 By Walter Byj
October 5th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Secondary summer school continues to grow in popularity.
At a recent Halton District School Board (HDSB) meeting Superintendents of Education, David Boag and Tricia Dyson, presented a report which showed growth in the summer program with overall summer enrollment growing by 15.5%
 Some students chose to gain full credit enrollments, others chose to either upgrade or have a one half credit; 4312 students chose to either upgrade their marks or to reach-ahead.
The major increase was in online enrollment which grew by 34% and had a completion rate of 85% vs 87% for in-class courses.
A quick numbers update.
• 1584 full credit in-class enrollment vs 1524 in 2014
• 1058 upgrade and one half in-class enrollment versus 890 in 2014
• 599 online full credit enrollment vs 507 in 2014
• 768 upgrade and one half credit online enrollment in 2015
 By Staff
October 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
At its meeting on Sept. 28, Burlington City Council approved a new bylaw prohibiting the feeding of wild animals, including coyotes, in the city’s public parks. The bylaw will not however become effective for one year.
 The bylaw prohibiting the feeding of wildlife in public parks goes into effect in one year. “This new bylaw will help the city address public concerns over coyotes by trying to prevent conflicts before they occur,” said Scott Stewart, the city’s general manager of development and infrastructure. “Research and experience show that one of the most significant things everyone can do to reduce direct public interaction with coyotes is to avoid feeding them.”
 Swans can be fed but only by those who are licensed. The no feeding wildlife bylaw prohibits the feeding of any wildlife including waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, in public spaces. City Council approved an amendment to the bylaw to allow the Trumpeter Swan Coalition to continue its work with the trumpeter swans that live in LaSalle Park.
“Like all wildlife in Burlington, coyotes are just trying to survive, and they do that by finding food sources,” said Tracey Burrows, manager of bylaw enforcement and licensing. “The new bylaw will not come into effect for one year, during which time the city will be reaching out to residents to help inform them about how we can work together to eliminate and properly manage food sources around homes to ensure coyotes remain wary of humans.”
In addition to the no feeding wildlife bylaw, the city also offers an online service where residents can report coyote sightings. These sightings are monitored and tracked by city animal services staff to learn more about which areas of the city coyotes are located.
For more information about coyotes or to report a coyote sighting, please visit www.burlington.ca/coyote.
 By Staff
October 5th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The views of political personalities on issues that are critical to the social well being of the country are important and deserve the widest possible audience. Former Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams speaks out on Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s position on the wearing of the niqab during citizenship swearing in ceremonies.
The Gazette believes this country is bigger than the Prime Minister that currently leads us
Former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Danny Williams saaid in a CBC News story that some of the tactics of Conservative Leader Stephen Harper are borderline racist.
Williams, who led a Progressive Conservative government in Canada’s most easterly province from 2003 to 2010, launched his latest scathing attack against Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada on Sunday during an interview with CBC News.
He used the word racism in reference to the debate over the wearing of the niqab by Muslim women taking part in the oath of citizenship.
Williams said the issue is not worthy of becoming a national issue, but the Conservatives have latched onto it in order to secure votes.
 The tolerance for which Canada is respected around the world has been severely damaged by the actions of the Prime Minister over woman wearing a niqab during citizenship swearing in ceremonies. “He doesn’t care if he isolates the issues of women or if he isolates the issue of minorities, and even crosses, possibly, that racism line,” Williams stated.
Williams accused Harper of breaking a promise on equalization payments, igniting an unusual rift between the two Conservative cousins.
The campaign was hugely successful, with not a single Conservative candidate winning election in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The federal Conservatives remain very unpopular in the province, which is largely a legacy of Williams’s ABC campaign.
Williams left office in late 2010 with his popularity still largely intact, and his views still carry a lot of weight in the province.
Williams is obviously hoping his unfiltered attack on Harper will make a difference in a three-way race between the Conservatives, Liberals and New Democrats.
“Over time we’ve seen that this man cannot be trusted. He had no integrity. He’s trying to stifle democracy. There’s no end to what he’s doing,” said Williams.
“He’s a lousy prime minister who’s divisive.”
 By Pepper Parr
October 5th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Membership has its privileges – The Art Gallery of Burlington launched their fall season with a members only reception that had the xx artists in the fall program on hand to chat up their work and answer questions.
 Laurin’s work plays with family and found photographs that he reinterprets In Spirit
In Spirit presents the work of Timothy Laurin, John Latour and Heather Murray. Timothy Laurin’s work plays with family and found photographs that he reinterprets. His practice focuses on identity and memory and how one informs the other and keep in flux one’s sense of self.
John Latour’s text-based art, sculpture, and found photography highlight the ways in which we connect with the past, and how this uniquely human activity is mediated through words, objects, and images. Heather Murray is influenced by her rural backdrop and creates diligently and enthusiastically out of her haunted historical studio in Owen Sound Ontario.
This exhibition is co-curated by Virginia Eichhorn, Tom Thomson Art Gallery, and Denis Longchamps, Art Gallery of Burlington. The exhibition will run from September 19, 2015 to November 15, 2015.
Co-curation with the Tom Thomson Art Gallery is not small potatoes.
