to our request with the following:
 Trustee Reynolds had a heavy book marked edition of Robert Rules of Order – clearly came to the meeting prepared to fight a procedural battle – with a parents who is also a member of city council “coaching” her from the public gallery. Thank you for your question, which I would have gladly provided to you earlier if asked.
Before, during and after meetings, I – as do all trustees – receive messages, questions and concerns from constituents and parents. As confirmed by the Chair at the June 7th and the June 21st meetings that communication does not violate any code of conduct nor is it contrary to any Board policy. As elected officials, hearing from our communities is part of the democratic process and the right of constituents to freedom of expression. While I cannot control who or what information parents or constituents send me, it is my job to listen and to take it into consideration to inform my questions and decision.
School closure conversations are difficult and the decisions are not desired by all of the residents of our community. My remarks were recorded on June 7 on why I supported the director’s report. Let me know if you want them.
The question was – would she send the texts that were exchanged by Meed Ward and Reynolds – which she chose not to answer.
We asked the same question of Meed Ward – we copied each of them on the separate message sent which was as follows:
I am putting together an article on how the Board of Trustees arrived at the decision they did to close two of the city’s seven high schools.
The communication between you and Trustee Reynolds during the debate are part of that story. Would you be good enough to send me all of the texts that you sent to Reynolds during the meeting.
If you wish please feel free to add any comment on the context within which the texts were sent.
Thank you – hope you and the family had a great summer.
Meed Ward came back with:
There is nothing to send. There was no communication during debate of the school closure motions.
As has been previously explained, the communication via text was related to a procedural matter prior to any discussion of the motions themselves, specifically a ruling of the chair on what order motions would be heard.
 Marianne Meed Ward texting messages to trustee Leah Reynolds during a Board of Education meeting. Some of the content appeared to be instructions on how to vote on a procedural matter. There was never a risk of motions not being debated; the issue was simply in what order – simultaneously or sequentially. Getting procedure right protects the outcome of any subsequent vote, thus protecting everyone’s interests including those making this an issue.
The communication had nothing to do with the votes on the school closure motions themselves, and no impact on them.
In the end the chair’s ruling was upheld 7-4 by trustees, the debate and votes on the dual campus and school closures proceeded simultaneously for another three hours. There was no communication during these debates and votes.
My communication is no different than the many emails or texts that were sent by other parents to trustees through the meetings. What makes this different and why it has become a story is because someone read and photographed private correspondence, published it on social media, then misrepresented the substance of the text in a broadcast news story. There was no effort to contact me directly for the truth about the communication, simply a rush to judgment with the aim of social shaming, via the press and social media.
That Ms Meed Ward is precisely the point –part of what you texted was read and it didn’t look all that good. Let the public see every word that was passed between the two of you – they will figure it out.
Some folks have willingly engaged in character assassination as a tactic to save their school. I understand the emotions involved in having your school on the closure list – having lived with it for the previous 6 months. But the ends don’t justify the means. We need to do better than this, especially on difficult issues like school closures. Thankfully the vast majority of citizens have been respectful in sharing their views and making their case throughout this process with facts and evidence, and without personal attacks.
I think there is a splitting of hairs here – the little bit of the texting that the public was able to see appeared to be directions from Meed Ward to trustee Reynolds.
The Bateman community managed to interest CHCH television in the story. The ran a piece on their newscast – link to that broadcast is HERE.
There is considerable concern within the community on just what happened. We have no idea what the two woman were up to. If there is a public concern both woman have an obligation to release whatever the content of the texts were – with time stamps on them.
Related news stories:
Bateman parents want an investigation.
Parents want trustee suspended.
Parent admits sending message – she wasn’t just any parent either
 By Rory Nisan
September 10, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Part of what makes Burlington arguably the best suburb in the GTA is that, almost anywhere in the city, you are no more than twenty minutes from the Escarpment or the lake. Nature is at your doorstep, as is the culture of the downtown mixed with the expansive views of the water.
