 By Staff
June 1st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
They are thrilled – you might be delighted.
The Sound of Music Festival, in partnership with the City of Burlington, announced this morning that there is going to be an additional day of FREE concerts on Sunday, June 11.
 Sandy Horne – Canada 150 Day Celebrations will take place on Burlington’s Waterfront from 1 pm to 9 pm. Sunday’s shows feature a full roster of Burlington performers including Valley, White Pine Dancers, The Killin’ Time Band, The Spoons, Tebey and Walk Off The Earth.
A Citizenship and Reaffirmation Ceremony will take place at TD Stage at 2 pm. In attendance will be Hon. Karina Gould, MP, Hon Eleanor McMahon, MPP and Mayor Rick Goldring as Master of Ceremonies.
Newcomers to Canada will partake in The Oath of Citizenship, accepting the responsibilities and privileges of becoming a Canadian Citizen.
This is a public event that family, friends, residents and visitors are welcome to attend. Everyone is encouraged to re-affirm their Canadian citizenship by taking the Oath with our newly appointed Canadians.
June 11 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
 Walk Off the Earth – added to the free day of great music on the waterfront. 1:00 Valley
1:45 White Pine Dancers
2:00 Greetings, Citizenship & Reaffirmation Ceremonies
3:15 The Killin’ Time Band
4:30 The Spoons
6:00 Tebey
7:30 Walk Off The Earth
 This is about as Canadian as you can get – how many people who are already Canadian citizens will show up to re-affirm their Canadian citizenship by taking the Oath with the newly appointed Canadians. This day is a celebration of our values, and our country, along with an unbelievable roster of local performers.
“This is a bit of a dream come true as a music lover and resident of Burlington, there couldn’t be a greater expression of hometown pride”, says Rian Malloch, the Festival’s Programming Chair.
The shows are FREE, VIP upgrades to Sweet Seats and FrontRow are available for $29, limited quantity. Visit soundofmusic.ca for full line-up, schedule and show times.
 By Staff
May 31, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Turns out that you can get more than money or a mortgage at one of Burlington’s Bank of Nova Scotia branches.
 Bella Alim, the branch manager at Lakeside Shopping Village, will handle your mortgage and she will direct you to the electric car charging machine that looks a little like a gas pump standing outside the branch on Lakeshore Road East.
The Electric Vehicle Charging Station is one of 30 the bank has set up across Canada.
The banks public relations spin on this is that they “believe every customer has the right to become better off. For those making an effort to create a healthier environment by driving electric vehicles, we are happy to support them by offering charging stations at Scotiabank locations,” said Terri Williams, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility at Scotiabank.
The electric charging isn’t free – but it is convenient. With the federal government wanting to see a massive increase in electric cars – even though the automotive dealers aren’t apparently all that keen on actually offering that type of vehicle for sale, the move to electric us taking place – and the Bank of Nova Scotia has decided to hitch their wagon to that form of transportation.
Good on them!
 By Pepper Parr
May 31st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
“Hope all is well” she said and added “hope you are enjoying today’s beautiful weather.”
The she added: “ I was wondering if you would be so kind as to promote the Save Our School Walk which is this Saturday, June 3rd at 11 am .
 Some of the Pearson high school parents during delegation night at the Board of Education. The Walk is a last minute effort by the parents whose children attend the Lester B. Pearson high school that has been recommended for closure in 2018.
It is a high school that has been hornswoggled by the Board when the feeder schools they once had got attached to Hayden high school – which was a death sentence for Pearson – but they are going to do whatever they can between now and June 7th when the eleven Board of Education trustees decide what to do.
Join the walk!
 By Staff
May 31, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
They come in at the rate of a couple every day.
Most of them are immediately evident as phishing attempts and they get discarded.
From time to time there is a message that catches the eye (we once got caught by a United State Postal Service scan – we were expecting a parcel and we thought this was a part of the delivery notice)
This scam was aimed at TD Bank customers – we don’t bank with TD so we knew it was a phishing attempt.
However for those people who are TB Bank customers it might have read as a real notice and you might have responded.
 The use of a photograph can be deceiving. Whenever there is something important – your bank calls you. They don’t want to lose you as a customer over what is a technical matter.
This one was good – look it over and see if you can identify the flaws.
Remember the cardinal rule – if in doubt – don’t.
