 By Pepper Parr
December 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board has 11 trustees;
There are four that represent Burlington, four that represent Oakville, two that represent Milton and one that represents Halton Hills.
The four Burlington trustees are:
Amy Collard represents Burlington – Ward 5  
Andrea Grebenc represents Burlington – Wards 3, 6
Richelle Papin represents Burlington – Ward 4
Leah Reynolds represents Burlington – Wards 1, 2
Collard is serving her second term as a trustee and was acclaimed in both elections. She served as chair of the board in the past.
Grebenc, Papin and Reynolds are all first time trustees in Burlington. At least two of the four have aspirations for higher office.
 Leah Reynolds  Richelle Papin The four that represent Oakville are:
Kelly Amos, chair of the board of trustees in 2016 and returned to that position for 2017. She represents Oakville – Ward 5 & 6
Tracey Ehl Harrison: Oakville – Wards 1, 2;
Ann Harvey Hope: Oakville – Ward 3
Joanna Oliver: Oakville – Ward 4
The two representing Milton are:
Kim Graves, Vice-Chair for 2016 and re-elected to that position for 2017. She represents Milton – Wards 1, 6, 7, 8
 Donna Danielli a Milton school board trustee will sit on the PARC and bring a season trustee viewpoint to the discussions. She is probably the most direct and knowledgeable trustee the board has. Donna Danielli represents Milton – Wards 2, 3, 4, 5 Danielli also sits on the PARC representing the trustees.
Jeanne Gray represents Halton – Wards 1, 2, 3, 4
Of the 11, just three have more than one term in office as a trustee. The other eight were all elected for the first time in 2014 – they have two years’ experience as school board trustees.
The Director of Education prepares a report for the trustees. In preparing that report he is advised by a Program Accommodation Review Committee that has representation from all seven Burlington high schools
That PARC will meet several times between publicly to deliberate. They group is chaired by Superintendent Scott Podabarac. We understand he will be supported by the facilitator from Ipsos, the organization that handled the data capture and is expected to do an an analysis of the data. A link to the data collected so far is set out at the bottom of this report.
The Director of education will write report to the trustees with his recommendation that will include the PARC recommendations.
The trustees will vote on the Directors recommendation. It is the trustees who will make the final decision.
The two high schools that were recommended for closing are Central high school and the Lester B. Pearson high school.
The Director of Education has an accommodation problem. He has 1800 + seats that do not have students sitting in them. From a financial responsibility – he cannot justify allowing those seats to remain empty – and the province won’t allow him to continue to do that for very long.
Add to that the belief that he cannot offer the students the choices he believes they are entitled to with high schools that cannot offer the choices.
If there are no students in the schools – then there will be no teachers – put it slightly differently – fewer students – fewer teachers. Fewer teachers, fewer course offerings.
Miller’s solution to this problem is to close two high schools which solves his immediate 1800 empty seat problem and allows him to offer the courses he believes students are entitled to.
That is the job Miller has – to run a fiscally responsible school system and offer students the widest possible course offerings. He believes closing two high schools will do that.
Throughout the process so far Miller has maintained that the PARC may well come up with a recommendation or a set of ideas that will solve the overcapacity problem. In a presentation made to parents the board has said:
Staff is required to present a recommended option according to Ministry Guidelines and Board policy whenmore than one option is present
Option 19 is presented to initiate discussion for the PAR and will be used to start the PAR process
This option is not the final Board decision
The parents see things much differently.
They are opposed to losing their community school – they believe that having a high school within their community is what community is all about.
 More than 350 parents at the first city wide public meeting. The vast majority of the parents were from Central high school. Few parents appear that there are several other high schools that could be at risk. Further at this point they do not trust the process that is in place. Many parents don’t feel they are going to be able to communicate with the members of the PARC – the process that has been set up does not, from their point of view, create a situation that allows open dialogue and the free exchange of ideas.
All the PARC appears to be able to do is accept data, briefs written by parent groups. The PARC doesn’t appear to have a hard and fast set of limitations – and with Meed Ward on that committee you can expect her to stretch the boundaries as far as they can be stretched,
With this task she isn’t going to get hi-jacked the way she has been in the past at city council.
Will the city manager attempt to reign in Meed Ward – we don’t know what his agenda is – yet.
Everything eventually gets put in front of the trustees – who at this point have for the most part dummied up. You can’t get them to say a word.
The seats of the four Burlington trustees are on the line.
The PARC will begin their meetings in late January.
 Assuming the decision to close Central and Pearson stands those schools would not open to students in September of2018.
The municipal election takes place in October 2018
When a group of people meet a chemistry takes place. The different styles of arriving at a conclusion become evident, leaders become evident. There are some strong personalities on the PARC and people we know next to nothing about.
Are there any really creative thinkers in that PARC? What will Meed Ward say if the evidence for closing the school is very very strong? Her council seat might be at risk if the PARC recommends that Central be closed and her wish to become Mayo of the city might be dashed as well.
 Burlington city manager James Ridge City manager James Ridge serves at the pleasure of city city council – has the city given Ridge a set of marching orders he is expected to follow ?
How many agendas are there going to be in the room that the PARC meets in?
The PARC that was created to advise the Director of Education has some interesting people on it. There is very little in the way of biographical material on any of the 14 people (parents) representing the seven high schools.
The city has a representative on the PARC – Mayor Rick Golding chose city manager James Ridge to represent the city’s interests – Mayor Goldring said Ridge volunteered.
Meed Ward has said privately that she would like to run for the office of mayor. If there was ever an issue given to a potential candidate on a silver plate – the possible closing of two high schools in their city is about as good as it could get.
Will Meed Ward be able to show the leadership that many feel has been missing on city council? Will she shine during the PARC meetings ?
This one is hers to lose.
 Ward 2 city Councillor Marianne Meed Ward Does it matter what the PARC says? It is the trustees that are going to decide and they are not bound by either what the PARC says or what the Director of Education recommends.
