 By Staff
August 30th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
By gosh and by golly there is another paid holiday coming up for all of us – and that includes those tireless workers at city hall.
A number of the city’s administrative services will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, 2016 for the Civic Holiday.
 There might be a couple of very conscientious bureaucrats putting in a couple of hours during the holiday weekend – there are more of them you think. City Hall: Will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5, reopening on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Parks and Recreation Programs and Facilities: Activities and customer service hours at city pools, arenas and community centres vary over the holiday weekend. Please visit www.burlington.ca/calendar for a complete listing of weekend drop-in program times and www.burlington.ca/servicehours for hours at customer service locations.
Burlington Transit and Handi-Van: On Monday, Sept. 5, Burlington Transit will operate a holiday service and the downtown Transit Terminal will be closed. Regular service resumes Tuesday, Sept. 6. The administration offices are closed on Monday, Sept. 5 and will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 6. Call 905-639-0550 or visit www.burlingtontransit.ca for schedule information.
Roads and Parks Maintenance: The administrative office will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5, and will reopen on Monday, Sept. 6. Only emergency service will be provided.
Halton Court Services: Provincial Offences Courts in Milton and Burlington will be closed Monday, Sept. 5.
Parking: Free parking is available in the downtown core, on the street, municipal lots and the parking garage on weekends and holidays.
NOTE: The Waterfront parking lots (east and west) do not provide free parking on statutory holidays.
 On the left – that is the Premier of our province flipping those Fearman’s ribs at a recent Rib Fest, she told a Gazette reporter that she also knows how to make an apple pie. Rib Fest takes place get dates – make some time to chomp of those ribs and enjoy the day with friends.
 By Staff
August 29, 2016
Burlington, ON
As the summer winds down and parents are counting down the days till their children return to school, Halton Regional Police are looking forward to a safe start to the school year.
The ninth annual Project Safe Start will run between Monday, August 29 and Tuesday, September 13, 2016. The focus of this traffic campaign is to educate and remind everyone to take extra care when driving and to look out for children in school zones, residential areas, playgrounds and parks.
Halton Regional Police’s goal is to raise awareness about how to keep our children safe on the roads through high-visibility enforcement of traffic laws in and around school zones throughout Halton Region.
To keep children safe while heading to and from school it is important to remember the five Safe Start “S’s”:
1. Safe speeds – Watch for the flashing 40km/h zones. Motorists are required to slow down where school zone signs are posted. Fines increase within many of these zones within Halton Region.
2. Seatbelts – Drivers and passengers should always buckle up on every trip. Seat belt use saves lives and reduces injuries in motor vehicle collisions.
3. School zones and school buses – Slow down and take extra care to look out for children in school zones and residential areas. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign arm signals that the school bus is stopped and traffic in *both directions* are required to stop for students entering or exiting a school bus.
4. Stop signs – Motorists must come to a complete stop at a red stop sign. Allow time to stop, think, observe and proceed.
5. Safe operation – Distracted driving is dangerous. Motorists should follow the rules of the road and operate their vehicles safely. Drive now and text later!
 Signs are pretty clear. Police still nabbed 4 speeders speeders during an All Hands on Deck which had the Chief of Police out writing up tickets. The two officers shown here were kept busy. School zones should be safe zones. Enforcement will be on speeders, aggressive drivers, and the use of hand held devices while driving. Seatbelt compliance will also be strictly enforced. Frontline officers, District Response officers, Education Services officers, High School Liaison officers and Senior Command officers will all be taking part in this campaign.
On Thursday, September 8, 2016, Senior Officers, Specialist Units, Divisional Commanders and Police Executive officers will participate in the “All Hands on Deck” component of Project Safe Start.
This high visibility enforcement and education campaign will positively affect driver behaviour around school zones throughout the year and have overall lasting safety benefits to members of the community.
Halton residents have ranked traffic concerns as their #1 policing priority in surveys. Halton Regional Police Service recognizes this concern and engages in various campaigns throughout the year in efforts to educate the public and enforce the Highway Traffic Act and other traffic related legislation.
Pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and police all play an integral role in ensuring safer roads within the Halton Region. We ask that everyone do their part in ensuring our Region’s children return to school safely.
This may turn out to be a difficult day for some police officers who have to pull a driver over. In a recent report RoadWatch initiative police officers were abused and treated with little or no respect.
 Police pulling cars over – and having to put up with abusive drivers. Were they carded? Here is a sample of the comments police reported:
• “Really…. I’m usually the first person to complain about that”
• “OH there’s a stop sign there?”
