 By Staff
November 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On November 13th 2015, the Halton Regional Police, Burlington Strategic Support Team (SST), concluded a drug trafficking investigation that resulted in three arrests and the execution of Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a Burlington residence.
Seized as a result of the Investigation:
• 59 grams of cocaine
• 428 grams of marihuana)
• 11 grams of cannabis resin/ hashish , also known as “shatter”
• $2940.00 in cash.
The drugs have an estimated street value of $ 10,500.00
The following persons have been charged:
Robert David EMERY (25 yrs) of Burlington (Released on Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 22nd 2015)
• Trafficking a controlled substance (cocaine),
• Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) for the purpose of trafficking,
• Possession of a controlled substance (marihuana) – under 30 grams
Cole SIROIS (22 yrs) of Burlington (Released on Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 22nd 2015)
• Possession of a controlled substance, (marihuana) for the purpose of trafficking,
• Possession of a controlled substance (cannabis resin) for the purpose of trafficking,
Aaron MACISAAC (22 yrs) of Burlington (Released on Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 15th 2015)
• Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).
Investigators remind the public to utilize Crime Stoppers to report any illegal drug, gun or gang activity at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes)
Assuming the federal government decides to get into the distribution of marihuana – how will the police handle drug raids?
 By Pepper Parr
November 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Your city council just might be doing some thinking and getting prepared to issue some kind of a statement on just why and how the ADI Development group application for both an Official Plan change and a zoning change was managed.
 Twenty six storeys on a very small lot – city council didn’t manage to formally vote against the development. When development applications are made the city has 180 days within which to respond. This time line is in place because at one point some municipalities sat on development applications they didn’t like. Now they have to respond within 180 days.
When that time line was passed ADI took their application to the Ontario Municipal Board and asked them to make the decision the city didn’t appear to want to make.
 This is is the lot a developer wants to build a structure that will reach 26 storeys into the sky. Tom Muir, an Aldershot resident, wanted to know why the city council did not vote on the application within that 180 day time frame.
He put his question to the ward Councillor and didn’t get a response. He then put the question to the Mayor and the city manager and included the ward Councillor who did get back to him.
The Mayor also got back to Muir asking for some patience and said he would get back to Muir with a “meaningful response”.
Muir never did hear from the Mayor other than to be copied on a comment he made to Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward. The developmental, to be built at the intersection of Martha Lakeshore Road is in ward 2.
John Was, another Burlington resident advised the Gazette “that all six councillors have been asked for a response regarding the 180 day timeline. The resident was also kind enough to say that our “efforts and persistence are appreciated”. At least two people like us
The one response that Was did get is disturbing:
It went as follows:
“I think Council is accountable for the end result, but responsibility for administrating this file rests with the Planning and Legal Departments.”
We have deliberately not identified the writer of that statement but will say that it was neither Councillor Meed Ward nor the Mayor.
The balance of the response went as follows:
“I still do not have a satisfactory explanation of why the timing requirements were not met and I also don’t have a complete understanding of the consequences of the late submission. I will respond back further when I have those questions answered.”
 Which member of this council does not have “a complete understanding of the consequences of the late submission.” The response is astounding – one of your elected official does not seem to know what may well turn out to be a very expensive Ontario Municipal Board hearing that has to potential to change significantly the way the eastern part of the downtown core works.
We will leave it to the Council member to identify himself.
On the same issue – it appears that there are efforts being made to put together something in the way of a response to the public.
Muir adds that he is “concerned that this has been going too long already, and the information being prepared appears to be for unspecified questions.” He adds: “How long is this information going to take to get to residents?
Meed Ward did say to Muir that the “city is preparing some additional information for residents in response to some of the questions that have been raised. Suggest waiting for that to determine if and whether additional correspondence or a meeting needed.”
What no one can understand is – what’s the problem? And why all this obfuscation?
 By Pepper Parr
November 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Keeping the natives happy seems to be easier said than done.
Aldershot resident Tom Muir is still spinning his wheels over the answers he isn’t getting on the development application made by the ADI Group for a 26 storey building at the intersection of Martha and Lakeshore Road.
Now Vince Fiorito is wondering why his discovery of what he thinks is toxic material discovered in Sheldon Creek is not being looked into.
 Vince Fiorito on a tour of the Sheldon Creek when the waters were high. Fiorito wrote MPP’s Eleanor McMahon (Burlington) and Indira Naidoo-Harris, (Halton) and Mayor Rick Goldring.
Fiorito had strong environmental credentials – he was named the Steward for Sheldon Creek by the Halton Conservation Authority. In his most recent email to the above named he said:
“This is a status update, regarding a dump site that I discovered in the Sheldon Creek flood plain adjacent to a residential neighborhood near 1829 Creek Way, Burlington, Ontario”
Fiorito had taken his concern to the provincial Ministry of the Environment. When he followed up with them he was told “the MOE considers this case to be closed even though as far as I know nothing has been done about this site and nothing is planned to be done.”
Fiorito, who documents rather well, provided pictures of the material he discovered and said he “estimates the site covers 1000+ square meters. The depth of material buried at this site is unknown. What is buried at this site is unknown. This site is also full of sharp metal objects and broken glass.
 A Burlington resident doesn’t know what these chemicals are – no one seems to be concerned. This site is next to a residential neighborhood full of children and apparently near the residence of McMahon the Burlington MPP.
Fiorito discovered this site in the Sheldon Creek flood plain next to a residential neighborhood about a year ago. At the time, he considered this site to be yet another dump site, like many others that Friends of Sheldon Creek has discovered and cleaned up.
He organized a volunteer clean-up of this site on June 27, 2015; David Hulsman from the Field and Stream Rescue Team showed up to help. The two of us started cleaning up the site and dragging trash to the curb.
 Rusted out drums and some equipment were found in Sheldon Creek – Burlington resident Vince Fiorito wants to know how it got there and what is being done to remove it. so far he claims nothing is being done. They halted their activities out of concern for their personal safety, when Hulsman found two pesticide containers indicating that the site could be a toxic waste dump.
Fiorito immediately contacted the MOE spill hot line to report this site. The MOE opened a file (case # 2784-9XVMEM) and contacted the city for follow up. City staff couldn’t find the site and they contacted Fiorito.
