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May 31st, 2106 BURLINGTON, ON Bus stops within the road closure area will be bagged. For service, please proceed to the Appleby GO station or bus stops along New Street. 
May 31st, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON On Friday, June 10, 2016, students from the Halton District School Board will participate in the 29th annual Special Athletes’ Track Meet at Craig Kielburger Secondary School, 1151 Ferguson Drive, Milton. The track meet for athletes with physical and developmental challenges will take place from 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
The Special Athletes’ events will include 50m/100m/400m races, softball throw, slalom – wheelchair or ambulatory (non-wheelchair), long jump – wheelchair (independent) or ambulatory, precision throw beanbag, precision Bocce, T-ball, traditional Bocce and Frisbee. This event provides Special Athletes with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and celebrate their successes with fellow students, friends and family.
May 31st, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON It will be decades before people fully realize and appreciate what the planting of trees BurlingtonGreen has been doing along the Beachway.  Plants that are known to grow in the sandy soil that make up much of the Beachway are carefully placed and then nurtured by Burlington Green volunteers. The soil is very sandy, and it shifts and because no one has been looking after the land all kinds of invasive species have settled in and gone wild. The invasive plants often choke out the plants that should be growing in that part of the city. Beachway has gone through a number of evolutions – it was the part of the city where Joseph Brant started building his house in 1789 and in 1803 he moved into the house which was described “commodious”. Aboriginals camped in the area. In the late 1800’s there was a pretty well defined community along that part of the lake. It was seen as a very tony part of town. At one point there was a vibrant community with more than 200 families living in the areas. They had their own stores and Lakeshore Road was once the way to get across the canal. The old Grand Trunk Railway had a single line into the city – that got doubled when the amount of produce that was exported from the Vineland area and Burlington required more in the way of rail capacity. The Freeman Station that a group of citizens work tirelessly to ensure was not cut up for kindling, is a vital part of the Beachway story. That the station isn’t within the actual Beachway is unfortunate but at least saved from the wrecking ball.  Grasses and shrubs that are invasive and crowd out plants that should be in the soil. The red markers define areas that are to be cleared. The Beachway is now going to begin a new phase and be developed as a large park that is being designed by the Regional government. The intention is to eventually remove all the homes left in the Beachway – 25 at this point. The design appears to have reasonable public acceptance but the removal of the houses is still very controversial and we certainly haven’t heard the last of that argument.  Carefully potted.  Gloria Reid pulls invasive plants. Burlington Green focuses on ripping out all the invasive stuff they can find and planting trees that will keep the soil in place. The work done for the past three years is beginning to show results. Each year they use a half day when 100 volunteers show up to pull the unwanted plants and patiently plant new ones. The trees going in are white oak, bur oak and trembling aspen: 125 were planted this year. Chokecherry and heart leaved willow shrubs were planted along with five different kinds of grasses. It is hard but satisfying work – and in the years to come it will have been well worth the effort.
May 31st, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON For access to stops serving these routes, please proceed to the John Street Bus Terminal or Brant Street north of Caroline Street.
May 31st, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON It wasn’t hard to see this one coming. At a Sustainable Committee tour of Spencer Smith Park a few weeks ago, quiet mention was made of some problems with the giant willow trees next to the Gazebo close to the foot of Brant Street. Now comes the announcement that the trees are beyond saving and are going to be cut down.  They lasted 70 years. Willows to be cut down. The city announce earlier today that: “Two weeping willow trees near the gazebo in Spencer Smith Park will be removed starting June 7 to ensure public safety in the waterfront park. The city’s arborists found significant rotting and areas of decay in the trees during a recent investigation. The city will bring tree removal equipment into the park on June 7 to remove most of the two trees. The trees’ eight-foot-high (2.4-metre-high) stumps will be removed after the Sound of Music Festival, which runs from June 16 to 19. “The trees are beyond saving, unfortunately,” said Mary Battaglia, director of Roads and Parks Maintenance. “The trees need to be removed to ensure branches and limbs do not come down and cause injury.” The two trees were from clippings transplanted in the 1950s by Spencer Smith, a local entrepreneur and long-time member of the Burlington Horticultural Society. “The city recognizes the significance of the trees to the community, and to the park’s heritage,” said Mayor Rick Goldring. “I think we can be grateful that the trees have served us so well over the years.”  Spencer Smith, the man our lakeside park is named after, planted the willow trees 70 years ago. The city will keep 70 clippings of the willow trees for rooting and replanting, one for each year of the trees’ lives. The healthy portions at the base of the trees will be kept for future art or woodworking opportunities. “I am very sad that we are losing these willow trees that have framed so many memories in Spencer Smith Park. I am pleased we will take cuttings and are exploring ways to repurpose the wood to preserve the legacy of these trees planted from cuttings by Spencer Smith,” said Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward. “I invite everyone to join me for a goodbye ceremony to share our collective memories.”
