 By Staff
May 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Clyde Union Canada Limited, a company specializing in pump technology and hydraulic design, pleaded guilty and has been fined $50,000 after a worker was critically injured by a ruptured water hose.
 Clyde Union Canada Limited located on North Service Road On or about February 5, 2015, a worker was testing a pump at the company’s workplace at 4151 North Service Road in Burlington when one of the 24-inch pipe elbows located outside the building froze, preventing the circulation of water in a rubber hose. The system then backfilled until it exceeded its maximum pressure. A six-inch rubber hose in the system ruptured, expelling water which struck the worker with enough force to push the worker about 30 feet across the shop floor. The worker’s injuries included fractures and lacerations.
A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the company failed to take the reasonable precaution of installing a pressure relief valve in the discharge water lines, contrary to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The company was fined $50,000 in Burlington court by Justice of the Peace Denis Lee on May 17, 2016.
In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
 By Staff and Pat Shields
May 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Bandits (0-1) will have their fingers crossed for clear skies when the Brantford Red Sox (0-0) come to town on Thursday night.
The Bandits have played only one game in the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) regular season thus far, thanks to inclement weather on the weekend. The Red Sox are in a similar position as both of their opening games last weekend were postponed.
Although the Bandits showed signs of rust in their home opener against the London Majors (1-0), simply getting back on the field and seeing live pitching should help their cause significantly.
 Bandits would like to get out of the dugout and onto the field – 0-1 so far this year. Burlington will have their hands full with the perennial powerhouse Red Sox, who have won 15 IBL championships since joining the league in 1934.
Brantford finished 3rd in the IBL last season with a solid 22-13 record. Their playoff run ended early though, as they fell in Game 5 of their first round matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Bandits fared well against the Red Sox last year posting a 2-3 record in five closely matched meetings, including taking the final two contests.
To notch their first win of the 2016 season, the Bandits will need to get to Brantford pitcher Nathan Forer. The 4-year veteran finished 2nd in the IBL last season with a 2.51 ERA, to go alongside a 6-2 record.
Burlington and Brantford will begin play at 7:30pm at Nelson Park on Thursday. The Bandits will be back in action on Saturday, May 21 when they clash with the league-leading Kitchener Panthers (2-0).
Elsewhere in the league:
The Barrie Baycats and the Toronto Maple Leafs game saw the Baycats record an 8-5 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday night.
Barrie and Toronto are both 1-1.
Upcoming games:
Thursday, May 19
Brantford at Burlington, 7: 30 p.m.
Friday, May 20
Hamilton at London, 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, May 21
Kitchener at Burlington, 1 p.m.
Toronto at Guelph, 1 p.m.
Hamilton at Brantford, 2 p.m.
 By Staff
May 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A local real estate firm reports that the month of April brought with it a number of firsts in Burlington.
The first property to sell in the Orchard for over $1.475 million, the first property to sell anywhere in Burlington for $210,000+ over the asking price and the first time that just under half of the sales in Burlington sold for the asking price or more.
Six properties sold for more than $80,000 over the asking price – two in the southeast, one in Brant Hills, one in Headon Forest, one in Millcroft and one in the Orchard. At the same time, 24 properties experienced price reductions before they sold and 25 properties were on the market for more than 30 days before they sold.
  What does all of this mean? In short, there are still too many buyers and not enough sellers (there were actually 10% more sales in April, year over year).
Finally, notwithstanding the fact that we are experiencing the hottest market we have seen in history, an incorrectly priced house will very likely result in disappointment. Strategy is very important when pricing your home in an over-heated market.
The realtor asked: Wondering what to do once your home sells? Many people are hesitant about capitalizing on this seller’s market because they will need to purchase a new home. They suggest there are more options available than you might think.
 These homes were advertised and sold in March of 2012. Are these prices sustainable? Are we in the middle of a market bubble with a downside out there somewhere? Is there a market correction in the works?
 By Pepper Parr
May 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Have you herd of the Eddies?
The 15th annual Eddies Gala Awards evening – a popular festival celebrating student filmmaking – will be held on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
The theatre doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the awards celebration begins at 7 p.m., followed by screenings of this year’s winners. This event is open to the public, no tickets are required and admission is free.
 A clip from an Eddie winning entry. The Eddies, the Halton Student Film Festival, celebrates student success in filmmaking by recognizing technical and creative achievements and is open to all elementary and secondary students. Previous Eddies award winners have gone on to achieve success in the film and television industry, with some capturing prestigious awards for their work.
