 By Pepper Parr
September 24th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The city made it official – the LaSalle Park Marina Association will operate the marina but the city does expect them to change the name of the organization and get the word ‘community’ in there somewhere.
 Peace, tranquility and good governance have settled on the marina. The next step is to put a business case together. There was some additional positive news – the wave break that is being installed looks as if it is going to come in at less than the $4 million and the city think the Marina association might be able to come up with a bit more than the $2.7 million in fees to the city.
It has taken years to get to this point – council is as pleased as punch with the way it worked out. Mayor Meed Ward said she was pleased to see nothing but smiling faces watching the proceedings in city council chamber.
The Friends of Freeman Station are going to get the $150,000 needed to relocate the steam engine and the two rail cars that are currently located at the St. Lawrence Parkway facility in Morrisburg, Ontario.
 Steam engine plus tender and two rail cars could be set up at Freeman. The city will actually own the rolling stock – the FoFS will get to do all the cleaning up and refurbishing of the equipment.
Hopefully the people giving the rail equipment away won’t have any problems with the city owning the asset.
It was a busy city council meeting with much more news to follow up on.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward Council took a break and when they returned the Mayor dumped all over the Burlington Post over errors she said they made in a story about how the city wants to manage the pan handling situation at major intersections in the city.
“They got it wrong” said the Mayor, “completely wrong”
 By Staff
September 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying suspect(s) responsible for a break-in and theft of cash that was raised at Burlington’s Ribfest over the Labour Day weekend.
 The ribbers didn’t suffer from the robbery -it was Rotary that took the full hit. someone who knew a lot about Rotary knew the cash was kept at the office at night. During the overnight hours on September 1 to September 2, 2019, unknown suspect(s) forced entry to the office of the Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore, located at 1455 Lakeshore Road in Burlington.
A large sum of cash was taken. The stolen money was raised by Burlington’s Ribfest and was to be used by the Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore to support local community organizations and charities. Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the person(s) responsible.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Halton Regional Police Service Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825 4747 ext. 2316.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
 By Pepper Parr
September 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Nelson Aggregates announced today it will host an Open House at its Burlington quarry on Saturday, October 5, from 1pm to 4pm.
The Open House will feature bus tours of the quarry and interactive exhibits, including quarry machinery such as crushers, loaders, bulldozers and excavators. All are welcome, including children.
 The Open House tour will cover the existing quarry operation. “We welcome our neighbours to visit, as well as anyone interested in how we balance the industrial process of producing limestone with the sustainability needs of the environment in which we work,” said Nelson President, Quinn Moyer.
The Mt. Nemo quarry has played an important role as Burlington’s main source of limestone for more than 50 years. Its aggregate forms the foundation of most roads, buildings and infrastructure in Burlington.
 The long term plan is to complete mining in the current quarry – outlined in blue and at the same time begin mining in the south extension and ta a later date in the west extension. A proposal is underway to expand the quarry over the next 30 years, and to donate the rehabilitated land in parcels over that time to form the largest park in Burlington.
The proposed park would be nearly six times larger than Burlington’s City View Park. The size and scale of the park would allow for abundant recreational opportunities, from biking and swimming to rock climbing and soccer.
Information on the expansion plans and park proposal will be available.
The Gazette will provide an update on the tour when details are available.
We have learned that the ward 3 city Councillor, Rory Nissan has yet to meet with the quarry operators but that there are plans to do so in the very near future
 By Pepper Parr
September 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Update: We are advised that Jane Michael does have a campaign office on Brant Street.
 Elizabeth Jane Michael Where is Elizabeth Jane Michael? When will the public get to see her and hear what she has to say?
Michael is the Conservative candidate for the riding of Burlington. Her nomination was a squeaker. It was sort of done in private.
Then there were the serious concerns over some of her business failures that she chose not to report to the team that was vetting her as a candidate. The failures weren’t the issue, it was the failure to be honest and report them to the people who were looking her over as a candidate.
Public office is just that – PUBLIC.
Elections are public. Burlington has a strong tradition of holding public debates. The Chamber of Commerce has sponsored these debates in the past, the Canadian Federation of University Woman has also sponsored debates.
This year Burlington Green is sponsoring an all candidate debate – but Ms Michael will not be on the stage.
ECoB is filming short presentations from each of the candidates and has invited every candidate to take part. Ms Michael has taken a pass on that as well.
The big question is – why does Ms Michael not want to be an active participant in the debates?
As yet there isn’t a campaign office for the Conservatives in Burlington. There is a Facebook page and we assume that at some point there will be some campaign literature.
