 By Staff
August 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Joseph Brant Day Festival will be the place to be on the August holiday Monday.
Besides partnering with the Toronto 2015 PanAm / Parapan Games the event has taken on a significantly different tone.
It will be a lively day at LaSalle Park where events start at 11 am and runs through to 5 pm.
The captivating Beshano Bike Trials will be featured, the Burlington Soccer Club field games and a slew of music, art and cultural performances of the “Americas” will also be featured.
The day will have an Americas flavour to it recognizing the diversity that the PanAm games brought to the Region. Included in the bill of events are:
 The Beshano Bike Trials will be something to watch – expect crowds larger than those in this picture.  Saúl Torres is capable of seamlessly tying together Latin, Funk, Rock, and Flamenco! Beshano Bike Trials – 3 shows complete with incredible bicycle stuntmanship!
Musicians from the official band of the Toronto FC Major League Soccer accompanying dancers choreographed by the dance instructor and performer who opens the Mas Band launches for Carnival!
Saúl Torres who has emerged as one of the most singular talents of Spanish Rock on the continent, capable of seamlessly tying together Latin, Funk, Rock, and Flamenco!
 Dan Secord native dancer in full dress White Pine First Nations Drum and Dance participants.
Dancescapes Studio with Salsa and Latin dance demonstrations and lessons!
Laura Spada
Farrucas – a Latin Fusion Duo of Laura Spada and Jorge Cuama hailing from Ecuador!
Throughout the day the Children’s Area, Museum Educational Crafts & Activities, Giveaways, PanAm Sports Challenges, Games and Obstacles, Interactive participant events including: Crossfit Altitude, Oakville Fencing Academy, Burlington Youth Soccer Club, Monkeynastic Gymnastics, Bradbury, Splitsville Entertainment & Better State Crew! Splash Park for Kids available, Hands-on Activities, Artisans and Vendors, the Famous Brant Day Silent Auction will be part of an event filled day.
And this year the food offering will be going far beyond the traditional hot dogs and burgers. Sylvia Hentz, Special Events Programmer has arranged for a food truck rally with delicious offerings from gourmet food trucks!
 Taste buds will be in for a real treat given the selection of Food Trucks that are being brought in for the Brant Day Festival at LaSalle Park The rally includes
LUCHADOR – Mexican Fusion / International Cuisine
DOBRO JESTI – Slovenian / German-inspired Cuisine
NUDULZ – Italian Food
MANGO CHUTNEY – Indian Food
URBAN EXPRESS- North American & European-style Steakery
CAFE DU MONDE – French-Parisian & International Crepes
PAPPAS GREEK—Greek Food
TROPICAL TEMPTATIONS –Premium drinks & desserts
Burlington’s taste buds are in for a treat.
 ilaria-spada- Laura Spada will perform at the festival. Parking is always a challenge at LaSalle Park on Brant Day. Shuttle buses will be available to transport visitors from Aldershot GO Station once limited onsite parking at LaSalle Park is filled.
First shuttle bus run leaves the Aldershot Go Station at 10:00 a.m. Last bus leaves at 5:00 pm
 By Staff
July 31, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service successfully completed a two month investigation into identity theft with the arrest of an adult male on 29th July 2015 for trafficking in identify information.
Following recent arrests for suspects using counterfeit ID documents members of the Halton Police Fraud Unit initiated an investigation into the source of the victim’s information.
The investigation led police to suspect that a former employee of GM Financial had been providing identity information to the counterfeiters. With the full co-operation and assistance of GM financial the investigation narrowed down to a former employee who had worked in the customer service department of GM Financial and formally Financial Linx.
GM Financial continue to work with the police to identify any other potential victims, their systems are being analysed to identify any customers who have had files touched by the suspect and those customers can expect to be contact shortly by GM Financial who will then pass any relevant information onto the Police.
Charged is: Moussa KANTE (48yrs)
Of Toronto,Ontario.
Charges: To make available identity information for a fraudulent purpose. Contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.
Halton Police are asking anyone who may believe they have been a victim to this crime to wait until contacted by GM Financial for further direction. There has been no indication thus far that this incident is connected to a previously reported data breach with Financial Linx in 2012.
 By Pepper Parr
July 31, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There was a short period of time when the city fretted over whether the outside workers were going to be available to take care of the pools and the splash pads and we weren’t at all sure that the transit drivers were going to be behind the wheels of the buses.
The city and the unions managed to avoid a strike and came out with an agreement that gave
CUPE Local 44, the City Outside workers negotiated a deal worth 4.25% over 3 years.
CUPE Local 2723 (Transit) negotiated a deal worth 6.95% over 4 years.
There were apparently other benefits negotiated but those details have yet to be released.
 By Pepper Parr
July 31st, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Once we have a well-deserved summer, if albeit a hot one at times, behind us and the kids are back in school – hopefully there won’t be a teachers strike, the city will settle down to the business of becoming what it wants to become.
The agenda for the fall is pretty thick.
In the months ahead the public is going to read about “complete streets”; different “modes” of transportation and transit. Lots about transit and behavioural change.
The city has to get you out of your car. The city has to add thousands of people to its current population which means intensification.
More people, more residential development – and traditionally more cars. But more cars on the streets means more congestion and Burlington doesn’t have much in the way of tolerance for traffic congestion.