 Vince Fiorito, the Steward for Sheldon Creek discovered what he fears are toxic chemicals in the Sheldon Creek flood plain and cannot understand why neither the province, the local MPP or the Mayor have not moved on this – they were alerted five months ago. On Monday June 29th, 2015, Fiorito guided Gary Glenn of the City of Burlington to the site. He agreed that this site appeared to be a problem. The two agreed that the site appeared to be decades old and that it looked like someone dug a big hole, dumped suspicious looking barrels, drums and containers into it, and then buried it. We were unable to determine the scale of the problem, because when we lifted up a barrel or sheet of metal, we could only see more barrels and metal underneath, indicating that this could be a deep hole.
“I expected the government would follow this problem up until it was resolved and keep me informed. But after four months of silence and no sign of activity at this site, I decided to follow this case up.
“I went to the MOE website for information about case # 2784-9XVMEM. As far as I can tell, the MOE has no way for the public to search for information on a reported spill by case number.
“I tried to file a request for information but got an error message. Finally I called the spill hot line, where I was able to get help. The operator told me that according to the file:
• I reported the site with contact information
• The MOE contacted the city
• The city couldn’t find the site and was going to contact me.
• The file had been closed by Karen Wassink, Senior Environmental Officer – HALTON-PEEL DISTRICT (I looked up her contact information: Phone: 905-319-3149 Email: karen.wassink@ontario.ca)
“I contacted Gary Glenn of the City of Burlington ( Gary.Glenn@burlington.ca ) for a status update. In his email reply he informed that the City of Burlington does not own that property and that it is owned by Paletta International. I have been directed to contact that Company for follow up.
Fiorito said he is “dissatisfied with the process and lack of results. I reported this problem nearly five months and absolutely nothing has been done.
“At a minimum, this site should be tested immediately to see if it is leaking dangerous chemicals. I’d like to know the results of that test as soon as they are available. If it is leaking dangerous chemicals then the public needs to be informed immediately.”
 A fish caught in the Sheldon Creek is believed to have been dinner for a local family. “Downstream, Sheldon Creek flows through a nature area, parkland and eventually into Lake Ontario, where it becomes our drinking water. This young person in my neighborhood caught a rainbow trout in Sheldon Creek. I believe he took the fish home and ate it with his family.
Fiorito who certainly knows how to jump on a high horse when he sees one said: “I feel that more than one person has behaved irresponsibly and possibly illegally. I feel that government officials have not done their duty. Their inaction after knowledge of the facts could be endangering public safety.
Fiorito continues: “If city staff have determined that Paletta International is responsible for this site, then I feel they are still responsible for following the problem up as well as keeping the MOE and myself informed. Just because I found and reported this problem, should not mean that I am responsible for ensuring its resolution. I will try to clean it up if I can, but first I need to know if the site is safe or contains toxic chemicals. We will happily remove trash, including sharp objects (Field and Stream Rescue Team has insurance, so our activities do not create any liabilities), but we are not qualified to clean up toxic chemicals.”
Fiorito is a strong believer in accountability and responsibility and points to the people he holds accountable:
 Mayor Goldring positions himself as a strong environmentalist – but so far he hasn’t delivered in the eyes of Vince Fiorito – who walks his talk. This site is in our City Mayor Rick Goldring. You should be aware of the action and inaction of city staff. I am concerned, that if this case is typical of how city staff handles environmental problems, then I have to wonder, “How many other problems like this have been reported and ignored, rather than cleaned up?”
He takes the same approach to MPP McMahon: “This site is in your neighborhood Ms McMahon. You should inform your neighbors about this problem. You should tell them that you are aware of the problem and following its progress towards resolution closely.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon hasn’t made the grade in the eyes of Vince Fiorito who points out that what he believes could be very toxic chemicals dumped in Shelden Creek close to the home of the MPP has not been given any attention. Fiorito finds himself feeling “that if I do nothing in this case, then nothing will be done. How is it possible he asks “that after I reported a problem to the responsible government agency and guided city staff to the location, where we both agreed I identified a problem, that this problem can then be ignored?
Fiorito does acknowledge that he did get an acknowledgement from the Office of the Mayor. Tom Muir, the Aldershot resident looking for detailed information on just why the city missed that 180 day deadline’ got the promise of a “meaningful response” – so far he feels all he has gotten is a lot of bafflegab.
Two effective, involved, concerned citizens spinning their wheels. Is there a trend here – is this the way the city does business.?
By Staff
November 14, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Regional police have advised media that the person responsible has now been identified as Kerry HENWOOD (54-yrs) whose last know address was in the Hamilton area. He is now wanted for three counts of theft under $5000 and 7 counts of fraudulent use of credit card under $5000.
Detectives in Burlington are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a man responsible for a series of thefts from the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital
On Sunday November 8th 2015, an unknown male suspect attended the hospital and gained access to employee areas within the hospital. The suspect stole personal items belonging to several employees.
 The same suspect later used the victim’s stolen banking cards at various retail locations in Burlington.
The suspect is described as being male, white, approximately 50 years of age, standing between 5’2″ to 5’4″ and weighing between 140-150lbs. He has short brown spiky hair and was seen wearing dark framed eyeglasses. He wore a dark coloured vest with a long sleeved shirt with gray & black horizontal stripes.
Anyone with information that would assist in this investigation is asked to contact Detective Constable Kevin Harvey at 905 825-4747 extension 2347 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
November 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On Thursday November 12th at approximately 3:40 AM, a resident on Park Avenue in Burlington woke up to find an intruder in the home.
After being discovered, the intruder quickly fled and police were called.
At approximately 5:00 AM, police responded to Spring Garden Road for a report of a male breaking into cars.
Police located and arrested a male who was found to be in possession of numerous stolen items including a PlayStation 4 that had been stolen from the Park Avenue break and enter.
Arrested and held for bail is:
Wayne Gordon PUNTER (38 yrs) of Maple Crossing Blvd. in Burlington
Charges:
Break, Enter & Theft
Possession of Break-in Instruments
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000
Theft under $5000
Breach Probation (Three counts)
Anyone with information about this investigation are asked to contact the Detective Vince Couce – Burlington – Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 ext. 2307 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Ray Rivers
November 13th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Four trucks and seven Ontario Hydro workmen arrived to replace an old hydro pole and transformer before connecting the grid to my new solar collector. A couple of hours later they packed up, leaving me with a pole that looked a lot like that tower in Pisa, and handing me a bill for almost nine thousand dollars for their efforts in installing their own pole.