As many readers know, a provincial mandate to increase the city’s population combined with the decision to not build north of the Dundas/407 barrier means that Burlington will be growing “up” rather than “out”.
 One of the prime places to just enjoy the city is on the north side of Lakeshore looking out over the lake. When the weather is right – seats are hard to get. The city’s plans for this growth have focused on “mobility hubs” around our three GO Train stations and, more controversially, the downtown corridor. The latter was destined to be the toughest sell: the downtown is not a true hub of mobility in 2017. The truth is that the downtown is a place people want to live for the lake, the restaurants and night life and the culture, not because it is a starting point for transportation to other destinations. Unlike the other three, the downtown is, by its nature, a destination hub first, a transportation one second.
There is an agenda to grow in the downtown core, and while it may in fact be good for the city as a whole, a bit of cognitive dissonance is required to buy into the mobility hub rationale.
When I attended a meeting about this downtown mobility hub this past Thursday, it was not surprising that the Art Gallery of Burlington’s largest hall was filled with interested and sometimes concerned local downtown residents.
Presentations from consultants began shortly after 7 pm, and it wasn’t long before the anxiety of the audience became evident. They did not wait long before interrupting the consultants to ask questions. After responding to a few of them, the consultants understandably implored the audience to let them get through their slides before taking any more.
However, when they finished a few minutes later, they handed workbooks out to the audience and left the microphone, taking no questions in front of the audience. Instead, city staff were deployed to the tables to answer questions in a small group format.
This conveniently prevented the consultants or the city from having to answer questions in front of the packed hall. The city staff patiently and diligently listened to attendees, responding to concerns and asking them to make their views known through the workbooks.
 Resident suggest that if “residential condo towers dominate the downtown core, the beauty of the area will be lost and the development initiative will become counterproductive. I’m not sure what the consultants’ roles were, other than to fend off potentially embarrassing questions. They presented from prepared remarks for about half an hour and then we didn’t see them again.
Their job was, as is often the case, more about “having a consultation” than actually consulting. While the efforts of the city’s employees to answer queries was welcomed, at some point the city’s leadership will have to stand up and take some heat from area residents. Otherwise, a sense that they were not heard will prevail, and the social licence required for such a large remaking of the downtown will not be given.
Most of the attention focused on the many maps provided, outlining different districts that were often non-contiguous. It became unwieldy trying to understand what the consequences would be at the street level. Still, there was a lot of thought put into the detailed maps and it works as a basis for further discussion.
Several residents wondered whether views of the lake would be further blocked by high rises. The answer: quite possibly. The Old Lakeshore Road Precinct is marked for mid- and high-rises up to 15 storeys.
 Rahoons Persian Eatery at Village Square has won awards for its menu and service. One of the city’s most under utilized locations. As an uptown resident, I want to see the downtown to become an even better destination for all Burlington residents to enjoy. Having more people in the core, if done right, can lead to more thriving businesses and great energy. The downtown looks great on a sunny summer or fall weekend, but it’s a bit of a ghost town in the winter. I see the Village Square as a test of the vibrancy of the downtown. It is a beautiful business centre, reminiscent of the romantic squares of Europe but it has yet to become the thriving destination it deserves to be.
That being said, while adding residents to the core is important for business and culture, if residential condo towers dominate the downtown core, the beauty of the area will be lost and the development initiative will become counterproductive. This is a real risk — one need only look down the QEW to the cold condos along the lake in Toronto.
This would be exacerbated if the City is serious about making the downtown a commuter area — that will attract investors rather than residents and we then risk the high vacancy rates predominant in Vancouver.
We need a made-in-Burlington solution for the downtown and the first step would be more transparency from the City’s planners and leadership on its vision for the area and real consultation with decision-makers, not outside consultants.
The first step should be to pull the downtown core out of the Mobility Hub process in recognition that this area is unique from the real mobility hubs and needs special attention. We are not talking about building a mobility hub around the John Street Bus Terminal. We are talking about permanently altering the character of the downtown area. It’s time to get serious.