City council is going to have to buckle down and bite the transit bullet and slowly lead the public to using transit.
It is not going to be easy.
The current city council isn’t all that good on leading when it comes to hard issues. During the briefing council was given recently on the draft Transportation Master Plan there wasn’t much in the way of comment from Council members.
To his credit ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven lectured that a change is necessary even if the public doesn’t like the idea.
What are the options? How do we get people out of their cars?
 Some of these cars sit in this parking lost most of the day – they are used to get a driver to the GO station in the morning and back home at night. Reliable transit would work better for everyone. A look at the GO station parking lots offers a major opportunity. Why do people drive their car to the GO station and leave it sitting there most of the day?
Because for the bulk of these people transit is not a viable option – bus service has to be convenient if you want people to use it. And there is nothing convenient about the bus service and GO Stations.
A colleague who works at scheduling the delivery of products to retail locations explained to me that there is software out there being used by tens of thousands of organizations every day.
They know what the traffic patterns are and they know when their clients are open – they take all that data and work out a route for every truck they have on the road. If there is a disruption in traffic flow the software will tell them and the truck drivers are alerted.
So why couldn’t the transit people hire a couple of students to spend part of a day going through the GO station parking lots and noting the license numbers on the cars.
The city would then ask the Ministry of Transportation for the address of the owners of the cars and then send each of the car owners a letter asking them if they would use a service that drove by their house, picked them up and dropped them off at the GO station in time to catch the train they wanted to use.
This kind of thing is not rocket science – it is done all the time by the companies that delivery potato chips and soft drinks to convenience stores. They do it because they are motivated to do it – their profits and their jobs depend on their ensuring that products are on the shelves.
The city could easily instruct Burlington Transit to do a pilot study in one part of the city – The Orchard would a very good place to do a pilot.
 A combination of reliable transit service and parking fees to leave a car at the GO station might be the only way the city can bring about a behaviour change when it comes to how we use cars. The city would use smaller buses that would take whatever route was needed to pick up people in front of their house. When the bus was full or it was time to head for the GO station to catch the GO train the bus would end the trip.
How would people get the bus? They would use an app on their cell phone that would call up a screen. Their address would have already been entered into the app as well as the GO station they traditionally use.
The user would click on one of the icons on the screen and request the service would go to the transit company and back would come a message saying what time the bus would bet at the door.
Easy ? probably I’m prepared to bet that the province would put up a large chunk of the cash to pay for the development of such an application – they have to get people out of their cars and transit is the best option.
I can’t see the “suits” driving their bikes to the GO station.
To make using transit more compelling – parking fees at the GO stations could be imposed.
Drastic – probably, but it is clear to the transportation experts and the planners that Burlington has to find a way to cut down the traffic.
If residents found that the service was priced decently and proved to be reliable they will use it – better to have a bus pick you up and get you to the GO station on time without you having to battle traffic congestion.
There is going to be a change in traffic – how the city goes about making it happen is something you want to make sure your opinion is voiced.
Related articles:
A transportation master plan
By Staff
July 31, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington detachment of the Halton Regional Police are in the 15th week of their Fugitive Friday program which they use to seek the support of the public in bringing people charged with an offence to justice.
The police are asking the public to help locate wanted persons and hold them accountable for their actions.
There are numerous people who continue to evade the police and the court system and continue to live out in our communities while having a warrant for their arrest in place.
Every Friday, the Burlington Offender Management Unit will share information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual.
 In this edition of Fugitive Fridays the 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for Beth MICHAUD, 26 years old, from Hamilton.
It is alleged:
In April, 2015, the accused attended multiple Royal Bank branches in the City of Burlington and was successful in cashing one or several fraudulent cheques prior to the institutions becoming aware of her pattern.
In May 2015, the accused was arrested and charged, however failed to appear for her court date on June 17, 2015.
MICHAUD is wanted by the Halton Regional Police for:
Fraud under $5000 x 2
Uttering Forged Documents x 2
Fail to Appear Court
MICHAUD is described as 5’2”, 115lbs, hazel eyes and blonde hair. Michaud has a pierced nose and several tattoos. On her left ear is a music note, right wrist is the name “Lexie” and lower left back is the word “King”. MICHAUD has ties to Hamilton, Burlington and the surrounding area.
Anyone who has information on MICHAUD or can assist investigators in locating her are asked to contact Detective Constable Calvin 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).
The police are sharing “Fugitive Friday” information on their website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
 By Pepper Parr
July 30th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Wheelchair Basketball Parathlete, Brandon Wagner is going to be the Burlington community torchbearer for the TORONTO 2015 Parapan Am Games Torch Relay.
 Brandon Wagner being celebrated by Mayor Rick Goldring The torch relay will visit Burlington on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015
The Parapan Am Games Torch Relay is a five-day inspirational journey of more than 250 torchbearers who will share the Parapan Am spirit in 12 communities. The torch relay is one of the most exciting events as it sets the stage leading up to what
will be the largest Parapan Am Games ever held.
The aluminum torch stands 65 centimetres high and weighs 1.2 kilograms (or roughly the same weight as a baseball bat). With a burn time of 10 to 12 minutes, the flame can withstand winds of up to 70 kilometres per hour and is visible in all kinds of weather conditions.
