 View from the end of the pier as a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker works its way across the lake minutes after leaving Burlington Bay.  By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. June 3, 2013. It’s here! – The Brant Street Pier – that’s the line the city is using to announce that after more than ten years of toil and $20 million, although the city is saying It cost just $14 million, the Pier is going to be open to the public and for a few days we can set aside the concerns about the mistakes and the cost over runs and celebrate what we have. We are going to be paying for the mistakes for some time but for this one day let us eat, drink and be merry.
And without being cynical – the pier is going to be an absolute delight. We have watched the construction from the day we got a look inside the electrical room looking for light standards that no one could find to the day when the new contractor began stripping away all the beams put in place the first time around
It is something to be out at the end of the pier and look out over the lake. The ships that pass by seem just that much closer – it makes you feel as if you are part of a shipping town. You can watch ships jut their bows outside through the lift bridge as they edge of out the lake from Burlington Bay.
While the node with the beacon on it isn’t all that high it certainly gives you a sense as to what the pier itself looks like.
You will find that you go through different stages as you walk out to the end. It’s rather a nice wide open space at the front end and then narrows a bit as you walk through the twists in the S-shaped design.
 Right at the very end, weeks before the construction neared completion, Pepper Parr, Publisher of Our Burlington and Craig Stevens, pier project manager for the city, stand looking back into the city. Within two weeks thousands of Burlingtonians will have the same experience. All the guard rails will be in place by then. Once you are out over the water you will begin to see all kinds of barn swallows flying around – hundreds of them have taken up residence underneath the pier where they have made nests from bits of mud and grass they have picked up along the edge of the lake and created nests. Over time we may see a very extensive colony of these birds – not sure how thy will co-exists with the gulls that have fouled the surface of the pier.
Every structure has its secrets and the pier, we have found, has its own delights that you discover over time.
The pier sings. Yes, the pier sings.
 The rails that run from the beginning of one side all the way around to the end of the other side of the pier are a brilliant blue – the colour is officially known as Burlington Blue – although some are saying it is Maple Leaf blue – they wish. Beneath the rails are strands of steel wire roap that prevent anyone from falling over – it’s a long drop. On a windy day, and it seems as if there is always a bit of a breeze out at the end of the pier there is a spot just behind the bottom on the node on the west side where the wind whistles through the steel wire rope and the aluminum balustrades and evokes different tunes. Over time we are sure that visitors to the pier will discover other places where the pier will sing.
The amount of time you get to actually spend on the pier – appears to have limits – which is going to disappoint many. There is a sign that will go up later this week setting out all the rules that apply to the place. A pleasant walk to the end of the pier after a special night that included dinner downtown is going to have to take place before 11:00 pm.
The pier is a park and it has hours of admission apparently. 7 am to 11 pm – that’s what you get. So much for being out at the end and watching the sun rise with a thermos of hot coffee.
The design doesn’t appear to have fences or gates to keep people off the pier; there are bollards that narrow the openings to the pier to keep nut cases who decide to try and drive their cars out onto the structure.
 The guard rails are not in place yet nor are the benches that will be put in place – a total of 16 benches are being installed. Additional benches could get put in place in the future if the need becomes evident. There is no word yet on what kind of policing there will be on the pier.
It will take the city awhile to get used to the structure. It is certainly an experience to walk out to the end and just experience the lake and the passing ships.
 This is the path people will walk down to get to the pier. Contractors are completing the work and, unless there is a catastrophe, the pier will open on the 14th. Expensive – yes but worth the wait. 
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. May 31, 2013. There appears to be some movement on the legal side of things with the pier. It has been suggested to us that we might want to pay close attention to some comments, maybe even an announcement at the city council meeting June 10, that there is a resolution to a part of the legal dispute.
The city is in the middle of a law suite with a number of people, the most significant of which are the original contractor, Harm Schilthuis and Sons Ltd. and AECOM, who were the contract administrators when the original contractor, Harm Schilthuis and Sons Ltd., walked off the site.
There are millions of dollars on the table with this one. While AECOM is going to be difficult to settle with, but we could be wrong on this, it is understood that HSS was interested in settling with the city but that opportunity may have passed.
The city is gearing up for a grand opening and really wishes the focus could be on the hoopla and speeches and create an opportunity for people to walk out onto the pier and see the structure for what it is – a really magnificent addition to the city.
All true – but to be as late as this project has been and to have to deal with the huge cost over runs, never mind the ton of money that is going to be spent on the lawyers the city has had to hire, is not being accountable or transparent.
Heads should roll for this one – unfortunately the heads that oversaw this monumental screw up have quietly left town. Of the team that over saw this – there is just one poor soul left at city hall. Tom Eichenbaum, Director of Engineering and the guy that has been sitting through hours of “discovery” with lawyers grilling him on who did what when.
All the others have found a more comfortable place to add to their pensions.
The city recently set aside $10,000 to cover the cost of specialized communications people – the kind that know how to handle sticky legal problems.
There appeared to be an opportunity to settle with the original contractor but that slipped away; someone convinced the city this wasn’t a good idea.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. May 31, 2013. Things have never been really smooth between the Sound of Music people and city hall; there is always something those two are squabbling about. If it isn’t parking spaces for the SOM people then they differ over who is going to pay for what – this year that what are the fireworks. The city feels they are doing the SOM people a big favour by allowing the fireworks to be done on the brand new pier – saving SOM the cost of getting a barge.
SOM is getting the feeling they are being hustled by the city and that there event is being used to draw crowds for the opening of the pier.
Mayor Rick Golding did say the city was going to horn in on the Sound of Music to open the pier – maybe the Mayor thought the music festival is what would draw the crowds for the two opening events that are going to take place. With a lot of noise and fireworks (no balloons we are advised) the public might get moved into an oooh and awe mood and forget just how much, what was for a time, called the “mistake on the lake”
At this point, weeks before the opening of the pier and the kickoff of the Sound of Music, which begins with a parade the city and the SOM people are differing over the actual parade route.
 Sound of Music volunteers marking locations for vendor booths – 800 people volunteer to make this happen. The SOM people had hoped the event would come into the core via James Street and swing south along Brant to Lakeshore and proceed west along Lakeshore and then have the Burlington Teen Tour Band part of the parade make a u-turn and get back to Brant Street and swing south into Spencer Smith Park and out onto the pier.
That idea, much to the dismay we are told of the SOM people, has not gotten any traction and so the parade will now come into the core via James Street and go north on Brant and end at Caroline.
The Burlington Downtown Business Association is apparently miffed as well – there members were hoping for something more dramatic.
Maybe the city didn’t want SOM going out on the pier until it was officially opened and before our MP Mike Wallace gets to tell the folks who elected him just how much he has done for them. And he has done a lot.
Is this just another squabble between the city and the Sound of Music? One would think that an organization that drives millions into the local economy would have a stronger working relationship with the city. Is it the city that is being difficult or is it the SOM management that doesn’t know how to manage?
There are hundreds of volunteers who make SOM happen. One would think that the management skills needed to make that work would be more than capable of getting along with city hall. Are they both not on the same page.
Something to look into in the future.
The Sound of Music was an event started by the city more than 30 years ago. In 1998 city hall realized they couldn’t manage a task of this magnitude and spun it off in 1998 to a newly incorporated community group that was called the Sound of Music Festival Inc. It was as bit of a grind in the early years but they have grown the business and today the event is one of the top ranked things to take in.
It is Canada’s Largest Free Music Festival. More than 200,000 people enjoy the biggest annual gathering of music by the lake and enjoy free concerts spanning all genres.
 A bit dated perhaps – but still a great group – something for the parents? The Festival Kick-off is on Friday June 7th, on Burlington Hyundai Community Stage including performers Honeymoon Suite (honeymoonsuite.com) and The Spoons (thespoons.ca).
Opening night, Thursday June 13th, on Festival Stage, features Toronto natives Down With Webster (facebook.com/downwithwebster).
Friday evening at OLG Stage boasts Jully Black (jullyblack.com), and Big Wreck (bigwreckmusic.com) at Festival Stage. Danny Fernandes (dannyfernandes.com) is co-headlining with Alyssa Reid (alyssareid.com) on Burlington Hyundai Stage.