 There was a time when Lakeshore was known as Water Street and traffic was a little slower. Rory Nisan is a long-time Burlington resident and Lester B. Pearson High School alumnus. He has been an active member of the Save Pearson community organization.
By Pepper Parr
September 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette has been communicating electronically with Board of Education trustee Leah Reynolds about the texts that took place between Reynolds and Marianne Meed Ward, a PAR member while it existed. The texts were exchanged during the Board meeting at which the decision was made to close two of the city’s seven high schools. That request for that information has yet to be reported on.
While waiting for the text data, Ward 1 and 2 Halton Board of Education trustee Leah Reynolds sent in the following comment on her controversial vote for the closing of two of the seen high schools in Burlington.
 Board of Education trustee for \Wards 1 and 2 Leah Reynolds in discussion with students from Central high school. Reynolds represents Central High school which was on the original list of schools recommended for closure. The Director of Education revised his list of recommendations and removed Central and added Bateman, Pearson was on the original list and remained on that list.
Reynolds provides some background on the decision making process she went through.
“In October of 2016 I did not support engaging a Program Accommodation Review (PAR) . My concern at that time was the recommendation excluded an important stakeholder (representation from grade 7 and 8). Notwithstanding that roughly one third of both schools population receive programming directly within Aldershot and Burlington Central schools, this group had no right to voice opinion on the high school closure at the PAR discussion table.” Reynolds said at the time that “This revised motion does not negatively impact these Grades 7 and 8 students.”
“Through the PAR discussions, I learned the extent in which Burlington students lacked equity of opportunity in program and as pointed out by my trustee peers – also across Halton. Low enrolments at 5 out of 7 high schools meant students can’t get the classes they need. Since the future of our children depends on what they are exposed to having a variety of course selections including skilled trades in every high school is paramount. We know that critical mass is important to allow students voice and choice and to provide multiple pathway options and to graduate. To obtain needed courses, Burlington students are confronted with the prospect of changing schools, taking classes online, attending summer schools or even taking another year of school.”
“This report (the revised recommendation) speaks to the importance of maintaining a community school in each area of Burlington. The overlapping geographical catchment of Bateman and Nelson and MM Robinson and Pearson allows students to receive programming within their local community. It also provides a new state of the art purpose-built composite school in the South and increased programming in the North. This report speaks to the values of delivering education closer to where students live, thus reducing bus ride times. All of the changes are meant to improve the delivery of the mandatory Ontario English curriculum.”
“Currently, we are spending money keeping underutilized buildings open that could be used to improve programming for all students. In light of the information learned throughout the PAR including the many emails and phone calls I have gotten from parents and students, I believe this recommendation puts the best interests of all student first, for the long term.”
“I recognize” said Reynolds that “ some will not be happy I have changed my position on school closures and weighed my decision on sound facts. This is not about me, it’s about what is in the best interest of all HDSB students.”
 City Councillor Marianne Meed Ward at her nomination meeting in 2014 with Leah Reynolds who was nominated at the same time for the Board of trustees Full disclosure: During 2016 I spent time with Leah Reynolds mentoring her on the role of a city Councillor. Directed her to significant city of Burlington publications: Procedural bylaw, copies of the Operational and Capital budget binders and discussed with her the Standing Committee structure as well as what was entailed in serving as a Regional Councillor.
Reynolds was interested in moving from her role as a trustee to that of a city Councillor. We met on five or six occasions – always in a coffee shop for several hours on each occasion.
Those mentoring meetings ended when the PAR process began.
 One of the younger runners enters the home stretch of the Terry Fox 5k run. Many his age did a second go around to make it a 10k run. By Pepper Par
September 9th 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The way in which a community comes together to support a family that has been devastated is something to behold.
Hundreds upon hundreds of people in Burlington and those involved in any way with what Casey Cosgrove did in and for Burlington, have rallied and moved in to support the family during a very hard time.
