 By Pepper Parr
May 16th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Any plans to close Lester B. Pearson high school are complicated. A small school with enrollment at 30% below the expected utilization level happens to be the home of the Pearson Cooperative Nursery school, an operation that has been around for more than 40 years and operated very successfully.
In her delegation last week Fiona Wielhouwer was pretty blunt: “ We are here tonight to ask some important questions that have yet to be answered.”
 Secure secluded playground for the nursery students – with a nice patch of forest yards away. The nursery is funded by the city to some degree and by the fees it charges patents. The building it is in – is owned by the school Board but a lot of the capital costs were paid for by the city and the city provides ongoing financial support.
“Our first concern: said Wielhouwer is the agreement between the City of Burlington and the school board. The community space where the nursery school is located, as well as the third gym (a double gym is typical for a school Pearson’s size), was built cooperatively with capital investments from both the city of Burlington and the Halton School Board. The community had input into the use of the space and the Integrated Community School partnership initiated Pearson Cooperative Nursery school.
“The nursery has had a long standing partnership with the City of Burlington, not the HDSB, for our space. The city paid for part of the community room and the expanded size of the gym, for which the city has an operating agreement with the school board that hasn’t expired – how can that be agreement be broken for the strategic purposes of the school board? Why should the city and taxpayers allow this to happen?
Wielhouwer addressed the issue of rent paid for the space and said “We are not ‘getting away’ with not paying rent. The agreement for the community space that our nursery school occupies gives the city, not the school board, authority to establish the use, policy, regulations and scheduling of the community space.
Despite what some may have been lead to believe, it is not for the Board to charge us rent or a user fee. The city has acknowledged this. The spirit of this agreement was to have a community space that was used by and benefitted the community, which it has for 40 years.
Wielhouwer questions the availability of funding for a potential new space, the timing, and whether the nursery would actually fit the criteria for funding. “This is a major question” she adds. Any funding for a new preschool space would be provided to meet only the minimum requirements from the Ministry…a new classroom would shrink to half our current size and our playground would be diminished by over 50% We also estimate the cost of just the move to be over $22 000.
She adds that: “In addition, over the past 10 years, the nursery has spent $71,000 on capital improvements to the space. Would we be reimbursed for this spending that we would be forced to leave behind?. The financial implications of a move could cripple our non-profit organization.
“This concern has been brushed aside by board staff stating that there would be funding available. Relocation is not a simple solution, and as a small organization run by a board of volunteer parents, we cannot count on an undefined source of funding, nor can we afford moving and remuneration costs. If our worst fears should come to pass…and we are forced out of Pearson and are unable to afford relocation that would result in five people becoming unemployed because of a strategic, unnecessary decision by the board.”
 Forty years of history might go down the drain of the high school the nursery is attached to is closed. “This is not just about us” said Wielhouwer. “The nursery school students and families are not the only beneficiaries from our organization.” Alijcia Gibson, the co-op teacher at Pearson said “Having access that is readily available for students to be able to see the development of children during their fundamental years is something that is not only unique for students at Pearson but instrumental in making the connections between the curriculum and the real world….this practical component has helped the students enjoy and experience success in the classroom.”
There is a key phrase that Wielhouwer uses that points up the problem she is having with the school Board and that is – “a true community school”.
This school board does not appear to have much, if any interest, in community schools. The guiding philosophy at this point seems to be large high schools with enrollment of 1000 + students – 1200 appearing to be the optimum number. The rationale for this approach is that larger high schools allow for a much more inviting academic menu.
Concerns about fiscal prudence don’t seem paramount – the money will be found is what Fiona Wielhouwer seems to be hearing.
 An interesting teaching tool – does it portray the lack of any direction for the future of the nursery. Community is just not something that shows up on the radar screens the bureaucrats use to guide where they are going. School spirit seems to be the point at which the school Board superintendents view what community is all about.
The parents fully understand the importance of school spirit but they, unlike the superintendents, see school spirit as something that is a part of the community.
There is no clear sense as to what the trustees actually hold in the way of a philosophy. It has been very difficult to figure out just what the individual trustees think – they don’t answer questions.
Few of them, in Burlington, have said very much about what for them is the philosophy that drives their thinking.
The Gazette asked each of the trustees to rank community, fiscal prudence and academic services – they were directed not to do so while the PAR was taking place. With the PAR completed one trustee came back with “we don’t want the public to know what we think because they will then delegate and focus on what our philosophy”. So much for an understanding of what the democratic process is all about.
Wielhouwer summed up her delegation telling the trustees that “a nursery school within Pearson is ideal for a true community school. The central location with its big bright windows, looking out on the meticulously maintained playground and forest beyond is a rare find in a city where many young children’s programs are housed in basements or overlooking parking lots and busy streets.”
“Our children need nature and the outdoors, which is a key part of the program at Pearson. Our youngest learners need to be respected with a space that is designed for them (like our nursery school with its tiny toilets and low counters), not gathered like an afterthought in an unused room in a building designed for other purposes.
“Should the nursery school children be collateral damage from this closure? Shouldn’t their needs be considered the same as the high school students?
 Ward 4 school Board Trustee Rachelle Papin – didn’t ask any questions and wasn’t certain she had actually received the report from Wielhouwer. “Choosing to close Lester B Pearson High School would have lasting and irreversible consequences that will impact many families. It will force a financially sound, thriving, non-profit nursery school with deep roots in the community to close its doors after 40 years. A decision to close Pearson would impact students aged 2.5 to 18. Pearson High school needs to remain open so our staff, families and high school students can continue to work together for another 40 years allowing children to grow, play and learn.
The School Board delegation process allowed five minutes for each presentation with another five minutes for questions from the trustees.
Fiona Wielhouwer was not asked one single question.
 By Pepper Parr
May 16th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Maybe more construction cranes on the city horizon? Maybe not – Mayor has decided the waterfront belongs to all the people.
More of the waterfront is getting looked over with an eye to some development – on the south side of Lakeshore Road.
The Mayor’s office put out a call for citizen participation in deciding what should get built on the Waterfront Hotel property.
Here’s what His Worship had to say:
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.
 Waterfront Hotel – at the foot of Brant Street overlooking the pier has been working through plans to re-develop their property – with some co-operation from the city in the past. What changed? 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.
 The Bridgewater project – right next door to the Waterfront Hotel, began their land assembly in 1985. In 1995 city council approved a 22 storey development that was described at a legacy project. 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.
Two community workshops for the Brant and Lakeshore planning study are scheduled for Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the Blue Water Ballroom at the Waterfront Hotel, 2020 Lakeshore Rd. Read more here.
Let me know what you think by emailing mayor@burlington.ca. We need to have as many people in our community involved in this essential conversation about the future of this waterfront property.
Excuse me?
Where was His Worship when the city sold off a stretch of the best land this city has along the edge of the lake between Market and St Paul Street. A petition with more than 2000 names was submitted – didn’t make a pinch of difference. The land was sold and the city pocketed next to nothing – more than half of the property was owned by the province who said they would do whatever the city chose to do.
 The sale of the land was the deal of the century – the owners of the abutting property saw an opportunity and went after it – city council, to there everlasting shame, let it happen. Now His worship wants to save the Waterfront Hotel property – where will the money come from to pay for it? All the citizens of the city got out of it was two Windows to the Lake.
In the 2010 election Marianne Meed Ward made saving the waterfront her campaign cry. Looks like His Worship is trying to scoop her on that issue as things began to gear up for 2018.
Link:
How we sold a crown jewel.
 By Pepper Parr
May 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON. ON
Steve Armstrong was one of the 14 members of the Burlington community that sat on the PAR – tasked with being the conduit between the Board of education and the community.
It is safe to say that every member of the PARC believes the process was badly flawed and resulted in communities fighting with each other rather than working together to find a solution that worked for everyone.