Burlington has a strong Liberal candidate in Karina Gould; being a member of Cabinet won’t hurt her chances of being re-elected.
The New Democrats have a new face in Lenaee Dupuis, who is said to be very good at the door when she is talking to people. Gareth Williams, who was not able to take ward 3 in the last municipal election is the candidate for the Greens; he will certainly put up a strong fight and should the country decide that they no longer like what the look of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his recent problems, may prove to be a strong choice.
Andrew Sheer doesn’t appear have the believability the public wants – but this election has only begun and one never knows what is going to come to the surface.
Burlingtonians would like to see the Conservative candidate come to the surface.
Related news stories:
Lost the nomination
What Patrick Brown had to say
Michael acclaimed as the federal Conservative candidate.
 By Staff
September 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
A Gazette reader sent us a copy of a letter he got from the Oakville North Burlington MPP
Effie Triantafilopoulos that he thought would interest readers.
“I thought it might interest you that I received a reply from Effie. If the criteria being considered are actually as listed in Effie’s reply, Halton should be left alone. I live in hope.”
“Our government is committed to improving the way regional government works and is looking at ways to make better use of taxpayers’ dollars and make it easier for residents and businesses to access important municipal services. The review is considering whether changes are needed to ensure that regional governments are working efficiently and effectively so they can continue to provide the vital services that communities depend on.
 Michael Fenn and Ron Seiling, the members of the Provincial Review panel put in place by Premier Ford are expected now to see their report, which is believed to be complete, made public in 2020 “Ontario’s system of regional government has been in place for almost 50 years. The review is examining Ontario’s eight regional municipalities (Halton, York, Durham, Waterloo, Niagara, Peel, Muskoka District, and Oxford County), the County of Simcoe, and their lower-tier municipalities. I believe it’s important to remember that these regions are very different and what is recommended for one region may be completely different from what is recommended for others.
“In consultation with municipalities and the public, the Special Advisors will work with the province to determine:
• If the way regions are governed is working for the people;
• How to make it easier for communities to access municipal services, such as public health, public transit, and building permits;
• How to deliver efficient and effective local services that respect taxpayers’ money;
• Ways to make municipalities open for business; and
• Opportunities to cut red tape and duplication and save costs.
 The Region of Halton as it is today.  Region of Halton, which some think might become the city of Halton and look something like this. “I am grateful that you shared your views with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can be of assistance to you.”
Residents who live in the Burlington riding where Jane McKenna is the MPP wish they could get replies like this from their MPP. Those who have actually received a reply complain that they are being misled or lectured.
We have a federal election to deal with before we hear anything from the Provincial Review Panel Premier Doug Ford put in place.
Most recent word is that there will be something made public early in the New Year.
 By Pepper Parr
September 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
It is going to be a fun night for the sports crowd and the supporters of the Burlington Foundation.
The local news is that $60,000 in new grant gifts to local charities through the support of 17 businesses who are members of the Foundation’s Brilliant Business Circle will be announced
 Michael “Pinball” Clemons grew into an amazing charismatic speaker who was generous with his time and his financial resources. The buzz though will be the words that Michael “Pinball” Clemons will give on the subject of community giving.
It all takes place at the Burlington Golf and Country Club on Tuesday September 24th; 6:30 to 9:00 pm.
Clemons was born in Florida but came to play for the Argos in 1989, going on to enjoy a remarkable 12-year career in the CFL before going on to coach the team. Clemons is now the Argos’ vice chair.
He and his wife Diane recently became Canadian citizens.
 He knew what to do with the ball when you put it in his hands. The Burlington Foundation is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year; the evening is an important celebration of giving across our community, both through the collective giving of local businesses as well as through the amazing work of local charities.
It should be a night to remember.
By Pepper Parr
September 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The city has been transparent about the more than half a million dollars that got sucked out of an account and sent along to someone it didn’t belong to.
They were a little short on the exact amount that was taken – it was $503,000 – does $3000 make a difference.
Mayor Meed Ward issued another edition of her Newsletter and explained in the following material that will be published in another news media later this week.
“In order to provide transparency and accountability to residents, I asked our staff to provide a public update at the Sept. 11 Audit committee on what we’ve learned and how we’re protecting ourselves. The public report is available online (https://bit.ly/BurlingtonFraudUpdate).
“We learned that a single transaction was made to a falsified bank account as a result of a complex phishing email to City staff requesting to change banking information for an established City vendor.
“Upon learning of the fraudulent payment, the City immediately contacted our financial institution and the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS). A criminal investigation is underway, and as soon as we can share more about that, I will.