This year the event is highlighted by an impressive list of professionals who will judge the submissions. They include:
• Mandy Holyoke – Production Coordinator for Little Charmers, a popular Nickelodeon animated series.
• Kyla Springall – Assistant Production Manager at Cineflix, has been Production Coordinator on Property Virgins for 84 episodes and is now coordinating a Property Virgins spin-off series.
• Vaishni Majoomdar – experience includes casting on Good Witch, Reign and Schitt’s Creek.
• Omar Salama – Creative Director at Block 94.
• Jeff Bowman – retired Multimedia Administrator and co-founder of The Eddies.
• Ana Yavari – Editor on The Tudors, The Borgias and the Showtime series Penny Dreadful.
“Approximately 500 students participated this year from various subject areas making this a true display of how technology can be integrated in all academic and technical subjects,” says Dale Andrews, teacher at White Oaks Secondary School and co-organizer of The Eddies.
For a look at one of the entries that won last year CLICK here
 By Staff
May 18th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was to be a family portrait – no one really knew how big the family was. The number was put at more than 500 but how many would show up?
200 starving artists gathered in the Family Room of the Performing Arts Centre so that Ashley Sloggett could snap the shutter of her Brownie Hawkeye and then just to be sure she had the picture she wanted she did a camera upgrade to something with a more powerful lens – and here it is – The Collective.
This, said Sloggett, represents only a FRACTION of the Arts community in Burlington and I hope to do one of these every year and watch it grow.
 The Collective – a Family picture.
By Pepper Parr
May 18th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The question was – what will she have to show us when the Performance Arts Centre reveal takes place? Will it compare favourably with the superb program Brian McCurdy delivered before he took leave of running the Centre?
And would there be room for the local talent – and not just shows that were travelling and could spend an evening in Burlington?
And is the lineup for 2026/2017 a good line up?
 Performing Arts Centre president Suzanne Haines chatting with a patron after the presentation. Suzanne Haines delivered.
It’s a more than decent line up – and if the VIP members who lined up to buy tickets are any indication – the year will keep city council happy, meaning that BPAC won’t be back asking for more money – they already get close to a million dollars as it is.
A VIP member is a patron who has purchased 4 or more shows in the previous season and the capital donors and supporters.
There are a couple of boffo stand outs to comment on. The Shanghai Acrobats from China are astounding – a cultural circus if you will.
 Two Performing Arts Centre patrons flipping through the program book. The Aga Boom – three clowns that will delight both parents and the children they bring with them. The pricing on this one is great $15 if you bought a series.
Series pricing is $5 off the regular price if you buy tickets to four or more events. If this show doesn’t sell out – turn the Performing Arts centre into a day care centre.
A lot more jazz than one might have expected – most of it top rank
A solid family program for the Christmas season.
Some greats – Les Grand Ballet out of Montreal, the Nylons Farewell tour, Piaff! The Show (expect this to be a stunner) The popular Gerry Dee and
There wasn’t as much local talent given an chance to grow on the stage. There are going to be what are commercially called Added Value events – which will be performers in the Family Room entertaining theatre goers before and after different shows. That’s a start.
Last summer the Performing Arts Centre put on free Jazz on the Plaza concerts that were a huge hit. They have expanded the program to include a Tuesday night live, a Friday Jazz on the Plaza and Sunday Family Fun.
The presentation of the 2016-17program however was weak – it lacked any pizzazz.
 Patrons lined up to get their tickets booked. Performing Arts Centre president Suzanne Haines stood on one side of the stage and Director of Programming Costin Manu stood on the other side and read from telepromters. One would speak and then the other – as they passed the job back and forth.
There was an opportunity for the two of them to ham it up a bit and become part of the entertainment. At one point Costin was dancing away in small circles on his side of the stage – while Suzanne tapped her toes on the other. They could have danced towards each other and made their presentation much livelier.
Costin Manu can be very funny – he should have been given a writer to provide him with a bit of a script. It is after all show business.
 Ilene Elkaim, chair of the Theatre Board listens to a patron The “reveal” as many people chose to call the event closed with a nice touch. Haines announced that Royal Wood would return to the stage on October 1st – the 5th anniversary of the opening of the venue.
The Gazette was there that evening, which was described as a soft opening. The house wasn’t packed but the attendance was more than acceptable.