• “Just let me drive home, I just live around the corner a few blocks, I can make it” This driver failed a road side screening test and his licence was suspended
• “I guess there isn’t enough crime to keep you busy”
• “But I was just involved in a car accident the other day”
• “You’re a F……….. liar”
• “I was just holding it for directions”
• “Please we are very late for the train”
• “I’ve phoned and complained about the traffic on this street”
• “Sorry Officer I’m on my way to get my nails done”
• “I’m speeding because I have an infection and I’m on my way to shoppers to pick up the medication”
Over the course of the three days 371 traffic stops were initiated for Highway Traffic Act violations and 238 Provincial Offence Notices were issued.
The Gazette doesn’t understand why the police officers did not take the drivers into the station for a conversation.
By Pepper Parr
August 29, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
“We will make every vote count.” That was one of the election promises made when the country decided it had had enough of Stephen Harper and elected Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister.
“We are committed to ensuring that 2015 will be the last federal election conducted under the first-past-the-post voting system”, he said
 Then Liberal leader Justin Trudeau drops his vote in the ballot box as his daughter Ella-Grace and son Xavier look on. And added that: “We will convene an all-party Parliamentary committee to review a wide variety of reforms, such as ranked ballots, proportional representation, mandatory voting, and online voting.”
“This committee will deliver its recommendations to Parliament. Within 18 months of forming government, we will introduce legislation to enact electoral reform.”
 And that is what is behind a community meeting Burlington Member of Parliament Karina Gould is holding on Saturday September 10th at the Mainway Recreation Centre in the auditorium beginning at 12:30 and running until 3:00 pm
The government created an all-party committee on electoral reform.
The Government’s main objective is to replace first-past-the-post with a system that will deliver better governments for all Canadians and asks the committee to focus on five key principles to get this done:
The link between voter intention and election results;
How to foster civility in politics and increase voter participation;
Steps to strengthen inclusiveness and accessibility;
Ways to safeguard the integrity of our voting system; and,
Taking into account local representation.
That is what the town hall meetings, which are being held across the country by at least all the Liberal Members of Parliament, are going to be about.
This is complex stuff; rife with the potential for “unintended consequences”.
Elections are about power and the right to govern want gets done with the public purse.
Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, the Gazette will publish a three part series on what the issues are; what the opportunities are as a background to understanding of what the issues are.
What are the options? In a series of articles Jay Fallis, a University of Toronto student who recently completed a Master’s degree in political science sets out some of the possible options. His three part series will begin tomorrow.
 By Ray Rivers
August 28, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Canada’s Lester Pearson won the Nobel Peace prize for his pioneering work in peacekeeping during the 1956 Suez crisis, a conflict which threatened to pit the US against fellow NATO members the UK and France.
Canada has been one of the strongest supporters of peacekeeping from that get-go. That is until the previous federal government and Mr. Harper virtually shut down the country’s contribution to UN peacekeeping operations and changed our global affairs perspective from honest-broker to aligned-party.
 Canadian armed forces serving as United Nations Peacekeepers But then Mr. Harper had shunned the UN and it had in turn shunned Canada, shutting us out of a Security Council seat many thought would go to Canada. We once led the world with 3300 peacekeepers in the field, today there are just 34 – down to a mere one percent of our historic past. An all-time low at a time when the demand for UN peacekeeping operations is at an all-time high.
So, in keeping with the international re-engagement Mr. Trudeau promised during the last election, his government announced a dramatic reversal of previous policy, substantially increasing both financial support ($450 million) and peacekeepers (600). Ironically this announcement came on the very day that Mr. Harper announced his resignation from Parliament and politics.
In an article in this paper three years ago, I raised the fact that the Harper government had been supporting growth for Canada’s manufacture and export of arms, noting that this comprised the sum total of his industrial economic policy. There are a large number of armament exporters in the world. The USA, Russia, France and China dominate the international market.
The United NNations 2014 Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), governs the international trade in weapons for its signatories and restricts sales to nations which use them against their own populations. Over 130 nations have signed and almost 90 ratified this treaty but China, Russia and Canada have yet to do so. In addition there are UN nation-specific sanctions and arms embargoes which must be observed by all UN member nations. South Sudan and Libya are two sanctioned nations.
 It is an ugly brute of a vehicle that can only do harm to the people outside of it.
It was an unfortunate discovery that Streit, an Ontario company, had been selling armoured vehicles through a third party in 2014 to both of these nations. The federal Liberals were caught off-guard and holding the bag left them by the previous government. This became particularly embarrassing since it followed the Trudeau government’s refusal to disallow another Harper era mega deal to sell armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia.
That deal, worth $15 billion dollars and negotiated in 2014, would make Canada the second largest arms supplier to the Middle East, after the USA. The hypocrisy was ripe when a former Tory cabinet minister, Tony Clement, raised the issue, presumably to embarrass the governing Liberals with the tricky dilemma over this lucrative job-creating deal that his government had negotiated.
It was a tough decision. After all it is hard to call yourself a peacekeeper when you are peddling weapons of war to the very people whose cross-fire may put you in harm’s way. So there were no tears by the federal Liberals to finally see the backside of Mr. Harper as he heads off for new employment better suited to his particular skills.