 By Staff
May 30th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Crime Stoppers of Halton in partnership with FileBank Canada is hosting a shred event in Burlington to help combat Identity Theft and other fraud.
The event will be held Saturday, June 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot on the east side of Brant Street at Ghent Avenue, three blocks south of Fairview Street.
 Crime Stoppers has also partnered with a number of the chartered banks in Burlington to promote the event at the bank branch level by handing out small banknote sized coupons alerting people to how serious a problem Identity Theft is and how people can use the Crime stoppers service to protect themselves.
For a donation to Halton’s Crime Stoppers programs, residents and business owners can feed FileBank’s “Beast” – a state-of-the-art mobile shredding vehicle – with their personal and sensitive documents to ensure they are not used by scam artists for various fraud schemes.
 One of the fastest growing frauds today is Identity Theft with losses running into the billions of dollars. Halton Crime Stoppers is committed to helping people to protect themselves from this crime with several conveniently located community shred campaigns across the region throughout the year.
Detective Constable Jodi Richmond, police coordinator of Halton Crime Stoppers, said it’s important for people to protect themselves from becoming victims by ensuring any documents with personal information are destroyed properly.
“Items such as cancelled cheques, financial records, old letterhead, invoices, copies of job applications or anything containing personal information can easily be used by criminals to obtain credit cards; steal money from bank accounts; procure passports or other identification and even get a mortgage on your home without you even knowing,” she said. “Destroying confidential and business documents is the best way to protect you from becoming a victim of fraud.”
Detective Constable Richmond also pointed out that FileBank’s process is eco-friendly since all sensitive documents pulverized through the mobile shredding equipment is recycled into new paper products.
In addition, those bringing old financial records and other documents to the shredding site in Burlington will receive a 500-sheet package of recycled paper courtesy of Domtar, one of Canada’s leading paper producers.
“It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” Richmond said.
Halton Crime Stoppers also wishes to thank local branches of the Royal Bank, Scotia Bank and TD Bank for helping promote the shred event to their customers and raise awareness of Identity Theft.
By Pepper Parr
May 30th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Today, Ontario passed legislation to empower municipalities to be more open, accountable and flexible in responding to the needs of residents.
The Modernizing Ontario’s Municipal Legislation Act amends the Municipal Act, the City of Toronto Act and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. The changes will:
 A city council that has managed to operate without a Code of Conduct since they were elected in 2010 • Increase fairness and reduce barriers for women and parents elected to municipal governments and school boards by allowing time off for pregnancy or parental leave
• Provide broader municipal investment powers to eligible municipalities that may help raise more revenue to improve local infrastructure
• Enhance local government accountability and integrity across the province by requiring municipalities to have a code of conduct for members of municipal councils and local boards
• Ensure the public and municipal Councillors have access to integrity commissioners with a broadened role related to conflicts of interest and municipal codes of conduct.
Many of the changes being made with the passage of this legislation are based on feedback from municipalities, the public and other organizations during Municipal Legislation Review consultations in 2015.
Roll that tape back a bit – “Provide broader municipal investment powers to eligible municipalities that may help raise more revenue to improve local infrastructure” – that translates to them putting their hands even deeper into your pockets. Legislation from any level of government is not bed time reading – we will need a bit of time to download that document and see just what they are up to this time.
 City manager James Ridge took on the task of coming up with a Code of Conduct for the members of council – hasn’t produced that document yet. We also want to take a closer look at the changes made to the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act – Burlington has a specific interest in the way a conflict of interest is interpreted.
That bit about Councillors having “access to integrity commissioners with a broadened role related to conflicts of interest and municipal codes of conduct.” Burlington is still without a code of conduct for members of Council. That task is understood to be in the hands of the city manager.
 By Staff
May 30, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington, Halton District and Halton Catholic District School Boards, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association and the Ministry of Transportation, the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) will officially kick-off its Distracted Driving Pledge (#TextULater) pilot campaign.
Starting Monday, June 5, HRPS High School Liaison Officers will visit high schools throughout Burlington, encouraging students to take the #TextULater Pledge and challenging others to do the same.
 Deputy Chief Nishan Duraiappah has always worked well with the high school crowd – hopefully he will be doing some of the teaching. Deputy Chief Nish Duraiappah, Sergeant Jared McLeod, Burlington District Response Team and Initiative Creator and the community partners, including the City of Burlington, school boards, agencies and high school students are going to be involved in this one – a full Monty from everyone
The Regional police have always been able to work with high school students and explain the very real consequences of their behavior.