They have to be responsible – but each will have their own definition of responsibility.
This is a very significant decision for Burlington and few of the trustees have neither the background nor the experience to make this kind of decision. There are a few.
Is this a choice between
ensuring that every high school student has the best opportunity possible to obtain the education they desire
or maintaining complete neighbourhoods that have a local high school?
That’s the challenge faced by the PARC, the Director of Education and the 11 trustees.
Links to related articles:
The data gathered at the first PARC related meeting.
 By Staff
December 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Most of us are rushing to get tasks done that just have to be done before we ease up for a few days away from what usually occupies us Monday to Friday,
City of Burlington administrative services will be closed from Monday, Dec. 26, 2016 until Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017.
Parks and Recreation Programs and Facilities: Activities and customer service hours at city pools, arenas and community centres vary over the holidays.
For a complete listing of program times visit burlington.ca/play
For a complete listing of service hours and customer service locations visit burlington.ca/servicehours
Burlington Transit and Handi-Van Service Hours:
The Downtown Transit Terminal will be closed Dec. 25 and 26, 2016 as well as Jan. 1, 2017. It will be closed early (2 p.m.) on Dec. 24 and 31.
Date Service schedule/hours
Dec. 24 Service ends early at approximately 8 p.m.
Dec. 25 No service
Dec. 26 Saturday service hours
Dec. 27 to Dec. 30 Regular service
Dec. 31 Saturday service extended until approximately 2 a.m.
Jan. 1 No service
Roads and Parks Maintenance: The administrative office will be closed on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016 and will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. Only winter control and emergency services will be provided.
Halton Court Services: Provincial Offences Courts in Milton and Burlington will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, 2016 and will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017.
Parking: Free parking is available in the downtown core at all meters, municipal lots and the parking garage during the month of December and on Jan. 1, 2017.
NOTE: The Waterfront parking lots (east and west) do not provide free parking on statutory holidays.
 By Pepper Parr
December 21st, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Momentous days get remembered.
Sometimes they are great memories – VE day – we had won the war – the boys were coming home.
Sometimes they are dark and painful – December 6th, 1989 in Montreal where a lone gunman killed 14 woman at the École Polytechnique and then turned his rifle on himself.
Those are dates that do not get forgotten. One has to fish around a little to come up with memorable dates in this city.
December 18th, 2014 reverberates in the memory of this reporter. It was the night we got to see just how dysfunctional the freshly re-elected city council was going to be. Metaphorically speaking, there was blood all over the city council floor.
The evening started out well enough. Unbeknownst to him, John Taylor was to be given an award for his more than 20 years of public service.
 John Taylor. He is what he is – and he has served on city council for well over twenty years. Taylor is not known for his sartorial style. His wife was in the room with her camera to capture this significant moment. There were smiles all-round the horseshoe.
The award given, the members of council settled into their seats. One of the early items on the agenda was determining which board’s council members would sit on – the library Board, the hospital board, the Downtown Business Association and the Economic Development Corporation were some of the seats that were to be filled. Council members each had their favourites: Meed Ward just loved serving on the Hospital Board – she felt their governance model was something the city could emulate.
At the beginning of each term of a new Council the members of Council decide who will represent the city on the various local boards and committees. The established process includes the completion of a form indicating individual council members’ interests in specific boards and committees. Based on each member’s input, the Mayor presents recommendations to the Community and Corporate Services Committee appointing Council members to local boards and committees.
 Mayor Goldring went int the meeting with a list of recommendations and thought he had his council members on side. Little did he know. The Mayor talked to each of the members of Council and asked them where they wanted to serve – they each told the Mayor what they would like and that was the list the Mayor was prepared to put forward.
That’s when the really nasty tone of the city council we have had since the 2014 election appeared.
Three of his Council members did not like what they saw in the report and actually conspired to ensure that Meed Ward was removed from every possible committee.
 Councillor Sharman tends to advise Councillor Lancaster frequently. Councillors Craven and Sharman appeared to lead what Councillor Taylor called “the gang of four”; Councillor Lancaster went along for the ride; and Councillor Dennison got confused and cast a vote that cost his long-time colleague John Taylor a position he had wanted.
There was a hint at the Community Services Committee earlier in the week that something hard was coming when the chair for the next year was selected. This is the committee that handles the budget and the work load was seen as a little taxing for Taylor. Meed Ward was elected as vice-chair and Taylor made chair. Meed Ward had expected to serve as chair.
That Thursday in December of 2014 was not the Mayor’s best day – his council trashed some of his key recommendations and there was nothing he could do to stop them.
There were three amendments to the report that took everything away from Meed Ward. A surprise and somewhat intemperate move by Councillor Taylor had him withdrawing as the representative for city council on the Conservation Halton board which allowed Meed Ward to then take that appointment. Councillor Taylor then withdrew from the Art Gallery Board as well.
As the Councillor for Ward 2, the downtown part of the city she was the obvious choice for the Downtown Business Association. Council put Lancaster on the BDBA instead
Craven remained on the Police Services Board
Sharman was on the Seniors Advisory Board and appeared to like serving there. He wanted the hospital board which Meed Ward held. Council put Sharman on the hospital board and moved Meed Ward into the Seniors Advisory board.
Taylor served on the Conservation Halton Board and felt it was time to increase the city’s representation and wanted Meed Ward to serve there with him
Councillor Craven fought very hard against that – he argued that the city didn’t need two representatives even though all the other city’s had two council members on the Conservation Halton Board.
 John Taylor, the dean of city council, got badly beaten up by two of his fellow council members in December of 2014. Council has been dysfunctional ever since. Taylor took a very principled stand and chose to step aside and let Meed Ward take that task.
Councillor Taylor later described his fellow council member as a “gang of four” who used a rude, crude plan to strip ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward of all the committee and Board responsibilities she liked and was pretty good at.
