 By Staff
October 30th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
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, for the past 28 weeks, the Burlington Offender Management Unit shares information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual.
In this edition of Fugitive Friday is searching for Donald Ray McGILL, 53 years old of, St Thomas ON.
 Donald Ray McGILL, 53 years old of, St Thomas ON. In April 2014, the accused was observed by officers speeding and driving erratically around the City of Burlington.
The accused was arrested and subsequently provided two samples of breath which registered a fail
He was charged with Driving while Impaired and Over 80 mgs of Alcohol
The accused was released and was scheduled to re-attend court in September 2015 which he failed to do and warrants were issued for his arrest.
He is wanted by Halton Regional Police for:
Driving while Impaired
Driving with more than 80 mgs of alcohol
Fail to Re-Attend Court
McGILL is described as 5’11”, 165lbs, blue eyes and greying blonde hair. McGILL has tattoos of a “dagger” on his upper left arm and “Heaven’s Gate” on his left forearm. McGILL is known to frequent the areas of Burlington, Oakville, St Thomas 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 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).
 By Ray Rivers
October 31st, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Something doesn’t smell right.
An astounded public has discovered that the provincial government has been giving grants to some teacher unions, over $2 million this year. The province is apparently forking out the money to facilitate province-wide negotiations. But no one will miss the irony of their government claiming these pay-outs are being made to improve efficiency.
 They were province wide negotiations – and someone had to pick up the tab – the government did it with your money. A successfully negotiated labour contract concludes when both parties are convinced the other one got the better deal – a win-win, but feeling like a lose-lose. But when the employer (provincial government) is giving the employees’ bargaining agents money, the outcome is a little more lopsided – a double win for the union and another lose for the tax payer.
At a minimum, this has to be a conflict of interest, for both sides, but particularly from the employees’ perspective. Can one really trust that their union is working for them if it is taking money from the guys across the table? At least two unions have refused the money for that very reason.
 Do you think they will figure it out – one of these two woman asked the other? Since this first broke, the government appears to be caught off guard, shifting its stance by the minute. First they claimed this was normal practice and that no detailed accounting for the money was necessary. Now, it appears that this year’s money hasn’t been doled out and will only be paid on proof of receipts.
But the elephant in the room is why the relatively affluent unions can’t pay their own way. And to add another complication, the latest word is that these payouts may not be made in the future. So why were they needed before, or at all?
Already, some skeptics are questioning whether this is payback for the last election, in which the unions, presumably helped the Liberals win by authoring anti-Hudak advertising. That scenario should be unthinkable – what we might see somewhere else – but not in civilized Ontario. So the sooner the Premier can effectively deal with this issue, the better.
 Ontario Minister of Education; big spender. Stuff happens, after all. Some well-meaning bureaucrat got the union folks to agree to province-wide negotiations, providing they were compensated for their extra travel costs, hotels, taxis, pizza… And then this minion convinced a busy minister to sign on to the deal – and presto – another crisis is born.
What kind of professional trade union would accept money from the other side? We know Toronto is an expensive city, but are the teachers’ unions so hard up that they can’t afford to travel to the big smoke? These are the unions, with thousands of members sharing in one of the most successful pension plans anywhere, right.
With the election of the Trudeau Liberal government in Ottawa, Premier Wynne is perfectly positioned to help deliver some key programs, from improving our pensions to building critical transportation infrastructure in the GTA. The last thing the government needs is a distraction from that business.
It is early in the Wynne electoral term and this relatively small issue may blow over, given our historically short political memories. But then voters have a habit of eventually changing political parties, even in Alberta. One need only to recall how public perceptions about strong unions and well-compensated teachers played into the hands of Mike Harris, and the chaos that ensued after his election two decades ago.
 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.
Background links:
Unions Accountability Labour Peace Union Threats Ontario Teachers Pensions
 By Walter Byj
October 29, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
In an effort to be as transparent as possible with their decision making, the Halton District School Board posts their policies, procedures and by-laws on their website so that they are visible to the public.
 When there are updates or changes to the policies, the board will post the revised policies for a minimum of 25 days period for public comment on any upcoming changes.
In many cases, the number of comments has been to a minimum. Is this an indication of policies that are so well thought out that additional changes are not necessary or is the website not user friendly thus inhibiting public input?
There are currently three policies and procedures under review on the website awaiting public input. Following these steps will lead you to the site. The three policies are: Director’s Performance Review, Policy Development and Review and Trustees Code Conduct
To find the reports:
Go to hdsa.ca
Click on the link Boardroom and Trustees
Under Resources, click on Policies and Procedures under Review.
 By Staff
October 29, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
This was clearly the Mother of all photo ops.
As part of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge Burlington Community Launch – Chalk It Up event Thursday, October 29, 2015 the beavers in the Parks and Recreation department have designed a challenge designed to create and adapt healthy behaviours for children aged zero to 12 years through healthy eating and physical activity.
 Tax dollars at work – all part of a program that is designed to get the under 12 set out to run, jump and play The first theme of the challenge is “Run. Jump. Play. Every Day.” This theme encourages physical activity through active play, sports, active transportation and structured activities. Chalk It Up events will be taking place at YMCA after school programs and at city recreation centres from Thursday, Oct. 29 until Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015.
The Burlington YMCA After School Care program is participating in the Chalk It Up event as are four school sites after school on Thursday, Oct. 29:
Central Public School, 638 Brant St.
Sir Ernest MacMillan Public School, 1350 Headon Rd.
St. Mark Elementary School, 2145 Upper Middle Rd.
Tom Thomson Public School,2171 Prospect St.
Not to be outdone city facilities are also participating in the Community Launch, including:
 Mayor Rick Goldring gets an approving glance form a four year old during the kick off of the Run Jump Play initiative the province has put $1.1 million into. Aldershot Pool, 50 Fairwood Pl. W.
