 By Staff
June 13th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Cruisin’ For a Cause is a family friendly event and the unofficial start of Summer in Aldershot that has two ways for you to give back to our community:
It is also a chance to share a passion for kool rides, classic vehicles and more while strolling down memory lane at Cruisin’ For a Cause 2018.
 Kool cars – an opportunity for those people devoted to the car that have spent hours on refurbishing and customizing to show it off. Donations for the Green Angels Financial Assistance Program will be collected to help subsidize admission passes, annual memberships and programming for disadvantaged, special needs and new Canadian children who wouldn’t ordinarily experience the natural world of the Royal Botanical Gardens.
The Burlington Food Bank truck will be on hand to accept non-perishable items or financial contributions that help support families in need.
Check out the kool rides or bring your own!
If you need more information please call Leslie at 905-317-3279 or email leslie@lesliebullock.ca We hope to see you there.
Where: Royal Botanical Gardens, Plains Road West
When: Tuesday June 19, 4:30pm to Dusk
 By Staff
June 13th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Sound of Music is a lot more than an event that takes place over the Father’s Day weekend.
It has been expanded well beyond Spencer Smith Park where there are three stages set up.
There are what are being called pods set up at different locations in the downtown core along with the Club Series that has bands playing at downtown locations.
The Gazette will provide a run down on what is happening where each day.
For today – the Club series is operating with the following:
 One of two pop up patios in the city – this one outside the Coop will be packed. Where will the bands playing be?
 By Staff
June 12th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The Sound of Music Festival will result in road closures Friday, June 15 to Sunday, June 17.
Road Closures
 Friday, June 15 from 3:30 p.m. to Sunday, June 17 at 6 p.m. – Brant Street from Caroline Street to Lakeshore Road.
Parade Closures
Saturday, June 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Caroline Street from Drury Lane to Locust Street, Elizabeth Street from Caroline Street to Pine Street and Drury Lane from Courtland to New Street.
 By Staff
June 12th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
PC Party of Ontario won 76 seats, got 2,322,422 votes which was 40.49% of the votes cast.
Ontario NDP won 40 seats, got 1,925,574 votes which was 33.57% of the votes cast.
Ontario Liberal Party won 7 seats, got 1,123,283 votes which was 19.59% of the votes cast.
Green Party of Ontario won 1 seat, got 263,987 votes which was 4.60% of the votes cast.
The Progressive Conservative party forms the government and will rule the province for the next four years.
Many want to see some form of proportional representation but that isn’t going to happen within the next four years.
The voting public was asked who they wanted to lead the province and while it wasn’t a majority the votes the PC’s got were in the right places and that gave them the most seats in the Legislature.
 Of the 9,888,888 Registered Electors on Lists; 58% of them turned out to vote. There were 29 political parties looking for votes.
 One political wag looked at these signs and said he chose the butter tarts. Libertarian party got 42,918 votes
None of the Above Direct
Democracy Party got 16,186 votes.
INDEPENDENT party got 8644 votes.
Trillium Party got 8,178 votes.
N O P party got 5,802 votes.
Consensus Ontario got 2,684 votes
Freedom Party of Ontario got 2,567 votes.
Ontario Party got 2,310 votes.
Ontario Moderate Party got 2,191 votes.
Communist party got 1,471 votes.
CCP party got 1,234 votes
Stop the New Sex-Ed Agenda party got 1,078 votes
Alliance party got 804 votes.
The New People’s Choice Party of Ontario got 633 votes.
Party for People with Special Needs got 631 votes.
The People party got 626 votes.
Ontario Provincial Confederation of Regions Party got 385 votes.
Stop Climate Change party got 342 votes
Go Vegan got 256 votes.
SRP party got 238 votes.
CAP party got 215 votes.
P.O.T. party got 212 votes.
Multicultural Party of Ontario party got 191 votes.
CEP party got 151 votes
Paupers party got 111 votes.
There were 9,888,888 Registered Electors on Lists; 58% of them turned out to vote.
 It appeared as if there were fewer election signs on the lawns in Burlington. Are the signs useful, do they serve a purpose ? They are not cheap and they eat up a lot of manpower.
 By Pepper Parr
June 12, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a lot a police officer can do from the seat of his cruiser. He has access to a huge range of information from staff at the Communications Centre.