In his report to Council Mayor Goldring said: “I am confident that the unique interests and talents of members of council are reflected in the recommended slate of council representatives to Boards and Committees. These representatives will ensure effective communication between the local boards and committees and council over the next four years.
Would that it were so. It ain’t.
What does it all boil down to?
What became clear was that the city now had a council with some significant splits. Councillors Craven and Sharman take a hard conservative approach to almost everything. Lancaster tends to go along with them.
Taylor and Meed Ward tend to be open and liberal.
The Mayor is described as a “green” but spent the night that the last federal election results came in with Conservative candidate Mike Wallace watching his losing numbers come in.
Councillor Dennison tends to be very pro-business but tries to be open and stand up for the little guy but won’t give the Brant Museum or the Performing Arts Centre a dime.
Mayor Goldring had said he was happy with the Council he had prior to the 2014 election – and they were all re-elected. His Worship is clearly not fully aware as to just how dysfunctional his Council is – there is now a very clear divide between the Mayor, Councillors Taylor and Meed Ward and what Councillor Taylor called the “gang of four”; made up of Councillors Craven, Sharman, Dennison and Lancaster. They meant to cut Meed Ward down a peg or two and on the surface at the time it sure looked like they succeeded.
The seniors were expected to just love Meed Ward; they didn’t take to Councillor Sharman all that well. It will be interesting to see how Sharman fits into the hospital board – some ego clashes were expected over there.
 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward got stripped of all the board seats she had held – Councillor Taylor’s principled stand did get her on the Conservation Halton Board Getting Meed Ward onto Conservation was a surprise move on the part of Councillor Taylor. She had her work cut out for her.
Booting Meed Ward off the Downtown BIA put a dent in her ego – but it won’t make any difference to what happens at that Board: Meed Ward can and did participate fully.
Before 2015 was out Lancaster had closed her Spa and decided to leave the Downtown Business Association board.
Taylor’s intemperate decision to withdraw from the Art Gallery is unfortunate but he got himself back in.
There weren’t any winners that Thursday evening in 2014. What there is however is a very clear divide on city council that is not in the best interests of the city.
Two years later – and how has I worked out? We hear very little from Sharman on what the hospital is doing.
Lancaster is no longer on the Downtown Business Association board.
Taylor got himself back on to the Art Gallery Board.
Meed Ward appears to have failed the senior’s with the rather pathetic support she provided when the city parks and recreation department moved in and took over almost everything. The senior’s non-profit corporation didn’t even have a room they could meet in.
 This Council has never functioned all that well as a team. Is it a leadership problem? Have two council members been there too long? Are some council members divisive by nature? Are the seven people elected to lead the city two years ago going to be able to use the holiday season to reflect and find a way to work as a team to grow the city in the direction the citizens want it to grow?
Will city manager James Ridge manage to create a team out of this bunch
Don’t bet everything on it.
Former city manager Jeff Fielding came to the conclusion that they were hopeless and when he got an opportunity to head west and run things as city manager in Calgary he couldn’t leave fast enough.
 By Staff
December 20, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Was it ET who mouthed the words “Home” in the 1982 American science fiction fantasy that put Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup confectionary product at the top of the list or millions of kids.
 It was a movie that shaped the minds of at least one generation – and still leaves viewers warm and fuzzy. Burlington won’t be giving our any candy but they are putting out a call for anyon who used to live in the city to come home and see just how much we have grown up.
And indeed – there is a lot to show off. The Pier, despite its price does make a difference to the waterfront and the new Gazebo will be in place for the festivities July 1st, 2017 – which is Canada’s Sesquicentennial – our 150th birthday.
Will it be anything like the Centennial? Probably not but we have a lot to celebrate as a country.
 How much is there to show those former Burlingtonians should they take up the offer to “come home” in 2017? Tourism Burlington has launched a new marketing campaign called Come Home 2 Burlington which encourages former Burlingtonians to rediscover the city’s fabulous events, restaurants, shopping and attractions. It also asks residents to be #HometownProud ambassadors by inviting family and friends to visit during 2017.
Not a bad idea – let’s see how they flesh it out.
By Pepper Parr
December 20, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It almost worked.
It sort of worked but either the technology wasn’t quite right or the people pushing the buttons weren’t properly trained.
For those watching the live web cast of the last city council meeting for the year there was a peek at the way the decisions made by Council members are going to be recorded.
 A partial screen shot of the first electronically recorded vote taken at city council on December 19th, 2016. The new software did not work as effectively as it was supposed to – they will try again next year. In the past votes were by a show of hands with Councillors popping their hand up and down before there was a chance to see specifically who had voted which way.
The Mayor would glance left and the right – figuring there was a majority and declare the vote had carried.
The official minutes of a Council meeting would just say that the vote carried or failed – you had no way of knowing how your member of Council actually voted if you wanted to find out where they stood on something that took place several months or even a year previously.
Council decided some time ago to move from the raising of hands to record city council votes to an electronic process that called for council members to use a small keypad to cast their vote. Once that was done a screen would appear with the result.
The Gazette will publish these the day after each council meeting.
Unfortunately the men and women you elected to council don’t want you to see how they vote at the Standing Committee meetings – which is where, for the most part, the real debates take place. Votes at that level are still a “put your hand up in the air” process. Several Councillors seem to be a little shy about letting anyone one see how they votes – they put their arm up a couple of inches, wiggle their hand and feel they have done the right thing. Councillor Craven is the worst offender.
The rationale one gets from Council members is that they may well change their minds after a Standing Committee meeting. And the problem with that would be?
One would like to believe that the ability to change your mind after hearing from your constituents and reflecting on what took place would be seen as a sign of a mature politician; apparently not.
All their votes taken at city council meetings will be electronically recorded. The first attempt to do this failed – system was not fully tested before going live. For the immediate future city council votes will be recorded, which council members will tell you are the ones that really count?
