If we care about the future of the planet, the only issue that should matter is the environment.

Rivers 100x100By Ray Rivers

October 27th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Trudeau Liberals are getting worried, some might say panicky, about their most important signature program – climate change. When polled, Canadians claim to be almost universally aware, even though fewer people are convinced of our role in the problem or that climate change is even a real threat. But awareness in opinion polls doesn’t always translate into what happens at the election polls, as we’ve seen in Ontario and New Brunswick recently, and possibly Alberta next spring.

Easter Island statues

This wasn’t the solution for Easter Island – the problem cannot be ignored.

Given the most recent scientific report, global warming will be the single most important issue people will be voting on in the federal election next year. The battle lines are already drawn. The Conservative party, which has never had a climate plan, will stand alone among today’s parties. And if Andrew Scheer becomes Canada’s next prime minister, federal policy will be a replay of what is happening at Queen’s Park. Scheer would terminate Canada’s most important program to fight carbon emissions – the carbon tax.

Two years ago, as Canada was signing onto the Paris climate change agreement, every sub-national government in the country, but one, embraced the Pan-Canadian Framework, a market-based national climate plan, including carbon pricing. It was a rare moment of national conciliation. The feds wouldn’t unilaterally impose a carbon tax where carbon pricing was already underway, as it was in Canada’s four largest provinces at the time.

The other provinces were given time to come up with their own carbon pricing system but Manitoba, Sask. and New Brunswick flunked the laugh test, and Ontario gave Mr. Trudeau the finger. So these provinces and the territories will get a federally imposed tax this January where the money collected will be rebated through the income tax system directly to residents in those jurisdictions.

The $20 per tonne tax will cost about 4 cents at the gas pumps and about 3 cents for natural gas. The critics rightly say the tax isn’t high enough to get people to switch to lower carbon emitting alternatives, such as electric vehicles (EV) and electric heating. But those who reduce their use of fossil fuels will still be the winners – with more cash in their pockets than they had to payout in carbon taxes.

Nissan Leaf

One of the way we can reduce what we do to the environment.

Market signals work for both demand and supply. Consumers will be given another reason to go green, especially as the tax gradually jumps to $50 in 2022 One can see how a rational car buyer would want to consider the cost of gasoline when choosing between buying an SUV, a Prius or a Nissan Leaf And that market signal should also prompt the auto companies to increase the supply of hybrid fuel as well as pure EVs – the ultimate solution.

The critics are right that the the $20 per tonne carbon tax is too low an incentive for people to break with their business as usual. It’s a start but slightly higher fuel prices are not enough. So other market based instruments might be a good idea. Economic incentives for doing the right thing, like buying EV’s, weather proofing your residence or business, and converting your heating systems to clean renewable electricity would be a good idea. Gosh weren’t those the programs Ontario’s new government just cancelled?

Some European countries and even China have announced they will be banning all gasoline powered cars in the future. Now that is a powerful market signal to auto makers to jump start more technological progress and to car buyers thinking about resale values. Perhaps that strategy will appear in the plans of Scheer and Ford, when they eventually get around to drafting one.

Rivers EV charging stations

If we could turn these EV charging stations into status symbols we just might change some minds.

And of course there is a need for education. After almost two decades after being introduced into Canadian market place it is astounding the number of people who still have no idea that gas-electric hybrid cars exist, and that buying one could save as much 50% of their annual gas bill. After owning my Prius for 200,000 kms I calculated I’d driven the last 100,000 kms for free.

Of course other matters will come up in the course of the election, like the federal debt and deficit, social and immigration policy, taxation, and possibly trade or other international matters. But if we care about the future of the planet, the only issue that should matter is the environment, and what we’re prepared to do about climate change in particular.

Rivers hand to faceRay 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:

Pan-Canadian Plan –   Technology –   How Climate Change Will Look –   Opinion Polls

Return to the Front page

Losing the race with grace and humility is the sign of a great candidate.

opiniongreen 100x100By Roland Tanner

October 27th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Thank you so much

On Monday night I didn’t get the result I and my team wanted to see, but I believe the results, in Ward 2 and across Burlington, were excellent ones for our city. I don’t have the slightest reservation in congratulating Lisa Kearns on an excellent campaign.

Burlington and Ward 2 voted for the things I entered the race to pursue.

A return to civility and respect for residents’ voices.

A council that doesn’t just listen, but sees engagement with citizens as the constant responsibility of every level of democratic government.

A council that will protect downtown from excessive intensification, and demand a creative approach to growth directed at creating complete communities on a human scale.

A transformational approach to better transit, walkable and cyclable communities, and infrastructure that gives us all transportation choices.

A focus on affordable and subsidized housing so our parents, children and grandchildren can afford to live and work here.

I want to thank everybody who took even the smallest role in this process for your support and your interest.

Tanner standing

Roland Tanner

Thank you for reading my emails and articles.
Thank you for taking lawn signs.
Thank you for your donations and incredible generosity.
Thank you to the volunteers, family and friends who worked harder and were more generous than I could possibly ever have expected, to reach so many doors with me, to speak to so many residents in every corner of Ward 2 and to make this campaign one I can be proud of, even though we didn’t win.