Angela Coughlan Pool, 2425 Upper Middle Rd.
Brant Hills Community Centre, 2255 Brant St.
Centennial Pool, 5151 New St.
Haber Recreation Centre, 3040 Tim Dobbie Dr.
The Burlington Music Centre, 2311 New St.
Student Theatre, 2131 Prospect St.
Tansley Woods Community Centre, 1996 Itabashi Way
What the Gazette really wants to know is – will the Mayor find a way to be at ever one of the locations?
 By Staff
October 28, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
School board announces evening session for parents who want to improve the grades in mathematics their children are getting.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to many people.
The Halton District school board will be hosting evening sessions in November to help parents/guardians support their child’s Math learning
Sessions to be held in Burlington, Milton and Oakville
In a report released earlier in the day setting out how various high schools in the Burlington did on a provincial ranking.
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released results showing Halton District School Board students performing well in Grade 9 Academic and Applied Mathematics.
 The data tells the story. The why is another question. For Grade 9 Math there are different assessments for students in the academic and applied courses. On the Grade 9 Academic Math assessment, 90% of students achieved the provincial standard, a decrease of one-percentage point over the previous year’s result. In total there were 3,256 students enrolled in Academic Math in 2014-2015.
M.M. Robinson and Lester B. Pearson high school ranked below 80% in the academic stream. The results in the Applied stream are dismal – can students with scores at these levels complete an income tax return?
Are there problems at the elementary level that make it difficult for high school students to get strong mathematics scores?
Later in the day the Halton District School Board announced it will host three evening sessions in November to help parents/guardians understand how children develop understanding and fluency in Mathematics.
Parents/guardians are invited to attend sessions in November where they will learn how to support their child(ren) with Mathematics learning.
The session for Burlington will take place on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at M.M. Robinson High School (Studio Theatre) – 2425 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington and run from 7-8 p.m.
“Research shows students whose parents/guardians show an interest in, and enthusiasm for, Mathematics will be more likely to develop that enthusiasm themselves and persevere to learn and succeed in Math,” said Tricia Dyson, Superintendent of Education.
The Board continues to provide learning opportunities for parents as a key component in our elementary Math strategy. This strategy is designed to improve student achievement through progressive approaches such as the use of computer-learning technology and Mental math strategies.
Halton District School Board takes a proactive response to low mathematics scores in some schools. The Board’s three-year plan, started in 2013-14, focuses on leadership and understanding of effective Math instruction through the minimum of 300 minutes of Mathematics Kindergarten-Grade 8 students receive per week. Key parts of the plan involve a broad focus on improving student Math achievement through increased emphasis on professional development for administrators and teachers, and improving students’ conceptual understanding of, and confidence in, Mathematics.
The goal of the strategy is to see an increase in confidence of students and teachers in their ability to go deeper into learning Mathematics while involving parents/guardians in their child’s Math progress through events like Math nights.
 By Pepper Parr
October 28, 2105
BURLINGTON, ON
After a long summer break when meetings with more than 70 groups or individuals were held by KPMG, the consultants working with the city to create the Strategic Plan that will guide the city for the balance of this term of office the public finally got to see where the city is going with its Strategic Plan
The 2014 – 2018 Strategic Plan is being done in a significantly different way than the 2010 – 2013 plan. This time the consultants are doing much more of the early work; in the previous plan members of Council and staff met on more than eight occasions and debated a lot of the issues that were being put forward.
In the 2010 to 2013 Strategic Plan, the Mayors Chief of Staff was a major participant – so much so that more than one member of Council to Frank McKeown as the “seventh” council member, not always in a positive tone of voice.
At a meeting in July staff, Council and the consultants laid out what had to be collected in terms of data and how it was to be presented in the fall.
 Councillor Craven on the far left chaired the meeting – Councillor Dennison was out of the city. Mayor Goldring, his city manager is out of sight to his right. City General Manager Scott Stewart was surprisingly quiet during the first day of discussion and debate The meetings held last week didn’t see all that much data – what Council and far fewer staff than in the previous plan saw was an early draft of what will become what the public gets to see.
The document will go through more “wordsmithing” and the addition of some data along with the comments members of Council made as the consultants went through the four “pillars” that the Strategic Plan will rest on. Each of the “pillars” has a rationale WORD that everything else flows from.
Those four “pillars” that are creating Burlington as a city for the balance of this term of office are
A city that grows
A city that moves
A city that is healthier and greener,
and a city that leads.
Appreciate that these are draft concepts and might see some changes
 Council members and staff were arranged around a rectangle with the consultants facilitating most of the discussion. The Regional CAO, Jane MacCaskill and Regional Chair Gary Carr took part in the discussions – they were not participants in the 2010-2013 Strategic Plan. The 2014-2018 Strategic Plan is being led to a considerable degree by a consulting team from KPMG. They have done most of the research and put together draft versions of the Strategic Plan which council members and some staff comment on and debate. The debates get prickly at times.
By growing they mean that Burlington will continue to grow as an independent community by increasing its population in targeted intensification areas and by becoming a magnet for talent and economic opportunity.
By a city that moves they mean: People and goods will move throughout the city more efficiently and safely. Regional flows of traffic inbound and outbound will increase in efficiency. A variety of convenient, affordable and green forms of transportation that that align with transportation patterns will be developed.
A fair amount of gobbledegook in that statement – it is a draft so perhaps some clarity will works its way into future versions of the document.
The focus on a “healthier and greener” city was not something that we saw much of in the previous Strategic Plan. The vision this time is that the city be a responsible steward of municipal air, land and water while encouraging healthier lifestyles.
To become a city that leads Council wants to be seen as a leader in governance, citizen engagement, excellence and innovation in service delivery.
So far what we have heard is a lot of high flying rhetoric with statements that may not connect very well with the average Burlingtonian on the GO train or stuck on the QEW.