Electricity started out as private enterprise. So why the fuss about selling shares in Hydro One? At the turn of the century there were entrepreneurs selling electricity and electrical appliances to replace kerosene and coal-gas lamps. Then a little later in the century politicians like Sir Adam Beck, with a bold vision, pushed for the public capital needed to harness the potential of rivers, like Niagara, and distribute the electrons created to every household and business in Ontario.
 Columnist Ray Rivers holding up a hydro poll that feeds the electricity his solar collectors gather and feed into the hydro grid. By the mid-1990’s deregulation was all the craze. Governments were busy doing their every bit to get themselves out of the business of business. Newly elected Ontario premier Mike Harris was a believer.
His plan was to deregulate the entire energy sector, break Ontario Hydro into smaller components, privatize it all, and bring in competition wherever possible. This was just common sense to him, after all.
Economics 101 tells us that monopolies can be the most efficient form of industrial organization, particularly where conditions favour a natural monopoly – for example where wires come into everyone’s home. Even the phone and cable guys, who managed to stay private, acted like monopolies.
So to deregulation’s credit, telecommunication costs did fall after Bell was required to compete and give up its monopoly.
 Mike Harris – are the mistakes many think the current Liberal government is making an extension of the mistakes Mike Harris made? But Harris hadn’t done his homework. The energy workers’ unions and the courts fought him on privatization. As his plan stalled and the costs of his deregulation spiked, he got cold feet and turned over the keys for the Pink Palace to Ernie Eves. Eves, then facing an imminent election in 2003 and huge public outcry over high rates, further subsided them and put a halt to privatization.
But there was the debt. Decades of subsidized electricity rates had left Hydro almost $40 billion in the hole and $20 billion more than could be supported by its assets (called stranded debt).
Allocation of all that debt among the new companies would have sunk them before they even started operating. And Harris, the deficit-cutter, knew that transferring $20 billion onto the existing provincial debt would have cost him the 1999 election. So every month we now pay off a little more of our parents electricity bills.
Hydro One had its growing pains, including that disastrous first CEO, Eleanor Clitheroe, who paid herself $2.2 million and otherwise acted like a drunken sailor. Today the CEO still gets close to a million bucks while over half of Hydro employees have made the sunshine list. With that kind of leadership I shouldn’t have been surprised by my bill or the seven linesmen who showed up at my place briefly.
Word is out that Hydro One turns in over $750 million to the province annually. They call it a ‘cash cow’ and I know where the milk comes from. Subsidizing government programs with electricity rates is about as regressive as it gets. That hits the poorest households and small businesses the hardest, and is hardly what we’d expect from a liberal government. And doesn’t it make a mockery of the 10% discount we get on each hydro bill – paying ourselves?
 Hydro workers clearing trees weighed down by winter ice. So how would private investors buying a chunk of the giant public corporation be such a bad thing? Hydro One is a big company and isn’t being broken up – and it isn’t even a monopoly. There are other electrical distribution entities scattered in communities all around the province.
Remember all those other guys, besides the heroes from Hydro One, who help us get through that ice storm two winters ago.
The province will hold the biggest share of Hydro One for those worried about the evils of privatization. And in any case there is still a megawatt or two of oversight and control through the Energy Board, the Independent Electricity System Operator and the Energy Minister.
The money being raised from partial privatization has already been targeted to pay for way overdue and badly need transportation infrastructure. And it looks like the public offering has exceeded expectations by already earning $5 billion.
Market investors have a perfectly safe asset in which to stick their cash. And perhaps a new board of directors can help steer a more efficient pathway for the troubled utility.
 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:
A Bone Headed Plan A Natural Monopoly
Auditor View US Restructuring NDP/Toronto Sun View
Hydro One More Hydro One Even More Hydro Bell Canda
Whether Our Electricity Local Electrical Ontario Energy Stranded Debt Hydro Sales
 By Walter Byj
November 13th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board Student Trustee don’t seem to be buying into the flipped classrooms practice.
A flipped classroom has the student doing the reading part of the assignment at home which is then followed by questions in the classroom. Some students found that more work at home was overwhelming and that the program was not effective.
Both trustee Amos (Oakville) and Collard (Burlington) requested that any notes that were received by the student trustees be passed on to the other trustees so that they could better understand how effective/ineffective flipped classes are.
The HDSB Recognition Program was presented to the board by a trio of trustees, T. Ehl Harrison (Oakville), L. Reynolds (Burlington and J. Gray (Halton Hills).
This program was created so as to implement a procedure that would allow trustees, through a nominating process, to recognize those individuals that have contributed either formally or informally to the overall educational process in Halton.
The trustees were very enthused with this new program and are looking forward as to who will be the first recipient of this award. It is a noteworthy effort to recognize those that play a significant role in the education of our students, and it is hoped that the standards for such an award will be high.
The policy is now up on the HDSB website for public input.
The provincial Education Quality and Accountability Office issued the results of the grade 9 Academic and Applied Mathematics results for Halton
The Gazette published an overview of the results which are now posted on the school boards web site.
Board Superintendent David Boag along with Nicole Jarvis (Instructional Program Leader for Mathematics) and Phil Davison (Instructional Program Leader for Literacy) lead a more detailed PowerPoint review of the EQAO report for both math and literacy. The Gazette will cover this report in detail at a future date.
 Burlington school board trustee Andrea Grebenc in an interview with Gazette education reporter Walter Byj Trustee Grebenc (Burlington) will now serve as the chairman of the communications/marketing committee. With a strong background in communications, it is hoped that one of her priorities will to revamp the current HDSB website into a more friendly and accessible format.
Director Miller then briefly mentioned that the public information presentations of the Program Viability Committee have concluded and that information sessions with the following specific groups are next on the agenda.
Parent Involvement Committee (PIC)
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
Principals/Vice Principals
Student Senate
The PVC will then prepare a parent questionnaire and develop a focus group process for December-January public consultations.
By Staff
November 13th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service, Burlington station is reaching out to the public for help locating wanted persons and hold them accountable for their actions.
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 shares information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual.
 Nicholas Christopher SAWADSKI 31 years old of, Brantford ON. 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for Nicholas Christopher SAWADSKI 31 years old of, Brantford ON.