As Wood was taking his final bow two of what I describe as the “blue rinse” set strode up the aisle muttering about the lousy performance. They proved to be completely wrong – the place works – now to keep the costs in line and the content current, popular and just a little edgy at times.
 Deb Tymstra who reports on culture for Cogeco took in the evening and chats up a friend. The real test is to see the box office numbers – sales Tuesday night won’t be known until next week – they don’t appear to have adding machine over there.
 The Gazette will comment and report on the evening later in the week. It was a fun night, the finger food offering was plentiful – the wine offerings at the bar could do with some expansion. The program book patrons took away with them is a keeper – everything you want to know about the new season is within a well designed book.
By Staff
May 17th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
The Regional Police have organized a very proactive approach to introducing how the police and emergency services work in the Region
On the 25th of May 2016, Halton Regional Police will be hosting ESINC Day (Emergency Service Introduction for New Canadians). The event will be held at the Halton Regional Police Service Headquarters located at 1151 Bronte Road, in the town of Oakville.
The event will run from 12:00pm to 2:00pm.
Come meet your local police officers, firefighters, paramedics, tour the emergency vehicles and visit the community information booths.
For more additional information please contact Cst. Jody Dugas of the Regional Community Mobilization Bureau. 905-825-4747 ext 5240.
If you know people who are new to Canada – mention this to them. Authority figures are seen differently in Canada than they are in the countries many new Canadians come from
 By Staff
May 18, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Handi-van phone service will be unavailable until 8:30 am today – Wednesday May 18
Customers please note that the phone line to contact Handi-van dispatch (905) 639-5158 will be temporarily out of service on Wednesday May 18 until approximately 8:30 a.m. for scheduled upgrades.
For any urgent needs during this time please call (905) 335-7869 ext. 6602. This line will only be serviced during the phone disruption period.
By Staff
May 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Walkers Line at Britannia Road – Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Walkers Line will be closed at Britannia Road on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. to remove vegetation along the road.
No traffic will be allowed through, with the exception of emergency vehicles responding to a emergency calls.
By Pepper Parr
May 17th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
He is back – with not just one but two business cards and, we are advised, a seat on the board of one of the city’s cultural institutions.
We are not clear as to whether it is the corporate board of the Foundation board of the organization that our former Member of Parliament sits on.
Mike Wallace took quite a wallop during the last federal election. At the time he said he got beaten by a person whose age was less than the number of years he had served the public.
 Mike Wallace, Burlington MP, takes a closer look at art work at the Art Gallery Burlington. To his credit Mike has bounced back nicely and has jumped into the industry that Burlington treats so well.
Wallace has a business card for his real estate sales business and another for the consulting organization he created. The latter resulted in a meeting with members of council where he is reported to have represented a developer’s interests.
On his web site he says:
You provided me the opportunity to contribute to the quality of life that we enjoy in our community. I strived to meet my commitments to you responsibly, thoroughly and with integrity. I love our City and the people that make it the number one mid-sized city in Canada.
Many have asked “What will be my next career path?” There was no question that I wanted to continue to serve and care for the residents of Burlington.
 You always know when Mike Wallace is in the room – you hear him. At times he is the consummate prankster on other occasions he can manipulate a parliamentary committee as well as the best of them. After your family and their health, your home is the most important part of your life. It is where you do most of your living, through shared good and tough times. Therefore, after many hours of personal reflection, I have decided to pursue a career in residential real estate.
As a realtor, I will provide the trusted, transparent and timely service that you would expect and deserve in dealing with your critical real estate assets. If I can be of any assistance, now or in the future, please contact me.
Mike and his wife Caroline (26 years) are part of the RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc., Brokerage and work out of offices at 4121 Fairview St, Burlington. You can reach Mike at (905) 632-2199.
The office location is a little too far east for Mike to set up his campaign office when he takes a run for Mayor in 2018.
By Pepper Parr
May 16th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Where is the Mayor?
He wasn’t at the city council standing committee last night.
The chair, Blair Lancaster – who is still having problems managing the agenda – she forgets which page she is on and forgets the procedural steps that have to be taken.
 When the meeting opened Lancaster as chair announced that the Mayor was “at another meeting” – that was it. Nothing about what the meeting was about or where it was taking place.
Last night her cell phone was getting almost as much attention as the job of being chair.
It was a short meeting – and didn’t resolve anything. The biggest report was given a “receive and file” which puts it back into the hands of the bureaucrats. We report on the re-development of the Nelson facilities elsewhere.