 By Staff
December 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON,ON
The City has temporarily closed Mainway Arena as the result of unexpected repairs.
Two of the three compressors used at the arena to help maintain the ice surface have stopped working and require replacement. The new compressors are expected to arrive early this week with installation estimated for the Golden Horseshoe Tournament starting on Dec. 27 in Burlington.
 Parents aren’t going to be able to take watch hockey games or skate free at the Mainway area until perhaps as late as the 27th. “Ensuring Mainway Arena is open and available to ice users as soon as possible is a priority for the city,” said Chris Glenn, the city’s director of parks and recreation. “Plans are being made to accommodate ice users at other city arenas where possible.”
Residents with questions about their ice rentals scheduled at Mainway Arena can call 905-331-7465.
For information about public skating at other locations around the city, visit www.burlington.ca/play.
 By Pepper Parr
December 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a developer who has completed a land assembly and is now meeting with the planning department.
And the project isn’t going to go anywhere in the immediate future – because the concept of a mobility hub and an Innovation District are still being thought through within the Planning department.
At a recent council meeting Burlington Economic Development Corporation Executive Director, Frank McKeown pointed out that the city needs to understand innovation districts from a land use perspective.
First problem is that the city’s Official Plan does not recognize the concept of an Innovation District.
 Something along these lines was planned for Burlington’s downtown core – but McMaster stiffed the city when a nicer deal came along. The Burlington Employment Lands Policy Recommendations and Conversion Analysis report describes the general features of an Innovation District and provides a series of case studies and research. In general, the research affirms that innovation districts are composed first of an economic development marketing strategy, and that land use policy interventions are used to:
• Implement the vision
• Address land use compatibility
• Provide incentives
There is a role for land use planning policy to support the initiative by enabling area specific planning and working closely with any given anchor institution.
The success of innovation districts requires a mix of attributes and features. The right institutional anchor in place, the unique features of the area (old waterfront, older industrial area, natural heritage/open space), and transit and active transportation options are all critical to the success of an innovation district.
Planning staff have considered the recommendations offered in the Burlington Employment Lands Policy Recommendations and Conversion Analysis report and have determined that there is an opportunity to identify one or more potential innovation districts in the city.
The first step in any innovation district process is the development of the economic development strategy and brand designed to leverage the economic, networking and physical assets of the area. Where a strategy is developed an area specific plan should be initiated in support of the strategy that considers critical elements in support of the district including connectivity and access to the District.
After reading that paragraph you know that there isn’t going to be a near future answer to any of the issues raised.
 Station West – the ADI Development Group project that is currently being marketed.  It’s an empty field today – expect to see it become an active construction site during 2017. The development will include both apartments and various forms of townhouses. Burlington decided a few months ago that it was going to go back to square one with its official plan and give up on the mandated requirement to review the existing plan – and has decided to write a brand new plan. That new Official Plan has to fit in with the Go Bold, Go Smart and Go Beautiful mantra that is coming out of the Planning department.
No one is really sure just what the slogan means and there has yet to be a public meeting of any sort to explain it to the public at large.
The Official Plan, say staff, should identify a general framework for identifying an area with potential to function as an innovation district and the approach for supporting these areas through land use planning.
In the near term the identification of a special study area around the existing DeGroote School of Business should be included as a potential innovation district.
Getting something off the ground has always been a front burner issue for the Economic Development Corporation – that dream has been in the works for more than three years. It may well end up still born.
Through the work on the Mobility Hub Area Specific Plans, staff suggest some consideration of connectivity to the potential innovation district should be included. This special study area is located within an area of employment. As such no sensitive uses like residential should be permitted in this innovation district. There is potential for accommodating sensitive uses like residential in proximity to the potential innovation district such as along the Fairview Corridor or in association with the Appleby GO mobility hub.
The ADI Development group appear to have all the clearance they need for their Station West Development in Aldershot and at one stage during the Strategic Plan discussions Aldershot was the hot button choice for the first Mobility Hub – that seems to have cooled of somewhat,
A plan for the area such as a Mobility Hubs Area Specific Plan or considered through an area specific plan for the innovation district would assist in identifying opportunities to cross significant barriers in the area (rail line, creek) and to link the innovation district to the intensification area identified along Fairview Street.
 All the essentials are in place – couple of huge outdoor parking lots and a several floor indoor parking lot. A GO station. Space for private cars, taxis and city buses all converge on the site. Is there the potential to create an innovation centre in the area that now has a garden centre and several automotive dealers along Fairview east of the GO station. Land use economists argue that land in this areas should be used for a more productive use. There are a couple of monkey wrenches that mess this thinking up a bit.
The DeGroote School of business location on the South Service Road is not one of the Mobility hub ideas being looked at. The four in the thinking stage are at the Aldershot GO station, the bus transfer location on John Street, the Burlington GO station and the Appleby GO station.
The Bureaucrats have to do their work – and credit to the Planning department, there are some very competent people over there who, if we give them the time and the resources needed, they will get it right.
Meanwhile there is a developer with three large junks of land that have been bought and paid for waiting to have the concept meeting with the planners to see what they think. The planners told the developer to come back when they are ready.
Nice – maybe the city could give the developer a tax holiday on the property while they wait?
By Staff
December 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There will be no Burlington Transit service on December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 1 (New Year’s Day).
For information on the level of service provided from Dec. 24, 2016 through to Jan. 2, 2017, please see our Holiday Service page which contains last trip departure information for early end to service Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and extended trips on select routes offered on Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve).
 By Pepper Parr
December 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
We don’t always get it right.
And this time we got it very wrong.
We picked up a note on Halton District school Board trustee Richelle Papin’s Facebook page in which she wrote:
 Well….Bye bye Ontario 😢😢😢 I finally got the answer I have been waiting for…for MONTHS😊 I’m happy to announce that in a few weeks, I am moving to Halifax.
Didn’t want to make it known to anyone, not even my friends or other family members, but I felt it was better this way!