 PARC committee needed some time to understand the rules they had to work within. They had begun to realize that they were in an impossible situation yet began to come to the conclusion that not closing any schools was perhaps the best option for the immediate future. The PARC leadership was not able to find a route to a solution; the PARC members did begin to coalesce around the option that called for no school closures. What the PARC did do was reject the original recommendation which was to close Central high school and Pearson high school.
The second recommendation recommended closing Bateman high school and Pearson high school; that led to a much closer look at just what Bateman had going for it – a lot more than many people realized.
That realization and the better late than never arousal of the Bateman parents brought some exceptionally valid information the public didn’t have before. We will have more detail on just what Bateman does have going for it; as much if not more than Central.
Steve Armstrong, a Pearson parent said in his delegation that the Board of Education’s utilization (that portion of the capacity of a school that is being used) sits at 75% and, based on the Board’s projections, will hit 80% in 2020.
That 75% is a city wide number – it includes all the schools – some of which are at the Board policy utilization level of 90% while others are at significantly below. Pearson is one of the schools significantly below. Armstrong believes that “If these sorts of numbers (75%) were being seen at each of the schools we wouldn’t be undergoing this process.”
Armstrong prepared a series of graphs, one of which showed that Burlington’s overall actual enrollment bottomed out in 2014, and is presently on the rise. He also shows yearly Long Term Accommodation (LTAP) for as far back as 2006. The curve labeled as 2010 represents the 2010-2011 LTAP data.
 This graph shows what the LTAP boundaries were for each of the years – the actual number is shown in red and indicates that enrollment bottomed out in 2014 “Just focusing on the pattern associated with 2020 enrollments we can see that from the 2010 projections up to the most recent data provided to the PAR Committee there has been a strong increase in the expected numbers. Over 700 students to be exact, and 2020 isn’t very far away.”
 The LTAP numbers for Oakville are shown for comparison Armstrong notes that this pattern is also seen in the Oakville data, but is a little more “bursty”, and makes bigger jumps when it moves. Not surprisingly the accuracy of the projections goes down, in both municipalities, the further out one looks.”
“The Region is growing, the City is growing, high school enrollment is growing, and the pattern has been that the projection errors tend to underestimate the actual numbers. This isn’t to surprising as the Board recognizes the planned housing growth at a different point than the City does.
 Andrea Taylor, Principal at M.M. Robinson in conversation with Steve Armstrong during a PARC meeting. Given the known near term growth, and the lower confidence in the projections beyond 5 years, extreme caution regarding closing schools is merited. Especially if it involves selling real estate assets in return for short term cash benefit.”
“High over utilization (crowding) creates problems, and low enrollment numbers will reduce some opportunities for studnets. Both situations alter the student experience, and we have these conditions present in two close proximity schools located in north Burlington – Hayden and Pearson. As the image below indicates they show a large overlap in “walkability” zones.”
The most recent projections indicate that if nothing changes Hayden will grow in size and be 600+ students over capacity by 2021. And there is no room for additional portables or a permanent addition on that site.
 The symbol indicating the school aligns with the boundary area. Armstrong identified just three relatively small areas where a student would not be expected to walk to school from. Option 19 had proposed to move the French Immersion (FI) program to MM Robinson as a way to deal with this looming issue. The Board had also listed in its Options the idea of capping enrollment, with extra students being redirected to an overflow school.
The PAR Committee also briefly discussed boundary changes, but ultimately the present recommendation stays with moving FI, and monitoring the situation going forward.
Armstrong has great concern and takes “exception to the simple notion of “monitoring”,.
Armstrong argues that the “enrollment numbers for Lester B Pearson as depicted in this graph “we can visualize three sets of data. The upper most curve represents the projected enrollment prior to a boundary change associated with the opening of Hayden. The boundary change purposely reduced the expected enrollment to just below 600 students. Apparently smaller enrollments where Ok back then! The actual enrollment went off the plan quickly, and significantly. Presently that school is sitting 30% below its planned student body, and indeed those 392 students are witnessing the problems of too little enrollment.”
 Armstrong doesn’t have much faith in the Board’s plan to monitor. “If monitoring simply means standing by and watching then that is unacceptable. If 30 % off target isn’t enough to trigger action what is? The Board needs to put a stronger set of actions around tracking and managing, and the Trustees needs to press for frequent reporting back to them” he said.
Armstrong wil tell you that “Hayden definitely has a “vibe” to it, and it’s more than just being a new building. “When I toured the school as a PARC member I couldn’t help but feel that Burlington needs more of this. In reality, feel probably has little to do with the age of the walls.”
Armstrong likes the idea of conjoining Hayden and Pearson as a way of combining the best of both schools. “If Hayden’s Principal was to also oversee Pearson, similar to what happens with some elementary schools, would this not help ensure success? Since the goal is that some of the students presently going to, or about to start at Hayden, would be instead attending Pearson, why not bring some of the teachers over as well he asks.
Pearson has been a vibrant smaller school in the past, and not everyone is seeking out everything that a large school has to offer. Armstrong points out that currently 25% of Pearson’s students do so through optional attendance. A similar percentage also attend Bateman’s English stream program through optional attendance. Apparently there is value in having such environments available both north and south of the QEW.
With a proposal like this both student bodies expand their programming options, in an environment most suited to their preferences.
“The current set of recommendations would move the city’s overall utilization from the present 80% trajectory to 108%. Based on the historical inaccuracies of the projections beyond the 5 year mark this plan greatly increasing the risks of requiring capital intensive construction in the future.
“Hayden’s projections involve it running at 150% of capacity by 2021. Redirecting FI to MM Robinson to relieve overcrowding is too critical to simply leave to “monitoring” the progress.
“Closing Pearson removes close proximity capacity from the North, eliminates an option for smaller school attendance, and takes what by 2020 will be a 88% utilization up to 111% overall for the remaining 2 schools.”
“Change isn’t always easy” acknowledged Armstrong. “Perhaps starting with a smaller project, that would develop better community based problem solving, is in order.”
 Closing no schools was always an option – it just took the PARC members some time to realize it might be the best one. 7 dots  The original option to close Central and Pearson was interesting to those who were not representing either of the schools. 9 dots  This was the same as option 19 with some variation on boundary changes and shifts in the program offerings. 9 dots Armstrong has come to the conclusion that Pearson is necessary to give Hayden some breathing room and to continue the community based approach to problem solving. He was a strong advocate for retaining access to a smaller school in the North.
The PAR committee members were asked to rank the options that were before them. Each of the 14 PRAC members were given two dots to put on which ever option they favoured. The objective was to begin to whittle down the 40 plus options that were on the table. The results made it immediately clear that there wasn’t going to be anything near the consensus the Board would have liked to see. It also meant that the trustees had a very hard job ahead of them.
After his three months of work on the PARC, Armstrong feels the trustees need to vote for the “close none of the schools option” and allow time for the Board, with significant involvement from the community, to fully study the issues and finally get it right.
Like many in the community, Armstrong believes that Hayden should not have been built – but it exists and parents are going to have to live with that decision. That is is a fine school today, even though it is over crowded, should not blur the issues about what is done with the other six high schools.
 By Staff
May 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The full throated celebration of our 150th birthday has yet to be revealed by the city – traditionally there has been a Strawberry social at the museum – with that place shut down – no longer open for business – the public doesn’t know what the plans are for July 1st.
 Are the citizens of this city going to hold 150 different neighbourhood events to celebrate the Sesquicentennial? The Mayor has high hopes – he is looking for 150 Love My Hood events – the city is putting some cash on the table to make those events happen. Love My Hood provides resources, support, funding up to $300 and eliminates some common barriers in event hosting. Click here for details on that opportunity.
