 By Staff
January 8th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Halton Regional Police Service, Burlington station, reached out to the public for help locating wanted persons and hold them accountable for their actions. The results of this initiative were impressive.
Week 1 – Raymond FRENCH (WANTED)
Outstanding charges for stealing $15000 from a senior’s home whom he befriended
Week 2 – Curtis KOMP (ARRESTED FOUR DAYS AFTER THE RELEASE)
Located and arrested in Ottawa as a result of several tips to police from the public
Remains in custody awaiting trial
Week 3 – Kenneth MOODIE (WANTED)
Several outstanding charges for Drinking and Driving related offences
Week 4 – Scottie RYERSON (ARRESTED SAME DAY OF RELEASE)
Accused turned himself in to Halton Police as a result of the media release and attention
Week 5 – Mark AUBERTIN (ARRESTED IN HAMILTON)
Several outstanding charges in Halton for Break and Enter Commit x 8, Mischief under $5000 x 8, Fail to Comply Recognizance x 6, Possession of Break and Enter Instruments x 2, Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Fail to Attend Court
Week 6 – Michael RAMSAY (ARRESTED)
Accused turned himself in to Halton Police as a result of the media release and attention, arrangements made through his lawyer.
Week 7 – Milan SUCHY and Blanka DOLEZALOVA (WANTED – PARTIES RESIDING OUT WEST, ONGOING EFFORTS TO EXECUTE WARRANTS)
Accused have outstanding charges for Fraud Under $5000, Theft Under $5000, Possession of Stolen Property x 2 and Fail to Re-Attend Court.
Week 8 – Sean KELLY (WANTED) and Jessica HAYNES (ARRESTED)
Jessica was located and arrested in Waterdown by Burlington CIB officers as a result of information received.
Sean remains wanted on outstanding charges for Fraud Under $5000, Theft Under $5000, Personation with Intent and Fail to Re-Attend Court.
Week 9 – Bryon BULLIED (WANTED)
Several outstanding charges in relation to stealing from an elderly male who was confined to his home
Outstanding charges include Theft under $5000 x 3, Unauthorized use of a Credit Card x 3, Fail to Comply with Undertaking, Breach of Probation Order
Accused is also wanted by Ottawa Police for Possession of a Substance x 2, Breach of Probation x 2 and Fail to Appear
Week 10 – Brennen BOWLEY (ARRESTED)
Accused turned himself in to Hamilton Police.
Accused had several outstanding charges with Halton Police, Hamilton Police and Niagara Police
Outstanding charges include Break and Enter Place, Dangerous Operation Motor Vehicle, Fail to Re-Attend Court, Fail to Comply Recognizance x 12, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Possession under $5000 x 3, Possession over $5000 x 2, Fail to Comply Probation x 2, Break and Enter Commit x 2, Theft under $5000 and Theft of Motor Vehicle
Week 11 – Corey Rodgers (ARRESTED)
Wanted for Assault with a Weapon, Assault and Fail to Attend Court
Week 12 – Marcin SYDOR (WANTED)
Wanted for Theft over $5000, Theft under $5000 x 3, Break and Enter with Intent, Mischief under $5000 x 2, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Breach of Probation and Fail to Re-Attend Court
The accused is also wanted by Hamilton Police for Fraud over $5000, Fraud under $5000 x 7, Breach of Probation, Fail to Comply Recognizance x 2, Breach of Undertaking x 2, Possess – Use of Credit Card x 29
Week 13 – Michael CRICK (ARRESTED), Ashley JACOBS (WANTED) ( JACOBS currently residing in Quebec, efforts on-going to execute her warrants)
JACOBS is wanted for Assault, Breach of Probation, Fail to Comply Undertaking and Fail to Attend Court
CRICK was wanted Theft under $5000 x 2, Fail to Re-Attend Court and Fail to Comply Probation
Week 14 – Ahmad ALAMI (ARRESTED)
ALAMI was located and arrested by Niagara Police as a result of tips received
Week 15 – Beth MICHAUD (ARRESTED)
MICHAUD surrendered to Police as a result of pressure associated with her media release
Week 16 – Darnell PARCHMENT-YATES (ARRESTED)
PARCHMENT-YATES was wanted for Theft under $5000 x 4, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime x 2 and Fail to Appear Court
Week 17 – Korde HILL (WANTED)
HILL is wanted for Theft of Motor Vehicle and Possession of Stolen Property
HILL is also wanted by Six Nations Police Service for Possession of Break and Enter Instruments, Occupy Motor Vehicle without Consent and Possession of CDSA
Week 18 – Matthew PARSONS (WANTED)
PARSONS is wanted for Theft under $5000 x 2, Possession of Schedule III x 2, Fail to Re-Attend Court and Fail to Appear Court x 3
Week 19 – Ryan Andrew WOOD (WANTED) (Believed to be in BC, efforts on-going to execute warrant)
WOOD is wanted for Trafficking Schedule I, Fraud under $5000, Public Mischief, Fail to Comply with Recognizance x 2, Fail to Re-Attend Court x 2
He is also wanted by Hamilton Police Service for Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Schedule II, Production Schedule II – Marihuana and Fail to Re-Attend Court
Week 20 – Joshua WEEDMARK (WANTED)
Weedmark is wanted for Mischief – Interfere with Law, Mischief under $5000, Fail to Comply with Probation and Fail to Re-Attend Court
Week 21 – Christian Stuart DRENNAN (ARRESTED)
Possession of a Schedule I, Possession of Schedule II, Care or Control – Impaired, Fail to Re-Attend Court
Week 22 – Brennan HOWE-PATTISON (ARRESTED)
Assault with a Weapon, Assault, Mischief under $5000, Breach of Probation
Week 23 – Trevor Grant ADAMS (ARRESTED)
Assault with a Weapon, Assault, Mischief under $5000, Breach of Probation
Week 24 – Michael DAWE (ARRESTED)
Possession of a Weapon – Dangerous Purpose, Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon, Conspiracy to Commit and Indictable Offence, Fail to Re-Attend Court
Week 25 – Vezio CARDULLO (ARRESTED)
Theft under $5000 x 3
Week 26 – Beth MICHAUD (ARRESTED)
Fraud under $5000 x 2, Uttering Forged Documents x 2 and Fail to Appear Court x 2
Week 27 – Jordan MILLER (WANTED)
Possession of Stolen Property under $5000, Breach of Probation Order x 2
Also wanted by Brant OPP and Brantford Police
Week 28 – Donald Ray McGILL (ARRESTED)
Driving while Impaired, Driving over 80mgs, Fail to Re-Attend Court
Week 29 – Scott MacDONALD (ARRESTED)
Theft under, Fail to Comply Undertaking x 2, Fail to Comply Probation
Week 30 – Nicholas SAWADSKI (ARRESTED)
Theft under $5000, Fail to Comply Probation, Fail to Re-Attend Court