 Burlington’s own – The Spoons – they were part of the opening of the Performing Arts Centre. Nice to see them back in town. Saturday afternoon, on Festival Stage, are illScarlett (illscarlett.com) and USS (ussmusic.com), followed in the evening by LIGHTS (music.iamlights.com). It’s Country all day long over on OLG stage, in the afternoon is Small Town Pistols (smalltownpistolsfans.com), the evening line-up features Doc Walker (docwalker.ca). Sharon & Bram are taking the stage Saturday afternoon at Burlington Hyundai Stage and see Royal Wood (royalwood.ca) downtown at Cogeco Stage.
Sunday’s performers include Platinum Blonde (platinumblonde.com),April Wine(aprilwine.ca) and 54-40 (5440.com) on Festival stage. Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace (rainemaida.net) will be on OLG Stage.
 By Walter Byj
BURLINGTON, ON. May 30, 2013. First of all, let’s forget about the money and the multiple delays.
I know that to some this is an important feature and must not be forgotten. That is true.
 Correspondent Walter Byj: Enjoy the pier. What will it do? Add to the beauty of downtown Burlington. That was not only my thought, but also others from the media that took the afternoon tour. It is not the longest pier in the world, but is one of the few curved piers around. It offers a picturesque view of not only Burlington, but also of Lake Ontario and the Burlington Skyway.
 The pier as you will see it as you walk down from Brant Street. The last of the landscaping is being done, the LED lights that will illuminate the beacon at the top of the node are being installed and programmed. The one thing that will not happen here this year: the Sound of Music parade will not get out onto the pier. In addition, the rock formation along the shore is stunning. And this view will change depending on the time of day and time of year.
With 100 programmable LED lights, the pier will come alive at night and can easily reflect special occasions such as red and white lights on Canada Day. In fact, dusk or night-time could very well be the best times to visit the pier.
Scott Stewart, GM of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Burlington is proud of the pier and feels that it would be a winner for downtown. When asked about various problems that the pier might encounter, such as crowding and other activities that the pier offers. he did say that “it would be a learning experience and rules might have to be made up as circumstances dictate.”
Should you run down on June 15th so that you can be the one first to walk the pier? Perhaps not, it might be fairly crowded. However, do make the trip and take in the surroundings without thinking of costs and overruns. For some this may not be possible, but the money has been spent, you cannot get it back. Enjoy the results.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. May 29, 2013. How do you keep the natives happy? How do you answer all the phone calls, take care of the problems – big and small? Get to the city council meetings, and then the Regional Council meetings and read all the reports? Burlington recently had a committee meeting that had a 1000+ page agenda.
Councillor Rick Craven once got a call from a new home owner complaining about the noise from the rail line that passed behind a berm near the home and wanted him to do something about the noise. Apparently the home owner didn’t know there was a rail line behind the berm. Councillor Marianne Meed Ward found herself out Christmas Day one year picking up a couple of bags of garbage.
Municipal politics are local and you get everything – wind rows from the snow plows, garbage not picked up, not being able to get your child into a Parks and Recreation class. The Seniors’ in Burlington, and there are a lot of them, have their own special needs.
Did I mention transit? The list goes on and on. And yet Burlington has two Council members who have held their seats for 20 years and more . One of the them did recently get himself black-balled by a community organization.
 Councillor Blair Lancaster gets out to almost every photo-op there is and has served as the lead spokesperson at a number of NGTA community events with crowds of 250+. Her constituents are not happy with how she is handling the Air Park issue. Blair Lancaster, one of the crop that got elected to Council for the first time last election has been around politics much of her life. A former beauty queen, Lancaster has created a business and a personality that serve her well. She can be tough when she chooses to be. She brings her own personal style to the job and at times has difficulty fully grasping the details of an issue but she is pretty quick, most of the time, to get the sense of what is happening and follows along.
She brings a bit of that old Conservative Ontario sense of entitlement: you know that, “we deserve this” and the sense that she is here to serve is not always top of mind. She means well.
Lancaster has in the past, held community events at the Air Park. We attended one such event and thought it was something Lancaster had put together; it wasn’t. It was an annual event the Air Park people put on for the community – Lancaster had just piggy-backed on the event. For many in her ward that was getting just a little too close to a company many in the community had major issues with.
There is now a major issue with the Air Park that has ward six residents writing their council member. Here is a sample of a couple of those letters and the Council members response.
My name is Teri Jaklin; I am a resident of Rural Ward 6. We have not yet met, which in itself may be telling given the note I am embarking on now.
Blair, I have been following the new activity that is percolating, once again between the air park and the rural community in your ward. And I respectfully suggest that you have some serious work to do when it comes to effectively representing your constituents (in rural Ward 6) in a fair and balanced fashion.
Ward 6 is full of people who have made their homes and lifestyles here for the very treasures it holds. Greenbelt, an internationally renowned Biosphere, the beauty of the escarpment and the promise to protect these for generations to come. These are people who are willing to fight harder than the politicians, it would seem, to protect same. And for the fourth time in less than eight years these very people were gathered in a private home, once again, discussing how to protect themselves from this area’s greatest threat, Vince Rossi and the Burlington Airport.
You can speak to any of the people on this distribution list, or anyone living in this area to learn how the noise and air pollution caused by years of fill activity has compromised safety and quality of life – you can speak to neighbours who have been hit head on by the very trucks carrying the fill, not to mention the countless near misses on Appleby Line, those whose properties have been used by rogue truckers as “alternate” dump sites when the airpark gates have been closed, those who have sustained direct property damage as a result of the sheer volume of truck traffic, and you can – and should – speak to one of our neighbours whose beautiful country home has literally been turned into a sink hole – with no regard or respect to her what so ever. Certainly there are personalities at play but wouldn’t you be upset Blair if mountains of fill surrounded your home, covered with weeds, with no landscaping or concern for your quality of life – and no reasonable response from the City?
For years and years this activity has gone on under the veil of “federal jurisdiction” and has been broadly supported by the City’s love affair with the prestige of having an airport in Burlington. But who is talking to the people that live in Rural Ward 6? Who is managing the balanced and sustainable development of the airport? Yes, an airport is “federally regulated” but it is your job Blair to understand exactly what that means in every way and strictly manage this development so that it is consistent with Provincial and Regional environmental mandates in Burlington as well as the City’s commitment to the conservation of these unique and spectacular lands.
The City’s own words on their environmental commitment are “where people, nature and business thrive” – not where one thrives at the expense of the other. Over the many years that the residents of your ward have been struggling to be heard, we have spoken with every level of government and the common answer has been that ultimately the buck stops with the City, yet when we have engaged the City on the subject, we get a “deer in the headlights” look and no authoritative response. Does the City even care about life north of the 407? Imagine how frustrated we are.
Blair, your job is no insignificant role. You represent rapidly expanding urban growth and the commercial interests therein as well as the uniqueness of environmentally sensitive lands, a rural community and a growing Airpark. This is a huge responsibility for a new councillor. It also begs the following questions:
What is your understanding of and experience in aviation? What aviation expert has the City of Burlington engaged to support you in airport matters and when will that individual sit at the table with the City, environmental agencies and other stakeholders?
Does the City truly understand the rights and responsibilities of the airpark to the City, or is it just taking Mr. Rossi’s word for it?
What are the 1, 3, and 5-year plans for the City with regard to the development of the Airpark and Rural north Burlington?
When is the City going to engage the passionate people of Rural North Burlington as allies in these plans?
There is more in them thar hills than an enthusiastic airport developer Blair.
Nobody here is opposed to the airport, it was here before many of us moved in, and mostly we maintain a civil relationship with Vince and his managers. But what is going on with the airport borders on negligent with respect to the greater picture, and specifically with regard to the environment and the lives of your constituents.
You are largely viewed as having partnered with the airport to the exclusion of any other stakeholders – and by that I mean the people whose lives are directly impacted by airport activity. What is your position and what are you doing for the residents of Rural North Burlington? When are you going to talk to us? How long can we expect our quality of life to be compromised – or is that your plan for our future?