 Recognizing 71 Burlington authors past and present. The Library has an interesting series of events a display of books written by Burlington authors past and present.
 THE best citizen initiative during the past five years. They kept it alive. Freeman Station has grabbed a spot in the events that will take place on Canada Day – the Sesquicentennial version. The Mayor is going to be on hand for that event – we hope that Councillors Lancaster and Meed Ward will set aside the differences they have and be recognized for stepping forward and doing what it took to keep the station away from the wrecking ball until citizens began to do what the city wasn’t able to do.
There is a member of city council who we hope has the decency not to show up – he did almost everything he could to convince the citizens who kept the Freeman Station alive to give up. Citizens got it to the point where it is now close to the best piece of history the city has – exceeded only by Ireland House.
The council member might manage to find it within himself to apologize and make a donation to redeem himself.
 An Air Force CG18 jet – decked out in Sesquicentennial colours – will take off from the Munro Airport in Hamilton and do a cross country tour. Hamilton has got an interesting event taking place – it really isn’t their event – the federal government is the force behind this one – but the CF18 jet decorated with Canadian colours will set out on its Canadian tour from the airport in Hamilton.
Burlington might get lucky and convince someone somewhere to have that jet do a couple of barrel roles over Burlington Bay as it flies out of the Munro International airport.
The city might be holding the Canada Day cards close to their chest until we have Victoria Day behind us.
A number of administrative services will be closed for the Victoria Day weekend on Monday, May 22, 2017, reopening on Tuesday, May 23, 2017.
City Hall: Will be closed on Monday, May 22, reopening on Tuesday, May 23.
Parks and Recreation Programs and Facilities: Activities and customer service hours at city pools, arenas and community centres will vary over the holiday weekend. Please visit burlington.ca/play for a complete listing of program times and burlington.ca/service hours for hours at customer service locations.
Burlington Transit and Handi-Van: On Monday, May 22, Burlington Transit will operate a holiday service and the administration offices including the downtown Transit Terminal and Handi-Van dispatch will be closed. Regular service resumes Tuesday, May 23. Call 905-639-0550 or visit burlingtontransit.ca for more information.
Roads and Parks Maintenance: The administrative office will be closed on Monday, May 22, reopening on Tuesday, May 23. Only emergency service will be provided.
Halton Court Services: Provincial Offences Courts in Milton and Burlington will be closed on Monday, May 22, reopening on Tuesday, May 23.
Parking: Free parking is available in the downtown core at all pay machines located on the street, municipal lots and the parking garage on weekends and holidays.
The gardeners will beat a path to the nurseries in the city as they plan to get their gardens in.
By Staff
May 15, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
On Saturday June 3rd, you will be able to have your personal sensitive documents shred at the Crime stoppers event. The shredding truck will be at the parking lot on the east side of Brant at Ghent from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm.
How much damage can the theft of your personal identity do?
An Ontario teacher is working to clear her name and her credit score, after someone appears to have used her identity to open credit cards, take out a loan and purchase a luxury SUV.
Tara Douglas arrived home from her teaching job in Bradford, about 65 kilometres north of Toronto, on April 28 to find a bill waiting for her for the Highway 407 toll expressway.
The bill was for trips she never took in a car she never bought.
“I saw the licence plate did not belong to me and the trips that were on this 407 bill I had never taken,” Douglas told CBC Radio’s Metro Morning.
She called the number on the bill and was told she had to deal with the Ministry of Transportation. The next day, Douglas went to a Service Ontario location to figure out what was going on.
After receiving a strange bill, Tara Douglas began digging and discovered that her identity had been stolen.
A staffer there pulled up her information and told Douglas that a 2012 black Range Rover was registered to her driver’s licence, in addition to her own car.
“That’s kind of when I really started to freak out because this obviously isn’t my car,” she said.
The MTO staffer removed the Range Rover from her licence and directed her to police in Barrie. Police listened to the details of her case and launched an investigation. On Tuesday, the force issued a news release with a picture of a suspect standing in front of the SUV.
“The news release says the Range Rover has been registered to Douglas since March 31 after being purchased at a dealership in Woodbridge, another community north of Toronto.
“The dealership was contacted and confirmed the female who purchased the vehicle did so with a valid driver’s licence and proper identification,” the release says.
Police had advised Douglas to contact her bank, as well as credit reporting agencies Equifax and TransUnion, to see what else may have been done in her name. While her personal bank information was fine, the credit bureaus told her that someone had taken out numerous credit cards in her name, ringing up between $1,000 and $5,000 in charges. Her address was also listed as being in North York, which isn’t true. Two cellphone numbers that weren’t Douglas’s were also registered to her.
Other car purchases were also listed on her credit report, and police told her that a $60,000 loan had also been taken out in her name.
After learning about the extent of the identity theft, Douglas has done everything she could to clean up her credit report and protect herself.
While she doesn’t yet know how someone managed to get her personal information, police did tell her that the person allegedly buying cars and obtaining credit in her name had obtained her social insurance number.
She’s now working hard to clean up her credit report, sending the credit bureaus various documents to prove her side of the story. She has also contacted Canada Post to ensure her mail wasn’t being diverted to the suspect’s address.
“I think I’ve covered all my bases,” she said. She’s also unsubscribed from email lists she doesn’t want to be on, has told her banks to only communicate with her by phone and boosted the privacy settings on her social media accounts.
“I don’t know what else I can do at this point, but I want this to be resolved and go away and and get back to what my life was and who I am,” she said.
How did someone get enough information on Tara Douglas to be able to open up a bank account, get a bank loan, buy a car and get credit cards, She may never know. The thieves may have gone though her garbage and found a bank statement – that would be more than enough to get them started.
On Saturday June 3rd, you will be able to have your personal sensitive documents shred at the Crime stoppers event. The shredding truck will be at the parking lot on the east side of Brant at Ghent from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm.
By Staff
May 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Public Library has come up with an interesting way to celebrate and recognize the role that literature has played in the growth of this country.
They have put together a traveling book display that will move from library branch to library branch during the balance of the year.
The schedule is:
May 12 to June 5 – New Appleby branch
June 6 to July 3 – Tansley Woods branch
July 4 to Aug 7 – Kilbride branch
Aug 8 to Sep 4 – Alton branch
Sep 5 to Oct 9 – Brant Hills branch
Oct 10 to Nov 6 – Central branch
Nov 7 to Dec 4 – Aldershot branch
The display will include copies of 71 books written by authors who live or once lived in Burlington. It is the library’s way of celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday
 Part of the traveling display – 71 authors from a city the size of Burlington is something to celebrate. The book display will feature books from a variety of both children’s and adult’s authors and illustrators. Special edition Canada 150 bookmarks will be handed out.
Maureen Barry, CEO, Burlington Public Library adds that “Canada has a long and proud literary arts heritage and an exceptional reputation for storytelling worldwide. Here in Burlington, we are privileged to have a wealth of talent connected to our city. That’s something worth celebrating.”
The commemorative book display project was initiated and inspired by Burlington author, Sylvia McNicoll. Ian Elliot, owner of A Different Drummer Books, assisted with the selection of authors and books featured in the exhibit.
Children’s Authors
Rebecca Bender
Giraffe and Bird
Don’t Laugh at Giraffe
Pamela Duncan Edwards
Oliver Has Something to Say!
Lana Button
Willow’s Whispers
Willow Finds a Way
Willow’s Smile
Marilyn Helmer
Fog Cat
That’s What Bears Are For!