“The city also immediately started an internal investigation, which confirmed that our IT system was not compromised, no employees were involved in perpetrating the fraud, and no personal information was stolen or shared. Further, the city made immediate changes to our internal protocols to prevent this in future.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward – would love to get that money back – chances are slim. “I’m confident we know what happened and have made the necessary changes to protect the city. Our goal is to recover the funds and work with police to hold those who did this accountable, so they can’t target anyone else.
We know cyber fraud is a growing area of risk for municipalities, and there have been recent reports of other cities across the country falling victim to a similar scheme that ensnared Burlington. I will be raising this matter with my fellow mayors at the Large Urban Mayors Caucus of Ontario when we meet in November, so we can share our experiences and expertise to protect all our citizens.
“Cyber fraud is also a growing area of risk for organizations and individuals. One way you can protect yourself is to never share financial information online. If you get an email asking for password changes, seeking banking or other financial information, even from an agent you may do business with, call first. I also recommend visiting the HRPS website for some tips for fraud prevention and protection against cybercrime (https://bit.ly/HaltonPoliceFraudPrevention).”
The Gazette has been a consistent advocate for more in the way of public awareness. Some of our readers are getting tired of hearing us say: If in doubt don’t.
A number of years ago the Gazette collaborated with Crime Stoppers, the police and a number of the banks in putting the message directly into the hands of bank customers.
 Each bank that participated was given coupons with their corporate logo. More than 15,000 were distributed.
Bankers were explaining to us that they hear about the frauds after they have taken place – they were looking for a way to warn and advise their customers what to be on the watch for.
We devised a program that had coupons the banks handed out to their customers. Whenever a customer was getting cash from a teller one of the coupons was slipped into the bank notes.
The belief was that people tend not to take the time reading literature – but when they opened their wallets or purses they would come across the coupon and pay more attention.
Did it work? It certainly did. One major bank reported that they got a call from a client that prevented a significant scam from taking place.
An additional part of the program had the banks making a contribution to Crime Stoppers.
By Staff
September 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
 Do you have one? Do you know how to use it – and is it up to date? Fire departments across the country do their best to get out the message – “don’t give fires a chance”. Sure, it is part of their job but for every fire person the fear is that the fire they are racing towards may be the scene of a death from a fire that was an accident and should have never happened.
During Fire Prevention week there is an opportunity for adults to learn how to test and properly use the fire extinguisher they have in their homes – you do have one don’t you?
Disastrous fire do take place. The house fire in Halifax that burned seven children to death has yet to be explained. The father of the seven children is still in hospital in a coma and does not yet know that all his children are dead. His wife visits daily.
 Seven children were burned to death in this Halifax house fire. The Burlington Fire Department is recognizing Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 6 to 12 with its annual fire station open house where residents can learn about key home hazards, how to prevent fires and how to safely escape from the house if they need to be a hero in their own home.
Fire Prevention Week is a province-wide initiative held each year in October. This year’s theme is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practise Your Escape!™”
Fire Station 1 Open House
Burlington’s Fire Station 1 Headquarters, 1255 Fairview St. will be hosting an open house on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. Burlington Fire Headquarters will be open for public tours and family-friendly fire safety activities, rain or shine.
Please bring non-perishable food items to the event in support of Burlington Food Banks.
Headquarters will feature special activities and live fire demonstrations. The demonstrations start at 2:30 p.m.
• Adult fire extinguisher training
• Truck tours
• Equipment displays
• Live fire demonstrations
• Kids’ fire hose spray
• Fire safety obstacle course
• Kids’ craft table
• Face painters
• Photo booth
• Station tours
 The display of these massive pieces of equipment awes the kids – ensuring that they know the fundamentals of fire prevention can be taught to them when they are at a “touch a truck” event. Fire Prevention Facts
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in Burlington and in Ontario unattended cooking is the leading cause of many fire injuries and deaths. That’s why this year’s messages focus on how to stay safe in the kitchen.
• Never leave a pot unattended on the stove.
• Keep clutter away from elements and heating surfaces.
• Use a heat-resistant surface to cool down cookware.
• Keep young children and pets away from stove tops.
• If a pot catches fire, don’t take any risks. Never try to move a burning pot. Put a lid on it and turn off heat if it is safe to do so. Never throw water over it.
• Don’t tackle the fire yourself – Get out, stay out, call 911.