Poor communication leaves a door wide open to speculation, gossip and frustration. We have come to the Ward 6 Councillor in the past and expressed a desire to work collectively, from a positive perspective, with the City and the airpark – to the point where we had several meetings together. Then came an election, and, well, here we are, I guess we have to start all over again.
If I have missed information that would shed light on any of my concerns then I stand humbly corrected and welcome the new input. If not, then I look forward to hearing from you, as I am sure may of my friends and neighbours do. Please advise when that will be at your earliest convenience.
I look forward to your response,
Councillor Lancaster responds with:
Thank you for caring so passionately about our rural residents.
I will address your concerns individually starting with your comments about not having met. I thought Michelle introduced you and Mike to me at the first Niagara GTA meeting in December 2010 . We really appreciated Mike offering to video and photograph the event for us. Since then we have been in contact with Mike many times about the Airpark and NGTA.
I have also provided many other opportunities to network with Ward Six Rural residents such as: three Airpark open houses, The Rural Summit, The Rural Cycling Safety meeting and the “Ward Three and Six” Rural Open House at Conservation Halton. Of course, all of my public meetings in the urban part of my ward are open to rural residents as well.
We regularly communicate with Ward Six Residents through our newsletter, facebook and my city webpage as well as special distribution lists for specific issues, such as the Airpark. I understand that Mike is on the Airpark mailing list, if you would also like to be included, please email Michelle directly as we cannot communicate with you without your express written permission. You may also subscribe to our Ward Six e-newsletter, the link is below in my signature.
As you are aware, the Airpark is regulated by the Federal Government. I spoke with city staff last week who, in an email, reiterated their position that the city did their due diligence several years ago on issues related to the Airpark and they are comfortable with their assessment that items related to the provision of aeronautics fall under the jurisdiction of the FAA, Federal Aeronautics Act. They were referring to issues such as the fill.
I have had many meetings with residents who live close to the Airpark who have concerns regarding the noise and safety from the Flight School training program. Students continuously fly over their homes repeatedly taking off and landing. Unfortunately, the City of Burlington has no opportunity to enforce a height restriction or noise bylaw as they do not regulate or measure air activity. Although I have no authority to enforce change, I have met with residents and Airpark officials to help facilitate discussions. A remedy is still to be achieved.
I am not aware that there is an issue regarding collisions. There have been no complaints made to my office.
There are no joint City and Airpark plans for the development of the Airpark. As for rural Burlington in general, I have attached the workbook from the Rural Summit held in January of this year. The City of Burlington engaged residents by inviting them to attend a Rural summit and over a hundred people participated. The City also had an online survey for residents who were unable to attend. As well, over 500 people attended the Niagara GTA meetings.
I have no experience in Aviation and it is not part of my role as a councillor. The Federal representative responsible for the Airpark is Lisa Raitt, I noticed you did not include her in your correspondence, I have provided her contact information for you here.
A ward 6 resident, Barbara Sheldon, who lives across the road from Terri Jaklin responds the Councillor Lancaster’s response with one of her own.
April -2013
I respectfully forewarn you Ms. Lancaster: this may be one of the most politically incorrect letters you’ve yet to receive since you took Office. To that point, I suspect if there’s not an authentic and noticeable change in your commitment, actions and accountability towards the rural residents of your
Ward whose lives are being destroyed by the owner of the Burlington Airpark, you will receive more like this before you leave Office. Last week, you received an intelligent letter from Dr. Jaklin, a well-regarded member of our community, asking you to step up to the plate and do the job for which you’ve been elected. She asked that you represent the best interests of your constituents in this community with a fair and balanced process, to paraphrase Dr. Jaklin’s request.
Dr. Jaklin’s letter has been widely distributed and cheered by our community. Two days ago, the letter that you signed back to her soared thru cyberspace to the same recipients. No cheers for you. In fact, the shock and disgust at your letter were thicker than all that smoke you blew in it. Not only did you NOT address the main concern Dr. Jaklin raised, you dared to insult her intelligence, and consequently the rest of our community for whom she spoke.
Who wrote that for you, Ms. Lancaster? Surely, you didn’t. Someone who genuinely stood on a platform of “BEST PRACTICES” in order to win votes could never have crafted that.
 Barbara Sheldon feeds geese on her spring fed pond and wonders just how much more land fill is going to be put on the air park property that is next to her home. Sheldon doesn’t mind the noise of the light aircraft flying around – her problem is with heavy construction equipment noise and what the land fill is going to do to the value of her property and her right to the peaceful use of her home. Make no mistake about it, Ms. Lancaster – even though you did not visit our community when you were running for Office, we followed your campaign very closely. Good campaign, Ms. Lancaster – however it would appear that once you took Office, you took a page from your predecessor’s notebook when it comes to turning a blind eye to the Burlington Airpark’s destruction of our rural residential and agricultural community within your Ward.
With that in mind, I wish you’d take a page from Marianne Meed-Ward’s playbook. She has clearly demonstrated common sense, integrity, intelligence, compassion and willingness to represent the best interests of her Constituents, as well as the entire city.
Here it is plain and simple for you Ms. Lancaster: We want you to demonstrate the exact same traits exemplified by your colleague and represent the sensible and reasonable interests of this community with regards to the activities of the Burlington Airpark THAT ARE NOT GOVERNED BY TRANSPORT
CANADA – and do it in a fair and balanced process. I would be disappointed if you did not know by now which activities are not governed by TC, but here it is, plain and simple again for you: the only thing that TC has jurisdiction over at the Burlington Airpark is aeronautical safety. Accordingly, the landfill operation is NOT GOVERNED federally.
Oh – and about your previous Open Houses at the Burlington Airpark? Not a BEST PRACTICE, Ms. Lancaster – not if you genuinely wanted to understand and represent the best interests of this community.
 Councillor Blair Lancaster has held several community meetings at the Air Park. Here she meets with constituents in August of 2012. Many North Burlington residents feel it is inappropriate for community events to be held at the air park. Let me make this ‘plain and simple’ for you again: Asking us to set foot on the land of a man who’s been willfully and selfishly achieving personal gains at the documented expense of destroying our lives, homes and livelihoods, makes about as much sense as asking breast cancer survivors to meet with you, in your capacity as the ED of the Breast Cancer Support Services, at a location known for hosting carcinogenic elements…like a cigarette smoke-filled patio. Doesn’t make much sense, does it – let alone reflect your sincere interest in helping those people.
Nor does your counter statement to Dr. Jaklin make any sense – the one in which you stated how you can regularly communicate with us through your newsletter and social media. For gawd’s sake, Ms. Lancaster, we are not asking to be ‘communicated’ with. And since when did ‘one-way’ communication become a BEST PRACTICE????
Conversely, Ms. Lancaster, we are asking you to participate with us, your Constituents, on a matter that is entirely under your mandate. If you are uncertain of your role with us, I politely ask that you re-read your Councillor manual, specifically Burlington’s Procedural By-law 58-2005, article A: (You are) To represent the public and to consider the well- being and interests of the municipality..
Notice that you are not restricted to solely represent and consider the well-being and interests of a private Company? To this point, I want a straight answer from you now. Are you willing to come to our community, during the day, and accompany us on a personal tour to witness first-hand the needless and intentional destruction of the properties and welfare of your Constituents, as well as that of the tourists and travelers in our region, resulting from the massive landfill operation directed by Mr. Rossi? I assure you that we will be able to schedule a time that is convenient to you.
This is a simple yes/no question, Ms. Lancaster – requiring no political doublespeak, so please withhold that, as well as any smoke you may be tempted to blow up my ***, like you did Dr. Jaklin’s.
But a caveat, Ms. Lancaster: if you feel compelled to invite any parties associated with the Airpark to join you on this tour – please don’t. Plain and simple: they are not welcome at this time. However, we encourage you to bring your colleagues from Council – it’s about time they were brought up to speed, not by hearsay or by what the Airpark people want you to hear, but by viewing the evidence in person, so they may truly understand the realities and the gravity of the situation.
We are not your enemy, Ms. Lancaster. As dedicated stewards of the rural lands and lives in Burlington, not only are we some of the nicest, most responsible, hard-working and compassionate folks you’ll ever meet, we are your Constituents – you know, the folks you’ve declared on your website as being THRILLED to have the opportunity to represent. Are you ready to make good on that – or did someone else write that for you as well??