 Drawn from the AGB’s Permanent Collection of Contemporary Canadian Ceramics, five artists – Bruce Cochrane, Reid Flock, Harlan House, Ruth Gowdy McKinley, and Kayo O’Young demonstrate their mastery over the medium. Not to be missed. Thrown
While the thrown vessel is the most common ceramic form, great skill is required to achieve total control in the medium. Once this level of skill is reached, the artist can then either create ever more complex forms or loosen up and relax. Drawn from the AGB’s Permanent Collection of Contemporary Canadian Ceramics, five artists – Bruce Cochrane, Reid Flock, Harlan House, Ruth Gowdy McKinley, and Kayo O’Young demonstrate their mastery over the medium.
The permanent collection is gem that is all too often hidden – it was what validates the existence of the gallery – the rest of the country just hasn’t discovered it yet.
Curated by Jonathan Smith, the exhibition will run from September 19, 2015 to December 31, 2015 in the Perry Gallery.
 a snapshot of one of the collages “5 Glasses” featuring a photo of artist Clive Tucker surrounded by five different types of glasses. Click. Clip. Paste.
Jonathan Smith presents fifteen of his photo-collages ranging from the earliest created around 1997, to the latest one hung while the glue was still wet. Friends and family of the artist act as his models in this show.
The presence of the artist is suggested through his reflection with his eyeglasses or drinking glasses located in the foreground. Each work follows a set of formal principles: a grid is used for the collage composition following concerns of proportions, dynamic tensions and lines. The photos however were taken without any planned composition in mind. Many are captured at a table sharing a meal, at other times the models pose for the purpose of creating a collage.
Smith is the curator of the permanent collection. He has been with the AGB for 25 years and is an artist in his own right. The showing of his personal work in an exhibition was part of the thank you from the gallery board. Well deserved.
The exhibition is on until October 18, 2015 in the RBC Community Gallery.
 The AGB is going to use the corridor spaces to focus on regional work from different parts of the country. This preserve jar is a prairie contribution. Amber Fields of Grain
The wide open spaces of the Canadian Prairies have been home to a great many well-known Canadian ceramic artists. Beside such great functional potters like Robert Archambeau, the Prairies have produced its own particular brand of sculpture, “Prairies’ Funk” that was created by such notables as Joe Fafard and Victor Cicansky. The Wild West has its own unique culture that is explored, often with great humour and insight that reflects the wide open spaces of the plains.
This is an ongoing 2015-2016 exhibition curated by AGB Permanent Collection Curator, Jonathan Smith.
The Gallery is open to the public:
Monday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 12 noon – 5:00 pm
Admission is free
 By Ray Rivers
October 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Ray Rivers has been writing a column on political issues in the province and across the country. The Gazette asked Rivers to drop his regular column and write instead on what took place during the week. This is his fourth column on the federal election and what has transpired to date.
The polls are starting to widen as Canadians begin the process of finally making up their minds. The Liberals are trending up and the NDP down, as the two parties have virtually swapped positions from the start of the campaign. Atlantic Canada is consistently showing red and the prairies blue, but Quebec, Ontario and B.C. are still very much in play.
What were the issues that got the electorate to this point?
The Munk debate on international issues was by far the best debate of the campaign followed by Friday’s French language debate in Quebec, thanks in part to the skilled moderation of these events. It is unfortunate that so-called ‘wedge’ issues have come to override the debate of serious issues at this late date in the campaign.
 The niquab – it is being made into an object of fear rather than a part of religious dress for some people. It has also become a fashion statement for some woman. One of those wedgies is Mr. Harper’s promise to ban the ‘Niqab’, a simple woman’s head garment, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that a ban is unconstitutional. It is superfluous the Court says. Everyone is already required to show their face for identity and photographs prior to the actual swearing-in. Further, security is ensured through background checks and signatures, making the Niqab debate such a non-issue.
The PM is ‘full of baloney’ on this issue, according to those who meter these things. But more important is his shameless misleading of the Canadian public. Another wedge issue, also in play, is the annulment of a person’s citizenship.
The loss of citizenship is the last thing the group of 18 Toronto terrorists will regret as they rot in prison for the rest of their lives. But isn’t this a slippery slope – removing the rights of citizenship for some bad actors begs the question – why stop there?
 Citizenship ceremonies take place across the country – they are proud moments for those participating. Citizenship is a serious matter. Don’t we need to have a serious discussion about making it two-tiered, and conditional on the whim of a desperate PM, in the midst of an election campaign? One of those 18 being ‘de-citizened’ was born in Canada, with parents who long ago renounced their original citizenships to become Canadians. Where would Mr. Harper deport him to if he weren’t already headed to a Canadian prison for the rest of his life?
But the really big story this week is the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) which the PM is determined to sign, without debate, even as we sunset this election campaign. Encompassing 40% of global gross domestic product, this agreement is the mother of all trade deals. Yet over the last couple of decades so many tariff barriers have been whittled down such that other factors, for example exchange rates, can be more of a stimulus or impediment to trade.
We know that Canada’s auto parts and supply-managed agricultural industries are at risk from this deal. New Zealand, one of the instigators of the TPP, wants to sell its surplus industrial milk powder into our markets. And if they get a toehold into our supply managed systems, the US is chomping at the bit to dump its subsidized fluid milk onto our grocery counters, putting at least some of our dairy farmers out of business. Oh, and many US dairy producers use a nasty growth hormone which is banned in this country.
But, despite our health laws, we will have to allow American milk companies to sell their milk here because the TPP is really about investor power, about ensuring market access for investors and transnational corporations.
Twenty years ago the world rejected corporate globalization through something called MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment), a contract by which nations would surrender much of their domestic sovereignty to corporations. Now it sure looks like the MAI is back in sheep’s clothing.