May 31st, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON GIS mapping at Burlington city hall will be unavailable on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 from 1 to 3 p.m. The service and the system will be down for maintenance.
May 30th, 2106 BURLINGTON, ON In a daily newspaper report Halton District school board chair Kelly Amos said she was only made aware of the report on Friday (May 27th) that was going to debate a significant shifts in the way French Immersion is managed within Halton schools. Stewart Miller, Director of Education has been faced with a task that apparently cannot be resolved – it has to do with the number of students wanting to be enrolled in the French immersion program and the number of qualified French teachers that are very difficult to find.  Stewart Miller – Director of Education Halton District School Board Add to those two problems the difficult this has with class sizes in some schools. Miller said several months ago that he found himself faced with situations where there were less than ten students in a regular class (a non-French immersion class) which from a teacher student ratio just wasn’t something he could afford to do. Staff worked up a report and set out a series of motions that were published in the agenda for the boards June 1st meeting. The Board created a Program Viability Committee (PVC) that has been in existence for just over a year to review both English and French program viability in HDSB elementary schools. Considerable stakeholder consultation was done and feedback was brought to the PVC for review, analysis and recommendations. After careful analysis of the feedback provided, the PVC identified a number of options. The one they are recommending will provide an additional year for parents to understand their child as a learner prior to making a decision to enter French Immersion, it provides a relatively early entry point as preferred by stakeholders and provides for a greater intensity in the first two years of the program which supports French language acquisition. The recommended model also requires few if any additional boundary reviews, maintains our current dual and single track school configurations and as such will provide for a simpler and less disruptive implementation plan and transition to the new model. The Gazette has not had an opportunity to study the report that trustees received on Friday. We are providing the outline that was published without any comment or analysis. Be it resolved that effective in the 2014-15 school year, the Halton District School Board introduce 40 minutes/week of Primary Core French beginning in Grade 1 in 24 Halton District School Board schools, with a commitment for a full roll-out by 2017-18, with an annual review of the roll-out to be brought back to trustees each year, and; (a) THAT schools selected for the initial phase of this program represent a variety of school organizations (b) THAT students in these schools will receive the following minutes of Core French instruction between Grades 1- 8: (c) THAT no later than June 2018, the Halton District School Board will assess the impact of this Primary Core French experience in relation to student engagement, student attitude, English proficiency and the impact on Grade 1 French Immersion uptake associated with these schools.
