How does a guy with a small operation in the financial services field manage to write a cheque for $100,000 to a charity?
The story about how Dan Noonan does tax return work for his clients is an interesting look at how an innovative approach to providing a needed service can benefit a large number of people.
That is a cheque for $100,000 that Dan Noonan sent to the Burlington Community Foundation -it was the result of his win-win-win formula.
Dan is a financial advisor who works with what he calls the Mom and Pop part of the market. He is a strong believer in the premise that you cannot sell financial products to people unless you fully understand their incomes which means looking at their tax returns. The closest look you get at a tax return is when you prepare the document.
Noonan used preparing tax returns free as a way to draw in new clients – there was on small hitch to that – the client was expected to make a donation to a local charity.
For the first few years the donations were made to the Breast Cancer Support Services but as the amount of money collected began to grow Noonan needed to find a better way to distribute those donations.
Noonan was completing more than 2000 tax returns a year and at a donation level of around $50 there was a significant amount of money being raised.
He began to work with the Burlington Community Foundation where a special fund was created and dedicated for use in the mental health field where support and awareness have become critical. We live in a society where one out of every five people has a mental health issue.
Noonan is pretty blunt with is comments on saving for retirement. It is almost impossible to replicate the returns of government pension plans or those run for the benefit of civil servants. The pension group that manages the pensions of municipal employees and the one that manages teacher pension plans have both mass and longer terms working in their favour.
Individuals don’t have access to organizations of that size. Close to half his client base, which gets built out of those who take advantage of his tax return offering, are retired.
Managing their finances and their income stream can be stressful he said. “We are in a low interest rate driven economy – and those interest very very low rates are low – not something that works for pension plans. They are driving the housing market with property values gaining more than 15% year over year – which he adds isn’t sustainable.
Noonan looks for investment opportunities that will grow what a client has and/or offer a dividend that is decent.
His office walls are covered with large sheets of paper setting out the different returns available – he scours the market for those opportunities and advises clients what he feels is best for them. His current favourites include Fairfax and National Bank.
There are a number of situations he adds where the fees that are paid to the financial adviser amount to more than the return – “you are looking at dead money” he said.
Noonan has strong views on the new provincial pension plan. “Business should not be expected to shoulder the cost of an employee’s pension. People have to learn to plan for their own futures and put 10% of their income into a pension fund and then invest for the long term.
3rd from left, Dan Noonan, Investment Advisor, Argosy Securities; joined by Burlington Community Foundation board members Catherine Brady, Phil Reddon; President and CEO Colleen Mulholland; Leighan Basadur, John Rockx. Photo credit: Dave Gruggen Photography.
We don’t have that kind of a culture in this country yet. Instead we lay this cost on employers who want to invest their profit in growing their business.
Noonan believes that the CEO’s job is to allocate the capital they have – that strong belief comes out of more than 15 years as a financial advisor and another 20 years in the financial services business where he worked for some of the largest financial management companies in the country.
There is the belief in this country that “someone is going to look after me” – that someone turns out to be the government.
At heart Dan Noonan is the kind of person who looks for opportunities that benefits everyone. His objective doesn’t seem to be to add to just his wealth – although he does do well.
He is direct and there isn’t a lot of nonsense to him. He sees his job as helping people invest the funds they have as wisely as possible and being able to go home at the end of the day knowing people are better off.
What he calls his win-win-win proposition where people get a very good deal on having their tax returns done, Noonan has a source of new clients and the community gets a significant sum of money to use to help those who need help.
“I place a full page advertisement in the newspaper to inform the community about the service. Noonan has been fortunate – the idea works – so much so that others are beginning to take the same approach.
The walls of Noonan’s office are covered in opportunities that he thinks work for his client base.
Given the amount that Noonan is now raising he needed to partner with an organization that had depth and experience in distributing funds to organizations that will put them to good use.
The Burlington Community Foundation manages millions in funds that been placed in their hands. They were the organization the city turned to when they needed someone to step in and manage the collection of donations and then the distribution of those donations to people whose homes had been badly damaged by the August 2014 flood.
They worked with Noonan to create a fund that would focus on mental health needs in the community. Burlington is a leader in recognizing this need within its population and creating an endowment that would both grow the funds and handle their distribution by accepting applications from groups and organizations that work in the mental health field.
It turns out to be another of those win win win situations that bring a smile to Dan Noonan’s face.
Notice too that there isn’t any government involvement in this.
Not certain as to when but the people who do the landscaping at Spencer Smith Park said Sunday afternoon during a Jane’s Walk that the existing Gazebo is not accessible and it doesn’t allow for much variation in terms of the way it is used.
The giant willow tree is at risk as well. The city’s arborist is keeping a close eye on that tree – things didn’t sound all that good.