 Intense to the point of making delegations uncomfortable ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman does know how to drill down into the data and look for results. The winner for the most ludicrous remark was Councillor Paul Sharman when he said: “We have to get the best bang for our buck right from the get go.”
The meeting, which took place during two half day meetings at LaSalle Park, was billed as a “Strategic Facility Check In” during which the first draft, written entirely by the consultants was reviewed.
The review included the strategic directions and supporting initiatives and the proposed performance indicators.
Each of the pillars –
Growth
Moves
Greener
Leading
had a rational statement attached to it with a number of Strategic actions and preliminary initiatives.
For growth these were:
Accelerate economic growth:
“Establish employment land targets that drive economic growth and create an employment lands vision that drives investment and growth in the highway corridor.”
 Upper Middle Road looking east towards Burloak – designated as Employment lands. At least one member of Council would like to see this converted to residential. There are a number of developers who have property classified as Employment Lands which they would love to see converted to residential where the return is much higher.
The city is required to ensure it has the Employment land it needs for future growth. One of the more lucrative pieces of property is along Upper Middle Road and Burloak owned by one of the larger property owners.
Expect the arm wrestling between Council and the development community to get interesting.
“Build one brand for the city that reflects the city’s vision.”
“The city will continue to promote and explore post-secondary partnerships including further developing an educational cluster around the DeGroote site and attracting a major educational facility to the Urban Core.”
There are conversations taking place between two community colleges and McMaster University that Councillor Craven didn’t want anything said about. Serving as chair of the Committee of the Whole that was discussing the Strategic Plan he reminded his colleagues that there was media in the room.
“The city will develop a holistic strategy for Burlington’s rural area. This strategy will consider economic and social and environmental factors support of the rural community, agricultural industry, natural heritage and water resources.”
 Is the Air Park an opportunity the city is going to take a pass on because it is too toxic legally? What was both interesting and to some degree amazing was that not a single word was said about the Air Park property in the rural north. Properly developed with an owner that a conversation can be had with outside a court room, Burlington could be a city with a small air park that would make us a very desirable location for a large number of commercial operations.
Promote intensification:
“The city will focus intensification to key mixed use nodes and employment corridors by updating intensification targets and coordinating infrastructure to achieve growth objectives and will incorporate revised intensification targets through its Official Plan.”
“The city will demonstrate its commitment to growth management by preparing an intensification plan to manage projected growth and its related impacts.”
“This will be complete within two years.”
You can bet the barn that that statement will come back to bite someone’s rear end.
“The city will develop aging plazas and transform them into mixed use neighbourhood hubs.”
Smart population growth.
“Future development will be higher density, walkable, accessible and transit orientated. The city will become a leader in walkability measures in the province and will be fully aligned with provincial strategies and goals.”
“The city will prioritize one or two mobility hubs and use mechanisms to fast track the process using land use planning tools, public private partnerships and innovative funding, financing and delivery.”
“The prioritized hub will be incorporated into the Official Plan via a Master Plan for the hub within two years.
Another rash statement.”
“Within three years the city will develop a young family strategy, in cooperation with other levels of government that focuses on: (a) housing supply so that young families and newcomers can locate in Burlington and (b) provide social and economic infrastructure that supports youth, young family and newcomer economic, social and community goals.”
A process will be established to consult stakeholders to help gain consensus around a developable vision.
“The Strategic Plan discussions on a city that moves, is greener and leads will follow. This is complex stuff; it ties into intensification and the revision of the Official Plan that is also ongoing.”
There are at least two more meetings: a stakeholder’s review session and a review by city Council.
There was mention of a possible third meeting. And of course – the public will want to have a say. There wasn’t a lot of discussion about running all of this by the public. Not healthy.
 KPMG consultants J. C Bourque and Mark MacDonald led council and senior staff through a detailed facilitated discussion during which changes to the early draft were made. There is a lot more to be said about the Strategic Plan that is being put together – stay tuned!
By Pepper Parr
October 27th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Today Ontario passed an act that protects freedom of speech on matters of public interest.
 Vince Rossi, president of the Burlington Executive Air Park and believed to be the sole shareholder of the private company, met with north Burlington residents. He took all the comments made “under advisement”. He then sued three people who wrote things he didn’t like. The Protection of Public Participation Act, 2015 will allow the public to participate more freely in public discussions without fear of retribution by giving them a better way to defend themselves against strategic lawsuits, commonly known as SLAPPs (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation). The threat of a strategic lawsuit, which can be lengthy and expensive, is often used as a means to intimidate or punish opponents and discourage others from speaking out.
There are three people in Burlington who understand all too well the impact, both financially and emotionally, these lawsuits can have. Try telling your wife or husband that you are being sued for $33,000 for something you said or wrote. And then, once they have settled down at least a little – explain that the legal costs are going to cripple you for a period of time.
 Were it not for the strong delegations Vanessa Warren made to both city and Regional Council there would probably be trucks running along Appleby Line with loads of landfill from who knows where with who knows what in the fill. Vanessa Warren, Monte Denis and Pepper Parr are involved in defending themselves against a law suit filed by the Air Park. That claim, which all three parties are defending – at considerable cost – is winding its way to a court room at some point in the future.
 Monte Dennis was sued for a Letter to the Editor that was published in the Hamilton Spectator – but the newspaper wasn’t sued. The new act, which will become law in Ontario upon Royal Assent, contains a number of elements that will reduce the risk of citizens being threatened with legal action when speaking out on matters of public interest, including:
• A new fast-track review process that will allow the courts to quickly identify and deal with strategic lawsuits
• New protections for individuals from defamation lawsuits when their concerns are reported to the public through a third party, such as a blogger or a reporter
• Faster and less expensive procedures at boards and tribunals that will allow parties to make written submissions about legal costs instead of making submissions in person.