Barbara Sheldon
And so it goes in the life of a Burlington city Councillor. Lancaster has indicated that she intends to run for office again in 2014 – that was before this barrage of letters.
 By Staff
Burlington, ON. May 29, 2013. The Burlington Art Centre announces the appointment of Denis Longchamps as Director of Programs. Longchamps replaces George Wale, who is retiring from the position after 27 years of exemplary service to the BAC during which time he built an outstanding ceramics collection.
Longchamps comes to Burlington after serving as Manager of Exhibitions and Publications at The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He brings a passion for his curatorial work, which bridges both contemporary art and craft practices.
Longchamps created the Craft Journal (craftjournal.ca), which he edits and publishes semi-annually.
Longchamps studied Art History at York University before moving to Concordia in Montreal, where he received a Masters and PhD in Art History.
 Denis Longchamps – new director of programming for the Burlington Art Centre brings years of experience to the new appointment. Good Luck Mr. Longchamps. Longchamps will oversee the BAC’s Programs department, including the planning and implementation of 20 exhibitions and related receptions and artists’ talks; 200 studio courses for adults and children every year; the Permanent Collection, which now numbers over 2,000 contemporary Canadian ceramic artworks; and guild-related programs with seven juried exhibitions each year. The role also involves mentorship and professional development programs and special projects.
“Denis’ proven experience in exhibitions, education and collections will be a great addition to the BAC’s Program team,” says Ian Ross, Executive Director of the BAC. “His strong connections in the art scene will build on the BAC’s solid foundation to increase its profile in Burlington, the Halton region and across Canada.”
That experience may become very useful to Burlington and the evolution of the Art Centre as the city looks at its cultural assets and thinks forward about how to best manage them and get full value for what we have.
There has been more than one conversation about re-locating the Art Centre from its site on Lakeshore Road to a possible new structure in the downtown core. Some at city hall believe that the value of the land the Art Centre sits on could be realized if it were sold and used to develop additional condominium housing – the site is certainly well suited to that.
The $6 million the property is said to be worth would go a long way to building a structure that could house a truly superb Art Centre.
Denis Longchamps may be part of a very significant change to the arts community in this city.
At a recent council committee meeting earlier this week General Manager, Budget and Corporate Affairs Kim Phillips advised that the cultural plan expected in June will not be ready – then – it has been pushed back to the fall.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. May 29, 2013. Barbara Sheldon knows the damn thing is there – she just doesn’t understand how someone can do what was done.
Basically there is a hill of earth more than 30 feet high – 100 feet from her kitchen window on the north side of her house that blocks her view and she is convinced it is going to seriously impact her well water supply.
The hill was built on the property to the north of her house and another hill is being built on the land to the south of her house. The one on the south is not close to her house but it is right on her property line. And she has no clear explanation as to what the purpose of all the land fill is.
Nor does the city of Burlington. The land is owned by the Burlington Executive Air Park, which suggests someone has a plan.
 Barbara Sheldon stands in front of a hill of landfill that rises from the north side edge of her property on Appleby Line next to the Air Park site. There appears to be nothing she can do to stop the work and the city seems to be powerless to do anything either. Sheldon has a whole bunch of issues with the earth that is more than 30 feet in height on the north side. “I used to be able to see Rattle snake point from the kitchen window – not any more” she exclaims. She knows who put it there; what she wants to know is where did it come from and what contamination might there be in that soil. And by the way – can people do that – just dump loads of landfill on their land and lessen the value of my property, she wonders.
Don’t people have to get permission and permits to do things like that?
 The landfill on the south side of the Sheldon property isn’t as high (yet) as that of the north side but when it rains heavily the land where Sheldon is standing floods. The Air Park owner Vince Rossi, claims he does not need a permit to dump landfill because his airport is federally regulated. If you are a farmer and you want to do that – you need a permit but it appears that if you are an airfield, an air park or an airport – you get a pass because you come under federal jurisdiction and you can just thumb your nose at city hall.
Doesn’t seem right to Barbara Sheldon who has made her thoughts available to anyone with even one ear.
This land fill work has been going on for the past five years and no one at city hall has done much about it. Those in north Burlington didn’t seem to get themselves organized until Vanessa Warren created an interest group and took the matter to city council.
Suddenly some action was being taken. The city had learned there really wasn’t much they could do. The person back on the file back in 2008 was no longer with the city – he was on the pier project when he was with the city. THAT explains a lot.
Before Vanessa Warren delegated to city council, Teri Jaklin, an Appleby Line resident across the road from the Air Park wrote her Councillor, Blair Lancaster. She was pretty direct:
 By Ray Rivers.
BURLINGTON, ON. May 29, 2013. The Sopranos, a cable TV series about your average mafia boss, living and killing in New Jersey, doesn’t seem such a fantasy anymore. In fact, the escapades of Rob Ford and his brothers would make great crime TV. Starring Rob, Doug Ford as a former drug dealer and brother Randy as an enforcer. His sister is a victim of gun violence in the family home and she has a coke-dealing former boyfriend who once tried to kill Rob. Somali drug lords have made a video of Ford purportedly smoking crack – then they go underground or worse, as a homicide investigation begins. US website gawker.com raises money to buy the ‘Crackstarter‘ video but can no longer locate the sellers.
Were they given an offer they couldn’t refuse? Then, Ford comes forward to vaguely deny his crack use and claim there never was a video. Screen play writers must be wringing their hands for a chance to get at this outstanding tragic comedy.
Except it’s not funny. The Globe and Mail’s weekend expose on the Ford family history should have frightened and disgusted rather than amused and entertained Toronto residents. Ford seemed like a breath of fresh air to voters in that last election. He was unconventional, and almost charming in a red-neck kind of way, carrying himself like a beardless Old St. Nick, with a bag full of promises. And voters, sick and tired from a long garbage strike, turned to the man promising them a ‘free lunch’ – he’d lower taxes and end the ‘gravy train’.
But there was no gravy train and there is no free lunch. Lowering taxes? Hello! Doesn’t Mr. Ford understand that the price of everything always goes up? It’s called keeping up with population growth and inflation. We don’t see electricity, gasoline or food prices declining. Of course, you could always gut your basic programs, as ‘Mike-the-Knife’ did to Ontario’s health care and education systems. So grow up Toronto. You can’t have it both ways.
 We know how it ends. Take transportation. The GTA is not going to get out from under ever-increasing gridlock without new transit systems, and that takes money. Burlington’s mayor is quoted as saying that his constituents support expansion – he gets it. And so does the new Premier, Kathleen Wynn, who is taking the lead to find smarter ways of funding. Too bad Rob Ford hasn’t put as much energy into securing public transportation as he has performing adolescent distractions. He has ruled out everything except subways and expects somebody else to pay for them. His court is divided for lack of leadership, so the rest of the GTA and the Province have to take the lead, in his place.
And speaking of taxes, we should understand that Toronto residents pay below average property taxes as a proportion of their real estate dollar. So the next time some con man named Ford, in a black Cadillac SUV, is offering you a free lunch – just smile and say, no thanks, I’ve seen the Sopranos on TV. I know how it ends.
 Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat after which he decided to write and has become a political animator. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran against Cam Jackson.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. May 28, 2013. The Region has a program that gets you a quality rain barrel with all the fittings for $40 plus taxes. You gotta pick it up though.
 Your Regional government wants you to buy one of these at close to cost. Great deal! Locations are:
Saturday June 1, 2013; 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Halton Regional Centre, (South-east parking lot. Enter off North Service Road)1151 Bronte Road,
Saturday June 8, 2013; 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Mapleview Mall (lower parking lot by The Bay); 900 Maple Avenue, Burlington
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. May 29, 2013. Starting the week of June 3, 2013, Halton Region will begin final asphalt paving on Fairview Street and Walkers Line as the last step in the recent water main and wastewater main replacement project.
To reduce the impact on local businesses and motorists, paving work will take place at night, between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. All work is expected to be completed within one week.
The affected road areas include Fairview Street from Woodview Road to east of Walkers Line and Walkers Line south of the intersection with Fairview Street. Lane restrictions will be required to accommodate workers and equipment. Motorists are advised to use caution and expect delays when traveling through the area.