Week 31 – Samantha Rose DUNLOP (WANTED)
Theft under $5000, Fail to Comply Undertaking x 2, Fail to Comply Probation
Week 32 – JASON KEARNS (ARRESTED)
Possession of Ammunition while Prohibited, Possession of a Firearm while Prohibited, Knowledge of Unauthorized Firearm, Possession of a Prohibited/Restricted Firearm, Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, Breach of Firearms Regulation, Possession for the Purpose – Cocaine
Week 33 – Rob NELSON (ARRESTED)
Drive Impaired, Fail/Refuse Breath Sample, Fail to Appear Court
Week 34 – Benjamin BRZEZINSKI (ARRESTED)
Theft under $5000 x 2, Fail to Comply Probation x 4
Week35 – Kerry Lee HENWOOD (WANTED)
Theft under $5000 x 3, Use of Credit Card x 7
HENWOOD is also wanted by Hamilton Police Service for Fraud under $5000 x 7
There are numerous people who continue to evade the police and the court system and continue to live out in our communities while having a warrant for their arrest in place. Every Friday, the Burlington Offender Management Unit will share information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual.
The police share “Fugitive Friday” information on their website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
“The 2015 Fugitive Friday project has been a success as the sharing of information publicly has led to numerous wanted person being arrested and brought to court to answer to the charges against them. It is due to our concerned community, those that helped spread the wanted information via social media, that we have affected 23 arrests out of 37 wanted persons” said Detective Constable Calvin Bulbrook, the officer who brought the idea to Burlington..
Anyone who may have witnessed these wanted persons or has information that would assist investigators in locating them are encouraged to contact D/C Bulbrook – Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Offender Management Team at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2346 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).
Comment on the Fugitive Friday initiative and the role media plays.
By Pepper Parr
January 8th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police released the results of their Friday Fugitive initiative today – the results are impressive – 23 of the 37 people they were looking for were arrested.
Pictures of each of the wanted people, provided to us by the police, were published by the Gazette.
 Publishing this picture now is entertainment. Some of these people had very long criminal histories and would appear to still be living the life of a criminal. Several were preying on older people unable to protect themselves. Many of the people the police were looking for were wanted for failing to appear before a judge once they were released on bail.
 Is publishing this picture also entertainment – the person happens to be a very dangerous individual. The police spend a lot of time and financial resources apprehending the people wanted for committing criminal acts. They get to court and are released on bail – which means the police have to go looking for them all over again.
 Jails are expensive places to operate. Should we jail people who fail to appear for a court hearing? If we don’t – what happens to public respect for the justice system? Keep them in jail would seem to be the sensible thing to do. Problem with that is keeping people in jail is an expensive proposition. The criminal justice system seems to prefer to let them out and then have them re-arrested. Cheaper – but it also impacts on the respect the public has for the criminal justice system. For the rule of law to be effective there has to be strong public respect for that rule of law. Without it – we slide into anarchy and that is not a pretty picture.
 Commonly called “super max” it is a provincial jail in Penetang where dangerous people are kept for long periods o time. There are frequent riots at this jail. We are a civilized society with some very intelligent people working at the justice ministry – the public deserves to have the problem of how we handle people who consistently fail to appear in court when they are released on bail.
Our member of the provincial legislature might want to tackle this problem and see what she can get done.
As we reviewed the Fugitive Friday initiative, looking at the pictures of the people the police wanted to apprehend we were struck by the number of very young men who had run afoul of the law. Some of them were not much beyond boys and we wondered if we were serving a useful purpose by publishing their pictures know that once on the internet they are there for a long time – a long long time.
The Gazette has heard from several of those the police arrested in the past asking us to take down their picture. Is that our role?
Are we to be the judges of whose picture stays up and whose picture does not remain in the public domain?
One young man had several people write on his behalf – and we took the picture off the internet – but that really isn’t the role media plays.
At some point some prominent personality will have a relative or a family member that got themselves into a spot of trouble, made it into the media and asked if we could just quietly delete what was written.
It troubles us – is that our role? We don’t think so.
Do we remove all those who have been arrested and just keep those the police are still looking for?
Whose interests did we serve by publishing the results of the 2015 Fugitive Friday successes?
Do we know if the people who were wanted were actually found guilty?
What if they were acquitted – do we have the right to keep the “wanted by the police” information on the Gazette web site?
By Pepper Parr
January 8th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Is here a threat to the nascent growth that has been percolating in the cultural field in Burlington?
Last year there were a number of events that took place which added to the health of local culture – one being the national Culture Days initiative that was developed to create a source of information on events taking place across the country and to promote those events.
Local artists could post their event and communities were encouraged to work locally with artists from every discipline possible.