Heather Rath
Ode to a Flattened Toad
Jennifer Maruno
When The Cherry Blossoms Fell
Cherry Blossom Winter
Cherry Blossom Baseball
Cathy Miyata
Starring Me
Sharon E. McKay
Charlie Wilcox
War Brothers
Sylvia McNicoll
Best Friends Through Eternity
The Best Mistake Mystery
Jennifer Mook-Sang
Speechless
Patricia Storms
Never Let You Go
The Ghosts Go Spooking
Children’s Book Illustrators
Lorenzo Del Bianco
Hockey Science
Dirty Science
Wendy Whittingham
Miss Wondergerm’s Dreadfully Dreadful Pie
Patricia (Patty) Gallinger
My Mannequins
Yesterday’s Santa and the Chanukah Miracle
Adult Authors
Elizabeth Crocket
Extra Candles
Jen J. Danna
Dead, Without a Stone to Tell It
Lone Wolf (as Sara Driscoll)
Lorene DiCorpo
Worth Travelling Miles to See
A. E. Eddenden
A Good Year for Murder
Murder at the Movies
Jennifer Filipowicz
Wardroids
Ian Hamilton
The Water Rat of Wanchai
The Courturier of Milan
Emerson Lavender
The Evaders
Denise McKay
Old Lady Sweetly Is Twenty
John Lawrence Reynolds
Free Rider
Beach Strip
Lee Lamb
Oak Island Obsession
Alexandra Oliver
Meeting The Tormentors in Safeway
Let The Empire Down
Lynda Simmons
Getting Rid of Rosie
Island Girl
Janet Turpin Myers
Nightswimming
The Last Year of Confusion
Dee Wilson
A Keeper’s Truth
Mark Zelinski
Heart of Turtle Island: The Niagara Escarpment
Canada’s Royal Garden
Gary Evans
Images of Burlington
Vanished Burlington
Jane Irwin
Burlington
Old Canadian Cemeteries
Former Resident Authors
Robert Bateman
Life Sketches
Linwood Barclay
Broken Promise
Far From True
The Twenty-Three
Melodie Campbell
The Goddaughter
The Bootlegger’s Goddaughter
Jill Downie
Daggers and Men’s Smiles
A Grave Waiting
Blood Will Out
Kim Echlin
The Disappeared
Under The Visible Life
Lawrence Hill
The Book of Negroes
The Illegal
Miranda Hill
Sleeping Funny
Marni Jackson
The Mother Zone
Don’t I Know You?
Christopher Moore
The Story of Canada
Anitha Robinson
Broken Worlds
Gisela Sherman
The Farmerettes
 By Staff
May 14, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
What is wrong with this email? It says it is from Apple – I am not an Apple user – so why would I respond to it?
Also – it is not from Apple.
The clues – and you need to learn to look for them.
 Emails like this are flooding the internet – doing a lot of damage to the finances of individuals and costing the banks and the credit card companies a small fortune – billions.
The address it came from – does have the word apple in it – but it isn’t from the Apple organization.
The mis-spelling of the word security is the biggest clue. Major corporations don’t make that kind of mistake – should it happen they would correct it in second.
Should you click on any of the places they ask you to – you have started the process that could well end up with you losing your identity to someone else – who can do you a lot of harm. How much damage can they do – check out this story we published.
Be careful, be cautious. when you cross the street you look both ways – do the same with email. The internet has brought us huge changes – and with those changes come some problems. If the email you get looks to good to be true – that’s because it isn’t. The thieves are relying on your gullibility and your greed.
 By Staff
May 12, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
A section of New Street west of Guelph Line to Martha Street will be closed overnight on May 16 and 17 for road resurfacing.
 New Street west of Guelph Line to get a new layer of asphalt next week. Tuesday May 16, 2017
Location: New Street from Martha Street to Teen Tour Way
Time: 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Wednesday May 17, 2017
Location: New Street from Teen Tour Way to Guelph Line
Time: 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
By Pepper Parr
May 12th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Without looking too deeply into what they do in Oakville it is interesting to note that when they go to the Ontario Municipal Board they tend to win.
The town passed an Interim Control By-law (ICBL) and its one year extension, to put a hold on the plans the Glen Abbey golf club has to develop the property. The OMB concluded that the ICBL was appropriate and necessary.
Glen Abbey – home to 27 Canadian Opens and site of one the most famous shots in this country’s golf history – could become a huge housing and commercial project if its owner follows through on a preliminary proposal to redevelop the prime property.
Glen Abbey’s parent, ClubLink Corp., filed a request on Friday to turn the famed 230-acre golf course into a residential community of about 3,000 homes, as well as offices and retail stores. There is no provision for a golf course in the plan. A valley protected by law will remain undeveloped.
 Home to a residential community of about 3,000 homes? Not if Oakville Town Council has it’s way. The OMB decision noted that the town’s ICBL was based on a legitimate planning rationale, was enacted in good faith, and was in conformity with the Region of Halton Official Plan and the Provincial Growth Plan.
“Council is very pleased that the Board recognized that the magnitude of the Glen Abbey proposal and its potential for impact on the community warrant further study,” Mayor Burton said. “Our Livable Oakville Official Plan specifically identifies suitable growth areas in order to protect the character of our stable residential neighbourhoods and Council looks forward to hearing the results of the town’s studies.”
The world-famous Glen Abbey property is also home to the Academies of ClubLink, the headquarters of Golf Canada, the Canadian Golf Museum and Hall of Fame, and the TaylorMade Performance Lab – ClubLink.
The OMB’s decision ensures the town will have sufficient time to complete its studies on the Glen Abbey property. Staff will be reporting to Council over the next month on all three studies. Any further work directed by Council as a result of the studies is expected to be completed before the ICBL expires on February 1, 2018.
What is the Town of Oakville doing that the City of Burlington cannot manage to do?
 By Staff
May 12th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
There were 24 people nominated with eight of them named the city’s BEST in different categories.
The awards were presented at an event at the Royal Botanical Gardens – a positive shift in venue for the event.
Burlington’s Best Awards are managed by a citizen’s committee established in 1965 with the mandate of recognizing Burlington residents who bring honour to the city and make a difference in the community.
The Burlington’s Best categories include:
• Heritage Award
• Community Service Award
• Environmental Award
• Arts Person of the Year
• Accessibility Award
• Junior Citizen of the Year
• Senior Person of the Year
• Citizen of the Year
The Citizen of the Year Award is given to a person whose volunteer activity has made a significant and sustained contribution to the vibrancy and wellbeing of the Burlington community.
 Dorothy Borovich: 2016 Citizen of the Year Dorothy Borovich has been a community builder for more than 15 years. She co-founded Youthfest, an initiative that brought together community not-for-profit agencies, city, business and youth leaders to promote youth philanthropy and engage in volunteerism.
Borovich encouraged youth to take on community involvement and volunteering as a lifestyle in order to gain a sense of belonging. Through her fundraising efforts, a permanent endowment fund with the Burlington Community Foundation was established and continues to assist youth in their community endeavours. Borovich also founded the Crystal Ball, a significant source of annual funding for Joseph Brant Hospital, and the Healthy Reflections event which raises funds to assist women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Borovich is described as an inspiring leader; her commitment and passion has made Burlington a better city.
The Heritage Award went to Jim Clemens. He is no longer a Burlington resident but the city owes him a huge debt of gratitude for heading up the Citizen Heritage Advisory committee that solved the problems and did what the city had not been able to do.
 Jim Clemens given the 2016 Heritage Award. The award is sponsored by Heritage Burlington, a City of Burlington citizen advisory committee made up of 14 volunteers who provide advice to City Council on issues related to the conservation of Burlington’s cultural heritage.
The award goes to an individual who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the preservation of Burlington’s heritage, and has volunteered his or her time to support the preservation of Burlington’s heritage.
Clemens has been a leader and supporter of heritage and culture in Burlington for many years. He has a deep knowledge of the issues and legalities that influence Burlington’s capacity to preserve its heritage. As a past member and Chair of Heritage Burlington, he was instrumental in the development of the document “A New Approach for Conserving Burlington’s Heritage” resulting in the implementation of the Burlington Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program. Through his work with the Burlington Historical Society and Heritage Burlington, Jim has demonstrated an ongoing commitment and dedication to maintaining Burlington’s heritage for future generations.