 Pepper Parr, publisher of the Gazette was also sued for articles that were published in the Gazette The rub for Denis and Warren is that while they are convinced their statements are defensible under SLAPP legislation, that legislation does not become law until it is proclaimed and even when it is proclaimed – it does not appear to be retroactive to the point in time when Vince Rossi claimed he was libeled.
In its media release the Attorney General said: “The majority of strategic lawsuits are filed in court as claims of defamation (libel or slander), have little or no merit, and are often dropped before proceeding to trial.
That might be true but the defendants still have to pay their lawyers until the case is dropped – if it is dropped.
Neither Vanessa Warren or Monte Dennis were available for comment at press time.
The Gazette does not expect Vince Rossi to drop the case
 By Staff
October 28, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Recruiting Bureau has launched their new Constable Recruitment video; it is expected to attract a lot of interest in those who see policing as a career goal.
The uniform officers are the face of policing in the Halton Region. The Police service wants to attract well-rounded men and women with passion, integrity and desire to make a difference in people’s lives.
The Service is committed to recruiting, training and developing the talents of those who can serve the public and maintain the high level of public safety.
There are two version of the video. The long version portrays several day to day duties from positions and units across the Service.
There is a short version.
Those interested in learning more about the hiring process can locate information and a link to the online application at https://www.haltonpolice.ca/JoinUs/Pages/default.aspx .
Applicants can also email policerecruiting@haltonpolice.ca or call 905-825-4747, ext. 5112.
Have you got what it takes?
 By Staff
October 28, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Today the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released results showing Halton District School Board students performing well in Grade 9 Academic and Applied Mathematics.
There is clearly some work to be done on the mathematics programs at some of the public school. M.M. Robinson students are not that much worse than students at the other high schools. Hopefully the board administration will be doing some accountability work. Parents might want to ask some leading questions as well. For Grade 9 Math there are different assessments for students in the academic and applied courses. On the Grade 9 Academic Math assessment, 90% of students achieved the provincial standard, a decrease of one-percentage point over the previous year’s result. In total there were 3,256 students enrolled in Academic Math in 2014-2015.
For the 600 students in Applied Math, 54% attained the provincial standard in 2014-2015, a two-percentage point decrease from the previous year.
Labour action by Ontario teacher federations affected the administration of the Grade 3 and 6 assessments and the Grade 9 Math assessment last spring. Since not all schools participated in these assessments, EQAO will not provide a provincial-level result this year.
“We are pleased to see results released from the Education Quality and Accountability Office show our students continue to perform well in Academic and Applied Math,” said Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board.
“We are completing the third year of a Math strategy designed to increase the confidence of students and teachers in their ability to go deeper into learning Mathematics. We have also hosted Math nights for parents and guardians of students to help them better understand Math instruction. The Halton District School Board will closely examine these latest EQAO results to ensure our students achieve success in Mathematics.”
Indeed the administration should ask some very direct questions to the heads of the math departments in several of the Burlington high schools.
It is interesting to note that Lester B. Pearson and M.M. Robinson are relatively close to each other.
By Staff
October 28, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Just before 9 pm last night an unknown male walked towards a gas station on Plains Road and robbed the attendant.
 The man entered the kiosk of the Husky Gas Station located at 559 Plains Rd East in the City of Burlington, brandished a knife and demanded cash.
The suspect left with a handful of bills and coins and fled on foot in an easterly direction towards Cedarwood Place.
The male suspect is described as wearing a black jacket with the hood up over his head and a red bandana covering his face. He was wearing black gloves and black pants.
The Super Store almost directly across the street from the Husky gas station was also robbed on October 21st. The Gazette reported on that event,
Anyone with any information on this crime is asked to contact the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 ext 2316 or anyone with information on this or any other crime is asked to call 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
October 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Neither the city or the regional governments wants to get caught over poor flood potential warnings.
This time everyone appears to be in town so we know where our leaders are – and they are telling us that the remnants of the hurricane that slammed into the west side of Mexico has worked its way north and that the city could see up to 50 cm of rainfall in a short period of time
The message to the citizens is that Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Halton Region, including Burlington, for significant rainfall beginning early tomorrow morning and continuing throughout the day.
 The city wants to be sure rainwater like this doesn’t collect anywhere is the city. “The city began preparing for this weather event yesterday, checking inlet and outlet structures and catch basins to ensure they are clear,” said Cathy Robertson, director of road and parks maintenance at the City of Burlington.
“We are also encouraging residents to take steps around their homes to help reduce the risk of flooding,” Robertson said. “We are asking residents to check catch basins on their streets to make sure leaves are not blocking the flow of storm water into the sewers.”
If you are scheduled to receive leaf pick next week from the city’s leaf collection program, please wait until after the storm before raking your leaves to the curb for collection as gusty winds tomorrow will result in blowing leaves.
 There are residents throughout the city who do not want this kind of experience again. Tips to protect your property from flooding during a heavy rainfall:
• Ensure your eavestroughs and downspouts are clear of debris, draining properly, away from the foundation walls of your home.
• Use an extension for your downspouts and ensure they are directed away from the foundation walls.
• Look around your property for any obstructions that could prevent water from draining away from your home.
• Ensure window wells are free from debris to ensure proper drainage.
• Clear debris away from catch basins (sewer grates) on the road to help the flow of storm water into the storm sewer.
Conservation Halton advises that the Environment Canada Weather Office is forecasting a low pressure system associated with the remnants of Hurricane Patricia will be moving into the Great Lakes region this evening. The system is expected to bring significant rainfall along with strong and gusty winds over the next couple of days. Rain will be heavy at times. Latest indications suggest 25 to 40 mm of rain in most areas with locally higher amounts of 40 to 50 mm possible, especially near Lakes Erie and Ontario. There is also the possibility of convective cells within the storm which could add an additional 10 to 20 mm in isolated locations.