 Fire Chief Dave Lazenby Burlington Fire Chief Dave Lazenby sets out his approach to running the fire department: “While the Burlington Fire Department family focuses on fire prevention all year long, we’re getting ready to kick off our annual Fire Prevention Week Open House to connect with residents.
“In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out.
“We look forward to meeting with you to share information about fire safety, prevention and escape planning.”
By Pepper Parr
September 23rd, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Agricultural Advisory Committee celebrated their 40th year of advising the Halton municipalities on the state of the farm business and showing the politicians where attention was needed.
They tied the 40th anniversary into a Farm Tour; an occasion when a bus travels around the Region visiting different farming and agricultural operations.
This year it was a visit to Notre Dame Catholic high school where there was a lecture on why Catholic schools were better schools. The real reason for the visit was to look at the agricultural robotic gizmo the students put together. It automatically plants the seeds, waters the plants and will pick the weeds as well.
It is a prototype but it works. Can it be commercialized? That’s something the school would really like an opportunity to prove.
 The horses wanted to know who all these strange people were – taking pictures but not giving them any treats. The several barns on the property have a total of 240 stalls with more on the way; two exercise tracks and everything else a horse might need to rest and get back into shape. The vast majority of the horses are Standard Bred with many racing at the nearby Woodbine Mohawk Racetrack. Next on the tour was a visit to the First Line Training Centre in Halton Hills where standard bred horses are trained and get sent to to nurse any injuries. The place has 240 stalls with more coming on line in a couple of months.
There are dozens of paddocks, an automatic walking ring and a pool where horses can be exercised without have to carry the weight of their bodies.
 The handlers put a rope around the horses tail to prevent it from going forward – the animal then treads water to exercise all four legs with out having to bear the weight of their bodies.  A horse being led into the pool for some exercise. Standard Bred racing is a big business in rural Halton, – the Woodbine Mohawk Racetrack is now operational year round.
The last stop of the way was at the Wheelbarrow Apple orchard where there are 10 acres of apple trees with at least two of the finest apple varieties grown in the province.
 Ten acres with more than a dozen apple varieties ready for the public to pick on a ‘pick your own’ farm. Much more on this when we return with an in-depth look at farming in the Region.
Dinner was served at the Gambrel Barn in Country Heritage Park on Tremaine Rd. The meal gave the word “rubber chick dinners” a whole new meaning. The main meal and the Crème Brule dessert were something to write home about.
The downside was the handing out of service plaques: anyone still alive who served on a HAAC Board or committee got a certificate with their picture taken.
There was a solid speech from Senator Black on the work a Senate committee had done on the state of agriculture and where the growth opportunities are.
The Gazette will come back to just what agriculture means for Halton Region and where the opportunities for growth exist.
By Staff
September 21st, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Can you tell the difference between these pills? Neither can we. One of these is oxycodone, and one is fentanyl, made to look like oxycodone.
 If you have to use the pills – at least know that you are using the right thing. The Halton Regional Police Service and the Halton Region Health Department want to warn the community that counterfeit Oxycocet® (oxycodone) pills containing fentanyl are known to be circulating in the Greater Toronto Area. The pills closely resemble oxycodone pills. The presence of fentanyl in these counterfeit pills increases the risk of overdose among people using them. For context, fentanyl was present in 75 per cent of all opioid-related deaths in Halton Region in 2018.
If you use drugs, or have a friend or family member who uses drugs, these tips may help save a life in the event of an overdose:
Know the signs. An overdose is a medical emergency. Know the signs of an overdose and call 9-1-1 right away:
– difficulty walking, talking, or staying awake
– blue lips or nails
– very small pupils
– cold and clammy skin
– dizziness and confusion
– extreme drowsiness
– choking, gurgling or snoring sounds
– slow, weak or no breathing
– inability to wake up, even when shaken or shouted at
Don’t run. Call 9-1-1. Our frontline officers, and other first responders in Halton, carry naloxone and we want to assist. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides broad legal protections for anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including the person experiencing an overdose. This means citizens, including youth, will not be charged for offences such as simple possession for calling 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Carry naloxone, a drug that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone is available free-of-charge in Halton at:
– Regional Health Clinics (in Acton, Burlington, Georgetown, Milton and Oakville) and Halton Region Needle Exchange Program (Exchange Works)
– Some local pharmacies. To find a pharmacy that distributes naloxone, visit the Ontario government’s Where to get a free naloxone kit web page.
Never use alone. Don’t use drugs alone, and don’t let those around you use alone either. If you overdose when you are alone, there will be no one there to help you. If you are using with someone else, don’t use at the same time.