The torch relay will invite communities to celebrate and share the Parapan Am
spirit throughout its five-day journey towards Toronto, the Host City of the Games.
The torch relay starts Aug. 3, 2015, and concludes Aug. 7, 2015, with the dramatic lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony in Toronto.
Burlington has many reasons to be proud of Wagner – he is a joy to watch when he is on a basketball court.
 By Staff
July 30th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A new chapter in Burlington’s history is unfolding right before our eyes – quite literally…
The team doing the construction of the seven-storey patient care tower have installed a web camera that broadcasts live – you can see what is being done minute by minute
 Enjoy a live look at the steady progress being made to the main construction site where our new hospital will stand in 2018. You can zoom into the site by hovering over the bottom left corner of the screen and clicking + or – and you can click the arrows to move left and right or up and down. You can also get an even bigger view of the site by clicking “Full Screen.” Take a look at the construction site through the lens of the Construction Cam, CLICK HERE you can see Level 1 of our seven-storey patient care tower beginning to take shape, all in real time!
The construction changes each day. To date 180 caissons have been drilled into the ground.
80% of the foundation pile caps (footings) have been completed. The pile caps will hold the columns that will support the new patient tower.
Two crane towers are on site.
The underground mechanical and electrical work is underway and the installation of Cupolex (a mitigation system) has begun.
Construction of the structural floor slab began on July 17. Columns have been installed and the decking for level one has begun.
Current Update – July 29 to August 12, 2015
Continuing to form level one.
Excavation will be done by the end of July
Excavation begins for the bridge footings. The bridge will connect the parking garage to the main building.
Underground plumbing and electrical work continues.
Pouring concrete into sections of the ground floor continues.
The construction team want to know what you think of the project.
Find JBH on Twitter and Facebook and share your thoughts using the hashtag, #HereWeGrow.
By Staff
July 30, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a new recruit on the Halton Regional Police Force.
 Police Service Dog Arrow Police Service Dog Arrow arrived for training yesterday.
He will begin his training with K9 officer Cst. Tara McLorn but is anxiously awaiting the start of his new partner, Cst Kyle Gibson.
Cst. Gibson and PSD Arrow will begin training together in September, a period that usually takes about four months.
PSD Arrow was imported from the Czech Republic and is 14 months old and like all police service dogs, is very eager to get started.
Follow the @HRPSK9 Twitter account to see what the Police Service Dogs are doing and you will catch a glimpse of Arrow as he begins his journey.
Cst Matt Lawless and Storm will head into retirement once Arrow has completed his training.
 The Milton Brookville |School grade 4 class that chose the name for the newest police service dog to join the Halton Regional Police Force In September Arrow will visit with the student at Brookville Public School in the Town of Milton. They were the students who came up with the name and pulled in the most votes.
By Staff
July 29, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington detachment of the Halton Regional Police are giving each other high fives these days over the success of their Friday Fugitive initiative that has the police sending out information on people who are evading their date with the justice system in a court room.
The program has proven to be so successful that criminals wanted by the police are calling and saying they will turn themselves into the police before there picture gets published in different media.
 Ahmad ALAMI, 34 years old, of St. Catharines, ON Last week the police were asking for help in placing Ahmad ALAMI, 34 years old, of St. Catharines, ON in custody for his forging documents – he wasn’t cooperating and police were not able to locate him.
With the unwanted publicity it was difficult for the construction worker to find a job – he is now in conversations with the police.
The Friday Fugitive initiative is a little like the way sheriffs in small western town put up wanted posters – with electronic media their reach is much further than the local post office.
Detective Constable Calvin Bulbrook deserves kudos for bring the idea to Burlington.
By Staff
July 23, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington’s MPP Eleanor McMahon is holding her first annual summer BBQ: August 16th
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon will hold her first BBQ in August Is she aware as to just how high the bar is for her?
Does she realize that her Premier set a pretty stiff standard when she was in town a few years ago flipping ribs at the Rib Fest?
 Premier Kathleen Wynne shows the locals how Ribs are flipped at the annual Rotary RibFest McMahon is going to hone her skills over the BBQ in Hidden Valley – probably a good idea – and when she is at the Master flipper level she can hold the event closer to town
The invite to the event went out on the MPP’s email blast. While there was a map on how to get to the location – it wasn’t easy to find.
We’ve shown the map below.
The event takes place Sunday August 16 (rain or shine) from Noon – 3:00 pm
 Location: Hidden Valley Park (Zone 6) in Aldershot
By Staff
July 28, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change announced last week they will not seek further environmental assessments at this stage for a controversial LaSalle Park Marina expansion proposal that includes building a permanent breakwall and doubling the marina’s boat capacity.
The report, released July 21, does not rule out potential harm to the recovering Trumpeter Swan population that overwinters in the area and imposes tighter protection measures for the project.
 The Trumpeter Swan has always had a strong emotional tie to the public – they are beautiful birds. Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Glen Murray required the City of Burlington and the LaSalle Park Marina Association (LPMA) to include Trumpeter Swan supporters in the design process if the project does go forward.
The advisory committee is proposed to include representatives from Conservation Halton, the Hamilton Conservation Authority, and the Trumpeter Swan Coalition, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan Stakeholder Group, Environment Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The much-anticipated report is the response to calls for an advanced Part II Environmental Assessment that would have further examined the proposed breakwall’s impact on wildlife who call LaSalle home – including the Trumpeter Swans, a bird that had previously been completely wiped out in Ontario.