In November 2014, the accused stole a quantity of electronic goods from a store in Burlington and was arrested and charged.
The accused failed to attend Court. Officers have made numerous attempts to locate the accused with negative results and a Warrant has been issued for his arrest.
He is wanted by Halton Regional Police for:
Theft under $5000
Fail to Comply Probation
Fail to Re-attend Court
SAWADSKI is described as 5’7”, 165 lbs with short brown hair and brown eyes. SAWADSKI is known to frequent the areas of Burlington, Brantford, Tillsonburg and the surrounding areas.
The police share “Fugitive Friday” information on their website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
Anyone who may have witnessed this person or has information that would assist investigators in locating him are asked 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).
By Staff
November 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The downtown block that Elizabeth Interior’s currently occupies, is to have been bought and will be developed as high-rise condo’s,
 The whole block is reported to have been sold – opposite city hall. View is from James Street. The owners of Elizabeth Interiors are reported to have recently purchased the Ethan Allen building on Fairview and will be moving the business there.
Her current Fairview location, “Liz@Home”, will likely continue to operate.
Our source said: “If he were a “betting man” the Molinaro Group would be his wager on the developer.
 View of the Elizabeth Interiors from Brant Street -was everything bought ? Condo’s are spring up all over the place – what size and what price and what will they have in the way of amenities are the critical issues.
During the Strategic Plan discussions members of Council have agonized over the lack of those critical 25 – 34 year olds that are energetic and want to make Burlington their homes where they can live and work and begin to form families.
The water front and the Escarpment will only take us so far – what prospective employers want is a work force that is educated and local that can be employed.
Downtown looks as if it will become a concentration of condominiums – where are those high tech jobs going to be?
No one seems to be prepared to work at bringing commercial properties to market.
Interesting times for a city that is still trying to figure out what it wants to be – hopefully Council will do the job before the developers and the market make the decisions for us.
 By Staff
November 13th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Ralph + Lina is a rough and tumble romance following the struggles of two Italian lovers, in the face of war, immigration and old age.
The award winning creative team made up of real life husband and wife Dan Watson and Christina Serra, along with director/co-writer Michele Smith, has created a production that critics have called “an enduring romance that resonates through generations.”
 Based on a true story, the play follows the lives of Serra’s grandparents, Peterborough residents Raffaele and Carolina, and their voyage from Italy to Canada after World War II.
With four Dora Mavor Moore Nominations – (not to be sneezed at) that included Outstanding Production, New Play, Ensemble and Female Performance, this acrobatic comedy has proven an instant favourite with audiences everywhere.
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre presents Ralph + Lina, November 25-29. Patrons are invited to enjoy post-show chats following each performance.
“This show means so much to me personally” says Co-Writer and Performer Dan Watson. “It’s a story about love and family, about roots. It means so much to me to be able to bring it to Huntsville where I have roots and to share it with all of my friends and family here.”
“The play is a unique opportunity for youth and seniors to experience an important part of Canadian History together,” adds Watson. “We’ve had so many people see the show, and come back a second time with their family. And always the same thing: we have a story just like this in our family.”
Tickets to Ralph + Lina at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre November 25-29 can be purchased online www.burlingtonpac.ca, by phone 905-681-6000 or in person at the Box Office located at 440 Locust Street.
By Pepper Parr
November 12, 2015
Burlington,ON
It is true – the city is losing Scott Stewart – he will become the Deputy Chief, Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Services for the city of Guelph. His start date is very early in December. Stewart will commute to Guelph for the first while
 He was sometimes gruff – always direct and never passed the blame for mistakes along to others. Hopefully,before he leaves Stewart will tell the full story about the purchase of the piece of property at the intersection of Walkers Line and the North Service Road on the west side. We have lost a good one – at a time when we can least afford such a loss at this level.
Less than four years ago the city had three General Managers – we got down to one and now that one is leaving.
City Manager James Ridge now has to look at his senior level corporate structure and decide how he wants to organize his staff. And he is going to have to look really hard to find someone of Stewart’s calibre.
There are two people at the Director level who could move into the job Stewart has held but both are critical to the operations they now run.
 Scott Stewart the one general manager we have poses with an award he was given for leadership at the inter-municipal level. The city has a number of people who are doing exceptionally well and can be expected to grow into Director level jobs – most need three to five years to mature in their jobs and develop their leadership skills.
James Ridge has been with the city long enough to have gained the measure of most of his staff compliment but what is known about his past experience does not include this level of management reorganization.
 City manager James Ridge with Michelle Dwyer, who has shown considerable leadership in ensuring the Strategic Plan development process runs smoothly. To the left is JC Bourque, one of the two KPMG consultants facilitating the process He has developed good working relationships with his staff; his personality is such that he works well with people –
is able to draw the best out of most people.
The challenge for Ridge is going to be to get city council to do the job they were elected to do – the previous city manager Jeff Fielding soon realized that this Council was never going to do very much and he pretty well rode rough shod over them.
That isn’t Ridge’s style – his armed forces experience has taught him what a chain of command is and he expects those he serves to do their jobs. There is some heart ache coming his way.
If this had to happen to him – a year from now would have been better.
 By Staff
November 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Was it a fence, a sign or a hoarding?
 Nothing but posts in the ground – will there be new signs or will it be a fence? It took the legal department a few days to determine which it was – doesn’t matter now – it is no more.
The signs – and they were signs, promoting the ADI Development planned for the intersection of Martha Street and Lakeshore Road was taken down after the city advised the company that they were signs which also happened to exceed the allowable size.
 The lot is where the ADI Development group want to build a 26 story structure. The ADI development group has arm wrestled with the city at almost – and we do say almost – every point of contact.
The sign that broke the rules – gone – but for how long? The relatively new to Burlington development company has completed just the one project – the Modern on Guelph Line, which is a very attractive building.
The Linx on Dundas and Sutton is a significantly different design on a site that overlooks Bronte Creek.
The project they have planned in Aldershot, described as Masonry Court but to be marketed as Station West is still at the discussion with the planning department stage.
The city released a document that suggests there has been some progress with the project.
 By Pepper Parr
November 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
This story and its headline have been revised since the initial publication.
Sometime in the very near future city hall will announce who has been selected to become the Director of Transportation. Vito Tolone has been serving as the interim for a short period of time.