(e) THAT the Halton District School Board continues to provide staff development programs that include teaching strategies, modifications and accommodations to address students with diverse learning needs and students who arrive in Halton without prior experiences in either French Immersion and Core French. (f) THAT the Halton District School Board develop and implement a 5-year plan whereby all Halton District School Board elementary schools with Intermediate Divisions have one classroom dedicated for the teaching of Grade 7-8 Core French whereas if it will not require additional portables. Be it resolved that effective in the 2014-2015 school year, wherein a triple grade configuration has been possible (due to 23 or fewer students enrolled in three consecutive grades), the School Superintendent will assess the impact on the learning environment and opportunities for students and will consider and recommend for Board approval one of the following strategies; staff as a Grade 1-2 blended class; Wherein a triple grade configuration has been possible (due to 23 or fewer students enrolled in three consecutive grades for two consecutive years) the School Superintendent will consider and may recommend for Board approval a boundary review. Be it resolved that effective in the 2014-2015 school year the Halton District School Board: a) establish and communicate a consistent Grade 1 French Immersion February registration deadline for current Halton District School Board families, with a review of the effects of this procedure be undertaken by September 2014. b) allow students who have not been in Senior Kindergarten within the Halton District School Board, register in Grade 1 French Immersion up to the first week of school. c) communicate and implement the assessment and admission procedure for students with French proficiency arriving in Halton after the registration deadline. d) All elementary schools that offer Grade 1 programming must host a Grade 1 Information Evening that includes information about English program, French Immersion program and Special Education placements. If the home school does not offer French Immersion, the school their students would be directed to for French Immersion cannot host their Grade 1 Information Evening at the same time. The Special Education presentation is to be scripted by the Board’s Special Education department, to include a description of all elementary Special Education placements. Be it resolved that the Halton District School Board present the following options for the delivery of French Immersion to the public in the Fall of 2015 for the purpose of receiving feedback, considerations and comments. Feedback will be brought to the Board for consideration in the delivery of French Immersion programming: 1. Option 1: Grade 1 (early) French immersion remains a 50% French 50% English delivery model, but entry to FI would be capped. The method of capping would be determined at a later date. 2. Option 2: Grade 1 (early) French Immersion remains at 50% French and 50% English, however all FI programs would be delivered in single track FI schools. French Immersion would be phased out of dual track schools and no new dual track schools would be considered. The location of the single track schools would be determined at a later date. 3. Option 3: French Immersion would commence at a later entry point (mid entry); Grade 4. This would result in the delivery model of FI moving from a 50% model to at least a 80% French Immersion model. In addition the delivery of FI would occur in dual track schools only. 4. Option 4: French Immersion would commence at a later entry point (mid entry); Grade 4. This would result in the delivery model of FI moving from a 50% model to at least an 80% French Immersion model. In addition the delivery of FI would occur in single track FI schools only. The Halton district school board has approximately 63,000 students in 86 elementary and 18 secondary schools. This enrolment projection results in an overall increase of 1.5% as compared to the 2015/2016 school year.  Board chair Kelly Amos expressed some disappointment at the short amount of time trustees have been given to review the recommendations and discuss concerns with their constituents. The trustees had less than five days to review a complex document. What the board appears to be suggesting is that the roll out of French Immersion classes be cut back to create some time for parents to think about just what it is they want to do and then allow the board the time it needs to make it all happen. It is messy – but there is some progress.
The Board will vote on this recommendation on June 15th. The board expects there to be a number of delegations – there will be a special delegation night on June 13.
May 29, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON Maybe they took a taxi home or perhaps the police took them to the local station and booked them for their offences. Whichever, two very expensive cars are sitting in the police pound where they will remain for the next seven days.  A Lamborghini Huracan valued by police at approximately $230,000.00 was impounded for seven days after being clocked at 135 kmh in a 60 kmh zone On May 29th 2016 at approximately 4:00 pm, a Lamborghini Huracan valued at approximately $230,000.00 and a McLaren Spider valued at approximately $260,000.00 were stopped by Police at Guelph Line and Colling Road in Burlington after HRPS #3 District Response Unit measured their speed at 135 km/hr in a posted 60 km/hr zone.  A McLaren Spider, stunt driving with the Lamborghini was estimated to cost $230,000 it also sits in the police pound for seven days. The exotic cars were impounded for seven days and the drivers’ charged with stunt driving. The police media report did not release any names. They did say: “If you observe a vehicle being operated in a manner which places you or anyone else in danger, please call 911 for an immediate police response.”  Police loading $230,000 worth of car onto a flatbed truck to be taken to the police pound and held for seven days. Owner charged with stunt driving. Someone obviously made such a call.
May 28, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON The annual Art Sale raises a lot of money. As an event is draws a piece of work from Robert Bateman – he has donated a piece of his art every year for the past 38 years. What do they do with the funds raised? Plenty! In 2015..  There was a time when art was taught in schools – not any more. If a child is to get an art education and the sense o accomplishment that goes with it – they head for the art gallery. 2,751 school’s children’s horizons were expanded Important initiatives: Over 20 regional, national and international exhibitions a year, as well as the world’s largest collection of Canadian contemporary ceramics.  Former Member of Parliament Mike Wallace on a tour of the kilns at the art gallery. Add to that the Annual Soup bowl event. And of course the Art Gallery is home to the Guilds that were the reason the place came into being. There are over 300 volunteers in a building that has had pieces added to it over time – it is quite easy to get a little lost.  Johnathan Smith, curator of the permanent ceramics collection watches artist Peter Powning making clay impressions of artifacts. The Art Galley was the place Peter Powning took clay impressions of objects brought in by citizen that were later cast in bronze and placed on the spiral Stella that stands outside the Performing Arts Centre The gallery is open seven days a week – and there is no admission. The city provides just under $1 million as a grant to the Art Gallery each year.