The Fairview Street water and wastewater main replacement project is part of Building a Better Halton, the Region’s infrastructure construction plan for roads, water, waste water and waste management projects across Halton Region.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. May 28, 2013. It’s never wise to neglect what the old timers think. Yesterday afternoon Ward 3 Councillor John Taylor told his colleagues he didn’t think the Bridgewater project would see the light of day, which came as more than a surprise to Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward – the project is in her ward.
 That patch of brown earth in the centre off the Brant Street pier is to be the location for a 22 storey condo, a seven storey condo and an eight storey Delta Hotel. Some think it is having problems. The massive project, the biggest we have going except for the hospital re-build, was supposed to have shovels in the ground by now – but the paper work isn’t getting done quite as quickly as it needs to be if the Delta Hotel is to be open for the Pan Am Games in 2015.
Can the project, which is comprised of a 22 storey condominium, a seven storey condominium and an eight story hotel get done in time for the games sounded like a reasonable question.
 Three structure project has been the “in the works” since 1985 when developers were given the right to build a 22 storey plus building on the property where the Riviera Waterfront Motel used to exist. It can, said a senior city hall official who has enough experience to know if it’s possible, but there are some senior people at Mayrose Tyco, the owners of the property, who have to step aside and let the builder get on with the job.
Meed Ward said she knew that the Sales trailer was about to be set up real soon, once the Waterfront Hotel people worked out their squabbles with the project builders. A Sales trailer is the expression of an intention – it isn’t a sign that something real is going to happen.
The Bridgewater project is the last this city will see built as close to the edge of the lake as this one. Conservation Halton changed the rules and requires a bigger set back – and in the process sucking out the value of many of the properties along the southern side of Old Lakeshore road. Existing structures can stay but no one will ever be able to build as close to the water’s edge in the future.
The city is in the process of hiring consultants to guide them through an exercise of figuring out what’s possible and what is not possible with what many once saw as the most valuable land in the city.
There are property owners on both the north and south sides of Old Lakeshore who are considering their options and wondering if there is a willing buyer out there – and there are. Keep an eye on that part of the city – someone wants to do great things down there – but it might be at your expense. The Riviera Motel is gone but something is going to get built down there.
City Hall wants the public to have access to the lake and now needs to figure out to make that happen. Consultants will be hired to develop some ideas.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. May 27. 2013 South Hampton Blvd, a city street that runs west off Walker’s Line and has just the one address on it – that being the Burlington detachment of the Halton Regional Police, will have its name changed soon to Constable Henshaw Blvd. to commemorate Bill Henshaw who died while on duty in 2010.
 Street Burlington police station is located on will be renamed to commemorate the late Cst. Bill Henshaw . Henshaw joined the police service in 1977 and was 54 when he collapsed at work and rushed to the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital where he died a short time later of what police say appeared to be natural causes.
He was president of the Halton Police Association, and honoured by the Sovereign Chapter of the Burlington IODE for his work with community and youth in 1996.
Nominated by his then commander, Inspector Dan Okuloski, Henshaw was described as “an excellent officer dedicated to the citizens of Burlington and the Region of Halton.”
Henshaw would tell people his commitment to community and police service members through his work with the Halton Police Association stemmed from his family.
The paper work to make the name change is in process.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. May 27, 2013 The left hand isn’t exactly talking to the right hand – but they know what the other is up against – and it ain’t pretty.
There are two teams of people at city hall working on the events that will take place in the middle of June when THE Pier is officially opened. There will be two of those official events; one for the politicians who dug up much of the money that made the pier possible and another for the common folk who will have to pay for the Pier along with its legal costs. Two different groups at city hall making sure there are balloons and fireworks and a marching band as well. Lots of hoopla and fun.
The nagging legal matters and those legal costs are still out there and have to be dealt with. City Council will go into a Closed Session this afternoon to hear a report from the city’s solicitor. All we are going to be able to tell you about that report is that it is ten pages long and printed on yellow paper.
 Construction of the pier has gone so well that in the last month of getting it ready for Opening Day Project Manager Craig Stevens was able to get off on some vacation. Here he takes communications intern Ryan through some of the work left to be done. Behind them are two of the balustrades to which bright blue railings will be attached. But we can tell you this: the process of discovery is still going on. An event that was thought to require five days when it started is now closer to twenty days and there is quite a bit more to come.
Discovery is that process where each side of a legal difference gets to pull information from the other side. Often, one document leads to another document which in turn leads to a third document.
There have been all kinds of surprises.
There is every reason to believe that some of those surprises have led the city’s legal department to take a different look at the situation and perhaps change the strategy.
The city had one occasion to get into some serious settlement talks with one of the companies in this battle – they took a pass on that opportunity. It appears that the situation has become a little more fluid – options are being looked at.
Stay tuned for more on the legal front.
Meanwhile the Pier itself is doing just fine. Work proceeds and short of a serious accident or the failure of some parts to arrive on time – the thing will open when they said it will open. One really interesting and remarkable fact: there hasn’t been a single serious accident on the site. No broken bones, just some cuts and bruises. There were several cranes on site – not one of them fell over.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. May 25, 2013. If you missed the opportunity to plant trees during the city’s Cleanup/GreenUp a few weeks ago when it was cold and rainy – there is a chance for you to get out into some sunshine (hopefully) and plant trees that will provide some firmness to the sand dunes which tend to shift easily.
BurlingtonGreen (BG) obtained a second Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund grant that will allow more than 50 people to take part in removing invasive species and planting even more native plants and grasses.
The event takes place Saturday June 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. The grant allows BG to continue its stewardship to further improve the coastal environment of Lake Ontario’s Beachway Park.
 Part of the crew that did the first planting. There is now more funding for more tress. BurlingtonGreen gets its hands dirty digging into the earth to get plants in place to stabilize the shifting sands that are unique to our end of Lake Ontario while the politicians work their way through a massive, dense document of background material on what has been happening to the Beachway Park since 1987. BurlingtonGreen could have grown a lot of plants in that period of time.
On April 20th, approximately 90 dedicated volunteers braved the cold temperatures to pick up litter, remove invasive species and put 300 shrubs and trees and over 3,000 plants in the ground at Beachway Park. BG Executive Director is “extremely grateful to those who have contributed so far, but we are absolutely thrilled to have an opportunity to go back and continue to build on our efforts to restore part of the fragile ecosystem at this location.”
According to Project Coordinator Justin Jones, many invasive species have popped up since the first Green Up event at Beachway Park back in April. “A second green-up will allow us to get in there and remove those “new growth” invasive species and really reinforce the stability of the ecologically sensitive area by adding a few hundred more native plants and grasses.”
For more information or to sign up and participate in the June 1st Green Up event at Beachway Park, please visit www.burlingtongreen.org
BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association is a non-profit, non-partisan, environmental organization. Through raising AWARENESS, ADVOCACY and ACTION, they aim to mobilize individuals, groups, businesses and governments to make Burlington a leader in creating a healthy, environmentally responsible city.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. May 25, 2013. If Maurice Desrochers is to ever get the development he has planned for Caroline Street between Hagar and Burlington – one hopes he has a plan B; because the plan he put before his neighbours at a Saturday morning meeting recently doesn’t look as if it is going to make the grade.
 Maurice Desrochers, talking to residents who live near the block long development he is proposing for the St. Luke’s ward. Desrochers met with the community in an informal meeting called by Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward. There had been a previous informal meeting at which the residents said they didn’t like the development – so Desrochers took his plans away and came back with a significantly different design.
Turns out it wasn’t the design the neighbours had a problem with – it was his plan to put semi-detached homes on the properties when it is clearly set out as a single family neighbourhood in the Official Plan.
It was a nice spring Saturday morning with more than 70 people in the room differing with Desrochers on one matter – he wants both an Official Plan change and a zoning change – as well as a number of variances and the majority of the people in the room wanted none of it.
When Burlington did its last Official Plan Review, completed in 2008, it created a number of precincts in the city. Brant Street was given a zoning of 7 storey’s as of right now with the possibility of going to 12 storeys. The thinking behind the creation of the Precincts back in 2008 was to create communities with a clearly defined zoning by law set in place to protect the character of the community. They called the land between Brant on the east and close to Maple on the west and from Baldwin on the north down to the Lake – the St. Luke’s Precinct – which was anchored by St. Luke’s Anglican Church which has land that gives it a view to the Lake. That property was given to the Anglican Church by the Joseph Brant family.