 Sun shining on boats at the LaSalle Marina Three requests for deeper study were made in the summer of 2013 including submissions by Conservation Halton and the Trumpeter Swan Coalition, of which BurlingtonGreen is a member. The requests cited concerns for the Trumpeter Swans’ survival and numerous flaws and unanswered questions in the proposal’s initial environmental review.
Despite the Part II study denial, the Ministry decision orders the creation of a Stakeholder Advisory Committee that would include representatives from the environmental watchdogs who first raised the concerns.
The expansion initiative can only move forward with the committee’s participation in the creation of what the Minister called an Aquatic and Terrestrial Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan to “address any potential impacts from the project on the aquatic environment and/or overwintering Trumpeter Swans in the vicinity.”
The imposed conditions do not exclude the possibility of denying further environmental approvals if the project does prove harmful to the swan population and their habitat. The committee’s involvement will be crucial in highlighting those potential issues and ensuring appropriate actions are taken.
BurlingtonGreen is pleased the Environmental Ministry is insisting on the inclusion of a Stakeholders Advisory Committee to provide input on habitat and wildlife protection and believe we are an important voice in that process.
However, some concerns remain about the effectiveness of even the best- intended mitigation efforts at the LaSalle site. As an organization, we are committed to protecting natural habitats.
Trumpeter Swans are native to North America and are the largest swans in the world. The birds were wiped out in Ontario in the late 1800’s; by 1935, there were only an estimated 69 Trumpeter Swans left in all of North America.
 The LaSalle members with their boats up on blocks. In 1982, retired Ministry of Natural Resources biologist Harry Lumsden made it his mission to bring them back. After 30 years of efforts, there are close to 900 Trumpeter Swans in Ontario – roughly one quarter of the entire provincial flock calls LaSalle Park home.
The Trumpeters first chose LaSalle as their wintering grounds in 1993, making it an established habitat for more than 20 years. Habitat loss, especially of wintering areas, has a significant negative impact on recovery efforts
In kits media release the LaSalle Marina Association had the following to say:
“The Board of Directors of the LaSalle Park Marina Association are pleased to announce that the Hon Glen Murray, Minister of the Environment & Climate Change, after due and careful consideration of the City of Burlington’s LaSalle Park Marina Wavebreaker Environmental Assessment / Environmental Study Report (ESR) tabled July of 2013, has on Tuesday (July 21, 2015) made a decision with respect to the Study Report and the Part II Order Requests for an even more detailed Environmental Assessment.
 The LaSalle Park Marina is using its own environmental creds – they earned Blue Flag ECO Award. Sown is John Birch on the left of the flag along with Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven and Floyd Doctor “The Minister has signed off on the LaSalle Park Marina Wavebreaker Environmental Assessment / Environmental Study Report (ESR), declined the Part II Order Requests for a more extensive Environmental Assessment, and issued workable conditions which will allow the proposed project to move forward to the detailed construction level engineered design phase.
“As we go forward, LPMA is committed to working with agencies and stakeholders to ensure compliance with the Minister’s wishes in furtherance of the goal of a true Safe Harbour for Burlington, boaters, the community, fish, birds, wildlife and the environment.
“We thank the Minister for his learned decision, Eleanor McMahon MPP, Ward Councilor Rick Craven, the City of Burlington staff and council, the consultants, agencies and stakeholders involved as well as those who have expressed concerns.
“The proposed project will bring benefit to all. We are committed to following process.”
Trouble in paradise for sure.
By Staff
July 29th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Poor old Joseph Brant – at least he will be at the day we celebrate his name and what he did for the city in spirit. And there will be WORDS
This year, the Joseph Brant Day Festival is an official partner of the Toronto 2015 PanAm / Parapan Am Games and is taking on a significantly different tone.
It will be a lively day at LaSalle Park where events start at 11 am and run through to 5 pm.
The captivating Beshano Bike Trials will be featured Burlington Soccer Club field games and a slew of music, art and cultural performances of the “Americas” will be featured.
The day will have an Americas flavour to it recognizing the diversity that the PanAm games brought to the Region.
The Beshano Bike Trials will be something to watch – expect crowds larger than those in this picture. Beshano Bike Trials – 3 shows complete with incredible bicycle stuntmanship!
Musicians from the official band of the Toronto FC Major League Soccer accompanying dancers choreographed by the dance instructor and performer who opens the Mas Band launches for Carnival!
Saúl Torres has emerged as one of the most singular talents of Spanish Rock on the continent, capable of seamlessly tying together Latin, Funk, Rock, and Flamenco! Saúl Torres has emerged as one of the most singular talents of Spanish Rock on the continent, capable of seamlessly tying together Latin, Funk, Rock, and Flamenco!
White Pine First Nations Drum and Dance participant Dan Secord. White Pine First Nations Drum and Dance!
Dancescapes Studio with Salsa and Latin dance demonstrations and lessons!
Laura Spada Farrucas – a Latin Fusion Duo of Laura Spada and Jorge Cuama hailing from Ecuador!
