 By Staff
September 22, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Representatives from Ontario’s 21 universities will be in Burlington at Assumption Catholic Secondary School on Wednesday, September 27, 2017, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., for the University Information Program (UIP).
Assumption is located at 3230 Woodward Avenue, Burlington L7N 3P1
 Assumption high school location – 3230 Woodward avenue This free event offers high school students from the surrounding area, and their parents, the opportunity to speak in-person with multiple university representatives. Any high school students in the area are welcome to attend, regardless of which school board their school belongs to.
The UIP offers students who are considering an Ontario university the opportunity to learn more about admission requirements, scholarships, residence, the application process, campus life and much more.
The event is designed to assist graduating high school students in making an informed decision before they apply to university in January 2018. The event also aims to help younger students with high school course selections in order to guide them toward future university programs.
Students and their parents will have the opportunity to learn more about Ontario’s 21 universities in either a fair- or presentation-style format, where they can visit each Ontario university representative individually.
 One of the 21 universities that will be in Burlington to tell their story. The UIP is hosted exclusively by Ontario universities. Each university participates in joint visits to high schools across the province each fall. Each UIP event is organized by the University Information Program Working Group with oversite from the Standing Committee on Student Recruitment, and the Ontario University Registrars’ Association.
 By Staff
September 22, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Another house is reported to have been sold in the Beachway, that section of Lakeshore Road that is now the front entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital.
The cohesion that community once had has not held – different property owners are deciding what is in their individual best interests and making the best deal they can with the Regional government that still sticks to its position that all sales transactions are on a willing seller willing buyer basis.
In the photograph set out below the house on the left is the one that is believed to have been sold. The house on the right is in terrible shape – it is the last one of its style n the Burlington side of the canal and is worth at least an effort to preserve the house and move it to some other location.
 The space between the two houses represents three lots that each once had a house on it in what was part of a less prosperous part of town. Councillor Blair Lancaster once described that community as a part of town nice girls didn’t visit. Where is the Heritage Advisory committee on what could be a gem of a home if it were refurbished.
 By Staff
September 22nd, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Mayor put it very well when he said the book tells the story of the Escarpment in the best way he has heard it told, or words to that effect. Mark Zelinski, the author of the book that was being launched said the Mayor was the first person to bulk buy the book.
In an interview with Zelinski he told the Gazette that the Region declined to purchase the book. So much for support for the arts.
The occasion was a book launch that took place at RBG Rock Garden earlier this week. A surprisingly large audience listened to Mark Zelinski show some of the pictures in his lavishly illustrated Heart of Turtle Island.
 Mark Zelinski – photographer, publisher Zelinski did the bulk of the photography and was considerate enough to give public credit to pictures that were taken by others.
 Chezney Martin – writer – dancer – poet Chezney Martin, an Indig-enous dancer and poet,part of the Turtle Clan of the Seneca Nation. She lives at Six Nations.
Chezney wrote a portion of the book and read the short piece – it is worth sharing with you.
“The Thunder Beings are considered the supernatural grandfathers and protectors of the earth. They make appearances in many Haudenosaunee stories and tales. The duties of the Thunder Beings flow from the creation story to the belief that they keep dinosaurs underground with strikes of lightning.
“In this particular story we meet a monstrous snake-like beast conjured by witchcraft that decided to live within the Niagara waterways to kill and eat the Haudenosaunee people.
“Enraged by this, the Thunder Beings sought to dispel the snake with force. This battle raged on for days as thunder rumbled in the sky and lightning struck the serpent until it dissipated into a huge crevice in the earth, the same crevice we call the Niagara Gorge today.
“The Thunder Beings were suspicious as to whether or not the snake had truly been defeated. Rather than leaving the earth they sought shelter behind the waterfall that had been created by the serpent. The Thunder Beings natural rumbles were covered by the sound of falling water, as they awaited any sign that the snake had survived.
“Shortly after this battle, the clouds in the sky cleared to a beautiful day. The sunshine attracted a young woman to lie near the water. She was soon to be wed and wouldn’t have much time to enjoy her alone time once she had children.
“As she closed her eyes, the snake that was shrunken by the strikes of the Thunder Beings slithered out of the water. It is said that the snake entered her body during her rest.