The Community Service Award, sponsored by COGECO, is given to an individual or group whose volunteer activity has contributed to the betterment of the Burlington community.
 Marion Goard given the 2016 Community Service Award. Marion Goard was chosen for this award – she believes a better community is the responsibility of every individual and she strives to find ways to contribute to Burlington. She is the co-founder of 100 Women Who Care Burlington, an organization of 100 women who donate $100 four times a year to four different charities – $10,000 per charity.
The Environmental Award is sponsored by Walker Environmental Group, a leading waste management company that develops solutions for environmental challenges.
Kale Black was chosen for this award.
 Kale Black, upper right given the Environmental Award for 2016. He is described as a shining example of how one person can truly make a difference. His journey to champion the environment began while attending Aldershot High School and since then, he has dedicated almost nine years of his life striving to create a better planet and benefit the community.
Black has hand-sorted more waste at Burlington festivals and events than any other individual in the city and his active participation and team leadership at 44 community events has resulted in the diversion of 61 tonnes of waste from the landfill. Black is best known in the community for his extensive contributions to inspiring and engaging local youth to grow up green and has taught fun-filled, educational workshops to 7000 Burlington children. Black is an environmental and community champion who actively leads and serves as a steward for our environment and the youth of Burlington.
His hard work and dedication to environmental initiatives in Burlington, including protecting the rural environment and valuable green space, has touched many lives. Black has pushed for environmentally sustainable policy and decision-making and has led the BurlingtonGreen team to grow as an effective, impactful organization through various programs, services and advocacy campaigns.
The Arts Person of the Year Award, known as the K.W. Irmisch Award, went to Margaret Lindsay Holton, a woman who has made a significant contribution to the arts and as an activist she has stood up and spoken out about environmental issues and where the city was getting it wrong.
This is a woman who does not want to understand what no means.
It is interesting to note that two people who have made significant contributions at the cultural level have been recognized. Kudos to the selection committee for seeing things through
 Margaret Lindsay Holton: 2016 Arts Person of the Year Holton is a well-known Burlington born artist and activist who has made significant contributions to the community. Her 25 minute short film called “The Frozen Goose” had a cast made up of local cast and crew – keeping the production “grassroots” and grounded in this area. Accessibility Award
The Accessibility Award went to the Tetra Society, an organization that recruits skilled volunteers to create customized assistive devices for people with physical disabilities and enhances the health and quality of life for thousands of people with disabilities.
 A chair being built by the Tetra Society They design and build a wide variety of “gizmos” such as communication adaptations, eating and drinking utensils and educational and recreational aides for people of all ages and abilities. The Tetra Society is a hidden hero in the Burlington community that is invaluable in enriching the lives of others.
Mehr Mahmood founded Youthfest in 2002 and was named the Junior Citizen of the Year last night. They avidly promote the importance of youth in our community; developing youth responsibility and action in the community by connecting youth to meaningful volunteer opportunities and available supportive service. The winner receives a $500 bursary, courtesy of the Bank of Montreal, which has been a leading and supportive partner since the inception of Youthfest.
The award is given to a high school student, 18 years of age or younger, who has made a significant contribution to the Burlington community.
 Mehr Mahmood, on the right with Burlington MP Karina Gould. Mehr has made significant contributions to the Burlington community through her volunteer work as a volunteer. She has contributed her time, energy and talents to many organizations including Burlington Public Library, 3 Things for Burlington, Halton Mosque and the Compassion Society. Mehr has been an inspiration and natural leader on the Library’s Teen Advisory Board in the development of a program called Fusion, which brings teen volunteers and teens with developmental disabilities together.
Mehr a compassionate young woman and is dedicated to growing acceptance and inclusivity in our community.
Dave Page was named the Senior Person of the Year Award that is given to a Burlington resident aged 55 years or older who has advocated on behalf of seniors and/or made a significant contribution to the Burlington community.
 Dave Page: 2016 Senior Person of the Year Page has been an active volunteer with the Age Friendly Housing Committee for more than five years and demonstrates his passion for the need for affordable, accessible and safe housing for older adults living in Burlington.
He played a vital role in the development of the Halton HomeShare Toolkit, a guide to support older adults to stay in their home and share it with a home seeker who can help with household responsibilities.
In addition, Page is responsible for the creation of a conversation circle where Halton Multicultural Council’s newcomers and refugee groups can practice their English speaking skills. Burlington is richer for having a man like Page who silently goes about supporting the health and well-being of the community through his volunteer activities.
 By Staff
May 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The following are the people selected as delegates to address the Halton District school Board trustees on the matter of closing high schools in Burlington.
Earlier in the week the trustees listened to 24 delegations and managed to ask a paltry five questions with three of them coming from one trustee.
Chair Kelly Amos didn’t say a word other than to open the meeting, thank the speakers and close the meeting. Engaging the people who elected them seems to be beyond this crop of elected officials.
 Cheryl Delugt, standing, a member of the PARC Tracey and Joelle Howard will speak on the closing of Robert Bateman
Cheryl Delugt, a member of the PARC will speak on the closing of Lester B. Pearson
Elyse Matthews is a community member.
Tammie Beattie will represent the interests of the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
Jane Cooper Kelly is a Community Member
Dr. Lisa Van Zoost will speak for Nelson high school
Diane Miller will speak for Lester B, Pearson.
Adam Peaker is a community member
Tom Muir is a community member who has written at length on why the Board of Education is in the situation they are in. He speaks as a Community Member
Debbie Wakem will speak for Robert Bateman high school
 Steve Cussons, on the right, was a member of the PARC committee. Steve Cussons will speak for parents at Aldershot high chool
Jeffrey Huang Ma will speak for Robert Bateman HS
Maeve Fitzgerald will also speak for Robert Bateman HS
Cassie White will speak for Robert Bateman high school as well.
Camryn McKay will speak for Robert Bateman
Denise Davy, who has worked tirelessly for the interests of the parents with children at Robert Bateman, will delegate Thursday evening.
Barbara Heller will speak about the Gifted Programs
Natalie Hiltz will also speak on the Gifted Program
Julie Hill will speak for Robert Bateman HS
Heather deHaan will speak for Robert Bateman
Stephen Beleck will speak for Robert Bateman
Brent Hall is a Community Member
Tracey Bruton will speak for Robert Bateman HS
Lauren Olsen will speak for Burlington Central HS
 Jason Bartlett, parent of a student at Bateman high school Jason and Kelley Bartlett will speak for Robert Bateman HS. Jason has in the past been a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
Steve Armstrong, who was a member of the PARC will speak for Lester B. Pearson and for Hayden high school
Douglas Emerson will speak for Lester B. Pearson high school
Renée Sirbu will speak on the International Baccalaureate program
Kathy Berglund will speak for the Aldershot HS
Heather McElrea will also speak for the Aldershot HS
Ron Raj Reddy will speak on the International Baccalaureate program.
The delegation meeting of the Board of Trustees on Monday met at the Board of Education offices – if you were not a delegation you had to watch the proceedings at M. M. Robinson high school, a couple of hundred yards away.
The turn out at MMR was 21 people which narrowed down to 17 as the evening wore on. The Board made every effort to keep a crowd that had the potential to get noisy out side the building.
The policy is not to allow any emotional response from the public. That doesn’t square all that well with a policy that lets the trustees applaud when they are handing out awards to members of the public.
Closing any school is an emotional process – the Director of Education said having to tell the staff at Bateman high school that he had recommended the closing of that school “broke his heart”. It’s doing a lot more than that to the parents of the students at Bateman.