The really interesting news was the article in the Globe and Mail about the changes the province is going to make on the environmental front. City manager James Ridge said that the news article was the most talked about subject within the leadership team at city hall.
 Burlington Hydro leased high end BMW electric cars and loaned them to members of council to get some data on driving patterns. Ridge said they were waiting to see the document the province produces – due sometime in June – all they had so far was the Globe and Mail news report. The newspaper headline reported a $7 billion program that would slash the size of our carbon foot print which will impact every aspect of life in the province and disrupt the automotive and energy sectors.
Energy means Burlington Hydro for us – and automotive – well we all know what they are talking about.
More than 76% of the homes in Ontario are heated with natural gas – the province wants to see that number brought down – and promises to start phasing out natural gas for home heating. This will be done partly through incentives for owners of homes and buildings to install geothermal and solar heating, and partly by changes to the building code mandating that, by 2030, all new houses and small buildings be heated by something other than fossil fuels. Natural gas currently provides 76 per cent of the province’s heat.
The plan also promises hefty subsidies for electric vehicles, more charging stations and sets ambitious targets of raising the number of electric vehicles sold to 12 per cent of the total by 2025; at the moment, just 0.16 per cent of the vehicles on the road in Ontario are electric.
Big changes coming – it would have been nice to see a comment from the Mayor. His new key aide – Mike Greenlee, who replaced Brian Kelly, who replaced Frances Grano, who replaced Jackie Isada, who replaced Frank McKeown kept himself busy taking notes.
Greenlee and Grano were seconded from within other departments in city hall to help out in the Mayor’s office.
By Staff
May 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The police are driving the message home: Canada Road Safety Week starts today
For the next seven days, until the end of the Victoria Day weekend, motorists who travel anywhere within the Region of Halton – from our urban centres to our rural areas – can expect to see an increased Police presence on our roadways.
How can you avoid being stopped by a Halton Police officer?
1. Drive now, call & text later. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle collisions.
2. If you drink, don’t drive. Impaired driving remains the leading criminal cause of death on Ontario roadways. Halton Drug Recognition officers are also reminding drivers that drugs & driving don’t mix either.
3. If you’re under 22yrs of age, don’t drink & drive period. You must have a zero blood alcohol level to operate a motor vehicle in Ontario.
4. Buckle up. Over 700 Halton motorists were charged in 2015 with failing to wear a seat belt. What’s holding you back?
5. Slow down! Speed kills. Remember, we’ll see you before you see us. Speed limits will be enforced!
Motorists found in contravention may be subject to arrest and charges, including licence suspensions, vehicle seizures and costly fines. Halton Police encourages all road users to obey the rules of the road.
 Do your part and make our roadways safe for everyone.
If you observe a vehicle being operated in a manner which places you, or anyone else in danger, please call 911 for an immediate police response.
Let us see what the police report after the holiday weekend.
By Pepper Parr
May 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
We learned today that the “Windows on the Lake” at Market and St Paul Street are going to be at the final drawings stage and should go out to tender very soon – and according to Rob Peachey the construction work should get done before the end of the summer.
 You wouldn’t know it – but this is public property and anyone can walk out to the end and look over the lake. City will remove the boulders and the fence barrier which was illegal but the city did nothing about. The area is going to be upgraded to a Window on the Lake. Good news – the view from those two locations is about as good as it gets – one can take a picnic basket out there and really enjoy a summer afternoon or evening.
There was a time when there could have been a nice pathway that would have joined the end of Market Street to the end of St. Paul but the current city council could not see or understand how big an opportunity they let get away on them.
 What could have been – a pathway for resident to bike along and take a pleasant walk – but city council let the opportunity get away. They had it – the city owned a significant portion of the land with the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources owning the rest – but instead the land was sold to the people whose property abutted the bits of land along the water’s edge.
The problem wasn’t with the sale of the land to private interests – some intelligent people saw the opportunity and moved quickly to buy the land. The shame is on the city council for letting that happen.
All the public gets is a small patch of land – which does have a great view. It will be interesting to see what the final drawings look like.
 By Pepper Parr
May 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Friends of Freeman station have to be nominated next year for one of the Burlington’s Best awards. This is without a doubt one of the best community organizations in the city. They fought hard to overcome serious inertia on the part of city hall and city council to save the Freeman Station.