“The young woman was later married and after the first night spent with her new husband, he died. She mourned and decided to try marriage again with the same result. She tried once more to marry, desperately craving a family. Her third husband died.
“Distraught with grief and guilt the young woman decided to end her life. She entered a canoe up stream and allowed the current to carry her to the waterfall.
“Just as her canoe was going to tip over the edge and to the sharp rocks below, the Thunder Beings heard her weeping. They caught her mid-fall, and brought her into their cave behind the water.
“Once inside, the Thunder Beings taught the young woman how to dispel witchcraft as they alleviated her of the snake and destroyed it.
“It is said that the Thunder Beings returned to the clouds. The knowledge passed on to the young woman was brought back to the Haudenosaunee and has been used ever since.
![1-turtle-island-cover-markzelinski.com[1]](https://www.burlingtongazette.ca/wp-content/uploads/1-turtle-island-cover-markzelinski.com1_-300x226.png) A lavishly illustrated book that is worth having and giving as a gift. “This is the story of The Maid of the Mist from the Original People.”
The book is on sale at the Different Drummer or directly from the author. If you are looking for a gift that will be appreciated for years to come – keep the title in mind.
Previously published news story.
 By Pepper Parr
September 22, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
They decided to work as a tag team in the House of Commons during Question Period yesterday.
First Oakville North Burlington MP Pam Damoff stood and asked:
 Oakville Burlington North MP Pam Damoff “Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has stated that he feels he should not be bound by the same ethical standards he demands of others in the House. He may have forgotten that his own party’s changes to the Lobbying Act actually make him a designated public officeholder. This might explain the confusion about the Leader of the Opposition hosting secret fundraisers.
“Could the Minister of Democratic Institutions tell the House what she is doing to pull the curtain on these types of fundraisers?”
 Burlington MP Karina Gould getting her picture taken while former President of the United States addresses the House of Commons. The Minister of Democratic institutions, Karina Gould, the Burlington MP stood up and responded thusly”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians have a right to know about fundraising events attended by party leaders and leadership candidates, as well as the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers. Our legislation will make public the information related to who is going to fundraisers, where and when they are happening, and the amount required to attend.
“We hope the opposition will support this bill in committee so that no opposition party can ever again have their leader hold secret fundraisers.
“Together let us all raise the bar.”
Words to be remembered.
By Staff
September 22, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The last day of summer – and what did we get?
A little on the sticky side but rather nice for the most part – certainly above seasonal norms.
In Jasper, Alberta they got snow.
We no longer have weather – we have climate change.
 Jasper, Alberta on the last day of summer 2017
By Staff
September 21, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Maybe it is because Burlington has all kinds of high volume highways running through the city. Maybe it is because the men and women who make up our fire department decided they didn’t see that many serious fire any one year and decided they would focus on something and be really really good at it.
 Firefighters learning how to take the top off a car. Whichever the Burlington Fire department is as good as it gets in prying people out of badly damaged cars.
The Firefighter Vehicle Rescue Team recently competed and placed in several categories in the North American Vehicle Rescue Challenge hosted by Enfield Fire in Enfield, N.S.
The Burlington team, led by Ryan Stewart, placed first overall and first in Limited Pit, third in Unlimited Pit and first in Rapid Pit categories. Ryan Stewart was named Top Incident Commander and Mark Adams was honoured as Top Medic.
Unlimited Pit: In the unlimited pit you are free to use any tools you wish. Heavy hydraulic cutter and spreaders, pneumatic and electric tools are all permitted.
Limited Pit: In the limited pit, hydraulic tools are not allowed. In some cases not all municipalities have those hydraulic tools on every truck or available at every call. It is also a greater test of tool knowledge, using different tools that can require a greater skill set to operate.
Each team has 20 minutes to complete their work in what first responders refer to as “The Golden Hour”. The golden hour is a one-hour period following traumatic injury during which there is the greatest chances of survival.
Teams from all over the country, as well as teams from New York State, competed in the event that showcased firefighter skills and teamwork in a practical, competitive setting. Vehicle rescue teams use many skills: scene safety, vehicle stabilization, extrication and patient care. Live patients are placed into crushed vehicles in various positions of instability to simulate a real vehicle collision. Teams are given 20 minutes to safely get the patients out of vehicles.