 Donna Grandid, a noted Burlington artists was front and center during a recent Culture Days event. Burlington climbed aboard the Culture Days train last year and the year before that and the sense was that the city would continue to put resources into the event.
Apparently the city isn’t going to have any staff working on the Culture Days initiative in 2016.
Why not ? – the view appears to be that if artists want the event to happen – then let them make it happen.
Burlington’s growth as a cultural destination is not yet at the point where it can fly on its own; it is going to need nurturing for a number of years.
Burlington has a manager of culture events who has some support from a part time assistant. There are times when culture file gets very busy and additional support is needed.
 Angela Paparizo and Trevor Copp – both strong advocates for a more robust Burlington with a higher cultural profile. Angela Paparizo is the manager of culture events and was reporting to the one general manager the city had. It isn’t clear yet who Paparizo will report to now that the city no longer has any general managers. The understanding is that city manager James Ridge now chairs the Cultural Action Plan implementation committee.
There was some talk that the culture file will move back into Parks and Recreation where it languished for years.
Culture and sports are two different animals and in Burlington they have not mixed very well in the past.
Fortunately for the arts crowd, the city is in the process of finalizing its operations budget – this is the time for the arts community to delegate and ensure that the gains they have made do not get lost while the city manager figures out what he wants in the way of an organizational structure.
Ridge is focused on getting a Strategic Plan in place; getting a budget approved and then getting back to the Official Plan review that sort of got put on hold.
While there is a Cultural Action Plan along with a Committee to implement that plan, other than the city manager’s blessing it doesn’t appear to have much more propelling it.
The Strategic Plan has cultural arms and legs sticking out all over the place – but as one commentator put it – is the city going to walk the talk?
There is that old phrase that reporters use when they want to figure out what’s going on – follow the money.
How much has been allocated to culture? And then where are the human resources to support what has to be done if culture is to get to the point where it has lift off.
The city has an excellent Performing Arts Centre that has experienced several years of strong successes; the Art Gallery has new leadership – the Museums are still there with Ireland House is a sterling example of how local history can be made part of the cultural scene. Poor Joseph Brant is not getting the same treatment – but with different leadership that too might change.
 Maureen Barry, CEO of the Burlington Public Library and a consummate professional has overseen the move deeper into electronic media yet keeping real books on shelves. There is a clear cluster of cultural nodes in this city – they need to be pulled together and given strong executive leadership.
Who could do that – Maureen Barry – she will shoot me for saying this – but she is one of the best executives we have in the city with a better big picture of culture than anyone else on the horizon.
That’s just an opinion.
 By Staff
January 7, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The suspect vehicle in this matter has been located in the area of Woodland Avenue and New Street in Burlington.
Shortly before 12:00 PM on this date, an observant citizen located the vehicle unoccupied and contact police.
The vehicle involved was reported stolen to the Stratford Police Service. The theft and subsequent fail to remain are still under investigation.
Halton Regional Police are seeking public assistance in locating a vehicle involved in a hit and run that occurred at 1225 Fairview Street in Burlington.
On January 6th 2016 shortly after 3:10 PM, an unknown male operating a blue Chevrolet Silverado dually 4X4 with stolen licence plates, cut off another motorist which resulted in the motorist following the pickup truck to a mall parking lot where it came to a stop.
 As the motorist was about to exit his vehicle, the dually suddenly reversed into the other vehicle at a significant speed to cause considerable damage including airbag deployment.
The pickup truck then fled the lot and was last seen travelling west on Fairview Street towards Maple Avenue.
The suspect driver is described as a white male, 35 to 44 years of age, 190lbs, average build, scruffy brown hair, teeth are stained and possibly missing a tooth. He was wearing a black baseball hat, light and dark brown leather jacket.
Anyone with information that would assist in locating the suspect vehicle or identifying the suspect are encouraged to contact Constable Phil Bibawi at 905 825-4747 extension 2305 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-TIPS (8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Staff
January 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board has welcomed 12 Syrian students in Milton, Oakville and Burlington since December of 2015.
The Board has been advised an additional 13 students are expected to arrive in the coming weeks. While Halton Region is not among the seven communities designated to receive federally-sponsored Syrian refugees, the Board anticipates more refugees will be arriving in the coming months as Halton is a location of choice for many privately sponsored refugees.
 Syrian children at a refugee camp in Jordan learning something about Canada. Halton, and Ontario, are home to one of the most diverse populations in the world, where generations have come to build new lives. According to the Halton Multicultural Council (HMC Connections), approximately 100 refugees are welcomed to Halton on an annual basis. The current commitment to resettle Syrian refugees will increase the number of those settling in Halton in 2016.
To date, the Halton District School Board has supported the settlement and inclusion of refugees into our elementary and secondary schools and communities through our Welcome Centre, located inside Gary Allan High School in Milton (the former E.C. Drury High School) at 215 Ontario St South.
“We are pleased that in our own small way, we are contributing to the much needed aid of those who have lived through and continue to face great challenges in their homeland, says Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support our Federal and Provincial governments in this humanitarian cause.”
 City hall staff refugee fund very close to its target. The following actions are being taken by the Halton District School Board to ensure a successful transition for Syrian refugees:
• With support from, and in consultation with, the Ministry of Education and the Federal government, the Halton District School Board will help settle Syrian refugees and integrate them into our communities, through our Welcome Centre, and into our elementary and secondary schools.
• All students who are new to the Halton District School Board and who speak a language other than English as their first language visit the Welcome Centre as their point of entry to receive settlement supports and academic assessments.
• The Halton District School Board’s School Programs department is developing English Literacy Development (ELD) and English as a Second Language (ESL) programming and instructional supports and resources for teachers.
