By Pepper Parr
March 17, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Run that by me again – Why are we doing this ?
According to the Board’s Program and Accommodation Review (PAR) policy, a Program and Accommodation Review is initiated if one of the five conditions listed in the policy are met. Out of the five conditions, two have been met which justifies the PAR.
Director of Education Stuart Miller.
There are five conditions but no one at the Ministry of Education wants to say what the five are. Director of Education Stuart Miller uses two of the five to justify his report to the trustees asking that a PAR be held on the Burlington high schools.
The HDSB web site has details on how the two conditions the Director refers to were met – they are set out below.
What the Gazette cannot find out is – what are the other three conditions. Director Miller used two of the five. What the other three are is not known to us. A call to the Ministry of Education got nothing but a statement on how much money they are spending in Halton. It was an almost pure piece of public relations fluff.
Condition 1: Low Utilization, Enhance Secondary Programming and Learning Opportunities
Condition 2: Enhance Secondary Programming and Learning Opportunities
Condition 1 states that the school or a group of schools has/have experienced or will experience declining enrolment where On-The-Ground Capacity (OTG) utilization rate is below 65%. Currently two secondary schools in Burlington have utilization rates below 65%, and one school is approaching this threshold. It is projected that all three schools will be below 65% utilization by 2020:
School OTG (Building Capacity) 2015 Enrolment, 2015 Utilization, 2020 Enrolment, 2020 Utilization
Condition 2: Enhance Secondary Programming and Learning Opportunities
By reorganizing the school and creating larger grade sizes and enrolments, the Halton District School Board can enhance program delivery by offering more courses and a variety of courses using funding that would otherwise be spent on maintaining empty spaces. The benefits of each school type are highlighted in the table below.
School Type/Benefits
Small Secondary School (Enrolment of 600 or less)
Staff tend to know each student better and may be more able to proactively intervene to support a student who is in need of assistance;
Extra-Curricular Participation – while the number and types of activities available to students may be fewer in a smaller school, students are more likely to make a team/activity because there are fewer students interested in participating in each team/activity;
Trustees Grebenc and Grey – are they listening t the students – and the parents?
Higher ratio of service area staff to students – to maintain core functions in the area of Special Education, Guidance and Library, smaller schools have a significantly richer staffing ratio than larger schools. This however comes with increased costs to the Board;
Less pressure on the physical space in the building e.g. less scheduling challenges on gym space.
Large Secondary School (Enrolment of 1000 or more)
More course options available to students to support different learners, interests and pathways.
Fewer scheduling and timetable conflicts – In the 2014/2015 school year, 39% of students at smaller schools had timetable conflicts while at larger schools 19% of students had timetable conflicts. Timetable conflicts often result in students not being able to take a course they had selected because two or more of their selected courses are running in only one semester at the same time.
Fewer “shared” students – a shared student is a student that is registered in more than one school. These students register for a course they require/want that is not available in their home school. In 2014/2015 12% of students (234 students) were considered a shared student in small homes schools. 4% of students in a large home school were considered shared students (169 students).
Fewer Early Leavers in larger schools – An Early Leaver is a student that leaves school prior to graduating. In 2014/2015 the percentage of early leavers prior to graduation was 1% at large schools and 3% at smaller schools. This in turn affects the graduation rates at high schools.
Bateman students in the cooking class.
More teacher subject specialization – more classes mean more teachers, therefore it is more likely to get specialized teachers while smaller schools with limited classes have less diversity in staff. For instance in larger schools there may be 4-5 science teachers, a biology specialist, physics specialist , a chemistry specialist and two science generalist, while at a small school there may be only 2 science teachers to teach all science curriculum areas.
More opportunities for Extra-Curricular participation – in larger schools there are more staff and thus more opportunity for greater special interests and skills and thus a greater offering of extracurricular activities.
More funding for students, less spent on maintaining empty spaces.
That’s two of the five conditions. We want know what the other three conditions are.
By Pepper Parr
March 16th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
They want to write a book about us; well not just us – they want to include us in a book to be titled Passion over Pay – which certainly applies to the Burlington Gazette and its publisher.
The people taking on this task did their initial funding through Indigogo – they did better than the Gazette did when they went looking for financial support.
The purpose of the book – which will be in a coffee table format and sold on line – is to tell the story of those people who put their passion over pay for projects that exist for the benefit of others.
They will do interviews and we will make certain that we tell the world that Burlington is the best mid-size city in Canada and that the city sold a chunk of the land along the edge of the lake for a pittance – ending forever the chance to create a Waterfront Trail that would be really complete.
There will be something about the trials and tribulations about publishing in this city and taking on the challenge of drawing an audience away from print to the web site where we are able to publish instantly and do not have much in the way of space limitations.
We will look for a way to tell the really marvellous story about the citizens group that are behind the Terry Fox monument in Spencer Smith Park and tell the story about the park itself as well.
Someone recommend the Gazette as a Passion over Pay possibility and we said sure, why not.
The they, is a couple of buddies from back in college. Ben Firn and Mark Bennett are the driving force behind this initiative;
Ben Firn and Mark Bennett; one is a New Zealander and the other collects trivia. Which does which?
Since College both found homes in the start-up world. They kept in touch and partly because of their shared affinity for part-time projects and side hustles they came up with this idea.
The original press run isn’t going to get them on the New York Times list of Best Sellers unless the Gazette buys a couple of cartons and hands them out to all those bureaucrats we write about – city council for sure – right?
We will keep you posted.