May 27, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON If you’re Dutch – you already know about this event.  Lead piper of the Dutch 48th Highlanders who will perform a concert in Civic Square May 31st at 11:30 am. If you like the sound of bagpipes and military style events – you will want to know about it. Burlington’s Mundialization Committee will host a delegation from Burlington’s twin city, Apeldoorn, the Netherlands from May 29 to 31.  Mayor Rick Goldring in Holland with Apeldoorn Mayor John Berends during the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of Holland. The delegation includes the 48th Highlanders of Holland, Pipes and Drums, who will perform a special concert for Apeldoorn Mayor John Berends and Burlington Mayor Goldring during the farewell reception on Tuesday, May 31 at 11:30 a.m. in Civic Square.
May 27th, 2106 BURLINGTON, ON Halton Regional Police have arrested a 24-year-old male in connection with child luring and child pornography offences. David Kron, of Thornhill, has been charged with three counts of child luring, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography. The victims in this matter are 12-14 years of age.  Snapchat is a mobile app that allows users to send and receive “self-destructing” photos and videos. Photos and videos taken with the app are called Snaps. Snapchat uses the device’s camera to capture Snaps and Wi-fi technology to send them. Investigators say they believe the man was communicating with children online via Snapchat, using the name: myles.erlick. Myles Erlick is a former Burlington resident and a well-known performer. Mr. Erlick has been contacted and is in no way affiliated to this account. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Todd Martin of the Halton Regional Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE). He can be reached at (905)825-4747 extension 8983.
Snapchat is a mobile app that allows users to send and receive “self-destructing” photos and videos. Photos and videos taken with the app are called Snaps. Snapchat uses the device’s camera to capture Snaps and Wi-fi technology to send them.
May 27, 2106 BURLINGTON, ON Aldershot Arena has now reopened for scheduled rentals and programs. The arena was closed on April 22 to allow for electrical system replacement following a transformer issue.
May 27th, 2106 BURLINGTON, ON  A significant document that few have actually read. CBC and National Post political contributor Rex Murphy rants that Ontario Premier Wynne’s climate change strategy is her own version of LEAP. He is referring to the LEAP Manifesto shepherded by author and political activist Naomi Klein and best-friend film maker Avis Lewis. The document came out last year during the federal election, and was presented at the NDP convention earlier this year. It is a strategic document, laying out long term goals for achieving a more harmonious, equitable, and environmentally friendly Canada in the age of global warming.  Rex Murphy – National Post columnist – CBC on air personality. Rex Murphy apparently considers those goals the equivalent of leaping into hell, as he accounts that, in his view, it would be political and economic suicide to stop using fossil fuels. One wonders if he had actually read the LEAP document as he spreads his hyperbolic poison over a topic he clearly doesn’t understand, and for an issue which he is clearly out of touch with the majority of Canadians. And he is not alone, as Globe and Mail contributors Margaret Wente and Jeffrey Simpson also felt the need to jump into the fray. But at least Simpson has focused his comment, and legitimately challenges the complexity of the emission trading aspect, rather than criticizing the end goal itself. He gets it – that we need to do more. But because something is complex doesn’t make it unmanageable or bad. It is not clear that Simpson understands what a cap and trade program is, preferring to characterize it as something conjured up by an overzealous environment minister, Glen Murray, and using that as an ad hominem to help discredit the provincial strategy. Cap and trade, or more generally emissions trading, was first conceived at the University of Toronto by an economist in 1968. Professor John Dales was looking for a way to reduce pollution by making it more expensive for polluters without penalizing the rest of society – an equitable approach to curbing pollution based on economic incentives. And more complexity is required if one is to internalize the unintended effects of human activities into the costs of production, thus making polluting activities relatively more costly.  