 Sitting on some “cribbing” with a sign badly in need of several coats of paint, the Freeman Station gets ready for its big move. The city at one point had a very significant federal government grant to move and refurbish the station but couldn’t agree on where it should be located.
At one point the city ran an advertisement asking if anyone wanted the thing – to the best of our knowledge no one responded.
The late Jane Irwin fought hard to find a way to keep the structure that was in very sad shape sitting on cribbings beside the fire station on Fairview.
A city engineer actually told a Standing Committee that it couldn’t be save. That didn’t deter a group of die-hards who were not prepared to let the station get reduced to kindling.
 They had every reason to be smiling. Councillors Meed Ward and Lancaster pose with five members of the Friends of Freeman Station after the Council meeting that approved the entering into of a Joint Venture that would have the Friends moving the station and taking on the task of renovating the building. Councillors Marianne Meed Ward and Blair Lancaster who don’t agree on very much most of the time did come together and champion the Friends of Freeman Station. Now whenever there is a photo op the rest of council can’t line up fast enough to get their picture taken. Wait until the day the Station is officially opened – they will all be there with their best smiles painted on their faces.
But I digress – the Friends are going to be at Tansley Woods Community Centre, 1996 Itabashi Way, on Wednesday, June 1st – 9:30 – 4:00 to tell anyone who wants to listen about the station.
“Nostalgia… and fun!
— will be the order of the day when the Friends of Freeman Station travelling model railway exhibit is displayed at the Tansley Woods Community Centre in conjunction with the City of Burlington’s Parks and Recreation Department kickoff of Seniors’ Month — Wednesday, June 1st from 9:30 AM to 4 PM.
Nostalgia… “I remember travelling by train from the Burlington Junction Station…” Young-at-heart Burlington seniors recall fondly their experiences, as we re-create the era of steam power. You’ll see a model steam locomotive and passenger train, arriving and departing from a model of the the Burlington Junction Station just as it happened in the early Twentieth century. A beautifully crafted 1/24 scale model of the Station will be part of the display.
Fun! “Look, Grandma! It’s Thomas the Tank Engine!” Bring your grandchildren to see a rare demonstration of Thomas and friends Percy, Annie, Clarabell, Troublesome Truck #1, and Troublesome Truck #2 running on our scale model railway.
 Bob Chambers points to a detail of the Freeman Station model he built in his kitchen in a short 41/2 months. The model will be on display at the Tansley Woods Community Centre. Tansley Woods Community Centre
We’ll be there… to share the amazing story of the relocation and restoration of Burlington’s 1906 Grand Trunk Railway Station, slated for completion in 2017. There, on the Lower Level, we’ll be constructing a historic model railway diorama depicting early Twentieth-century life in the hamlet of Freeman, now a part of Burlington.
This is one of the organizations that deserve whatever you can manage in the way of donations. Every dollar they get does into the refurbishing that are a a 100% volunteer organization –no one is paid – they rely entirely on private and corporate donations to fund the costs of restoring the Burlington Junction Station under an agreement with the City of Burlington.
They are superb at scrounging as well
 By Staff
May 16th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
We expect to use the picture frequently – it is a disturbing picture because if reflects an attitude towards the environment and the damage it is doing to the planet we live on.
 The crude decal is located inches above the exhaust pipe. Young people tend to flout conventional standards – but this standard is what is wrecking the weather system we have.
When we took the photograph the driver was parked in from of a shop with the engine idling while he chatted with the women in the car with him.
It was a nice car – there appears to be something about yellow in this city – see the link below.
One wonders what the parents think about the statement the young man chose to put on his “muscle car”
Related article.
What’s with yellow and this city?
 By Staff
May 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton Regional Police Service want to remind the public that the commonly known “CRA scam” is still very much alive and active. In the past week, two separate victims in the region have both fallen prey to this scam and suffered a total loss of $9,000 dollars.
In the latest version of this scam the fraudster is threatening arrest of the victim for money due to Revenue Canada. The fraudster is now asking the victims to make payment using I-Tunes gift cards and directing the victims to several locations in order to purchase the cards.
Halton Regional Police Service are reminding the public that the Canada Revenue Agency would never act in this manner and certainly would never accept I-Tunes gift cards as a form of payment.
The police would also like to request that the vendors of these types of cards remain vigilant to large purchases of I-Tunes gift cards and to initiate a conversation with the buyer to ensure they are not being defrauded.
