Second sexual assault reported in the city.

Crime 100By Staff

March  20th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

Reports of sexual assaults in the city are on the rise.

HRPS crestOn Saturday March 16th 2019, Detectives with the Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit (CASA) commenced an investigation after a 23 year old female reported that she had been sexually assaulted in the area of Lakeshore Rd. and Elizabeth Street in the City of Burlington.

The victim advised that she met the suspect on the dating app “HINGE” and he identified himself as “Giovanni VINCENTE”. The victim attended a local establishment with the suspect before accepting a ride in his vehicle. The victim was driven to the above mentioned location at approximately 11:30pm, where she was sexually assaulted.

The suspect is described as male, 26 years, olive complexion, 6’3″, 220lbs, short sandy blonde hair with a beard and was wearing a camouflage shirt and jacket. The suspect was driving a newer model black four door Volkswagen.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding this or similar incidents to contact the Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit – Detective Sergeant Chris Newcombe at 905-465-8965 or Detective Constable Mark Werner at 905-465-8747.

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

Earlier in the week a sexual assault on Elgin at Burlington Avenue was reported.

Link to related news story:

Earlier sexual assault.

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Rivers: It is an election budget.

Rivers 100x100By Ray Rivers

March 20th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

This was unquestionably an election-year budget, with lots of little goodies sprinkled about for most Canadians. And it is costly with a still hefty on-going deficit. But is it too costly?

Newly minted People’s Party leader Maxime Bernier said it was “… irresponsible …because it’ll be future generations that will have to pay for it. They want to buy votes and that’s not the way to do politics — with people’s money.”

Trudeau Moreau

They want you to buy this book.

Mr. Morneau would probably argue the opposite. That is what government is all about – using our collective wealth for the betterment of us all. He claimed that his choice to deficit spend when interest rates were low, and even during good times, has resulted in a much healthier economy than when the Liberals replaced the Tories almost four years ago.

And the country now has the lowest unemployment rate in forty years. Management of the economy, or luck, has also resulted in a spectacular increase in the revenues flowing into government, to quote bank economists.

The government takes a longer term approach to debt management, targeting its debt performance as a percentage of GDP. And the ratio is declining according to the budget forecasts. Canada’s debt, unlike other nations in the G7, is largely held by Canadians, reducing the risk of foreign influence in our domestic economy.

New spending programs in the budget may seem like crumbs to neophyte NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. But every budget is a balancing act and this budget is very much about further support for the middle class and young starter families in particular. This is consistent with the strategy the Trudeau government has adopted since first coming to office.

They are offering a $5000 consumer rebate on electric car (EV) purchases and an immediate capital write-off for businesses purchasing EVs. That is the glove on the hand of the national carbon tax, providing an option to reduce the impact of the upcoming carbon tax, and freeing up annual carbon tax rebates for other purposes. There is a $45,000 limit on the vehicle value which should encourage auto makers to get more affordable EVs into the market place.

Nobody should argue about more money being allocated to municipalities for infrastructure. And who would quarrel with greater assistance for indigenous child welfare and indigenous drinking water improvements?

Nor should anyone quibble with more resources to protect our election systems from cyber threats. There is even more money for the RCMP and for the public prosecutor, the one who declined to exercise the SNC remediation agreement.

Jagmeet - scheer - trudeau

Andrew Scheer, Jagmeet Singh or Justin Trudeau – one of them will be Prime Minister. Will that person lead a minority government?

The government is taking first steps towards a national pharmacare program and developing a program to provide support to Canada’s beleaguered media industry and its fledgling digital information platforms. Details are still somewhat vague but one can see echoes of Justin’s father, and how he enabled Canada to become a major player in the global entertainment industry.

On the other shoe of climate change, there will be more money for emergency natural disaster relief. And given what has just taken place in New Zealand, the government will be allocating resources to protect community gathering places from hate crimes.

This is an election year budget and the message is ‘steady-as-she-goes’ but with some new seeding of the bare spots. The federal budget ended up overshadowing another election year event – an Alberta throne speech followed by an announcement of an election date. The NDP’s Rachel Notley is in the fight of her life against United Conservative party’s Jason Kenny, who has been implicated in some messy election corruption of late.

Notley is promising more industrial diversification to ready the economy for the day when oil will no longer be its mainstay. Kenny wants to turn the clock back to when oil was king, cancelling the carbon tax and cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy.

Kenny and his Ontario buddy Mr. Ford define right wing politics in this country. Maxime Bernier is probably well intentioned, but a bit of an amusement as he gropes to find his way around the religion of Libertarianism. And he is still pretty much alone, though with aspirations to convert more tribal Conservatives over to his camp. And Preston Manning would be his model.

Mr. Scheer, on the other hand is turning out to be an embarrassment to the great, and even not so great, Tories who came before him. He is doing himself no favours banging on about SNC and treating Jody Wilson-Raybould as if she were a fellow Tory instead of a committed Liberal.

Sometimes one has to wake up smell the coffee and recognize reality.

Empty opp bench

During delivery of the budget speech the heckling was so intense that Morneau could not be heard – the the Conservatives cleared the opposition benches and left the House.

His antics in the House of Commons during the budget presentation, which again failed, sum up why his personal popularity as a leader pales behind that of the PM. Railing on like a angry person, sending letters to the RCMP, calling on the PM to resign, etc. won’t convince Canadians that he’d make a good PM. Clowning can be amusing, and annoying, but it won’t get him into the PM’s office.

As we head into the 2019 election, it would be fair to ask where Scheer stands on the issues that really matter to Canadians and where is his platform. It has been over a year since he promised to deliver a climate change action plan as an alternative to the federal carbon tax. Isn’t it about time he put his money where his mouth is, or let somebody more competent take on the job of party leader?

Surely one would expect the leader of the official opposition to be in the Commons chamber to listen to the annual budget being presented. It’s more than just being polite. Instead Scheer was hiding in the halls, playing politics.

Rivers hand to faceRay Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking.  Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province. He developed the current policy process for the Ontario Liberal Party.

 

Background links:

Deficits –   Budget –    Scheer Disruption–    More Budget

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Glenwood School drive community to get a brand new bridge this time - courtesy of Metrolinks.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

March 19th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Glenwood School Drive community, located west of Guelph Line and north of the GO line is back in the news.

Five years ago the residents got some relief for a bridge that some thought was going to fall down – but they had to fight for every yard they gained in the battle with their city council.

Built in the 70's to allow people from the Glenwood Schhool Drive community to get to shops and community amenities the bridge is now unsafe.

Built in the 70’s to allow people from the Glenwood School Drive community to get to shops and community amenities the bridge was declared unsafe in 2012 – fixed at a cost of $380,000.

No longer safe for the public to use, the Drury Lane pedestrian bridge was closed in November of 2011.  The estimate at the time to replace the bridge was $2 million to re-build and $380,000 to put on a five year patch.

An inspection of the structure, that was first put up in 1972 and modified and repaired a number of times since then, was found to be unsafe.

Suddenly a community that is basically landlocked, found that it had to take trips that required 55 minutes as opposed to the normal 20 minutes. Parents found they could not get their kids to school on time.