Throughout the day the Children’s Area, Museum Educational Crafts & Activities, Giveaways, PanAm Sports Challenges, Games and Obstacles, Interactive participant events including: Crossfit Altitude, Oakville Fencing Academy, Burlington Youth Soccer Club, Monkeynastic Gymnastics, Bradbury, Splitsville Entertainment & Better State Crew! Splash Park for Kids available, Hands-on Activities, Artisans and Vendors, the Famous Brant Day Silent Auction will be part of an event filled day.
And this year the food offering will be going far beyond the traditional hot dogs and burgers. Sylvia Hentz, Special Events Programmer has arranged for a food truck rally with delicious offerings from gourmet food trucks!
Taste buds will be in for a real treat given the selection of Food Trucks that are being brought in for the Brant Day Festival at LaSalle Park The rally includes
LUCHADOR – Mexican Fusion / International Cuisine
DOBRO JESTI – Slovenian / German-inspired Cuisine
NUDULZ – Italian Food
MANGO CHUTNEY – Indian Food
URBAN EXPRESS- North American & European-style Steakery
CAFE DU MONDE – French-Parisian & International Crepes
PAPPAS GREEK—Greek Food
TROPICAL TEMPTATIONS –Premium drinks & desserts
Burlington’s taste buds are in for a treat.
Parking is always a challenge at LaSalle Park on Brant Day. Shuttle buses will be available to transport visitors from Aldershot GO Station once limited onsite parking at LaSalle Park is filled.
First shuttle bus run leaves the Aldershot Go Station at 10:00 a.m. Last bus will leave La Salle Park at 5:00 p.m.
Staff
July 29, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A suspect in the robbery of the Comfort Inn on the South Service Road last June has not yet been found and the Halton Regional Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a robbery suspect.
On June 17, 2015, at approximately 10:50 p.m. a lone male suspect entered the Comfort Inn Hotel located at 3290 South Service Road in Burlington.
 It was certainly high speed; the bandit was in and out in a flash with cash in his hands. Police are still looking for this one. The male was masked in order to conceal his identity and made a demand of money from the victim. He received an undisclosed amount of money prior to making good his escape. He was last seen running south bound on Cumberland Avenue. The male was described as male white, six feet tall, wearing a black pullover sweater, black sweatpants and a black scarf covering his face.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Erin Cooper of 3 District Criminal Investigation Bureau at (905) 825-4747 ext 2313 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 Pepper Parr
July 28, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Most of the problems we have as a city don’t go away.
In April of 2013 city council got into a major sweat over fatalities at railway crossings.
 It took a while but the city came up with a solution when there was an unsafe opening to railway tracks on city property. Staff were told to get fences up so that young people could not scoot across the railway tracks easily. And appropriate fencing was put up. As a result of the issue of people running across very busy railway tracks a committee was created to meet annually and keep track of where there were problems and ensure that the public was kept safe.
 Before a citizen brought this unsafe path at the end of a city street this opening existed and was used regularly by people – including Councillor Jack Dennison who said it was a quick way to get over to Harvest Road. When the fatalities were taking place in 2013 a parent who lost a child to a track crossing fatality delegated to City council, Regional council and met with the Minister of Transportation and they spoke to a group of people that had everyone who had anything to do with the rail lines sitting at the table
There was a lot of buck passing going on and then the energy that had been poured into the problem began to dissipate and the public interest moved on to the next problem.
There was another rail crossing fatality recently in the eastern end of the city – it didn’t get all that much publicity. People learned about the incident when the GO train they were on was delayed.
When there isn’t much said publicly people assume that the death was the result of a person with mental health issues – we don’t say it was a suicide – for some reason that isn’t a word the public wants to see. We know it happens – we just don’t want to talk about it.
 Graffiti on the walls beneath the railway bridge is bright and colourful – the wonder is how in blazes the artists managed to climb up and do the painting. Did they levitate? During a tour of the Sheldon Creek area where it runs through Sherwood Forest Park we came across some bold, colourful graffiti on the walks of the railway bridge – we wondered how they artist managed to get up that high.
The tour was to get a sense as to just how high the water had risen during the flood last August.
 GO train traffic is now much more frequent. This section of the tracks is not adequately fenced. The problem is not with the railway or the city – it is with the property owner – not yet identified. We made our way up the embankment to the level where the railway tracks ran over the creek and noticed that there were no barriers. The fence that was in place had been pushed down making it a snap to get to the railway tracks and cross over.
In the space along the creek there was evidence of small fires being lit; we bumped into some people sitting under the bridge, two males and one females – with one of the males on crutches walking along ground that was far from even.
We didn’t have to ask what they were doing there. The concern was the fence and how easy it was to get to the railway tracks.
 Vince Fiorito pulls pf a section of fencing along the edge of a property that borders the rail line used by both GO and Via. The racks are in the background – yards away from a part of the Sheldon Creek where younger people hang out. The small field was clearly a place where young people hang out – it is out of the way – they can make all the noise they want – no residential in the immediate area.
Drugs are used by young people – behaviour gets a little irresponsible and that’s when stupid things are done.
It’s a fence that needs repair and perhaps a little beefing up. It was clear that the fence had been down for some time which suggests there isn’t an active program on the part of either the city, the railways or the property owner to inspect the fences and ensure that they are doing what they were meant to do – keep people out of places that are dangerous.
Senior staff at city hall point out that “the responsibility for keeping fences in good repair is usually the responsibility of the property owner” – and added that “few companies walk their property line to check on the fences.