 NAFTA, the template for so many of these ‘free-trade’ deals, already allows international companies to sue governments if they feel their right to sell into a market is impeded. And the TPP will supplant NAFTA, adding even more parties to the deal and bringing sovereign national rules and regulations over the economy, environment and social policy to their lowest common denominator. This is the perfect business model for non-interventionist governments – those which believe that government should stay out of trying to regulate its way to a better future, as the current one does, leaving that role to the business community,.
Of course the devil will be in the TPP details, and that makes this deal a pig-in-a-poke. ‘Trust me’ to look after the interest of Canadians,’ is what the PM is saying. And if you listen to the folks in Quebec or Newfoundland, who have been burned by this government on previous trade concessions in the dairy and fisheries industries, that trust is a breach of faith.
Canada’s embrace of free trade over the last decade has coincided with the loss of 400,000 manufacturing jobs and led, in part, to Canada scoring a record trade deficit this year.
 Is there a really Canadian beer company left? Moosehead – that is a Canadian Major Canadian entities like Inco, Alcan, Stelco, and our beer companies have been swallowed up by foreign conglomerates, and in some cases, as with Stelco, shut down to reduce competition for their international parents.
The theory of comparative advantage, that pillar of free trade economic logic, has allowed this government to regress Canada’s once balanced economy. We have almost become the hewers and drawers of natural resources, which we were at confederation. Without the resilience of a balanced economy we find ourselves at the mercy of the international commodity markets and their inherent booms and busts.
But perhaps the real reason the US has fallen in love with the TPP is China. Having surpassed the USA, China is now the largest economy on the planet, something which unnerves political nationalists stateside. So the TPP, which includes 11 nations, but not China, will help to contain the ‘waking dragon’ by drawing an economic curtain around it in the Pacific Ocean.
Given the cloud of secrecy surrounding this TPP deal, it is unclear how much of a role Canada played in its design and in negotiating its terms so as to protect our economy. Since it will replace NAFTA as it steamrolls its way forward, we may have no choice but to get on board. Still, why the rush and all the secrecy? Shouldn’t the public be given a chance to see and comment before we sign onto to something as awesome as this huge trade pact?
Tom Mulcair says he’d tear up the TPP if it endangers our supply management systems. Justin Trudeau, whose father established our supply management systems, promises to defend the farmers if elected.
Mr. Harper, who prides himself on having shut down the Wheat Board has no such affection for supply management, though it would be political suicide for him to say so, especially during an election campaign. So what about it, can we trust him?
 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:
Niqab Baloney Citizenship Process
Toronto 18
Nenshi and the Niqab
French Language Debate TPP Winner and Losers TPP Dairy
TPP Negotiations TPP Explainer TPP Secrecy MAI
The US Position TPP Investment More TPP Investment Supply Management Fisheries
More Fisheries Export Deficit Overnight Polls
 By Staff
October 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On Friday October 1st, at approximately 2:37pm, members of the Halton Regional Police Service were called to an apartment located at 1285 Ontario Street in the City of Burlington in response to a verbal argument between the occupants inside one of the apartments. Police received further information that one of the occupants had armed themselves with a knife.
Members of the Halton Regional Police Tactical Rescue Unit officers attended and were able to resolve the incident which resulted in no injury to either of the involved persons.
A 45 year old female Burlington resident has been arrested for offences that include:
-assault
-assault with a weapon
-forcible confinement
-uttering a threat
The accused was held in custody for a bail hearing. She will appear before WASH court (weekends and statutory holidays) on October 3rd 2015.
Anyone with information that would assist in this investigation is asked to contact Detective Joe Barr at 905-825-4747 extension 2385 of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Staff
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service have released their 24th Fugitive Friday bulletin and are asking the public to help them find Michael Adam DAWE, 19 years old, of Brampton, ON.
 Every Friday, the Burlington Offender Management Unit shares information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual.
They share “Fugitive Friday” information on our website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
There are numerous people who continue to evade the police and the court system and continue to live in our communities while having a warrant for their arrest in place.
In this edition of Fugitive Fridays the 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for Michael Adam DAWE, 19 years old, of Brampton, ON.
In August 2014, the accused and another party travelled to Burlington with the intent to commit an indictable offence (Robbery).
While on route to their targeted location the parties were stopped and investigated by a ride spot check. Officers at the scene conducted an investigation and found the accused to be in possession of an unauthorized weapon.
The accused was arrested and charged and was scheduled to re-attend court in September 2015 which he failed to do and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He is wanted by Halton Regional Police Service for:
Possession of a Weapon – Dangerous Purpose
Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon
Conspiracy to Commit and Indictable Offence
Fail to Re-Attend Court
DAWE is described as 5’11”, 190 lbs, blue eyes and brown hair. DAWE has Tattoos of a “Running Man” on his left arm, “Pizza” on his left thigh and writing on his right buttocks. ADAMS has ties to Brampton and the surrounding areas.
Anyone who may have witnessed this male 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 Staff
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
How did you use the city’s swimming pools this summer?
Many people didn’t get to use the Nelson pool at all – but that is a different story isn’t it?
The City is asking Burlington residents to complete a survey to tell the city how they use city pools during the summer.
 Chris Glenn, director of parks and recreation said in a media release: “We know many residents were disappointed that Nelson Pool did not open this summer. We want to know how they use pools so we can consider their feedback during our investigation of summer pool needs in Burlington.”