 Two Nelson high school students do their best to stay on the green line wearing Fatal Vision goggles during a Halton Regional Police RIDE program. A number of years ago the HRPS worked with Nelson high school students demonstrating the effect alcohol had on their ability to respond to what was going on around them – making it very very clear that driving wasn’t really possible with alcohol above the limit in their bodies.
Let’s hope they can do as well with getting the distracted driving message across – then of course there is the marijuana message once that product is legal.
 By Staff
May 29, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Just ducky!
An Ontario government grant of about $120,000 that is going toward a giant rubber duck for Canada 150 celebrations is ruffling some feathers.
 A six storey tall rubber duck with selfie appeal. Will we see it in Burlington Bay. It will be a huge draw. The six-storey-tall, 13,600-kilogram yellow duck is being brought to Toronto by the Redpath Waterfront Festival, at a total cost of $200,000, combining other funding such as corporate sponsorship.
It’s being billed as a tourist attraction — with particular Instagram and selfie appeal — and will also be taken to other communities in Ontario.
Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Eleanor McMahon said the province has been funding the waterfront festival for the past three years and it does a good job promoting tourism.
 Burlington MPP and Minister of Tourism and Sport defends the rental of a rubber duck to celebrate our 150th birthday – what would Sir John A. have to say about that idea? “This year they’ve decided to add a duck to the equation,” she said. “I think it’s an important contribution to our 150th celebrations. It’s just another example of the fun that people are going to have this summer.”
Lea Parrell, the co-producer of the waterfront festival, said it’s hoped the duck will have a positive effect on tourism.
The $200,000 cost includes renting the duck from a man in the United States who owns it, transporting it, inflating it, using a crane to lift it onto a barge, towing the barge, bringing it to other Ontario communities, marketing, and on-site support such as portable toilets and extra fencing so people don’t fall in the water, Parrell said.
The giant rubber duck is based on similar floating structures by a Dutch artist that have travelled world, Parrell said.
No word yet on whether the duck will be seen floating at the end of the Pier sometime during the summer. Selfies galore.
 By Staff
May 29, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Rossmore Blvd. southbound between Princess Blvd. and Balmoral Ave. will be closed on May 31, 2017 for tree removal.
 There are leaves on those trees at this time of year.
 By Staff
May 29, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Revised 12:50 pm May 29th, 2017
Today is Bike to Work day.
Did Burlington celebrate the event?
They did – in an event at Civic Square but there wasn’t a line of bikes along New Street.
Not this year – that road is in the process of being rebuilt between Guelph Line and Appleby.
Where are things with the cycle lane for New Street?
Not much recent information on the city’s web site. The original plans to do a pilot exercise in 2016 didn’t work out all that well.
In his blog the Mayor said in 2016 that …
 Goldring selfy – the day he took the bus to work. Provided by the Mayor’s office. City Council supported a staff recommendation for a one-year pilot for bicycle lanes on New Street between Walker’s Line and Guelph Line.
A majority of council (6-1) supported this decision. It was our team of transportation experts that recommended what is being called a ‘road diet’. Simply put, that means taking New Street from four lanes to three lanes (two travel lanes and a centre left turn lane), with bike lanes separated by painted buffered lines on each side.
There are a few key things to note as we measure data and carefully listen to residents during the bicycle lane pilot project on the two-kilometre stretch of New Street:
This is a pilot project scheduled to last one year. Our staff will be tracking detailed data and we invite feedback from everyone using that stretch of the road.
The pilot is a litmus test to see if the painted lanes result in a positive experience for people who want to ride their bicycles, while causing a minimal impact for drivers who also need to get where they are going in a timely manner.
This is an ideal time for the pilot to be done as this section of road is scheduled for resurfacing in 2017. This means there will be no cost to revert the lanes if the pilot is determined to be unsuccessful by staff and ultimately, council, or keep the new lane configuration when the road is resurfaced.
I live by New Street and as such, take it every day, at different times. I will experience first-hand the traffic delays, if indeed there are any.
The key measurement for me will be the impact on the automobile driver. If there are significant traffic issues as a result of this new configuration, we can simply repaint the road. This one-year test allows us to see if New Street is the right place for bike lanes.