I will be heading out the end of January … right after New Year’s to start my new life!
To start a new beginning!
I will try to phone everyone individually, but thought it would be easier to post on Facebook.
There was a second part to the posting. We did not see the additional wording nor did we follow up with Ms Papin to ensure that what she write was true.
The wording wasn’t all that clear but our failure to follow up is where we were clearly wrong.
A Gazette reader pointed out to us that there was a second part to the note on the Facebook page that we didn’t read. When we checked and saw the second part we immediately took down the article.
Ms Papin asked that we retract the article – which we did and she wanted an apology – which we will give her but we do so somewhat reluctantly
The Halton District School Board is in the process of making a very significant decision that will have a very significant impact on two high schools in the city; one of which, Lester B. Pearson, is in Papin’s ward. The “fake” Facebook page posting is not in the least amusing to those high school students parents.
Our mistake, and it was a mistake, we missed something.
Ms Papin’s act was deliberate, intended to by funny.
Richelle Papin is not moving to Halifax and she does not intend to resign from the Halton District School Board – that is something the voters in her ward can deal with in 2018
No one was amused.
By Pepper Parr
December 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s that time of year when people get together to get caught up. You have lunch with people you’ve not seen for a good part of the year that is coming to an end.
Your plans, their plans and what the kids are doing – they all get covered.
Sports – not much can be said about what the Leafs are doing. The American election will take up some time – most of us seem to have the feeling that the best we can do is wait it out – maybe the guy will fix some of the problems down there.
Local politics will get many people going – except for the dyed in the wool Tories – most people just shake their heads over the McKenna nomination.
What about city hall? Well members of council did stand up to staff and reject the recommendation that the ADI Development Group application for Official Plan and zoning changes be approved for a property they want to develop in Alton.
That is expected to be made final at the city council meeting Monday evening.
The question then might well be – how fast can the ADI group file an application with the Ontario Municipal Board.
Few have anything good to say about the “road diet” that New Street was put on – other than why did six of the seven council members vote for it?
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward and Mayor Rick Goldring at an event in Spencer smith Park Those with a bent for the world of politics will say to their friends – well you should run for office. And that is what apparently happened last week. We got the following from a reader who has been in Burlington for well over 20 years and lives south of the QEW.
“Out to lunch today for an Xmas luncheon with a bunch of very influential people. They suggested that I could mount a campaign to beat both MMW and Rick Goldring ! Surprised me. Seems to me that more people are pissed off then I thought! Not my intention but what are your thoughts? Could we make it happen!!!!!
Our reader went on to say that: “Their feeling as expressed to me was why should they have to choose between a true green party candidate or a liberal without having a conservative on the ticket?
“They are pissed off with the better than us attitude of our current leaders! They say they have become arrogant and way too confident because in their opinion they as a group were all re-elected.”
Interesting note. No names for you – not at this point. There may have been more wine than usual at that lunch.
By Staff
December 119th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
RecExpress will be shut down from 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20 until 2 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016 to allow for system upgrades.
RecExpress is a city service that allows people to register for recreational programs.
By Pepper Parr
December 17, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Call it intensification.
Call it developers knowing what a hot market looks like.
Call it money looking for a place to grow.
Whichever, the city is just a hustle and a bustle with residential building.
 First of the five towers going up on Fairview next to the GO station and across the driveway from Walmart. This building is sold out. There is the Paradigm on Fairview next to the GO station and across a driveway from Walmart that will definitely undergo an upgrade once the Paradigm condo owners start moving in. Expect to see Sushi in the coolers.
 The Berkeley – first of three phase project.  Back hoes deepening the site for concrete pouring. Just a bit south at the intersection of John and Caroline the first phase of the Berkeley has broken ground.
The 20 storey condominium is digging the hole in the ground and will begin pouring concrete doping the form work to be able to pour concrete.
This project consists of three buildings – the upscale 20 storey structure made up of three storey columned stone and precast podium from which will rise a 17-storey glass tower condominium. The residential building will front on to Pine Street. On Caroline, the northern boundary of the development plans are for a multi-storey building to be known as MedicaOne. In between the two here will be an eight floor parking garage that will have a grass roof.
It has taken some time to get this project to the point where construction could begin. One of the issues was getting hydro to the site. The developer was expected to pay for the full cost of hauling the necessary power lines from the substation on Lakeshore Road up to the project. Anyone building between the development at John and Caroline and Lakeshore was going to be able to tap into the lines the Carriage Gate people had paid for – which wasn’t quite the way Nick Carnacelli saw it. He stood his ground.
 Parking levels for the Bridgewater are being completed – a single garage will serve all three buildings with the entrance off the bottom of Elizabeth street. Moving further south – the parking levels that will serve the three buildings that will make up the Bridgewater development are now well under way. The parking levels will be four at the north end and three closer to the lake.
 An architect’s rendering of the Bridgewater project – seen from the lake. Bridgewater is another three structure development all attached to each other with a shared underground parking arrangement.
The 22 story condominium that will set a record for height in this city. It was defied as a “legacy” site when it was approved in the mid 90’s. No one has ever explained what it means to be a legacy; some think it was the crack that opens the door to really high – high rise.
All this got done when then Mayor Walter Mulkewich wore the chain of office.
The assembly of the land with the related zoning changes began in 1985. One needs to be patient to develop in Burlington.
 The public portion of the Bridgewater project seen in the center There will be an eight storey Marriott hotel and a seven storey condominium south of the hotel. The entrance to the hotel will be on Elizabeth Street.
There will be an opening on Lakeshore Road between the hotel and the condominium that will give the public access to open space that will lead right to the water’s edge.
The 22 storey’s did catch the attention of other developers who are pushing for 26 storeys across the street and other developers who talk privately about 40 storey structures along Lakeshore – there are after all those wonderful views of the Lake. How high up do they have to go to be able to see Niagara Falls?