A community that used to have a way out to commercial Fairview and south to the commercial core was suddenly floundering to figure out how they were going to get around and, more significantly, how they were going to deal with a city council that seemed to have forgotten all about them.

Drury Lane bridge

Rendering of the proposed new Drury Lane pedestrian bridge

Last week MetroLink announced plans for a new bridge – the old bridge could not handle the electrification of the GO Lakeshore Line West.

Merolinx will be picking up most of the cost – basically because the bridge has to be raised so that electrification can be done on the GO Lakeshore West line.

Related news story:

Patching the bridge in 2012 – council decision making at its worst. 

 

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Student art to be on display at New Street Education Centre.

News 100 redBy Staff

March 19th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Every year for the past 15 years the Halton District School Board has showcased the artistic talent of Kindergarten to Grade 8 students The presentation fills the Brock Room at the New Street Education Centre on 3250 New St, Burlington.

The popular event will showcase the artistic talent of Kindergarten to Grade 8 students, with various styles of artwork displayed including paintings, sculptures, puppets, paper maché, crayons, pastels, ink, fabric, 2D and 3D pieces.

Sculpture - curvy

From the hands of an elementary school student.

Circuit city

Student took a discarded circuit board and turned it into a statement about where people live.

The exhibit pieces are selected by teachers to highlight art curriculum expectations. The purpose of the Elementary Art Show is to showcase student artwork and hopefully inspire and encourage others to pursue creative endeavours.

More than 1,000 students, teachers, parents/guardians, and community members are expected to visit the Elementary Art Show to tour the works of art over the course of the three-day exhibit. Professional artists from the Art Gallery of Burlington will demonstrate different artistic techniques such as pottery, weaving, spinning, photography, fine art and more. The artists will provide students with hands-on opportunities to show them how art can have a place in their future.

Rebecca MacRae

Rebecca MacRae, Instructional Program Leader – The Arts

“Elements and Expressions displays the self-expression, imagination and artistic mindset of our young Halton artists,” says Rebecca , Instructional Program Leader – The Arts for the Halton District School Board. “The pieces in this exhibit show the range of art disciplines the students explore with their visual arts teachers. Through the creation of art, students explore their ideas and imaginations and connect to their own realities.”

Student artwork will be on display during the following times:

• Tuesday, March 26 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 27 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Thursday, March 28 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Friday, March 29 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

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Burlington MP named to World Economic Forum list of young leaders.

News 100 redBy Staff

March 18th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Karina Gould joins a community of Young Global Leaders.

Gould In the House while Obama speaks

Karina Gould in the \House of Commons with former President |Barack Obama addressing the House.

Last week, the World Economic Forum informed Gould that she would be joining this year’s class of Young Global Leaders and would be one of five representatives from Canada this year.

The Class of 2019 consists of 127 leaders from around the world, including the most decorated Olympian female swimmer of all time, the managing director of a leading supermarket chain looking to ban plastic packaging and the CEO of YWCA Canada.
Gould is the Minister of Democratic Institutions and Member of Parliament for Burlington.

The Forum of Young Global Leaders was created in 2004, to fuel new models of leadership. Each year, the organization looks for individuals from around the world who are change makers with the grit, foresight and potential to improve the state of the world.

The mission of the Forum for Young Global Leaders is to create a dynamic global community of exceptional people with the vision, courage and influence to drive positive change in the world.

 

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Police Appeal for Help after Assault in Burlington

Crime 100By Staff

March 18th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

HRPS crestOn Friday March 15th, 2019, at approximately 8:45 pm, a female in her 30s was walking in the area of Elgin Street and Burlington Avenue. An unknown male suspect walked past her several times before finally approaching the victim at which time he grabbed onto her arms and began shaking her.

The victim struggled with the male and shouted loudly for help forcing him to let go and calmly flee the area. He was last seen walking westbound on Elgin Street. The victim did not sustain any physical injuries.

This is the first report of this nature and police do not feel public safety is at risk, however will continue to provide extra patrols in the area.

Suspect Description: Male, tanned complexion, brown beard, brown eyes, mid to late 20’s, average build and approximately 5’5″ in height.

Clothing Description: Black jacket with a hood, dark coloured pants, headphones and a backpack (possibly black).

The suspect has yet to be identified. Any witnesses, anyone who resides or has businesses in the area of Elgin Street and Burlington Avenue with video surveillance images or anyone who was traveling in that area that has dash cam video images between 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm are asked to call the Halton Police at 905-825-4777 or the 3 District 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

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Retail cannabis outlet has its Retail Store Authorization - Grand Opening should be any day now.

News 100 redBy Staff

March 18th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It won’t be long now.

On March 13, the AGCO announced that it had issued a cannabis Retail Operator Licence to David Nguyen.

Today, his store RELM Cannabis, located in Burlington, has received its Retail Store Authorization.

Once a Retail Store Authorization has been issued, the licensed operator may finalize their store set-up, including ordering and receiving cannabis product and cannabis accessories into their store ahead of opening for business.

The AGCO must still conduct a pre-opening inspection to ensure the operator is ready to open for business and sell cannabis products to the public in accordance with the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018, its regulations and the Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores.

The retail outlet will be at 4031 Fairview St., unit 103.  The location is just east of Walkers Line.

Cannabis location

Fairview – just east of Walkers Line

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Tim Hortons expands and extends its sponsorship program with the city.

News 100 yellowBy Staff

March 18th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

tim-hortons-squarelogo-

They expanded and extended the program they sponsor in Burlington.

The city has Rolled up the Rim and found they were a winner to the tune of $112,500 in expanded sponsorship funding from the Tim Horton organization that will run through to 2022.

Their sponsorship will include Free Family Day skating to begin 2020. Tim Hortons sponsorship of swimming, skating and events helps to break down barriers, encourages access and participation for everyone. The total three-year investment from Tim Hortons is just over $112,500.

Tim Hortons Free Holiday Skating
Tim Hortons sponsorship of free holiday skating began in Burlington 25-years ago and has spread to more than 200 communities across Canada.

The 2019-2020 season will begin again in December and run for three-weeks throughout the holiday season to provide over 74-hours of free skating throughout the city.

Tim Hortons Free Family Day Skating
Four hours of free Family Day skating will begin on Family Day in 2020.

Tim Hortons Free Summer Swimming
64-hours of free swimming will take place throughout the summer at both indoor and outdoor pools at various locations.

movies-in-the-parkMovies Under the Stars
Movies Under the Stars will run from July to August at various parks throughout the city and offers seven free movies. Residents are encouraged to bring a healthy snack, blankets, chairs and other amenities to enjoy with their family and friends.

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Red carpet treatment being rolled out to hear what red tape is doing to us.

News 100 blueBy Staff

March 18th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Part of the campaign promise is being delivered. The Mayor is rolling out a Red Carpet hoping to attract the business community,

Red tape red carpetMayor Marianne Meed Ward is going to hold a Town Hall at the Waterfront Hotel on March 28th from 8 am to 9:30 am. to address red tape and the impact it is having on economic growth.

She will be joined by Kelvin Galbraith, Councillor for Ward 1 and the member of council with the deepest small business experience.