The Burlington Fire Department has been participating in vehicle rescue competitions since 1984. The current team includes team captain Ryan Stewart, team medic Mark Adams and firefighters Chris Viegas, Liam Jewell, Frank Marciello and Scott Wells.
 Dressed for hard work – the Vehicle extraction team that brought winning prizes back to the city from a Nova Scotia based competition. The Vehicle Rescue Team practicing behind Burlington Fire Headquarters – from left to right: Chris Viegas, Frank Marciello, Mark Adams (Medic), Scott Wells, Liam Jewell, Ryan Stewart (Incident Commander) The team trains and fundraises for 10 hours each week to prepare for three weekend events each summer. Stewart returns for a second two-year rotation as captain while this is the first year for half the other members. Team members will spend a maximum of two years on the Vehicle Rescue Team and then other firefighters will be given the chance to experience this highly specialized training.
Burlington’s team trains, travels and competes at no cost to the taxpayer and relies on fundraising to cover expenses. You can help support the team by donating used electronics at fire stations located at 1255 Fairview St., 711 Appleby Line and 4100 Dundas St.
The team also accepts used vehicles for practice. Tax receipts are issued for vehicle donations. For more information, email vehiclerescue@burlington.ca or visit www.burlington.ca/vehiclerescue.
The Fire Department responds to an average of 650 to 700 motor vehicle collisions a year. The vehicle rescue team includes highly trained men and women who use the latest extrication knowledge, training, proven rescue techniques and equipment.
The first extrication competition held in the Province was hosted by the Ontario Fire College in 1984. The first BFD team competed in that competition.
 These guys clean up pretty god. From left to right: The Vehicle Rescue Team with their awards after the closing ceremonies in Enfield, N.S. Frank Marciello, Chris Viegas, Scott Wells, Mark Adams (Medic), Liam Jewell, Ryan Stewart (Incident Commander) Today the team consists of six firefighters who invest their personal time to train and compete. Each team member serves a two-year term. While on the team the firefighters are also tasked with delivering on-duty auto-ex training to their colleagues. This process closes the loop on the individual learning that occurs at the competitive level creating organizational learning for the fire department.
To date, 80 per cent of the department has participated on the vehicle rescue team.
 By Staff
September 21st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Students at Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School have received an award from the Halton Regional Police Service for their work on a Crime Prevention project.
Earlier this year, members of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau and the 3 District Regional Community Mobilization Bureau challenged local students to produce a video for their community with a crime prevention theme. This is the first year the Halton Regional Police Service has implemented this initiative.
 From left to right – Christopher Rosser, Suzanne Pierce, Sergeant Stephen Siomra, Lindsay Hepburn, Detective Constable Jacqueline Ross, Olivia Conn, Shawna Johnson, Colin Crawford, Detective Sergeant Ron Hansen, Detective Phil Vandenbeukel. On September 11, 2017 the winning students attended 30 Division in Burlington to receive an award for their theft awareness video. Halton Regional Police Service would like to congratulate the participating students for their hard work and their help in assisting police in bolstering public safety.
The video – short – less than a minute, Check it out HERE
Crime prevention is the anticipation, recognition and appraisal of crime risk, and taking action to remove or reduce it.
 By Pepper Parr
September 21st, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results for the elementary students in Halton are the highest the Board has every received.
 The Halton District School Board achieved its highest results ever in Grade 3 Reading and Grade 6 Reading and Writing. Halton students continue to perform above the provincial average.
These results are based on assessments completed in the 2016-2017 school year for primary and junior students in Reading, Writing and Mathematics.
 In Grade 3:
• Reading: Results show a three percentage point gain from the previous year in Reading from 79% to 82% of students achieving at or above the provincial standard, while the provincial average is 74%.
• Writing: The results show that 79% of students attained the provincial standard, an increase from 78% last year, while the provincial average is 73%.
• Math: Halton results remain unchanged at 70% compared to the previous year, even though the provincial average dropped one percentage point from last year to 62%.
 In Grade 6:
• Reading: Results increased from the previous year by two percentage points to 87% of all students achieving at or above the provincial standard, while the provincial average remains at 81%. The past five years have seen an overall growth of 5% in Junior Reading.
• Writing: Results show an increase from the previous year from 85% to 86% of all students achieving at or above the provincial standard, while the provincial average decreased to 79%. In the past five years, there has been an overall increase of 6% in Junior Writing.