“When the media does their job and reports on these issues the vast majority of the property owners do the right thing and fix the fence.”
Background links:
The path that was the problem
The solution the city came up with
 By Staff
July 28, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The KooGle Theatre has had a busy couple of months.
 Christopher Gray After completing a successful two week run at the Performing |Arts Centre where their “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. They then did an afternoon performance of A Couple of Swells which was part of their Summer Lunchtime Concert Series held in the Centennial Hall at the Burlington Central Library
 Leslie Kay KooGle is now gearing up for the auditions they want to hold in August for the event they will be putting on during Culture week in September
If you want to dance – touch base – they will be holding auditions for local dancers for their upcoming Culture Days Event (Sunday Sept 27 at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre).
 SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015 – 2pm KooGle Theatre Company will be holding auditions for local dancers for our upcoming Culture Days Event (Sunday Sept 27 at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre). Contact us for more details (info@koogletheatre.com)
KooGle Theatre Company is a Burlington based professional musical and dramatic performing arts company founded in 2007 by Equity artists and husband and wife team, Leslie and Christopher Gray; they believe in employing a range of talent from up and coming to professional and always utilizing as much local talent as possible.
By Pepper Parr
July 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Not sure what one does with a piece like this – it does have a character of its own doesn’t it.
 Christina MacEwan’s, Horned Curmudgen Jar, circa 1985 Christina MacEwan’s, Horned Curmudgen Jar, circa 1985 is part of an exhibit with the title Gothic, which opened late in June at the Art Gallery of Burlington.
The exhibit brings a new extension to the word Gothic. As times change, the meaning of our language changes with it.
 Janet MacPherson’s – Monk (2014) Three artists – Christina MacEwen, Janet MacPherson, and Mary Philpott, all create work that could be described as ‘gothic’, but each has developed a unique style that has tapped into an original source.
Each has put their personal stamp on their inspiration. From sculpture, architecture and literature, these sources have each touched these artists’ visions.
Curated by Jonathan Smith, this AGB permanent collection exhibition will run from June 27, 2015 to September 6, 2015.
The Art Gallery of Burlington is located at 1333 Lakeshore Rd, Burlington, ON L7S 1A9 Gallery Hours:
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
 By Staff
July 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Transit is conducting ridership surveys on various bus routes, at the downtown transit terminal and online at www.burlingtontransit.ca to help develop new service standards.
“We are gathering information from our riders to determine what is important to them,” said Mike Spicer, director of Burlington Transit. “These findings will be part of a report presented to City Council later this fall to help shape the future of Burlington’s public transportation.”
 A transit users conference held in Burlington had everyone who cared about transit in the room – except anyone from Burlington Transit. Now they are holding surveys to find out what people want. Go figure! On-route surveying has been completed on Routes 1, 2/3, 10/20 and 80/81.
Remaining on-route survey schedule
Tuesday, July 28, 4:40 to 6:45 p.m. – Route 15
Downtown Terminal schedule
July 27 to July 31, 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
Online Survey
The online survey (click here) will be available until Aug. 10, 2015 at
Burlington has always been chintzy about transit;
intensification is going to add to traffic congestion;
transit is seen by the politicians as the answer.
Now they have to convince the public to use it.
While the city figures out what transit users want there is a Transportation Master Plan that is being created that makes it very, very clear that transit is going to play a very big part in how the city handles its intensification.
The Region of Halton is going to have to absorb a million additional residents – just how many of that million Burlington is going to have to take in has not yet been determined.
More people usually means more cars which in the past has been translated into more roads. But those days are over. Burlington cannot widen its roads nor can it afford to build any more roads and add to the traffic congestion we are already dealing with.
In the near future you will hear the words “complete streets” working its way into the language used by the planners – how the politicians get that message across to you will be something to watch.
The province has decided that it will try using tolls to change public behaviour on how they use the QEW. Burlington is going to make transit better and convince the public that transit is the more convenient way to get around town.
Smart Transit System has been in the works for
a couple of years. Costing millions it will give transit
users up to date data on bus arrivals.
Burlington Transit will be launching a Smart Transit System (STS) in phases starting late Fall this year. The STS will improve how customers access transit information. Conventional transit users will be able to use an on-line trip planner which will provide detailed bus location information in real-time. As well, all bus stops are being replaced with new signs which will include information on the routes that service each stop and have a numerical code allowing passengers to access next bus arrivals in real-time through their mobile devices.
 Mayor Goldring getting the hang of reading the bus schedule from his Smart Phone. New electronic visual and audio displays will be installed on all buses to allow passengers to read and hear each bus stop location as it approaches.
Handi-Van passengers will no longer have to rely only on contacting dispatch during hours of operation to book their trips as they will have access to a new on-line feature and phone system allowing them to book and manage their trips 24/7. In addition, they will receive a programmed automatic call-out to let them know when their van is about to arrive.
Real-time bus data will also be available through the City’s Open Data feed allowing app developers to access this information.
 The Mayor of the city took a “selfie” on one of the days he took the bus to work – it wasn’t one of his better moments – was it. Of note is that Burlington Transit didn’t use the Insight Survey the city bought and paid a pretty penny for – which has all kinds of flexibility and allows for good follow up questions. Transit is using the Survey Monkey service – the software that high school students use for their projects.