The forecasted rainfall will result in higher than normal water levels and flows in all our streams and creeks, resulting in dangerous flow conditions. While no flooding is anticipated, watercourses will be flowing higher than normal causing local streams and creeks to become dangerous, especially in the vicinity of culverts and bridges.
All good news – hopefully we have learned some lessons.
By Staff
October 27th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
They are out in force this week – the fraud artists are just flooding the internet with what at first glance looks like a message from your banker – always look at the email address the message came from – and even then – give the bank a call – they always want to hear from you about any effort to scam your money from you.
 The scam artists want to learn as much as they can about you – so they can become you and drain every dollar you have out of your account. Pay attention to the email you get. One of our people got two requests to check on their account – first one went like this:
It came from: CIBC Online <no-reply@cibonl.com>- that is not a CIBC email address
Because we have received multiple failed authentication attempts, your online access has been temporarily locked.
To restore your access, click: Sign On to CIBC Online and proceed with the verification process.
The second one came from:
Customer Contact Centre! <supervisor@hdt.es>
And used the first name of the person it was sent to: Good afternoon (name)
Your Bank of Montreal account has just been used to connect Internet Explorer on Windows 10/26/2015 12:27:39 Uganda
Could not this browser if you have used this device or with your account.
This can happen when you first connect to another computer, phone or browser when you use the browser incognito or private browsing or deleting cookies or when accessing your account else.
If this was you, please sign in from your regularly used device.
If you haven’t recently signed in from an unrecognized device and believe someone may have accessed your account, please visit this link to change your password and update your account recovery information.
Thanks for taking these additional steps to keep your account safe.
The grammatical errors were a dead giveaway with this one.
 The identity thieves are very good at what they do. They are out there – looking for someone who may not pay close attention. It is your money –make sure someone doesn’t steal it from you.
Stay vigilant.
 By Walter Byj
October 27th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It has been a trying five weeks for Director of Education Stuart Miller.
As if managing the ongoing teacher dispute was not enough to give him sleepless nights, he now is the lead figure in presenting to the public the impact of the French Immersion program on Halton schools.
 Director of Eduction Stuart Miller – less than three months into his job is leading the public discussion on the handling of a trend toward higher enrollment in French immersion classes. Monday night’s Burlington presentation at Nelson High School was the first of four presentations over the next two weeks. With a number of Halton Superintendents present along with all of the Burlington trustees (Collard, Reynolds, Pappin and Grebenc) and one Oakville trustee (J. Oliver) Miller took to the stage promptly at 7:00 pm.
Prior to the slide show presentation Miller stressed that this was an information session and that he was not looking for answers or solutions tonight.
“We want to share our information with the public”, he said “so that you can later provide input on facts that you have before you.” Speaking with a booming voice and the confidence of one who knows the topic well, he presented what could be a very complicated scenario with a straight “here are the facts “method.
Assisted for part of the presentation by Dom Renzella (Manager of Planning) the presentation covered how the huge uptake in French Immersion was negatively affecting English classroom sizes and potentially the quality of education the board could deliver.
His mandate and that of the board is to offer the highest quality of education to both the English and French students; the current trend was affecting the English program negatively.
He noted that getting qualified French teachers was another huge issue facing the board. He explained the current situation would be bleaker in upcoming years and that now was the time to act.
The initial step was to form a committee (the Program Viability Committee) that enlisted the aid of staff, principals and trustees that studied the collective information before them and then whittled down 14 recommendations to the current four.
RECOMMENDATION
Be it resolved that the Halton District School Board present the following options for the delivery of French Immersion to the public in the Fall of 2015 for the purpose of receiving feedback, considerations and comments. Feedback will be brought to the Board for consideration in the delivery of French Immersion programming:
1. Option 1: Grade 1 (early) French immersion remains a 50% French 50% English delivery model, but entry to FI will be capped. The method of capping would be determined at a later date.
2. Option 2: Grade 1 (early) French Immersion remains at 50% French and 50% English, however all FI programs will be delivered in single track FI schools. French Immersion will be phased out of dual track schools and no new dual track schools will be considered. The location of the single track schools will be determined at a later date.
3. Option 3: French Immersion will commence at a later entry point (mid entry); Grade 4. This will result in the delivery model of FI moving from a 50% model to at least a 80% French Immersion model. In addition the delivery of FI will occur in dual track schools only.
4. Option 4: French Immersion will commence at a later entry point (mid entry); Grade 4. This will result in the delivery model of FI moving from a 50% model to at least a 80% French Immersion model. In addition the delivery of FI will occur in single track FI schools on
In presenting the four current recommendations Miller was emphatic in saying they were not etched in stone but are merely a starting point on which the public can tweak or reject outright and offer something completely different.
Miller wants public input would get to the board between November, 2015 to March 2016 and that a decision could be reached by June 2016. Implementation would not occur until September 2017.
Completing the presentation in a very quick forty-five minutes, a lot quicker than the planned hour and half, Miller offered to take some questions from the half packed theatre stressing that now was not the time for solutions.
He was asked if more drill down data would be available. Yes he replied.
What is the retention rate of FI students? 5% of students leave the program annually.
What is the definition of viability? The ideal classroom size is 20 students and many of our English classrooms have less than 10 students he said.
Will the original 14 scenarios be released? Yes he replied.
Why do parents enrol their children in FI? No definitive answer from Miller. Is the Halton busing policy too liberal and is it increasing the uptake in FI? Too difficult to measure Miller replied as buses carry a variety of students.
In conclusion, Miller said that each of his presentations are being taped and will be available on the HDSB site
It was a solid first presentation for Miller and no doubt he will feel more at ease with upcoming presentations. But will the solution be easy?
Although the audience did come for the information presented, some came in with a filter as to how to interpret the facts. Those who feel that French is essential will no doubt be building a case for why the FI program must not change dramatically from its current form.