The Gazette erroneously reported that Tolone had been appointed. We have been asked to publish the clarification that the this vacancy is going to be filled by competition, not by appointment. “You can imagine that reading the information in this article could make potential candidates quite uncomfortable” said the city communications department.
 Scott Stewart – his sweater says it all.  Vito Tolone – now Director of Transportation Scott Stewart, General Manager of Development and Infrastructure nurtured Tolone for a number of years as he did with Chris Glenn and Alan Magi.
Stewart is the last man standing of the team that Jeff Fielding had to work with when he took on the job of city manager.
When Fielding left for Calgary many thought Stewart would fill that roll. That didn’t happen.
 Many thought Scott Stewart, on the left would succeed Jeff Fielding, on the right as City Manager. That didn’t happen. Has Stewart found a place where his skill set will be used and appreciated? Has Stewart found greener grass somewhere?
The Gazette has picked up comment from two sources – not sure yet if it is common chatter or do they know something the rest of us don’t yet know.
Losing Scott Stewart would be a serious blow to the city which at this point has just the one General Manager and a city manager who is getting a feel for the job.
By Staff
November 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It is one of the really good news stories and the credit goes to a dedicated band of people who just would not give up.
 The renovation/rebuild of the Freeman Station is well underway. The sign on the front of the building stresses that help is needed to complete this task. History is being polished here. It took years to win the battle but the Freeman Station is sitting on a firm foundation alongside the fire department headquarters on Plains Road where it quietly and effectively undergoes what is almost a rebuilt.
 There was a city engineer who once said the building was not worth saving, at the time the city couldn’t sell it for kindling. What was once a sorry looking building sitting on wooden blocks is getting to the point where it will be presentable and open to the public. Not this year and maybe not next – but the direction the Freeman Station is going in is clear.
Additional help is always needed.
 The public art on the south side of the Freeman Station isn’t going to keep everyone happy. Perhaps it is not complete? The city decided recently that there would be public art in each of the wards – for ward 2 the Freeman Station was chosen – the art is in place and the structure has a decent coat of paint making it look pretty sharp from the road as one drives by.
When the official opening day comes one hopes that it is the ward Councillor Marianne Meed Ward and her colleague ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster who lead the ribbon cutting. They were the two who took on the task of finding a way to keep the station while the rest of Council sat on their hands.
By Pepper Parr
November 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The crowds are larger – they have been growing each year for the past three years. Is it because there are no WW I veterans left and we are losing those who survived WW II each month?
 During the service we sang, we prayed we listened to the Last Post and we heard the Reveille and our heads lifted to the sky as we watched the Lancaster bombers do a fly past.
 Is it because the world is a much more dangerous place and we are becoming very aware of how precious the democracy and freedom we have is?
 MPP Eleanor McMahon and MP Karina Gould Those who gather at the cenotaph each year bring their own thoughts, memories and dreams that were dashed with them. We go with the words “Lest we forget” on our lips – might we ask – was it all necessary? The It was John Lennon who got it right when he sang:– “All we are saying is give Peace a chance”
 Reviewing stand veteran A friend passed me a comment a number of years ago which went like this:
War will become obsolete when it is socially unacceptable.
It really is up to us.
By Pepper Parr
November 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Tom Muir wasn’t at all sure it could be done that way – but when he saw the agenda for the Development And Infrastructure Committee he was at first aghast and then just a little stunned.
The Development and Infrastructure Committee received an excellent report on the tax rebate available to people who wanted to upgrade their homes that had been designated as historically significant.
It was a good report – there was relatively little debate – the usual congratulatory remarks were made and the report was received.
It was a short meeting – it adjourned after just over an hour and recessed until the evening session.
 A Mayor can call a meeting of Council whenever he chooses. Before anyone could leave the Council Chamber the Mayor called a Special meeting of city Council that had been announced to pass a bylaw that would make the recommendation on the tax rebate for designated homes legal.
It took less than five minutes – and Tom Muir still wants to know why something like that wasn’t done with the development application that was being made by the ADI Development Group for a structure they want to put up at Martha and Lakeshore Road. The Staff recommendation was to not approve the development and that recommendation was accepted at a Standing Committee meeting. The next step that that time was for city Council to receive that recommendation from the Standing Committee and vote on it. They never did that – because the time line within which that was to be dine had run out.
Muir has been pressing the ward two Councillor and the Mayor for an answer as to why the deadline was missed.
“I was looking at the agendas for this week and saw something interesting that is related to the ADI Martha file and timeline”, wrote Muir in an email he sent the Gazette.
“The D&I will pass the Heritage properties requests tomorrow, and then right after that the Special Council meeting will vote on it again and pass it. It’s the only agenda item.
“So this can be done slam dunk, but the staff recommendation to refuse ADI Martha can’t make it through in 22 days, and can’t do what is being done tomorrow.”
The Gazette has explained in the past that the Mayor can call a meeting of Council whenever he wishes. He is required to give the members of his Council some notice – but that notice can be waived. The Gazette was advised by the city clerk Angela Morgan that a quorum has to be in the room and that a Clerk has to be present.
 Tom Muir just wants to know why City Council did not vote on the ADI Development project. Muir is shaking his head – he doesn’t understand. He has apparently taken the Mayor off his Christmas card list for the way he was treated. Muir took the Mayor at his word and was prepared to be patient while the Mayor put together the promised “meaningful response” to the questions Muir had. What Muir got was a copy of an email the Mayor sent Ward 2 Councillor Meed Ward – thanking her for answering all Muir’s questions.
Muir takes issue with the way this had been handled and doesn’t feel Meed Ward answered any of his questions but danced around the issue.
For reasons that aren’t at all clear – this city council has changed its tone and is far less civil with some of its constituents.
Will this be built? City council didn’t say it shouldn’t – the Council – not one of its Standing committees – didn’t vote on this issue. What the Gazette doesn’t understand is – why didn’t Council formally vote against the ADI project. They had plenty of time?
In the early stages of the Muir questioning he was told it didn’t really matter – then the position changed and Muir was told that Council did vote against the application – they did no such thing – they voted to receive a report from staff that recommend Council not approve the application.
Council did what they are supposed to do earlier yesterday, when a report was on the agenda and presented – this particular report didn’t get much in the way of debate or discussion. There was a delegation that asked Council to pass the bylaw that would increase the tax rebate to 25%.