 Casey with his wife and daughter out on the streets in the Alton community distributing flyers door to door for the Terry Fox run – this was in 2013. One group has taken on the task of preparing meals.
Another has set up a Gofundme campaign to raise funds to ensure that the three children are able to complete their education.
Last week the lineup of people at the Wave Twin Rinks, Pub 21 wound down the stairs and outside the building; an amazing turnout.
One can only guess at how many people are going to show up at the annual Terry Fox run on Sunday the 17th – everyone will be a Team Casey participant.
A few hours after the run there will be a celebration of Casey’s life at the Burlington Convention Centre on Burloak between 4 and 6 pm.
The people who set up the Gofundme account described what they were setting out to the with the Memorial Education Fund.
“After being diagnosed in 2010 with stage 4 Lung Cancer and enduring a courageous 7 year battle against all odds, our dear Casey has left us to battle on without him. Ever optimistic and ready to push headlong into the next trial, Casey showed us all the true meaning of courage, bravery, positivity, spirit, and strength. Casey always donated his time and energy to several community causes and was ever present as a Champion for the Terry Fox Foundation, working tirelessly to help bring the Terry Fox Mile Marker to Burlington. He touched hundreds of people, leaving a lasting impression of what a true Hero is. Any contributions that can be made to help with educational costs for his three loving children Evan, Jack and Kate would be greatly appreciated.
The Casey Cosgrove Memorial Education fund web site is HERE
Our last interview with Casey Cosgrove.
By Pepper Parr
September 9th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
He is in the process of becoming a media star, the “go to guy” if you want a comment on how municipalities are going to handle the demand for housing.
 Mayor’s 2015 Christmas card picture. The Mayor was on CBC twice this week- once with Anna Maria Tremonti on The Current, where we learned that the Mayor was one of the Regional Council members who voted for a program that would have the Region paying for a large part of the cost of a back flow valve, that prevents water from your home’s sewer line from flowing back into the plumbing when there is heavy rains. On August 4th 2014 there were heavy rains.
The Mayor told Tremonti that he as one of the Regional Council members who put his hand up and voted yes.
Unfortunately for the Mayor he was not one of the people who took advantage of that opportunity and when the city was severely flood on August 4th, 2014 he got five feet of water in his basement while his next door neighbour, who had a back flow valve was reported to have been dry.
 Having told the The Current audience (the program is broadcast nationally) the Mayor was then heard on CBC’s Metro Morning with Matt Galloway where he explained what the city manager meant when he said Burlington was not going to be able to build any more single family dwellings because the city has run out of land.
Land use in Burlington is made up of 50% rural, 34% traditional suburban housing, 11% employment lands and the 5% of the city that is not going to have any high rise structures.
The Mayor told the world that a decision was made in 2006 to protect the escarpment and not allow the creation of sub-divisions north of the Hwy 407 – Dundas roadways.
The full interview is HERE
During his conversation with Galloway the Mayor said there was a range of views on the change that is taking place in the city. He used the phrase “bubble wrapped” to describe those who did not want to see any change in the structure of the city.
Interesting interview – worth listening to. You can arrive at your own conclusions as to whether this Mayor reflects your view of your city.
 In one of his tweets the Mayor appears to be telling his followers that he is going to run for mayor in 2018. Why else would he put quote marks around the word “running” The Mayor is clearly upping his game and doing everything he can to get a bit of a leg up on the race for the Office of Mayor that will be decided in October of 2018. Expect at least two people to run against him.
 Sometime ago he wanted the citizens of the city to know that he was a transit advocate and once rode the bus to work – and posted a selfie so that people would know he was actually on the bus.
The releasing of this picture to the public is something the Mayor might have run by his communications adviser.
By Staff
September 8, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 Suzanne Mammel Executive Officer Hamilton Halton Home Builders Association Suzzane Mammel is a pretty direct woman; trained as an engineer, she was dealing in planning matters before a city council committee when she made the point that her association Hamilton Halton Home Builders, “can’t be supportive of this OP, because it doesn’t provide the information our members need to do business here.