I didn’t disagree with everything he and his government accomplished in their time in office – but he was a disaster in foreign affairs, and that goes for his regressive policies in criminal justice and prison management as well.
 Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Mr. Harper presided over the poorest economic growth rate in Canada’s modern history. His efforts to water down environmental protection notwithstanding, he never built a single oil pipeline. His fixation with petroleum contributed to the economic collapse of his adopted home province. And not least of all, we should remember how he hid in a closet during that gun fight on the Hill.
The British government recently declassified a number of papers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, included in a link below. These are pretty frank depictions of how the Brits viewed our leaders in the eighties – Mulroney, Turner and Pierre Trudeau. Though nobody who lived through that era should be surprised.
 Former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau is seen here performing a pirouette in Ottawa after the proclamation of the Constitution Act April 18, 1982. Despite all of Pierre Trudeau’s antics and progressive (radical) policies, what most worried them was his 1984 peace campaign. It is hard to understand how his naive bopping around world capitals on what ultimately became a hopeless venture would trouble anyone. How could seeking peace be dangerous? A “bloodless and over-intellectual approach” was their bottom line.
I suspect that Canadian diplomats had some equally choice words for Maggie Thatcher, as well. In the present day I would expect someone in our Global Affairs would point out that David Cameron was even more naive than Pierre in calling that stupid Brexit vote. I wonder how today’s British diplomats regard the younger Trudeau – the darling of the international press in his first year in office. He is flamboyant, but not quite like his father.
And I wonder how those foreign eyes would sum up Mr. Harper – other than to say, as I do, goodbye and good luck.
 Ray Rivers Ray Rivers is an economist and author who writes weekly on federal and provincial issues, applying his 25 years of involvement with federal and provincial ministries. Rivers’ involvement in city matters led to his appointment as founding chair of Burlington’s Sustainable Development Committee. He was also once a candidate for public office at the provincial level.
Background:
Defence Industry – Streit – More Streit – South Sudan Sanctions – Saudi Weapons – Canada Exports to Mid-East – Burlington Gazette Oct 2013 – Abandon Peace Keeping –
Back into Peace Keeping – Suez Crisis – What UK Diplomats Really Thought –
By Staff
August 26, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The debate continues but the marked bike lanes on New Street are almost ready to go.
One bike user gave it a go day before yesterday – he liked what he saw. It is a very quick trip – 49 seconds on a weekday.
We will have a look at the traffic on a weekday morning and in an evening as well and see what it looks like.
Keep in mind that this is a pilot project.
New Street road diet – video clip
The bike rider did say: “I was skeptical, but it’s nice – even if VERY bumpy!”
 By Staff
August 26, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Transit announces an earlier start to Route 10 weekdays
Route 10, runs on New to Maple, will now starts earlier weekday mornings. It begins at Appleby GO station at 5:28 a.m.
An additional trip starting at 5:48 am has also been added.
By Staff
August 24, 2016
Burlington, ON
A trial for an animal rights activist charged with mischief for giving water to pigs that were in a sweltering truck on their way to slaughter began this morning.
 Anita Krajnc Anita Krajnc of Toronto faces jail time or a maximum $5,000 fine for providing water through the narrow openings of a metal trailer to the pigs as they were headed to Fearman’s Pork Inc. in Burlington, Ont.
Krajnc, 49, is part of the group Toronto Pig Save, which held a vigil outside the pork processing plant on June 22, 2015.
The comments being made by readers who are following a twitter news feed by CBC reporter Samantha Craggs are diverse to say the least.
Worth tuning into.
The protesters have been on the scene for a number of years – they are persistent. Fearman’s is taking a beating in the public relations world.
 That pig may not be human but the look in its eye says it is in serious distress. The charge of mischief is for giving pigs water in a sweltering truck while they were on their way to a slaughterhouse in Burlington.
Krajnc said her group stands on a traffic island at Appleby Line and Harvester Road once a week to “bear witness” to the animals going to slaughter at Fearman’s Pork Inc.
‘In legal circles, people are scratching their heads’ said lawyer Gary Grill.
On June 22, Ktajnc said, temperatures were high, and her group poured water through the holes. In court documents, Halton police refer to it as an “unknown liquid.”
The Halton police have had to manage calls from the slaughter house every week – at one point the protesters managed to actually get to what is called the hog chute – the spot where the pigs are off loaded from the truck into the plant.
On June 22nd, Krajnc said the driver got out and told them to stop, and she quoted a Bible verse at him about giving water to the thirsty.
“He said, ‘They’re not humans, you dumb frigging broad,'” she told CBC News.
The pork farmer who owned the pigs, Eric Van Boekel of Oxford County, contacted police the next day, court documents say. Police investigated and pursued the mischief charge. Punishment for the charge ranges from a fine to up to 10 years in prison.