The precinct boundary has all kinds of wiggles and squiggles in it but it is basically west of Brant. The community has many styles; some single story, some two and two and a half. There are some apartment buildings as well but the core is single family homes and the residents want to keep it that way. That’s what the Official Plan gave them in 2008 and they don’t want to give that away.
 Residents gather at a city hall board room to hear about a development proposal they didn’t like the first time they heard about it. This does not look like a crowd of happy campers. Desrochers, who will tell you for as long as you want to listen that he “saved” the gingerbread house from demolition and that he has saved a number of other homes as well and that he “thinks out of the box”, which he may well do.
What he hasn’t been able to do is find a way to build single family homes on the properties he has assembled so he is looking for a both Official Plan and zoning amendments to allow him to put up the five structures he has designed.
Desrochers describes himself as the best designer of residential housing in the city, maintains the community is “lucky” to have him. Eric Allan, who lives on Clarke doesn’t see Desrochers in quite that light. He had a number of run ins with Desrochers and his people who he maintains did all kinds of work without the proper permits. “When we went onto the property to take pictures, Desrocher’s people called the police” claims Allan.
The small differences of opinion and the disputes are not the concern of the people leading the opposition to both an Official Plan Amendment or a zoning change. Their concern is simply this: They were given a designation and a zoning that protects the community they have today and they don’t want to see that taken from them.
Barry Imber, one of the people leading the group and also one of the founders of the Organic Farmer’s Market started last year and re-opened for its second season last weekend, explains the concern when he says: “Communities evolve over time during with small changes taking place and are absorbed into the community and a new norm gets created”. “These are incremental changes” he adds. “What Desrochers wants to do is something revolutionary – he want to tear down a complete block and put up housing that is not permitted under the existing Official Plan or the zoning.
Councillor Meed Ward made it clear that she would support the rules that are in place now.
Desrochers is in the business of turning properties into what he calls “luxury executive suites” that are rented out. He currently has 30 properties of his own and brokers 16 others.
The properties along Caroline have been assembled and while nothing has been taken to the planning department yet it was clear that is what Desrochers wants to do.
 The block will disappear and have a number of nicely designed semi-detached houses on it that Maurice Desrochers believes he can market to empty-nesters. Many of the residents in the community see the development as a major change to a zoning they do not want to see being taken away from them. The neighbours are pretty firm on their views and managed to get the ward Councillor to agree to support the zoning and Official Plan as it is now. Meed Ward said she would support the Official Plan and the zoning as they now stand.
What became clear during the community meeting was that Desrochers focuses on the look of the homes in the community while the community is concerned about the kind of housing and the impact that housing will have on the way a community evolves.
Every developer drags out the provincial requirement that calls for Burlington to create a specific number of housing units and jobs in the city – they call the approach to building housing “intensification – putting more housing on the existing land.
Imber and his colleagues think developers can be more imaginative and creative in the kind of housing that gets built.
Developers see an opportunity to buy up houses that haven’t been maintained; tear them down and put more housing on the land.
Albert Facenda, a local developer, once told a city Council meeting that developers look for large lots with small houses that have not been maintained to purchase. “That is pure gold for us” he once said. Facenda sits on the city’s Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee.
The people in St. Luke’s are not opposed to development; they appreciate that people want to upgrade their homes while others want to sell and do so. What they don’t want is a developer buying up properties and building homes that don’t fit in with the character of the community.
Burlington is currently carrying out two ‘neighbourhood character’ studies; one at Indian Point and another in Roseland.
Imber and his colleagues see the evolution of a neighbourhood as something where the interests of all those involved are at the table and asks” Are all the interests represented at these meetings” suggesting that the people who have put up the funding for the development Desrochers wants to do are not known. Imber doesn’t see that as healthy.
It is estimated that the cost of the land assembly is in the $3 million range and the cost of the demolition and then the new construction is going to come in at as much as $5 million. Desrochers told the meeting that he expects his son, who has never done a large construction project, will take on the assignment. That bit of information sent a shiver through the room.
A week later, Maurice Desrochers is still maintaining the view that his project is good for the city and that he doesn’t foresee any problems. This project has not yet been taken to the city’s planning department; Desrochers is off to Paris for some vacation.
 By Ray Rivers.
BURLINGTON, ON. May 22, 2013. Four Senators and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff either out of a job or wondering how long they are going to keep the one they have. That is what happens when you don’t give the children something constructive to do – they just get into mischief.
The Senate serves no useful purpose. This well financially padded play-pen for worn-out political hacks has no meaningful role in our democracy. Senate reform, you say? Sure, but why not just get rid of it?
Modeled after the British House of Lords, the Canadian Senate was supposed to be the chamber of ‘sober second thought’, a place from which the landed gentry could repel the populists, keep the mob from taxing away their wealth. The kind of place where Conrad Black would feel comfortable pontificating, as he, no doubt, did in the ‘real’ House of Lords in London.
 Can’t you just imagine the discussions which took place in Charlottetown and Quebec in 1864 – Sir John A and 35 other well-suited men, all crowding around a table trying to piece together the British North America Act. As they neared a deal on the constitution they backslapped each other, agreeing on the dominance of the House of Commons and its location in Ottawa.
Still self-congratulating each other, they traipsed off to London two years later for the hard sell. Queen Victoria, studied the plans for a moment, then looking up at these upstarts scowled, “What, no upper chamber? Pity.” And that may well be how the Canadian Senate got created – a regal after-thought.
Albertans like Peter Lougheed and Stephen Harper, had long preached the merits of an elected (triple E) Senate, but anyone with a serious grasp of political science would know they were talking through their ten gallon hats. Two elected bodies? Both believing they are the rightful government? How would that work? Congressional grid-lock in the US would look like child’s play here, were we to go down that road. There is no place for a second governing body in Canada’s parliamentary democracy.
Why, when Trudeau patriated the Canadian Constitution in 1982, why didn’t we have the good sense to ‘whiteout’ all the language describing the Senate, its composition and function? Then we wouldn’t be needing a constitutional amendment to get rid of it now.
Of course Ontario, Nova Scotia, B.C., Manitoba and Saskatchewan have already called for abolition, the Official Opposition is on-side, and we should note that every upper house at the provincial level, including Quebec’s, has been abolished. So let’s do the right thing – put it out of our misery.
 Meanwhile back at the ranch, there is this Duffy affair. Bizarre and stinking. Who actually believes that Stephen Harper wasn’t aware of the payoff? And if he was, why the dance he’s been giving us. A week ago, I would have believed him, but then I could swear I saw his face on gawker.com – or was that the Mayor of Toronto, smoking crack?
Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat after which he decided to write and has become a political animator. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran against Cam Jackson.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. May 23, 2013. They grow this stuff because people buy this stuff. Who is doing the buying?
Early this morning police, using a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant raided a home at 940 Glen View Avenue, Burlington.
Found: 34 Cannabis Marihuana Plants in various stages of growth and 30 grams of dried Cannabis Marihuana. Also found: 12 firearms and ammunition that was stored in an unsafe manner.
Police have arrested and charged the following persons:
Christopher Kyle SILVERTHORNE, 39 years of age:
1) Production of a Controlled Substance
2) Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking a Controlled Substance.
3) Careless Storage of Ammunition
Zorica KRASULJA, 34 years of age :
1) Production of a Controlled Substance
2) Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking a Controlled Substance.
3) Careless Storage of Ammunition
SILVERTHORNE was released on a Promise to Appear in Milton Court on June 18th 2013.
KRASULJA was released on a Promise to Appear in Milton Court on June 18th 2013.
What is both surprising and disturbing is accused people being released on their own recognizance – no bail or surety required, with criminal code charges that involve 12 weapons. We aren’t talking about BB guns here. Wrong message being sent here
Anyone with information in relation to these or any other crimes is asked to contact the Integrated Drug, Gun and Gang Unit at 905-825-4747- ext 8732, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes).