There are however times when the police have to set up a command station in the field. They need space to work in and the ability to communicate with people at several levels of authority.
 Halton Regional Police Mobile Command has two buses – with almost every imaginable piece of equipment- except weapons. There was a time when police had the use of a small trailer they could work out of. The Halton Regional Police now have two buses that can go almost everywhere and set up a command post.
The larger of the two is 32 feet, the small one is 23 feet. The larger unit has yet to have to go into the field on an assignment. The smaller unit has been used a few times.
The two vehicles that are now fully operational and able to move on a couple of minutes notice came in at a cost of $850,000 – and they have everything – including a very small kitchen sink.
 The major Mobile Command bus has an aerial with cameras, a satellite dish and a wall that slides out when the vehicle gets into operation. The two vehicles have a civilian whose full time job is to keep the buses ready to go at a moment’s notice and to ensure that the technology inside the buses is always ready to go. Equipment glitches aren’t tolerated.
The Regional police went through a six month exercise to determine just what there might be or could be in the way of a public safety circumstance and what would be needed in terms of equipment and technology to meet the situation.
Each of the business units was asked what they saw as the need and what they felt was needed.
The Region of Halton is a large sprawling jurisdiction that runs from north of highway 401 to Lake Ontario with Hamilton on the west and the Region of Peel on the east.
Rail lines and the busiest highway in the province run through the top part of the Region.
A team of six people spent six months researching the need and then determining what was needed in the way of equipment.
The decision was to have two vehicles – both were custom built based on a standard bus frame. The larger of the two runs on diesel fuel that drives the 300 horse power engine.
The equipment is kept operating with a 16,000 watt generator. When the command unit arrives on a site the driver engages the pop out that extends one side of the vehicle. If you look at the photograph you can see the extension.
 The wall of screens can take a data feed from a number of sources including a twitter feed related to a public safety event. Six different feeds at the same time are possible. The communications include the basic police walkie talkie that broadcasts over a secure network, a standard land line, cell phones and a satellite telephone.
There is an aerial with a camera that can pick up and hold an image more than a football field in length away.
 HRPS Inspector Derek Davis heads up the Mobile Command. To his right here is a satellite phone, a walkie talkie to communicate with police cruisers, a land line and cell lines The larger of the two command vehicles can hold 9 people at consoles and an additional four people working inside the bus.
There is every imaginable piece of communications equipment with large screens everywhere.
The main operations table is about the size of a door with a huge screen that works with Google maps and can zoom in and out. A command officer can mark off an area and zoom in for a tighter look.
The feed from the camera can be brought to any one of the screens giving everyone in the vehicle a very close look at what is happening live outside the bus.
The technology can have eight different data feeds coming in at the same time. The operator can switch from one data feed to another and if need be split a screen to increase the amount of information in front of the people managing the situation.
 A table with a screen the size of a door can take a data feed from a number of sources. Google maps allows the police to zoom in and out and isolate an area and send the image to others. The second smaller mobile command is intended to handle situations in the field where a police negotiator is required.
The Regional police can be in instant communication with the OPP, the RCMP and the Canadian Armed forces if necessary.
They plug in to the Regions 911 communications centre giving them access to every piece of information you can imagine and then some you wouldn’t think of.
The police are fully conversant with social media and are able to link into twitter feeds to keep up with what the public is saying in the online world.
 The seating area in Mobile 2 – intended for use when a negotiator is required and as a back up. The mobile command bus doesn’t use keys to access the vehicle – entry is via a card – with just the people who might need to get into the vehicle having access.
There is a video screen and a small desk built into the outside of the bus so that people who do not have to be inside still have access to data and visual information.
In an age where information is what solves crimes and allows people to manage situations where public safety is the issue these two mobile commands will serve the public very well.
 By Staff
June 12th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
A stabbing outside The Poacher on Pearl Street in the downtown area of the City has police looking for Daniel Richard FLENNIKEN, a 23 years old Waterdown resident.
 The Poacher – a pub on Pearl Street On Tuesday June 12, 2018, at 12:45 am, two adult male persons were outside ‘The Poacher” pub located on Pearl Street in the City of Burlington. Both male persons were known to each other and got into a disagreement that resulted in a physical altercation.
During the altercation the male victim (22 years old) was stabbed in the left side of his chest. The culprit (23 years old) then ran away from the scene. At this time it is not known if it was a knife or other some other type of edged weapon or tool used in the stabbing.