When the results are out we will have some idea as to how good the transit people are at asking questions and actually mining the data they collect.
By Pepper Parr
July 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On Tuesday we get back the use of the HOV traffic lanes on the QEW. Then we learn that the province is looking at the idea of turning those lanes into a stretch of road they can collect tolls on.
Looks like that is going to become our PanAm Games legacy from the province.
 Will drivers pay a toll to use a special lane? Those making the big bucks will – and of course the politicians who will get that feature as a perk. The HOV lanes didn’t always get a lot of traffic during the Pan Am games The two-occupant requirement, explains the province, will let more carpoolers and families access the lanes, and help Parapan Am Games athletes and officials get to and from competitions, training sessions and the airport. In addition to high occupancy vehicles, the lanes continue to be open to: emergency vehicles, public transit, licensed taxis, airport limousines, electric vehicles with green licence plates (on provincial 400-series highways only) and motorcycles (on City of Toronto roads only–Don Valley Parkway, Gardiner Expressway, Lake Shore Blvd.)
Starting this weekend, road signs will be converted to reflect the change from three or more occupants to two or more occupants. However, drivers are reminded that the new two-occupant requirement does not come into effect until Tuesday July 28, 2015.
Work to convert the signs will take place overnight to avoid traffic disruptions. The temporary HOV lanes will be in place until August 18, 2015.
Temporary HOV lanes operate from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. When not in operation, the lanes function as general purpose lanes.
The Parapan Am Games will be held from August 7 – 15 and feature 1,600 athletes from 28 countries.
Games event ticket holders can ride public transit for free on the day of the event across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (excluding UP Express).
All nice – everyone experienced some inconvenience but the PanAm games were a success – so much so that Toronto now wants to take a shot at bringing the 2024 Summer Olympics to Toronto. The city just might be ready for an event that size.
Then the news that the HOV lanes are going to become HOT lanes – the T standing for tolls
 A city worker, Robert Collins carries away one of the automatic toll-takers. The electric devices were removed from the Burlington Skyway because motorist tossing coins were too often off the target. That was back in September 30, 1964 Premier Kathleen Wynne says lessons learned from the Pan Am HOV lanes will make it easier for the province to roll out high occupancy toll lanes announced in the previous two budgets.
“What’s important is that we take the lessons from the HOV lanes,” Wynne told reporters last week.
“I have heard people talking about how they’ve noticed behaviour changes and that’s what putting in place HOV lanes is meant to do,” she said after a meeting with Toronto Mayor John Tory.
“It’s meant to change people’s behaviour and it’s why we have committed to HOT lanes, because we believe the revenue from high occupancy toll lanes put into a fund to fund public transit is an important source of revenue and we will be working to implement those,” Wynne said.
The premier said her government has been clear about its intention to implement HOT lanes.
“Whether the configurations that have been put in place on provincial roads for the Pan Am Games are exactly what will transpire when we put in place the HOT lanes, that’s not our plan at this moment,” Wynne said.
High occupancy toll (HOT) lanes are similar to high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, except drivers can use them with only one person in the car if they pay.
Progressive Conservative critic Michael Harris said HOT lanes are just a way to gouge drivers.
“Let’s be clear, taxpayers of Ontario have already paid for these roads where HOT lane tolls will be levied, now the Wynne Liberals want us to pay again for the privilege of driving on our own roads,” Harris said.
“This is just one more way to feed the Liberal spending addiction. It seems each week the Wynne Liberals think of another way to make it more expensive to live and work in Ontario — from job-killing carbon taxes, to Hydro One sell-offs to the new beer tax and now HOT lanes.”
We hope the Premier understands that behavior change also includes deciding to vote for someone else to lead the province.
 By Pepper Parr
July 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The campaign has begun for the federal Liberals in Burlington.
 Mile Wallace was a happy camper when he retrained his seat during the xxx election. There was a lot of Tory Blue on that map. Mike Wallace, the Conservative incumbent faces Liberal Karina Gould who opened her campaign office on Saturday and Dan Laird who has been nominated for the New Democrats.
The opening of a campaign office is for the party faithful – a time to cheer the candidate and tell the troops that now is the time to buckle down and slog through the next 90 + days and win the election.
The candidate speaks and tells her team why they are running for public office and what matters to them.
 Gould sees herself this far ahead of the other guy. Could be – far too early to tell. Karina Gould is running in her first campaign. She is young, articulate, very well educated and has an open face and engages with people easily.
There are always the political zingers aimed at the other candidates during these partisan events and Gould has acquired the ability to aim her arrows. There will be a local debate – it could be something to watch.
“Their advertising about Justin seems to be focused on his hair: said Gould “Is that all they’ve got” she responded. Her audience loved it.
Gould told the story of going door to door and talking to people – “many told me they would vote Liberal but didn’t want to put a sign on their lawns because most of her neighbours were Conservatives.
“This happened at a lot of doors” explained Gould. “When I got to the end of the street I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted out – You’re all Liberals”. It is of course quite possible that all those people were just wanting to be polite and not hurt the woman’s feelings.
And that of course is the hope for the Liberal campaign in Burlington. Can they do what provincial MP Eleanor McMahon did when she took the seat as a Liberal after more than 70 years of Conservative rule?
Time will tell.