 On a cold Friday the only people working on construction sites were those doing back hoe work. Here shale is being broken up on the Saxony site. Head west where the Saxony is also digging away. They are chipping through shale for the three levels of parking that will be put in for the five storey structure.
 The Saxony was one of those project that went through with hardly a hitch – and sold out without even opening up a sales office. To get a sense as to just how hot the Burlington market is – the Saxony rented space in the Sims building – kitty corner from the construction site, for a sales office. They didn’t even have to open up a sales office – the units were sold out before they could get any furniture in.
The Saxony has done a superb job of creating a high end property that includes a small theatre. Residents will be able to reserve the theatre to show a recent release movie to friends. Can’t you just see a bunch of the guys gathering to watch the Montreal Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs – again, in what will be a private theatre?
This is probably not one of the measure s used to make Burlington the Best mid-sized city in the country. It is a hop skip and a small jump from the Pier that we paid twice the price that we expected to pay.
With the city well into the first week of winter, which doesn’t begin officially until Wednesday of next week – there wasn’t any concrete pouring being done on any of the sites.
Just too darn cold.
 It was a Friday and it was cold. The men who build the forms and direct the pouring of concrete didn’t want to work – so they didn’t. The Paradigm has sold out on two of the first three towers going up on this five tower site. The city is probably ahead of the intensification target it was given – what we aren’t seeing are office towers where people who live in the city can work.
Construction is going great guns – economic development – not nearly as well. Has the Economic Development Corporation got any announcements in the pipeline?
The vinyl record pressing operation that is about to be fully operational certainly wasn’t impressed with what the city did for them.
 By Pepper Parr
December 16, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Sometimes all the pieces come together at just the right time.
Last week a handful of Halton Learning Foundation were gathered in a room putting nice fashionable winter coats into bags for distribution to students in the Region
 Halton Learning Foundation volunteers, Tracey Ehl-Harrison (trustee) on the right and Sarah Pollock, on the left pack winter coats for students that don’t have the winter clothing they need. Jeff Blackwell, who is an HLF Board Member is bent over on the far left, Sheri Armstrong is in the center. Mountain Warehouse had donated 400 winter coats for elementary school students who were going without. The city was still experiencing decent weather – at best you needed a light sweater – winter was on its way but had yet to arrive.
The Foundation holds an annual fund raising event – Benefit Bash – that is always a fun event.
During their 2015 Benefit people from Mountain Warehouse offered to donate quality winter coats. Their offer was quickly accepted.
Executive Director, Lesley Mansfield commented on the gift and said: “We are incredibly grateful to Mountain Warehouse for their support of HDSB students – those who face the financial barrier to buy a warm winter coat.
These wonderful coats were sent out within two days of their arrival here to schools across Halton by many of our HDSB trustees and it’s thanks to Mountain Warehouse, that these children can now make it to school in warmth and play outside at recess. This is their second year of support and the joy on the children’s faces when they receive their coats is simply indescribable. Thank you Mountain Warehouse!”
It took some time and some paper work for the clothing to arrive – when it did the Foundation knew exactly where the clothing was going to go.
The clothing was packaged, labelled and sent on its way through the Board of Education’s distribution system.
All the winter parkas got to the students days several days before the snow started to fall.
 The Foundation has a unique Christmas gift opportunity – if you have someone on your list and you are looking for a unique, interesting gift – this is one they will never forget. Check it out. See the link on the advertisement that is on the right side column of most Gazette pages.
 Sherri Armstrong Sherri Armstrong, who does communications work for the Halton Learning Foundation handled all the logistics and made sure things got done when they needed to get done.
Sometimes things just come together the right way at the right time.
By Staff
December 16th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It isn’t bed time reading but it is the kind of information for parents that are at all concerned as to just what is happening at the school board.
 Board of Education staff have recommended Central high school be closed in 2018 The possible closing of two high schools in Burlington has drawn attention to the financial side of the Board of Education – they make up a sizable chunk of your tax bill.
 Lester B. Pearson high school has been recommended for closure in 2018. The Halton District School Board has posted the 2015-16 financial statements, for the year ending August 31, 2016, on the Board’s website at www.hdsb.ca (search: financial statements).
The 2015-16 audited financial statements include:
Management Report
Independent Auditors’ Report
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
Consolidated Statement of Financial Operations
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Debt
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For residents who do not have Internet access, the Halton District School Board’s 2015-16 financial information is also available:
• By mail, by calling the Business Services Department 905-335-3663, ext. 3261
• For pick-up at the J.W. Singleton Education Centre, 2050 Guelph Line, Burlington
By Staff
December 15th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a bunch of Happy Campers in the Britannia Road offices of conservation Halton – they’ve got snow,
Add to what was given to us naturally – the team that runs Glen Eden have been out with their snow making machine – you will be able to be on the hills from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm starting this Saturday December 17th
Cold December temperatures and Glen Eden’s snowmaking team were assisted by between 15 and 20 cm of the natural white stuff which fell earlier this week.
This weekend, Glen Eden will have four lifts running (two chairs and two carpets), three runs open (Nighthawk, Boomerang and Escarpment Run), both Learning Centres will be operational and the Terrain Park will be open with limited features.
The latest information can be found on the Glen Eden website, www.gleneden.on.ca, as to which runs and lifts will be open, as well as the Terrain Park location, number of features and other details. Glen Eden is also offering an Opening Weekend Special with reduced lift ticket prices.
“The team at Glen Eden is looking forward to welcoming skiers and snowboarders this weekend,” said Sean Durkin, Manager Glen Eden. “The cold temperatures have kept our snowmaking team busy and it was helpful to get the assist from Mother Nature with some snow this past weekend to help us get ready. In light of the typical weather received in our area this is why Glen Eden has continued to invest in snowmaking technology.”
Like all ski and snowboard operations in Ontario, Glen Eden was impacted by the extremely mild winter last year and opened January 8, 2016, the latest opening date in the last ten years. In the other nine years (including this year), Glen Eden has been open before Christmas seven times, Boxing Day once and December 27 the other.