A survey is available online. Pool users can access the survey until Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015.
The input from the pool survey will be used to help City Council make decisions about the future direction of outdoor pools in Burlington. The results will be outlined in a report to council this fall.
For more information on Burlington pools, visit www.burlington.ca/swimming.
By Walter Byj
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Have you heard the term “Active Transportation”? Be prepared to hear the phrase bandied about in the next few months.
Active transportation is defined as human powered transportation such as walking, cycling, wheeling and other methods using mobility devices. This would apply whether going to the store, to work or to school.
It is a buzz phrase at all levels of government. Now how we shop or get to work is for the time being, our decision. However, the Halton District School Board can definitely have some influence as to how children reach school.
 During a ride the bike to school week students at Charles Beaudoin school liked the idea and 200 students stuck with their bikes after the event. Over the last number of years, vehicular traffic around schools has increased tremendously. There was a time when most students walked to schools. That certainly is my memory. With changing times, many more students are reaching school either through busing or car transportation.
There are many reasons that contribute to increased vehicular traffic, (safety issues, French Immersion) there has been a fundamental change as to how students reach school. Approach any school close to the opening bell and you are in the middle of a traffic jam.
This has resulted in schools needing to use the available land for circular drop off points or expanded parking lots. The HDSB did in fact promote the use of Active Transportation back in September of 2014, to date, there has not been too much traction in this area.
Well, this is about to change.
 Burlington school board trustee Andre Grebenc has brought forward a motion for an Active Transportation program A motion presented by Trustee Andrea Grebenc (Burlington), who is also chair of the Transportation Committee, recommended that the board renew its commitment to Active and Sustainable Transportation and to explore, evaluate and participate in collaboration with other school boards, municipalities, the provincial Government and other potential stakeholders is presenting a workable solution.
So why this concern about active transportation?
Various studies point to the evidence that those students who use some sort of physical activity prior to the commencement of the school day tend to concentrate better and achieve higher results than those who do not get any physical activity prior to school.
Some of the ideas to achieve active transportation?
 Actively promoted – children will take to walking to school on a regular basis. • Walking Wednesdays
• Walk a Block (A drop off zone at least a block from the school)
• Bike Trains (Group of bikers along a pre-designated route)
• Walking School Bus (Parent volunteers walking a route and picking up students)
Implementation of some of these ideas would not only create a level of physical activity for students, but could also improve the air quality near the schools.
With an interim plan due in December of this year, this initiative is going to get a lot of discussion – the board is expected to initiative some public consultation prior to that date.
Background links:
City is pushing more walking and cycling as part of its draft Master Transportation Plan
If you give students a chance to make more use of their bikes – they will
By Staff
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service have received three separate complaints from victims of a variant of a common phone fraud known as the “Grandparent Scam”. All three victims were residents of the City of Burlington and all three had adult children who were the subject of the scam.
The fraudsters are calling un-suspecting victims and claiming to represent the victims son/daughter who has been involved in an accident and needs financial assistance in order to be released following an arrest.
The fraudsters will then ask the victim to wire money to another third party usually out of the country in order to effect the release of their son or daughter.
In the latest rash of calls the suspects have been asking for money to be wired to Lebanon and combined the victims have wired a little under $20,000 dollars overseas. Once the suspects find a victim who is willing they will continue to call and ask for more money for various other delays in the court process.
The Halton Police Fraud Unit is warning the public of these ongoing frauds and advising that before doing anything to contact the involved family member and confirm they are OK.
Prevention is the biggest tool at the disposal of the police in these circumstance and once the money has been wired overseas it is gone for good and following the trail to a suspect is almost never successful. Any of the information provided during the phone call or for the purposes of the financial transaction is fake and subsequent investigation only takes police to a dead end.
Also still prevalent in the GTA area is the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) phone scam. Police again want to warn members of the public that the CRA will never solicit money owing on an account over the phone. There are numerous administrative stages that the CRA will enter into first before making any demands for payment of fines or accounts and anyone who receives a phone call claiming to be from the CRA as their first contact on a delinquent account should independently contact the CRA to confirm the information.
With today’s technology the suspects could be working from anywhere in the world and are very skillful in hiding their true identity and location. If you are unsure, always make independent contact with the agency the suspects claim to be calling from and confirm the information you are provided.
 By Staff
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School board advised yesterday afternoon that a tentative agreement has been reached with Halton secondary teachers, however labour sanctions remain in place until deal is ratified
The Halton District School Board and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) advised that the deal must be ratified by both the local Halton OSSTF teacher members and the Halton District School Board. Terms of the tentative agreement will be shared once the ratification process is completed.
Local administrative sanctions will remain in place until the tentative agreement has been ratified by the Board and the local OSSTF membership.
 By Staff
September 30th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Detours will be in effect for Routes 3, 4 and 10 from approximately 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. due to several road closures in downtown Burlington.
Route 4 will not be able to access Teen Tour Way (into the Central Library and Senior’s Centre bus stop location) and will need to use Drury Lane instead.