Others, from past experience, felt that English programming would take a back seat to French and that the final result is pre-determined.
That is quite a divergence of opinion and it will take all the skill of Director Miller along with the HDSB trustees to execute a plan that will probably not gain many friends but will find an equitable solution.
By Pepper Parr
October 27th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Firearms and Weapons Amnesty ends in two days October 29, 2015.
The police have encouraged people to surrender their unregistered or unwanted firearms and weapons to the Halton Regional Police.
This amnesty is an opportunity for members of the community to hand in firearms and/or weapons and ammunition that are unused, inherited or illegal, without the fear of being charged for having them.
 Weapons previously turned in by the public. During this amnesty, the police encourage people to turn in illegally held guns and ammunition and any other unwanted firearms, imitation firearms and air guns. In addition, any weapon that may pose a threat to public safety such as switchblades, butterfly knives, pepper spray, nunchuks, shurikens, push daggers, knife-combs, crossbows, spiked wristbands, batons and/or blowguns.
There is a dedicated telephone line available to arrange a firearm or weapon pick up. (905) 465-8733 will be monitored from Monday to Saturday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm during the ten days.
DO NOT BRING ANY WEAPONS OR FIREARMS TO A POLICE STATION.
DO NOT TRANSPORT FIREARMS OR WEAPONS IN YOUR VEHICLE.
DO NOT GREET OFFICERS AT THE DOOR WITH FIREARMS/WEAPONS.
Officers assigned to pick up the weapons will provide police identification and will require a signature for destruction.
This Amnesty is an opportunity for everyone to take part in removing these firearms and weapons from the community, reducing the risk of them falling into the hands of criminals.
Last year, approximately 180 firearms were turned in, about 40 knives and 200 pounds of ammunition.
 By Staff
October 26, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Shucks – they aren’t advertising the seed catalog offerings yet are they?
The city however is ready to accept applications to secure a garden plot in 2016 at one of the city’s three community gardens starting November 2 through to the 22nd, 2015.
 Rob Peachey says he is excited. Rob Peachey, the city’s manager of parks and open spaces, who doesn’t get excited very often said today that the city is entering the “fifth growing season with the community gardens program,” and he is “excited”.
Peachey overseas the Windows on the Lake program for the city. It isn’t a part of his job that brings smiles to his face.
The city is accepting the applications a bit earlier than in past years, to give gardeners more time over the winter months to plan and prepare their gardens for the spring.”
 This lady knows what a difference a community garden can make. Michelle Bennett was one of the people who taught city hall ho yo go after provincial money and get community gardens in place. she started with one – there are now three. Located at Amherst Park, Central Park and Francis Road Bikeway, the community gardens are open for planting from May 1 to Oct. 23, 2016. There are a total of 80 plots available, plus six raised, accessible plots suitable for persons with disabilities. Applicants may indicate a preferred garden location and plot style on the application.
The cost to rent a plot for the season is $50. Water, soil and compost are supplied and all plots have full sun. Plots will be allocated by lottery at the close of the application period, and all applicants will be notified of their lottery result by early December 2015.
Community garden application forms will be available online beginning November 2 at community centres, the Seniors’ Centre, or City Hall, 426 Brant St., at the Service Burlington counter. Completed applications must be received by the city no later than Nov. 22, 2015.
For more information about Burlington community gardens, visit www.burlington.ca/communitygardens.
By Staff
October 26, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It begins.
Not quite the shovels in the ground with the photo op and the silver spade – this is just getting hydro wires in the ground. The rest will begin in the New Year
 It was a dream back in 1985 when the city approved a legacy building on the edge of the lake. The burying of hydro lines marks the beginning of real construction. Occupancy is scheduled for 2018. The Bridgewater development that will consist of a 22 storey condominium, an eight story hotel and a second seven story condominium commences.
The first phase of construction will include the burial of hydro lines. This work is expected to take approximately 10 weeks. During the construction, there will be some minor lane disruptions and a one-day closure of the intersection at Lakeshore Road and Old Lakeshore Road (The Gazette will keep you posted on details.) All businesses in the immediate area will remain open for business as usual.
As part of the construction, the section of Elizabeth Street, south of Lakeshore Road, will be closed until November 2018. Access to the Waterfront Hotel is available through the north driveway.
For more information, please contact Carol Gulak, Capital Works, City of Burlington at 905-335-7600, ext. 7772 or carol.gulak@burlington.ca.
By Pepper Parr
October 26, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
First of a multi part series on how the city thinks intensification could be managed.
What do you think your city is going to look like in 25 years?
The Bridgewater Hotel will have been open for at least 22 years so citizens will have gotten used to the idea of seeing tall buildings.
We don’t know yet if the ADI Development people are going to get to build the 28 storey structure they have in mind for the corner of Lakeshore Road and Martha.
But we can tell you that your city council is taking a long hard look at different heights for buildings as they think their way through the intensification they believe they have to do to meet the Ontario government’s Places to Grow policy.
At a Committee of the Whole workshop, led by a team of consultants, Council and staff went through a series of visualizations last week that presented various scenarios based on planning, urban design and market trend considerations.
There were visualizations of five locations around the city that showed what a particular road or intersection would look like if the full potential of the existing zoning were used and if the zoning was given a bit of an upgrade.
 An aerial view of the city before the Pier was completed. The Region of \Halton is expected to grow from half a million people to more than 1 million by 2041 – how much of that growth will take place in Burlington is a key question to those who want the city to stay just the way it is. The consultants chose a planned mobility hub – (1) Aldershot GO station; (2) an urban centre – Uptown; (3) an urban corridor; Fairview and Cumberland; (4) a neighbourhood commercial plaza – New Street and Guelph Line and an employment area – (5) Harvester Road, east of Appleby Line in one of the Prosperity corridors.
The objective was to give council some idea as to what the city would look like if the properties had their zoning changed or if the owners of the property developed the property to its maximum benefit.