The Terrain Park is where a lot of the action happens at Glen Eden. The “Big” Parks, Nighthawk and Falcon during peak season have upwards of 40 of the most progressive features dedicated to these two runs. Glen Eden has lots of options for keeping things fresh while pushing your limits and developing your skills.
Glen Eden is home to one of the largest Learning Centres in Ontario, with a wide variety of lessons and programs for all ages and abilities. Group lesson programs run starting on Boxing Day, there are also private and semi-private options. Visit the Glen Eden website, www.gleneden.on.ca, or call Visitor Services at 905-878-5011, ext. 1221, for more information.
 Glen Eden’s Discover Skiing and Snowboarding is a lesson program for first timers and beginners and are available starting this weekend. During the season Discover is offered weekends, holidays, and March Break from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 6 to 9 p.m. on non-holiday weeknights. Glen Eden’s snow pros will help ensure you learn the basics – equipment, stopping and turning. By the time you complete the program you should be ready for the big hills. Discover is available on a first-come, first-serve basis unless you’re booking a large group. For groups of 20 or more people please call 905-878-5011, ext. 1278, at least one week in advance.
Glen Eden is located on Kelso Road, near Tremaine Road and Highway 401, and is a 20 minute drive from Mississauga, Burlington and Hamilton and is operated by Conservation Halton. During the season, Glen Eden is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. for skiing and snowboarding with the Snow Tube Park open on the weekends.
By Staff
December 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Festival of Lights is the city’s longest running festival, lighting up the city’s waterfront for the holiday season. It’s a magical sight for the whole family, especially the young at heart.
 The festival has gained the reputation in the region and beyond as the ‘must-see’ lighting extravaganza for the holidays. With winter snow on the ground is a part of the season tradition for this city – and it seems to get better each year.
Spencer Smith Park at Christmas time – what would Mr. Smith have thought of what we have been doing for several decades and calling it a Festival of Lights (FoL)
The displays are set up each year by a combination of community, corporate sponsor, and high school volunteers. Volunteers for the set up and take-down are coordinated by Burlington Electricity Services.
   Here’s the breakdown:
There is Burlington Taxi team, a Festival of Lights sponsor
The King Paving team, another Festival; of Lights sponsor
The Robert Bateman High School team (School Partner) and participating Oakville High School, TA Blakelock team
Burlington Electricity Services team (Coordinator and Main Sponsor)
Community Volunteers (Craig Gardner, Ken Spanik and Justin Boudreau)
Approximately 25 volunteers participated in setting up the lighting displays in Spencer Smith Park for this year’s Festival.
The newest display – ‘He Shoots He Scores’ – is displayed for the first time this year and was designed and built by the students of Burlington’s Robert Bateman HS, with assistance from students at TA Blakelock HS Oakville.
The Santa Claus parade is another event that kicks off the season. Our friends over at True Essence have done a short video that does a slightly different take on that event. Have a look – and Enjoy.
 By Pepper Parr
December 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
What would have made the Ontario Provincial Progressive Conservative Party Organization and Election Readiness committee ignore some very compelling evidence when they chose to confirm the nomination of Jane McKenna over that of Jane Michael without releasing critical data on how many votes were cast and how many each candidate got?
The political party clearly wanted McKenna.
Why?
There are some reasons that the Catholic community isn’t going to like; nor will those opposed to the current sex education curriculum that is now in effect
The Niagara constituency elected Sam Oosterhoff, a home-schooled social conservative on hiatus from first-year political science studies at Brock University who will become the youngest MPP in Ontario history. With support from parishioners at his church, the teen beat Brown’s close friend, PC party president and former St. Catharines MP Rick Dykstra, for the Niagara seat that had been previously held by PC party leader Tim Hudak.
While Patrick Brown, leader of the provincial Conservatives has said in the past that he was a pro-life supporter that position seems to have changed. In a letter to the Gazette one PC party member said she attended a meeting “with about 11 other people in Burlington just prior to your election. Mr. Brown, you made three statements that resonated with the group. You emphatically stated that you are pro-life, pro-family and that you would change the sex-education curriculum that the Liberal Party had established.”
Brown is realizing that those views are not going to propel him into office. There just aren’t enough people who want a government that will take a strong pro-life position and most parents are comfortable with the sex education curriculum. The Muslim community has strong view against the new sex education program there aren’t enough of them to make the kind of difference Patrick Brown needs.
The Progressive Conservative party organization in Burlington is in a shambles – with a very small (reported at 200) membership, some money in the bank and a candidate that was basically given the nomination back in 2011 when the party wasn’t prepared to go with Rene Papin and couldn’t stomach Brian Heagle.
The December nomination of McKenna was a little like one of those wrestling matches where eveything goes wrong. The video makes the political process look badly flawed.
The senior who was threatened in the video, Roy Cummings, wrote the Gazette to provide some background: “I am a 77-year-old cancer survivor (this year). I challenged the chair to release the vote count. Mr. Zeiss told me to sit down and shut up. Then in a rage, he came charging over, as seen on the video, and challenged me to step outside and settle the matter. He also threatened me and my friend and his wife.
I am the “older gentleman” concerned. I was asking that the vote count be announced. The younger man rushing me was a former Party President, Ken Zeiss, and now chair of the Ontario-wide nomination process.
This out-of-control man challenged me to step outside to settle the matter. Very manly challenging a 77-year-old recent cancer survivor to step outside. I would say what a coward. And this is what represents the CPO?
Both the Chairman of the meeting and a PCO Board member came to me afterwards and apologized. I was also given the vote count.
Insert video
 Jane McKenna, provincial Progressive Conservative candidate for Burlington Jane McKenna was someone’s idea and they nominated her in 2011 in one of the shortest nomination meetings this reporter has seen. McKenna had nothing in the way of practical political experience. However she was a quick study and she learned where the political power was and went straight for it.