By Pepper Parr
March 16th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The issue of land fill dumped on the Air Park on Appleby Line back in 2013 will become part of the news cycle on March 28th when the Ontario Court of Appeal hears arguments from Burlington Air Park Inc. to overturn the decision of Justice M.R. Gibson who heard a case in which the city of Burlington asked the Ontario Superior Court to compel the Air Park to file a site plan. It is this second Superior Court decision that was appealed
A truck dumping land fill on the Air Park site in 2013
In an earlier court case the city sued the Air Park for allowing land fill to be dumped on their property and the Air Park sued the city saying they had no right to sue the Air Park because they were regulated by the federal Department of Transportation and did not have to comply with city bylaws.
Justice Murphy ruled in favour of the city on that case. The Air Park appealed that decision and lost the appeal in one of the shortest hearings heard in some time.
Justice Murphy decided that the Air Park had to comply with city bylaws except for that part of the aerodrome that was a runway or a taxiway. That called for the Air Park to provide the city with a site plan. The Air Park hired consultants to put together a site plan but a document never got to city hall.
Land fill was brought onto the 200 acre Air Park site, ostensibly to level the land.
After numerous delays the city decided it would ask the Courts to compel the Air Park to file a site Plan. That court case was heard by Justice Gibson who decided for the city. The decision was not all that clear cut however the intention was evident.
The Air Park didn’t like the decision and they took Justice Gibson’s decision to the appeal Court of Ontario.
Vince Rossi, president of Burlington Executive Airpark Inc., at a meeting with members of the Rural Burlington Greenbelt Coalition that took place in a barn a couple of hundred yards from the end of his largest runway.
That appeal will be heard at Osgoode Hall in Toronto on March 28th.
Three Burlington residents and the publisher of the Burlington Gazette were sued for Libel by the Air Park.
That case has yet to get to the doors of a court room
Several weeks ago, Parr, Dennis and Warren along with the Burlington Gazette were sent an Offer to Settle by the Air Park.
The offer made to Parr and the Gazette had several element.
One was payment of $2500 to the Air Park, an apology and a settlement offer.
The apology was to read as follows:
I wish to express my sincere apology for having published material suggesting that the manner in which fill was placed by Burlington Airpark Inc. (“Airpark”) at its aerodrome in the City of Burlington raised issues of environmental concern. In part this arose from my reliance on a report commissioned by the City of Burlington based upon a review of soil test data obtained by the City from Airpark. I now understand that these data included data for soil that was rejected by the Airpark’s contractors as it did not satisfy the applicable Ontario guidelines and that there is no basis for the concerns that I expressed.
Yours truly [Settling defendant]
The Offer to settle was worded as follows: (it is filled with dense language; Shakespeare may have made a point when in Henry VI, Part2, Act IV, Scene 2 he wrote “Let’s kill all the lawyers“.)
TO: [the Settling Defendant] and each of his/her/its employees, partners, associates, agents, affiliates, attorneys, insurers and representatives and beneficiaries, heirs, executors, devises, personal representatives and administrators, successors and assigns, as the case may be;
FROM: BURLINGTON AIR PARK INC. on behalf of itself and its present and former officers, directors, shareholders, beneficiaries, employees, servants, agents, attorneys, insurers, heirs, executors, devises, personal representatives and administrators, successors and assigns as the case may be, and any parties who they represent or who claim a right or interest through it or them (collectively, the “Burlington Airpark”)
For a short period of time in 2013 trucks were operating all day and into the evenings with loads of fill that no one was able to say where it came from. The Burlington Air Park earned a fee for every truckload.
In consideration of the payment of TWO THOUSAND AND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($2,500) by the [Settling Defendant], and in consideration of the terms and conditions of the Rule 49 offer to settle that was made by Burlington Airpark Inc. in an action commenced in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice under Court File No. CV-14- 2290-SR (the “Action”) (together, the “Settlement”), and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
1. Burlington Airpark hereby releases [the Settling Defendant] of and from all manner of action, causes of action, demands, suits, debts, dues, accounts, bonds, covenants, contracts, invoices, orders, complaints, claims, counterclaims, third party actions or proceedings of whatsoever kind or nature that Burlington Airpark now has or has ever had by reason of any cause, matter or thing whatsoever, without exception or limitation, whether in law, equity, contract, tort or by virtue of any statute, for any and all remedies, damages, monies, charges, losses, indemnity, costs, expenses, disbursements, fees of any kind whatsoever (including without limitation, legal, accounting, tax or any other professional advisory fees), controversies, set-offs, taxes, penalties, interest or injuries which hereto may have been or may hereafter be sustained by the Burlington Airpark or any one or all of them (collectively, “injuries, losses, or damages”) arising from the defamatory statements that are the basis for the Action (collectively, the “Released Matters”).
2. Burlington Airpark further agrees not to make any claims or take any proceedings against any other person or corporation who might claim, in any manner or forum, contribution or indemnity against the persons discharged by this release in connection with the Released Matters. In the event that [the Settling Defendant] is added to any such claim or proceeding commenced by any Burlington Airpark, Burlington Airpark agrees to immediately discontinue or have dismissed that claim or proceeding and shall fully indemnify [the Settling Defendant] for any legal costs incurred in respect of said claim or proceeding pending its dismissal or discontinuance.
3. This Release shall be binding upon Burlington Airpark and [the Settling Defendant’s] and each of their respective successors and assigns and shall inure to Burlington Airpark and [the Settling Defendant’s] benefit and to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.