There is nothing wrong with people allowing their emotions to overflow. This Board and these trustees seem to be afraid of hearing how people really feel.
When things get noisy or even a little rowdy – a strong chair has a gavel and can call a meeting to order very effectively; that of course is the problem – the chair isn’t very strong.
A man named Jim Young, an Aldershot resident with a passion for getting better public transit service for seniors in Burlington once told that city council that council was not theirs – it was something they held as a sacred trust on behalf of the public – and we thought he was right.
The 11 trustees were elected to represent the public and ensure that the teachers and board staff deliver the service the province directs them to deliver and that the public wants.
So far – not one person has stood up publicly and said that closing a high school is a good thing for Burlington.
 Eleven of the people sitting at the conference table will vote to decide which, if any, of the high schools in Burlington should be closed. Trustees – fill board +
Eleven of the people at the meeting will decide which, if any of the high schools in Burlington are to be closed. There doesn’t seem to be any public support for closing the schools.
At a recent Board of Trustee meeting the 11 members poured over the plans for a new high school on Milton; they talked about where hallways should be, where recreational facilities should be – they sounded like a family designing their new hone. They had all kinds of questions.
They need to be as deliberate and as responsible and as involved and as engaged with the matter of closing a school. This isn’t a game.
By Staff
May 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It wasn’t the tour of duty they were expecting when they set out for work September 20th, 2016
In a media release the Halton Regional Police Service report that several of its members were following a suspect; while in the city of Toronto, one of the officers shot the suspect. When police use their guns the Ontario Special Investigations Units initiates an investigation. At the time of the incident, HRPS officers were following a suspect, a Mr. Grayson Delong, as part of an ongoing property crimes investigation.
The Ontario special Investigations Unit tell the story much better than the Halton police,
They report that:
 The SIU investigated behaviour of an HRPS officer. He was cleared The assignment began at a courthouse in Brampton where Mr. Delong was scheduled to make a 9 a.m. court appearance. Over the next several hours, HRPS officers followed Mr. Delong who eventually made his way to the downtown Toronto area.
After parking on Admiral Road, Mr. Delong exited the vehicle wearing a reflective construction vest and a blonde wig. He then walked to a nearby park where he stayed for approximately one hour. Suspecting that Mr. Delong was preparing to commit a robbery, the team contacted other area police services about their suspicions.
Shortly after 3 p.m., Mr. Delong drove to Bedford Road and parked his vehicle across the street from 23 Bedford Road.
Minutes later, Mr. Delong exited his vehicle, looked southbound and then re-entered the car. The subject officer, directed to approach on foot in order to ascertain if Mr. Delong was still inside the vehicle, saw Mr. Delong slouched down in the rear passenger seat. He was still wearing the disguise. The subject officer walked into the stairwell of a nearby building which afforded him a view of Mr. Delong sitting in the vehicle.
Suddenly, Mr. Delong exited the vehicle and ran up behind a male individual, who was standing at the rear of a vehicle in the driveway of the property at 23 Bedford Road. As the male slowly turned around, Mr. Delong discharged a semi-automatic pistol. The male suffered gunshot wounds and fell to the ground. Mr. Delong made his way back to his vehicle.
Hearing gunshots, followed by shouting and screaming, the subject officer ran onto Bedford Road and saw Mr. Delong re-enter his vehicle while carrying a dark object in his right hand which he believed was a gun.
The subject officer, now standing on the east sidewalk took out his gun and walked behind the vehicle Mr. Delong was in and pointed his pistol at it. The subject officer yelled, “Police, police, police!” Mr. Delong drove his vehicle out of the parking space in a jerky motion. The vehicle abruptly stopped, and the driver’s window shattered outward as Mr. Delong again discharged his firearm. Mr. Delong then began to slowly drive away along southbound Bedford Road.
The subject officer aimed his gun at the rear of Mr. Delong’s vehicle and fired three times. After firing the third shot, he noticed Mr. Delong slump to the right, and his vehicle suddenly jerked and started rolling forward. One of the other members of the team drove his vehicle in front of Mr. Delong’s car, and the two vehicles slowly made contact and came to a stop.
The members of the team approached Mr. Delong’s vehicle with their guns drawn. They found Mr. Delong lying across the right front passenger seat. He had been struck twice.
First Aid was administered to Mr. Delong until paramedics arrived.
When Mr. Delong’s left arm was pulled out from underneath him, a semi-automatic pistol was observed on the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Director Loparco said, “There is no question that the subject officer was acting in the course of his duties when he fired his gun at the fleeing Mr. Delong. The subject officer was in a proximate location to the male’s office at the time of the shooting. Mr. Delong acted suddenly, and the subject officer’s response was prompt. The time frame from when Mr. Delong approached the male to when he pulled his vehicle away was a mere 20 seconds.
“The question that I have to consider is whether or not the subject officer exceeded the ambits of justifiable force in the circumstances, the applicable section of the Criminal Code being section 25(4).
“Based on all of the forensic evidence and statements from numerous witnesses and the subject officer, all five requirements of section 25(4) are satisfied. First, the subject officer had reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Delong had just shot somebody and as such was arrestable. Second, a person who commits either aggravated assault or discharge firearm with intent can be arrested without a warrant. Third, Mr. Delong was clearly attempting to flee the scene as he drove away from 23 Bedford Road. Fourth, the subject officer indicated that he believed that Mr. Delong posed a threat to him, the other nearby officers and the public.
Given that Mr. Delong appeared to have just shot somebody, and had fired additional shots from inside his vehicle, the subject officer’s conclusion was more than reasonable. Finally, there was no less violent mechanism that could have been used to affect the arrest. It is also noteworthy that the subject officer only fired three times, and held his fire after noticing that Mr. Delong’s vehicle abruptly jerked on the roadway. The subject officer’s actions in the circumstances were reasonable, responsive, measured and thoughtful.”
 Special Investigations Unit Director Tony Loparco. Director Loparco added, “Beyond the shooting, there was another potential avenue of criminal liability that I considered when reviewing this case. The facts of this case gave me pause when they were presented to me at an early stage. I was concerned with the fact that the HRPS team had been observing Mr. Delong for an extended period of time prior to the shooting. The concern was that their inactions, or omissions, could conceivably satisfy the requirements of criminal negligence causing bodily harm with respect to the male’s injuries. If the officers did not place Mr. Delong under arrest when they should have, then their actions could very well have been a marked and substantial departure from what a reasonable officer would have done in the same circumstances.
“However, a review of the HRPS team’s assignment and efforts leads me to the conclusion that there is no basis for reasonable grounds to believe that the offence of criminal negligence causing bodily harm was committed. While his activities certainly warranted suspicion, Mr. Delong was not arrestable for any offences prior to his approaching the male and discharging a firearm. After Mr. Delong donned his disguise, the team consulted with nearby police services to determine if Mr. Delong matched the descriptions of any wanted persons. He did not.”
Director Loparco concluded, “In the circumstances, the subject officer was legally justified in employing force intended to cause death or grievous bodily harm against a fleeing suspect. Consequently, there is no reason to believe that a criminal offence has been committed and no charges will issue.”
HRPS Chief Stephen Tanner today releases his statement regarding the incident and SIU findings:
 Halton Regional Police Services Chief Tanner. “At this time I wish to publicly commend each of our officers for the roles they played that day. They were able to effectively intervene in a rapidly unfolding, life-threatening incident. While we may never know for sure, these officers quite possibly saved the life of the victim who had been shot. Following the initial incident, the officers rendered medical assistance at the scene until Toronto EMS arrived.
“I am extremely proud of our team. All of the involved officers, including the subject officer, cooperated fully with the SIU. This included (the subject officer) submitting to an interview, which he was not required to do.