• Math: Halton math results increased by one percentage point to 57% of students achieving at or above the provincial standard. The provincial average remains unchanged in Grade 6 Mathematics with 50% of students achieving at or above the provincial standard.
While the Board is pleased with the overall EQAO results, having achieved higher than the provincial results in all six categories of the primary and junior assessments, the Halton District School Board recognizes the need to improve, particularly in the area of math.
“While the news is good, we do recognize we have work to do, specifically, Junior Mathematics is an area of growth, as it is for school boards across Ontario,” says Tina Salmini, Superintendent of Education for the Halton District School Board.
“The province has initiated a Renewed Math Strategy and our Board’s Mathematics Improvement Plan is aligned with it. This will remain a key focus for our Board over the next several years.”
This work includes:
• A focus on Mathematics leadership across the Board
• Professional learning to support our teachers in mathematics instruction and assessment
• Investment in high quality resources and training for these resources in every school
 Associate Director of Education, David Boag “We recognize our staff members make a significant impact on students each and every day,” says David Boag, Associate Director for the Halton District School Board. “We applaud our families and students for their hard work, support and partnership. This partnership is acknowledged when we say, ‘Together, we inspire every student to learn, grow and succeed.’”
By Pepper Parr
September 21, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The data gathered province wide by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) shows Halton District School Board students outperforming the province in Grade 9 Academic and Applied Mathematics, and on the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).
Secondary students must write the OSSLT as a requirement of graduation.
For Grade 9 Math, there are different assessments for students in the academic and applied courses. On the Grade 9 Academic Math assessment, 92% of students achieved the provincial standard, which is a 2% increase from the previous year’s result. The provincial average remained the same at 83% of students achieving the provincial standard.
 Halton students are doing well in the academic mathematics program. There was some slippage in the applied mathematics program. No comment from the Board on where the slippage is taking place or why the slippage is taking place. While Halton is above the provincial average – grades just above 50% are barely above a pass. In total, there were 3,484 students enrolled in the Academic Math course in 2016-2017.
For the 619 students in the Applied Math course, 52% attained the provincial standard in 2016-2017, a three percentage point decrease from the previous year. Since last year, the provincial average decreased by one percentage point from 45% to 44%.
 The OSSLT results for 2016-2017 were also released today. The Halton District School Board’s success rate for students writing the test for the first time decreased by one percentage point to 87%, while the provincial average remained the same as last year at 81%. The overall results for the OSSLT demonstrate that students in Halton continue to have strong literacy skills.
Julie Hunt Gibbons, Superintendent of Education commented that: “We continued to have strong results on the Grade 9 Academic Math and Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test.” She added “We will continue to implement our Math strategy with a specific focus for improvement on Grade 9 Applied Math achievement.”
That number of 619 students seems kind of low for a Board of Education that has 18,500 + secondary students. Are enough of our students getting the math proficiency they need?
Wonder too what the gender split is for those 619 students.
 By Ray Rivers
September 20, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Were they set up or just naive? To be a candidate for the Ontario Liberal Party one has to be approved by the Leader of the Party. So how did this by-election in Sudbury become such a mess?
Liberal candidate Andrew Olivier had narrowly missed winning a Sudbury seat in the 2014 provincial general election. So when the seat became vacant a year later, he naturally assumed he’d be the automatic choice for the party. But the Premier had promised the nomination to someone else, a better candidate in her mind, Glenn Thibeault, the federal NDP member for the riding who was willing to leave the federal arena and change parties, presumably for a good reason.
 Ontario Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault with Burlington Hydro president Gerry Smallegange looking over the map showing where the outages were during the 2015 snow storm. Thibeault won the election handily, slipping past the NDP provincial candidate and trouncing Olivier, who had no choice but to run as an independent. Thibeault must have met the Premier’s expectations because she later moved him into her Cabinet as energy minister, giving him the hot energy file and the job of developing the province’s long term energy plan.
No doubt Olivier was sore about not having got the nod to run a second time under the red banner, but under provisions of the Liberal Party’s constitution the leader is pretty much allowed to appoint any candidate she chooses, especially in a by-election. And then, as we know, hell hath no fury like a spurned political candidate. So somebody in the Party needed to talk him down in case he walked right out of the Liberal camp with all his supporters. And that is when it all got messy.