Working with you all was both a privilege and an absolute blast.

Next steps

I’m not going anywhere. A new and better council still needs residents to stay engaged. Council alone will not create a better Burlington. A large part of the responsibility still falls to us. I intend to stay involved and keep pushing for the things I care about, and the things the residents of Ward 2 and Burlington care about.

Burlington is coming of age. There is huge promise in our city as it grows and changes, while treasuring and protecting our history, heritage and special neighbourhoods. I can’t wait to be part of that future.

 

Return to the Front page

It is long, complicated and very disturbing for those who understand why we have due process and the rule of law.

SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

October 25th, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

Part 5 and the last of a series

When we left you last – there were two banning notices from city hall.

Neither had even a hint of due process. We live in a society whose foundation is built on the rule of law.

We live in a city where the City Manager, who served in the Canadian Armed Forces, which he left with the rank of Captain after 12 years of service, and is presumed to understand something about the administration of laws, rules and regulations, nevertheless issued a Trespass Notice with no due process.

When the second banning notice was delivered November 20, 2017 there was mention of an email I had sent the then Director of Planning. That email was the pretence the city manager used to issue a second ban that was for an indeterminate length of time.

We searched our email files and found the email.

Tanner email Oct 30

 

 

 

The wording of that email is quite small – It said; “I have had developers tell me that you are using the time off to prepare you witch costume and broom for Tuesday night. Any comment – for attribution?  The spelling error was mine.

I personally didn’t think the email was offensive but Ms Tanner did. I wrote an apology that was sincere. In my world, when a sincere apology is given, adults accept the apology and move on.

The apology wasn’t acknowledged.

When the second banning was issued I retained legal counsel who wrote the city in June of 2018.

This time the city said we should perhaps talk.

August was a period of time when my counsel was away for the month. That got us into September. James Ridge was out of the country for a period of time. Some possible meeting dates were shared.
At this point there is no date for a meeting.

James Ridge did advise us that “We will not be providing the investigation report in advance of the meeting, and are assessing whether it can be redacted in a way that sufficiently protects the identities of the women involved.”

He added: “You should also be aware that while the decision to lift the ban, or defend it in court, is ultimately mine, I would want to brief Council on my decision in camera, and that would occur no earlier than November.”

James Ridge is going back to Council for approval – which suggest to me that he got permission to ban me from city council in the first place.

Our demand of the city was for a copy of the Protocol that was issued to staff as to how they were to handle me and a copy of the Investigation the city had done about the complaints they received. Are those complaints as flimsy as the complaint Ms Tanner had – an email that was sent in jest the day before Halloween.

I felt I was entitled to be made aware of those first complaints. It may not have been necessary to know who made the complaints. For some reason city hall seemed to feel that complaints about behavior can be made in a vacuum; were the people who made the complaints sworn?

The city has a protocol for handling behavior complaints between staff that involves contractors working for and with the city. As a journalist I was neither an employee nor a contractor so the very detailed process didn’t apply.

A more professional approach would have been to call me in and say there were complaints and while I am not an employee or contractor the city was going to apply the staff protocol to me as well.

However, if the objective was to shut me out of city hall and prevent me from talking to staff in an attempt to shut the Gazette down, so far it hasn’t worked but at least we now understand the motive.
It look as if there is a resolution to all this out there somewhere.

My concern isn’t being allowed to walk back into city hall. I don’t have much of an appetite to spend time in the place. I do miss my conversations with the security guard.

The decisions the city manager made totally trashed what I had in the way of working relationships with more than 45 staff members that I admired respected and enjoyed working with.

Another very troubling part of the notice the city manager served on me was his saying I could not meet or talk to elected members of council in their city hall offices or at public events.

Ridge wrote: “When attending City sponsored events such as public meetings, open houses, social events located at places other than City Hall or Sims Square, you are to refrain from interacting with city staff, its representatives or Councillors.”

That one stunned me – hard to believe that people elected to public office would let the man that reports directly to them decide who they can see and who they cannot see. Perhaps this is what city council wanted; did all of them, even Marianne Meed Ward and John Taylor go along with tthis?. For some that was perhaps welcome, they could avoid talking to media with the excuse that ‘James Ridge said I can’t’.

The decision made by James Ridge was one that he put before the members of council in a Closed Session.

We have no idea what the members of city council had to say at the closed meeting; we don’t know who asked questions; we don’t know if the decision to authorize the city manager to issue the Trespass Notice that keeps me out of city hall was unanimous.

Did anyone ask if there was the required due process? The city Solicitor was in the room, she is a Member of the Law Society and has a license to practice law in the province; she knows what due process is. She also knows what the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is and she would, if she were being as professional as she is supposed to be, know that those rights were really trashed.

My issue and overriding concern is: How do I repair the damage that has been done?. I believe that at some point in the not too distant future I will be permitted to return to city hall and to talk to staff with all the conditions James Ridge put in place removed.

My objective from the very beginning has been to get this matter before some level of the judiciary where there is due process, procedure and rules of evidence.

That stuff is expensive.

What I have taken from this experience is the need the current city manager has to control. His default position is to issue edicts that cannot be supported in law.