The multi-purpose pathway from Burloak Drive to Martha Street is good for recreational cycling. However, it is a busy mixed use pathway that includes not only cyclists but walkers, skateboarders, walkers with dogs and young children. A friend of mine broke his wrist after a young child darted in front of him causing him to slam on the brakes and fall. This means it is not ideal for people cycling along the pathway for transportation, especially when travelling at higher speeds.
The pathway is also not useable when it is dark as the average light from a bicycle is not bright enough and does not shine far enough to create a safe ride. The pathway is not lit at night. There are also numerous crossings where vehicles have the right-of-way.
 New sewer pipes and a resurfacing of New Street put the new bike lane plans on hold. Furthermore, the pathway does not provide meaningful connections to the many amenities right along New Street.
 Data presented to a city Standing Committee by the Cycling Advisory Committee in 2016 The cycling enthusiasts explain that bike lanes on New Street by themselves will not have much of an impact – a fully developed cycling master plan with bike lanes throughout the city are what is needed and that is going to take some time.
 Data provided by the Cycling Advisory Committee in 2016. Not much, if anything has happened since then. Changing public opinion on bike lanes would seem to be the biggest obstacle.
The idea had support from a limited number of people; it was then so poorly executed that what little support got pummeled badly – can it be revived?
By Staff
May 29, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington will kick off the summer event season at its annual Kite Festival on Sunday, June 4 at Brant Hills Community Centre and Brant Hills Park between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
 Next Sunday, June 4 at Brant Hills Community Centre and Brant Hills Park between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Rain or shine Residents are invited to join in the fun, explore their creativity and build a kite for free, while supplies last. Supplies are generously donated by Canadian Tire. Event attendees will fly their kites in the open space at Brant Hills Park all day to help fill the sky with colour.
The Kite Festival is a family-friendly event presented by the Rocca Sisters & Associates, with a variety of vendors and entertainment. Fun activities include face painting, balloon animals and a Canada 150 chain link activity.
The festival will take place rain or shine. Brant Hills Community Centre is located at 2255 Brant St. and Brant Hills Park is located at 2300 Duncaster Dr.
 By Ray Rivers
May 29th, 2017
BURLINGTON,ON
It never fails. Leave the country for a week and…
The Conservative Party of Canada held its leadership vote and, as I had suggested could happen, it delivered an upset victory. Andrew Sheer, a 30 something career politician from Saskatchewan and former House speaker, is the new leader of Canada’s grand old party. Using a ranked ballot, also referred to as preferential or single transferable, Sheer snuck past front runner Maxime Bernier in the last elimination round, and snatched the prize by less than a single percentage point.
 Andrew Scheer, 38 year old leader newly elected leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. One could not be faulted for seeing Sheer as a mini-me, a younger Stephen Harper. After all Sheer, like Harper, is a ‘social conservative’, a label some consider synonymous with right wing or reactionary views. One can’t help but get the feeling that he wants to turn the clock back to the time Mr. Harper ruled the roost – and that the recent period of Liberal government is just an inconvenient stop on the highway to a more conservative Canada.
And like Harper, the new leader is anti-choice when it comes to a woman’s body. Though Mr. Harper was careful to avoid re-opening the legalization debate, which former Conservative PM Kim Campbell has so skillfully brought to a conclusion. That Sheer has played the abortion card in this contest should be a red flag to all potential voters who value freedom of choice.
Other than that we will have to wait and see how progressive his leadership of the former Progressive Conservative party will be – or not. And that may determine the party’s chances of sliding in between the two parties on the left and centre, and forming government come 2019. Sheer, as a novice leader, will be facing a still-popular Justin Trudeau, who will argue for the opportunity to complete what he had begun in his first term.
And the New Democrats will also be showcasing a new leader, which may lead to more of a three way race than in 2015.
Speaking of three way races, there is B.C.’s recent election. Typically a two party province, there hasn’t been a minority government there since the 1950’s,. But that luxury has come to an end after the Green Party elected three members to the legislative assembly. And the B.C. Liberal Party, arguably more conservative than its name, had barely eked out a two seat lead over the opposition NDP.