“We applaud the efforts to have a new Official Plan that meets the needs of all parties, this isn’t it.
This was basically the theme that came through her presentation to city council – it isn’t complete – far from it and the time line in place to get it complete is far too short.
Mammel, the Executive Officer of the Hamilton-Halton Home Builders’ Association, explained that they spent considerable time reviewing the document, meeting with staff, and providing comments, both on big picture and detailed issues.
Mammel was telling city council and staff that “the OP is important to how the City grows in the future, and it’s very important to get it right.”
“We are very supportive of the City’s initiative to create a new official plan that guides how our City continues to grow in the years to come, and addresses the new realities the City is facing: growth via intensification versus the greenfield type of developments that have dominated in recent decades, and new mandated growth targets and densities imposed by the Province to meet the Growth Plan.
 The city has a lot on the go – many are asking if the Planning department has bitten off more than they can chew. “We recognize that this is a bit of a daunting task. The policies need to firstly meet these mandated targets, and those from the Regional OP, while at the same time attempting to balance the needs and desires of the City’s businesses and residents, residents like me. In a letter to this committee in June, I noted that “we believe that the title of the document “Growing Bold”, and its correlation to similar themes under the City’s strategic plan are applaudable but must be unapologetic, and guide future applicants to successfully provide economically feasible, quality developments that are in keeping with big picture City goals, and that marry the City’s vision with the growth targets mandated by higher order government.”
Our membership need a strong and solid document that directs how growth should occur.
There are many moving parts, and it is not as easy as an outsider may think. She added that the mandated time frame staff was given to bring this draft forward resulted in an OP that is incomplete.
 Burlington city manager James Ridge “One of the initial comments and concerns we raised, and the biggest concern with this draft document, was a lack of critical information: information that if absent in the OP, does not provide the level of detail required by any applicant to understand if they are in conformance with an OP. I asked for it formally and in writing of staff. I noted it in a meeting I had with the City Manager and Director of Planning in June, and I noted it in my formal submission to this committee at the end of June.
“ What population growth has been achieved to date (relative to the targets set in the Regional OP and the densities set for urban growth centers and mobility hubs in the original and updated Growth Plan), what remains to achieve these targets and where will that growth occur. We understand this information is being developed but believe the information is absolutely critical before finalizing the mobility hub Area Specific Plans or the Official Plan”
“To date this information has not been provided, nor am I aware that it is available” she said. “There has been an attempt to address it – we’ve been referred to reports done to support specific OMB appeals with respect to downtown, and anecdotally we’ve been told such things like – we’re confident we’ll reach the numbers.
 A critical document – are we getting it right? This just isn’t good enough. It is critical to getting this whole thing right and therefore should be foremost in the approach to the OP and included in it in a clear and obvious way, like it is in the Official Plans of our neighbours like Hamilton and Oakville.
While there is a lot of policy and vision included in the document, what good is it if it fails to achieve the mandated growth? It begs the question: why was it not included?
This is a new and full OP, and should be the document in which this information is contained. It will be the document of reference in the future. It generally indicates that growth is to be directed firstly to the downtown – being the urban growth centre, the three remaining mobility hubs, uptown, and then corridors, and to a lesser extent, modest intensification into existing neighbourhoods. What it fails to answer is those critical questions I noted a couple minutes ago, including what portion of growth should and will be apportioned to each of these areas.
The approach of directing growth to the areas chosen is a good one. We are mandated by the Province to have a minimum level of density in the urban growth centre, and mobility hubs – it is economically appropriate to direct densities to those significant investments. But the big picture numbers to make these areas successful are not available.
How can we move forward with detailed studies, like is happening in the mobility hubs, without knowing if those concepts are achieving the required minimum targets we are expected to achieve?