Requiring media to put their requests to talk to staff before his office allows James Ridge to control what kind of information journalists have access to – that isn’t the way a democracy works.

Unfortunately for me and the citizens of the city, at least a majority of the elected members of council agreed with the city manager.

Media serve a role in a democratic society. As the publisher of the Gazette I certainly didn’t always get it right, I may have been a little too aggressive – but I was transparent and accountable. And everything is on the record, in the archives and searchable.

There are consequences to the decisions the current city council and the city manager have made.

Rule of law graphicThe next step is apparently going to again be done in a Closed Session by a Council that will have no authority, no mandate and very little credibility.

My objective is to get this matter before some level of the judiciary where the rule of law, due process, evidence that can be tested and the people making the decision are concerned about what is right.

I’ll get there somehow.

Part 1 of a series

Part 2 of a series

Part 3 of the series.

Part 4 of a series

Rivers on a Free Press

Return to the Front page

Brant street road closure boundary extended.

News 100 redBy Staff

October 26th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The city has decided to extend the outer limits of the road closures that will take place for the Rogers Hometown Hockey

Hometown hockeyThursday, Oct. 25 from 6 a.m. to Monday Oct. 29 at 5 p.m.

• Brant Street from Ontario Street to Lakeshore Road (new)
• James Street from John Street to Brant Street
• Left turn lane closure on Lakeshore Road at Brant Street
• Pine Street is local access only (new)
20-minute drop-off and pick-up for businesses will remain.

Return to the Front page

Region announces applications for the Community Investment Fund being accepted now.

News 100 yellowBy Staff

October 26th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Applications for the Halton Region Community Investment Fund are now being accepted

Non-profit organizations that provide social services or community health programs to Halton residents are invited to apply to the Halton Region Community Investment Fund (HRCIF).

Halton RCIF_impact_reportThe Fund provides one-year and multi-year funding to programs and initiatives that support the health, safety and well-being of Halton residents. The HRCIF also supports issues emerging from community safety and well-being planning.

Three categories of funding are available to organizations that meet eligibility criteria, including a stream of funding targeted to programs that address food security. A total of approximately $1,000,000 will be awarded

in new grants through the HRCIF in 2019.

Funding streams include:
Category One: Provides one-year of funding up to $30,000 to non-profit, charitable or unincorporated community organizations for short-term, small capital and/or innovative projects. The deadline for Category One applications is December 14, 2018 at 2 p.m.

Category Two: Provides up to three years of funding to charitable organizations for programs and initiatives. The deadline for Category Two applications is December 14, 2018 at 2 p.m.

Category Three: Provides up to three years of funding to non-profit and/or charitable organizations to enhance food security. The deadline for Category Three applications is December 14, 2018 at 2 p.m.
Organizations interested in applying can learn more about the HRCIF by attending an information session on November 6 or 8.

A collaboration session is also being offered on November 14 for potential applicants interested in exploring collaborative and/or innovative project opportunities with other community partners. For more information about these sessions or HRCIF guidelines, application forms and funding priorities, visit halton.ca or call 311.

Return to the Front page

St. Luke's celebrates its 184th anniversary.

News 100 blueBy Staff

October 26th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Anglican Bishop, Rt. Rev. Susan Bell, took part in the celebration of the 184th anniversary of St. Luke’s Church.

Bell, is the first woman bishop of the Niagara Anglican Diocese.

St. Luke’s is perhaps the most significant part of Burlington’s history with its tie to the Joseph Brant family.

The service took place on October 21st.

Rt Reverend Susan Bell

Rt. Rev. Susan Bell

Return to the Front page

Stolen car investigations keep Regional police busy - six arrested in two incidents.

Crime 100By Staff

October 26th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Car thefts and catching the criminals has kept the Burlington detachment of the Regional Police busy.

HRPS crestOn October 19th 2018, at approximately 12:30 AM, a uniformed patrol officer located a Mazda CX-5 reported stolen out of Peel Region was located in the rear parking lot of the Motel 6 at 4345 North Service Road in Burlington.

Officers identified a room linked to the stolen vehicle and upon approaching the room, a man and women fled on foot. The woman was quickly arrested exiting the motel while the male was arrested as he was trying to enter a Ford pick-up truck that was driving though the front lot.

The pickup truck sped away but was quickly stopped by an officer whose vehicle was positioned in a manner that blocked the truck from exiting the lot. A female driver and two male passengers were arrested.

A subsequent search of the involved vehicles, room and arrested persons resulted in the seizure of a small quantity of crystal meth, stolen property (dealer licence plate, gift cards, credit/debit cards & car keys) and break-in tools (window punch, bolt cutters, walkie-talkies & headlamps).

The subsequent investigation determined the five persons arrested were responsible for breaking into cars throughout Halton and Peel Regions.