The remaining detours are as follows:
Route 3 North:
• From the Terminal
• Left on Pine Street
• Left on Elizabeth Street
• Right on James Street
• Left on Drury Lane
• Right on Woodward Avenue
• Left on Guelph Line
• Resume regular routing
Route 3 South:
• From Guelph and Woodward
• Right on Woodward Avenue
• Left on Drury Lane
• Right on New Street
• Left on Elizabeth Street
• Right on Pine Street
• Right on John Street
• Into the Terminal
Route 10 West:
• From New Street
• Right on Woodview Road
• Left on Rexway Drive
• Right on Cumberland
• Left on Prospect
• Left on Drury Lane
• Right on New Street
• Resume regular routing
Route 10 East:
• From New Street
• Left on Drury Lane
• Right on Prospect
• Right on Cumberland
• Left on Rexway
• Right on Woodview Road
• Left on New Street
• Resume regular routing
By Pepper Parr
September 30th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Standing in rain that would not stop – some sixty people involved in the electrical generation business listened to polite speeches and cut a large red ribbon to open a pilot co-generation station at the south end of the Burlington Hydro offices on Brant Street.
 Cutting the ceremonial ribbon is Deputy Mayor and ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven. To his right are : Bob Delaney, MPP, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy, MPP Eleanor McMahon, Hydro President Gerry Smallegange. Defined as a Micro Turbine Cogeneration Plant it is part of the City of Burlington’s Community Energy Plan (CEP).
Natural gas is fed into the unit which then produces both electricity and heat – enough to heat one third of the Burlington Hydro offices on Brant Street.
 Three micro turbines and a heat recover unit in this micro co-generation project produce 90kv of electricity and enough heat to take care of one third of the needs of the the Hydro head office on Brant Street; Bob Delaney, MPP, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy explained that “Projects like this one not only offer a sustainable way to generate electricity, they can also provide valuable insights for other organizations considering the benefits of future cogeneration or district heating projects in the Burlington area.”
As a central partner in the development of the CEP, Burlington Hydro has committed to demonstrating technologies and evaluating their effectiveness in commercial and larger residential buildings by undertaking certain pilot projects through its affiliate, Burlington Electricity Services Inc.
“Increasing sustainable local energy generation in ways that support the City’s economic competitiveness is an important objective identified in the Community Energy Plan,” says Deputy Mayor Rick Craven, and Ward 1 Councillor. “Not only does this project represent a positive step forward in the implementation of that plan, but because the plant is self-contained and portable, it is well-suited for permanent relocation at sometime in the future.”
 The dignitaries had to stand in the rain to speak to the guests who were tightly packed inside the tent. An interconnection into the building’s electrical supply and heating system produces 90 kW of electricity, enough to offset one third of the building’s peak load and provide sufficient heat for much of the building.
District heating can provide heat for multiple buildings from a single heating plant. Hot water or steam is distributed to these buildings through underground piping. This is an efficient source of energy as district heating systems operate at higher efficiencies than individual building heating systems.
“Cogeneration involves the production of electricity and heat simultaneously from a single fuel source,” explains Gerry Smallegange, Hydro President and CEO. “This is more efficient as the heat normally generated through conventional thermal electricity generation is not wasted.”
 One of three micro turbines that Burlington Hydro bought for the micro co-generation project that is now operational. Smallegange explained that Burlington Hydro became aware of a surplus unit in Kelowna BC, “and we bought it for $37,500 – put it on a flatbed truck and built the shed that encloses it all with lumber donated to us by Habitat for Humanity”.
By Staff
September 30, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
City Hall will be getting some upgrades to the electrical system which will result in a number of services will be unavailable from 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 until-mid morning on Saturday, Oct. 3.
 Communicating with city hall will be very difficult Friday evening and Saturday morning – email service is included. During the upgrade, the following services will be unavailable:
• Inbound calls to city buildings, including Burlington Transit
• Emails to and from the city
• Online payments and registrations
• Credit and debit card payments at recreation centres
• Parking exemptions
• Marriage licences
• Dog licences
• Tax payments
• Online reporting
Users of the city’s website may also experience service disruptions.
Calls to 911 will not be affected.
All services are expected to be restored and operational by mid-morning on Saturday, Oct. 3.
By Pepper Parr
September 30, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
We used to refer to the group that have organized themselves as an Art Collective – ACCOB – which stands for the Arts and Culture Collective of Burlington as an “emerging” group. That day has passed – they are now trying very hard to gain a foothold and to have an impact on the way arts and culture policy and spending are done in Burlington. So far they aren’t getting the traction they need and feel they deserve.
 Art Gallery of Burlington – costs the city close to a million to run – is there value for money? Of course there is – but without artists would we need it?  The Performing Arts Centre has had an immense impact on the artistic growth of the city – and the arts community is now able to make great use of the space. They are dealing with a city hall that is close to patronizing to the individual artists and at the same time spends million on buildings and the subsidizing of an Art Gallery, a Performing Arts Centre and a Museum Board.
The artists feel they should form an Arts Council and be at the table with the same clout, financial benefit and influences the other organizations.
 Jeremy Frieburger, author of a report that provided direction for the city’s cultural plan based on reams of data he had gathered. Now the city has to determine how it wants ti implement its Cultural Action Plan. The city has a Cultural Action Plan and a committee that is involved in overseeing the roll out of that plan. One would like to think that having artists sitting on that implementation committee would be a positive sign – and indication that the artists are finally getting the influence they feel they deserve.
Afraid not – there is trouble in paradise.
 The Art in Action Studio Tour is a ten year success. The event is free to the public and there isn’t a dime of public money in the project. Teresa Seaton, who is a significant part of the driving force behind the Art in Action group that holds an annual art tour that is very successful – they have been putting on the event for more than ten years and are financially successful enough to be able to award a scholarship each year, thinks an Arts Council is needed.