The Gazebo is situated in what the land use planner called a “bowl” and there are concerns about the amount of water that settles in that part of the park.
There are some longer term plans that would have the existing Waterfront hotel torn down and three high rise structures put in place – this is longer term and few details are available.
That billowing willow tree just might be in the way of some sight lines.
Councillor Blair Lancaster took the Mayor’s chair for a meeting of Council – her Mother appears to approve.
And we need to apologize to Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster for the error.
We named her as the council member for a local business – the Boston Fish and Chip shop on Guelph line – that has run into some problems with the sign bylaw enforcement people.
Jennifer Soukup would like someone to resolve her sign problem.
Our apologies Ms Lancaster – and Happy Birthday to you on Monday – as part of our apology we will not say which birthday you are celebrating.
The Council member the fish and chip people want to talk to is John Taylor – ward 3
“I am still a stage 4 lung cancer patient” explains Casey Cosgrove, “but the trials I was on at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto have come to an end”
He now returns to the Juravinski hospital in Hamilton where his treatments will continue.
A really special team – Casey Cosgrove and his supporters. That tattoo on his right leg has been there s long it has to be refreshed – the colours are fading.
“I am not cured – but the cancer has been stopped and the cancer researchers now know a lot more about my cancer and the way it works in my body. The cancer was stopped but it is now growing, that’s why I have to start a new trial.”
“The immune drugs they have used sort of trick the cancer and send it in a different direction. It’s a little like a shell game that the drugs and the cancer play inside my body.”
Casey Cosgrove has been involved in a number of cancer treatment trial programs. Some have succeed in extending the life of a patient; in other situations the cancer has outsmarted the drug.
Casey is now sharing his story to raise awareness about lung cancer and new treatment options that offers the potential for a longer and higher quality of life.
Community support at its most precious. That team is more like an army.
Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer worldwide, claiming more lives every year than breast, prostate and colorectal cancer combined?
In 2015, it was estimated that 26,600 Canadians would be diagnosed with this disease. Despite these staggering statistics, advances in the treatment of lung cancer have progressed slowly.
Casey was diagnosed in 2010, – he lives his life day by day. He serves as a vice president of Lung Cancer Canada, is almost a feature in the annual Burlington Terry Fox run where his team – a large number of people who do the run to support Casey Cosgrove.
It’s a tight family that live life to the fullest – every day. Dad and daughter
His children understand the story of their Dad’s health but there is nothing morbid about the life the Cosgrove family lives. They have dogs – three of them. Casey teaches leadership at the University of Guelph, his wife Bryna works as a professor at Seneca College. Both sons plays excellent hockey; his daughter is currently doing some modelling. A normal family with network that is there for him every day of the year.
Casey can remember the day he saw Terry Fox on his run 35 years ago.
Sometime later Casey had a Terry Fox tattoo put on his lower right leg. That tattoo has been there so long explained Casey that I have to go in and get it refreshed – it has begun to fade.
Casey will tell you that there is hardly a kid in this city involved in sports that I haven’ at some time coached. Call him and he says yes to every request for help. But Casey is reluctant to take on any long term commitments – he has a hankering to get into public life – if he ran in his ward he would win by a very large margin. Being able to complete a long term task is an ongoing concern – so he works on smaller projects and enjoys life with his family.
The monument will be unveiled Sunday forenoon.
The day of our conversation at the end of the pier Casey mentioned he had had that end of life conversation with his oncologist; that was a number of years ago.
Some refer to Casey at the lung cancer poster boy. Casey will look you in the eye and tell you that he is a stage four lung cancer patient who has been treated for the past six years –and he leaves it at that.
Next Sunday afternoon he will be part of a group that unveils a monument – a marker of the spot that Terry Fox passed when he was doing his Marathon of Hope run 35 years ago.
The Burlington Bandits, didn’t stand a chance against the London Majors Saturday, losing 7-1.
Burlington players celebrate the end of a double-header last season – they didn’t have much to celebrate the first game of this season.
Burlington only managed four hits, and scored one run in the eight inning. Oscar Perez pitched five innings, giving up one hit, no runs and two walks.
For Burlington, Ryan Beckett went four innings, giving up eight hits and three earned runs and four strike outs.
Burlington plays Toronto on May 15th at Christie Pits.
Hamilton Drops Season Opener to Guelph
The Hamilton Cardinals opened the 2016 IBL season with a road game in Guelph against the Royals. Guelph would take advantage of some miscues by Hamilton to score eight unanswered runs in the latter half of the game to win the game 8-1. The Cardinals played the game shorthanded while they await players who are still with their American college teams.
Hamilton opened the scoring in the top of the first when Jason de Vos, who was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a passed ball, came in to score when Nate Mastervick reached base on a throwing error charged to the shortstop.