Arrested and charged are:

Fernando MUCCI (20-yrs) of No Fixed Address (formerly of Brampton) was held for bail and remanded into custody. He will appear next by video on November 5th 2018 charged with:
• Theft of vehicle
• Theft under $5000 (15 counts)
• Use stolen credit card (7 counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 (5 counts)
• Fraud under $5000
• Possession of a controlled substance (crystal meth)
• Fail to comply with probation (6 counts)
Catherine EDWARDS (20-yrs) of No Fixed Address (formerly of Mississauga) was released on a recognizance of bail to appear in Milton court next on November 14th 2018 charged with:
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
• Possession of a controlled substance (crystal meth)
• Assault peace officer
• Fail to comply with undertaking

Tyrone MORGAN (31-yrs) of Mississauga was held for bail and subsequently released on an undertaking to appear in Milton Court on November 14th 2018 charged with:
• Obstruct peace officer
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Possession of break in instruments
• Fail to comply with undertaking

Essam HAJJAR (38-yrs) of Oakville was held for bail and subsequently released on an undertaking to appear in Milton Court on November 14th 2018 charged with:
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Possession of break in instruments
• Fail to comply with undertaking

Michelle Nadine GARCIA (27-yrs) of Toronto was held for bail and subsequently released on a recognizance of bail to appear in Milton Court on November 14th 2018 charged with:
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Possession of break in instruments

On October 24th 2018, at approximately 12:10 AM, a uniformed patrol officer located a stolen Infiniti G37X from Peel Region in the parking lot of the Knights Inn at 517 Plains Rd. E in Burlington.

Officers identified a room linked to the stolen vehicle that resulted in three persons subsequently being arrested. A search of the stolen vehicle resulted in the seizure of property believed to have been stolen from residential break and enters and theft from autos in Halton and Peel Regions. Items recovered are car keys, identification, cell phones, I-pods, change, medication and jewelry.

Arrested and charged are:

Catherine EDWARDS (20-yrs) of Mississauga was held for bail charged with:
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
Jonathan BASTA (30-yrs) of Mississauga was released on a recognizance of bail to appear in Milton Court on November 21st 2018 charged with:
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000

Stephanie MONIZ (24-yrs) of Hamilton was released on a recognizance of bail to appear in Milton Court on November 21st 2018 charged with:
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000

Police are still investigating the seized property and additional charges are expected.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2316.

Return to the Front page

AGB appoints new Senior Curator; Suzanne Carte starts November 12th.

artsblue 100x100By Pepper Parr

October 26th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Art Gallery of Burlington announced the appointment of Suzanne Carte as the new Senior Curator.

Suzanne Carte

Suzanne Carte, appointed Senior Curator at the AGB

Carte is an award-winning curator and cultural producer. She was recently the Assistant Curator at the Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) working with a dynamic team to produce high-quality exhibitions and public programs for over a decade.

Carte holds an MA in Contemporary Art History from Sotheby’s Art Institute in New York and a BFA from the University of Windsor. Carte was also a member of the 2017 Toronto Arts Council Leaders Lab.

Carte will take up her duties at the Art Gallery of Burlington on November 12, 2018.

She is a cultural producer living in Toronto; within her independent practice, she has curated exhibitions in public spaces, artist-run centres, and commercial and public art galleries including You Cannot Kill What Is Already Dead, Video Rental Store, All Systems Go!, Under New Management, MOTEL and Man’s Ruin.

Previously Carte held positions as outreach programmer for the Blackwood Gallery and the Art Gallery of Mississauga, and as professional development and public program coordinator at the Ontario Association of Art Galleries.

Her critical writing has been published in the AGO’s A.I.R. publication as well as in Magenta Magazine, Art Writ, and Huffington Post. Suzanne holds an MA in Contemporary Art History from Sotheby’s Art Institute in New York and a BFA from the University of Windsor, and she is a member of the 2017 Toronto Arts Council Leaders Lab.

Return to the Front page

Reflections on a campaign: a lot of 'woulda, shoulda, coulda'.

opinionred 100x100By Marty Staz

October 25th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It seems like forever ago that I ventured into City Hall with my paperwork in hand, plunked down my hundred bucks and entered the Municipal Councillor’s race in our city. Having never done this before I will readily admit that I didn’t really have a grasp on what to do next. My nature has always been to “plan your work and then work your plan” but that wasn’t getting me anywhere since I couldn’t come up with a plan.

Fortunately we were still feeling the effects of very strange provincial election so it gave me time to gather my thoughts.

Side view - mid rise

Marty Staz reviewing a panel of development guidelines

It wasn’t long before I was able to see where I was headed. The issues, the challenges and the talking points all came together and as I started knocking on doors and meeting with people I could feel some engagement building.

I can say with complete honesty that I was in this race with total conviction. Unfortunately, I really don’t feel I could say the same for some of my competitors. A total of eleven candidates submitted their nomination forms. A quick scan of the election results will provide proof of what I mean. I think that $100 isn’t enough to prevent less than committed individuals from wanting to see their name in the public eye. All of this only leads to thoughts of what might have been had we only had the die hard candidates in this race.

This also brings me to another questionable practice that happened for the first time in Burlington. Online voting. Do we really need a seventeen day window to give everyone an opportunity to vote online? We have two days of advance polls so why don’t we have two days of online voting? Over two weeks is a lot of time to lose for a candidate new to the elections race trying to get their message out there. Who knows, maybe it was simply done to favour any incumbent candidates.