• ESL instructional program leaders, in coordination with the Welcome Centre and schools, will support classroom learning and co-curricular experiences in academically appropriate and culturally responsive and relevant approaches. Examples of some resources developed include Q&A scenario-based documents, lesson plans appropriate to English Proficiency Assessment levels and entry points within the grade and subject curriculum, Arabic specific teaching tools and lessons to include all students in literacy learning through Arabic/English translation.
• A central resource teacher will be assigned to assist with the process of coordinating support for schools for ESL and ELD students. Based on volume and levels of language proficiency, schools may need assistance in integrating refugee students.
• School administrators will attend professional learning sessions with their ESL/ELD teachers to learn about targeted and focused supports for welcoming students and families, engaging newcomer families into school life, and developing a support network to enhance and enrich the learning experiences and inclusion of all newcomers in their communities.
• Ongoing support for all newcomers to the Halton District School Board includes orientation programs about the Ontario educational system and requirements. Newcomers are also provided information about the processes and programs specific to the Halton District School Board, the provision of interpretation services, as well as the translation of Board and school documents. Furthermore, information about parent and student engagement through Community Connects programming is available to promote academic success and social and emotional health.
• Many schools are engaged in initiatives to support Syrian refugees as they arrive and continue to grow and learn and become members of our Halton communities. For example, Oodenawi Public School in Oakville has developed ‘play kits’ to provide to students when they arrive at the Welcome Centre. The Halton Learning Foundation provides donations to students in need, including Syrian refugees.
The city of Burlington staff have created a fund to support a refugee family – they are very close to their objective.
 By Staff
January 6th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Arms Reach is a video installation by Jenn E Norton that depicts a haptic labyrinth.
 Jenn E. Norton, Arms Reach, 35 minute, video installation, 2016. Pain, tactility, and thermoception are guides in this maze that can only be solved through touch, accompanied by a haunting score by musician Bry Webb of the Constantines.
Jenn E. Norton’s Arms Reach on now at AGB until January 31, 2016
The work is in the RBC Community Gallery.
Jenn E. Norton, Arms Reach, 35 minute, video installation, 2016.
 By Staff
January 6th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Siemens Canada recently provided $155,000 worth of refurbished computer laptops and programming licences, as well as volunteer support towards educational activities for the Halton District School Board.
 Laptops donated to Halton students – software included. Siemens partnered with Corporations for Community Connections (CFCC), a Canadian charity specializing in the refurbishment and charitable distribution of donated decommissioned corporate computers, to provide 140 refurbished laptops to the Board. All donated laptops were prepared and tested during CFCC workshops, primarily staffed by Siemens volunteers at the end of November.
Laptops will support elementary and secondary schools. Eighty of them will be used in the elementary Robotics program in 16 elementary schools while the remaining 60 laptops will be used to support Technological Design courses and upcoming Robotics projects at secondary schools. The laptops will also assist in preparing students for the Architectural and Mechanical CADD competitions in the Halton Skills Competition.
Dave Lewis, Coordinator, Instructional Program Leader for Technological Education for the Halton District School Board said “ “We are excited for the Siemens contribution as the laptop donation will support STEM learning at elementary and secondary school levels,”
“We also look forward to using the Siemens-provided software in our classrooms and hope to explore new possibilities in 3-D design.”
 Oooops!
It happens.
Mistakes get made.
Some of the dates for the public meetings on the Strategic Plan were changed – and we missed updating our data base.
Earlier today we published a list of dates that were incorrect.
Sorry – the correct dates are set out below.
Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016
Robert Bateman High School
5151 New St.
Cafeteria
7 – 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016
Burlington Senior Centre
2285 New St.
Multi-purpose Room
7 – 9 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 18, 2016
LaSalle Park Pavilion
50 North Shore Blvd. E.
Main Hall (upper level)
7 – 9 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 18, 2016
Mountainside Recreation Centre
2205 Mount Forest Dr.
Community Room 2
7 – 9 p.m.
 By Staff
January 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Another FIRST!
The Halton District School Board will be hosting its 2016 FIRST – For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology this Saturday, January 9, 2016.
 Will it work? The level of concentration is intense. Approximately 450 students, teachers, community mentors and parents are expected to attend the Saturday, January 9, 2016 kickoff, starting at 9:00 am at the New Street Education Centre (3250 New Street, Burlington). Students and mentors will receive this year’s robotic challenge and will have six weeks to build their team’s robot before taking it to competitions across North America.
During the January 9 event, Siemens Canada, a key sponsor of the Halton District School Board’s Robotics program, will be recognized for its continued involvement.
 These are the students that are going to come up with the ideas that will make this planet a better place to live on – won’t they? The Board will also unveil a new partnership with ArcelorMittalDofasco, on a new Advanced Manufacturing program that will start in September 2016 at M. M. Robinson High School. The program is aimed at encouraging students to consider employment in the skilled trades, and engineering and technologies sectors.
 By Pepper Parr
January 5th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The city is getting close to having a Strategic Plan it will take to Council for approval.
Strategic Plans are created by each Council which they use to set out what they plan to do during their tem of office.
Traditionally a Strategic Plan is to cover the term of office for the city council that created the document.
This time around council has stretched the document to cover a twenty-five year time frame – however any future council I not committed to anything a previous council put in place.
The 2011 Strategic Plan was a relatively strong document, especially when compared to those done previously which were not much more than a collection of nice pictures and a lot of fluffy rhetoric.
 Members of city council, staff and people from the Region took part in the discussion and debate on the several drafts of the Strategic Plan that the public now gets to comment on. The draft plan which has gone through a number of drafts with significant changes made at each version. Much of the creation of the document this time around was done by the consultants. KPMG, the city hired to work with them. The consultants would listen, prepare a document and bring it back for solid discussion and debate.
The version the public will see is the draft that members of council are content with for the most part. Now they want to hear what the citizen’s wants to say about the document.