 Anita Kranjc supporters outside the courthouse Gary Grill, Kranjc’s Toronto-based lawyer asked: “Taxpayers are paying for this.”
Grill said the question isn’t how he and co-counsel James Silver will defend the case, but how the Crown will prove that what Kranjc did was criminal mischief.
Kranjc, 48, said if she is fined, she will refuse to pay.
The trial continues.
By Pepper Parr
August 24, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The new web site is now accessible. Looks pretty good. The search engine is very good. More comment to follow.
The Halton District school Board announced with some fanfare that their new web site was now live – click to get to it.
They get an e for effort but they fail at the execution – the site doesn’t load.
It will – they will fix it. Usually things like this are tested, tested and tested again before going live.
 In their media release the board does say some functions may not be accessible to users. These functions may take 24-48 hours to deploy. “We appreciate the patience of parents/guardians, staff and community members as we work to get the website fully operational to provide an improved web experience.”
“The new website – which will use the same www.hdsb.ca web address – is designed with parents/guardians particularly in mind. The fresh clean look, designed by web developer eSolutionsGroup, will provide users with accessible content which is enhanced with photos of Board students and staff members.”
The new homepage uses the latest web design elements to effectively bring users’ attention to important updates. Remaining on the site is the popular Spotlight on Schools feature where the Board shares news on engaging learning experiences in schools. The new website will include video options as another way to engage users and assist in conveying the exceptional learning taking place in our 105 elementary and secondary schools. News releases will have a prominent place on the new website, keeping stakeholders up to date on Board decisions, changes and key events and dates taking place throughout the school year.
The homepage will allow user’s quick access to many popular topics such as Find my Local school, Report a Student Absence, Transportation and Program Accommodation Studies, plus get the most recent social media updates. There will be large sub-menus to make navigation faster, an improved search engine and a translation function.
Beginning in the design phase, the Board gathered input from school communities to learn what they wanted to see in a new website. Several parent and staff focus group sessions were held in various parts of the region to ensure many voices and opinions were heard.
Given the increasingly mobile world we live in, the new website will operate much better on smartphones and tablets, making for a better user experience.
The old web site was almost a disaster – upgrading what they had was one of the leading priorities for Director of Education Stuart Miller.
We will let you know how it works – when we see it.
By Pepper Parr
August 24, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There is very little wind left in the “climate change is a plot to scare the world” argument. The federal government has instructed all its members to get into the community and ask for ideas on what can be done about managing the change we are going to see in our climate.
This summer taught us what it is going to be like when we get exceptionally hot weather over a longer than normal period of time.
Just how bad is it going to be?
The New York Times recently published a series of maps showing what NASA estimated the changes in temperature in the decades ahead.
 Note that the American do not use the metric system of measurement.
Heidi Cullen, chief scientist for Climate Central, an environmental research group and the author of “The Weather of the Future” points out that 14 of the 15 hottest years have occurred since 2000
Based on the map data, the number of 100 degree plus days will skyrocket making working or playing outdoors unbearable and sometimes deadly
“The quality of the food we will be able to grow and the impact on our water supply will only get worse”, she said.
It is not going to be a pretty picture.
 By Pepper Parr
August 23, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
As we move into the fall and the workings of the city take on a more business-like manner much will be said about the Strategic Plan and how it is going to guide and direct the growth of the city.
 Burlington Director of Planning Mary Lou Tanner And make no mistake the operating word will be growth. City Director of Planning told council that her department was going to build “Bold, Smart and Beautiful.”
One of the four pillars that hold up the Strategic Plan is the City that Moves – which covers everything from more opportunities to walk to the places people want to shop and visit, changes in road lane configuration to accommodate bicycles (see the story on that issue – it has close to 50 readers aroused enough to make comments) and improvements on the public transit file.
Transit, which somehow fell out of favour with this council some time ago and was basically starved for financial resources
 Doug Brown and Susan Lewis look over a 1982 copy of the city’s bus schedule. Doug Brown who knows as much about transit as anyone in this city maintains that “since Burlington Tranit’s inception in 1975, Burlington has never had a first rate transit system. The transit system was good enough in 1982 to attract my family to Burlington. Among the systems good points at that time were: $0.70 fares that were also accepted by the Lakeshore GO bus within Burlington; 15 minute daytime service on the major routes; and a first class terminal on Elizabeth St.
“Since the late 80’s, the under-funding and micro-management of Burlington Transit by City Council, combined with City growth, has led to a long series of service cuts, fare increases, and a reduced ridership base comprised largely of those who do not have access to a car (youth, seniors, low-income, disability).
“I think ridership is probably the best indicator if how well the system is performing. In the mid-80’s the transit modal shore hit a peak of 7% Since that time, ridership has declined to the present 2%. The Ontario Municipal Board has imposed a requirement in our Official Plan that ridership reach 11% by 2030.”