Another gripe for me is the number of people that actually got out to vote. In an election with a multitude of issues and the new opportunity to vote online we only got a measly 3% increase in voters from 2014. When I realized this my first reaction was, “those people that didn’t vote must be living in a bubble.” But the more I thought about it I think I was one of the ones living in the bubble. Sixty one per cent of our city don’t seem to be too concerned about what is going on.

A lot of this may sound like sour grapes but truly it is probably more of the “woulda, shoulda, coulda”. I fought hard and have no regrets at all. The 39% of the public that voted simply felt that there was someone else better for the job. To all of the new members of our Council I say congratulations and work hard for us.

Return to the Front page

Rogers Hometown Hockey Road Closure - Oct. 25 - 29, 2018

notices100x100By Staff

October 25th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Hometown hockeyWith the arrival of Rogers Hometown Hockey in Burlington this weekend, Brant Street will be closed between Ontario Street and Pine Street starting Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018 at 6 a.m. until Monday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m.

Emergency access will be maintained at all times.

Return to the Front page

Your job as voters is to hold them to account, demand transparency and expect a seat at the table – and then show up.

SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

October 25th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

In the next few weeks they will be meeting with people in accounting and giving them the data they need to get their names on the payroll so that half of their annual remuneration of $100,000, give or take a bit, flows into their bank accounts.

They will tell the printing department how they want their names to appear on their business cards.

The IT people will assign them email addresses and cell phones and iPads.

They will get used to parking their cars in the parking lot right outside city hall

Life as they’ve known it will take a whole new meaning. The anxious voters they were chasing just a few days ago with now address them as “Councillor”

Our Mayor Elect will begin to think how she can deploy these younger, eager people who are setting out to do the people’s will.

Few of the five newbies, Kevin Galbraith for ward 1, Lisa Kearns for ward 2, Rory Nisan for ward 3, Shawna Stolte for ward 4 and Angelo Bentivegna for ward 6.

Will Bentivegna show up with his traditional gift of a selection of his biscotti?

Paul Sharman is suddenly the Dean of Council, the only person other than the Mayor, who fully understands the budget these seven people are going to pass before the end of January.

In his first year as a city Councillor Sharman, in 2011, pushed through a 0% budget increase. He could redeem himself, indeed reinvent himself if he could pull that off again and nurture the new five on the intricacies of a municipal budget..

There probably isn’t one of the newbies who could stand up and rhyme off the names of all the Directors and give you twenty words on the approach they take to the departments they operate.

They will learn and the public will be forgiving for at least six months.

The focus, as it should be, will be on the Mayor Elect. She is going to have t determine who she will take on as staff for her eighth floor office. Will some of the people who worked with her day to day in the campaign be part of that team: Lyn Crosby is a possible.

Now that she is in office the public needs to understand that you can’t just trust her to do what she said she would do.  Politics doesn’t work that way.

You couldn’t live with one-term Can Jackson – so you elected Rick Goldring. He looked good, he was a decent sort and so you elected him and trusted him to do right by you.

How did that work out?

Your job as voters is to hold them to account, demand transparency and expect a seat at the table – and then show up.

Hopefully a lesson has been learned.

They all mean well – help them deliver on what they meant when they asked for your vote. They need both your support and your willingness to ask them the hard questions as they set out to do a really hard job.

Kearns direct smile

Councillor Elect Lisa Kearns

Rory - glancing

Councillor Elect Rory Nisan

Shawna listening to Dennison

Councillor Elect Shawna Stolte

Angelo B - squint - red post H&S

Councillor Elect Angelo Bentivegna

They are all in the middle of an incredible euphoria. Let them enjoy it. Then be there for them. The past eight years should have taught us all something.

Kelvin Galbraith headshot_Super_Portrait

Councillor Elect Kevin Galbraith

Return to the Front page

Tarragon Theatre production, Cottagers and Indians coming to Burlington

eventsred 100x100By Staff

October 24th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Burlington Performing Arts Centre will be presenting the Tarragon Theatre production of Cottagers and Indians by Drew Hayden Taylor November 3 & 4 in their Community Studio Theatre.

Wild rice sparks a battle royale between a native farmer and a white cottager, whose increasingly bitter dispute becomes a microcosm for reconciliation. Told with warmth and humour, and encompassing issues of community, respect and ownership, Cottagers & Indians is a tale for our times – and a food fight for the ages.

Cottagers and Indians Photo full

Scenes from the Tarragon Theatre production of Cottagers and Indians

Award-winning playwright Drew Hayden Taylor exposes the absurdity that comes from these kinds of arguments, and touches on the severity of its historical implications. Cottagers and Indians gives audiences a sincere and pragmatic look at the current conflicts between First Nations’ traditional water usage and property owners in cottage country who are looking to enjoy an undisturbed summer getaway. There will be a post-show chat with the cast of Cottagers and Indians.