Residents from across Burlington are invited to attend one of four upcoming open houses; the first has already taken place. There are three scheduled for January:
Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016
Robert Bateman High School
5151 New St.
Cafeteria
7 – 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016
Burlington Senior Centre
2285 New St.
Multi-purpose Room
7 – 9 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 18, 2016
LaSalle Park Pavilion
50 North Shore Blvd. E.
Main Hall (upper level)
7 – 9 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 18, 2016
Mountainside Recreation Centre
2205 Mount Forest Dr.
Community Room 2
7 – 9 p.m.
 By Staff
January 5, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Conservation has told us what we kind of figured out on our own – winter is here!
And the good folks at Glen Eden want everyone to know that the snowmaking team is making snow and expect to have the hill set to open this Friday, January 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
 Glen Eden expects to have five lifts open for Friday. Glen Eden is anticipating having five lifts and eight runs open for the weekend. There will be a Terrain Park setup as well for the snowboarders.
Additional details will be posted later this week.
The Tube Park will not be open this weekend at Glen Eden, more information on that later in the week.
“We’re still making snow for a good portion of this week and the goal is to have as many runs and terrain open as we can for our opening this weekend,” said Sean Durkin, Manager Glen Eden.
 All downhill from here. Glen Eden is home to one of the largest Snow Schools in Ontario, with a wide selection of programs from classic Core Programs to a new spin on specialty programs that are now part of the Academy Programs. Visit the Glen Eden website, www.gleneden.on.ca, or call Visitor Services at 905-878-5011, ext. 1221, for more information.
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.
By Staff
January 5th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton Regional Police take impaired driving very seriously.
Impaired driving by both alcohol and drug is a costly risk many drivers continue to take. Officers take an aggressive approach to combat impaired driving throughout the year and work in close partnership with M.A.D.D. Halton Region Chapter to Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere.
 Police doing RIDE checks. Arrests were lower this year. In the month of December, during the busy festive holiday season, impaired driving education and enforcement was increased in an effort to keep our roads and our communities safe.
Throughout the Halton Region, 31 impaired driving arrests were made in December 2015, a number down 45% from the previous year which resulted in 56 impaired driving arrests.
With just over 15,000 vehicles checked through our RIDE stops, there were 46 three-day suspensions issued, which is a result of blowing a “warn” on the alcohol screening device. This is a 65% increase from 28 in 2014.
Impaired driving arrests are down; people driving within the warning range are up. Are people getting the message?
The Regional Police did not provide a breakdown of the charges that were laid in each municipality.
 By Pepper Parr
January 5th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Speeding and aggressive driving are the top complaints by residents in the Halton Region, according to the Regional Police.
Officers work diligently to educate drivers about the dangers of bad driving behaviour and conduct enforcement to ensure people are getting the message. The province’s Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act requires drivers to be more patient and alert when driving through busy pedestrian intersections.
On January 1, 2016, drivers in Ontario will have to wait until a pedestrian has reached the other side of a designated school crossing or designated pedestrian crossover, or face a fine between $150.00 and $500.00 and three demerit points.
 The driver of this car would be subject to a stiff fine were the police to have been on hand. New rules are now in place. Drivers will have to stop and yield the entire width of the road to the pedestrian, instead of half the road as was previously the case. Cyclists must follow the same rules as drivers under the Highway Traffic Act, and thereby must stop and wait or face the same fine.
These rules apply at pedestrian crossovers identified with specific signs, road markings and lights – the new rules do not apply to pedestrian crosswalks at intersections with stop signs or traffic signals, unless a school crossing guard is present.
It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure our roads are the safest they can be. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians must share the road and look out for each other. Make 2016 your safest driving year yet!
Good luck on getting the cyclists to adhere to this rule.
A number of months ago, perhaps it was last year, we recall hearing a police officer tell city Councillor’s that the people they stopped for speeding on a residential street were usually found to be people who lived on the street.
Human nature – it will eventually be the end of us.
 By Staff
January 5, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The word levée a social event that now takes place on New Year’s Day goes back to this country’s colonial times.
The Lieutenant Governor’s |levee still takes place at Queen’s Park and a number of armed forces regiments hold the event.
Close to a hundred different Ontario municipalities in Ontario hold a levee but Burlington apparently has never held a levée.
The times they are a changing. On Sunday, January 10th, Burlington’s MPP Eleanor McMahon and Member of Parliament Karina Gould will officiate at a levee to be held at the Art Gallery of Burlington from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
 McMahon and Gould at the 2015 Remembrance Day ceremony. No word yet on how the two women are going to style the vent. Will they have a receiving line, will they both wear long gowns?
Will McMahon sing – she has a pretty good voice.
Will there be a military presence?
Will members of the various youth military groups be on hand?
Will there be a piper?
Gould and McMahon have an opportunity to create an event that can be colourful, historical and not the usual “borington” event.
The two woman took part in the Remembrance Day event as a team bringing a quiet dignity to the role they each played.
“In the 18th century the levée in Great Britain and Ireland became a formal court reception given by the sovereign or his/her representative in the forenoon or early afternoon. In the New World colonies the levée was held by the governor acting on behalf of the monarch. Only men were received at these events.
It was in Canada that the levée became associated with New Year’s Day. The fur traders had the tradition of paying their respects to the master of the fort (their government representative) on New Year’s Day. This custom was adopted by the Governor General and Lieutenant Governors for their levées.
 MP Karina Gould The first recorded levée in Canada was held on January 1, 1646, in the Chateau St. Louis by Charles Huault de Montmagny, Governor of New France from 1636 to 1648. In addition to wishing a happy new year to the citizens the governor informed guests of significant events in France as well as the state of affairs within the colony. In turn, the settlers were expected to renew their pledges of allegiance to the Crown.