In one of the more recent cases an alert employee at a Rexall Pharmacy in Hamilton prevented a victim from purchasing an additional $3,000 dollars’ worth of cards. Unfortunately the victim had already previously transferred $3000 dollars of cards purchased at two other stores prior to being stopped by the alert employee.
 By Pepper Parr
May 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Caroline Simpson was the person responsible for making sure the Regional Chair’s Annual Golf Tournament went smoothly. She was looking for items that could be put into the silent auction and approached the Art Gallery of Burlington where she crossed paths with Mary Mazur, the EA to the CEO.
They talked and Simpson came away with a piece of art for the golf tournament silent auction and also knowing a lot about an event the AGB was sponsoring at the Performing Arts Centre. Simpson felt good about the new contact she had made and delighted to be able to get to a concert she might not normally have gone to – an evening of music played on a flute.
 Gordon Burwood points out the location of the hotel that Caroline Simpson, on the left, will stay at during her week in Paris – a prize she won at a raffle during the Evening in Paris event sponsored by the Art Gallery of Burlington at the Performing Arts Centre. Karen Burwood looks on. Oh joy – one might say – but this evening was not just a concert – it was an art history lesson, it was an opportunity to not only hear the music, which Simpson, really didn’t’ know much about, but to learn about the context and the times the music was composed.
She didn’t know that the Impressionist art movement came out of the same period and that the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel tower were created during the same time frame as well and that the Paris Opera House came out of the same time period.
What she did know at the end of the performance was that she has heard a superb flutist perform – and that she was going to Paris
Simpson is a Laurier University “poly-sci” graduate with three kids at home and a demanding job.
Part of the “Evening in Paris” event put on by the Art Gallery in Burlington at the Performing Arts Centre was a draw for two tickets for a week in Paris. The prize was donated by DH Tours – tickets were $2 each.
 Serene Martin on the left, Ondrea Crockett on the right – Caroline Simpson in the middle. Simpson had bought 40 tickets, she said she “had a sense I was going to win. “I wasn’t totally surprised” she said “but it did take a minute for my winning to sink in.”
“I knew the range of the tickets I had bought – the winning ticket was the last one in the range – 0597. I think my friends, Serene Martin and Ondrea Crockett were more excited than I was.”
The prize included $500 of spending money.
As of Saturday afternoon Simpson had not told her children. “I was thinking about who I would take with me – my daughter who is turning 16 – if I take her what do I do for my 13 year old? I have thought about taking my Mom – that would be nice.”
But right now explained Simpson “I can’t spend any time thinking about when I go to Paris or who goes with me – I have a golf tournament to get done.”
Simpson is the enhancement programs coordinator at the Willow Foundation – an arm’s length agency of the Region of Halton that raises funds for the for the seniors living in the three village retirement residences run by the region. The Foundation, a non-profit, registered charitable organization, was established in 2002. Governed by a volunteer board of directors, funds are raised to further enhance the lives of seniors and disabled adults in the Halton Region’s three long-term care homes: Creek Way Village in Burlington and Post Inn Village in Oakville and the Allendale Village in Milton where there are about 575 residents
 Regional Chair Gary Carr a community event. The golf tournament, known as the Regional Chair’s Annual Golf Tournament, is taking place Thursday – the 18th at the Crosswinds Golf and Country Club. Simpson is beavering away at all those last minute details – that seem to be never end. Event registration, if you’re interested: https://birdeasepro.com/thewillowfoundation
“The Chair is a big supporter of the Willow Foundation. It is nice to work for an organization where there is strong leadership.
Simpson thinks about sitting at a café in Paris and reading some of the books she doesn’t have time to read these days. “It will be different – won’t it” she suggests.
By Pepper Parr
May 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There were few gifts in the weather this weekend.
Our Member of Parliament Karina Gould was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial pitch at a Burlington Bandits game – cancelled due to rain.
Hayley Marie Remple gave her Masters Class to flute players and then left town to begin her tour of western Canada. They are in for a treat.
 Monument marking the 3582nd kilometer of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Run that took place 35 years ago. The plaque noting that the historical Brant Inn used to be located a dozen yards or so to the south sits to the left of the monument.
There was an event that took place on a knoll on the north side of spencer smith Park where some history got cemented into place – not something Burlington has been all that good at doing.
A group of citizens thought it would be fitting for there to be a monument commemorating the day Terry Fox passed through Burlington on his Marathon of Hope 35 years ago.