“I laughed out loud”, “If you like the jokes in Come From Away, then look into Cottagers and Indians.” – The Globe and Mail

Cottagers and Indians: Written by Drew Hayden Taylor. Original Direction by Patti Shaughnessy. Remount Directed by Melody Johnson. Starring Herbie Barnes & Brooke Johnson. Set Design by Robin Fisher. Costume Design by Sage Paul. Lighting Design by Nick Andison. Sound Design by Beau Dixon. Stage Management by Kate Redding.

The 2018/2019 BPAC season also includes: Canadian Rep Theatre’s Helens Necklace, Canadian Rep Theatre’s How Do I Love Thee: A Staged Play Reading, Evalyn Parry’s SPIN, Ahuri Theatre’s This is the Point.

Tarragon Theatre: Cottagers and Indians
Saturday, November 3 at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 4 at 2pm in the Community Studio Theatre
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
Tickets can be purchased by telephone, online or in person:
905-681-6000, www.burlingtonpac.ca

www.burlingtonpac.ca/event-listings

440 Locust Street, Burlington, Ontario

 

Return to the Front page

The job was to sound like a Mayor - a ribbon cutting should not have been the first public event for the Mayor Elect.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

October 24th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

This is not a good sign.

A ribbon cutting is to take place today to announce the opening of a new Bad Boy store on Fairview; a ribbon cutting will be part of the event.

Photo ops are old school.

Ideas, action, policy and a change in the way the two former Mayors communicated with the public are what the voters expected.

Mel Lastman

Noooobody – Mel Lastman

We got a notice that Bad Boy is opening up a location on Fairview and that MPP Jane McKenna, Mayor Elect Marianne Meed Ward and former Bad Boy Honourary Chair Mel Lastman himself will be on hand for the ribbon cutting.

You can bet that he will holler Noooobody at some point in the ribbon cutting.

It is nice to see the words Mayor Elect before Meed Ward’s name – hope she does more than get her picture taken.

The optics on this event are not very attractive.

Return to the Front page

Alison Braithwaite - Words are powerful; embrace the messiness of our lives.

News 100 yellowBy Pepper Parr

October 24th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Gazette met Alison Braithwaite a number of years ago when she was in the private sector. She had this capacity to pick a point in a conversation when she could shift the direction a conversation with a few words.

I wondered about how she had done that for some time after the coffee meeting we had.

Alison Braithwaite -

Alison Braithwaite –

“Words powerfully manifest our lives

“Words are powerful. The words we choose to use influence what we manifest in our lives and how we feel in our bodies. This week, I was speaking to someone who is very special to me. She was talking about her life and some of the challenges that she is facing at the moment. What I heard her saying was: “I am in a fight with this. I am fighting that. I need to fight this other thing.” For her, in this moment, everything seems to be a battle.

“The words we choose affect our bodies

“What I observed in her body as she spoke was how she tensed up as she spoke. The more she spoke of her fights, the more her body tensed up. It was like her body was preparing for battle and getting ready to ward off the missiles being launched her way. I could see the energy she was using just thinking of the battle.

“Let go of the fight

“The metaphor of war is used a lot in our culture. It seems that we, for whatever reason, always need an enemy. We battle the bulge, we battle drugs, we battle cancer and mental health issues. This battling an enemy becomes a big problem when the enemy we are battling is a part of ourselves.
“Shift the metaphor

“We need to shift our metaphors. The metaphor I like to use is that of a kayaker, skillfully navigating white-water. We all have white-water in our lives at times, fighting the water is not going to get us through it.

Reading the water, feeling the water, dancing with the water and skillfully navigating through it works much better.

“Embrace the messiness

Alison Braithwaite logo“A kayaker does not run from the messiness of the whitewater, she sees it, recognizes it, accepts it and moves through it. There is no fight there. Her body becomes as fluid as the water as she chooses her path, navigates her way through and celebrates with euphoria when she is through the tough parts.
“Let’s embrace the messiness of our lives. Accept it without fighting and navigate our way through.”

Questions for self-reflection

1. Over the next week start to notice the words you use. You may want to get some help with this. It is always easier to notice what someone else is saying than hearing what we say ourselves.

2. Notice what metaphors you are using. Are you struggling, fighting, stuck, challenged or moving through things?

3. How is the language you choose limiting or expanding you?

4. What shifts could you make to use more empowering and expansive language?
Remember, you are amazing, you are capable, you are skillfully navigating through life and that is worth celebrating every step of the way.

Return to the Front page

Transit changes: number of routes changed to improve the service.

News 100 blueBy Staff

October 24th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The transit people want to improve bus arrival times and transit rider connections,  they are going to make changes to bus routes that will be introduced  Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018.

The schedule updates will affect routes 3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 21, 25, 80, 81, and 83. Transit riders are encouraged to check updated schedules before they ride at www.tripplanner.burlington.ca

Summary of transit schedule changes beginning Nov. 4, 2018:

Routes Change

5 and 80 Routes 5 and 80 will operate as separate buses and riders will be required to transfer between Routes 5 and 80 at the Burlington GO station at 2101 Fairview St.
This change will help ensure any delays that may occur on one of these routes will not have an impact on the other route.

6 and 11 Routes 6 and 11 will operate as separate buses and riders will be required to transfer between Routes 6 and 11 at the GO 407 Carpool lot on Dundas Street, west of Walkers Line.
This change will help ensure any delays that may occur on one of these routes will not have an impact on the other route.