Heavy construction equipment parked on a 30 foot + hill 50 yards from the kitchen window of the Sheldon property on Appleby Line next door to the Air Park landfill operation. Many thought the overnight parking of the equipment was intimidating.
4. The Burlington Airpark and [The Settling Defendant] acknowledge having had an opportunity to review this release and seek independent legal advice prior to signing it, and acknowledges that they fully understand all of the terms contained in it, are signing voluntarily and of their own free will and without duress or compulsion, and that the only consideration for this Release is as referred to above.
5. [The Settling Defendant] agrees to hold the existence and terms of this Release and the Settlement underlying it in the strictest of confidence and that this Release and the Settlement will receive no publication either oral or in writing, directly or indirectly by them, and agrees that neither [the Settling Defendant] nor his/her/their lawyer shall disclose, reveal, confirm or otherwise communicate the terms and conditions of the Settlement (except that the Action has been dismissed) or the amount of the consideration paid for this Settlement in general or specific terms, it being the intent and purpose of Burlington Airpark to prevent and avoid any publicity regarding the Settlement. Violation of this provision constitutes a material breach of this Release and Settlement, subject only to any disclosure required by law or deemed essential on auditors’ or accountants’ written advice for financial statement or income tax purposes. For greater certainty, the publication of the Apology Letters as required under the Settlement is not prohibited by this Release.
6. [The Settling Defendant] agrees not to negatively comment on, criticize, denigrate or disparage any the Burlington Airpark of any of its directors, officers, employees, representatives, agents or lawyers (either orally or in writing). The bold letters were added.
These people are not drilling for oil – it is believed they have sunk a drill to test the make up of the landfill dumped on the property.
7. This Release and the Settlement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein. Burlington Airpark and [the Settling Defendant] irrevocably attorn to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in respect of any dispute arising in respect hereto and/or in respect of any of the underlying claims that are resolved by this Release and Settlement.
8. Burlington Airpark and [the Settling Defendant] acknowledge that they have obtained independent legal advice and are represented by counsel concerning the negotiation and entry into and subject matter of this Release and the Settlement. This Release and the Settlement embody and reflect the entire agreement by and between Burlington Airpark on the one hand, and [the Settling Defendant] on the other, and supercedes all prior negotiations and agreements, whether written or oral, relating to the Released Matters. This Release and Settlement may not be altered, amended, modified, or otherwise changed in any respect except by an instrument in writing duly executed by authorized representatives of each of the Burlington Airpark and [the Settling Defendant]. Burlington Airpark and [the Settling Defendant] each acknowledge that no statement, promise or inducement that is not contained herein was made or is relied upon, nor shall any subsequently alleged statement, promise or inducement be valid and binding. If any provision of this Release is held invalid, void or unenforceable under any applicable rule of common law or statute or in equity, only that provision or portion thereof shall be deemed omitted from this Release and only to the extent to which it is held invalid, and the remainder of the Release shall remain in full force and effect.
Airpark dumped more than 30 feet of landfill without a Site Plan. Owner of the adjacent property stands on her property line and wonders why anyone can build a “small mountain” next to her property without getting approval.
9. This Release may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Release may be executed and delivered by facsimile or .pdf (via email) and it is agreed that such facsimile or .pdf email execution and delivery will have the same force and effect as delivery of an original document with original signatures, and that each signatory may use such facsimile or .pdf signatures as evidence of the execution and delivery of this Release to the same extent that an original signature could be used.
SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED this day of , 2017.
Witness [SETTLING DEFENDANT]
BURLINGTON AIR PARK INC.
We did warn you about the language.
Were the settlement offer signed the Gazette would be prevented from fully reporting on the progress of the court cases.
What this does is basically expunge from the public record anything the Air Park has done and requires the Gazette to seal their lips and never mention their Air Park again, at least not in a negative or disparaging way. Is reporting that the Air Park lost two court cases and to date one appeal negative … or disparaging?
Not reporting is not what accountability or transparency is about.
Sometime after the Air Park sued Parr, Warren, Dennis and the Gazette for libel the province introduced SLAPP – Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation. It came a little too late for Dennison, Warren or Parr – the legislation would not cover the Gazette.
A panel of experts convened by the Ontario government in 2010 found that the threat of abusive lawsuits claiming massive damages, especially for defamation, is deterring “significant numbers” of Ontarians from speaking out on issues of important public interest.
Known as SLAPPs (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation), these dubious lawsuits are often brought by deep-pocketed companies with the specific aim of silencing resource-poor defendants. And they are very effective. The defendants, usually ordinary citizens or public interest groups, naturally feel threatened by the prospect of massive legal fees, disruption of their activities and the possibility of large damage awards. Even when the lawsuits have no merit whatsoever, they often result in a chill on free speech.
Comments on a wide range of public interest issues have attracted SLAPP suits in the past. These include reporting on environmental violations by large companies, exposing corruption and other forms of wrongdoing, and criticizing the behaviour of powerful individuals. In other words, SLAPPs are an attack on democracy. They undermine the ability of civil society and private individuals to act as watchdogs over the powerful.
A solution was found when the province’s political parties found themselves in rare agreement that it was high time to deal with this threat through strong legislation. The SLAPP legislation is now in place and it is being tested in the Courts
The cast of characters: On the far left seated, is Ian Blue, the lawyer the city hired. Far right is Monte Dennis and in the second row is Vanessa Warren. Talking to the group is former city general manager Scott Stewart. He moved on to Guelph where he is now deputy city manager
The Gazette and Parr are very clear on what they are going to do with this offer to settle. Dennison and Warren will make up their minds in the fullness of time.