They want to hear what business people have to say – what are the problems; what are the solutions?

Business people are being asked to share their stories, challenges, and ideas for helping remove the obstacles to growth and business attraction in Burlington.

Space is limited – register (it’s free) HERE.

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Provinces releases new education initiatives on a Friday at the end of Spring Break when a lot of parents are away.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

March 18th, 21019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The province announced major changes in the way education is going to be delivered to elementary and high school students in the province.

They want to take the cell phones out of the hands of students.

They want to get ‘Back-to-Basics’ Math Curriculum, Renewed Focus on Skilled Trades and STEM – Science,Technology Engineering and Mathematics curriculum.

The Halton District School Board HDSB is more than a couple of steps ahead of the province. In September they will open the first part of the iStem program at Aldershot High School.  A total of 124 students have registered in a program that has taken two years to create.

Terri Blackwell, Superintendent of Education said “after extensive consultation with parents, staff, post secondary partners, industry leaders and students in the 2017-2018 year lead to the Innovation – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (iStem) Program at Aldershot. This past year we have been working closely with an outstanding Advisory Group consisting of post secondary partners, community organizations and industry leaders.

“The Engineer’s Toolkit in grade 9, the Entrepreneur’s Toolkit in grade 10 and the Global Innovator’s Toolkit in the senior years was developed in partnership with our ever growing Advisory Group. With a focus on Innovation (the “I” in iStem), students will contribute and thrive in our technologically intensive world through interdisciplinary learning opportunities connecting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Learning in the classroom will be paired with experiential learning and mentorship with the community and workplace.”

Blackwell and Miller at itsem Nov 2018

Halton District School Board Superintendent Terri Blackwell and Director of Education Stuart Miller at the first parent night announcing the program.

Blackwell added: “As part of the application process students were asked to respond to a number of questions: “What is one problem you would like to solve or big question you would like to explore as part of your learning in the iStem program?”.

“We were inspired by the responses from students and will continue to build learning opportunities with input from them.”

Director of Education Stuart Miller said: The Minister of Education has spoken previously about the need for more opportunities for students to pursue an iStem curriculum.

We are very proud at the HDSB that we have gotten out in front of the province’s direction. Almost two years ago we began the process of enhancing the program at Aldershot High School by focusing on iStem (i being for innovation) commencing in September 2019. Through the work of many staff, but in particular Superintendent Terri Blackwell we have forged relationships with post secondary institutions and some private companies in helping us develop it. We have had tremendous interest from not just the community, but also beyond and as a result we will see a large increase in the number of students attending Aldershot in September enrolled in iStem.

“More importantly we will be preparing these students to pursue many opportunities beyond High school related to all things iStem.”

The provincial media release on changes coming to education covered much more than iStem.

All the buzz words that the PR types the government has hired are in the province’s Media Release. “We will make sure our students are leaving school with the skills they need to build good lives, families and careers right here in Ontario, while ensuring the system is both fiscally sustainable and respectful of parents.”

lisa Thomson with sign

Minister of Education Lisa Thomson

“The new vision will modernize Ontario’s classrooms and provide students with more learning opportunities to prepare them for success in post-secondary education, apprenticeship and training, and the workforce. The plan would include:

Modernizing classrooms by expanding broadband, developing a new policy that will ban the use of cellphones during class except for educational purposes and modernizing the approach to assessment and evaluation with a renewed focus on equity across the province.

Introducing changes to education funding that keep resources focused on students in the classroom.

Supporting teacher mobility, greater transparency, fairness, consistency and accountability to school board hiring practices of teachers.

Maintaining class sizes for Kindergarten to Grade 3, establishing a consistent approach to class sizes for grades 4 to 8 and aligning secondary class sizes more closely with other Canadian jurisdictions, while introducing a new approach to e-learning and reducing pressure on school boards to put students in portables and split classes.
Undertaking curriculum reform that will include:

A new math curriculum that will focus on math fundamentals for all grades;

A renewed focus on STEM, skilled trades and financial literacy; and

A modern and age-appropriate Health and Physical Education curriculum that will keep students safe.

“There will be clear provisions for parents who wish to exempt their child or children from sexual health education, and online modules will be available for parents who want to discuss sexual health topics at home whenever they feel their child is ready.

“The government is committed to discussing the key elements of the proposed plan, including hiring practices and class sizes, through a consultation process that allows partners to provide the benefit of their expertise, experience and ideas.

Lisa Thomson

Minister Lisa Thomson

“We welcome conversation with any education stakeholder who is prepared to work with us in good faith to ensure our plan continues to serve the best interests of Ontario’s students in a way that works for families and school boards and is fair to our educators.” said Thompson.

Look carefully at some of the phrasing:

“…prepared to work with us in good faith to ensure our plan continues to serve the best interests of students…”

They don’t say they are going to listen.

“…establishing a consistent approach to class sizes for grades 4 to 8 and aligning secondary class sizes more closely with other Canadian jurisdictions.”

An increase in the number of students in classrooms.

“Supporting teacher mobility, greater transparency, fairness, consistency and accountability to school board hiring practices of teachers.”

Teachers aren’t interested in the kind of mobility the government is talking about. Transparency is a two way street.

The document was released on a Friday at the end of the Spring Break when what parents are about most concerned about is knowing that they are going to be able to get on a flight that gets them back so they can have the kids ready for school on Monday.

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Cities in Action: Bay Area Climate Change Summit 2019

News 100 greenBy Staff

March 15th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

We are no longer denying that the climate has changed  we see it around us every day.

The challenge has been to get to the point where we begin to do something about it.  The issue is so huge many people wondered if there was anything they could do individually.  Electric cars were being sold but the number of trucks and SUV’s being sold has sky-rocketed.

Cities in Action: Bay Area Climate Change Summit 2019 is driving climate action in the Bay Area. They are connecting people and solutions to create opportunities that will improve our lives today while mitigating climate impacts for the next generations. Because it is the cities – where most of our population lives – and the businesses within them that are taking action to build a hopeful future.

The Cities in Action: Bay Area Climate Change Summit 2019  has created a four day program with sections on:

Climate and the Economy
Energy and Community
Transportation and Health
Bay Area Climate Change Youth Summit

The four day event will have programs taking place at the Royal Botanical Gardens and the McMaster Innovation Centre.

Cities in action logo

Registration can be done HERE.

Cities in Action Launch: Hope In Action7:00 – 9:00 pm, March 25, 2019
Doors open at 6:15 for Registration, Refreshments and Networking

Royal Botanical Gardens Auditorium,
680 Plains Rd W, BurlingtonPlease join us for this free public event to kick off the Bay Area’s largest-ever Climate Change Summit. We’re thrilled to welcome Åsa Karlsson Björkmarker, Chair of ICLEI Europe, here from Sweden to share stories of how Europe’s cities are taking action to create stronger, more resilient economies while reducing carbon emissions and preparing for climate change impacts.  Join in the discussion!


Day 1: Climate and Economy

8:00 am – 4:30 pm March 26, 2019
Royal Botanical Gardens Auditorium,
680 Plains Rd W, Burlington

“Working together, we can fight climate change. This is about the world we want today — and for our kids and grandkids. Canada has an incredible opportunity. We can use the ingenuity of Canadians, transition to a cleaner future, and be a leader for the world.”