Go slow. The quality of street drugs is unpredictable. Any drug can be cut with, or contaminated by, other agents or drugs (e.g. fentanyl), which in very small amounts can be harmful or fatal. Know your tolerance and always use a small amount of a drug
 By Ray Rivers
September 20th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
After the release of an old photo showing our prime minister dressed up for an Arabian Nights gala at the high school where he taught classes back then, there is only one question on everyone’s mind. Who is the real Justin Trudeau? Is he, indeed, the son of our most celebrated PM, Pierre, or is Justin really Aladdin? Not to start any rumours, but how many of us really knew what went on during those days of Trudeau-mania?
If so why didn’t he use his magic carpet to fly off to chum with his daddy’s old buddy, the Aga Khan, instead of relying on Mr. Khan’s hospitality, and thereby ticking off the ethics commissioner? And when it came to governance, why didn’t he just use his magic lamp on Jodi and Jane – to wish them away instead of suffering through that messy Justice Committee hearing business?
 It did happen; he did apologize: now let’s see how he bears up during the rest of the campaign. But seriously, in today’s world, it doesn’t matter why you do, or did what you did, it only matters that you did it. And historical mistakes are still mistakes. Political parties vet candidates for office; investigating what they had done in their past which might damage them and hurt their chances in the voters’ eyes.
Someone with a criminal record, for example, would likely be rejected by most parties, notwithstanding that they’ve already paid the price of their crime to society. Wearing blackface is not a criminal offence and it may not have been intended to mock or insult. But it is still considered incorrect, since its origins are based on racism.
At one time black performers were excluded from performing before non-black crowds. So white performers emulated them, quite often making them an object of ridicule for entertainment. It wasn’t the Ku Klux Klan and it may have been an America a generation or two ago, but the hurt still continues.
Political correctness is important in politics, almost regardless that the intention may not be to mock, hurt or offend. One needs to be sensitive to the feelings of others.
Mr. Trudeau as PM has been a strong advocate of human and civil rights. And that is perhaps why the revelations of these skeletons from his past, innocent as they may have seemed at the time, are still hurtful, indeed shocking to all of us. And it’s true that he set himself up for the repercussions of this latest outcry – the bigger you are the harder you fall.
Mr. Trudeau recently pulled a candidate’s nomination for comments he made which were considered anti-Semitic. He has attacked Mr. Scheer for his party’s links to apparent white supremacists. He has suggested he might intervene in the Quebec law which bans wearing cultural paraphernalia in the broader public service. And he has attacked Maxine Bernier for his position on immigration as racially motivated.
The revelations of at least three situations in his own distant past, where he wore dark makeup in performances, are shocking for a man with that kind of profile and record. He has fallen off his high horse, tumbled off the pedestal upon which he had lifted himself.
 Trudeau -facing the music But he has apologized for his past actions and asked/begged, forgiveness from the Canadian people. He admits that what he did was racist, though he wasn’t aware of its significance when he did it. The media interviewed people on the street and the reaction was fairly muted. Twenty years is a long time ago after all, and who doesn’t have something in their closet that they’d rather not let out?
But Trudeau’s political opponents are making political hay – and that is all fair in the game we’re in, barely a month from the election. We have come to expect a lot of our prime ministers, not only how they run our government but also who they really are. Does the public really believe that their PM is a racist? After all, wasn’t it his father who gave us multiculturalism in the first place?
 Ray Rivers writes regularly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Brown Face in Vancouver – Origins of Blackface –
By Pepper Parr
September 18th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
ECoB is once again serving the people of Burlington with an innovative approach to keeping people informed on what the different federal election candidates have to say as they strive to get elected or re-elected.
 ECoB filled church halls during the municipal election. This time they are going digital. ECoB, the Engaged Citizens of Burlington who sponsored candidate debates in every ward of the city during the last municipal election. In a number of instances you couldn’t get a seat to hear the candidates,
This time ECoB is going to interview candidates and publish the interview on their Facebook page. They are working with the Gazette who will post the interviews which will allow viewers to watch them at their leisure.
More on this as details and specifics become available.
ECoB does report that the Liberal, NDP and Green Party candidates have agreed to take part. The interviews will take place early in October.
By Claire Nash
September 18th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Going by the endless headlines one gets, being a lottery winner can be a truly memorable and exhilarating experience for anyone. After all, these events transform regular people like you and me, into millionaires overnight.
 It’s all about luck. There are several accounts of the lucky Canadians buying a lottery ticket and thus a fortune for themselves. And many others continue to try their luck on a daily basis. The best ways to be one such winner is by playing reputed and well-known lotteries in Canada.