 Mary Lou Tanner, educated as a geographer and now the Chief of the Planning department has more on her plate that many in the development business feel can be done within the tie frames in place. She explains a point to Councillor John Taylor Which refers me back to the daunting task. Some have and will say, the City has put the cart before the horse. The process taken elects to do things concurrently, which in theory may be fine. I acknowledge that we are in a state of flux, but that is not justification for not including any substantiating detail.
But without these big picture numbers, there is no ability for an applicant to understand if they are in conformity with the OP, if decisions made by a proponent on densities proposed are appropriate, too much, or too little, or what the justification is for a decision made by the City when advising an applicant has got it wrong.
When you combine these with the provincial landscape, changes to the Planning Act that prevent an OP amendment to be submitted within two years of the date of this OP being approved, and the likelihood of changes to the OMB which would limit appeals to those decisions which lack conformity to the OP, it is even more critical that this base information be provided.
 The mobility hub concept was to be the way the Official Plan would be implemented – some developers think the city has put he cart before the horse. Detailed land use permissions are being envisioned through the Mobility Hub study – which is essentially a secondary planning process. This is appropriate. This is a finer level of detail than an OP. The draft document itself says “the Official Plan provides high level direction on land use, built form and density ranges”, which I note are not provided.
 An aerial look at the west side of the city with Hamilton Harbour in the background. However, in many instances, the document strays from this intent and as noted numerous times above, is lacking in critical information, at other times it delves into the minutiae of development issues, that are better left for such documents as a site specific zoning bylaw or a site plan guideline.
Sometimes a little dose of sarcasm is needed to make a point. Mammel pointed out that the level of detail in an OP could render an application out of conformity, and with no recourse to amend or appeal, given the current situation we are in, details such as site lighting, fencing and loading dock locations, are “I hope we can all agree, not Official Plan level issues.
The reality said Mammel is that “we can’t be supportive of this OP, because it doesn’t provide the information our members need to do business here, to understand what will be required of them.
 Andrew Smith the planner tasked with the writing of the Official Plan that is currently in draft form. The time line they have given Smith is seen as far too tight. Staff require more time to put together a fulsome document. But there seems to be a systemic problem here – the approach and timelines currently being applied to all significant changes being undertaken by the Planning Dept. It is frankly too rushed.
We have respectfully asked for details, rationale, and justification through many of these processes, including the Official Plan. But time hasn’t allowed, and the formal documents are rushing forward. The concern is this: whether it be the OP, concepts for Mobility Hubs, or any other document introduced to the public, the public perceives it to already have that substantiation and justification complete and available. And it isn’t.
“We are asked to comment and consult, yet the information we require to do a proper job isn’t available to us. It puts us in a very difficult position. And it is making our members feel that their input and comments are irrelevant – because the end product is made public before that background information can be reviewed and vetted.”
In summary, “while we applaud the efforts to have a new Official Plan that meets the needs of all parties, this isn’t it. We are not able to support a document that has the significant gaps and concerns this one currently does.”
Mammel is pleased that there is going to be a second draft – “today is the first time I heard that – we’d previously been told the next step is intended to be the final document”
The only firm date is that the final version is to be approved is November 28th.
Not only is the HHHBA not prepared to support the OP as it stands – she advised council that, her association would appeal the plan unless considerable amendments are made in advance of it being approved by this committee and council.
That would be a line drawn in the sand.
By Staff
September 8th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The kids figured out Social Media years ago – our Regional Chair has decided this is a train he can now climb aboard.
Regional Chair Gary Carr wants people to know that he is out there and available and wants to hear from you.
 Connect with me on social media
Learn about Regional initiatives and discover events in your community when you connect with me on social media. Receive timely updates on Council’s work as I provide an inside perspective on how our projects reflect resident priorities.
You can find me on the following channels:
Twitter: @garycarrhalton
Facebook: gary.carr.50
LinkedIn: garycarrhalton
You can also share your thoughts and feedback by emailing gary.carr@halton.ca. I look forward to connecting with you—by working together, we help keep Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire.
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