Gas fired power station at sunset. In the case of greenhouse gas reduction, as in Ontario’s plan, it is an implicit carbon tax. But unlike the explicit carbon taxes B.C. and Quebec have in place, emissions trading is business-friendly, allowing more emission-efficient enterprises the added incentive of selling carbon credits to those who aren’t – incentivizing as well as taxing. That explains why the business community largely favours emissions trading over a universal tax, like B.C.’s carbon tax. And that is why this approach can also inadvertently result in an overachievement of its goals, as when the US government phased-out lead from gasoline years ahead of schedule in the 1970’s, one of the first applications of emissions trading. Since then, cap and trade applied to sulphur emissions from coal power plants led to another remarkable overachievement of US based acid rain emission reductions in the 1990’s. The European Union, Japan and Australia have all used emissions trading in tackling carbon emissions. The 1997 Kyoto protocol, which failed when the US pulled out in 2000, had emissions trading as an inherent tenet of its design. Although the log jam on Capital Hill has hindered the US from implementing a truly national carbon cap and trade program, some states have moved ahead. The Western Climate Initiative, started in 2007, is one such carbon trading regime which also includes Quebec, B.C., Manitoba and Ontario. And Ontario’s program will ultimately be integrated with that of the other Canadian provinces as well as California and other US states – so we’d better get used to this level of complexity. And Simpson is wrong about this being something Murray just conjured up. Ontario has been working on emissions trading for decades, and with the blessing of all three political governments over that time. The provincial government supported an early voluntary trading program in the 90’s and developed its own mandatory allowance trading program in 2002 to reduce emissions from coal and gas power plants.  Exhaust emissions from automobiles are close to the worst polluters. In fact just about all of the provinces and the federal government have been looking at emissions trading systems similar, in some way to what Ontario is implementing as part of a climate change strategy. Alberta had implemented a more limited trading program well before the NDP swept into power last year, and they no doubt will be looking to Ontario’s experience as they enhance their efforts. Indeed Ontario and Alberta have just announced a new clean technology initiative for climate change, a corollary to this discussion. Alberta, home to Canada’s fossil fuel industry is also home to those other fossils, the dinosaurs. One dominant theory is that these marvellous creatures were the victims of another period of climate change some 65 million years ago. But unlike our modern-day dinosaurs, who should understand that the climate change affecting us today is of our own doing, those dino’s likely couldn’t and didn’t do anything about it. We do know how to start fixing this – it’s right there Rex – in that Leap Manifesto.
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 a candidate in the 1995 provincial election Background links: Rex on Leap – Rex Murphy on Ontario – Ontario’s CC Strategy – LEAP – Cap and Trade – Fort McMurray and Climate – Wente – Simpson on Cap and Trade – Western Climate Initiative – Alberta and Ontario – Dinosaurs –
May 27th, 2106 BURLINGTON, ON The pests will be back soon – mosquitos. That bite is a quite a bit bigger than most people realize. As part of its commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of residents through public education and preventative programs, Halton Region has begun its annual larviciding program to reduce the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) in the community. This program is implemented in public property locations across Halton Region.  This is how the West Nile virus gets transmitted. Larviciding is the process of applying pesticides to objects such as catch basins, where mosquito larvae have been found. Larvicide is applied when other attempts at reducing mosquito breeding sites haven’t worked to minimize the risk of West Nile virus and is usually applied either in catch basins or in large bodies of standing water on public property. This preventative program reduces the adult mosquito population, helping to stop mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus that are often found in standing water. “West Nile virus continues to be a concern in communities across Canada which is why Halton Region remains committed to monitoring and implementing programs to prevent and protect residents against this disease,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “By working together with the community, we will continue to reduce the risk of West Nile virus and keep our community safe and healthy.” “Larviciding is just one part of our West Nile virus prevention program which includes public education, monitoring and surveillance, eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites and larviciding,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. “By eliminating standing water sites and by covering up outside at dusk and dawn and applying DEET or lcaridin, we can reduce the occurrence of West Nile virus in our communities.” Halton residents can help reduce breeding grounds for mosquitoes by removing objects that may hold water, such as bird baths, plant pots, old toys and tires. If residents see standing water on public property, they can report it to Halton Region by emailing accesshalton@halton.ca or dialing 311. Residents are encouraged to take the following steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes: • Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly-woven fabric. A map showing the locations of standing water sites on public property where larvicide is applied is available at halton.ca/wnv. For more information about West Nile virus, please visit halton.ca/wnv or dial 311.