“No police officer wants to be placed in a situation of having to consider, never mind actually using deadly force. However, we know from this and many other similar, serious cases across the country, it can be a requirement of our highly-trained and professional officers.
“With the SIU investigation concluded, I want to once again thank our officers for their actions and commend them for their professional conduct throughout the incident and resulting investigation.”
By Staff
May 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather damage was worse than the Rob Peachey, manager of parks and open space realized.
Significant erosion has resulted in the pedestrian bridge closest to Lake Ontario in Paletta Lakefront Park has been closed to ensure public safety.
 Paletta Mansion, the property was once owned by Laura Secord has a number of small bridges on the property. Spring rains took out one of those bridges. There has been damage to the bridge supports and creek banks as a result of last week’s storms and wave action from Lake Ontario.
An engineering consultant has deemed the bridge unsafe for public use and has recommended the bridge be removed.
Plans for the removal of the bridge are underway and the area is being fenced-off with signage posted.
The bridge is expected to be out of service for an extended period of time.
 By Staff
May 10th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Liberal government is delivering on their budget promises and sending Cabinet Ministers out into the field to spread the good news.
 Burlington MP Eleanor McMahon announced that the Joseph Brant hospital was to get $2.5. McMahon’s flu shot – she got that at a local pharmacy. That got Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon over to the hospital this morning to make the announcement and chat things up with — Eric Vandewall, President and CEO of Joseph Brant Hospital who said: “Joseph Brant Hospital welcomes the news of receiving an additional $2.5 million in funding, a 2.10% increase to invest in frontline care and enhance patient experience. This funding will ensure that important health care services and programs are maintained for the residents of Burlington and the surrounding area.”
Bit of a mix up with the numbers: Vandewall said the money was a 2.5% increase while the Minister, in her release puts it at 3.1% – not exactly chump change when we are talking in millions.
 Eric Vandewall, President and CEO of Joseph Brant Hospital Vandewall, the highest paid civil servant in Burlington earns more than twice what we pay McMahon. He however has to pay for his parking; she gets to use a limo to dive her around from time to time.
Public service does have its perks.
The media release tells us that: “The Joseph Brant Hospital is getting an additional $2.5 million that will provide faster access to health care, expand crucial services and procedures, and improve the experience of patients.
“This investment in Burlington is part of a 3.1 per cent increase in hospital funding in the 2017 Budget to directly benefit patients at every public hospital across Ontario, and will:
Provide more access to cardiac services, critical care, organ/tissue donations and transplants, rare disease care, and bariatric services, as well as support for new and redeveloped hospitals
Improve access and reduce wait times for chemotherapy, stroke treatments, hip and knee replacements, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs)
Support service delivery by hospitals in high-growth communities, as well as small, medium, northern and rural hospitals, and mental health and stand-alone paediatric hospitals.
Ontario is increasing access to care, reducing wait times and improving the patient experience through its Patients First Action Plan for Health Care and OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare – protecting health care today and into the future.
The new patient tower at Burlington’s Joseph Brant Hospital is nearing completion and will be officially opened on August 21st. This is a long awaited modernization of a hospital that has had its problems in the past.
 An architects rendering of the new entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital which will now face the lake. The entrance will be off Lakeshore Road with the new parking lot just to the west of the hospital. The patient tower is part of the hospital’s more-than-$350-million redevelopment and expansion.
 On a rain soaked day 2334 people gathered in Spencer Smith Park to try and break a Guinness world record for creating the largest human letter. It was a valiant effort – and the weather was the pits. The city of Burlington had to come up with $60 million of that money with the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation raising an additional $60 million.
The redevelopment will house the new emergency department, cancer clinic, and intensive care unit, as well as operating rooms, and recovery and inpatient units.
It is a very smart looking building.
By Staff
May 10, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The attempts to get at your personal financial information are relentless. There are thousands of thieves out there from around the world hat send out millions of email each day trying to lure people into sending them information that will allow them to get at your sensitive financial information.
The rule is always – if in doubt – don’t
One of the more recent scams is the parking ticket notice.
Here is what it looks like.
  
The bottom part is perhaps the most dangerous – they might have a photograph that will have computer code within it that could corrupt your computer and leave software on your machine that lets them track everything you do.
Very dangerous. That rule again: If in doubt – don’t.
 By Pepper Parr
May 9th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Revised: This article has been revised based on information sent to us by trustee Papin
The first wave of delegations to the Halton District School Board were heard last night; twenty four people made their case for keeping different schools open.
The eleven trustees listened – three – just three asked questions. Amy Collard, perhaps the trustee with the experience needed to ask pointed questions of Board staff didn’t have much in the way of questions for any of the delegations,
 Those delegating before the trustees were in one building, those there to just listen were in another location watching the events by an internet feed. Ward 1 and 2 trustee Leah Reynolds had a question that was more technical in nature, Trustee Oliver out of Oakville had the best question – she wanted to know more about what would be involved if Bateman were to be moved to Nelson.
Other than that, the trustees didn’t really engage with the audience. They didn’t ask any of the delegations how they might resolve the question the trustee they were faced with.
As the evening wound down one could easily get the impression that the trustee’s may have felt that they had gotten through the evening with most of the skin on their backs.
 School Board trustee chair Kelly Amos Chair Kelly Amos seemed a bit flustered when she opened the meeting and maintained a polite veneer throughout the evening, hesitant at times that the whole thing might blow up in her face.
Stuart Miller, Director of Education who is going to have to work with whatever decision the trustees make maintained a calm observant demeanor throughout the evening.
There were some excellent delegations. The trustees were given new information, some of it very relevant, but one never got the impression that anything that was said was sinking in.
It was as if there was a line drawn in the sand and each group maintained their distance on their side of the line.
The parents, especially those from Bateman, certainly made their case about the value of the programs that school runs. The Board staff have taken the position that anything Bateman has today they will have when the transition to Nelson is made. The evidence heard last night suggests that is not going to be the case.
The senior staff at Nelson are going to have to work hard at changing the attitudes of a small number of Nelson students and ensure that the welcome they give the Bateman students, if that is where they are going to end up, is genuine. There has been a tremendous amount of exceptionally negative comment made on twitter by Nelson students.
The Nelson pride that Casey Cosgrove, a Bateman student in his high school days, spoke about is going to need an attitude adjustment if the decision is made to close Bateman and march all the Bateman students along New Street to their new digs.
What Cosgrove did do was remind the trustees that they had some amazing people in the community who could and would pull together to find a solution that keeps the schools open. “These are amazing people” said Cosgrove “use them”
Cosgrove wanted the trustees to vote for option 7 – don’t close any of the schools until the real work that has yet to be done can get done to figure out what the possibilities are for making a better decision than the one staff gave the trustees,
 Gary Scobie – don;t close any of the schools until you have better data. Gary Scobie, a Burlington resident who delegates often at city hall, pointed out that “Past estimates of student location into the future have not always proven correct, so it is still questionable whether it is worth the risk of losing high school properties and facilities when it will likely be impossible to place new facilities back into the existing neighbourhoods if the estimates are wrong and if demographic projections are incorrect.
“I believe that you the Trustees understand the politics of what you are being asked to vote on. You are aware of how funding works and how it doesn’t work, and how the PAR process is deeply flawed. You are in a difficult but also pivotal position to put students first.”
Scobie asked the trustees to vote for option 7b – don’t close any of the schools – not at this time.
Lisa Bull, a Bateman parent, was very pointed in her remarks when she said: “The Director’s report in front of us now dismissively suggests that the new locations for the SHSM’s and OYAPs currently located at Bateman are “to be determined” as though they are just another course you could take on-line or pick up along the way. As though moving these programs and putting them in the hands of new teachers would be without consequence.