An interesting and important point with the Monte Dennis situation. He wrote a Letter to the Editor of the Spectator. They published that letter – they are the organization that made Dennison’s view public – but the Spectator wasn’t sued. The Air Park wasn’t about to take on the Torstar Corporation, owners of the Spectator.
The Gazette has published more than 45 stories on this matter; they first broke the story in 2013 and it is far from over.
By Staff
March 16th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
A usually reliable source informed the Gazette that this was a murder-suicide – both people died.
The Halton Regional Police Service are investigating a double shooting at a Mejilla Chiropractic Clinic in Burlington. Officers responded to the location on Plains Road this afternoon at 12:05 p.m.
Both injured parties were taken to hospital for treatment. Their conditions are unknown at this time.
No suspects are being sought and there is no concern for public safety.
No suspects? More to this story.
Police advise that more information will be issued as it is available.
By Staff
March 16, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
On March 14th 2017, Robbery Investigators arrested James Lawrence FAHEY (27 yrs.) of Burlington and charged him with one count of robbery in relation to the robbery of a taxi driver in November, 2016.
He was released on Promise to Appear in Milton Court on April 19th 2017.
Police want to arrest this man – can you help?
Investigators are still seeking the public’s assistance to identify the second male suspect who has a nose ring in his left nostril and what appears to be a tattoo or scar in the area below his left ear.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2316. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Pepper Parr
March 16th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
There is something wrong with the schedule.
The 14 members of the PARC are going to meet on March 21st and again on the 23rd.
Superintendent Scott Podrebarac, Chair of the PARC, will write the report on what he determines the PARC members arrived at in the way of conclusions and any recommendations they might make.
Then the Chair of the PARC, Scott Podrebarac is going to write a report on whatever conclusions he thinks the PARC arrived at and turn it over to Stuart Miller, Director of Education who will in turn craft his report to the trustees which they will receive on March 29th.
The Director will have less than six days to write his report, review it with staff and do a couple of re-writes.
Where is the time to reflect on the months of deliberations the 14 PARC members put in.
Will individual PARC members be putting together their comments and sending them along to the Director of Education?
PARC members will have deliberated for more than six sessions, some of which went for more than three hours – they exchanged hundreds, probably more than 1000 emails and debated vigorously.
Might the PARC itself file a minority report to give some balance to what Scott Podrebarac, Chair of the PARC produces?
There are many who think the work that PARC was asked to do is a farce.
At some point the people paying for the operation of a school board, that’s you the taxpayer, have to stand up on their hind legs and declare that enough is enough.
Parents listen intently at what the PARC members have to say.
Many feel the completing of the PARC report allows the Director of Education to tick off a box on his to do list and move on to the next task which is to shut down two high schools.
There was a point at which the Halton District Catholic School Board (HDCSB) was in serious talks with the public school board for a possible purchase of Pearson high school. The Gazette has been told that Fred Thibeault, one of the HDCSB planners, exhausted all possibilities with coterminous, (that would be HDSB) French Catholic, French Public and the City and wasn’t able to work something out – they didn’t really go anywhere was the comment the Gazette got from a former chair of the HDCSB
The Catholic school board held a Program Accommodation Review for the elementary Burlington panel of schools. The Board staff had St. Paul slated to close; the vote to do that was lost – so it can be done.
By Staff
March 14th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It is pretty quiet on the QEW.
Almost eerily quiet for 4:00 pm in the afternoon of a weekday.
Spring Break is keeping things very quiet
A frequently busy ramp area – jut very quiet.
The plowing of primary roads is complete. Secondary and Residential road plowing is ongoing and will continue through the night.
Sidewalk clearing on primary sidewalks is ongoing.
The city asks that people remove any parked vehicles from the roadway, during snow clearing operations.
Toronto got a “dusting” of snow; Hamilton got 30 cm with more on the way. Blowing and drifting snow in the forecast for Wednesday morning.
By Staff
March 14th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
What in heavens name did John Tirone think he was doing when he tried to enter a court house with a weapon.
At 10:28am on Monday March 13th, 2017 a male was entering the Milton Courthouse located at 491 Steeles Avenue in the Town of Milton.
Milton Court House hears all the criminal and family law cases along with civil matters.
The male was being screened through a Security checkpoint. That’s when Halton Regional Police Court Officers noticed the firearm. The male was immediately arrested without incident. A search incident to arrest of the male uncovered some knives, one of which was a prohibited weapon. A further search of the male’s motor vehicle resulted in the seizure of a second loaded firearm.
A follow up investigation has revealed that there was no intended action to target any persons. Detective Sergeant Dave Costantini of the One District Criminal Investigations Bureau said, “We are extremely confident that there was no plan to harm any individuals at the Courthouse.”
What was the reason for even trying to take a weapon into the Court House?
A public safety search warrant was conducted on the male’s residence and resulted in the seizure of an additional 7 firearms.
John Tirone, 40 years of Burlington has been charged with several firearms related offences. He has been held for a bail hearing.
• 4 counts of Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose
• 1 count of Unauthorized Possession of Weapon
• 3 counts of Carry concealed weapon
• 8 counts of Careless Use of Firearm, Weapon, Ammunition (Included in these charges are the unsafe storage and transport of the firearms and ammunition).
• 2 counts of Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm/ammunition
• 2 counts Possession of Firearm at Unauthorized Place
Doesn’t everyone know that security screening is done at every courthouse? Apparently not.
There is a psych evaluation test to be done somewhere in the process of this case working its way through the judicial system.