May 26th, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON The line of the song went – “There are 99 bottles of beer on the wall” – the thinkers over at the Art Gallery Burlington took that line and applied it to the low priced art they sell each year at their annual art sale.  AGB president Robert Steven looks on anxiously as art is placed in the walls of the Lee Chin room. The 99 theme has been adapted to describe the 99 pieces of art that are being sold for $250 during the sale. Installers were measuring and putting up the pieces in a corner of the Lee Chin Room which at this point is bare – and very empty with art stacked in the corners awaiting their time on the wall.
Smith is a delight to listen to – he has one of those minds that soaks it all up and forgets little. Feel free to ask him anything. He won’t say he will get back to you – he will know. Learn art collection tips from the master, then head back into the Lee-Chin Gallery to start buying artwork!  The Bateman piece that will be sold at the 38th annual AGB art sale. The Bateman that will be on sale this year is one of his more traditional pieces – a really fine piece of work. Robert Bateman is reported to have donated an original piece of art every year of the 38th year event.
May 26th, 2106 BURLINGTON, ON On May 25th 2016 at approximately 2:32 PM, police responded to the Royal Bank at 2025 William O’Connell Blvd. in Burlington for a male trying to open a bank account with fraudulent identification. Police located the male inside the bank and while the male was being escorted to a private office, the male turned and ran from the bank. He continued to flee on foot north on William O’Connell Blvd, west on Waterbridge Dr. where he then hopped a fence which led him to the rear of a townhouse complex located at 2039 Upper Middle Rd. Numerous police responded to the area where a perimeter was established while a canine track was conducted. The male was located and arrested approximately 25 minutes later as he attempted to leave the area on a bicycle which he had just stolen. The male, identified as Robert Jason LAYCOCK (28-yrs) of Toronto was held for bail charged with the following offences: • Fraud under $5000 Out on probation and the suspect walks into a bank trying to open an account under a false name – it wasn’t a savings account was it? Anyone with information is asked to call the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825 4747 ext. 2316, Crime Stoppers at 1-800 222 8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
May 26, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON There are a number of tall construction cranes in the downtown core and at the edges of the city as well – the kind of thing that keep the bankers and the politicians happy.  The Melodia – It just never managed to work – despite the Performing Arts Centre right across the street. Across the street from the back of city hall a restaurant that thought they had it figured out is meeting the hard blows of the wrecking ball – the Melodia is being taken down to make room for an event larger Saxony condominium development.  A more modern look – sharper edges – the structure now fills the site at Locust and Elgin The developer had hoped to be able to use all of the site on the corner of Locust and Elgin but the owners of the restaurant didn’t like the look of the original offer that was made. There were a number of real estate people sniffing around that site trying to make something happen. Saxony eventually decided they would just build around Melodia. The got the Wiggsville structure off the property and went along with the wishes of the community for a four storey building when the bylaw would have allowed five storeys. Then the owners had a change of heart and decided they would sell – that gave the developers the opportunity to develop the site to its fullest potential.  The first version of the Saxony – had more of a classical look.  Unable to strike a deal with the owners of Melodia the Landform group decided to build around it. Along the way they appear to have had a change of heart and moved from what was classical in design and moved to a more modern look – there will be a small theatre in the ground floor of the building – that will certain add to its cachet.
May 26th, 2106 BURLINGTON, ON The parking meters have been in place for a couple of weeks – but these two walkers don’t appear to be convinced that they can be trusted. Which leads to the question – does the city have any sense yet that the acceptance rate of the new meters is on track.  Two citizens are not totally certain that this device is something they want to give their money to – is that the general sense in the city? We are not hearing anything negative – but we aren’t hearing anything positive either – and we hear nothing about anyone actually using the telepark feature that lets people use their cell phone to pay for parking – and also has the potential to let commercial establishments pay for your parking. The sense we are getting is that few appear to want to pick up that option – which is unfortunate. That part of the software was probably the most expensive. The city is spending $500,000 on these parking meters – the public will want more than a pretty machine on the street for that kind of money. The city is rumoured to be putting together a marketing plan – customer information package – that hasn’t hit the streets yet.