Minister Catherine McKenna (from @cathmckenna, Dec 31, 2018)

Day One will feature some of Canada’s and the Bay Area’s leading thinkers and companies to explore the relationship between climate change and the economy, new innovation and real action being taken to build the economy while transitioning to a cleaner future.

Here is a taste of what to expect, and a few of our speakers. More speakers to be announced soon!

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Keynote: Economic Implications of Climate Change

  • Glen Hodgson, Commissioner, Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission
  • Introduction and Discussion moderated by Hamilton Chamber of Commerce

Communication & Changing Behaviour – Moderated by Sustainable Hamilton Burlington
Panel

  • David Photiadis, Director, The Delphi Group
  • Brian Paré, Business Analyst – Procurement, Walker Emulsions
  • Mark Kardos, Senior Sustainability Consultant, UL Environment
  • More speakers to be announced shortly

Networking Lunch

Climate Innovation & Technology
Panel

  • Drew Hauser, Director, McCallum Sather
  • Tony Cupido, Research Chair, Sustainability, Mohawk College
  • Paul Smith, Senior Policy Advisor, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
  • Atif Kubursi, Professor (Emeritus) of Economics, McMaster University and President, Econometric Research Ltd.
  • Steven Martin, CEO, Pond Technologies

Circular Economy
Keynote

  • Melissa Mirowski, Country Sustainability Specialist, IKEA Group

Panel

  • Pierre LarabieBusiness Services Manager, Danby Appliances
  • Mike McKay, Managing Director, DeSpray Environmental
  • Peter Hargreave, President, Policy Integrity

Day 2: Energy and Community

8:00 am – 4:30 pm March 27, 2019
Royal Botanical Gardens Auditorium,
680 Plains Rd W, Burlington

Over 80% of Canadians live in urban areas in 2019. Cities are the greatest consumers of energy, and have some of the greatest opportunities to impact climate change. Join us for Day Two to learn about action being taken in Hamilton and Burlington and beyond to transition to low carbon, resilient cities for today and future generations.

Here is a taste of what to expect, and a few of our speakers. More speakers to be announced soon!

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Morning Keynote: Bay Area’s Low Carbon Future
Yuill Herbert, Director, Sustainability Solutions Group

Bay Area Climate Change Council Work Plan Highlights

Sustainable Buildings and Energy – Moderated by Alectra

  • Betsy Agar, Senior Analyst, Buildings and Urban Solutions, Pembina Institute
  • Troy Hare, P.Eng., M.Sc., President & CEO, Hamilton Utilities Corporation & HCE Technologies
  • Jeff Ranson, Regional Director – Greater Toronto Area, Canada Green Building Council

Networking Lunch: Meet the Bay Area Climate Change Council

Afternoon Keynote – Investing in a Low Carbon Future

  • Julia Langer, CEO, The Atmospheric Fund

Stream A: Green Investment Financing

  • Randy LeClair, Manager, Capital Markets, City of Toronto Green Bond
  • Melissa Menzies, Senior Associate, Sustainable Finance Solutions, Sustainalytics
  • Kelly O’Neill, Senior Manager, Environmental, TD Bank

Steam B: Local Energy Stories

  • Chris Shilton, Energy Project Manager, CityHousing Hamilton
  • Mariano Arriaga, General Manager – Energy and Power Innovation Centre, Mohawk College
  • Dr. Jim Cotton, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University

TED Style Presentations – Energy and Community (BACCC members)

  • Michael Mikulak, Acting Senior Director, Community Impact, United Way Halton & Hamilton
  • Victoria Brzozowski, Waste Management Coordinator, Customer Support Services, Hamilton Health Sciences
  • Anita Cassidy, Acting Executive Director, Burlington Economic Development Corporation

Report Back & Wrap Up


Day 3: Transportation and Health

8:00 am – 4:30 pm March 28, 2019
Royal Botanical Gardens Auditorium,
680 Plains Rd W, Burlington

Transportation, how we get around in and between our cities has a profound impact on our greenhouse gas emissions, our health and our economy. Day Three features the Bay Area Transportation Forum, featuring transportation solutions of today and tomorrow: current realities and future possibilities.

Here is a taste of what to expect, and a few of our speakers. More speakers to be announced soon!

Welcome & Setting the Stage

  • Peter Topalovic, Project Manager-Sustainable Mobility Programs, City of Hamilton
  • Kaylan Edgcumbe, Manager of Transportation Planning and Parking, City of Burlington
  • Trevor Imhoff, Senior Project Manager – Air Quality & Climate Change, City of Hamilton

Local Leaders Panel

  • Vito Tolone, Director of Transportation Services, City of Burlington
  • Brian Hollingworth, Director of Transportation Planning and Parking, City of Hamilton
  • Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health and Commissioner, Halton Region Health Department
  • Dr. Myles Sergeant, Director of Medically Complex Care Unit, Hamilton Health Sciences
  • Chelsea Cox, General Manager, Hamilton Bike Share
  • Dr. Fran Scott, Acting Director, McMaster Institute for Healthier Environments
  • Jason Thorne, General Manager Planning and Economic Development, City of Hamilton (Moderator)

Workshop – Innovation in a Box – The Future of Transportation in the Bay Area

Stream A: New Mobility

  • Andrea Lendak, Associate, IBI
  • Marty Gray, Manager of Public Policy, Uber
  • Jason Hammond, President, Wroute Inc.
  • Chris Schafer, Senior Director of Strategic Development, Lime
  • Dr. Mark Ferguson, Senior Research Associate, McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics
  • MODERATOR TBD

Stream B: The Climate Around School Travel

  • Dr. Matthew Adams, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, University of Toronto Mississauga
  • Kate Berry, Program Director – Ontario Active School Travel, Green Communities Canada
  • Rebecca Bassett-Gunter, Associate Professor, York University
  • Amanda O’Rouke, Executive Director, 8 80 Cities (Moderator)

Keynote: Walking and Cycling Towards Change
Kate Whitfield, Senior Associate Engineer/Planner, Alta Planning + Design

Transportation Forum Closing Remarks

  • Peter Topalovic
  • Kaylan Edgcumbe

Summit Report Back and Wrap Up


Day 4: Bay Area Climate Change Youth Summit

9:15 am – 4:30 pm March 29, 2019
McMaster Innovation Park,
175 Longwood Road, Hamilton

Our future: Our Opportunity encapsulates the theme for Day 4, the Bay Area’s first Climate Change Youth Summit. An immersive, 1-day experience at the McMaster Innovation Park with workshops focused on green jobs, protecting our built and natural environment, and building a climate-ready city.