Anyone with information that would assist in this investigation is asked to contact Detective Skoularicos of the Milton One District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747, ext 2420. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
“See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Staff
March 14th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington has begun construction on an exciting new project. “The Knot” (or Elgin Promenade) is the name of an urban pathway connecting the downtown to the Centennial Multi-Use Pathway. It might have been called “Shortcut to the Poacher” but that would have been too exciting for Burlington, the town the late Jane Irwin, the city’s best advocate for keeping our heritage once referred to as ‘Borington’ when she delegated to city council.
The Knot – no idea why that name was chosen – will create a pathway linking the Centennial Trail in the east to streets that will get a bike rider as far west as the canal – basically the city limits.
This multi-use pathway will service more than 10,000 people every year and provide public space for a wide range of leisure activities, community events and easy access to shops and restaurants. It will also ensure that public space is preserved and celebrated for years to come.
Al the property inside those yellow lines once belonged to the city. Ownership of the middle section was shared with an Ontario Ministry. The property was sold for a pittance. The two pieces at either end were turned into Windows on the Lake.
Many would have loved to see the same approach taken to some of the most precious land the city once owned – that stretch of property between Market and St. Paul Streets on the south side of Lakeshore Road.
The location of this new pathway is where the city’s transit terminal was once located
The design of the new park will be led by a team of architects – yet to be named – who will work with the city’s Capital Works Department and provide input into the overall design of the pathway with specific attention paid to core place-making elements.
Preliminary design of the pathway will begin in early April 2017 with construction expected to be complete by March of 2018. This project is on an accelerated timeline due to Federal Canada 150 funding. The selected artist(s) must be available to attend regular meetings in Burlington, Ontario from late April – August 2017.
Deadline for Expressions of Interest is March 31st.
The project has a budget of $20,000
Click HERE to download the Request for Expressions of Interest.
Related news story.
By Pepper Parr
March 14th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Just how does Crime stoppers work?
Everyone knows what Crime Stoppers is. Few know just how it works other that there are cash awards for some tips.
The Gazette publishes the following at the bottom of every crime related news article. The Regional Police add it to everything thy send out.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
How effective is the service? Stats for 2016:
Number of Crime Stoppers tips called in – 1,218
Arrests made as the result of a Crime Stoppers tip: 36
Cases Cleared as the result of a Crime Stoppers tip: 25
Charges Laid as the result of a Crime stoppers tip: 75
Property Recovered as the result of Crime Stoppers tips: $40,630
Drugs Seized due to Crime Stoppers tips: $87,600
So – how does being anonymous actually work?
When someone calls the 1-800 number they are asked not to personally identify themselves. The Crime stoppers telephone number does not have call display on any of its lines.
Cal Millar, the Crime Stoppers vice chair explains that most people don’t call Crime Stoppers looking for a financial reward – they want to help but they don’t want to be identified.
When a person calls Crime Stoppers they are given a six digit file number – and that is the way they know each other – by a number. “If a person tells us who they are, our trained Crime Stoppers operator immediately ends the call and instructs the caller to call the police.
The anonymity is core to what Crime Stoppers does; people, for the most part do not call for the reward money.
When there is a cash payout – how does a caller get the money – that’s a part of Crime Stoppers that results in a lot of humourous stories.
What Crime Stoppers vice chair Cal Millar might have looked like when he was handing over a reward – there would have been a flower in the lapel of the trench coat.
Millar recalls the time he was to meet a Crime Stoppers caller. “I had an envelope with cash in it and had agreed to meet the caller at an agreed upon location. Because names were not being used I said I would be wearing a flower in the lapel of my jacket and would be standing near a stairway in a public place.”
“The Crime Stopper approached me” said Millar, “ told me what the six digit identifying number was and it matched what I had on the envelop so I passed it over and we each went our separate ways.”
The cloak and dagger days are in the past for Crime Stoppers. The organization has a number of trusted partners who hold the envelopes for people to pick up. A recipient of a cash award will drop by an office or a retail location and ask if there is an envelope. Give the clerk the identifying number and the envelope gets handed over.
A tribute to the Eagles – Hotel California at the St Volodymyr Cultural Centre on March 30th.
Where does the reward money come from? That’s what Crime Stoppers fund raising is all about. They hold events and raise funds that they then hand out.
Crime Stoppers has an event coming up on March 30th. Hotel California will be playing at St Volodymyr Cultural Centre on March 30th.
Crime Stoppers is supported by the Regional Police who provide office space and a trained staffer who has security clearance to handle the incoming calls.
There is also a police officer assigned to the unit as liaison. The role is currently filled by Detective Constable Jodi Thompson.
Police throughout Canada and the United states will tell you that after fingerprints Crime Stoppers is the best investigative tool they have. DNA has since been added to the best tools the police have.
By Pepper Parr
March 14th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton District School Board Director of Education Stuart Miller is not wrong – but he isn’t right enough either.
Miller is an educator. He is not a sociologist, he is not a politician. He is a lifelong teacher who grew into an education administrator.
Mention a student he taught 15 years ago at a school in Oakville and he will tell you things about that student they may have forgotten. He is passionate about the work he does.
Stuart Miller works from his smile – open and very much the professional educator who wants nothing but the best for his students.
Whenever there is an event that will have more than 25 students on a Saturday morning and he will show up – coffee cup in hand.
He slips out of his office at noon frequently to drive over to Bateman and have the lunch that comes out of the excellent kitchens the students run. Then he sits and eats his meal with the students.