The 22 year old male victim was taken by emergency medical services to the Hamilton General Hospital. It was determined that the victim had a small puncture to his lung on the left side of his chest. The victim is in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.
The male culprit has been identified as:
 Daniel Richard FLENNIKEN (23 years old) of Waterdown, Ontario
FLENNIKEN is presently wanted for the offences of Assault causing bodily harm and Assault with a weapon. The Halton Regional Police Service is encouraging Mr. FLENNIKEN to seek legal advice and turn himself into custody.
Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to contact Detective Jared MCLEOD of the Burlington Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905.825.4747 Ext. 2385 or Ext. 2316.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something?”
Contact Crime Stoppers at 1.800.222.8477 (TIPS), or through the web at: www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca
By Staff
June 11th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The City has almost completed the building of a new multi-use pathway in downtown Burlington that includes public art and a small area where groups can gather.
 The new open space is inviting – the public art is certainly different. There are also a number of benches that are the most uncomfortable sitting places you can be imagine. It is almost as if they didn’t want anyone to sit on them. The edges are sharp and there is no back support.
 This bench was not made for comfort.  This is a park bench that invites you to sit and tarry awhile. These are located on the Toronto waterfront. The pathway itself is rather pleasant – running east/west, the new connection will cut across the heart of downtown Burlington. Similar to the promenade at Spencer Smith Park, the new pathway will accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists safely and provide access to other walkways, shops and restaurants along its length.
Paving materials, textures, urban trees, shade structures, site furnishings (except for those benches) and public art have been used along the route to make it friendly for both pedestrians and cyclists.
 Looking west from Pearl, the pathway runs to Brant Street – quite pleasant. The creation of the pathway and the open space did reduce the number of parking spaces – all part of the city’s program to discourage downtown parking.
That decision is going to come back and bite in the derriere.
 By Staff
June 11th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Sound of Music did their two day Kick Off event with a number of ticketed events.
The crowds are definitely smaller for these ticketed events and the Sound of Music people are still fine tuning the content.
 The crowds were a little on the sparse side – was it the weather, the tickets prices or the bands chosen. David Miller has headed up the organization as Executive Director since 2007. The longer term objective is to make the event a destination by bringing the best of what they see as what an audience wants. “We won’t be bringing Beyonce to Burlington but we do plan on bringing first class talent to the city” said Miller.
 If you wanted to buy a beer and walk around with the can in your hand you needed a wrist band – all you had to do was prove you were over 18 or under 30. Much of the public wants the festival to be totally free, which Miller admits would be great, ”but the reality is that these events are expensive to mount and maintain and there are only so many sponsorships available”.
He adds that “It costs $150,000 to put up one of those main stages.”
 For an additional fee you could stand inside an enclosure and give your ear drums a beating. Ticket sales this year were off a bit from last year.
The SoM have found a number of interesting ways to add to the revenue stream. The created a space directly in front of the stage where people can stand right at the edge and look into the eyes of the players.
 For a fee you could sit in the “Sweet Seats” – shaded by an awning with a great view of the bands. They created a section called Sweet Seats where people can, for a fee, sit on a sheltered raised stage and enjoy food and a beverage.
There is also a party tent that can be used by corporations who want to entertain and hear the music, enjoy a beverage and perhaps do some business.
Perhaps the most appreciated addition is the ability for people to buy can of beer and walk around the enclosed area chatting with friends and enjoy a drink.
There are plenty of security people about to ensure that no one overdoes the imbibing.
 Security was all over the place – allowing people to buy a can of beer and walk around the enclosed grounds was something that was not going to get out of hand. Security was perhaps the thing that strikes one the most. There were a number of check points and dozens of people wearing security vests.
Better than letting anything get out of control – but it just didn’t feel like a pleasant music festival.
One Burlington resident wrote the Gazette saying he lived two km from the site and said he found the music very intrusive this year asking if the music was louder this year than in the past.
The sound of music has been part of the city for 39 years – the organizers tinker with the content and do work hard to keep everyone happy.