The exercise was necessary because of the Province’s Places to Grow Plan, which calls for higher population densities across the province, will require the Region to grow by as much as half a million people by 2041.
The province will soon announce how many people and jobs have to be added to the Region of Halton. The Regional Council then has to decide how that number of job and population growth is to be distributed between the municipalities.
The exercise council went through was to look at what the city would look like under different sets of circumstances.
Existing Official Plan and Zoning By – Law permit 200 people and jobs per hectare within the UGC by 2031. This amounts to 22,800 people and jobs within the UGC by 2031.
The objective of the intensification exercise was to support the City’s strategic plan process by generating discussion about:
What we want to achieve through intensification
What intensification could look like
How we’ve prepared for intensification to date
How we can prepare ourselves further to manage intensification
Council wanted to know what could be achieved through intensification. Higher density growth within our Built-up areas can:
Reduce pressure for Greenfield growth, protecting rural and agricultural areas
Shift dependency from private automobiles towards walking, bicycling and transit
Create a critical mass of riders to support transit service
Make efficient use of existing infrastructure and services
Provide the opportunity to refine the urban environment and public spaces through urban design
Create opportunities to attract new growth
The visualizations are intended to show what intensification might look like in Burlington, and considered two scenarios:
Scenario 1: Current OP and Zoning Policies
Scenario 2: Hypothetical Intensification
Visualizations were developed through a conceptual block planning exercise relying on: Existing conditions, land use policy and zoning and general opportunities for pedestrian-supportive heights, densities, and streetscapes
The exercise was not conducted as a detailed master planning process, or technical planning exercise and therefore does not consider factors such as: transportation, utilities, servicing, site- specific constraints or general zoning requirements such as parking.
The visualizations are intended to provide a high level understanding of:
What intensification could look like?
The level of development that can be generated through intensification
How well the City’s current planning framework supports intensification
There are a number of key factors which drive intensification:
Access to higher order transit;
Other infrastructure condition/capacity;
Housing affordability;
Proximity to employment and amenities;
Land availability/suitability/value;
Urban character; and
Demographics/labour force characteristics.
What do the pictures drawn tell us?
We start in Aldershot on Waterdown Road which was recently widened after the property at Waterdown and Plains Road was expropriated.
 Waterdown Road looking north. The recent widening of the road and a fresh layer of asphalt are almost a “red carpet” for development. The Adi Development group has already stakes out their claim for a combination of stacked townhouses and five high rise residential building on a site close to the Aldershot GO station.  One scenario, possible under existing zoning Scenario 1. Under the existing zoning 365 people + jobs can be put on 8.8 hectares of property. Note the difference in height between on the right hand side of the street in the two scenarios.
 A second scenario of the same part of the city with a hypothetical zoning that would allow for more density. Scenario 2 – hypothetical intensification would see 450 people + jobs in27.1 hectares.
For those familiar with this part of Burlington these two scenarios are a huge change in the use of the land on Waterdown Road south of the railway tracks. It is not clear if any land assembly has been done in that part of the city.
The longer term plan is to develop a commercial hub around the Aldershot GO station. The ADI Development acquisition of 14 acres that they they want to place both stacked townhouses and apartment buildings on would bring residents into the community that could walk the short distance to these office buildings which would fit into the Live, Work, Play many at city hall have for the city. There would be few complaints about rush hour traffic.
The drawings shown here are what the Planning department thinks could be built on these properties. Now a developer who is looking for an opportunity will have some sense as to what is possible in terms of development.
If this kind of development took place in Aldershot – and that is a very big if – would it take some of the pressure off Plains Road? Many Aldershot residents are noisily opposed to anything over six storeys high.
The next possibility – and realize that these drawings are just examples of what could and might happen in different parts of the Burlington as the city looks at how it is going to cope with the need to intensify. There is no longer any land to grow – so any growth has to be by adding height and density.
The Planning department looked at a variety of locations around the city for these intensification exercises. They chose that part of Fairview east of Cumberland as an example of an urban corridor.
 Fairview east of Cumberland – this is what it looks like today. Barren, busy and certainly not people friendly. Not a sidewalk to be seen. This is what the corridor looks like today. Single storey structures for the most party set well back from the street.
 The first of two scenarios – this one under existing zoning would allow for higher structures and much more in the way of open space for the public. with this kind of intensification Fairview takes on a community feel rather than just a road o drive along. Scenario 1 – using the existing zoning would have 250 people + jobs in what is now a 6.8hectare area. The buildings would range between five and six storeys an be combinations of office and retail or retail and residential. The drawings show dedicated bike lanes and all kinds of trees. There are also a lot of open public spaces with benches and a lot foliage. It is certainly a more civilized looking Fairview Street.
 Scenario 2 would require zoning changes and allow for much more height and density. Scenario 2: Using a hypothetical intensification the street would have eight and ten storey structures that were mixed use allowing for retail, office and rental residential.
During the discussion Councillor Dennison, who is very pro development – within reason for the most part, points out that if intensification is going to be done in locations like Fairview – it makes more sense to go for as much height as possible “because we aren’t going to be able to make those buildings higher ten years later.”
The next part of the city to get a hypothetical makeover was the plaza at the intersection of New Street and Guelph Line. It is a fairly large sprawling plaza with entrance and exists on to two main Streets – New and Guelph Line. Well served by transit but rather barren looking places.
Scenario 1a under existing zoning would have 155 people + jobs on the 2.2 hectare site that would look a lot different than what is there today. Low rise office space with retail at the lower levels and parking at the rear.
Scenario 1b which was detailed in a Commercial Lands staff report would put 210 people + jobs on the site and see buildings that were six storeys and include the public square.
Throughout this visualization exercise of potential intensification sites there was the consistent inclusion of open public spaces with all kinds of foliage. One wonders if Parks and Recreation would create small skating rinks for people to use – that would certainly animate the space.