The levée tradition was continued by British colonial governors in Canada and subsequently by both the governor general and lieutenant governors. It continues to the present day.
As mentioned, the levée was historically a male preserve but during World War II levées were attended by female officers of the armed forces. Since then levées have been open to both women and men.
Over the years the levée has become almost solely a Canadian observance.
 MPP Eleanor McMahon Today the levée has evolved from the earlier, more boisterous party into a more sedate and informal one. It is an occasion to call upon representatives of the monarch, military and municipal governments and to exchange New Year’s greetings and best wishes for the New Year, to renew old acquaintances and to meet new friends. It is also an opportunity to reflect upon the events of the past year and to welcome the opportunities of the New Year.
It will be interesting to see how Gould and McMahon fashion this event – there is an opportunity to make it colourful with a historical tweek to it.
Keep the speeches short and ensure that the Tory’s are made to feel fully welcome – this isn’t to become a Liberal event.
 By Ray Rivers
January 4th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Job number one for the new federal government will be restoring the good ship Canada.
The previous government will be remembered for its poorly (ideologically) conceived legislation which kept getting overruled by the Supreme Court. Bill -51 (police state), the (un)Fair Elections Act, the Environmental Assessment and the Fisheries acts, and the Safe Streets and Communities Act (mandatory prison sentencing) are but a sampling. Others were typically buried in omnibus legislation so as avoid scrutiny.
 The Supreme Court in Ottawa – not a Court that the Harper government was able to convince very often. It appears the government backdated authority for the RCMP to destroy gun registry records, which is improper if not illegal. This little trick was buried in one of the several omnibus bills that had everything imaginable stuffed into them; an example was the Tory’s signature law, “Ending the Long-gun Registry Act’ .
This long-gun registry has been problematic since its inception, and it is unlikely Mr. Trudeau, who once referred to the registry as a mistake, will be in any hurry to restore it.
And speaking of guns, Canadian war planes are still in action in the Middle East, something which most Canadians seem to agree with. Bringing our six planes home will not significantly affect the fight in that region, although we should be proud of our fly-boys. And it appears that IS, Daesh, ISIL or whatever they call themselves are on the run.
The real danger is that these extremists will end up diminished but not destroyed, holed up in some hideout, and like al Qaeda dropping in to spoil our party from time to time, as they did in Paris.
 How will the ballots be counted in the next federal election? Mr. Trudeau pledged to change the way we elect MP’s, thus making our current multi-party electoral system, known as First-Past-the-Post (FPP), more representative. At least 60% of electors typically vote for someone other than a Conservatives candidate. That implies that moving to a mixed member proportional system (MMP) or a preferential ballot, would ensure that the Conservative Party would never again be able to form a majority government.
Of course all bets are off if the Conservatives were to re-position themselves closer to the political centre. And of course, they could merge with the NDP and then honestly call themselves progressive-conservatives once again.
At a recent biennial policy conference the Liberal party endorsed a preferential ballot, a variation on the FPP. Voters rank their choices on the ballot and, if no candidate gets a plurality, second choices are added to the calculation until someone obtains 51% of the vote. It’s not really as complicated as I’ve made it sound, and the calculations can be done instantly by computers, even if paper ballots are marked. This option is where the smart money can be found.
Still one should never say never – except that our new PM has said never again to the very system which gave him a majority government with less than 40% of the vote. Still it was a larger share of the vote than either Harper or Chretien had obtained. So the Conservatives are demanding a national referendum. Not that Mr. Harper ever held a referendum on any of his legislation, such as the Fair Elections Act.
 Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper Perhaps our former PM understood that a referendum can be a messy business. Just look at what happened to Brian Mulroney when he rolled the dice and lost the ill-fated Charlottetown Accord. About half of Canada’s provinces have at least considered implementing MMP provincially. And B.C. and Ontario, each held a referendum, which failed to meet their critical thresholds for adoption.
Call it a communications/messaging failure by the governments or see it as a failure to win by deliberate design. The truth is that these once enthusiastic champions for electoral reform seemed to lose interest after they had become the government. Interestingly, New Zealand made the move to MMP back in the 1990’s with considerable backing by the public in their referendum campaigns. More recently the province of Ontario has announced that it will allow municipalities to use ranked/preferential ballots to determine the winners in the next local elections.
 Current Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose. Nevertheless the new Tory interim-leader is determined to block any change without first polling all Canadians, and has even threatened to use her majority in the Senate. Of course since we are a federation, Mr. Trudeau might want to obtain a sign-off from at least seven provinces comprising 50% of our population (the amending formula for the constitution) before moving forward. That would allow him to withstand a constitutional challenge in the courts, should one be forthcoming.
As for the Senate there are over 20 vacancies which need to be filled, and the government appears to be intent on filling them based on merit, and in a non-partisan fashion. Meanwhile Senator Duffy’s days are almost certainly numbered, though he’ll likely escape with a slap on the wrist. The core of the problem, which even he concedes, is that he should never have been appointed to represent PEI in the first place.
Provincial plans and national targets for climate changing emission reductions will be addressed early this year. And if they are smart, the federal government will work to integrate the various provincial programs into a national framework, including any ‘cap and trade’ or other carbon tax provincial programs.
It is inevitable that there will have to be new incentives for individuals and enterprises to cut emissions, plant trees, etc.. So if you are looking to make renovations to that draughty house or contemplating buying a new car, like me, it might be prudent to wait a few months. And to help pay for these financial incentives expect to see some kind of carbon tax as well as a national cap and trade program. And what about Ontario’s converting its high occupancy vehicles (HOV) lanes into a tollroad – just a teaser or a harbinger of what waits for all of us?
Below are my expectations of what is coming and the probability of occurrence.