While knowledgeable citizens argue the merits of the public transit system employers have to deal with the hard reality that they are having some difficulty attracting the labour they need due to poor transit service.
When the employers have a problem they go looking for solutions.
Enter the Burlington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC). The minds over there are being applied to the transit problem – especially as they relate to some of the larger employers along the North and South Service roads where transit service is sort of skimpy.
 Burlington Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Frank McKeown The BEDC formed an Employer Advisory group and is working with three different employers (they weren’t identified) to come up with a pilot program.
Anita Cassidy, Manager, special Projects acknowledged that the BEC is working on several possible pilot programs that will get announced in the fall. “We are working on bringing a pilot forward with three different employers” said Frank McKeown, Executive Director of BEDC.
Burlington has the distinct disadvantage of having one of the highest public transit ticket prices in the Greater Toronto Hamilton market area. It is also one of the few city’s that doesn’t use all the gas tax money from the federal and provincial governments to improve the transit system.
It will be interesting to see what the BEDC comes up with in September – something had to be done and transit couldn’t seem to make anything happen on their own.
By Staff
August 23, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Rick Goldring has been re-elected to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Board of Directors, Large Urban Caucus. The election was held at AMO’s 2016 Conference in Windsor last week.
 Rick Goldring on the night he was elected Mayor of Burlington in 2010. Goldring has served as chair of the Large Urban Caucus for the past two years. His new term will run from 2016-2018. The AMO board sets policy for the municipal organization that represents the interests of towns and cities across the province. Some municipalities (there are 444 in Ontario) have chosen not to be members of AMO.
In a statement released by the Office of the Mayor said: “An ongoing priority on the AMO agenda I will be focused on is sustained, predictable infrastructure investment for municipalities. Addressing this minimizes the impact on property taxpayers.”
AMO’s key advocacy priorities are focused on achieving fiscal sustainability for municipal governments, advancing federal, provincial partnerships for infrastructure and strengthening municipal legislative authority to advance local economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.
Municipalities will hold their elections in October of 2018 under a significantly different set of rules including changes on how people running for public office finance their campaigns.
 By Pepper Parr
August 23, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
With a name like “No Vacancy” what was one to expect at an event that ran for just a couple of hours at the Waterfront hotel when it was first put on in 2013.
A murder mystery perhaps?
What the city got to see was some ground breaking art – described as “installations” which Jim Riley describes as a “three dimensional art form that is often specifically designed to use the walls, floor and space of a room as a sculptural artwork itself. The artist uses objects, video, sound or other material to create the artwork. The audience enters in to the space and becomes part of the actual artwork as opposed to passively looking at one sculpture, one painting one video or other singular artwork.”
Doesn’t sound all that exciting when explained – you had to be in one of the rooms back in 2013 to appreciate what was being done.
No Vacancy put on a second event in 2014; it was one of those boffo – close to over the top events that was presented at the Village Square and given the name Cirque
The third year was put on at Old Lakeshore Road where the audience wasn’t as robust. Up until the 2014 event the group that put on the event did so without anything in the way of financial support from the city.
In 2015 and in 2016 a grant of less than $5000 each year was made available.
Each No Vacancy event is given its own unique name. The group has chosen MoonGlade for the 2016 that will take place in Brock Park, at the rear of the Art Gallery on Lakeshore Road and some space inside the gallery.
There will be 17 different individuals installing their work.
There will be a pop up arts gallery, live entertainment and a collection of food trucks.
 Xiaojing Yan is a Chinese-Canadian artist born in Nanjing, China, who currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada Among the installation artists will be Xiaojing Yan who is returning to the No Vacancy list.
 A collection of ceramic spoons arranged to form a bridge – installation art at its very best. Xiaojing Yan is a Chinese-Canadian artist born in Nanjing, China, who currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada. Xiaojing Yan received a B.F.A in decorative art from Nanjing Art Institute, China, in 2000, and an M.F.A in sculpture from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA, in 2007. The central themes running through her work concern immigration, identity, cultural difference, and transmigration. Often using traditional Chinese materials and practices within the contemporary aesthetic.
Yan’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Canada, China and United States.
Her work was included in the featured project at Art Toronto 2014 and the featured exhibition “Beyond Geography” at Art Toronto 2012. Recent solo shows include “Hybrid Vigour” at The Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Canada(2015);”Cloud Cell” at the Red Head Gallery, Toronto(2015, 2012), “Innocence & Experience” at Lonsdale Gallery, Toronto(2014), “Red and White Melody” at TRUCK Contemporary Art in Calgary (2014). In September 2017, Varley Art Gallery in Markham, Ontario will present her solo exhibition. And in November 2017, Suzhou Museum will present her first solo museum exhibition in China.