Council did exactly that – within 15 minutes the Mayor called the Special Council meeting to order, read out the by law, the vote was called, they all put their hands up and it was passed.
Done a slam dunk! Easy, simple – Council has done exactly the same thing in the past.
The public doesn’t know why the same thing was not done with the ADI development application.
The Council member for ward two would appear to be obfuscating. The Mayor was just plain rude to a constituent. The rest of the members of this council are just as complicit – they are all sitting on their hands hoping this will go away.
There is a small group of people who want to know – why. They have patience and are aware that come January 1, there will be recourse for them.
By Vince Fiorito
November 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Alien invaders surround us. They can be found along roadsides. They are common in lakes and rivers. Eventually they will completely over run all natural areas and green spaces.
The alien invaders aren’t people. They are plants, insects, fish, birds, animals and all the non-native species which never existed in a place until they were deliberately or accidentally introduced by people. While some of these alien species are benign, far too many have become invasive and destructive.
Invasive species are a global menace with significant, far-reaching environmental and socio-economic consequences including loss of agricultural productivity and damage to renewable natural resource industries (forestry). Invasive species have caused entire ecosystems to become dysfunctional.
 Emerald Ash Bore – This little creature is costing us a fortune – and we are not at all certain we are going to win the battle to stop the infestation.  The Zebra Mussel completely changes a fresh water ecosystem. Hundreds of alien species are currently present in Ontario. Some of the more well know alien invaders include the Zebra Mussel (completely changes a fresh water ecosystem), Emerald Ash Borer (kills native Ash trees) Dutch Elm Disease (nearly wiped out the American Elm) Sea Lampreys (decimated the Great Lakes Trout fishery) and Starlings (crowd out native bird species and cause millions of dollars in agriculture losses each year).
 Lovely to look at – as invasive as all get out – Purple loosestrife Scientists are fighting back against invasive species, with some successes. Purple Loosestrife (destroyed wetlands) is now controlled by an introduced beetle at the cost of millions of dollars in research. Their decision to release the loosestrife eating beetle was gutsy, considering that a similar effort in Australia to eradicate the invasive Cane Beetle by introducing the Cane Toad was an ecological disaster. While the Cane Toad did eat the Cane beetle, it also ate everything else it could swallow.
Since the Cane Toad had no natural predators in Australia it soon became one of Australia’s most dominant species. The Cane Toad has caused many of Australia’s native insects to become so rare, they no longer contribute in a significant way to the local ecology, with ripple effects on many of Australia’s native plants and animals which have since become rare and threatened with extinction.
The least expensive solutions to the invasive species problems are to prevent problems in the first place and reacting quickly, aggressively and decisively to the first sign of a new invasive species problem.
On November 3rd, 2015, Ontario became the first jurisdiction in Canada to enact a tough law which will reduce the invasive species threat. As per the new Ontario Invasive Species Act, no person shall,
bring a member of a prohibited invasive species into Ontario or cause it to be brought into Ontario;
deposit or release a member of a prohibited invasive species or cause it to be deposited or released;
possess or transport a member of a prohibited invasive species;
propagate a member of a prohibited invasive species;
buy, sell, lease or trade or offer to buy, sell, lease or trade a member of a prohibited invasive species.
bring a member of a restricted invasive species into a provincial park or conservation reserve or cause it to be brought into a provincial park or conservationreserve;
or
deposit or release a member of a restricted invasive species in Ontario or cause it to be deposited or released in Ontario.
First time offenses can result in a $250,000 fine and/or a year of imprisonment. A second offense could cost $500,000. If that sounds excessive, consider that first time corporate offenders could face a $1,000,000 fine with subsequent offenses resulting in fines as great as $2,000,000.
Even though this law’s punitive sanctions don’t fully offset the damages which can result from invasions species, they should sufficient to deter deliberately destructive behavior.
 Snow-On-The-Mountain (aka Goutweed) is a robust ground cover that will eventually become Ontario’s most dominant forest plant. Ontario’s new Invasive Species law will affect many local nurseries and gardeners. Several common ornamental plants which have been sold in local nurseries for decades are known invasive species problems. Snow-On-The-Mountain (aka Goutweed) is a robust ground cover that will eventually become Ontario’s most dominant forest plant. Goutweed will displace most of Ontario’s native forest species, including Trilliums which are our provincial flower. Goutweed is a likely early candidate for the invasive species list.
Another problematic invasive ornamental plant is Mountain Fleece (aka Japanese Knotweed). The roots of this tenacious alien species can destroy driveways and cause structural to buidings. Once established, Japanese Knotweed is nearly impossible to permanently eradicate. Eventually this plant will replace most native plant species growing along Ontario’s shorelines.
Both Goutweed and Japanese Knotweed have escaped cultivation locally. They are commonly found throughout Burlington’s green spaces along with invasive Himalayan Balsam, Garlic Mustard, Phragmites and Buckthorn.
These invasive species are not just serious ecological problems here in Ontario; they are also serious global ecological problems which affect natural areas near London England, Sapporo Japan, Christchurch New Zealand, Pretoria South Africa and every other ecosystem on the earth which shares similar climate and conditions as Burlington. Deliberately cultivating this species in the UK is illegal and can result in substantial fines.
 Japanese knotweed – seen all over the place in Burlington. Fiorito believes that once established, Japanese Knotweed is nearly impossible to permanently eradicate. The mere presence of Japanese Knotweed in a neighborhood lowers everyone’s property values. British Real Estate law now requires home sellers declare the presence of Japanese Knotweed on their property. If this plant is subsequently discovered on that property, then the buyer can sue the seller for eradication costs.
In Burlington, Japanese Knotweed is available at many local nurseries. Many local gardeners have unwittingly created problems that will be expensive to fix, when Japanese Knotweed is inevitably put on the invasive species list.
The easiest way that gardeners can avoid creating invasive species problem around their homes is to choose plant species which are native to the local ecosystem. Each spring the Royal Botanical Gardens holds an annual native plant sale. Most nurseries now have a native plant section. Several local nurseries and landscape designers have become native plant specialists. This new invasive species law will help forward looking local businesses grow and prosper.