 “I’ve never cut a ribbon before” said Liberal candidate Karina Gould when she opened her campaign office. Gould did point to a significant issue that affects everyone and that is the rules that are now in place to be able to cast a ballot on election day.
The Gazette will report on these new rules in a separate article.
For the Liberals in Burlington it is now “game on”. The first of the pre-writ debates will take place August 6th – the Liberals plan on projecting the debate on a wall and making it a “movie” night. No mention was made of any popcorn.
By Pepper Parr
July 27, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Arts are often seen by people as something that is nice to have but when there are budgets to be cut – the arts get cut.
Those within the arts community will argue that entertainment is an economic engine that brings in more in the way of revenue and business that its costs.
There is hardly an arts organization that can get by without some form of subsidy – that’s just an economic fact.
Are the subsidies worth what we spend? Is the half a million given to the Performing Arts Centre each year a worthwhile expenditure.
The Sound of Music gets grant from the city – they argue that they pump a solid $6 million into the local economy and buy services from the city that equals or exceeds the grant they are given.
It’s a debate that goes back and forth and one that the politicians have to deal with every budget – having said all that – the Art Gallery, the Performing Arts Centre and Royal Botanical Gardens have a WORDS program for the week we are going into – check it out!
 Mary Poppins – A perennial favourite for the kids. Things are a little on the quiet side at the Performing Arts Centre – The Mary Poppins Student Theatre Summer Camp takes place at the PAC on Thursday at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $18.
Seems a bit of a shame that the space isn’t put to some use – Shaw and Stratford make the summer season real revenue opportunities.
PAC Executive Director, Brian McCurdy, who got the Centre on a solid footing after a bit of a shaky start, has advised the board that he will be retiring in October. The Centre now has a new board chair: Ilene Elkaim.
Perhaps a new expanded direction will be put forward.
The PAC does have an excellent Friday evening Jazz program that will be held throughout August.
The Art Gallery of Burlington has a recently appointed President in place. Robert Stephen brought an excellent track record with him – now that he has a sense of the place and knows much more about Burlington we should soon see where Steven takes the gallery. He is fortunate to have a well led board that will urge him to break new ground,
 Taking ten minutes or so to just sit and contemplate the sculpture – is time well spent. The week ahead has the Jordi Alfaro, abstract nature of the design in the Courtyard. It is a series of monolithic forms that complement the straight horizontal and vertical lines of both the architecture and the plantings of the space. His single large sculptures and his stacked round forms have the evocative sense of prehistoric monuments like Stonehenge in England,
Alfaro is originally from Spain but now a resident of Dundas, Ontario.
 The craft community is streaming into Burlington for this exhibit – if crafts matter to you – get to see it. The Naked Crafts Exhibit continues in the Lee-Chin Family Gallery. This international project brings together the best of contemporary Canadian and Scottish crafts. Makers from these two countries are united in this exhibition to celebrate the shared sense of northern resilience as both of them rest to the north of a southern powerhouse. People in Scotland and Canada have a tendency to identify themselves by what they are not; Not English, Not American, and our countries appear to struggle to retain our freedom from those southern neighbours. Contemporary craft builds upon traditions and heritage that are place holders that aid in defining our identity and cultures.
The exhibition strips ideas of craft back down to four themes that bridge the past and the present, traditional and changing ideas:
 Reid Flock – his work will give you a whole new perspective on ceramics. The Permanent Hallway collection has drawn pieces from the Permanent Collection of Canadian Ceramics. The current offering traces the history of ceramics in Ontario over the last forty years.
Starting with the refined functional ware of Ruth Gowdy McKinley and her effect on the program at Sheridan College and elsewhere, this exhibition looks at the development of the more sculptural approach by younger artists such as Reid Flock and Mary Philpott.
Flock is one of the most exciting ceramic artists in the country. His use of colour and the shapes he uses are not what you think of when you go to look at ceramics – an artist not to be missed.
The Royal Botanical Gardens have just completed their very successful Panorama and are a little on the quiet side except for their Red Hot Jazz and Cool Blues Wednesdays offerings.
 Jack de Keyzer – a jazz guitarist that you won’t forget. Jack de Keyzer plays on Wednesday the 29th – 6:00PM – 8:30PM in Hendrie Park. A two time Juno and seven time Maple Blues Award winning guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer De Keyzer is always very pleasing
Country Tuesdays will have Ally Howatt playing Hendrie Park from 6:00PM – 8:30PM. Ally has shared the stage with top artists Trace Adkins, Sara Evans, and Tim McGraw.”
 Ally Howatt brings her Caledonia roots to Burlington at the RBG No one doubts that Howatt grew up country. She loves the music and honours it with every show she plays. Her passion to share country music with every audience is evident as she sings from the heart and draws a crowd on the dance floor. “I want the fans to enjoy the music as much as I love playing it.” The crowd finds her inspiring, just as she finds inspiration in the songs that she plays.
 Aboriginal dancers have traditionally been a part of the annual Joseph Brant Day held at LaSalle Park Late in the week we will move into the beginning of a long weekend when the annual Joseph Brant Day Festival takes place. This year the event is an official partner of the Toronto 2015 PanAm / Parapan Am Games.
The the captivating Beshano Bike Trials and the Burlington Soccer Club field games will be added to the music, art and cultural performances of the “Americas” will be part of the program.
|
|