 Xiaojing Yan was one of the artists that contributed to perhaps the most attractive collection of bike racks in North America Yan has been in many public and private collections including the most recent permanent collection “Cloudscape” at Seneca College at Newnham Campus, Toronto, Canada (2013).
Yan is the recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the 2013 Mandarin Profile Awards. Additional information on this installation artist can be found on her web site: yanxiaojing.com
By Staff
August 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The successful prescription drug drop off awareness campaign run by the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) – Drug and Morality Unit (DMU), along with local partner pharmacies is transitioning from police facility drop off locations to locally based community pharmacy locations.
Expired or unused medications (prescription or over the counter) can be returned to any pharmacy in Halton. By responsibly dropping off your unused / expired medications to local pharmacies, you’ll not only ensure they’re disposed of properly – you’ll also keep them out of the wrong hands, preventing abuse, accidental ingestion and protecting our environment in the process.
The current police facility drug drop off collection bins will be removed August 31st 2016. The HRPS-DMU thanks their local community pharmacies for their support and looks forward to future proactive and preventative initiatives.
By Staff
August 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Milburough Line will be closed for traffic between Derry Road and Kilbride Street
from Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 at 6 p.m. to Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016 at 7 p.m. for Union Gas construction activities.
 A Union Gas pipeline is being built across the top of Burlington – it will involve a number of road closures. Please follow the detour route:
1. From the north, traffic will be directed east on Derry Road to McNiven Road, then south to Kilbride Street and west to Milburough Line.
2. From the south, traffic will be directed east on Kilbride Street to McNiven Road, then north to Derry Road and west to Milburough Line.
If you need more information please contact:
Susan Cudahy
Community Liaison
Union Gas Limited
Phone: 289-237-0068
scudahy@uniongas.com
By Staff
August 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Rick Golding uses a number of media to reach the citizens he governs. In an article he posted to his blog on the city’s web site he had the following to say on the decision made to put parts of New street on a Road Diet.
A road diet is when parts of a road used for vehicles is re-purposed and used for bicycle lanes
This summer, Burlington City Council supported a staff recommendation for a one-year pilot for bicycle lanes on New Street between Walker’s Line and Guelph Line.
As you are likely aware, the majority of council (6-1) supported this decision. It was our team of transportation experts that recommended what is being called a ‘road diet’. Simply put, that means taking New Street from four lanes to three lanes (two travel lanes and a centre left turn lane), with bike lanes separated by painted buffered lines on each side.
There are a few key things to note as we measure data and carefully listen to residents during the bicycle lane pilot project on the two-kilometre stretch of New Street:
 The current New Street lane configuration is on th left with the “road diet” on the right. This is a pilot project scheduled to last one year. Our staff will be tracking detailed data and we invite feedback from everyone using that stretch of the road.
The pilot is a litmus test to see if the painted lanes result in a positive experience for people who want to ride their bicycles, while causing a minimal impact for drivers who also need to get where they are going in a timely manner.
The pilot aligns with strategic planning – Transportation, health and environment
A key direction of our new Strategic Plan, which identifies priorities for the next 25 years, is a City That Moves. We want to increase the percentage of people using alternative transportation including cycling on a regular basis and not just for recreational purposes. The car has a 50 to 60-year head start when it comes to our city. A large part of Burlington was built when land and gas were plentiful and cheap. We are now trying to retrofit our city with more options than driving. Another key direction of our new Strategic Plan is A Healthy and Greener City.
 Mayor Rick Goldring Halton Region recently released an Active Transportation Health report, which was discussed at Halton Region’s health and social services committee meeting on Feb. 8, 2016. The report states 39 per cent of Halton residents, aged 12 and older, were inactive during their leisure time in 2013/2014. The report recommends using active transportation, including cycling, to improve health. (Read more here: https://www.thespec.com/news-story/6306140-halton-residents-aren-t-getting-enough-physical-activity-halton-report/). Furthermore, 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions produced in Burlington is from automobiles. There are significant opportunities for a greener, healthier city with a wider variety of transportation opportunities if we start investing now.
The timing is appropriate for this pilot project
 The city held a public information meeting on the project – it was not hugely attended – almost as many staff on hand as here were taxpayers. The decision to proceed with the project was approved by city Council on a 6-1 vote. Councillor Sharman voted against the idea. Does he have the best political antenna? This is an ideal time for the pilot to be done as this section of road is scheduled for resurfacing in 2017. This means there will be no cost to revert the lanes if the pilot is determined to be unsuccessful by staff and ultimately, council, or keep the new lane configuration when the road is resurfaced.
Meanwhile, city staff has assured me New Street west of Guelph Line will be reopen to the public in mid-August before the pilot starts east of Guelph Line. There will still be ongoing works on the boulevard (sod, driveways) but this will be limited to minor lane closures. All work will be done on this section prior to Labour Day weekend.
We will be watching the pilot closely
I live by New Street and as such, take it every day, at different times. I will experience first-hand the traffic delays, if indeed there are any.