 B.C. Liberal Leader Christy Clark is one seat shy of being able to form a government. Photo credit – THE CANADIAN PRESS/ CHAD So the Libs are one seat short of a majority. And while they could claim the right to form government, given their first place finish, it is unlikely they’d survive the first non-confidence vote. The Greens are tired of sitting in the wings and are hungry for power. So they are looking to bed down with either one of the other parties, a coalition or contract for a one-term-stand as opposed to a marriage of convenience.
Regardless who they sleep with, the result will mean a fresh look at resource projects, like the recently approved Kinder Morgan oil pipeline. And in a province which has built its economy in large part upon its rich endowment of natural resources, there will be fireworks – and possibly new tensions with the federal government. It is expected that a deal will be negotiated by mid-week, so we’ll soon see how this plays out.
And the real sticking point in these coalition discussions is the matter of electoral reform. B.C. in recent years has twice conducted a referendum for electoral change. And both of these – the one for proportional representation and the other for voting by a single transferable (ranked) ballot – have failed. So the Greens are saying ‘to-hell’ with referendum – let’s just do it. But the NDP and Libs are reluctant to wear the blame for defying the results of those previous polls.
The Greens want to introduce proportional representation, a system which does offer more effective representation and is better designed to accommodate minority situations and political coalitions. And that would be a life-line for the longer term survival of their party.
Though had the previous Liberals been able to convince the public on the merits of a preferential ballot when they were in power, similar to the approach the federal Conservatives used last weekend, they might have been returned to office with a majority and the Green Party left out in the cold. There is a lesson in this for our federal leaders.
 Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington in 1995. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
CPC Leadership – More CPC – Even More CPC – B.C Election – Minority Consequences –
 By Staff
May 28, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service announced that a 16-year member of the force was arrested today and is facing Breach of Trust, Theft, and Obstruct Justice charges following a seven-month internal and external investigation.
In the fall of 2016, a drug exhibit anomaly was discovered by members of the HRPS Drug and Morality Unit. As a result, a comprehensive internal audit of all drug exhibits seized by the Halton Regional Police Service commenced. The audit revealed that approximately 30 exhibits had been tampered with. In all instances, the exhibits involved prescription or illicit opioids, the most common example of which is OxyContin.
The exact number of exhibits affected will be a matter for disclosure during the court process.
As a result of this information, Chief of Police Stephen Tanner contacted the Toronto Police Service in November, 2016 and requested they undertake an independent, external criminal investigation relating to the exhibits. This common practice in matters pertaining to internal criminal investigations ensures an impartial and transparent investigation.
 Staff Sergeant Brad Murray. The Toronto Police Service agreed to assist in this matter and began their criminal investigation in December, 2016. Their investigation has concluded and has resulted in today’s arrest of Staff Sergeant Brad Murray. Staff Sergeant Murray was a member and supervisor of the Service’s Drug and Morality Unit from January, 2013 to May, 2016, during which time the criminal offences are alleged to have occurred.
Staff Sergeant Murray has been formally charged with the following:
• Breach of Trust x2
• Theft Under x2
• Obstruct Justice
A First appearance court date has been set for June 27th 2017, at the Milton Provincial Courthouse.
“Staff Sergeant Murray has been suspended from duty with pay, as per the Police Services Act of Ontario (PSA),” said Chief of Police Stephen Tanner. “As such, we will endeavour to conclude this matter at the earliest opportunity.”
In addition to the criminal charges, Staff Sergeant Murray will face disciplinary procedures in accordance with the PSA. The most serious penalty under the PSA is dismissal.
With the criminal investigation by the Toronto Police Service complete, the Halton Regional Police Service (Professional Standards Bureau) will now conduct its internal disciplinary investigation, at which point the Police Services Act process will commence.
As a result of the investigation, and confirmation that exhibits had been tampered with, a number of drug related trials have been stayed by the Prosecution. The full ramifications of this situation as it relates to court prosecutions and potential withdrawal of charges will not be known for some time.
 Halton Regional Police Services Chief Tanner. Chief Tanner released the following statement to the public and the members of the Halton District Police Service:
“We recognize the impact such news brings to you, the people we serve, and to the reputation of our Service. It violates public trust in the work we do and is an affront to the Canadian justice system as a whole. As such, we are committed to dealing with this issue transparently and thoroughly, guided by our longstanding principles of Excellence, Integrity, Justice, Trust and Respect, Teamwork and Accountability.