Scenario 2 for this commercial plaza ramps the population on the 2.2 hectare space to 285 people + jobs and takes the buildings up to eight and ten storeys.
During the discussion on this site Councillor Dennison who apparently knew the owners of the property well enough to say that they probably didn’t have the funds to undertake the kind of investment needed to change the plaza.
Part of what this visualization exercise was about seemed to be to let developers know what the potential in the city was now and could be with zoning changes.
The discussion on these “growth possibilities” was pretty heady stuff – now to learn what the public thinks about the ideas.
There were additional visualizations done – those for an Uptown urban centre – Appleby and Upper Midddle; an employment area, Harvester Road, east of Appleby Line in one of the Prosperity corridors, and an urban employment area – Appleby Line and Harvster Road, will be detailed in a following feature
 By Staff
October 26, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It is a well-established tradition in Burlington – 19 years and they are still slurping soup from hand crafted soup bowls.
 The AGB volunteers prepare for the 800 people they expect to slurp soup at their annual fund raiser. The Soup Bowl Event is a celebration of both culinary and ceramic art. From November 19 – 22, Burlington’s favourite fall fundraising event will feature all of the best loved Soup Bowl elements – beautiful handcrafted bowls donated by potters from across Ontario ready to be filled with delectable gourmet soups from some of the area’s finest restaurants and caterers, including Spencer’s at the Waterfront, Emma’s Back Porch, The Queen’s Head, Honey West, and many more.
Soup Bowl is an important fundraiser for the AGB and supports children’s programming, including vital education initiatives such as school outreach and financial assistance for youth.
This event traditionally sells out. Tickets are on sale now – $50 ($40 for AGB members) for all lunch (12pm – 1pm) and Thursday evening (6pm – 7pm) sittings. Tables of eight can also be reserved, the perfect opportunity for a staff lunch or family outing.
Order tickets online or by phone hone (905-632-7796, ext. 326) or in person at AGB 1333 Lakeshore Road, Burlington.
The AGB has prepared for 800 guests who will choose their handcrafted bowls, fill them with a gourmet soup to enjoy with the rest of their meal, and then take the bowls home after they are cleaned and packaged by our hardworking volunteers.
The people at the AGB don’t want you to forget the annual Christmas Sale of Fine Art and Craft presented by the seven Guilds of the AGB, and also to the seasonal beauty of the Art Etc. Gallery Shop’s Christmas Boutique, brimming with gift items carefully selected for quality and design.
 Wayne Cardinalli: one of the hundreds of potter who donated a bowl to the annual soup bowl event that takes place at the AGB November 19-22 Shopping at the Arts Burlington Christmas Sale is an added bonus during the Soup Bowl Event. There is free admission to browse and buy at the Arts Burlington Christmas Sale, which features a wide variety of handcrafted items produced by the Guilds of Arts Burlington with Christmas in mind. It is open to everyone on November 19 from 11 am to 9 pm; and November 20 – 22 from 11 am to 4 pm.
The Art Gallery of Burlington is located at 1333 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, and is an accessible facility with lots of free parking over the course of the event.
 By Staff
October 26, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Every couple of days one can see the re-developed Joseph Brant Hospital reach higher and higher. They are at the point now where the bridge that will lead people from their cars to the hospital is now having its pillars put in place – 2018 is not that far off.
 Pillars are not in place to hold the bridge that will lead from the garage to the hospital. The photo above shows a view of construction from the roof of our parking garage. If you take a look in front of Level 1 of the new patient tower there are 6 large columns leading to the garage. These columns will one day support the bridge connecting Level 1 of the parking garage to Level 1 of the new tower.
The construction of the Level 4 deck will continue over the next couple of weeks. You might be wondering why there is no Level 3. To facilitate the needs of the operating rooms, which will be located on Level 2, high ceilings are required for lights and an extensive amount of mechanical work. There is however, a small Level 3 section for an elevator bank that will connect the existing hospital to the new patient tower.
The columns from Level 2 to Level 4 are complete.
The pouring of concrete for the first half of Level 4 is complete. The second half will be completed by November 6.
Construction of columns and the pouring of concrete for Level 5 continues.
8 elevator shafts and 3 main stairways from Level 4 to 5 are currently being built.
The loading dock is nearing completion.
In our existing hospital, demolition, mechanical and electrical decommissioning has started to make way for the new engineering department. The department will be located in the basement of the hospital where the finance department was once located.
The Operational Readiness team has formed five Integrated Working Groups; these are subject matter experts from across the hospital working together to achieve specified goals around defined issues, and to ensure alignment with the hospital’s objectives for Opening Day View.
Opening Day View identifies the major changes that will be in place at Joseph Brant on the opening day of our new hospital. As the project progresses there will be 15 groups in total; the five formed so far are:
Alcove Management – new, starting in December 2015
Transition Budget – ongoing
Bed Mapping & Bed Management – ongoing
Move Planning – ongoing
Medication Management – new, starting in December 2015
The Gazette was not able to reach anyone at the hospital re-development office to learn just what Alcove management is all about.
 A portion of the fourth floor of the hospital be swung into position by a crane and lowered into place where construction crews secure it. This is better than side walk superintending. To see the pace of construction day by day – CLICK HERE and watch the crews build your hospital.
By Staff
October 26, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On Thursday October 15th 2015 at approximately 4:00 am, an unknown person entered numerous vehicles in the City of Burlington. Among other items, the suspect stole credit cards which were later used at various locations in Burlington and Brampton.
 While the police news release was sketchy – there is nothing sketchy about the quality of the video that was captured. Anyone who has information that would assist investigators in identifying this male are encouraged to contact D/Cst Freeman – Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2363, Det Bale ext 2312, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
Not a lot of detail in this police report and why is it being made public ten days after the crime was committed?
If you can help – do help.
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