 Pat Sorbara, major force in the Premier’s office has to resign and defend herself in a Sudbury court room And when the Premier’s chief of staff, Pat Sorbara, and a local Liberal organizer, Gerry Lougheed, spoke with Olivier, he recorded their conversations. He claims they had offered him a job or appointment. But instead of being placated by their apparent concern for his economic future, he took his recordings to the nearest cop shop.
Apparently Olivier knew something they hadn’t considered. There is a 1998 provision of the Ontario Elections Act….”96.1 No person shall, directly or indirectly, (e) give, procure or promise or agree to procure an office or employment to induce a person to become a candidate, refrain from becoming a candidate or withdraw his or her candidacy. 1998, c. 9, s. 44.”
Provincial MPPs may be elected locally and they are expected to serve their local electorate. But a Cabinet minister governs for the entire province and not just his/her constituency. And that can be a good reason for a party leader to have the authority to appoint a candidate.
Nomination meetings can become popularity contests where family and friends, and in some cases a whole community arrive in droves. And this wave of ‘instant’ party members can propel the favourite son or daughter on to victory as the chosen nominee. ‘Instant’ because they weren’t party members before this event, nor likely will be again.
None of this should imply that the most popular candidate is not the best or the best qualified. But just in case, the party always vets, the Leader has the final say and sometimes she/he appoints rather than allow a nomination meeting. The Premier wanted Thibeault for her Cabinet – her choice, her call. Anyone who meets the basic qualifications can run for provincial office, but those running under a party’s banner need to be blessed by the leader.
 Liberal party organizer in Sudbury – Gerry Lougheed Sorbara and Lougheed have been criminally charged and the case is now before a judge. There will be a determination as to whether what the party did amounted to bribery or whether the accused were just offering Olivier a gesture, a consolation prize after the fact. Even if the judge dismisses the charges, this will be an important lesson and precedent for the future.
Apparently Olivier wasn’t offered public service employment – which requires merit testing – or even a specific job or appointment at all. But the point is that Sorbara and Lougheed didn’t even need to talk with him, and you can bet they wish they hadn’t. The upshot, no matter how the judge rules, is that the Premier and her party will take a hit for something that could have and should have been avoided.
 Telephone calls that didn’t ave t be made were made – might cost Premier Wynne the June 2018 election. The one thing that might keep her in office is the quality of the other choices. Olivier stands to gain little if anything out of this case except the personal satisfaction of knowing that he has cost the accused their jobs and knowing that he may have hurt the Premier as she approaches another election next year. The notoriety of the case may help or hurt him with his political ambitions. And who knows, one day he may get to sit in the Pink Palace? But it won’t be as a Liberal.
 Ray 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 in 1995. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Ontario Elections Act – Ontario Liberal Constitution – Sudbury Riding –
Legality of Recording Evidence – Timeline
By Staff
September 20, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The numbers are embarrassing.
This is not what decent people do.
The Regional police release the top traffic offences statistics gathered during the 2017 Traffic Unit’s Project Safe Start. The numbers reflect what drivers were doing as the new school year kicked off in Halton.
 The message is pretty clear. If we continue to disobey the rules there will come a time when a student will be under the wheels of a car. For more than ten years, Project Safe Start has been a highly visible reminder to drivers in Halton that children are back in school. Project Safe Start stresses the need to slow down in and around school zones, watch for pedestrians and pay attention to school crossing guards escorting children across busy intersections.
Over the course of the 2017 two week campaign, which ran from August 28 to September 8, Top Traffic Offences Halton Regional Police Project Safe Start 2017Halton Regional Police officers focused on a number of unsafe driving behaviours. The top traffic offences observed by police were:
Speeding (1,042 charges),
Disobeying stop signs (480 charges) and
Distracted driving (126 charges).
Those distracted driving charges will become a lot more expensive upon conviction when pending legislation is passed. If you are going to endanger people by using your cell phone while you drive – make sure you have taxi money in your pocket or purse – you may not get to drive your car home.
HRPS officers issued a total of 2,482 Provincial Offence Notices related to Project Safe Start 2017. This is a slight increase compared to the 2,299 Provincial Offence Notices issued during Project Safe Start in 2016. Police also issued 736 warnings to drivers in 2017.