The group that made this happen has chosen to be quiet – their concern was that the creation of the monument not take anything away from the annual Terry Fox run.
 The Brant Inn was located close to the edge of the lake – immediately south o the plaque – the Terry Fox monument sits on a bit of a knoll just west of the pond where small model motor boats will soon be scooting around. The monument is a very handsome structure.
It was originally going to be located closer to the intersection of |Lakeshore Road and Maple – some one came up with the idea of a more prominent location – right up beside the plaque that notes the existence of the Brant Inn – once a hot spot for American musicians who came to Burlington by train where they could play, sleep and eat in the same location.
 The plaque tells the story. It was the place to be in those days. Nothing like it in the city today. Pity The Brant Inn plaque is 15 to 20 yards from the site of the famous Inn. With the Fox monument steps away from the plaque – Burlington now has a spot where some significant history is commemorated. The Joseph Brant Museum is but a football field length to the west.
It will be interesting to see how the Tourism people feature the existence of the Fox monument in their literature and web site.
Make a point of getting out to see it – it is both handsome and significant.
Good things can happen in Burlington.
By Pepper Parr
May 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Our thanks to Kim Verrall and Louise Marie Vien for this collection of pictures.
Who knew there were that many people involved in ACCOB – the Arts and Collective of Burlington. They gathered on Sunday for a “family portrait” – the final image is in the hands of the photographer – it is to be posted to the ACCOB Facebook page – where everyone can tag the names.
An impressive gathering – we were told the Mayor had asked to attend – not sure if he made an appearance.
With the family portrait in place – city council now knows the arts community is real – and that it needs support – which does not appear to be forth coming.
ACCOB has a number of committees that are either sub-committees or affiliated with them – that have been meeting with various people at city hall – including the city manager – word is that there hasn’t been all that much traction and that Cultural Days in September is going to have to get by on $2500.
Feelings are quite high with one member of a group declaring that the city manager has lied to them.
Any hope for an Arts Council seems dim at best.
For today – the Family Room at the Performing Arts Centre was love, peace and kindness. The Gazette was unable to attend – Sunday of us is a day of worship and thanksgiving.
We wonder if those people with instruments broke out and if Tomy Bewick did a slam.
We will pick up what actually happened when we talk to people during the week.
In the meantime some on the spot pictures.
By Staff
May 14th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Hayley Marie Remple plays the flute – at time she attackes the instrument and on other occasions you can almost feel her straining to find the air she needs to finish the bars of music she wants you to hear.
Remple was on the stage of the Performing Arts Centre doing a benefit concert for the art Gallery of Burlington. Don Graves, a noted Burlington landscape artist with a life of music as his frame and a noted book reviewer as well describes what the audience saw and felt this way:
 “A group of clever, inspired French composers: Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saens, Faure, Widor and Satie. The time is 1870 to 1910. Add a gala young woman who mergers with her instrument, the flute, to weave an Evening in Paris, full of masterful playing, displaying that technique is something an artist should know but not show, a musician that spins history with multi-media storytelling and some of the finest flute playing I’ve heard in Burlington…ever.
“What brings this evening at the PBAC to a special moment in time is Haley Marie’s exquisite bringing together of music, history, coloratura playing and dynamic story telling.
Not a silo in sight. Music, painting, history, the era of impressionistic music in Paris and unveiled in an informal, warm and technically sparkling visual concert that earned her a well-deserved standing ovation.
 “Is this where the concert hall may be headed? Did the Art Gallery of Burlington and the Burlington Performance Art Centre launch something that speaks to the future of an evening listening to music, listening to a story and watching a screen that unfolds the place, the atmosphere and its time? Yes, it happened in Burlington and this young flutist raised our sights, our visions and our joy.
One of the unfortunate aspects of single night performance is – we can’t say to you – “Ya gotta see this performance” – because she is gone – off to complete her five province tour.
Graves describes the performance well – he catches mixture of visual, verbal and the sounds from the flute well. He is a man with a good eye and a strong appreciation for music – he nailed this one.
He might have added that during the performance Remple has words pop up on the screen that explain the complexity of the music – nothing too deep – things like “I have to breath really hard for this part”
What the public saw and heard was a Carnegie Hall class artist who performs superbly and adds comments with words on the screen that add to the quality of the performance.
There are times when Remple comes close to attacking her flute – the finger work is superb.
She will do a Master Class for flute students Saturday afternoon.
Might she return – it was a performance worth recommending to friends.
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