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. May 22, 2013. The surprise wasn’t that Jack Dennison, Councillor for Ward 4, lost his application for a severance and several minor variances to his property on Old Lakeshore Road but how two members of the Committee of Adjustment conducted themselves. We will get to that.
Dennison was applying for a severance to his property that would allow him to create a separate lot on which a two-story house could be built. He required permission to sever the property and needed a number of variances as well.
A staff report did not recommend the application.
The vote went 3-2 against Dennison with Chair Malcolm Ramsay, members Grant Newbury and Robert Bailey voting against and members Dave Kumar and Sam Sarraf voting for.
 Burlington’s Committee of Adjustment. All appointed by city council to serve a four-year term. From left to right chair Ramsay, members Bailey, Newbury, Kumar and Sarraf. Peter Thoem, also a member was absent. Five members of the community delegated starting with Dave McKay who gave the committee an overview of how Roseland got to be the community it is today. He was followed by Diane Gaudaur, president of the Roseland community Association who set out the case for saying no. Gerhard Gerber who lives right across the street from Dennison talked about the impact the requested severance would have on the streetscape which was a major part of the opposition to the application.
Christine Dwivedi followed with a very, very lengthy presentation during which the chair asked if she had anything new to add. Mrs. Dwivedi stuck to her guns even though it was clear that at one point she had the members of the committee following her and taking in the many trenchant points she made but after more than an hour it was clear she had gone too far.
During her delegation we did learn that Dennison attempted to buy 10 feet of the west side of the Dwivedi property for $120,000. Mrs. Dwivedi also reported a nasty dispute over work Dennison had done when he installed a new in-ground pool.
With the clock past 10 pm legal counsel for the Roseland Community Organization summed up the reasons for not granting the severance which included an Ontario Divisional Court ruling which is a binding decision.
Applications like this include levels of detail that can be mind numbing and that was certainly the case Tuesday evening. There were some very interesting points made and they will be covered in detail at a later date making them part of the community record.
The process has the applicant stating their case, the members of the community who oppose the application stating their case. The applicant is then given an opportunity to rebut whatever those opposed have to say.
It then goes to the chair who asks each member if they have questions. Once all the questions of the member of the Committee of Adjustment have been asked each is then asked to make their comments.
It is at this point that members of the Committee make it known if they are going to support or oppose the application.
The chair then polls each member individually to hear them say publicly and for the record that they are supporting the application or opposing that application.
Last night three opposed, two supported – one member was absent. Peter Thoem, a former council member was absent – spending his time at Point Peelee watching birds.
Other than the lengthy presentation made by Mrs. Dwivedi , the hearing was like any other that is contentious with significantly different views on either side.
 Councillor Dennison neighbour Christine Dwivedi and lawyer Mark Nicholson prepare to delegate at a Committee of Adjustment hearing. Where things went off the rails Tuesday evening was when committee member Sam Sarraf began to ask his questions. He first directed a question to David McKay on what the boundaries of the community were and then literally fired a bunch of questions at city planner Jamie Tellier who was on hand to answer technical questions and support the report staff had prepared.
There was question after question on specific definitions. Sarraf had clearly prepared and was directing Tellier to specific parts of the Official Plan and having him read them aloud. On several occasions Sarraf asked Tellier: “Would you not agree.” It became clear that Sarraf had an objective and he began to move from being a committee member asking questions to a person advocating on behalf of the applicant.
At one point Sarraf asked a question on a piece of evidence that had not been introduced by anyone. He asked if the property Dennison was seeking to sever was not at one point three separate lots. Where did Sam Sarraf get that information? Did he research the issue? And if he did – why would he do that? His role is to be an impartial adjudicator who hears evidence presented and makes decisions on the merits of the evidence and adheres to the procedures used by a Committee of Adjustment.
Dave Kumar had questions that were related to how this matter would be seen and treated by the Official Plan. His question was very technical, not something that would normally come from a person with a financial background. Kumar’s questions were also beginning to take on the tone of an advocate.
Committee of adjustment members Bailey and Newbury stuck to the issues. They asked questions of staff that were intended to clarify a point. Bailey had very few questions, Newbury asked for some clarification relating to the original design of the lot when it was first put together.
When Chair Ramsay was about to ask the members of the Committee for their comments, which is the time they get to say if they intend to support the application, Sarraf suggested to the chair that any decision be “deferred” until the applicant had a chance to return and address some of the issues raised, particularly relating to what any house built on the severed lot would look like.
Things like this are done for the applicant by the applicants agent. It is not the role of the committee members to suggest possible actions for an applicant.
There was a time when Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward once advocated for a constituent at Committee of Adjustment. The city’s Solicitor was brought in to read the rules to what were then newbie Council members. Might be time for the city Solicitor to have a chat with the boys on what’s kosher and what isn’t kosher in terms of ethical behaviour.
It was a long meeting, the room was far too warm and everyone was getting tired. The hands of the clock were getting close to 11:00 pm and Chairman Malcolm Ramsay was letting things slip a little.
 Jack Dennison usually goes all out for what he wants. Did he go too far at a Committee of Adjustment meeting on Tuesday? One observer with experience in matters like this wondered why the chair did not move the meeting into an “in camera” session and have everyone clear the room and once the doors were closed, turn to the two members who were offside by a country mile and ask them: “What the hell is going on here?”
Was there collusion between Sarraf and the applicant? That was certainly a question on the minds of many as they talked after the meeting.
While Dennison was reading his comments he was working from a document he had not made available to those opposed to what he was asking for. In quasi-tribunal hearings such as Committee of Adjustment opposing parties make documents available to each other. In higher “courts” lawyers are required to do so.
When Dwivedi was making her presentation she asked that Dennison not be given a copy of her comments because he had not shared his. The chair didn’t disagree with Dwivedi but once the documents were in the hands of the committee members, Sarraf immediately passed a copy to Dennison who was sitting next to him.
There was the sense that these two guys were part of the same team. It smacked all of that small town, old boys network stuff.
Both Dave Kumar and Sam Sarraf have run for public office – both in Ward 5. Sarraf ran in 2006, Kumar in 2010. Kumar is also a former city hall employee where he worked in finance.
The political class tend to hang together in Burlington.
 Councillor Jack Dennison’s application to sever his property was not approved by Burlington’s Committee of Adjustment. Two members of the committee came very close to becoming advocates for the application. Did this amount to collusion? When running for public office Sarraf said he had completed five years study at Mohawk College in both Construction and Civil Engineering he worked from 1983 to 1999 as a Land Surveyor and was responsible for surveying many of the development projects in Burlington during that period of rapid growth. These included The Maple Community, Mapleview Mall, Tyandaga, and Millcroft communities as well as The Orchard.
In 2000 Sarraf became Project Manager & Planner for a local Engineering consulting firm and was instrumental in the development of several residential and commercial projects and subdivisions in the GTA including the environmentally sensitive Oak Ridges Moraine.
Kumar ran in Ward 5, hoping to succeed Rick Goldring who was running for Mayor in 2010.
Running for public office is noble – it isn’t easy work. Those elected or appointed are in place to serve the people of the city –they are not there to serve their own interests or those of their chums.
Last night we saw what one observer described as what he expected from a “banana republic”. “I never thought I would see that in this city”.
This observer added that Burlington needed an Ethics Commissioner. That would put us on the same footing as the Senate in Ottawa. Would that help us keep our Best City ranking next year?
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON May 23, 2013 The beach to the west on the west side of the city, up tight against the canal that marks the border between Hamilton and Burlington has been a focus for Burlington for some time. A team of planners from Halton Region, the Conservation Authority and the city of Burlington delivered the report to a council committee meeting. This report follows a 1987 report and a 1994 report – all designed to come up with a Master Plan for Beachway Park.
A Master Plan for the area that was put together in 1987 that included mention of the park being “public open space” in its entirety.
A report with the impossible title of: Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park Comprehensive Background Report (hereafter known as CBR) pick up that theme and uses this one peg to hang one of its main points on – get rid of the houses in Beachway Park – to which the residents reply: – Not so fast . Some 30 families live down there and they want to see a community in the Beachway as something that makes the area safer.