Seaton is also a commercially successful Stained Glass artist with a studio in the west end of the city.
On the Collective Facebook page she made some comments … well let’s let Seaton speak for herself:
“Interesting meeting today as a delegate from the External Body Committee to CAPIC -The Cultural Action Plan Implementation Committee. Seems we are still defending the need for an Arts and Culture Council to the city. One of the questions that came up was: What would an Arts and Culture Council do for us, the arts and culture community, in Burlington. As far as I can tell one of the first things an Arts Council would do with funding it hopefully gets is to ask the community what can an Arts Council do for you? And because it seems we are a long way from getting any funding for an Arts Council I thought I might throw up the question here on face book. My personal suggestions…”
An Arts and Culture Council could;
1. Lobby the city to implement, or increase, the already existing public art fee on new developments. I believe the existing recommendation is 1%. I have trouble finding this information.
2. Lobby to lower rental cost for art and culture makers and organizations. No artist that I know can afford retail prices for space. Guess why they all move to Hamilton.
3. Assist arts and culture organization in allowing them access to city printing presses and costs. I know my organization, Art in Action, spends 2,000.00 every year to print its brochures. That money could be used to buy more advertising.
4. Run courses for non-profit organization in gaining more sponsorship dollars. As artists we are not particularly good at this either.
5. Run courses on Succession planning for non-profit organizations. We need help at this.
6. Set up courses for individual artist on social media. How to use it, how to design websites and communicate effectively.
7. Set up forums and try to figure out why the local guilds don’t talk to the local contemporary artists who don’t talk to the local traditional artist who don’t talk to the local crafters who don’t talk to anybody.
 Teresa Seaton – stained Glass artist “Don’t get me wrong; the City of Burlington has come a long way in the last few years. I see the institutions working together more. There seems to be more community involvement in these institutions. But let’s not let this momentum stop.”
CAPIC: the Cultural Action Plan Implementation Committee consists of:
Scott Stewart, General Manager for the city
Angela Paparizo, Manager of Culture for the city
Chris Glenn; Director of Parks and Recreation
Barb Teatero Manager of the Museums Board which runs the Joseph Brant Museum and Ireland House.
Maureen Barry, president of the library
Rossana Dewey, an artist
Trevor Copp, a dancer
Andrea Battista, involved with Symphony on the Bay
Robert Steven, Executive Director of the Art Gallery of Burlington.
Six of the eight people on the committee are bureaucrats – there is no balance here.
The meeting Seaton attended and delegated at also had two other city hall staff and a ward Councillor.
Seaton is quite right when she talks about how far the artists have come – they have risen, literally, and said “we are here and we want to be heard”. And city council, a bit surprised at the artistic energy they didn’t know existed, put money into hiring a consultant who put together a cultural action plan that the city adopted – sort of, and the created a committee to implement that plan.
And that is sort of where things are stuck.
The artists don’t fully comprehend that politicians and bureaucrats do not give away power – they accumulate power and they are for the most part loathe to share that power.
The only way the people (in this case the artists) wrestle power from the bureaucrats is to threaten the power base they have.
 Joe Lamb, on the left, negotiated a deal for the seniors – he didn’t get the kitchen sink because he didn’t ask for it – but he got everything else he wanted. Then city manager Jeff Fielding was told to keep the seniors happy and he did. There is a lesson for the arts community here. A classic example of this was when the seniors began to complain about what they were not getting from the city. They, the seniors, were not happy with the people city hall had sent over to administrate their Centre and they were quick to get on the phone and let the Council members know they were not happy.
The new city manager at the time was sent over to meet and negotiate with the seniors who got everything they had asked for and more. Jeff Fielding, the city manager at the time, was told to meet with the seniors and keep them happy.
Canadians learned yesterday that Canada now has more people over 65 than we have under 14 – the power has shifted to the seniors and they are going to get what they want o they will vote the politicians out of office.
What kind of clout do the artists have? They are creative people with the ability to give the city character, colour, reputation and a reason to visit the place.
The Sound of Music hasn’t learned yet how to use the clout they have. They constantly complain about how little they get from city hall and compare that with how much business they create for that downtown core that is still looking for its vibrancy.
Imagine what would happen if the Sound of Music decided they would not put on their event for a year. You can only imagine the hair pulling that would take place at city hall.
Seaton is right on another level as well; the artists have to begin working like an orchestra and all play from the same sheet music. The squabbling that goes on between the different artists and the different groups is not pretty. They are admittedly high strung people – they go without to be artists but at some point they have to create a united front and use the strength that comes from unity to make their case.
City council has consistently said the arts are important – and they do pump a lot into the institutions we have. The artists want a real seat at the table – they are going to have to require the politicians to walk their talk. It will not be easy – but it can be done – look at what the seniors achieved.
By Staff
September 29, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If you are a tweeter – I mean a full time addicted tweeter – then this is for you.
You are invited by the Regional police to join the conversation about what is going on in police services on Twitter during the 5th Global Police Tweet-a-thon.
 On Friday October 2, 2015, police services all over the world will be participating in a 24 hour tweet-a-thon with the intent to connect with communities, build relationships and educate the public on what the police are doing.
Between 00:00am and 11:59pm, follow the hashtag #Poltwt on Twitter and see what is going on around the globe.
For the tweet addicts – this is as good as it gets.
@HaltonPolice will be participating and will be tweeting about operational calls for service across the region, traffic, impaired driving, cold case homicides, drugs, frauds, canine and educational topics and safety tips from our website.