• Electors in Saskatchewan will re-elect Brad Wall (60%)
• Electors in Manitoba will vote for a change (70%)
• Ontario will kick off major infrastructure building program (100%)
• Canadian dollar will stay low benefiting Ontario businesses (80%)
• Continued low oil prices will see Alberta trade places with Ontario as ‘have’ provinces (90%)
• A lower dollar will lead to inflation and higher interest rates (60%)
• Ontario pension plan will be a pilot project and rolled into CPP (60%)
• Income taxes will become more progressive at both upper levels of government (50%)
• US electors will get a new president and it won’t be the Donald (100%)
• Eastern Europe will become more tense as Russia/Ukraine conflict continues (90%)
• There will be proxy wars in the middle east between Iran and Sunni Muslim states (80%)
• UK will prepare for BREXIT referenda in 2017 (100%) and stay in EU (60%)
• Canada’s Conservatives move to the middle and prepare for new leader in 2017 (60%)
• Globe and Mail ahead of me (great minds…) with this kind of story (100%)
• I’m going to take a break for a month or so (100%)
 Rivers will read the newspaper rather than write for it as he takes a well earned break. Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province. Rivers is no longer active with any political party.
Background links:
Gun Registry Screw-Up Gun Registry Charlottetown FPP
MMP in New Zealand Democratic Reform Ranked Ballots Ontario Looking Forward More Looking Forward
Even More Looking Forward
Food Prices 2016 Big Issues 2016
Tax Avoidance G&M Predictions
By Staff
January 4th. 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board is accepting registrations for Junior and Senior Kindergarten for September 2016.
 You start the process by dropping by or calling your designated elementary school to find out which dates have been established for Kindergarten registration. Parents are asked to register their children by February 5, 2016. Access to the school library is provided after a student is registered.
Please bring the following original documents when registering:
Proof of address (any two of the following current documents): lease or deed, car registration, property tax bill, utility bill, residential telephone bill, moving bill, health card, bank statement, credit card statement, correspondence with a government agency
Proof of age: birth certificate, passport or baptismal/faith document for your child.
Proof of citizenship: birth certificate or passport or Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Permanent Resident card.
Proof of immunization, or philosophical or religious exemption forms – (completed medical authorization where necessary).
If you are not the child’s parent, or if you have sole custody, please bring proof of custody (court order).
To register for Fall 2016, Junior Kindergarten children must be 4 years old by December 31, 2016, and Senior Kindergarten children must be 5 years old by December 31, 2016.
To determine your designated home school, access our website, www.hdsb.ca and click the ‘Find A School’ button located on the right-hand side of the webpage.
If you require language assistance registering your student for school, please contact the Halton Multicultural Council at 905-842-2486. Parents should contact the
Principal/Vice-principal if they require accessibility accommodations in order to register their child for Kindergarten.
To learn more about the Halton District School Board’s Full Day Kindergarten program, visit www.hdsb.ca or click here.
By Staff
January 4th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton Regional Police Toys for Tots Campaign Gives Thanks to our Generous Communities
The Halton Regional Police 2015 Toys for Tots campaign is celebrating its most successful year collecting $345,486.93 in toys, gift cards, books, cash and food. The donations benefited over 4200 families throughout the Halton Region over the Christmas season. This amazing success is due to the overwhelming generosity of our residents, businesses, schools and sports teams who make up our compassionate communities, thank you.
 Celebrating the 2015 Halton Regional Police Toys for Tots Christmas Drive Halton Regional Police are grateful for the support of the following community partners:
Burlington Lions Optimist Minor Hockey Association (BLOMHA) who raised more than $48,000. A Big thank you to parent Rep Shari Carruthers for spearheading this massive collection.
A $100,000 anonymous donation of toys from a local corporation.
ASL Distribution for a $10,000 donation of Lego.
Other community partners who made significant contributions included the Halton Catholic and Halton District elementary schools, Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, Budds, St Mildreds-Lightborn School, Rotherglen School, Oakville Christian Academy, TD/Canada Trust, Longo’s Fruit Market, Sobeys, Great Canadian Superstore, Mandarin Restaurant, Halton Honda, Shakers Smokehouse, East sides Auto Group and the Tiger Jeet Singh Foundation.
In 2015, Civilian and Uniform members of the Halton Regional Police Service graciously contributed their own time and personal funds to assist in the campaign again. Members collected over $40,000 in cash and toys at Canadian Tire locations and donated over $5800 through individual fundraisers and the uniform platoon challenge.
Police Chief Stephen Tanner remarked “Through the Toys for Tots program, the Halton Regional Police Service worked in partnership with the communities we serve to deliver a message of hope for young people during the holiday season. Toys for Tots’ continued success would not be possible if not for the compassion, dedication and commitment of our community, partners and our employees. On behalf of myself, the Deputy Chiefs, senior leadership team and all the Halton Regional Police Service members, thank you”.
By Staff
January 4th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Every school in the Halton District School Board with Grade 1 classes will be running parent sessions in January to provide information about Grade 1 programming.
Parents of Senior Kindergarten students are encouraged to check with their child’s school for specific dates. These information sessions will enable parents to learn about the transitions from an early learning environment to a Grade 1 classroom.
 During these information sessions, principals and teachers will share information about the classroom learning approaches used for reading, mathematics concepts and French language instruction in Grade 1.
Understanding the reading and writing learning expectations for Grade 1 students is important information for all parents as it supports them in helping their children at home. Parents will also learn more about the school activities and support systems available for students.
Information evenings are as follows:
On January 12, 13 or 14, 2016 English Program, Single Track Schools will run their information sessions (Parents are asked to check with their child’s school for dates).
On January 12, 13 or 14, 2016 English and French Immersion Dual Track schools will run their information sessions. (Parents are asked to check with their child’s school for dates).
On January 20 or 21, 2016, French Immersion Single Track schools will host an information session.