By Staff
June 11th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Development begins to take place on a part of Brant Street that isn’t downtown downtown. This one is closer to Fairview
A 91 unit four-storey stacked townhouse development with 137 parking spaces below grade, and five above will be shown at an open house Wednesday June 27, 7pm, at the Burlington Public Library for the redevelopment of 849 and 855 Brant Street, south of Fairview
 Less than a block to the east the Molinaro Group is completing the construction of the first three of the five high rise towers that will be on the site. The project would require both an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment. The meeting is hosted by the applicants,TRG (Brant-Fairview), an affiliate of The Rosseau Group, to seek public input prior to filing an application.
The site has at least one perfectly good office building in place but the rule of getting the most out of a piece of land has come into play in Burlington.
In the illustration one can see the location of the Discovery Ford dealership on the west side of Brant.
A number of years ago the then city planner held a meeting of all the automotive dealerships in the city to talk about how property might be developed in the future. At the time none of the automotive people were interested in thinking in terms of redeveloping their locations. Discovery Ford recently completed a major upgrade of their site with newer signage and upgrade of the outside of the building
Candidate for the Office of Mayor Marianne Meed Ward will be attending.
By Pepper Parr
June 11th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was the schools 50th anniversary and something the community wanted to celebrate.
The vision came from the mind of Carie DeMunck, a parent and lead organizer for the event.
The community wanted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pauline Johnson elementary school that was named after the celebrated Indigenous poet, author and actress who in her time was a major writer and entertainer.
DeMunck was able to contact the founding principal and a number of the teachers who opened the school, which at the time, was one of the first fully open concept schools in the province.
 Founding principal Doug Campbell with Mayor Rick Goldring and Director of Education Stuart Miller There were no walls, no corridors just one large open space. It was like one of those traditional one room schools in the rural parts of the province. Doug Campbell said that he had two hats; one as principal of the school and the other as tour guide. Every senior educator in the province wanted to see what an open concept school looked like and how it operated.
The open concept idea lasted five years – then the school began to expand and is now at the point where it has three portables at the back of the building.
Campbell was pretty curt with his comments on the decision to revert to a more traditional school set up. The open concept sounded as if it was the highlight of his career.
DeMunck explained to the Gazette when she was first in touch with us that “Our School is having its 50th Anniversary Celebration on Friday June 8th and 9th of this year. There was to be an official opening of the two time capsules, and a tree dedication.
Past principals, the Mayor of Burlington, and members of Six Nations were part of the audience.
The school gymnasium was filled with the elementary level students who were surprisingly quiet and well behaved.
A student choir sang one of the Pauline Johnson songs: The Land of the Silver Birch.
 The 25th anniversary time capsule.  The two time capsules open during the Friday celebration of the schools 50th anniversary. The opening of the time capsules was a highlight. However it was what the students wanted to put in the time capsule that was going to be created on the celebration of the 50th anniversary.
Students from each grade level trooped to the front of the audience and read out or displayed what their grade wanted put in the capsule. It was going to be considerably more robust than what had been put in on the 25th anniversary and by the millennial students.
 Several students with their poster telling the Pauline Johnson story as they understand it.  Teacher holds up the Pauline Johnson poster prepared by a class of older elementary school students. The two capsules were at one point placed outdoors, then moved inside the building where they were placed in an air duct where they gathered dust but were certainly kept dry. Schools in Ontario for the most part do not have corners stones.
 Pauline Johnson public school students taking part in a tree dedication to mark the 50th anniversary of their school. On Saturday there was a BBQ and a public reunion for alumni who have attended the school since the opening in 1968.
Background link:
Who was Pauline Johnson?
 By Staff
June 10th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 Councillor Blair Lancaster Blair Lancaster was re-elected for her second term to the Board of Directors, Ontario Caucus for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Halifax.
FCM has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901 and plays an important role in advocating to ensure the needs of municipalities are reflected in federal policies and programs.
Lancaster is the city council member for ward 6 and a member of Regional Council.
Lancaster has filed nomination papers and will be seeking election to a third term of office.
By Staff
June 10th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Citizens taking care of their community.
On May 28th 2018 at approximately 7:35 AM, several observant citizens reported suspicious activity around a vehicle in the area of Weslock Common and Singleton Common (Alton Community) in the City of Burlington.
 Officers responded and located a man that had been seen by the citizens exiting the vehicle. A subsequent investigation into the vehicle revealed it had been stolen from a Marion Court Burlington driveway on May 26th 2018. Officers also observed a significant number of tools which investigators later identified as being stolen from several residential garage break and enters on Old York Road in Burlington.