We can no longer ignore the destructive consequences of invasive alien species anymore. Failure to consider the ecological consequences of introducing an invasive alien species will become expensive in the not so distant future. This new law will help change attitudes leading Ontarians to becoming better stewards of the natural systems which rejuvenate our soils and clean our air and water. Ontario’s new invasive species law represents real change and will help protect Ontario from the growing international invasive species threat.
 Vince Fiorito is the steward of Sheldon Creek; a designation given him by Conservation Halton. He was recently a candidate for the Green Party and is an extremely knowledgeable person when it comes to what we are doing to our environment. Don’t get him going.
 By Staff
November 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Things get done by a city government when orders are sent out.
City Council is being asked to:
Authorize the Executive Director of Capital Works to support the implementation of the Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park Master Plan under the leadership of the Region of Halton.
The report put before the Standing Committee this week is to:
confirm staff commitment to assist the Region of Halton with the implementation of the Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park Master Plan (Master Plan) in accordance with directions approved by Regional Council
provide information related to the Region of Halton’s application for Canada 150 funding
provide a summary of findings to date for options to relocate/ bury the hydro lines
The fight to maintain the community of some 30 homes in the Beachway park wasn’t won but it wasn’t lost either – things are sort of at a standoff with the Regional government saying they will wait until a property owner is ready to sell and they will then negotiate a price and the deal will be closed. It’s a sort of grind them down over time – and so far it’s working.
 Region has applied for federal funding to get started on the Beachway Park aIn the meantime plans for a park that the public first got a glimpse of last June are well underway,
The Master Plan project is being led by the Region of Halton, in partnership with the City of Burlington and Conservation Halton. The three agencies worked closely together to develop the Master Plan that was approved at Regional Council on May 27, 2015.
 There was a willing seller for this house – and the one next door to it as well – they are being bought up one by one. The long-term implementation of the Master Plan is based on acquisition of all properties on a willing-seller/ willing -buyer basis, as approved at Regional Council on May 27, 2015. The Master Plan provides a guide for the implementation of improvements to this exceptional waterfront resource. This requires continued commitment by city staff to work with the Region of Halton to:
prepare detailed design and phasing plans
obtain approvals
administer contracts for construction
The federal government created the Canada 150 Fund as part of the celebration of the country’s 150th birthday in 2017. Canadian municipal governments and their institutions have been invited to apply for funding of various projects.
The Region of Halton applied for federal funding through the Canada 150 Infrastructure Fund for implementation of the approved Master Plan. Applications for the following stages of development of the Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park were submitted:
rehabilitation and expansion of the “Living Shoreline” in Beachway Park
renovation of the Waterfront Trail (promenade) in Spencer Smith Park
rehabilitation of the “Strand” in Beachway Park
Subject to funding, the tentative schedule is to issue a Request for Proposal for consulting services to prepare the detailed design this year; and to complete the construction in 2017/ 2018 to meet the deadline stipulated by the funding.
 Illustration on where the hydro line could go if it were to the west of the QEW These works will be coordinated with other related works required at Spencer Smith Park including improvements to drainage at the promenade and repairs to the parapet wall. The city will contribute to funding of infrastructure renewal items and to support staff fees, subject to approval of the 2016 Capital Budget and 2017 – 2025 Forecast.
 Illustration of where the hydro wires could go if they were to the east of the QEW Hydro Lines Relocation
Back in June 2013 Hydro One undertook a preliminary investigation to review options and determine high level costs for the relocation and/ or burial of the hydro lines located in Beachway Park. Three options were out forward
Option 1- Relocate structures/ lines westward to the east side of the QEW
build new structures #18 to 26 including 5 new lattice towers and 4 new steel pole structures
remove existing structures #18 to 26
estimated high level cost $8 – 9 million
Option 2- Relocate structures/ lines westward to the west side of the QEW
build new structures #18 to 26 including 6 new lattice towers and 4 new steel pole structures
requires two QEW crossings
remove existing structures #18 to 26
estimated high level cost $9 – 10 million
Option 3- Relocate structures/ lines underground to the west side of the beach, east of Lakeshore Road
keep towers #17 and #27 and bury the sections in between
remove existing structures #18 – 26
estimated high level cost $32 – 36 million
 Illustration of where the hydro wires would go if they were buried – best solution and of course the priciest one. The Region of Halton has determined that approximately $12 million is required to relocate the hydro lines. Staff from the region and the city have met to review the high level options. The Region of Halton will lead further study required to determine a preferred option for more detailed assessment.
Financial Matters:
The region has applied for funding toward implementation of the Master Plan through the Canada 150 Infrastructure Fund, with matching funding to be provided by the region.
Further funding to continue implementation of the Master Plan is currently under consideration by the region and subject to approval of the region’s budget, anticipated to be approved in December 2015.
The city has budgeted funds for infrastructure renewal improvements to Spencer Smith Park which will be included with the project and yearly funding for staff fees to support continued commitment to this project, subject to approval of the 2016 Capital Budget and 2017 – 2025 Forecast.
Current budget impacts, related to ongoing requirements to maintain/ operate the park as the park improvements are implemented will be brought forward as part of the current budget process.
The next step is to learn just what the city might get from the federal Canada 150 funding opportunity.
Our former MP Mike Wallace will have had a firm understanding as to just what was possible – Karina Gould, the newly elected MP will have to be reading late into the night to learn how the program works and develop the relationships that will be needed to get whatever is possible for Burlington.
By Pepper Parr
November 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
As a city that hosts three of the top 100 Festival and Events in Ontario city hall wants to improve the way these events are managed.
The Sound of Music and RibFest come close to taking over the city and Canada Day gives everyone to celebrate who we are as a country. The city has been recognized for the excellence of these three events
Festival and events of all sizes take place which leads to connectedness and civic pride. The City directly delivers a small number of events with the majority of events being delivered by the community for the community.
 Ribfest Burlington – said to be the biggest in the province. The City supports festival and event’s organizers because they activate the community, achieving two of the three strategic goals; Vibrant Neighbourhoods and Prosperity. In addition, Festival and Events have been identified as a cultural resource in the City’s Cultural Action Plan 2013 and key to the activations of the Downtown Core Commitments.
The current event process is complex as it touches various departments within the corporation and the Region of Halton. To address these complexities, a staff team was formed, represented by various departments in the organization. In the fall of 2014, the team conducted a Business Process Management Review (BPM) of the Eventing Management Process.