Grade 1 French Immersion registration begins on January 22. Forms are posted on www.hdsb.ca. arents must submit their registration forms to their home school no later than Friday, Feb. 5 2016.
By Staff
January 4th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It does sort of look official – but it isn’t.
 If you see this in your electronic mail box – just delete it. The Canada Revenue Agency does not use email to communicate with people about their tax matters.
The rule when you see something in your email inbox is simple – if it looks suspicious – it probably is. If in doubt – don’t.
 By Walter Byj
January 1, 2105
BURLINGTON, ON
The six new trustees elected to the Halton District School Board, out of a total of 11, had to accelerate get through a steep learning curve when they found themselves faced with a number of issues that were the legacy of previous boards.
As in the past, the HDSB trustees were model administrators and conducted day to day business in an efficient manner. The introduction of the new Health and Education Curriculum was carefully studied by both the trustees and staff and with the assurance of proper training for the teaching staff the new curriculum was introduced to Halton students with little fanfare.
New schools were built in Oakville and Milton and even though lead time was far from ideal, the schools were built on time with few inconveniences. With the Close the Gap project, the board continued to upgrade older schools so that students would have the same classroom benefits the newer schools have; air conditioning and better access to wifi and library services.
Through the Long Tern Accommodation Plan, they reviewed the status of the various schools within Halton and realized that although Halton as a region had a growing population with the requirement of additional schools, there were areas, such as the south of Burlington, where school attendance was falling and consolidation of schools may need to take place.
 Pineland Public School There were other issues that although identified in 2015 that will be resolved 2016 if not later.
The first thorny issues the trustees faced was the decision that Pineland school be converted to a totally French Immersion school thereby disrupting the ideal of having a community school that served the needs of all those in the neighbourhood. Instead, Pineland was to become a school that was now serving a large swath of students in the south of Burlington who were bused in while those in the immediate neighbourhood would now need to go to a school that was originally outside their boundary.
A numbers game was played justifying the change, but the numbers game were in part a reflection of previous decisions when the French Immersion program was introduced in Halton. No one can ever predict the success of any program, but French Immersion has exceeded expectations to the point where it is now negatively affecting the English program at the elementary level.
The board has formed the Program Viability Committee to fully review and with input from the public provide a solution for upcoming years. As noted before, this will not go down easy in parts of Halton.
Getting to and from school has become problematic within the Halton region. After ceding to the various demands such as larger, friendlier parking lots and curved laneways from both the municipality and public, our schools have become extremely car friendly, resulting in congestion on a regular basis. Combined with one of the more liberal school busing programs, the board is now reviewing how it can encourage more students to use active transportation (walking and biking) as a method of getting to school.
This will continue to be a hot issue for 2016 with potential of much debate.
In January, the board faced the issue of start times for elementary and secondary students. Reviewing studies that stated that school times for secondary students, in some cases are starting too early, the board wanted to alter the start times of secondary students so that the students could have a later start time. However, after much debate and research change would not be easy.
 Any change in school start times would be a logistical nightmare for the bus schedules With many students (elementary and secondary) using school transportation, any change to school times for secondary could affect the start times of elementary students.
Also, the HDSB shares school busing with the Catholic board. A change for one would require the co-operation of the other or face the possibility of going alone. To date, no changes have yet occurred.
The board did question the viability of using public schools as polling stations for the various municipal, provincial and federal elections. The potential for harm to students was the genesis of this review. It is currently in the embryonic stage but ideas such as potential weekend voting have been raised. Any solution would require all three levels of government so do not expect any quick solution on this one.
 David Euale gives retirement a third try – seems to have succeeded this time. In February, after five years as Director of Education, David Euale announced his retirement, effective August 31st, much to the chagrin of the board and staff. With the mandate of finding the best possible replacement, the board started a provincial wide search for a new director. At times like this, some argue that new blood from outside is at times necessary to stimulate and add a different perspective.
 Stuart Miller; Director o Education, Halton District School Board The board decided to promote within and Associate Director of Education Stuart Miller was hired as the new Director of Education. Director Miller is highly respected by both staff and the board and is highly qualified to face the challenges of 2016.
In a thriving democracy, people who are voted into any office are there as representatives of the total population and bring the voice and desires of the mass to an elected body. This would include the highest level in the country, the Canadian Parliament, to elected members of our various school boards. These bodies set out to create policies for not only the immediate future, but also for years in the future. These decisions can lead to the success or potential problems if issues are not properly vetted. So how does the Halton District School Board stack up?
In Burlington, one of the trustees, Amy Collard, was acclaimed while two others, Andrea Grebenc and Richelle Papin received 12% and 13% of registered voters. Leah Reynolds received 17% of registered voters. Based on the number of votes cast, all three were close to or over 50%.
 Is one of these two going to follow the other? Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward and school board trustee Leah Reynolds. There is a “geezer” in ward 2 who would like to upset that apple cart. The low turnout is not their fault, they elected to run and it may not be the public’s fault as they themselves may not be familiar with the issues. However, we are electing a group of people to oversee an annual budget of close to $700 million and yet do not vet our candidates. The trustees themselves are not representative of the community as all are female, a rarity in Ontario. This in no way disqualifies them, but once again is not representative. In addition, the majority of trustees are not reflective of the population base within parts of Halton.
There are many within Halton, specifically Burlington that no longer have children attending school. This includes the growing senior’s population. Trustees communicate often with parents within the system but one wonders how often those without children have any input into the decision making process of the board.
With the province of Ontario in a huge deficit position, the flow of money to the public is being reduced and all organizations will need to be creative in finding solutions to limited funding and all citizens need to be included in the process.
 Walter Byj: education reporter. Walter Byj has been the Gazette reporter on education for more than a year. He is a long-time resident of the city and as a parent has in the past delegated to the school board.
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