12 Route 12 will operate on a 30-minute schedule all day.

11, 21, 25, 81 and 83 The schedules for Routes 11, 21, 25, 81 and 83 will shift by five minutes to improve transit rider connections at GO stations.

Updates to Burlington Transit schedules will result in more frequent bus service along Brant Street as riders will be able to take Routes 3 or 5 between downtown and the Burlington GO station.

Sue Connor with Jim Young

Sue Connor, Director of Burlington Transit with Jim Young an advocate for free transit for seniors one day a week.

Sue Connor, Director, Burlington Transit imported from Brampton is betting that the “schedule changes represent another opportunity to improve Burlington’s Transit service. The updated schedules will help to ensure buses are arriving on time so that riders can make their transit connections to travel through our city.”

Connor is continually reported to have done a great job in Brampton.  Let’s hope that can be achieved here as well.

There is in Burlington, a citizens group that approached the transit people with an idea:  How about aving a bus that runs up and down Brant – with no particular schedule.  It would be a hop on – hope off. And free.

The transit people said they didn’t have a bus that could be dedicated to an experiment like that.  One wonders how people would take to the idea of being able to stand at a bus stop – get on the bus and go anywhere you wanted on Brant Street.

Burlingtonians are married to their cars.  The only way they are going to evolve to transit users is if they are given a chance to try the service and find that it is convenient.

 

Return to the Front page

No recount of the ward 6 vote unless Lancaster seeks a court order.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

October 24th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

There was a time when a recount would take place when the results were very close.

That practice is part of the past.

Angelo B + biscotti wide

Angelo’s biscotti making days are coming to an end unless he gets in some quality time with his wife to whip up another batch on a Saturday morning.

Monday night the vote count that was on the city web site had Angelo Bentivegna 39 votes ahead of Blair Lancaster which means on December 3rd he will be sworn in as the member of city council will be Angelo.

Angelo BENTIVEGNA, 2747 votes, 35.73%
Blair LANCASTER, 2708 votes, 35.22%

The Clerk’s office advised the Gazette that “the only automatic recount is in the case of a tie. Otherwise it requires a court order.

Lancaster does have the option of asking a Judge to order a recount of the votes.  How does one recount votes that were done electronically ?

The official results from the city will be out before the end of the week.

Return to the Front page

As we embark upon this new chapter in our community’s history ...

opinionred 100x100By Stephen White

October 24th, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

In the aftermath of the election a few reflections come to mind.

First, to all the candidates who were elected, sincere and heartfelt congratulations. It takes courage to run for office, as well as a huge amount of self-sacrifice, effort, determination, knocking on doors, sleepless nights, long days, and copious cups of coffee. The thoughts, prayers and good wishes of a community go with you as you embark on this difficult and challenging journey in our City’s history.

Second, to all those who ran and lost, and even those with whom many may have disagreed, please know that there is no shame or disgrace in running and losing. If it takes courage to run for office it also takes twice as much to move forward after a loss. I hope the sting of defeat minimizes with time, and I hope you find a way to remain active and engaged in the life of our City.

Third, we live in a truly wonderful City. As I campaigned during the election and went door-to-door I met an extraordinary number of unique and talented citizens. I was born and raised in Oakville, and have spent the better part of the last 43 years living in Burlington. Although I have lived in different places throughout my career I have always returned here. I believed then as I do even more so now, that we live in an amazing community that is a fascinating combination of different neighbourhoods, ethnicities and cultures. Whenever I speak to new residents and ask them how they like living in Burlington I invariably hear words like “fantastic” and “great”. It makes me proud, but it also makes me truly blessed to call Burlington “home”.

Hand on microphone

Mayor elect Marianne Meed Ward celebrating at the Polish Hall

No doubt this has been a divisive election for several reasons too numerous to mention and not worth re-hashing. Emotions are running high on all sides. There exists a lot of ill-will and bitter feelings. For those who were successful though this is not a time to gloat. Rather, it is an opportunity for everyone to pause, reflect and determine how best we move forward.

Both during my career in Human Resources, as well as through my political involvement over the course of many campaigns, I learned that every interaction in life is a unique compilation of both conflict and conciliation. Conflict in human interactions is inevitable. We don’t all agree on the same things all the time. That is what makes us distinct as individuals. If we all agreed all the time life would be boring. It would also be very unimaginative. In politics, conflict manifests itself as a healthy and respectful exchange of viewpoints and beliefs. Other times it goes much deeper. At some point though we all need to put aside our individual differences, personality conflicts, past grievances and hurts to find points of agreement that allow us to move forward.

Years ago when I was an undergraduate student at McMaster University I did a major paper for my Urban History class on the role of the business community in shaping Burlington’s development between the First and Second World Wars. As part of my research I poured over microfiche records at the Burlington Library of old newspapers. One of the names that I kept coming across through my research was that of Hugh Cleaver.

Hugh Cleaver, for those who may not know, was Burlington’s Mayor in the 1920’s and 1930’s, and Liberal MP from about 1935 – 1948. To my surprise he was alive and still practicing law. I wrote to him requesting an interview, and he very graciously granted my request.