Climate Change Virtual Reality Experiences by House of VR
Available all day, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Networking Breakfast and Registration
9:15 am – 10:00 am

  • Light breakfast and coffee

Welcome
10:00 am – 10:05 am 

Land Acknowledgement
10:05 am – 10:30 am 

It’s Our Future, It’s Our Opportunity: Building a Climate-Change Ready Ontario
10:30 am – 11:15 am

  • Kate Flynn, Centre for Climate Change Management at Mohawk College, and Alanna Bodo, McMaster University

Morning Breakout Sessions
11:30 am- 12:30 pm

Panel Discussion #1: Green jobs and the New Economy

  • EcoCanada: Claudine Vidallo, Director of Research
  • Women in Renewable Energy: Joanna Osawe, Executive Director & Co-Founder

 Panel Discussion #2: Supporting Climate Change-Ready Communities

  • IBI Group: Vikram Hardatt, Program Manager Smart Commute Hamilton
  • City of Toronto, Public Energy Initiatives: Stewart Dutfield, Program Manager Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)

Panel Discussion #3: Protecting the Natural Environment in the Age of Climate Change

  • City of Hamilton, Landscape Architecture: Cynthia Graham, Manager of Landscape Architectural Services
  • Conservation Hamilton: Kim Barrett, Associate Director, Science & Partnerships

Networking Lunch
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

  • Full lunch with vegetarian and vegan options available

Climate Change Improv
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Fireside Chat with Green Tech Entrepreneur
1:30 pm – 2:25 pm
Stephanie McLarty, CEO, Refficient

Afternoon break
2:25 pm – 2:45 pm

  • Afternoon snack, coffee and networking

Afternoon Breakout Sessions
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

Panel Session #1 – Advocate For Climate Change Policy

  • Burlington Green: Amy Schnurr, Executive Director
  • Environmental Hamilton: Ian Borsuk, Climate Change Campaign Coordinator

Panel Session #2 – Finding a Green Job

  • Mitacs: Ryan Caldwell, Business Development Specialist
  • Mohawk College Career Services: Sally Simpson, Career and Student Success Coach

Panel Session #3 – Supporting Your Community

  • Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton: Matt Thompson, Community Financial Worker
  • McMaster Office of Community Engagement: Dave Heidebrecht, Manager

Report back and wrap up:
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Summit Ends
4:30 pm

Registration can be done HERE.

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Cameras to be installed to catch red light and stop sign runners.

News 100 redBy Staff

March 15th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

More on that budget that city council will put their official stamp on Monday night.

Are you ready for photo radar?

It is coming to Burlington, “one of Canada’s best and most livable cities, a place where people, nature and business thrive.”

From left to right: Halton Chief of Police, Gary Crowell; Oakville Councillor Marc Grant; Oakville Mayor Rob Burton; Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr; and Oakville Councillors Tom Adams and Max Khan. Note that the only people smiling are the politicions. The police chief is going to have to enforce this law.

Regional police announcing the cameras that will catch stop sign runners. A similar program is coming to the city.

The province changed the rules so that municipalities could install photo radar – they are after the red light runners and have identified about 40 + locations where the equipment can be installed.

The plan is to have equipment that can be moved from location to location over a period of time.

The Regional Police have been doing this for some time; one of their jobs is to enforce the Highway Traffic Act.

The good people of Burlington won’t see this during 2019 – it is a pilot program that will first get tested in Toronto where they expect to roll it out in 2020.

Then the rest of the municipal world can jump on that bandwagon.

Burlington tucked away a little over $50,000 to prepare for the service.

They are calling it the Automated Speed Enforcement program.

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Glen Eden to close for the season on the 17th.

sportsgold 100x100By Staff

March 14th,, 2019

MILTON, ON

 

Glen Eden hills

The slopes at Glen Eden.

If Glen Eden has announced the final day of ski and snowboard operations for the 2018-2019 season Spring weather cannot be far behind.

The slopes at Kelso will close Sunday, March 17, 2019. Snow conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly. Lifts will run from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm each day until the 17th.

To help make the most of the remainder of the ski and snowboard season, Glen Eden will be accepting all season passes and offering $25 lift tickets from now until close on Sunday.

Glen Eden usually opens around Christmas and closes near the end of March Break. This year, the Glen Eden season started on Saturday, December 22, 2018.

glen_eden_ski_snowboard_area_2_159582

By the end of the season she was quite a bit better.

Glen Eden is currently offering Early Bird pricing on 2019-2020 season passes and lessons until Sunday, April 7. Early Bird is the best available pricing of the year. At this special rate, the 5 Day x 7 Night Pass pays for itself in four visits and the Weekday Pass pays for itself in just two visits.

For more information visit the Glen Eden website, www.gleneden.on.ca, or call 905-878-5011.

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Rivers: Environmental change; we are all in this together.

 

Rivers 100x100By Ray Rivers

March 14th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

“The governments of Alberta and Canada are close to getting it right on tackling carbon emissions…” Janet Annesley, senior vice-president, Husky Energy

Canada’s environment minister, Catherine McKenna, was back in her home town. She took time from a busy schedule of meetings, including Hamilton’s mayor and the steel industry, to shake hands and meet with some supporters at Hamilton’s Innovation Centre.

McKenna Catharine

Environment Minister, Catherine McKenna,

She expressed confidence that the court challenges over federal carbon pricing by Saskatchewan, last month, and Ontario, next month, will be settled in favour of the federal government. The other Conservative-led provinces of Manitoba and New Brunswick are also backing Ontario’s fight against the federal program.

Alberta’s Jason Kenny has promised to join them and to kill his province’s existing carbon tax should he win the upcoming provincial election there, expected to be announced soon. But Kenny is out of touch. Eliminating the carbon tax would put him markedly at odds with his province’s biggest industry.

Canada’s big oil got floor time at CERAWeek, a conference in Houston sometimes dubbed the Super Bowl of the world’s energy sector. And when they got to the podium they congratulated the Alberta and federal governments on their adoption of carbon taxation. Addressing 4000 delegates from over 70 countries, Janet Annesley and other senior executives were unambiguous.

International investors, even in the oil industry, favour a carbon tax. So what is it that our own Doug Ford, Alberta’s Kenny and the federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer don’t get? Are they just stuck in the past? Or are they just playing partisanship, hoping for one of those wedge issues?

Sadly that is the flavour of opposition politics today, especially by the Conservative camp. Just look at the socially destructive vitriol being discharged over the so-called SNC Lavalin affair. There is no Lavalin affair. The company is going to trial. And even if the attorney general (AG) had decided to instruct the prosecutor to elect a remediation agreement, it would still have been a legal outcome. Please follow the link below titled ‘Hypocrisy’.

Counting angels on the head of a pin gets tiresome eventually. As we move towards that October federal election date there are real issues which deserve discussion. For example, 2018 wrapped up with an economic rate of growth three times as high as when Trudeau first came into office. Unemployment is at its lowest level in an entire generation.

Manufacturing, despite the walloping US steel and aluminum tariffs, is again leading our growth. Consumer confidence is high again, in part thanks to the tax cuts for middle class Canadians and despite threats about carbon pricing by Ontario’s premier. But there is an expectation that the boom may be nearing an end and our growth rate will be declining. What corrective policies should we now be expecting, and what does that mean for deficits ad our rising national debt?

Ontario and Quebec have been the biggest beneficiaries from the Liberals stimulating our economy, but even Alberta has come back somewhat. Still Alberta is landlocked and its failure to productively engage with its provincial partners, primarily in BC and Quebec, are mitigating against its desire to move more oil to overseas markets. What can be done to further assist that province?