The purpose of the process review was to:
1. Determine and implement process efficiencies
2. Reduce duplication of work
3. Streamline sub processes as necessary in each service area and across the organization
4. Increase role clarity for the staff and event organizer, including internal corporate events like facility openings
5. Increase event organizers satisfaction
The top action item identified through the BPM process was to develop a corporate strategy for event management inclusive of the service perspective of sport, recreation & culture.
The strategy will:
• Provide linkages to existing Service Business Plans
• Set a vision for events in Burlington by determining why we allow events to be hosted in the City and what is the City trying to achieve through event hosting, strategically seeking certain types of events
• Guide the development of a new events process; providing criteria and a process for considering new events and/or eliminating duplicate or less desired events
• Outline the approval requirements and risk assessment process
• Define different event types
• Outline the guiding principles for funding support from the City
A Staff Direction issued earlier in the year directed the
Director of Parks and Recreation to work with the Sound of Music event organizers to develop a policy that addresses city funding allocations and alignment within the strategic plan, in order to inform future budget considerations.
 When the Sound of Music is good – it is very very good. The Sound of Music has wanted the city to increase its grant and align it with the grants it gets from the federal government and the province. There was a point at which Sound of Music did not want to open their accounting records but still wanted an increase in their grant – that got worked out.
The implementation of the Results Based Accountability (RBA) Business Process Management (BPM)and Service Based Budgeting (SBB) that are now standard procedures for the administration has resulted in better managed programs. With specific staff members now responsible for the effective delivery of programs the move to taking a more strategic look at what will be done in the future was a logical next step.
What does the city want to do with the festivals it funds? Are these the right events for the city or have they passed their best before date? Everyone wants to use Spencer Smith Park – is the space being used in such a way that the city and its citizens benefit or are their organizations that use the space with little real benefit to the city and the brand it is in the process of creating?
The development of an event strategy will help guide the community and staff on what the corporation is trying to achieve through events. This visioning exercise is becoming progressively more important as there is increased interest in hosting events in the Downtown Core and in particular at Spencer Smith Park.
Spencer Smith Park has reached its capacity for hosting events. Currently there is a historical approach on what events are hosted in the park. Just because an event has taken place for a number of years does that mean it should continue?
 At some point, perhaps in the distant future, there will be a different park to the west of Spencer Smith – it might even have some private homes in it – this might be a good time to talk about the kind of events hat should take place in what will be called the Beachway Park In addition some business and residents have suggested expressed that the downtown roads have also reached their capacity for event hosting and that there is a need for balance.
There is a desire to expand eventing outside of the downtown core. Currently there is limited infrastructure to support this interest. If expanding eventing is the key outcome of the strategy, it is anticipated there will need to be an investment from the City to make this feasible.
The city has had some difficulty getting events that are focused on Spencer Smith to work their way up Brant Street and into some of the streets to the east that have something of a commercial base.
To initiate the input /engagement phase for the development of an overall Events Strategy, it was decided to use a Committee of the Whole format to allow for dialogue in more of a workshop format on the vision for eventing in Burlington. Pamela Hubbard has been retained to guide committee through a focused conversation on events.
Following Committee’s input facilitated sessions will be conducted with:
• Festival and Events Organizers
• Businesses
• Residents
• Staff
Representation from downtown and city wide will be sought.
Using the information gathered from facilitated sessions, and baseline data gathered through the BPM process, a team comprised of staff from various departments in the corporation will review the feedback and build a vision for events in Burlington.
 Culture is getting more play in the city; it is getting m,ore attention in the draft of the Strategic Plan. How can the Culture Days events get tied into the Festivals and Events more tightly – and can the Performing Arts Centre and the Art Gallery be brought in as well? The team will also outline an action plan to achieve that vision. This draft strategy will be presented to Committee in 2016 for support and endorsement helping to guide the community on eventing in the future.
Included on the staff team is the Downtown Coordinator and the service owner for Culture to ensure that there is interconnection between Core Commitments and the Cultural Action Plan.
Festival and Events bring energy, smiles and enjoyment for residents and visitors and are a large part of the way the city is seen by the rest of the world. Are we satisfied with the image we are projecting?
The development of an event strategy will help guide the community and staff on what the corporation is trying to achieve through events. This visioning exercise is a very good opportunity for the public to make a comment.
A little more notice would have been useful – and holding the discussion in the evening would have let ordinary people take part in the meeting.
A good hard look at what we do with the magnificent waterfront property we have is just good corporate governance – open it up and let some of the ideas the citizens have make it to the table.
The route we are talking allows the vested interests to lead the parade. Not in the long term best interests of the city.
You may not have time to get to the meeting – Councilor Jack Dennison is the chair – he is pretty good at listening to people and is always open to new ideas – send him a note if you have comments.
By Ed Keenleyside
November 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The city recently installed attractive and informative identification plaques on many of our public art displays. A brief explanation is provided so that the public will know who the artist was or how and why the piece of art came to be.
There is a plaque beside the Spiral Stella outside the Performing Arts Centre and another tucked in behind the clock on Brant Street outside city hall.
 Ed Keenleyside points to three significant errors in the plaque the city put up explaining the background of the war memorial just north of city hall. The City is to be congratulated for this effort… but when there are errors on any of those plaques, it is embarrassing.
The errors on the plaque beside the Cenotaph Memorial is embarrassing. Within the handful of sentences describing this important monument, are the following mistakes:
1. There are 38 World War I casualties listed on the memorial, not 39.
2. The 38 fatalities listed are soldiers from the Great War (or World War I ), not from the Second World War.
3. There are 44 local service people listed from the Second World War, not 43.
In addition to the embarrassing errors on the plaque, I wonder why the Korean War Veterans are recognized at the base of the Cenotaph but the Afghanistan War Veterans are not recognized.
 Ed Keenleyside can’t understand why the plaque that explains the history of the war memorial he is standing beside has so many errors on it. I am currently researching the names of the 82 casualties etched on the Cenotaph with plans to publish an informative book, which will put faces and personalities to those who died so many years ago.
I have information on all but one name and that person, J. W. Williamson, is among the 44 World War II fatalities. If anyone can identify this person I would be most grateful. Please contact me at ekeenleyside@cogeco.ca if you can help.
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