As a member of the opposition she wasn’t in a position to do very much for the people of Burlington and rather than learn the ropes she chose to ingratiate herself with the party leadership. There wasn’t one speech she made in the legislature that is memorable.
The Progressive Conservatives see a government that is on the ropes and they think they can take power from the provincial Liberals. Premier Wynne certainly has her hands full – she is going to have to do something with hydro rates. But notice how she has managed to basically bury the cash for access problem she had?
Also, in Eleanor McMahon, Wynne has a first class Minister who is an incredible campaigner. She is genuine, thoughtful and connects with people. Not everyone – but most. She is a better debater than McKenna and on the campaign trail – when we get to it – she will prove to be even better than she was in 2014.
Is this partisan boasting? Some will say that is what the Gazette is doing. We think we are being realistic and looking at the political playing field and have come to the conclusion that the Progressive Conservatives in Burlington couldn’t live with a candidate that would have her Bishop beside her at events. The party already has one very social conservative in Niagara – having another in Burlington was just not in the cards.
They needed to ensure that they had a candidate who could hit the ground running and regain a riding they had held for 70 years.
And that Jane McKenna will do – but it won’t make a difference.
McMahon will win the seat even if the government loses office.
In the meantime McKenna has to overcome the smell of a nomination process that was deeply flawed and with a membership that is as deeply divided.
By Pepper Parr
December 14, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They are doing the best they can. Lawn signs are being handed out; T-shirts are being sold, petitions signed and last night they held a Silent Auction at Joe Dogs – these people want to keep Central high school open.
 Dania Thurman, singing up a storm at the Central high Silent Auction at Joe Dogs. They have handed out 850 signs and placed an order for another 500.
The Silent Auction raised $14,000
 There was a very impressive Silent Auction offering – they raised $14,000 Is that a war chest? Many just cannot understand why the school board has targeted their school for possible closure. For many this is their first time they have put their toe into the waters of local politics – some are finding it intimidating other think they might like to run for public office.
There are small splinter groups doing research and looking for answers to the questions raised by the Director of Education – what does he do about the 1800 empty classroom seats in the city’s seven high schools.
The #central strong crowd appreciates that the problem and thinks it exists because the boards planning department botched the job they are supposed to have done.
 Reconsidering a bid during th Silent Auction Those 1800 empty seats didn’t just pop up – the demographics of the city have been pretty stable, if anything there has been an increase in the number of people in the Alton community that were not predicted – the result of several families living in the same house. That pushed the Hayden high school numbers to 115% of the OTG – which is the number of seats a school was built to accommodate.
They have a problem with the way the process has gone so far. These parents have questions and feel that they have yet to have a real opportunity to have it out with the senior staff in a public setting. And, the senior people at the board have been ducking the occasions when they could be upfront and out-front with the parents.
The process has become a phrase that sticks in the craw of many parents – they feel they are being manipulated and want to be heard.
 Lynn Crosby on the left looking over an item on the Silent auction tables. There are all kinds of solutions being tossed around – change the boundaries – realign the elementary schools that feed into the different high schools are just a few of the solutions parents are talking about. Many, and these are people with first class professional credentials, think there is a solution that is better for the board of education and a better solution for the city and the parents in the community.
There are those who are close to flaming mad but the community seems to have managed to keep them under control.
With data from the first meeting in hand the parents from Central high are able to dig in and start crafting the solutions that will get sent to the PARC.
And where do the trustees stand in all this? There are some of the Burlington trustees who are way in over their heads – the voters in Burlington are going to think a lot differently about who they elect as school board trustees in 2018. Turns out it is an important job – most people have not seen it that way.
Some are wondering just how their ideas are going to get to the PARC and how the PARC is going to respond. Will there be a dialogue between the PARC and the parents or will it be up to the school representatives to discuss ideas with the parents.
 Members of the Program Accommodation Review (PAR) committee holding a quickie meeting after the first public meeting last week. The PARC committee meetings are open to the public – no delegations apparently – but given who Central high has representing them – expect ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward to come up with some innovative thoughts on a better way to work through the issues.
Interesting political gambit here as well. Meed Ward was chosen by the parents to represent their interests.
The city was invited to send a representative and chose the city manager.
Should Meed Ward run for the Office of the Mayor and win – she will then work with James Ridge on a day to day basis running the city. And should Med Ward win – it will be run a lot differently than it has in the past 10 years. Is the current city manager up to that task?
It will be interesting to see how that works out.
By Staff
December 14th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Centennial Pool will be closed for maintenance starting Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 and will re-open on Sunday, Jan. 8.
To find other swim locations and times, please visit www.burlington.ca/play.
By Staff
December 14, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The application period for Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2017 is now open.
The CSJ program creates job opportunities and valuable work experience for students aged 15 to 30 years old, particularly youth facing barriers to employment, during their summer break between April and September 2017.
The program aims to assist employers create summer job opportunities in order to help youth obtain the skills and experience they need to contribute to our collective economic growth and to build a stronger future for all Canadians.
Member of Parliament Karina Gould said: “This program is a fantastic opportunity for youth to obtain the skills and experience they need to be successful and contribute to the growth of organizations and businesses in our community.”
All eligible businesses, NGOs, and public service organizations in Burlington are encouraged to apply.
Employers are also invited to include applications which consider the following:
Opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Information, and Communications Technology (ICT);
Employers involved in the settlement of immigrants (including Syrian refugees) in Canada;
Employers that hire Indigenous people;
Employers involved in activities celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation;
Small businesses, including tourism, in recognition of their contribution to the creation of new jobs; and
Small business employers in the agriculture and agri-foods, arts and cultural, manufacturing and economic development sectors
The application period will run until January 20, 2017. Applicants approved for funding will be able to hire students as early as April 2017.
There is more detail at: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/csj or visit a Service Canada Centre.
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