You can play Powerball online, Lotto 6/49 and more. Here in this article, we will tell you about the biggest lottery winner from Canada and the US Powerball which gives you a chance to win several more millions of dollars from Canada.
Record Lottery Winner from Canada
The biggest lottery winner from Canada is a woman named Zhe Wang from Mississauga, Ontario. In 2016, she won $ 64 million, the biggest jackpot ever in the history of Canadian lottery. As per the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., Zhe Wang had the single winning ticket for that jackpot. The ticket was for the Lotto 649 draw of October 17, and was purchased from a Petro Canada in Mississauga.
As per the gaming agency, Zhe Wang’s big win puts her at the top of the biggest lottery prize winners from Canada who won through a single ticket. Before her the largest Lotto 649 win record was held by 4 joint winning tickets – 1 from western Canada and 3 sold in British Columbia. That was for a total sum of $ 63.4 million, drawn on April 13, 2013.
US Powerball gives you a chance to score an even bigger win
US Powerball, which has had some of the biggest winners in the history of lottery ever, for instance this $ 768 million, 24 year old winner, requires you to match 5 numbers from 1 to 69, as well as the Powerball number ranging from 1 to 26 on the ticket. There are several other prizes as well, with a total of 9 prize tiers. Not to forget, the popular Powerplay multipliers. In the event that someone else also gets the same numbers, the jackpot amount is shared between them, and if no one hits the jackpot, the money is rolled over to the next draw, continuing this way till a winner comes along. Please note, it’s pretty common for such rollovers to happen, the reason why US Powerball jackpots are considered the biggest in the world.
 With lotteries it is the luck of which ball comes down the chute. While in the United States, the age limit to play Powerball is 18 (19 in Nebraska and 21 in Arizona, Iowa and Louisiana), in Canada too you should be minimum 18 years to play this lottery. In the event that you win the jackpot, or any prize for that matter, there will be no tax due from you in Canada. You stand to win exactly the same amount of money as any winner from the United States.
 By Staff
September 18th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Suzanne Vukosavljevic, Manager of Communications for the city sent out a media release saying: “The City of Burlington is not pursing a by-law related to ticketing drivers giving to panhandlers on Burlington streets.
“On September 10, 2019, a staff report on panhandling went to the Planning & Development Committee for discussion. There is no City staff direction related to targeting and ticketing drivers donating money to panhandlers.
“There was an amended motion put forward at that meeting that was not approved by Burlington City Council; that motion was to report back to the Planning and Development Committee by the end of 2019 on the possibility of a by-law that would target drivers donating money to panhandlers at City intersections.
Here is what actually happened at the Standing Committee meeting:
 The Mayor just asked the question: Could the police issues a distracted driving ticket to someone who gave a pan handler money while they were in their car. The idea of perhaps ticketing car drivers for giving pan handlers money, because they would have been “distracted” from their driving, was a question raised by the Mayor when she asked Staff if they had asked the police if they could issue distracted driving offence tickets. Heather MacDonald, Director of City Building said they did not ask that particular question.
Vukosavljevic, added that: “The actions that were approved by Burlington City Council include:
• The City of Burlington will continue to work with the Halton Poverty Roundtable (which is part of United Way) as part of their broader communication to residents about poverty.
• Update the City’s website to provide information on how residents can assist those in need, including donating money.
• The City will share ways to help via social media and the City Talk newsletter.
• The City will prepare communication material for ward-specific newsletters with information for residents about this issue.
• The City will continue to work with the Halton Regional Police to monitor panhandling on the streets of Burlington.
“Burlington City Council shared their concerns on the well-being of all who need help in Burlington, and was clear through its deliberations that the end goal is to get the most support to those who need it, and that donating to active local charitable organizations is important to ensuring the best results from the community.”
One of the concerns was expressed by ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns who said that the pan handling was a “racket”. Some of these people are “optimizing or using space for their own purposes”.
Mayor Meed Ward added that she had been at the Guelph Line Fairview intersection earlier and had seen pan handlers at the intersection with drivers handing them money.
The media release from the Communications department appears to be trying to put a bit of a spin on a situation that makes some people uncomfortable. It always works better when you let the facts speak for themselves.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Staff
September 18th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
On Thursday September 19, 2019 at approximately 5:00 am, a lone male culprit entered a 7/11 convenience store located at Guelph Line and Prospect Street in the City of Burlington.