May 26, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON More than 30 local schools across the city have signed up to participate in Bike to School Week, a Metrolinx initiative that encourages local teachers and students to use active transportation for their daily commute to school between May 30 and June 3. We have a question – why is Metrolinx doing this – they run the GO train service.  School board trustee Andrea Grebenc wants to see every students using a bike to get to school. This should be a local initiative – by either the city or the school board – both would be great. School board trustee Andrea Grebenc wants every student on a bicycle. “This event is a great way to encourage more kids and adults to leave the car at home for short distance trips,” said Vito Tolone, the city’s director of transportation. “We have seen a 600 per cent increase in the number of schools participating from 2015.” Schools that registered for Bike to School Week by May 6 were entered into a draw for a chance to win one of 20 bike racks, provided by Healthy Kids Community Challenge Burlington and the city. The winning schools that will be getting a bike rack are: Aldershot Elementary School  This is a school in need of a bike rack. Schools that register for Bike to School Week before June 1 still have an opportunity to be entered into a draw to win a Can-Bike rodeo for their school in the 2016-17 school year. “Being active on their way to and from school not only helps children get to know their community better but also improves their health,” said Chris Glenn, the city’s director of parks and recreation. “Active transportation is fundamental to building a healthy community.”
May 25th, 2106 BURLINGTON, ON During the period of May 17-23, uniform and plainclothes officers from across all areas of the Halton Regional Police Service supported the National driving campaign known as ‘Canada Road Safety Week’, conducting a heightened level of traffic enforcement on our area roadways. Officers focused on what has become known as the ‘Big 4 Killers’ on our roads, including aggressive & distracted driving, impaired operation – by alcohol or drug, and seat belt use. During the seven days of enforcement, which ended with the conclusion of the Victoria Day Long Weekend, Halton Police laid a total of 1903 charges. The top three charges included: 1. Speeding; During this campaign, Halton Police conducted a variety of enforcement, including RIDE, to specifically address the ongoing concern of motorists choosing to drive while impaired. 12 motorists were arrested and charged with impaired driving related offences which include impaired by drug. Highlights include: • On Friday, May 20th officers were conducting a proactive RIDE spot check on Appleby Line near Fairview Street. Over the course of the RIDE check, a driver was engaged by police as a part of the routine stop. As a result of this engagement, police discovered he was in possession approximately three pounds of marihuana. The driver was charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking. • On Saturday, May 21st officers responded to a single vehicle collision below the Burlington Skyway. The female driver was subsequently arrested for impaired operation and for possessing a quantity of cocaine. • On Sunday, May 22nd police were engaged in proactive speed enforcement on Bronte Road near Speers Road. Police noted a driver operating his motor vehicle at a high rate of speed. A traffic stop was initiated by police and the driver was found to be impaired by both alcohol and drugs. In addition, the driver was found to be in possession of a quantity of marihuana.  Deputy Chief Nishan Duraiappah and Halton Regional Police Detective Constable Paul Proteau. Deputy Chief Nishan Duraiappah commented, “Traffic enforcement, public messaging and the time officers spend on these traffic initiatives are just one element of our collaborative strategy towards improved road safety. It involves our Region, each Municipality, partnering agencies and citizens focusing on opportunities for prevention, social development and risk mitigation.” Halton Police would like to thank area motorists who made the choice to slow down, obey posted signage and for resisting the urge to handle your cell phone while driving. It’s a positive choice all motorists can make which will make our roads safer for everyone. If you observe a vehicle being operated in a manner which places you or anyone else in danger, please call 911 for an immediate police response.
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When the event initially began, 29 years ago, there were only 12 special athletes participating. Coaches, school staff and home school peers, friends, family members and volunteers provided support and encouragement for the athletes. This year, more than 300 special athletes are expected to participate – a remarkable increase in participation during the event’s 29-year history.
(d) THAT under the leadership of the System Principal for French Second Language, School Programs and Human Resources, the Halton District School Board will develop a long-term recruitment and staff development plan to ensure the Halton District School Board hires and retains the highest quality French teachers available and that this plan is shared with the Board of Trustees.
The sale of low cost art (there is nothing down market – no Elvis on Velvet) begins on the 29th. At 3:00 pm on the 29th Permanent Collection Curator, Jonathan Smith, will be hosting a talk in the Fireside Lounge on How to Start a Collection.