By Pepper Parr
September 29, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Parks and Recreation department has decided to re-launch of the neighbourhood rink program for winter 2015/16.
The positive impacts from a community rink on private property in the Mountainside Area and two consecutive cold winters was enough to bring back the outdoor rink program.
 Parks and recreation department thinks a total of 17 neighbourhood rinks could be created – all people have to do is apply. Eleven parks have a flat area that is in close proximity to a city water supply and are able to support a neighbourhood rink. Some parks can fit more than one rink, for up to 17 outdoor rinks.
The following parks can take an outdoor rink:
Brant Hills Park, Bridgeview Park, Central Park, Ireland Park, Lowville Park, Mountainside Park, Nelson Park, Orchard Park, Sheldon Park, Sherwood Park, and Tansley Woods Park,
Other parks may be considered on an individual basis if residents are willing to provide their own water supply, and the park has a suitable flat area.
Residents interested in having a rink need to gather at least six other neighbours and complete an online application form that will be available at burlington.ca/skating.
Staff will review submissions, award rinks, and provide an information package to successful applicants on how best to make and maintain ice.
 There are parents out there that take great pleasure in going out late at night after the kids are in bed and flooding the neighbourhood rink. Staff will put up boards, supply hoses and provide an orientation session for the residents. Staff will also conduct an initial rink inspection.
The neighbourhood group will perform the initial and subsequent floods, shovel the snow, and manage issues among themselves as much as possible.
Help get the word out!
Please share the messaging about the program with the residents. Staff will supply communication pieces that members of Council can insert into their ward communications. Encourage residents to get out and get active this winter!
Key dates:
Late September: Communication Launch to Residents
Sept 28-Nov 1: Application Period
Mid November: Rink locations awarded
Mid December: Rink boards setup in approved locations
March: Rink take down (weather dependent)
By Pepper Parr
September 29, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
“Oh yes, you do that” was the comment from Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster who was serving as the Deputy Mayor at a city Council meeting Monday evening.
The Mayor has in the past appointed a Deputy to represent the him at an event; should he not be available for a Council meeting – his Deputy fills in. This rarely happens in Burlington.
 Councillor Blair Lancaster serving as Deputy Mayor and chairing a city council meeting. Lancaster needed to get a grip on the job of serving as Mayor and chairing a Council meeting. She stepped a little outside the rule book when she began to call a recorded vote and surprised city Clerk Angela Morgan who is the person who calls the roll when a vote is being recorded.
 Blair Lancaster, serving as deputy mayor gets her paper work looked over by her Mother, Donna Lancaster, after the Council meeting. Lancaster did a fine job. She brought her poise and politeness to the task and explained to the view audience (Council meetings are broadcast live via Cogeco Cable) what was happening each step of the way. She did a better job at that task than Mayor Goldring does; he often appears strained when he is explaining something.
Lancaster was just loving the job – the only thing she didn’t get to do was wear the Chain of Office.
The event was big enough in the Lancaster household for Blair to have her husband and Mother Donna in the Council Chamber to witness the event.
Are the pictures they took part of some future campaign literature?
As for the Mayor – well no one is saying where he is other than that he is away on “official business”. The Gazette had learned that the Mayor was in China and his office was able to confirm that the Mayor was on an out of town trip. Which when asked they added he was in China and due back on Wednesday.
Municipal government rarely, if ever, works directly with a foreign government. One can speculate that the city’s economic development department has put together a deal with a Chinese company and that the Mayor has travelled to welcome the company to the city.
The Executive Director of the Economic Development corporation is away on vacation and not due back until October 5th; the Gazette understood the McKeown vacation was planned some time ago.
 Mayor Rick Goldring in China on “official business” The Mayor’s communications adviser and his Chief of Staff are not on the trip to China.
It is all a bit of a mystery – but something is up.
Burlington takes has a different definition of community engagement – ‘tell them what they should know when we feel they should know’ just about sums it up.
 By Staff
September 28, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Police Services Board Chair, Oakville Mayor R. Burton announced today that two Halton Superintendents were selected as the Police Service’s next Deputy Chiefs of Police.
Superintendent Carol Crowe, the current Commander of 2 District (Oakville) and Superintendent Nishan Duraiappah who is in charge of the Services’ Office of Continuous Improvement and Strategic Management were appointed by the Police Services Board at a special meeting held on September 25.
In making the announcement, Board Chair Mayor Burton expressed extreme pleasure with the calibre of talent the successful candidates bring to their roles. He also noted that an internal/external search was conducted and is proud that the Board was able to promote members of the Halton Regional Police Service to Deputy Chief.
Board Chair Mayor Burton stated: “The Board and I are confident that Carol Crowe and Nish Duraiappah will maintain and build upon the legacy of excellence and integrity demonstrated by members of the Halton Regional Police Service which is expected by the citizens of Halton.”
Both Crowe and Duraiappah are residents of Halton and possess impressive skills.
 Described a Councillor Jack Dennison as a “home grown” girl and a fine addition to the senior ranks of the Halton Regional Police Service as a Deputy Chief. Deputy Chief Crowe joined the Halton Regional Police Service in October 1989. She holds a Bachelor of Physical Education from McMaster University and has taken numerous policing courses through the Canadian Police College. She has been assigned to various patrol and administrative bureaus within the Police Service, most recently as Commander of Oakville, Professional Standards, and Human Resources Services. She gives back to the community by serving as a Director on many not-for-profit community organizations.