The culprit was hiding his face by pulling his shirt up and was carrying a large metal pipe. The male culprit confronted the store clerk and demanded money. The clerk provided the culprit an amount of money and he then fled the store. The store clerk was not injured in this incident.
At approximately 5:30 am, a homeowner in the area of Dynes Road and Woodward Avenue in the City of Burlington reported to police that an intruder was on their property. The homeowners became aware that a male person was on top of the roof of their bungalow style single family home. A homeowner came outside and confronted the male person who came down from the roof. The male culprit threatened the homeowner and indicated that he had a weapon.
 Cst Mitchell with police dog Juno being trained. Another police dog was used to track the culprit to a nearby garage. The male culprit then ran off from this residence. The homeowner was not injured in this brief interaction.
Halton Regional Police Service canine officers and uniform officers set up a perimeter in the Dynes Road area. A canine track was commenced which lead officers to a townhouse complex nearby on Dynes Road. At 6:20 am, police located the male culprit hiding in a garage in this townhouse complex and he was arrested without incident. The male culprit had broken into the garage at this location.
Police were able to recover an amount of money and the metal pipe believed to have been used in the original robbery incident. There are no further public safety concerns in this incident.
A male person named Shad Atkin , 31 years old from the City of Burlington is charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
1. Robbery
2. Wearing a disguise to commit a criminal offence
3. Uttering a threat to cause death
4. Trespassing at night
5. Breaking and entering
He will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in the Town of Milton for a bail hearing. Police want to remind the public that the person charged in this incident is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Anyone with information about this robbery incident is asked to contact the Halton Regional Police Service – 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905.825.4747 extension 2323 or 2315 or 2316.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
By Staff
September 18th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Between August 21, 2019 and September 11, 2019, there were numerous incidents of thefts of rims and tires from Go station parking lots along the Lakeshore West corridor. In all of the reported incidents, the rims and tires were taken and the vehicle was left on cement blocks.
 On September 18, 2019, members of the Halton Regional Police Service Criminal Investigations Bureau and members of the Tactical Rescue Unit executed a Criminal Code search warrant at the accused residence in the City of Brantford.
Investigators seized a 2004 GMC Yukon utilized by the accused in the commission of these offences.
Police have arrested Kenneth Anderson Davis (29) of Brantford. He has been charged with:
-Theft under $5000 (13 counts)
-Mischief to Property (13 counts)
-Theft of Motor Vehicle (1 count)
-Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (1 count)
-Breach of Probation Order (15 counts)
Davis was held for a bail hearing on September 18, 2019 in Milton.
We thought GO station parking lots were under video surveillance 24/7. Apparently not; makes them very unsafe late at night for people returning to their cars.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Detective Omar Nadim of the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 Ext 2278.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca
By Staff
September 18, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington’s Tecumseh Public school is going to be part of the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation’s Adopt a School program, running now through to October 6, 2019!
The fundraising initiative connects Indigo Brant with Tecumseh Public School and the surrounding community to help provide support for much-needed additional library resources. With an inadequate library budget of less than $30 per student for the entire year, this local school will now have an opportunity to upgrade its library collection and enrich the lives and education of its students.
 The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation believes that the right book at the right moment can change a child’s life forever. And if you are a serious book reader you know how true that statement is.
This year, 182 Canadian high-needs elementary schools across the country have been “adopted” by local Indigo, Chapters and Coles stores in their communities who will fundraise on their behalf.
Supporters can participate by making a donation in-store or through the Adopt a School registry at indigo.ca.
Each school’s unique registry will consist of 50 books for supporters to shop during the campaign. When a book is purchased from a school’s registry, Indigo will double the impact of each customer’s donation by providing an additional copy of that book to the school, enabling even more children and youth to benefit.
Talk to your child’s teacher or ask the people at the bookstore if you find this is something you would like to do.
By Pepper Parr
September 18th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
 Myles Rusak, Executive Director of the Sound Music seemed to be telling council that these huge events are no longer the attraction they used to be. Myles D. Rusak had to wait hours before he got his ten minutes to tell city council meeting as a Standing Committee that he had wonderful news for them: From its humble beginnings in 1979 as a showcase for the Burlington Teen Tour Band to its current iteration as Canada’s Largest Free Music Festival; over the years this Festival has evolved in many new and exciting ways.
Rusak didn’t use the phrase Sound of Music – it would appear it is going to morph into the “Festival”.
Rusak was the last speaker during what had been a very full day – and it would run on into the evening. He got his ten minutes but there were no questions – council was making a hard stop – they wanted to go home for dinner.