We will continue to cooperate fully with, and support the decisions of, the Toronto Police Service, Public Prosecution Services of Canada and the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Office. In light of the findings and going forward, the Drug and Morality Unit has implemented additional measures to preserve the integrity of all seized drug exhibits. I am confident in the security of our Service’s drug exhibits and that no other cases or types of drugs are in question.”
By Staff
May 27, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The city thinks they are unsafe —high water levels – decided to close the following areas:
 Tuck Creek bike path. Informal paths along Tuck Creek from Regal Road to Tuck Park
The floating public docks and pedestrian ramps at the LaSalle Park Marina boat launch
The pedestrian bridge at the waterfront trail is also closed (at LaSalle Park)
The beach at Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park—the Beachway (closed May 17, 2017)
Recent rains have damaged the banks of Tuck Creek below Regal Road, making the informal trails very dangerous to any pedestrian or cyclist.
 LaSalle Park boat ramp High water has also created unsafe conditions at the public boat launch and the pedestrian bridge leading to the LaSalle Park breakwater. The floating docks and pedestrian ramps will be removed early next week until the lake level recedes. The public launch will remain open at this time.
 Bridge at LaSalle Park almost washed out. Residents are warned to stay away from the noted creek block and park areas until the repairs have been made and exercise caution at our waterfront parks during this period of record high lake levels.
 By Pepper Parr
May 26th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 Town Crier David Vollick gets the announcement meeting off to a good start. For $4.5 million – he really rang that bell. The cheque was just short of $4.5 million but the happy faces at the Joseph Brant Museum this morning were not quibbling.
 Barbara Teatero, Executive Director Museums of Burlington A project that started 22 years ago when the first report was produced and became the life work of Barbara Teatero was made real with the federal government announcement that the renovation – rebuild of the Museum is now funded.
It is going to cost considerably more than $4,479,000 to do all the work that is planned but without the federal money the project was never going to break ground.
 John Doyle  Larry Waldren John Doyle and Larry Waldron wore smiles that came close to lighting up the room that had 40+ people crammed into it while Town Crier Dave Vollick rang his bell and proclaimed the way only Vollick can proclaim that the museum was going to go through a significant change.
Construction schedules are being worked out – tenders will have to be let and scheduling completed.
Allan Magi had to tell city council a number of months ago that he was faced with a very challenging problem – organizing the construction without knowing for certain that the money was in the bank.
The Capital Works department will now be able assemble the internal team and begin with a project that will add another cultural destination for people who choose to visit Burlington.
 Architect’s rendering of what the new Joseph Brant Museum could look like when it opens. The new museum will have triple the space of the existing facility; the hope is that the space will be able to attract top tier travelling exhibits to the city.
While the politicians were doing what they do with words Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven cast a glance toward Doyle and raised an eyebrow and tipped his head – they had pulled it off.
 Those waters were the view that Joseph Brant had each morning when he stepped out of his house that was on what he described as Burlington Bay. That path in the middle of the picture was once a two track railway line into the town. It was a big day – it will take a couple of years to get to the Opening Day – and a fitting one for Joseph Brant who made Burlington his home for the last years of his life.
What will he think when the new Museum is opened?
By Staff
May 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON. ON
This sounds like fun.
Art, the City + You: a pop-up art project in Spencer Smith Park
The pop-up art project is the way the city is asking Burlington residents to re-imagine the park as a place of art and creativity in the city.
 Pop Up Art project will take place in Spencer Smith Park near the play area. Children and adults can join the play-space and add to a collaborative structure that will grow throughout the day.
It takes place in Spencer Smith Park, Saturday, June 3, 2017, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What you will see at 4:00 pm will be a lot different than what is seen at 11:00 am – the idea is to build on the ideas that are there when you arrive
Location: Spencer Smith Park, near the playground equipment
 Lisa Hirmer – to lead residents in a Pop Up art project in Spencer Smith Park. Rain date will be Sunday, June 4, 2017.
The Pop-Up is being run by Lisa Hirmer, an interdisciplinary artist who has created publicly engaged projects across the world, including Harbourfront Centre (Toronto), Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Nuit Blanche (Toronto).
By Staff
May 25, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 Over the course of the day watersheds within Conservation Halton’s jurisdiction have received between 30 and 45 mm of rain. While the rain has ceased and further precipitation is not anticipated, water levels within area watercourses are still rising.