The key measurement for me will be the impact on the automobile driver. If there are significant traffic issues as a result of this new configuration, we can simply repaint the road. This one-year test allows us to see if New Street is the right place for bike lanes.
Staff will be collecting data on travel times and residents are invited to share their feedback at any time to mayor@burlington.ca. My office will share this information with council and staff.
The pilot is a more direct route offering more destinations than the bike path
The multi-purpose pathway from Burloak Drive to Martha Street is good for recreational cycling. However, it is a busy mixed use pathway that includes not only cyclists but walkers, skateboarders, walkers with dogs and young children. A friend of mine broke his wrist after a young child darted in front of him causing him to slam on the brakes and fall. This means it is not ideal for people cycling along the pathway for transportation, especially when travelling at higher speeds.
The pathway is also not useable when it is dark as the average light from a bicycle is not bright enough and does not shine far enough to create a safe ride. The pathway is not lit at night. There are also numerous crossings where vehicles have the right-of-way. Furthermore, the pathway does not provide meaningful connections to the many amenities right along New Street.
The Mayor does indeed use New Street regularly. It will be interesting to see if he chooses to take the bus and experience whatever delays there might be.
The Gazette recently wrote a piece on the debate that was taking place and suggested that the public needed to give the city staff the time they needed to complete the pilot. That article brought in more than 35 responses several of which added valuable information to the debate.
This is an issue that has aroused the public, one reader advised us earlier today that “I noticed yesterday that someone had written WTF across the signs on New St promoting the road diet. I went back this morning to take a photo for you, but the signs have been removed. Work is underway.”
And so is the debate.
By Staff
August 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is attempting to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for the Largest Human Letter by forming a giant J in Spencer Smith Park.
 The Brant Hospital Foundation is going to attempt to put 2,167 people in the space shown in the graphic and win the Guinness Book of Records title for the Largest Human Letter by forming a giant J in Spencer Smith Park. Bring your friends, family and co-workers and be a part of history! Plan to arrive at Spencer Smith Park at 12 noon for on-site registration.
This event is free but you do need a ticket.
You can get that ticket by clicking HERE:
You do have to bring the ticket with you so that the hospital foundation can accurately measure the number of participants for the world record attempt. They will be scanning digital or printed tickets at the event and ask you to please bring your printed ticket or an electronic ticket on your smartphone.
When you arrive at the park you will be given a rain poncho to be identifiable as a participant and be assigned to a numbered section.
Participants will be asked to enter the formation upon arrival, and will remain there until the record attempt is complete and verified by the Guinness World Records judge on site. Water and snacks will be provided, and there will be live entertainment throughout the day including a DJ and emcee on stage to keep participants informed.
The current record for this category in the Guinness Book of Records is held by Dell Computers, who formed the slanted E in their logo with 2,166 people. We require 2,167 people to break the record. For the safety of all participants, the first 3,000 people to register at Spencer Smith Park will be permitted to be a part of the Guinness World Records Official Attempt.
 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. This all happens Sunday, 2 October 2, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (EDT) at Spencer Smith Park. There will be all kinds of sign showing you where to go.
This is an exciting and really innovative idea – can Burlington do it?
The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is responsible for raising funds for the hospital – they are currently well into the raising of $60 million for the re-development of the hospital that is taking place now on Lakeshore Road.
 By Staff
August 22, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
While most of us were sound asleep early this morning, at approximately 12:30am, Police responded to a reported break-and-enter in progress at Tamarack Lumber at 3269 North Service Road in Burlington.
During the police response, the two accused persons attempted to flee and were arrested near the scene. Two suspects, also believed involved, managed to make good their escape and are currently being sought.
Police located a stolen flatbed trailer (that had been stolen from a business in Toronto) the accused were in the process of loading a quantity of lumber onto.
Accused #1:
Klejton NDOJA (36 years) of Toronto
Accused #2:
Leondardi DEMOLLI (38 years) of Toronto
Both men have been charged with
• Break and Enter
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (over $5000)
They are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Milton on September 14th 2016.
The investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Vince Couce of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 ext. 2307 or Detective Constable Frank Trasmundi at ext. 2335 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Pepper Parr
August 21, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The number is reported to be between 8,000 and 12,000.
And it was huge.
 It was wall to wall – with the crowd stretching far into the western part of Spencer Smith Park But it was more than that – it was the looks on people faces and people who mouthed the words to many of the songs.
It was hot.
When Gord Downie first appeared on the giant screen he was in a passageway hugging and greeting the members of his band. The last performance of the Man Machine Poem tour as about to begin and the crowd of 6000 in the Kingston venue went wild.
 He gave it everything he had and went through three costume changes during a performance to be remembered for a long long time. And then he began to do what he does best – entertained an audience and took them back to better days.