 Homes right on the lake’s edge with the rail line behind them and then Lakeshore Road. There were once several hundred homes in this part of the city – now there are 30 left. The CBR is a background paper – it is not policy – yet but unless many of the points made in the report are properly refuted it has the potential to become policy – and should that happen we will all be the poorer.
Housing is just one of the issues set out in the CBR – the others are flooding in the area and what can be done to protect the sand dunes that are unique to the province. And those sand dunes are unique as the dunes in Prince Edward County where there is no housing but thousands of weekend visitors.
In this article we include significant parts of the 250 page plus document and set out those parts in bold italic.
The 1987 Master Plan for the beach provided a long-term vision that included a full-scale marina at Spencer Smith Park and the beach area as public open space in its entirety to accommodate a range of recreational amenities. One of the key objectives was the acquisition of all properties in the former cottage communities along Lakeshore Road including the leasehold lands (former Canadian National Railway lands) and private properties as they became available. Funding for acquisitions came from the Province through Conservation Halton, the Region and the City of Burlington. The acquisition of the properties was seen as a priority to:
 The area to the left is known as the Beachway – Spencer Smith Park is shown on the right. Development of that part of Burlington’s waterfront is complete. The city now has to decide what it wants done with property that comes under Regional policy and Conservation Authority rules. Burlington manages the land and the parks within it. The properties on the west side of Lakeshore Road are not threatened. To help with orientation Lakeshore Road is seen as running north/south with the lake on the east side.
Lakeshore Road cuts sharply towards Lake Ontario at the Maple Street intersection where the Joseph Brant Hospital and the Brant Museum are located. It is a very historic intersection for Burlington that once had a railway line running through it; was yards away from the location of the Brant Inn, once the hotspot for jazz musicians in Ontario.
Today that area is the western entrance to Spencer Smith Park and the eastern end of the Beachway Park.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. May 23, 2013. Here is the kind of thing that drives people crazy. The residents of Appleby Line along with those who care deeply about the escarpment and how it is managed, had a concern over the amount of landfill that was being trucked into the Air Park.
Like all good people on the Escarpment, they formed a community group to oppose what was being done and bring their concerns to what they felt were the proper authorities.
 Truck traffic on the Air Park site. Each of those trucks has to travel along Appleby Line to get to the site. Photograph was taken after city of Burlington had issued a STOP order. Roger Goulet, President of PERL (Protect Environment and Rural Life), the organization that fought the battle over a permit being issued for another aggregate mining operation on the Escarpment, wrote us to say that the “Appleby Line at the Burlington Airpark dump truck entrances is an accident waiting to happen. This unacceptable traffic situation has been occurring uncontrolled for years. We need the Halton Region and the City of Burlington to put proper truck traffic management and safety mechanisms in place before it is too late.”
All this is going on claims Goulet ” without… permits, fill quality controls, off-site impact mitigation, groundwater and surface water impacts, ecological impacts, dust management, truck traffic controls, etc.
The Airpark facility he adds is within the Greenbelt Plan “protected countryside”; and adjacent to the Niagara Escarpment Plan Area and in part the Halton NHS; and part of the Bronte Creek headwaters.
Goulet then refers us to his correspondence with the Stirling Todd and Nick Zervos, both with the Region, and says:
“I am writing to you as PERL is a member of the new community group Rural Burlington Greenbelt Coalition. The RBGC is trying to rectify a number of major issues with the Burlington Executive Airpark.
 There is something being done on the west side of the Air Park. Thousands of trucks with landfill are going into the site each day – no one seems to know what’s being done and why – and the Air Park executives are not talking. “Traffic is but one of many serious problems with this Airpark. The Region needs to update its files and enforcement because they don’t have all the current facts, or incorrect facts. For example, the Airpark was never issued a site alteration and fill permit by the City of Burlington. And the Airpark is refusing to obtain a permit, thus is in violation. The City of Burlington is trying to get compliance.
“The truck entrances into the Airpark are an accident waiting to happen…no truck turnoff / turn on lane, no signage, mud on the road, no ‘regular’ cleaning of the road, slippery road when wet, trucks crossing into oncoming side of the road, no flag person, dust, etc.
“A friend of mine drives a school bus on this road and tells me he came very close to having a head on collision due to his school bus skidding on this muddy road at the Airpark truck entrance.
“Hundreds of truck loads a day without proper traffic and road engineering controls is a recipe for an accident, injury or death. This is a Regional road. Appleby Line is a very busy road, over and above truck traffic. The Region must put proper safeguards in place, now, before it’s too late.
“Please investigate and demand that the Burlington Executive Airpark put traffic safeguards into place, immediately.”
Stirling Todd, Senior Planner with the Region, communicated with Burlington Ward 3 Councillor John Taylor, no shrinking violet when it comes to Escarpment matters and on May 13th says:
 Trucks dumping landfill without the permits the city feels they need. Air Park executives say they are federally regulated and don’t need permits. “Councillor Taylor: As requested last night I have looked into the hauling of fill on Regional Roads and the entrance permit issues at the Airpark. Here is what I have found out:
1. From what I understand there was no access permit issued as they are using an existing farm/ property entrance. I have also been advised that King Paving (the hauler of the fill) have been cleaning the road on a regular basis and Transportation Services staff have been monitoring this activity;
2. King paving advised Transportation Services staff when the activity started that they had all the permits required from the City.
3. As there are no truck restrictions on Appleby Line, there is no reason related to the Airpark activity to monitor the truck activity on this road, which is a similar approach taken on other Regional Roads. Truck traffic is permitted on all Regional Roads unless weight restriction are in place due to structural reasons or seasonal load restrictions. There are no restrictions on Appleby Line in this area.
“Should you have any further questions, please contact Nick Zervos, Supervisor Road Operations and Maintenance, Transportation Services, Public Works Department at (905) 825-6000 ext. 7632. He is also copied on this email should you want to follow-up with him directly.”
Two things here. Burlington is saying that the required permits are not in place and is threatening to fine Air Park if they continue. The city has drawn their lawyers into the room.
Air Park has come back with: We don’t need permits from you people – we are a federally regulated business.
On May 15th, Nick Zervos, Supervisor, Road Operations and Maintenance, Transportation Services – Public Works, Region of Halton, replies to Roger Goulet and Stirling Todd with:
“Subject: RE: Appleby Line and the Burlington Airpark trucking of fill to the site
“I appreciate your concerns for the safety of the motoring public along Appleby Line – we share your concerns and take this matter very seriously.
” Staff will be reviewing the area and installing appropriate warning signs as necessary and King paving will be directed to clean up the mud tracking. We will also request that police undertake stepped-up enforcement for possible over load infractions and speeding along the corridor.
” Unfortunately, there was no development application submitted by Burlington Executive Airpark for this activity so the Region was unable to place any conditions upon them. Site alteration and fill permits fall under the City’s zoning/building codes and is not regulated by the Region.
” We will also follow-up with representatives of the Airpark to attempt at arriving at a voluntary solution to these issues. I trust this addresses your concerns at this time.”
The problem appears to be totally out of control with everyone saying they can’t do anything while trucks drive into the Air Park site, dump the land fill which is then spread around by the equipment operators on site.
The work being done is never going to be undone. The different levels of government will bicker back and forth.
Why not just put in a call to the Chief of Police and ask him to stop the traffic until the matter of permits is resolved.
If the street you live on is thought to be a crime scene – police cruisers park on the street and tell you not to go into the area, a crime is being investigated. And you don’t drive in.
Any reason why the police could not be called in and asked to prevent trucks from going into the property while this matter is investigated? . The Air Park people can then take whatever action they wish to have the police stop.
All we are seeing is the bickering back and forth. This evening, Tuesday, May 21, Council will debate the issue, citizens will delegate and trucks will continue to roll in and dump landfill.
Doesn’t have to be this way. The police just say: Stop until we figure out who is right and who is wrong here.
Or is that asking too much?
Burlington’s Mayor, the Mayor of Oakville and the Regional chair are all going to be at a Western GTA Economic development meeting in a joint effort to bring more business into the Region. What will you wager that they feel having an airport in the region is good for economic development – and that may well be the case. If that is the case – take it to the people who live in the area and tell them what’s going on.
Has transparency been thrown under those trucks on this one?
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