Dustin Mark GALLAGHER (34-yrs) of No Fixed Address was arrested and held for bail. He will appear next for a video remand on June 11th 2018 charged with the following offences:
• Break, enter & theft (two counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
• Fail to comply with probation (two counts)
Investigators are grateful to the citizens that took the initiative to report suspicious observations that led to this successful outcome and encourage others to do the same to help keep our community safe.
Anyone with information on these crimes is encouraged to contact Detective Clay Gillis of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2307.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See Something? Hear Something? Know Something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca .
 By Staff
June 10th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 There appears to be some wind behind the Burlington Herd as the move through the 100th season of the InterCounty Baseball League.
Saturday afternoon at Nelson Park the Herd took the game 10-1 over the Brantford Sox that included a Grand Slam by Justin Gideon who cleared the bases with a grand slam in the eighth inning to blow the game open as the Herd improved to 2-9.
 Burlington’s lead-off hitter Justin Gideon Burlington’s leadoff hitter also walked, stole a base and scored three times.
Andrew Mercier went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run, Reese O’Farrell drove in a pair of runs, and Nolan Pettipiece singled twice, scored twice and had an RBI.
Scott Plaza (1-1) picked up the win, going seven innings and allowing a run on four hits. He walked one and struck out five.
Ricky Murray went 3-for-4 for the Red Sox, who dropped to 1-6. Nic Burdett’s sacrifice fly scored Wilson Soriano in the top of the first.
Euclides Leyer (0-2) took the loss, giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits over five innings. Leyer walked four and struck out six.
In Guelph the Royal snapped their four-game losing streak
Adam Rossit singled home Jeff MacLeod to give the Guelph Royals a 4-3 walk-off win over the Barrie Baycats Saturday afternoon at David E. Hastings Stadium.
MacLeod doubled with one out and scored on Rossit’s hit two pitches later as Guelph (4-6) snapped a four-game losing streak. Rossit finished with three hits and also scored once.
Royals slugger Sean Reilly went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
Yunior Yambatis (2-1) went the distance, scattering three runs on eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
For Barrie, Kevin Atkinson and Brandon Dhue each singled, doubled and had an RBI. Parker Walker also had two hits.
Jaspreet Shergill (0-1) took the loss, giving up a run on two hits in 1.1 innings. Matthew St. Kitts started and went four innings, allowing three runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
The Baycats dropped to 5-6 with their fourth straight defeat.
Future games
Sunday, June 10
London at Brantford, 2 p.m.
Burlington at Toronto, 2 p.m.
Guelph at Kitchener, 2 p.m.
Barrie at Hamilton, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 12
Brantford at Guelph, 7:30 p.m.
 By Pepper Parr
June 9th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a resounding win.
Given the chaos that Doug Ford faced when he was made leader of the party his win can only be described as incredible.
The people who voted wanted a change and this has certainly been a change.
The voter turnout is reported to have been 58%, the highest the province has seen in 20 years. One canno argue with results like that.
The voters made decisions and the joy in the various halls where the celebrations took place echoed what people wanted.
 Jane McKenna will become the MPP for Burlington, this time as the member of a government. Burlington is now back to being a blue city. Jane McKenna is once again a member of the provincial legislature and this time she is a member of the government. Whatever Ms McKenna has in the way of ideas and aspirations can now come to the surface.
Time will tell what kind of a contribution she is going to make.
Today, she is to be congratulated for her win.
Eleanor McMahon now ends her career as a politician.
The city did see two very good new candidates: Alvin Tedjo brought a fresh approach for the Liberals and Andrew Drummond was a welcome surprise for the New Democrats. One hopes they stick around.
Time to move on and get on with the business of creating a new government and getting used to the idea that the change the voters wanted has begun.
Will the change we saw take place last night be repeated in October at city hall? And if they are will they be as resounding?
Salt with Pepper is the reflections, musings and opinions of the Gazette publisher.
 By Pepper Parr
June 9th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Today it is Mike Wallace’s turn to take the drive for a cup of coffee with James Burchill in his Smart Car.
These 15 minute or so drives and the conversation that takes place or so revealing. Run side by side with the conversation that Burchill did with Rick Goldring a number of weeks ago the differences in style and approach to issues are telling.