HRPS also rolled out an aggressive social media campaign as part of the road safety initiative. Traffic messages and rules of the road were posted online every day. The messages gathered more than 137,000 impressions online.
“Traffic safety begins with the individual choices each driver makes.” said Sergeant Ryan Snow, Traffic Services Unit. “When drivers comply with the rules of the road, everyone wins and gets to go home safely.”
Residents are reminded that they can file driving complaints or request enforcement of a particular area online at www.haltonpolice.ca under Most Requested Information -> Roadwatch or Traffic Complaints respectively. Criminal/dangerous driving should be reported immediately by calling 9-1-1
 By Staff
September 20, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board has gotten into the broadcasting business.
Their public meetings are web cast live and saved to a Facebook channel.
 That channel is
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxrQzpKPvwi2QHRhSF4zffA
Book mark it.
For everything BEFORE September 1st, 2017 – videos of Board meetings are at:
https://www.hdsb.ca/our-board/Pages/Board%20of%20Trustees/Board-agenda-and-minutes.aspx
 By Staff
September 20, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
This arrest didn’t take long.
Bank robbery took place on Monday and by Wednesday a suspect was behind bars for holding up the TD Bank on Plains Road.
 Jason Hugh BUICK was recognized by far too many police officers. The male arrested, Jason Hugh BUICK (48-years-old) of Hamilton was identified with assistance from the Hamilton Police Service Break and Enter, Auto Theft and Robbery (BEAR) Unit and the O.P.P led Repeat Offenders Parole Enforcement (ROPE) Squad whose members recognized the suspect from the CCTV images obtained from the TD Bank.
On September 20th 2017 at approximately 7:00 AM members of the ROPE Squad arrested BUICK in Hamilton while members of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau executed a search warrant at an apartment on Surrey Lane in Burlington where the knife, sunglasses and articles of clothing work during the robbery were located. Investigators have also recovered some of the money from the robbery.
BUICK will appear in Milton Bail Court on September 21st 2017 charged with robbery (two counts), wearing a disguise during the commission of an indictable offence and assault with a weapon (two counts).
Anyone with information regarding this robbery is asked to contact Detective Phil Vandenbeukel of Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Robbery Team at 905-825-4747 ext. 2343. Tips can be forwarded to Crime Stoppers; “See Something, Hear Something, Say Something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.crimestoppers.ca or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Staff
September 20th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
That Sesquicentennial we celebrated on Canada Day has become a gift that just keeps on giving for the federal political class.
 Pam Damoff, MP for Oakville North-Burlington. Pam Damoff the Member of Parliament for Oakville North-Burlington has announced the intention to award 15 special Canada 150 Sesquicentennial Pins to outstanding residents of her riding who positively impact and influence the community.
In the media release sent out Damoff invites all residents of Oakville North-Burlington to nominate a distinguished individual for the Sesquicentennial Citizenship Award.
Successful nominees will be individuals who strive to make a positive difference in the community, whether it is through devoted advocacy or dedication to an organization, in one or more of four main categories: environmental stewardship, youth engagement, diversity and inclusion and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
 Damoff is known for her annual New Year’s Day Polar dip. Successful nominees will be presented with a Canada 150 Sesquicentennial Pin given to MP Damoff by the Minister of Heritage Mélanie Joly. Consisting of the Canada 150 logo and a piece of the original copper which covered the roofs of Canada’s Parliament from 1918 to 1996, Sesquicentennial pins are a special keepsake to commemorate this important milestone in Canadian history.
The unique pins were made with the participation of Under One Roof, an initiative of the Ottawa-Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, and crafted with the help of people with developmental disabilities.
 Nominations will be accepted from Wednesday, September 20 to Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 5pm EST. Visit www.MP Damoff.ca to nominate someone today. You will be asked to include a short paragraph or two outlining how the candidate being nominated meets the above criteria.
Nominees can be of any age. All residents of Oakville North-Burlington will be considered.
Oakville North-Burlington’s Canada 150 Sesquicentennial Citizenship Awards will be presented at a special ceremony on November 16, 2017.
By Pepper Parr
September 20th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It was pretty close to a last minute idea for the Lakeshore Rotary people who put on the annual RibFest – they’ve been doing that for decades.
They had never done a 50/50 draw before – it sounded like a good idea – so they went for it.