Oil futures will never be as bright as they had been in oil’s history. And the oil industry gets that. They know that the federal approval for, and its ultimate acquisition of, the Trans Mountain pipeline was in recognition of Alberta embracing carbon taxation. That policy enabled Canada to sign onto the international Paris climate agreement.

We’re in this together – climate change knows no regional nor national boundaries. Once considered an enemy, Alberta’s NDP premier has shown herself to be a good friend to the oil producing sector. And her carbon tax helps unite rather than divide. That is as true within the province as it should be within the country.

As the Husky oil executives put it at the Houston conference, “The nice thing about the current policy is that it is deemed equivalent from the federal government,” “We would like to see policy that is recognized nationally, and ideally at the international level, in order to support our trade diversification and pipeline goals.”

Rivers hand to faceRay Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking.  Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province. He developed the current policy process for the Ontario Liberal Party.

 

Background links:

Carbon Tax –    Notley’s Oil Patch –    

Unemployment –     Hypocrisy

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Braithwaite: What I learned from magnetic stones: force and resistance.

opinionviolet 100x100By Alison Braithwaite

March 14th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

I have these beautiful black, flat, polished stones that are magnetic. I believe it is called hematite. I love how they feel in my hand and I love that they are magnetic.

When I hold them I feel grounded.

Then I noticed something. I was playing with two of the stones the other day and I noticed something interesting. I was playing with their resistance.

You know how when you bring two magnets together the wrong way, you can feel the strength of their resistance? No matter how hard you push them together they resist.

Braithwaite UnearthedIf you push them past a certain point the magnetic forces them to either side of each other.

And you know how when you flip the magnets the other way there is a strong force that instantly brings the magnets together.

What I noticed was that as a certain point the force that brings the stones careening together and the force of resistance that repels the stones feels the same.

I found this so fascinating.

Immediately, I thought of how this applies to life; how it applies to dealing with difficult situations.

We have all likely felt that resistance when we are pushing forward to achieve something. That moment when we think this is too hard, it’s taking too much effort, why can’t I get past this point, why don’t they understand what I am trying to do.

Then one magic step forward and everything opens up and starts to happen so fast and with so much ease.

And then there’s the other situation…

force and resistence - magnets

Force and resistance – shows with magnets – in life as well?

The situation where we keep pushing and pushing and the harder we push the more we are flung onto a different path. It can be exhausting.

If you find yourself constantly pushing with nothing to show for yourself
1. Take a moment to notice what’s happening.
2. Pause.
3. Assess the situation.
Ask yourself some questions

How long have you been striving in this situation?

• Sometimes we push ourselves too hard to change a situation or achieve a goal. We are so focused on pushing forward that we lose perspective and exhaust ourselves.
How are you physically, mentally and emotionally feeling?

• Sometimes we don’t pay attention to ourselves and how we feel. Yet we have this inner wisdom that knows exactly what our next step should be and that answer may be rest, regroup, think again.
What is the next right step?

• What is the next right step for you, not just for the situation? You are just as important as the situation.
Are you about to take the same step?

• Sometimes we do the same thing over and over again and expect something different. In order to come together, one of the hematite stones needs to be flipped right over and then instantly they are drawn together.
How can you flip yourself, your thinking, your beliefs and perspectives?

• What stories are you telling yourself about the goal, the situation and the people involved?

• What stories are you telling yourself about your abilities, your determination, your state of mind?

• How can you flip yourself, see things from a new and energizing perspective?

• What would it be like to create the opposite story, take on the opposite belief, talk to someone about where you are that you have never spoken to and in fact maybe avoided to get their perspective on things?

• Is there something that you need to accept about the situation or the people involved in order to realign yourself to who you are?
How can you flip the situation?

• This one might be a bit tougher to unearth. It means looking at the situation, the people involved, the beliefs that they hold, the stories they are telling themselves about the situation from as many perspectives that you can. What can you do to shift their perspectives, their stories, their beliefs? If you try to do it by force you will exhaust yourself.

• Somewhere in all of this is a point of leverage, where one person involves shifts and with that, the whole situation flips. And your story is key. There is something in your past experience that is key to what you believe. How can you tell your story or help someone experience what you have so that light bulb goes off inside them and their understanding flips?

Is it time to actually follow the other path?

• Don’t’ get fooled into believing the resistance you are feeling can just be pushed through.

• When you bring two magnets together and they resist, one gets thrown to the side, displaced, oriented differently. Perhaps it might be easier to follow the path in the direction you are being thrown. Just maybe things will open up for you if you walk that way.
Next steps:
1. Make a decision.
2. Take action.
3. Monitor the action and how you are feeling.
4. Adapt your approach. (So you feel like yourself).

Welcome into and expect ease and grace in your life. You and life will be so much more amazing if you do.

You can follow Alison HERE.

BraithwaiteAlison Braithwaite spent years in the corporate world – environmental services.  She was a member of the executive team of a North American wide aggregate, emulsion and environmental company where she was responsible for environmental performance and sustainability.  Braithwaite has a Master of Arts in Leadership and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching both from Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia.

Testimonials

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Regional government is getting a close look by the province; this may not end well for the tax payer.

News 100 redBy Staff

March 14th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Province of Ontario requesting input from Burlington residents and businesses to assist with review of regional government system

Map Region Halton

The Region is made up of four municipalities; they might get merged into a single city.

There is a potential change in the air that could impact Burlington significantly.

The province is doing a review of how some of the municipalities are organized.  Burlington, along with Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills is part of the Region of Halton.

The province is thinking about changing that kind of organization and perhaps doing away with the Regional level of government.

The regional review is examining Ontario’s eight regional governments (Durham, Halton, Muskoka District, Niagara, Oxford County, Peel, Waterloo, York), Simcoe County and their lower-tier municipalities. In total, 82 municipalities are included in the review.

The Province of Ontario is asking Burlington residents and businesses to provide their input on how to improve governance, decision-making and service delivery for regional governments and the municipalities that are members of regional governments. Burlington is a local municipality within the regional government of Halton.

The public consultation is part of a review of regional governments announced by the Province of Ontario on Jan. 15, 2019. The review, led by two appointed Special Advisors, Michael Fenn and Ken Seiling, is focused on ensuring regional governments are working efficiently and effectively. Once the review is completed, the Special Advisors will provide recommendations to improve governance, decision-making and service delivery.

The public is invited to share their views on the regional government system in two ways:

Online – complete an online survey.  CLICK HERE

Send written submissions by email to regionalreview@ontario.ca or by mail to Local Government Policy Branch, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 777 Bay St, 13th floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2E5

All feedback is due by April 23, 2019.

There is little doubt on where Mayor Meed Ward stands on this issue.

“The City of Burlington is always happy to look for efficiencies within our government system but amalgamating our municipalities into a City of Halton is a non-starter.

Meed Ward H&S

Mayor Meed Ward.

“Burlington is already an efficient council: the smallest of Halton Region at seven members, and the smallest of any Ontario municipality of our size. The Region is also efficient and effective; we enjoy being the safest region in Canada, a Triple A credit rating, high satisfaction on our services, and tax increases at or below the rate of inflation, with a number of years of no increases.