Cleaver Hugh _House_01_GP___Gallery

The Hugh Cleaver house on Caroline – was demolished and replace by a semi-detached house.

On a freezing cold day in February 1977 I travelled to his office on Caroline Street where I met him. Mr. Cleaver was tall, erect and imposing, but in spite of this remained very approachable. Rather than sit in his office talking we climbed into his Volvo and he drove me around the city. He pointed with pride to many of the developments he had been involved in constructing that included an apartment building on Market Street and homes in the Roseland area, many of which I should add are still standing. His memory was encyclopedic, and despite being well into his eighties his passion and love for this City was nothing short of contagious.

Cleaver - Hugh H&SMr. Cleaver is gone now, but his legacy remains. I think of him today, and wonder what he would think about our City. One thing that resonates about our conversation over 40 years ago was our discussion around how to energize and sustain a community under pressure. During the 1930’s that pressure was overcoming economic challenges brought about by the Depression. Today our challenges may not be economic but they are nevertheless formidable.

One thing Hugh Cleaver reinforced was the notion of respect. Mr. Cleaver knew how to reach across and connect with voters and residents regardless of their political affiliation or approach. He lived in the community, and took enormous pride in what he built and created. For him, it wasn’t just about turning a profit or building a magnificent edifice or monument. It was about creating a community that was vital, diverse, sustaining and balanced, but also, one which was inclusive.

I hope as we embark upon this new chapter in our community’s history that our Mayor, our Council and our community pause to reflect on the legacy we’ve all inherited, and the insights offered by past leaders like Hugh Cleaver.

Return to the Front page

Foxcroft: Get behind the new Mayor and concentrate on getting the Tiger Cats to the Grey Cup.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

October 23rd, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

While the rest of the city adjusts to the new reality at city hall, Ron Foxcroft puts the changes in perspective and lets us know what it is that is really important

“So happy that silly time is over, and no more political campaigns until 2019.

“I enjoyed working with Mr. Goldring, who was a man of integrity, leadership and class.

Foxcroft with Goldring

Ron Foxcroft on the right talking to Rick Goldring

“Marianne ran an efficient and masterful campaign, with drive and innovation.

“She has shown to be a team builder, with enormous enthusiasm, and energy.

“We all know that there is much difference between campaigning and managing.

“We must get behind our new Mayor, to help create an environment where managing the company (City) can be successful.

“Managing companies in this new complicated world is very challenging.

“It takes new skills, far from the days, where a hand shake was gospel.”

Oskee Wee Wee. Now we concentrate on getting the Tiger Cats to the Grey Cup.”

Return to the Front page

If it says it is from your bank - look it over very carefully - banks do use email to send you information.

Crime 100By Staff

October 22, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

An offer to repair your computer by someone you don't know is like giving them your wallet.

They get to you by email – your only protection is to be super vigilant.

RE: BMO Account Report
This sounded pretty official:

On October 22, 2018 we received a letter from FCIB, MBA.

We included in this email copies of the quarterly statements issued for the period June 21, 2018 to September 2018. The document describes notes placed in a locked pension protected by the Canada Pension Standart Act 1985, for more information please check documents included in this email.

Sincerely, Tim Trenblay

Note: FCIA – is a designation -Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries; MBA usually stands for Master of Business Administration.

The spelling error was an early clue. The attached file was an Excel file, why would a bank send me one of those?

The address the email came from was the biggest clue: BMO Financial Group noreply@bmodoc.com

Follow the rule: If in doubt – don’t.

Return to the Front page

He was the first performer to take to the Performing Arts Centre stage in 2011 - Royal Wood returns.

eventsblue 100x100By Pepper Parr

October 23rd, 2018

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The man who opened the Performing Arts Centre in 2011 will be back on the stage on the 18th of November.

Royal Wood signing CD's after the first commercial event at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. They loved him.

Royal Wood signing CD’s after the first commercial event at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. They loved him.

Royal Wood was the first performer to go before a paying audience at the Performing Arts Centre
He released his latest EP “Love Will Linger:, a fresh collection of songs from the vaults of his recent album “Ever After The Farewell”.

“While making my last album, I was left with a handful of songs that meant a great deal to me, but didn’t fit the overall sound of the album,” says Royal. “They were songs of love and loss, taken deep from within my heart and soul. Written during the days of losing my father to Alzheimer’s and falling in love with my now wife – it’s a collection of songs I wanted the world to hear.”

That contrast of love and loss dominated the entire creative process of the making of the music .Recorded in London with Jamie Scott (Niall Horan / Calum Scott), the aim was to capture the rawest possible sound, with most of the songs being recorded the day they were written.

Royal wood

Royal Wood

To heighten the emotion, the music was recorded on the Beatles EMI console that made Abbey Road possible. “This EP contains poignant songs like ‘Photograph’, a song that examines the treasure my family now finds in the old photographs of my father. As well, songs like “Make Your Mind Up” tell the story of the exuberance and uncertainty of newfound love and lust.”

Tickets can be ordered at the Performing Arts Centre Box office.

Return to the Front page