It was an astounding success – with less than nothing in the way of promotion the thing just took off – the line ups on the Sunday and Monday were too long for some people – they gave up and went home.
 Lisa Wilson preps her husband Dave for his big moment – accepting a cheque for $25,285 – his share of the 50/50 raffle the rotary ran during RibFest. David Wilson didn’t give up.
Wilson, a Hamilton resident, was at Ribfest and bought a ticket on the Friday . He was with a bunch of his friends who were Ribbers – wilson is a Ribber himself – runs Bibs and has been taking part in the Burlington event for at lat ten years.
He spent $20 in 50/50 tickets – that turned out to be a heck of an investment.
When he got the telephone call saying he had wone he was sure it was a prank call from one of his Ribber buddies
Dave and his wife Lisa attended the Rotary lunch yesterday to accept their cheque. Dave, who couldn’t stop smiling, was thoroughly enjoying himself.
 David Wilson with his wife Lisa and a big cheque The Rotary got their permit to hold the event days before the RibFest opened. They had to call in every member they could find to sell the tickets – but sell then they did – $50,570 worth of tickets of which Dave Wilson got $25,285
The Rotary will certainly be doing this event next year.
The winning ticket is drawn randomly from all the tickets that are purchased and the winner has to be able to identify themselves as the person whose name is on the ticket.
The Lakeshore Rotary will certainly be doing this again next year.
 By Staff
September 19th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Spring Gardens Road, near Valley Inn Road, will be closed for road work from Monday, September 25 to Friday, November 17, 2017.
For more information, contact Frank Vuk
frank.vuk@burlington.ca
 By Staff
September 19th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) will be hosting the 10th Annual Parent Engagement Conference on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Craig Kielburger Secondary School in Milton (1151 Ferguson Drive). The theme of the conference, held from 8:15 a.m. – 2:40 p.m., will be, 21st Century Student Success: Creating a Culture of Equity, Inclusion & Well-Being. Registration is open.
This year’s conference features keynote speaker Candy Palmater (Canadian activist, comedian and award-winning TV and CBC radio personality) on ‘The Road Less Travelled: Educational Leadership in a Diverse World’.
 Candy Palmater, social activist and a great entertainer. She is worth the drive to Milton From student council president in a small rural high school and valedictorian of her law school class to obtaining a Master of Education and appearing in a national TV show, Palmater’s accomplishments are unique and inspiring. She has made strides in public service at the federal and provincial level, delving into issues around self-acceptance and diversity in her motivational talks and comedy routines. She will, through words of guidance and personal stories, share her passionate perspective on equity, self- acceptance and inclusivity.
The theme of this year’s PIC conference will provide a variety of engaging workshops that address topics such as mathematics, literacy, promoting positive mental health for students, career pathways, diversity and healthy friendships.
 The Halton District School Board recognizes the important role parents play in the development of their children and in their success at school. The annual PIC conference provides parents/guardians with the opportunity to network, share ideas, offer input and enjoy informative presentations on various education related topics throughout the school year.
No mention in the media release on how parents can protect the schools they have in their neighbourhoods
Registration form
By Staff
September 19th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Every teacher in the Region realizes that if a student is hungry, if they did not have a breakfast the chances of that student absorbing what is being taught are rather slim
And there are students at high schools in Burlington who get to school without a full breakfast in their stomachs.
 Halton Learning Foundation executive offices. The Halton Learning Foundation was created to develop a source of funds to fill these gaps in the lives of students.
Nicole, is a high school student who lives with her father who is financially limited.
Her mother lives in a care facility due to her very high medical needs.
Nicole works at a part time job to help support the family financially, while also juggling her school work.
Funds from Halton Learning Foundation help Nicole purchase food for school lunches, as well as toiletries.
Her need was identified by teacher at her school. The request for funding is sent to the Foundation by the school principal.
 Halton Learning Foundation Executive Director Lesley Mansfield. Lesley Mansfield, the Executive Director of the Foundation, is on top of every request for financial support. “If the need is desperate we can have funds in the hands of a student before 3:00 pm if we are made aware of the need by 9:00 am”.
Last school year the Foundation met 780 requests for financial support; the year before that the number was 657 requests – a year over year increase of 17%. Mansfield does not expect the number to decrease.