“Similar to the one passed at Regional Council, Burlington City Council passed a resolution – unanimously – to protect Burlington’s identity and two-tiered municipal government system. With Council being unanimous once again in its stance and passing of this resolution, it sends a strong message as to where Burlington is on this matter.”

The municipalities can protest as much as they like, Premier Doug Ford had no problem changing the makeup of Toronto city council – he forced changes on that city in the middle of an election.

It is now evident that once Ford makes up his mind he bulldozes – and that may well mean that the Region of  Halton will be a thing of the past in the not too distant future.

The immediate impact will be a significant pay cut for the members of Council.  For the six Burlington council members that will amount to very close to half of their income.

There will also be some disruption in the delivery of services:  Policing is a Regional matter, Education is a Regional matter – does that mean that fire services will become Regional; will Transit become Regional?

Social services are managed at the Regional level.

Affordable housing is managed at the Regional level.

Should the province decide to eliminate the Regional level of government it will take years to complete any reorganization and the cost of governing will rise.

 

 

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Transit holding drop in sessions on the plans for service going forward.

News 100 redBy Staff

March 13th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Burlington Transit getting new buses - to deliver less service.

Burlington Transit getting new buses.

Now that transit is something the city is prepared to spend money on (they approved the purchase of three new buses) the transit people want to know what you think should be done in terms of frequency of service, peak service hours, key travel destinations and transit connections in the GTHA.

“As Burlington’s population grows, moving around the city should be easy and convenient, including on Burlington Transit”, according to the transit people.

Transit service - ridership decline

Bfast has consistently provided reliable data setting out where the problems are.

A series of drop in sessions are being held by the Transit service for you to learn more about the future vision for Burlington Transit and for you to share your input on what the future is going to hold.

The Drop In sessions will take place on the following dates and at the following locations:
Monday, March 18 – 3 to 6 p.m.
City Hall 426 Brant St.

Wednesday, March 20 – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Central Arena, 519 Drury Ln

Thursday, March 21 – 6 to 9 p.m.
Tansley Woods, 1996 Itabashi Way

The people in Aldershot, Alton and the east end of the city are going to have to truck themselves into the middle of the city to take part.

Hopefully, the Drop in Sessions will be more of a listening exercise than a one way flow of information from them to us.

Bfast Transit group logoThis is also an occasion for Bfast to put together a well-researched paper on what the city needs and where it is needed.

There are changes in the air – make sure the changes reflect what you need – take part.

Sue Connor at mike

Director of Transit Sue Connors

Burlington currently has a Director of Transit who brought a strong past with her – she changed the way Brampton put its buses to use – that city once had a terrible transit service.  When Sue Connor left it was one of the best in the province.

She listens and genuinely wants a transit that works for people who use buses.  Let he know what you think.

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Mayor lists accomplishments in the first 100 days.

News 100 blueBy Staff

March 13th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

In a statement released yesterday Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said: “On December 3rd of 2018, Burlington’s new city council and myself were officially sworn into office.

Meed ward election night 1

Victory.

Today marks our 100th day serving the community of Burlington in our new roles. I still wake up smiling every morning, grateful for the opportunity to be Mayor of this amazing city.

I want to take a moment today to share with you some of the accomplishments this council has achieved thus far and remind you of where we are headed together.

As a council, we have already made a big impact on our commitments to our constituents:

• We removed the use of the new, unapproved, Official Plan of 2018 and went back to reviewing the last approved version to ensure we are aligned with Regional expectations as well as the vision our citizens have for our city.

• We approved an Interim Control Bylaw to temporarily pause development downtown and around the Burlington GO station until we can better define the land use we want to see and the policies that will support it. We will ensure the growth and development being approved in Burlington works for all our residents, businesses, and communities.

• We rallied with neighboring cities and publicly reaffirmed our commitment to protecting the Greenbelt when it was threatened by new provincial legislation. As a result, we saw that legislation modified to again protect this vital area of land and its role in our environment, health, and rural economy.

• We listened to the voices in our communities and, in a 5:2 vote, agreed to allow retail cannabis stores in Burlington.

• We led town halls and public feedback collection on our budget process and then delivered the lowest tax increase in eight years, near the rate of inflation at 2.99% for the city portion, and 2% once blended with Halton Region and education taxes.

There are countless events and fundraisers we have shared in with the community as we:

• celebrated the holidays and Festival of Lights along our downtown waterfront

• helped kick off Black History Month and Heritage Month, both in February

• rang in the Year of the Pig for Chinese New Year with the Read Leaf Cultural Integration group

• joined the fun and braved the weather at the Coldest Night of the Year charity walk

• raised money and ate like royalty at the Gift of Giving Back Top Chef competition

• had a circus-themed great time at the Halton Women’s Place Big Top gala

• held a flag-raising for Special Olympics Week

• cheered on the Chilly Half Marathon

• celebrated phenomenal women at numerous events around International Women’s Day

We also took pause to remember the lives of some of the community leaders and contributors we lost, from Pasquale Paletta and Donald Green to Ron Joyce and Bob Brechin.

As Mayor, I am proud to have:

• launched a Key to the City program and helped celebrate the talented life of local musician Mike Taylor of Walk Off the Earth with thousands of fellow fans braving a cold January night in Civic Square

• shared my first State of the City address with a full house at the Burlington Convention Centre on January 30th and outlined our council’s priorities and vision for the next four years

• met with mayors from across Ontario to discuss shared issues and ways to collaborate

• launched the Mayor’s Red Tape Red Carpet Task Force to help remove obstacles to business growth and relocation here in Burlington

For a more comprehensive and detailed list of what we have delivered for our city, visit the “Top 30 Accomplishments in the First 100 Days” post on my blog at mariannemeedward.ca

I want to thank our Interim City Manager as well as each Councillor, five of whom are new to the job, for uniquely delivering for our constituents and continuing to bring the needs of each Ward to the table:

Kelvin Galbraith, Ward 1: “The first 100 days of being a new Councillor have been a massive learning experience for myself personally but an honour to serve. Our new council is a diverse group and it has been great to work with them. I am proud that we are delivering some new services to the residents in the budget in terms of free transit for seniors, new staff for seniors’ programs and the Joseph Brant Museum. We are looking into a bike sharing program to connect residents with our mobility hubs and the downtown.”

Lisa Kearns, Ward 2: “Residents want to re-connect with their City Hall. I’ve worked to rebuild trust through the launch of the first Ward Business Meeting Registry, so you know who is talking to your Councillor, in line with a code of conduct. This directly supports the transparency, accountability and integrity of the government decision-making process and promotes open dialogue between the many stakeholders that make up our community.”

Rory Nisan, Ward 3: “I believe our primary achievement as a council has been delivering a budget that improves the quality of life of Burlington residents, including delivering the Brant Hills splash pad as well as better public transit, while keeping the tax increase within half a percent of inflation.”