The beauty of having these on line is that you can go back and listen to what is said again and again. In the Mike Wallace we learn that his most favourite past time is watching football – any kind of football; pro levels, college and even high school. Wallace revealed that he would like to referee high school football when he retires.
All 15 minutes are viewable here.
The drive Burchill took with Rick Goldring can be seen HERE
 By Ray Rivers
June 8th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was never in doubt. Actually the PCs started winning the Ontario election two years ago when Ontario got bored with the Liberals and their leader and turned to the PC’s as their preferred agent of change. So this was probably the most predictable election in the province’s history. And around 40% of the 59% of eligible voters who turned up to vote gave Doug Ford the leash, allowing him to lead Ontario into a new direction. ‘Help is here’ and ‘a new day has dawned’, the province has voted to be ‘turned around’ and become ‘prosperous’ as the slogans go.
 But beyond the slogans there is little sign of how we get to that bright new day being promised. As the campaign evolved I became more negative about Mr. Ford, worried about his lack of experience in government and his knowledge of the issues as well as his ability to work with others and provide leadership. But the people have spoken and I hope my fears will prove unfounded and Mr. Ford will do the job so many Ontario voters trusted him to do.
Ontario has a special place in Canada. As the most populous province, we have a particular leadership role, one Ontario has always played, particularly in keeping the country together given its historical relationship with Quebec. It would be helpful in that regard if Mr. Ford would become competent enough to utter at least a few phrases of Canada’s other official language.
We watch the friction between B.C. and Alberta, as each jurisdiction focuses on it’s own needs/wants at the expense of the other, and see how communication has broken down even when they both speak the same language. Parochialism is a destructive force for a union when the greater good is sacrificed for political interest.
Mr. Ford’s first task after assembling a cabinet, which should not be hard given the number of experienced and talented people newly (re)elected, is to bring in a budget. As we recall he had made the most expensive promises of all on the campaign trail, but was alone in not having presented a fully costed platform. That will give him a perfect opportunity to be virtually unconstrained in drafting his first budget, arguably the most important of his electoral term and the one which will ultimately define him.
 Doug Ford – now he needs to come up with a budget. The Tories had promised to do little on the environmental file except clean up litter. In fact they have committed to dismantle climate change measures put in place by the previous government, including the cap and trade carbon tax, the green Ontario incentives and the renewable energy contracts. One can only hope that this there are enough progressives in Mr. Ford’s caucus to move him beyond this kind of regressive positioning. It is of some small comfort in that light that Ontario has elected its first Green Party MMP – from the once Royal City of Guelph.
Of course we all wish Mr. Ford success and offer our support. How he performs this new job affects us all and may very well impact his ambition to one day become the prime minister of this wonderful nation, or at least be re-elected. Despite all the campaign misinformation, he inherits a province with a near full employment economy, an impressive environmental record and the most progressive slate of social support programs in our history. Mr. Ford also inherits the ‘largest subnational debt’ in the world – one he has promised to do something about.
 Ray Rivers writes regularly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
By Staff
June 7th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
 It finally happened – the Burlington Herd recorded their first win of the season when they took a 6-3 game against the Guelph Royals Tuesday night at David E. Hastings Stadium.
It was the teams 9th game of the season.
Herd leadoff hitter Justin Gideon went 3-for-4 with two singles, a triple, two runs and an RBI. Mattingly Romanin drove in a run and scored twice, Nolan Pettipiece had two hits and two runs, and Andrew Mercier had an RBI.
Casey Bouillere-Howard (1-0) picked up the win in relief, giving up a run on four hits in 6.2 innings. He walked one and struck out three. Tyler Herr struck out all four batters he faced for his first save.
Derek Zwolinski started and allowed two runs on one hit with four walks in an inning before he was pulled after facing four batters in the second.
Justin Interisano went 2-for-4 with a solo home run for the Royals, who dropped to 3-5. Toure Sinclair singled twice and scored once, while Matthew Pilarczik and William Heurter each had an RBI.
Edwin Javier (1-1) took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits over seven innings. He walked five and struck out 11.
Panthers past Baycats
Noelvis Entenza threw seven scoreless innings to lead the Kitchener Panthers to a 5-0 win over the Barrie Baycats Tuesday night at Coates Stadium.
Entenza (2-0) scattered four hits and walked three with four strikeouts.