He is exceptionally open: not everyone will agree with that statement but he is a lot more open to media than any one of the politicians in the Region. Many parents don’t feel he listens well enough; just because he doesn’t agree with them – that doesn’t mean he is not listening,
Miller is fully aware of the world his students are going into – and he wants as prepared as he can make them.
He listens to the parents that want to keep their local high school open and he is mindful of their concerns but for Miller his job is to give the students he is responsible for the best education possible and that means offering every course he can in every school.
In order to do that Miller believes he needs larger high schools with more teachers to give more versions of the same course so students don’t lose out due to class conflicts. Those are the well-developed views of a professional administrator.
Parents appear to be Ok with their children going to a different school for some of their courses and Miller does what he can to make that possible.
He believes that a big high school with a lot of staff is the route to go – so when he says he wants what is best for the students he is talking about the course offerings.
Miller with the ever present coffee cup.
That a school has some history the students can attach themselves to is something Miller grasps but he doesn’t understand why a person would put a first class education before having a school they can walk to.
Miller doesn’t live in Burlington. He commutes to Burlington from High Park and uses the 45 minute drive to think through the day he is getting into.
Miller is all about education – he could have a stronger team supporting him but he hasn’t been the Director of Education for two years yet – the public might yet see him as the person who creates a team of Superintendents for the Halton District School Board that are second to none. He doesn’t have that yet.
The team he has is made up of decent people but they have not given Miller anything in the way of new ideas or innovative approaches to solving the problem he faces.
The lens Miller looks through is those 1800 + empty classroom seats and from his perspective it doesn’t matter how he re-arranges the boundaries or the feeder elementary schools – he still has those 1800 empty seats.
What Miller and his staff have not done is come up with proposals or initiatives for the trustees to consider. The province doesn’t fund empty seats.
While Miller has said again and again that the issue is not about money, from his perspective but it is in reality a money issue.
If the trustees decide to not close any of the high schools and to shift boundaries so that the pressure is taken off Hayden and Pearson gets back the population it once there will be more balance – but the city will still have high schools with considerably less than the 1000 students Miller thinks are needed to be able to offer a full palette of course offerings.
The Halton District School Board in session. Eight of the 11 trustees have just a little over two years experience. A number of them may not have the depth of experience to handle the task ahead of them. A couple have been on the Board far too long.
The trustees need to instruct Miller to give them financial options. If every high school is to be kept open the money to pay for those empty seats has to be found somewhere. The trustees need to direct the Director to find the savings within the budget they now work with.
The philosophy board staff appear to work from is bigger schools mean better educations at the high school level.
It is the trustees, serving the people who voted for them that make the final decision – and if the parents want all the school kept open so that a sense of community is kept with the schools we have and they want students walking rather than spending a significant part of each day on a bus – then that is what the trustees should be expected to deliver.
Miller is open to new ideas – he welcomes them and he listens intently – but he doesn’t appear to be a new idea kind of guy.
He spent some time in Africa with his wife but other than that his career has been with Halton where he started out as a teacher and grew into a bureaucrat who now faces the biggest administrative challenge of his career.
Why is this PARC not leading more instead of following a process that the smarter members believe to be seriously flawed?
The Program Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) is not coming up with much in the way of new ideas – they have become a group that is squabbling with the different high school representatives fighting for their own turf.
Board staff are leading the PARC through a process and the members of the PAR are putting up with it. There are voices on the PARC that can and should be showing much more in the way of leadership.
Miller will serve as the Director for perhaps another ten years. He doesn’t appear to be the kind of guy that will go up against the Ministry of Education. He doesn’t appear to have any aspirations to become part of the provincial government bureaucracy either.
A strong board of trustees can develop their Director of Education into the kind of person the city needs. The Director can then develop the staff that he needs.
Stuart Miller is a passionate advocate focused on giving the students in Halton the best education possible.ll about the students.
What he needs to appreciate is that those students have parents who also have a say, the say for that matter – at least in a democracy.
He is not wrong, but he is not right enough on the community element which is a large part of an education.
Salt with Pepper is an opinion piece by the publisher of the Gazette who has been covering Boards of Education since the Living and Learning document was released when Bill Davis was the Minister of Education.
By Staff
March 14th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Bfast, Burlington for Accessible, Sustainable Transit, perhaps the most effective citizens voice in the city, has been holding annual events that review the state of public transit and gives people an opportunity to voice their views – and voice them they do.
April 1st Bfast will be holding their third conference in what is billed as a Transit Users’ Forum will grade the performance of the system through the second annual transit report card.
User voting will determine the results of this year’s report card, an initiative that was promised several years ago at city council but never implemented.
Burlington Transit staff are slated to make a presentation to the forum on the upcoming Integrated Mobility Plan that will help guide the direction of the system. Using interactive technology, staff will conduct an instant poll of transit users that will help shape the conclusions of the study, mandated in December by Burlington’s city council.
City manager James Ridge on the right with the former Director of Transit listening intently.
Transit staff were missing in action during the first conference; the city manager attended the second conference with the Director of Transit sitting beside him. Several months later the then Director of Transit departed for an easier working climate.
“Burlington Transit is reaching out to its users, and we are more than pleased that the opinions of the people who use the system will be a part of the Integrated Mobility Plan,” said Doug Brown, chair of Burlington for Accessible, Sustainable Transit (BFAST). “We find it very encouraging that the staff of Burlington Transit want to engage users in the process of establishing a system that will better serve our community.
Seniors discussing what transit hasn’t been doing for them – the third annual conference will give them an opportunity to comment directly to transit staff who will be attending.