Shawna Stolte, Ward 4: “The tree canopy in Ward 4 is a valuable asset to our city’s health and well- being, and I’m glad we have taken steps to protect it and replenish it with the Roseland Private Tree Bylaw and additional funding for tree planting to help mitigate the losses we’ve seen in recent years from the Emerald Ash Borer.”

Paul Sharman, Ward 5: “I’m happy to see the improvements to Burloak Park maintenance for Ward 5, and the launch of city-wide free transit for those who qualify for the SPLIT transit subsidy program, along with free weekday transit for seniors. It is a pleasure to work with our new members of Council as we all get to know each other.”

Angelo Bentivenga, Ward 6: “In these first 100 days, I’m proud to have launched advisory groups in four distinct Ward 6 neighborhoods (Headon Forest, Millcroft, Alton Village and our Rural area), held a well- attended Ward 6 town hall budget meeting, proposed a staff direction to look at how we streamline budget process in 2020, and provided input to the City in providing better hearing accessibility in Council Chambers.”

Tim Commisso 2 smile

Tim Commisso: Coach to five newbies, counselor to the Mayor.

Tim Commisso, Interim City Manager: “Council has been focused on building a strong relationship with staff. This priority was an emphasis during their orientation and out of this developed the Civic”ology” program, which is an informal opportunity for council to meet and work closely with staff in all departments.”

Meed Ward added: “There is still much work to do over the next four years, but your council is off to a great start and it all begins with respect for each other, for residents and for staff. By inviting and welcoming diverse perspectives in a respectful environment, we set the stage for great ideas to emerge to address the challenges we face in our community… together.”

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The Sound of Roy Orbison - at the Performing Arts Centre.

eventsblue 100x100By Pepper Parr

March 12, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Roy Orbison singing Only The Lonely.

If you were around then – you knew the words. If you remember the words there is a group coming to town March 25th, doing a tribute to the Music of the Man,

Monday, March 25 at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre in Burlington.
Tickets are $47.50 (plus Facility Fee & Service Charges) available at the Box Office; Charge by phone 905-681-6000 or online at www.burlingtonpac.ca.

With hits of The Traveling Wilburys and Everly Brothers

Orbison

That unmistakable sound – Roy Orbison.

The BIG O was unmistakable with his trademark sunglasses, distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions and dark emotional ballads. From 1960 to ’64 Roy Orbison landed 22 songs on the Billboard Top 40, including “Only The Lonely”, “Crying”, and “Oh, Pretty Woman”. His impassioned voice coupled with his signature arrangements ensured the charting of the hits “Dream Baby”, “Ooby Dooby”, “Blue Angel”, “Blue Bayou”, “You Got It” and “In Dreams”. Mike Demers delivers a spot-on performance of Orbison’s signature sound.

As a part of THE TRAVELING WILBURYS Orbison brought us “End of the Line”, “Handle with Care” and “You’re Not Alone Anymore”.
A prolific writer, Orbison pitched “Claudette” to The Everly Brothers. The track was a co-number one with the Everlys’ “All I Have to Do is Dream”. Orbison and The Everly Brothers tore the house down on TV’s Shindig performing Roy’s “What’d I Say”.

220px-Everly_Brothers_-_Cropped

The Everly Brothers – the chart’s third-biggest duo ever – their influence has been incredible.

The Everly Brothers charted 31 singles on the Hot 100, including 12 top 10 hits. Billboard ranked the pair as the No. 66 biggest act in the Hot 100’s 55-year history. The Everly Brothers are the chart’s third-biggest duo ever and their influence has been incredibly wide-ranging. Because their career predates the Hot 100’s launch, some of their best-known hits aren’t on the list, including “Bye Bye Love”, “Wake Up Little Susie” and “All I Have to Do Is Dream”. THE LONELY delivers their single biggest hit “Cathy’s Clown” in a stellar performance.

THE LONELY delivers a sensitive and dynamic tribute to the one and only Roy Orbison plus the hits of The Traveling Wilburys and The Everly Brothers.
Veteran Mike Demers leads this group of musical journeymen in their mutual and deep appreciation of the timeless music of an era. THE LONELY approaches the music with a humble spirit and sincere desire to recreate the sounds and feel of the original recordings. The band has been selling out shows right from their debut.

“For 4 decades I worked in the music industry. The one constant has been the music of Roy Orbison. When I heard that a Roy Orbison Tribute was coming to town I said, ‘Well this I have to see.’ THE LONELY blew me away”! exclaims David Chesney, Publisher White Rock Sun, Canada’s FIRST Internet Newspaper.

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Best Casino Action In Toronto Area

News 100 redBy Fred Anderson

March 12th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Toronto is one of the most famous cities in the world and the most populous city in the whole of Canada.

There’s a lot to see and do while in Toronto, with the CN Tower, Casa Loma, Toronto Islands and the Royal Ontario Museum all worth of any person’s time. What’s perhaps lesser known about Toronto is that both residents and visitors have a huge choice when it comes to casinos, whether it may be playing blackjack at PartyCasino or roulette at land based venues. In this instance, we will focus on the land-based casinos which are not only special in their own way, but very popular with both locals and visitors.

casino-rama-resort

Casino Rama

Casino Rama Resort
Casino Rama is more than just a casino, it’s a resort, with events, gaming, fine dining and more all in the one place. It’s gaming where Casino Rama excel though, especially with their superb range of slot games. There are in excess of 2,500 slots on the gaming floor, with these ranging from traditional games right through to progressives, ensuring there’s always something for everyone to enjoy.

As well as slots Casino Rama has a fantastic range of table games for players to enjoy too, but it’s the progressives which are really catching the eye right now. Games such as Blazing Blackjack, 5 Card Hand Bonus and Bad Beat Jackpot, all have jackpots well into their thousands, making them an exciting proposition for players.

Fallsview-Casino-Resort-300x200

Fallsview Casino

Fallsview Casino Resort
Fallsview Casino Resort is believed to be one of the biggest gaming facilities in the whole of Canada, with Elegance at the heart of everything they do. Like Casino Rama, there’s a lot going on at Fallsview, combining great gaming with fantastic shows and music. They’ve also got some amazing dining opportunities for visitors too, with the exotic as well as quick and comfortable food catered for.

When it comes to gaming Fallsview have you covered, regardless of your preferences. There are slot games aplenty with over 3,000 state of the art machines on site. With betting starting from as little as 1 cent, there are slots for everyone to enjoy. And, if slot games aren’t to a player’s taste, they could always check out the various table games and poker.

casino-niagara

Casino Niagara

Casino Niagara
Casino Niagara is all about fun and that’s great news for visitors. Unlike the other two venues mentioned in this list, Casino Niagara is simply a gaming and sporting hub, with some brilliant dining opportunities on site too. It’s the ideal place to visit if you’re looking for some entertainment, and if you love sport, even better.

Gaming at Niagara is something that everyone will enjoy, whether they like their slot games, table games or tournaments. There are over 1,700 slot and video poker machines at Casino Niagara which are spread across two gaming floors. The themes of the slots vary from movies and TV right through to celebrity-based slots, so there’s always a game or two for everyone. Casino Niagara also has all the table games a player could ever dream of, with blackjack and poker featuring amongst others. Casino Niagara has it all, and then some.

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