At one point he came close to lecturing the Prime Minister who was in the audience which seemed OK especially when he said Justin had 12 years in office ahead of him
The aboriginal community has always been a concern and a passion for Downie – and he directed the Prime Minister to do something about that as the Prime Minister stood quietly with a look of both awe and respect for the man on the stage. “We are going to figure it out” said Downie.
 There were very few open spaces like this – these didn’t have all that good a line of sight. Some media reported three encores – I thought there were more than that, closer to five. As he left the stage during one of the encores he said: “Have a good life.”
The Tragically Hip music is not the genre I prefer and I didn’t know very many of the songs. I was there to report on the event – and it was amazing – he did three costume changes – each into a different metallic coloured suit and a different hat with feathers. A blue suit, a maroon suit and a gold suit; he was resplendent.
 The audience of between 8,000 and 12, 000 listened quietly and during the closing numbers stood to applaud an incredible performance. He kept pulling up his trousers – as if they didn’t fit or he had forgotten his belt; maybe it was the equipment attached to his waist.
What was amazing for me was the size of the crowd; perhaps the biggest Spencer Smith Park has experienced. It was a well behaved crowd – and the expected plumes of thick white smock with that identifiable pungent odour wafted over the crowd at the base of the screen.
The simulcast into Spencer Smith Park happened when the ward 2 councillor for the city and the Burlington Downtown Business Association approached city council and asked them to match the $12,500 that the BDBA had raised. Council said yes and the team that made it happen got into gear.
 The technical part of the performance went off without a hitch. They arranged for a small trench to be dug to bury a TV cable feed, along with a back up. The equipment that made the technically flawless production happen sat under a tent humming away with one at the controls – the technology was superb. Andie Porecki , president of the Sound of Music said everything technically had gone perfectly.
 The enormity of it all hits Downie – this is the last performance Downie played with is audience and at the close of one of his encores he thanked the audience for “keeping me pushing”
Two things struck me – the pain in his face at times; the howls that were almost primal and then his ability to shift into a lighter mood.
 You sat where you could; police patrolled an event that didn’t have a spot of trouble. The officers did wear Tasers however. At the end of one of the encores a member of the band appeared to have to lead him off the stage – didn’t matter – he returned.
At the second to last encore, the moon that was in the eastern sky was muted by drifting clouds; some of the audience was beginning to pick up their chairs and head for home. The concert was well past the 11 pm finish time.
Like the Spring break up on some rivers – the winter ice did not want to let go. No one wanted it to end.
By Staff
August 20, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A heavy rainfall event passed through upper portions of Conservation Halton’s watershed overnight with some areas receiving depths of over 50mm. Creeks within this area experienced rapid responses from this rainfall, however, levels have now receded. This intense rainfall resulted in localized urban flooding of some streets and low lying areas.
 Heavy rains in the northern part of the city have swelled creeks resulting in some flooding – remind the kids to stay away from the edges of some fast flowing water. Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to stay away from watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream and weather conditions and will issue further messages, as necessary.
Conservation Halton will issue an update to this Watershed Condition Statement – Water Safety Statement only if significant changes in the forecasts occur. This Watershed Condition Statement will be in effect through to Sunday, August 21, 2016.
By Staff
August 20th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a close to perfect evening – not even a hint of rain.
The folks that live downtown and those that made themselves aware of the free Jazz events on the Plaza at the Performing Arts centre began to take up seats as early as 5:30 pm for a 6:30 performance – they knew that the seats get taken up quickly.
This is the second year of what is turning out to be a very popular event.
 Barbara Lica, charming both an audience and a microphone. Good music, Barbara Lica, Romania’s gift to Canada took to the platform and never failed to delight. The cash bar was open.
 Barbara Lica, a night light lyrical voice. The Jazz part of the Centre’s summer program end next week when Vincent Wolfe & the VegasNorth Seven will be playing.
The fall program really doesn’t begin until very late in September when the Centre celebrates five years of existence – they are bring Royal Wood back for this occasion.
An opportunity to listen to a growing artist and to take a look back at what the Centre has given the city that gave so much to get it built.
The audience has grown, putting a management team in place has proven to be more of a challenge than many expected. The arts are different – not like running a factory.
There have been three Executive Directors during the five years of existence.
 There wasn’t seat to be had – some people sat on the other side of the street to just listen. What the general public doesn’t see or hear much about is the elementary and secondary school programs.
The Centre has an 11 performance program for kindergarten to grade 8 specifically curated for young audiences to be more than just regular, old field trips. Instead, they are unique cultural excursions that nurture the development of creative students and who in turn build creative communities. And tickets are $10 each.
Among the school program offerings are: The Lightning Thief, I.aM.mE Dance Crew, Peter Rabbit Tales, Brown Bear, Brown Bear and other Treasured Stories plus The Spirit of Harriet Tubman.
There are also workshop’s for students.
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