 These huge events don’t pay the bills. The SoM board wants to re-imagine the event. Rusak explained that the Sound of Music is a registered Non-Profit Organization that has an obligation to you, our stakeholders, to share with you how we operate, where our funds come from and the overall impact of the Festival on the community.
 Moving forward we aim to be a resource for emerging artists, and a year round showcase for local talent. Under new management (there was no mention of how the SoM unceremoniously dumped the previous Executive Director) we aim to evolve yet again to increase our capacity for supporting Music and the Arts in our community.
Our vision is to not be defined exclusively as a “festival” – moving forward we aim to be a resource for emerging artists, a showcase for local talent and a valued community partner who wants to see Music and Performance in this community thrive in new and exciting ways.
Our commitment to you is a new level of transparency and accountability; an admission that they had not been all that transparent or accountable in the past?
It was at this point that Rusak advised council that he wasn’t in front of them asking for money – but that he would be back.
Rusak apparently didn’t realize that for the most part the 2020 budget has been drafted and except for some serious tweaking there aren’t likely to be any major changes – unless the Mayor decides to continue with her raids on reserve accounts.
But I digress.
 If the numbers are what we think they are – the SoM doesn’t make any money on the ticketed events. Rusak told council: “We know you work hard for your money and you deserve to know how it’s used when you buy a festival ticket, VIP upgrade, merchandise or beverage at the Festival. I do hope this report answers those important questions.”
He trotted out that phrase that covers all past sins – he was going to be “accountable and transparent”.
Rusak had some astounding news:
The Sound of Music pumps $12.7 million into the local economy.
 These numbers don’t add up to the $12 million touted.  A quarter of a million people attended – the spending doesn’t appear to be in sync with that figure. The 34% that were non-local – does that mean Hamilton? Every dollar invested in the Sound of Music returns $160
MORE here
Rusak also had a dour note. The festival market is changing he said and “we have to change or we die”.
And that’s when he explained that the event had to become more than a three day event. Sound of Music had already grown to a couple of additional days when ticketed events took place.
Sound of Music is talking to Cogeco about doing something with the community cable operation. An all year round program.
He talked about putting something together with the Performing Arts Centre. The folks over there have been trying to get the Sound of Music in their building for the past two years. PAC Executive Director Tammy Fox told the Gazette that she will get them in there at some point in the future.
 Impressive numbers – what do they mean? No analysis was offered. The Sound of Music Executive is currently working on a Strategic Plan that Rusak assured the Councillors would be made public. Sound of Music doesn’t have the best of reputations for telling people what they would like to know about the revenue and expense side of their operation.
 They tend to tell people what they want people to hear.
Rusak is new to both the organization and to Burlington.
He cuts a fine figure. Time will tell if he actually walks his talk.
Related news stories:
SoM volunteers don’t like what they are hearing.
SoM Board holds emergency meeting
New Executive Director appointed.
By Staff
September 18th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton Region is hosting a job fair to help connect job seekers with more than 90 employers in the local community. The event is being held on Tuesday, September 24 at the Oakville Conference Centre, located at 2515 Wyecroft Road in Oakville, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
 Region holds Job Fair at Oakville Conference Centre, located at 2515 Wyecroft Road in Oakville “Halton Region supports job seekers and employers through a variety of valuable services including training, career development and networking events,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We are very fortunate to have a highly skilled talent pool here in Halton, and our job fairs provide a great opportunity for those seeking employment to meet in person with employers from our thriving business community.”
Employers at the September job fair will represent a variety of industry sectors including technology, government, advanced manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and healthcare.
Halton Region will also be accepting resumés and interviewing candidates for roles in its three long-term care homes. Job opportunities at the Burlington, Milton and Oakville homes include cooks, dietary aides, personal support workers, registered nurses, registered practical nurses and schedulers.
Each year, the Region’s Employment Halton staff connect more than 12,000 job seekers with more than 250 local employers by providing services such as training, job placement and access to online job boards.
Employment Halton staff also offer workshops and one-on-one sessions to help job seekers create resumés, prepare for interviews and ultimately find work.
 By Staff
September 17th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Road resurfacing work will be done on Brant Street between QEW and North Service Road
Between Sept. 10 and Oct. 3, Halton Region is resurfacing sections of Brant Street between the QEW and North Service Road. The road resurfacing work will result in QEW/403 ramp lane restrictions and closures between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Lane shifts and restrictions on Brant Street are also in place.
🙂 This could be an exercise to get people ready for the road restrictions that will take place on Brant once the construction of The Gallery, the 23 story condominium going up across the street from city hall, begins.
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