Many local watercourses are running at or near bankfull conditions. Near the Lake Ontario shoreline, easterlywinds and high lake levels may result in localized ponding in low areas.
 Water levels in watershed creeks have risen significantly during the day. Caution around the edges of creeks – especially with children. Riverine flooding is not anticipated, however the forecasted precipitation in conjunction with saturated ground conditions may result in higher than normal water levels and flows in local streams.
Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to stay away from all watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Lake Ontario water levels are also high. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Water Safety will be in effect through Friday May 26, 2017. Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream and weather conditions and will provide updates as required.
By Staff
May 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
 The picture that is worth 1000 words. All natural grass sport fields (diamonds and rectangular fields) are closed Thursday May 25./
Too much rain has resulted in very soggy playing fields.
By Staff
May 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The room in the lower level of the Waterfront hotel on Lakeshore Road was packed – standing room only.
 It was standing room only for many of the people attending the Downtown Mobility Hub Visioning Workshop. There was a very slick presentation being given on plans for redevelopment of the land on which the Waterfront hotel now stands.
Many – perhaps most of the people had two questions: How many and how high?
They wanted to know how many buildings did the developer want to build on the site and how high would they be.
They didn’t get an answer – the presentation was all about putting any development in context and relating it to what was already in place in the area.
Roz Minaj a Planning department staffer told the audience that the terms of reference were focused on redevelopment.
Some wanted to see the property purchased and turned into parkland and extending the size of Spencer Smith Park. That is not going to happen.
At one point there were three wharves on the land the Waterfront Hotel sits on today. A lot of fill was added to the shore line which extended the property further out into the lake. The Pier got built and Spencer Smith had many upgrades making it all a prime attraction.
Should the plans for re-developing the existing Beachway community to the west ever get completed that part of the city will become a major attraction for thousands outside the city.
 There was a lot of information on street views and other tall buildings in the area but not a word about how many buildings the developer wanted to put up or how high they might be. When the presentation was done those who chose to stick around were invited into another room to take part in what we now call table work – a time when people gather around a table and write down some of the ideas they have for what should be built.
The results of those ideas will be put into a report which the Planning department will put in front of city council at some future date.
 Is the argument going to be that there are tall buildings in the area so there could be tall buildings on the land the Waterfront Hotel is now on. Last week the Mayor sent out the following informing people that:
Next week, the City of Burlington is starting a study that affects the future of our waterfront and I am asking everyone in Burlington to get involved.
The Brant and Lakeshore planning study commences on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. It will consider what should be located on the property at the foot of Brant Street that is currently home to the Waterfront Hotel.
The owner of the property – Burlington 2020 Lakeshore Inc. — is interested in redeveloping the site. As such, the City’s Official Plan, which is the guiding planning document for Burlington, requires the City to complete a master plan for this area.
This master plan is critically important, as this site is prime waterfront land surpassing anything found in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area in natural beauty and access.
As Mayor, I am very concerned about the impact any redevelopment could have on our waterfront.
I believe an option needs to be considered that converts this property to open space as a natural extension to the existing park for the future enjoyment of all Burlington residents.
Residents frequently tell me public space on our stunning waterfront is important to them and to our community. I agree wholeheartedly. And I believe that redevelopment of this site will not be welcomed.
 City Councillor John Taylor was listening intently to people. The people who share that view were out in force along with people from the offices of many of the developers in the city.
We didn’t see the Mayor in the room but it was packed – he might have been in there somewhere. Councillors Taylor, Dennison and Meed Ward were observed.
Related article:
Development at the foot of Brant Street
By Staff
May 25th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
As people think about whether or not they will attend the Meridian Brick information meeting this evening they might want to read over the note that the Mayor posted on his linked In page.
He said:
“After extensive review by staff in several city and regional departments, we have come to understand that Meridian Brick is within its legal rights and that the Province of Ontario, not the City of Burlington, has jurisdiction over this matter.”
 Site of the third shale pit that the brick company wants to begin mining. He appears to have washed his hands of this issue; those in the Tyandaga community are on their own.
The Meridian meeting is at 7:00 pm at the Crossroads Centre at 1259 North Service Road just west of Kerns Road.
Related article:
What is the issue behind the mining of shale for brick manufacturing.
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