Crowe said: “I am truly honoured to be appointed as Deputy Chief for the Halton Regional Police Service. Leading in a police organization has many challenges but I am confident that together with our dedicated team of sworn and civilian members, we will continue to provide our community with the effective police service they deserve. I look forward to continuing to build upon the positive relationships we share with our community and working together to ensure Halton remains a safe place for citizens to live, work and raise a family.”
 Nish Duraiappah got his first taste of police work when he took a PEACE (Police Ethnic and Cultural Education) Program course offered by the Halton Regional Police Service Deputy Chief Duraiappah became interested in policing by attending the Service’s PEACE (Police Ethnic and Cultural Education) Program while in high school. He went on to complete a degree in Criminology and Sociology at the University of Toronto, and is completing his Diploma of Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario. He started his policing career in 1995 when he was hired by the Halton Regional Police Service. He has worked in numerous assignments such as Regional Drug and Morality Bureau, Diversity Coordinator and uniform and investigative roles. He was also involved in the establishment of the Region’s first Community Mobilization and Engagement Strategy collaborative hub which is being implemented across all Districts. He also is involved in many community initiatives both locally and internationally and recently returned from a short term mission to Haiti to assist in their rebuilding projects.
“I am honoured and proud to accept this new and challenging role with the Halton Regional Police Service. I’m looking forward to working with our service members, leadership team, Police Services Board and the many community members and organizations who contribute to this being one of the safest communities in Canada. Without a doubt, our citizens should know that they are policed by some of the best police officers and civilians within the field of policing – this is what makes me proud, and allows us to continue to lead community safety initiatives and meet the needs of our changing community” said Duraiappah.
 Chief Tanner now has two deputy chiefs from within the ranks of the police service he commands. Chief Steve Tanner said: “As Chief of Police I am extremely proud of our two new Deputy Chiefs and I want to congratulate them on their success. I very much look forward to working with both of them on our senior executive team as we prepare the Halton Regional Police Service for the challenges of the future. We have a collective opportunity to further our tremendous organizational successes and to continue to identify and implement strategies to make us increasingly effective and efficient. I am confident that both Deputy Chiefs Crowe and Duraiappah possess the knowledge, skills, experience and attitudes to contribute significantly to the future success of the Service, and in doing so to the safety and security of all we serve.”
The Swearing In Ceremony for Deputy Chiefs Crowe and Duraiappah will take place on October 9th.
The Halton Regional Police Services Board is a seven member civilian Board that oversees the Halton Regional Police Service. Under the Police Services Act, the Police’s fundamental responsibility is to ensure adequate and effective police services are provided to the citizens of Halton Region. The board is also responsible for the Police Service operating and capital budgets; strategic planning; policies and priorities.
What is particularly commendable is the promoting of female officers to the very senior ranks and placing members from diverse communities in these roles as well. That Superintendent Duraiappah got his start in policing due to a course offered by the |Region when he was a young man and then went on to become part of the senior level of the police command speaks well of the level of community involvement the Halton Police Service has made one of its hallmarks.
Hiring from within is not a bad practice – but new blood is important. Halton does not want to become known as a police service that never brings in “outsiders”.
 By Staff
September 28, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The U.S. Steel request to be relieved from paying pension supplements and health benefits to retired Hamilton-area steelworkers demonstrates the Conservative government’s failure to stand up for Canadian workers and how far they’ve let the Canadian steel industry slip away at least that’s the way Liberal candidate Karina Gould sees it.
 Conservative incumbent Mike Wallace, who served as chair of the parliamentary steel caucus which was formed in the late 1970s and has strong Burlington roots, welcomed U.S. Steel’s acquisition of Stelco Inc. and at the time “shrugged off concerns about the loss of Canadian ownership in the sector” in 2007.
That shrug has come back to haunt Wallace who has yet to make any comment on what he thinks should be done for the workers in Hamilton –many who live in Burlington.
Liberals support foreign investment in Canada but also believe in the protection of vital Canadian industrial sectors and in putting community-based economic development back on the agenda.
Gould, who understand the economic investment file wants to see the “Investment Canada Act amended to introduce new transparency and enforceability measures to ensure clear and long-term benefits are achieved for Canadians when a foreign takeover takes place.”
“I have spoken with too many people in this community” said Gould “who are frightened about the future of their pension.” Gould added: “The silence of the current Member of Parliament and secret dealings of the Harper government on an issue that could negatively impact thousands of people in our region is simply unacceptable.”
 Liberal candidate Karina Gould wraps Mike Wallace’s knuckles over the attempt on the part of US Steel to change pension benefits “Liberals believe in the principle that employers must honour the commitments made to retirees, and that pensioners must be included in any consultation and planning process to make changes to their existing plans. We have a collective legacy of valuing the long-term pension security of Canadians; a belief upheld in both words and deeds.”
“The Conservative government’s lack of action to protect pensioners in the Statutory Review of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act was completely unacceptable, and is yet another example of them ignoring the concerns of Canadian pensioners.”
There is an election going on and every issue that can be used to gain some mileage will get highlighted. Many thought it was pretty brassy on the part of US Steel to ask that they be permitted to not pay pension benefits and get a waiver on municipal taxes as well.
The pension issue is scary for a lot of people.
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Some students chose to gain full credit enrollments, others chose to either upgrade or have a one half credit; 4312 students chose to either upgrade their marks or to reach-ahead.