The Foundation is supported by corporations and the Halton District School Board teachers. They hold an annual Benefit Bash to raise the $800,000 plus that is needed each year.
While the economy of the country and financial conditions in the Region are good – there are some who are not able to participate in the prosperity. They need help – that help comes from people like you.
If this is something you would like to direct your donations to – look at their web site and see if this is something you want to be part of. For more detail – give Lesley Mansfield a call – she is one of those people who somehow makes a work day last more than eight hours.
Related news story:
What the Foundation does on a day to day basis.
Nicole is not the real name of the student; the situation however is very real.
By Pepper Parr
September 20, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
While the city beavers away at getting all the public participation for the Mobility Hubs done and another group in the Planning department works through the steps that will be involved in getting what is going to be built on the Waterfront Hotel site clarified and the people over at Transit get used to the idea that theirs is going to be a much different world if what the City Manager had to say at a recent Council meeting was real, there is another department finalizing some of its work and will have information for all of us real soon – the BUDGET.
 The budget for Capital spending in 2017 The Finance department works to a well-honed time line to get all the numbers pulled up from the departments and worked into a number that gets cleared at the Executive level within city hall.
By this time the first cut of the budget is pretty clear in the minds of the people that do the number crunching.
The million or so that is going to have to be put into Transit is something they are probably still digesting.
 The processes that a budget has to go through involves some complex procedures – the theory is that any new spending has to be supported by a business case. The 2018 budget timelines call for a December approval of the Capital Budget and a January approval of the Operating Budget.
The people over at Finance tell us that in future years “we will be targeting more aggressive timelines which would bring both the Capital and Operating Budgets forward together in advance of year-end (excluding election years).
The timeline of the budget process for 2018 looks like this:
A Committee of the Whole meeting: Capital Budget Overview: November 9, 2017
Capital Council Information Session: November 16, 2017
A Committee of the Whole Capital Budget Review: December 1, 2017
A Committee of the Whole Operating Budget Overview: December 1, 2017
Council Capital Budget Approval: December 11, 2017
Operating Council Information Session: December 12, 2017
COW – Operating Budget Review: January 18, 2018
Council Operating Budget Approval: January 22, 2018
The 2017 budget hit the people of Burlington with a 4%+ tax increase. The budget for 2016 wasn’t any better.
The long term thinking in 2016 was for there to be some pretty stiff budget increases that would in 2019.
 The actual tax rate was always higher that the projection. The city of Hamilton kept their 2017 tax rate to less than 2%.
In 2016 the Mayor asked the city manager to look for new revenue sources. There was talk then about a Storm Water Management tax – that didn’t’ fly for a number of technical regions.
 The Joseph Brant Hospital now faces the lake. The city is still paying down our part of the $60 million that we had to put up for the new and re-developed Joseph Brant Hospital. (Burlington actually had to come up with $120 million – half through a tax levy and the other half was to be raised by the Hospital Foundation.) When that special tax levy was put in place the understanding was that it would end when the hospital was paid for – that isn’t going to happen. The Finance people have built that special tax levy into their regular revenue.
When the $60 million cost was put on the table the then city manager Jeff Fielding said it was the largest sum of money the city has ever had to budget for – he might have added that it was going to be funds the city could look forward to spending forever.
By Staff
September 18th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather was as good as it could get – and the turnout was superb for the 36th Annual Terry Fox Run
There were 1050 participants this year up from 900 last year and 70 volunteers which is about the same.
Funds come in throughout the year – so it isn’t easy to say how much was raised.
The final number for last year was $91,589.
 The Start and the Finish of th Terry Fox Run took place in Spencer Smith Park,  Team Casey people had their own T-shirt The total to date for this year is $91,971 – of that $16,691 came from Team Casey
Historically after the run another $5k to $15k comes in as donations which are accepted year round. Last year $12k came in after run day.
The past several years the Team Casey idea caught on – this year there was a tent set up for their use, it was never empty.
 They needed a drone to get the camera high enough up in the air to get everyone in the picture. The group wanted a picture with everyone in it – camera couldn’t get them all in – so a drone was used to capture everyone
For the first time ever the people who manage the Run sold out of the Terry Fox T-shirts.
The Team Casey people had their own T- shirt so the increase in sales wasn’t due to the close to 200 people who were members of the Team.
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