Offensively, Tanner Nivins hit a two-run blast in the Panthers’ three-run fifth inning. Brian Burton went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run, while Mike Andrulis had the other RBI.
Kyle DeGrace and Brandon Dhue had two hits apiece for the Baycats.
Santos Arias (1-1) took the loss, giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out two.
Kitchener improved to 7-3, and Barrie fell to 5-3.
By Pepper Parr
June 7th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Now it is all in your hands.
 We paid for this right with the lives of many of our sons and fathers – and some of our sisters and mothers as well. The right we have to choose who governs us has been expensive. We paid for this right with the lives of many of our sons and fathers – and some of our sisters and mothers as well.
They are depending on us to make wise choices; to not let our emotions or ideologies get in the way of important decisions.
The government we have this morning is not the government we are going to have tomorrow morning. The government we had lost the right to govern because they failed to listen and to understand what it is we wanted.
We may not have been all that clear on letting them know just what it is we do want.
The people who put a mark on a ballot are never wrong.
Just make sure that you are one of the people putting a mark on a ballot. Think hard and go with what you believe is best for the society you are the most important part of.
Going forward you get to decide what you think is best for all of us.
Salt with Pepper is the opinions, thoughts and reflections of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette.
 By Staff
June 6th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
If you thought the million dollar plus homes were all going to be in the downtown core – cast your eyes east and take a look at what the ADI Development group has planned for a property close to the upgraded Burloak Waterfront Park
They are now marketing “an exclusive, private enclave of six luxurious, London manor inspired townhomes on the prestigious Lakeshore Road across from Lake Ontario and Burloak Waterfront Park.”
 “Hear the sounds of the calming waves while you breathe in the Lakefront breeze. Soak in the serenity while relaxing on your rooftop terrace, whether you are entertaining friends, or enjoying a good book and a glass of wine while your skin soaks in the warmth of the sun.”
For $1.39 million they are offering 2 and 3-bedroom plans with 2 car garages and exquisite, luxe finishes. That $139 million is the starting point.
By Staff
June 6th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The announcement in the glossy magazine said:
Valera Condos & Towns is a new pr-construction condo and town-home development by ADI Developments located 4880 Valera Road in Burlington.
Valera Condos & Towns will be 10 storeys with a total of 414 condo units. Estimated completion date is still unknown.
 The soft sell approach – for a development in the Alton Village. Valera Condos & Towns Highlights:
-Serene views of the escarpment
-Surrounded by expansive lush park lands
-Close to shopping, dining and schools
-Nearby parks include Doug Wright Park, Norton Community Park ad Taywood Park.
 The Valera development is basically just across the road from the Thomas Alton Blvd development.
The project was first taken to the community late in March. It is currently in the Technical Review stage – that period of time when the planners pour over the many documents that are filed with an application.
The impact the Valera development and the development on the other side of Thomas Alton Blvd will have on the infrastructure, space in both th elementary and secondary schools s going to stress everything.
 The level of intensification in the Alton Village is putting a lot of pressure on the infrastructure. When the original development took place the bulk of the homes were single family dwellings. Then intensification came to Burlington and growth went up up because there wasn’t much in the way of and left to build on. No dates – just an early soft sell piece.
 The first development the ADI group did in the Alton Village was turned down by city council – it went to the OMB. The city and the developer worked out a settlement. The Alton community is still getting used to the other ADI project that many saw as having the potential to create a traffic nightmare.
In December 2016, city staff recommended approval of an Official Plan and Zoning ByLaw Amendment to permit a residential development by Adi Development Group at 4853 Thomas Alton Blvd. City Council refused the application which resulted in an appeal to the OMB.
During the OMB process, city staff sought and received direction from Burlington City Council to enter into settlement discussions with Adi Development Group.
City staff worked within the settlement parameters approved by Council and subsequently reached an agreement that would:
• Reduce the height of the two towers from 19 storeys to 17 storeys;
• Reduce the total number of units from 612 to 601, thereby reducing the density of the site;
• Replace two rows of stacked townhouse blocks with two mid-rise, six storey apartment blocks, resulting in a reduced building footprint on the site;
• Increase the size of the publicly accessible park on the site from 2,064 square metres to 2,481 square metres;
• Keep the 21 standard townhouse units on the west side of the site adjacent to existing townhouse development.
The proposed Valera development isn’t very far from the Thomas Alton development that was very contentious.
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