“For too long, transit users have lived with continuing cutbacks which have hurt our city. We welcome the opening of a dialogue about the growth of transit, the major component of a greener transportation system in Burlington.”
BFAST is taking the lead in organizing the forum, which has thus far been endorsed by 10 community organizations, including:
· Burlington Age-Friendly Seniors Council,
· BFAST,
· The Burlington Gazette,
· Burlington Green,
· Burlington Seniors’ Advisory Committee,
· Canadian Federation of University Women Burlington,
· Community Development Halton,
· Halton Environmental Network,
· Poverty Free Halton, and
· Voices for Change Halton.
As in the past, users will have the opportunity to discuss system-related topics in detail in smaller breakout groups that will cover the needs of seniors, commuters, the disabled, underserved northeast Burlington and the system in general.
Organizers are looking forward to another large turnout for the meeting, which begins at 10:00 am April 1 at the Burlington Central Library. Last year, nearly 100 people attended the forum. Doors will open at 9:30, when a free continental breakfast will be offered.
Mayor Rick Goldring addressed last year’s forum and has been invited to do so again. Will he take the bus to the event?
Members of city council and area MPs and MPPs have also been invited.
The conference will wrap up at 12:30.
By Staff
March 14, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington invites artists to submit Expressions of Interest to create a permanent public artwork for a traffic island located at Plains Road (QEW Ramp, West of Plains Road QEW Overpass) in the Aldershot community of Burlington, Ontario.
The deadline for submissions is April 28th, budget for the project is $25,000
Plains Road – no longer just the highway to Hamilton but now a Main Street in a part of the city with an identity of its own
Plains Road has undergone significant revitalization and growth in recent years. The City of Burlington undertook a Functional Design and Implementation Strategy in 2011 for the Plains Road Corridor.
Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven, at a stone marker identifying the participants of the Plans Road Village Vision.
This process resulted in a number of suggestions including widening bike lanes, beautifying the area, roadway improvements, and increasing the number of pedestrian crossings and islands.
A significant portion of this work has been completed and additional improvements will continue over the next 10 – 20 years, with the goal of transforming Plains Road from a thoroughfare into a main-street corridor.
Engineering drawing of the location of the public art.
Public art will play an important role in this transformation. The median project will add to the street’s public art collection and will be used as a pilot project to consider the integration of future public artworks into additional medians on Plains Road.
Civic officials and politicians gather around the $100,000 piece of public art on Upper Middle Road.
Locating public art is an art in itself. About five years ago the city commissioned a work of art that was interesting enough – but located the work on Upper Middle Road in a median just before a railway underpass. There isn’t much time for drivers to see the art and there is next to nothing in the way of pedestrian traffic.
This competition is open to all professional Canadian artists. An artwork proposal is not requested at this time. Artist applications will be reviewed on the basis of artistic merit, professional qualifications and experience. Short-listed artists will be paid an honorarium of $750 to develop a preliminary design concept.
Google view of the Plains Road location for public art.
Download the Request for Expressions of Interest (pdf)
By Staff
March 14th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
How bad is the morning commute going to be?
An early look at the QEW shows roads that are pretty clear and the snow looks as if it has stopped falling.
QEW between Walkers Line and Appleby Line just before 6 am this morning.
QEW at Guelph Line just before 6:00 am this morning.
QEW at the 403 intersection just before 6:00 am this morning,
City streets have had their first brush with the snow plows and the buildup of snow on those cars that are parked outside is not all that bad.
Drive carefully and everyone should get to where they want to go safely.
The City of Burlington is open for business during today’s storm.
At this time, all early bird swims have been cancelled
All city facilities running March Break programs will open at 7:30 a.m. for drop-off and other facilities will open at the regular scheduled time.
Burlington Transit buses are running and crews are beginning to clear bus stops.
The plowing of primary roads is completed and work continues to clear secondary roads. Sidewalk clearing will begin at 7 a.m. It is anticipated that the plowing of locals roads will begin later today.
By Staff
March 13, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Tomorrow, (Tuesday, March 14, 2017) the Halton District School Board office and all Board-related sites will be closed due to significantly poor weather conditions that are forecast to track into the region over the next several hours.
Trucks will be out in force.
The city has its plows on the road – snow continues to fall. Significant snowfall is predicted.
By Staff
March 13th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
What does it look like out there?
At 9:20 pm on March 13th traffic on the QEW is moving
QEW between Burloak and Bronte.
QEW at Guelph line
Salters are currently out across the city.
Snow plows are ready to go once accumulations reach 5 cm on primary roads.
This snowfall might be the last of the season. Snow clearing to date has been very good on the snow clearing budget – unless we really get wacked there should be a surplus in the account at the end of the fiscal year; of course there is always the first three months of 2018 weather.
By Pepper Parr
March 13th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
Real estate sales are beginning to read like gossip columns – people want to know what houses in their neighbourhood are going for – they think that maybe this is the time to sell – and if that is the kind of thinking you are doing the Rocca Sisters would love to hear from you.
“If you were to ask a top producing realtor in Burlington if they thought the number of sales were down in January 2017 as compared to 2016 and without the benefit of the statistics Rocca provides on a regular basis, they would almost certainly say that they were way down. That inventory levels were at an all-time low and that prices increased exponentially”, reported the Rocca organization
Some startling numbers – great for sellers, providing they don’t intend to by something else in the city.
“In fact, sales were up in January – the big difference being days on market. More than half of the properties sold in under 7 days in January and almost 2/3rds sold for the asking price or considerably more.