 Lisa Bull sits in the middle of a group of parents and students protesting a possible closure of their school. “The Director couldn’t be more wrong. These programs change the course of students’ lives. And it is the availability of these programs alongside of the Essentials and Applied programming which create opportunities for success- personal and academic, efficacy, and happiness for students who might not otherwise experience such success. They should not be treated like afterthoughts.”
At this point the trustees are hearing parents advocate that the school their children attend not be closed – and they give some compelling evidence.
What the trustees are not hearing is comment on the larger picture – where is high school education going in Burlington?
Does anyone have a clear idea what may happen in the years ahead? If the senior Board staff have a vision and a deep understanding of what is really taking place – they have not communicated that to the wider community and they certainly haven’t given the trustees the data and information they need to make wise decisions.
 Central made their case – and they were heard. There are other cases that are just as strong. The Central parents made their case – take a high school out of the downtown core and you are hollowing out a significant part of the community. Board staff seem to have understood and they changed the recommendation to the trustees.
Lester B. Pearson has a strong case – which was put forward rather well by Rory Nisan and Fiona Wielhouwer.
The nursery at Lester B. Pearson has a long historical relationship with the city that funds part of that operation. A delegation argued that some of the assets don’t belong to the board. Were they heard? Wielhouwer’s delegation raised some critical questions related to the city’s involvement at Pearson – none of the trustees followed up. Richelle Papin, the trustee for Pearson said she didn’t get the copy of the delegation that Wielhouwer said was sent.
Addition: Papin said in a comment that she “I did get a copy of Fiona Wielhouwer’s delegation report by email on Sunday night. What wasn’t clear was who was to share the report with the other trustees. Normally, any delegation report goes through the director’s office. I assumed a copy would be sent to the director’s office. At any rate, a copy was shared with all trustees last night.”
If the parents of this city feel that the trustees they elected are going to do the really hard work that has to be done to resolve the problems – they may want to get ready for a bruising disappointment.
The public didn’t see much in the way of trustee engagement with the audience at the Board of education meeting last night.
The Gazette will publish more detail on what the delegations had to say.
The majority of the 24 people who spoke last night have every reason to be very proud of the job they did.
By Pepper Parr
May 8th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
As a photo-op and the announcement of a federal government grant for some innovative work it wasn’t that big a deal – the cheque was for less than half a million, given to a company that has been around for 106 years and has 113 employees doing business in 100 countries.
 Burlington MP and Minister of democratic Institutions Karina Gould announcing federal grant for Thordon Bearings. What was important, and big news, was the story of the way the federal government puts small amounts of money into initiatives and then works closely with the company that got the cheque to then sell the product.
Thordon Bearing sells more than 95% of what they make into the export market. In order to sell a product they have to be able to show it to people.
 From the left: Thordon chair Anna Galoni, Minister of Democratic Institutions Karina Gould and Terry McGowan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Thordon Bearings Inc. with one of the bearings. In this instance what the federal government did was purchase one of the bearings for the Canadian Coast Guard ship Hudson and then work with them to line up sales elsewhere in the world. A lot of the selling is government to government – especially when navies are involved.
The Thordon Bearing area of expertise is working with polymers that are used as bearings in propeller shafts for large ships. The polymer bearings are basically maintenance free and keep oil out of the ocean waters.
What is big about the deal is what it is going to make possible.
Terry McGowan, president at Thordon explained that when products are being sold to large foreign corporations or navy’s one of the first questions we get asked is – are you selling your products to your own government and is the navy in your country using your products.
A seal inserted around the propeller of a ship isn’t the kind of thing you can show a client. The things are huge and in order to see the seal the ship has to be berthed in a dry dock.
The federal government has a program they call Build Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) that does help fund some innovations but the big help they give is their ability to make introductions.
The Government of Canada has signed a procurement agreement with Thordon Bearings for the supply, installation and commissioning of two SeaThigor shaft seals for the Canadian Coast Guard vessel CCGS Hudson.
 CCGS Hudson This newest seal is going to be installed on CCGS Hudson, at the Heddie dry-dock in Hamilton.
What this seal does is two part – it keep water from getting into a ship through the propeller shaft and lubricates the shaft with sea water instead of oil – thereby keeping thousands of litres of oil out of the ocean water.
The seal needs no maintenance – which means ships don’t have to be taken into a dry dock for maintenance work. That is critical for the profitable operation of both passneger and commercial shipping.
All great products features but someone has to buy the first one and show that the things works and that the savings are real.
And that was the real news coming out of the photo op that showed two very large metal seals that use processes that are Thordon Bearings intellectual property. The company pioneered the use of polymers some time ago.
 Sandy Thomson, thinking through his answer to a question at a Chamber of Commerce event. Sandy Thomson, the founder of the company didn’t attend the cheque announcement event – he was in Europe meeting with a client. “But he was certainly there in spirit: said his daughter Anna Galoni.
 Sandy Thomson at the helm of a tug boat he bought to install the first propeller shat seal on. Thordon Bearings define themselves as a place where “innovation rules”. It is in their DNA and comes from the active and inventive mind of Sandy Thomson who is still flying his personal airplane and talking innovation to the 15 full time R&D people on staff.
The federal government has 90 BCIP contract that are active WOR worth more than $40 million.
It is big business – and it is being done right here in Burlington.
Thordon Bearind is a private company.
By Staff
May 8th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
On May 2nd 2017 shortly before midnight, a uniformed officer observed a red Cadillac driving in an erratic manner as it travelled southbound on Guelph Line from Dundas Street in Burlington.
Upon seeing police, the vehicle made several turns and pulled into a private driveway on Greenbough Crescent after which four male occupants ran from the vehicle. Police determined that the vehicle had been stolen earlier in the evening from a driveway in Brampton.
Further police descended upon the area and the four males were quickly located and arrested.
Arrested & Charged are:
Vaishnavan SUTHAGARAN (21 yrs) of Brampton (Held for bail and remains in custody)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Obstruct peace officer
• Fail to comply with recognizance
Mohammed Abdullah JAMA (18 yrs) of Oakville (Released on bail and will appear next in Milton court on May 31st 2017)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Fail to comply with undertaking
Jared Myles AMURAO (21 yrs) of Brampton (Released on bail and will appear next in Milton court on May 24th 2017)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
17-year old male who cannot be identified because of his age (held for bail and remains in custody)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Obstruct peace officer
• Fail to comply with recognizance (three counts)
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2316. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 … but maybe it looked like this. A red Cadillac will certainly get attention which it did.
 It probably looked like this …
 By Pepper Parr
May 8th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s an annual event – the 18th and an occasion when the police pull out all the stops and show the public what they do and how they do it.
 Mini robots will be on display. Much of the equipment the police have to serve and protect a community is on display. There will be demonstrations where police officers work with a member of the K9 unit.
 K9 unit on patrol Takes place Saturday May 13th between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m at HRPS Headquarters 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville.
Rain or Shine: No Pets Please.
There will be HMC Connections volunteer interpreters (Arabic, Urdu, Chinese, Spanish, Polish, Punjabi, Russian, Korean, Portuguese and French) available through the Information booth
 Police officers going through a training exercise. ASL interpreter services available through the Information booth and ASL interpreting for all stage presentations
Live Demonstrations and Interactive Displays, Family-Friendly Entertainment and Rides are part of the day.
The HRPS Pipes & Drums and Chorus will be on hand – all the celebrate what the police do and to celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Children’s Safety Village
 Chief Tanner takes the salute A BBQ provided by Troy’s Diner ($)
FREE Admission & On-Site Parking
By Staff
May 8th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Due to extreme water saturation, the following sport fields are closed Monday May 8:
• All natural grass sport fields (diamonds and rectangular fields)
Look for sunshine and a light breeze to dry up the water.
 The water is high – close to the top of banks and it is moving very swiftly.
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