“The biggest standout was a 2 storey semi in Alton Village that sold for just under $772,000, almost 23% over the asking price. There are a few anomalies that emerged in the stats – the Maple area hasn’t suddenly increased in value by 67% – there were a couple of very unusual sales that have skewed that number for the month.
“Roseland has not seen an enormous drop in value – just several fixer upper opportunities sold during the month”, they added.
The real stories, according to the Sisters, is in Headon Forest, sale prices up 33% – that’s a real number. Millcroft, sale prices up 32%.
Alton Village is not a cheap place to live – it is also sassy and brassy – these people worked hard to be able to live in this community and they are going to make the city a different place.
“Palmer, sale prices up 41% and finally, Alton Village seeing an almost 37% swing in sale prices. We feel certain that we are going to see considerably more inventory coming on the market in the coming months – we just don’t see any end to the vast numbers of buyers scooping up these properties at any cost.”
The hovering questions is – how long can this last.
By Staff
March 13th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington is following a snow and wind storm that is forecasted for this area. The snow has started falling and is expected to be heaviest between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14.
In this type of extreme winter weather, the city considers closing city buildings that may include City Hall, pools, arenas and community centres.
At this time, all early bird swims and early program rentals have been offered the option to cancel their bookings.
All city facilities running March Break programs will open at 8 a.m. for drop-off and other facilities will open at the regular scheduled time.
The Gazette will follow the storm as it approaches the city.
At 4|:00 pm this afternoon
Weather conditions continue to be monitored.
Salters are currently out across the city.
Snow plows are ready to go once accumulations reach 5 cm on primary roads.
Please assist our operators by removing vehicles from the road during winter operations.
By Staff
March 13th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s Fraud Prevention Month (#FPM2017) and the Halton Regional Police Service released the second of four scheduled Frauds of the Week: Emergency Scams. Emergency scams typically target older individuals and play upon their emotions to steal their money.
According to the Better Business Bureau of Canada, the total amount lost to emergency scams in 2016 was $1.9 million. Since January 1, 2017, eight to ten victims in Halton alone have been defrauded of funds. One of these victims lost $14,000. Like romance scams, actual figures are believed to be much higher as victims often feel too ashamed to report fraud to police.
“Emergency scams work well because fraudsters throw victims into a state of mini-crisis,” according to Staff Sergeant Chris Lawson of the Regional Fraud Unit. “When this happens, the ability to think clearly or assess a situation is hampered and the first inclination – to help – kicks in.”
In a typical emergency scam scenario, an older person receives a phone call from someone claiming to be their grandchild, neighbour or friend of the family. The caller goes on to say that they are in some kind of trouble, a car accident, stranded in a foreign country or in jail, and need money immediately.
Some victims may get calls from two people, one purporting to be their loved one and the other a police officer or a lawyer. The caller will ask potential victims a series of leading questions which prompts them to volunteer personal information. Callers say that they don’t want others to find out what has happened. Typically, they will ask for money to be wired through a money transfer company.
More recently, victims have been asked for gift cards, known as “steam cards” as payment instead of money. In this variation, victims are asked to purchase the cards and read their serial codes to the caller over the phone.
Victims often don’t verify the caller’s story until after the money has been sent or the gift card information shared and cashed in.
The following tips to protect yourself from emergency scams have been provided courtesy of the Better Business Bureau and Royal Canadian Mounted Police:
• Remember: Scammers count on the fact that victims will want to act quickly to help their loved one in an emergency.
• Caution: Never send money to anyone you don’t know and trust. Verify the person’s identity before you take any steps to help.
• Think: Don’t give out any personal information to the caller.
• Investigate: Ask the person questions that only your loved one would be able to answer. Call someone you both know to verify the story. Scammers can learn a lot about you from social media, or while talking to you on the phone.
• Ask yourself: Does the caller’s story make sense?
• Important: Police will never ask you for money, steam cards or other forms of payment.
Anyone with information pertaining to a fraud or any other crime is asked to contact the Regional Fraud Bureau Intake Office at 905-465-8741 or Fraud@haltonpolice.ca. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers “See something, Hear something, Say something” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Staff
March 13th, 2017
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre is accepting nominations for its 2017 Hall of Fame Inductee.
Bob Missen, 2016 inductee into the Performing Arts Centre Hall of Fame. Missen joined Gordie Tapp (2013), Rainer Noack (2014), Lawrence Bonanno and Stewart Laughton (2015)
Established in 2013, The Burlington Performing Arts Centre’s Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the performing arts in Burlington. Recipients of this award demonstrate the diversity of artistic accomplishment that comprises the rich cultural tapestry of the City of Burlington. The Hall of Fame Inductee will be announced at the 2017/2018 Season Launch event held at The Centre on Tuesday, May 17.
Nomination applications must be submitted by noon on Monday, April 10th, 2017. The nomination form can be downloaded from The Centre’s website.
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre recognizes individual and group artists contribution to Burlington’s reputation as a city with a strong, long-term commitment to the development of cultural excellence.
The Centre’s Interim Executive Director, Brian McCurdy notes, “Year after year, we receive so many nominations for individuals who have made an impact through their work within or for the performing arts in our Community. It is a statement about the community as a whole and the overall commitment to Arts & Culture that we receive so many quality nominations.”
McCurdy went on to say, “This is a meaningful way to recognize those who have distinguished themselves by making the performing arts a part of our lives in a significant way.”
Hall of Fame Inductees include Gordie Tapp (2013), Rainer Noack (2014), Lawrence Bonanno (2015) and Stewart Laughton (2015) and Bob Missen (2016)
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