The Cardinals looked to add to their lead in the fourth. Mastervick led off with a single, the first official hit of the season, but was caught stealing before Jon Saporsantos could reach base on a single of his own. Brandon Tamburro would join Saporsantos on the base paths with a walk but a groundout by Tim Black would end the inning.
Guelph got on the board in the sixth inning when they sent ten batters to the plate and got some help from four Cardinals errors. The Royals loaded up the bases thanks to the first error of the inning and then a ground out by Brendan Powers would bring in a run to tie the game at one. Aaron Loder then reached on an error which brought in a pair of runs.
Turner Spears would then double and bring in a fourth run in in the inning. Spears would later score to give the Royals a 5-1 lead. Guelph would go on to score three more runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the game 8-1.
For the Cardinals, Rhys Tapper made his first career start in the IBL and took the loss going five and two-thirds innings, allowing five unearned runs on one hit, walking four and striking out one. Kyle Adoranti went the final two and a third innings allowing three runs, one was unearned, on two hits, walking four and striking out one.
For Guelph, AJ MacKey went seven innings for the win, allowing one run on three hits, walking three and striking out eight. Zack Pearson and Jeff MacLeod would each throw an inning on the mound for the Royals, combining to allow a hit, a walk and striking out three.
Kitchener Panthers Spoil Barrie Baycats Home Opener
The Kitchener Panthers defeated the Barrie Baycats 14-8 on Saturday afternoon to improve to 1-0 on the regular-season. Kitchener reliever Shane Courtney recorded the victory, tossing two innings while giving up one earned run on two hits. Panthers centre fielder Tanner Nivins led the way at the plate, going three-for-four with three runs batted in.
Barrie reliever Brad Bissell took the loss, giving up four earned runs on three hits in one and one-third innings pitched. After the loss, Barrie centre fielder Glenn Jackson said he and the rest of the team are just happy to be back on the field.
“It is always good to be back, even though this was like a spring training game for all of us today. “It is just nice to be back with the boys, even though the result was bad. I think we shot ourselves in the foot, but we know how it goes.
“There is fifty-one more games to go until the journey ends, so we figure it is what it is.” Jackson added that while today was a pretty ugly game, he said Barrie starter Matthew St. Kitts impressed.
“Yeah, Chris Archer man. “He is going to be one of those studs man. You think of him, Bissell, Santos (Arias), (Brett) Lawson and (Adam) Rowe, and we are in a really good spot to compete.”
Jackson concluded by saying while the Baycats did shoot themselves in the foot defensively, it does not take away from how impressive Kitchener’s offense was today.
“To me, when you talk about home field advantage, this is when you will need it. When they are swinging it, you want home field advantage.
“Our head-to-head battles this season will be big games.”
The Baycats next regular-season contest is next Saturday against the Guelph Royals from Coates Stadium in Midhurst.
Cherubini’s Requiem and Mozart’s Solemn Vespers and Regina Coeli
May 14th
The Burlington Civic Chorale is a mixed-voice community choir formed in 1994 through the collaboration of founder Dr. Gary Fisher and Mary Jane Price, former organist and music director at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church.
They rehearse and perform at St. Christophers Anglican church in Burlington, at 622 Guelph Line.
Their repertoire encompasses classical literature from the 16th century to the present; folksongs; opera choruses and vocal jazz.
The Burlington Civic Chorale
2015-16 is their twenty-second season! They credit grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the United Way, the Toronto Foundation, and the former Halton Healthy Foundation; our loyal patrons and members; and local businesses who support them generously.
“We couldn’t have done it without some help along the way”, said Gary Fisher.
There next performance is May 14th – features Cherubini’s Requiem and Mozart’s Solemn Vespers and Regina Coeli
Tickets: Advance $ 20 or at the door $25 – 905-577-2425
Late in April Jennifer Soukup writes the Mayor. She is unhappy with what the bylaw enforcement people are doing to her.
Jennifer Soukup expects city hall to do something about the sign bylaw – she went to the very top expecting help. His Worship doesn’t have her vote yet.
Jennifer operates Boston Fish and Chips, located on Guelph Line just a bi south of Dundas. She has been there for more than six years and has a consistent walk in trade – regulars that come in because they like the prices and the service. Jennifer is chatty and remembers her customers.
Mr. Rick Goldring-
I have owned a small fish and chip shop in the Guelph line and Dundas street area for the past six and a half years. I use a sign that’s small to attract traffic. Subway has recently moved into our plaza and puts a flag out as well; and also a beauty parlour. While I was away I had the by law officer take my sign and give it to one of my girls saying the city doesn’t want there to be signs out because it looks messy. That we are able to rent signs for 45 days a year. (Three two week periods a year). What about the other 325 days? How is that acceptable?
I depend on that sign. I hire people from the community to work at my restaurant. It’s shocking to me that we have to pay to advertise for only three two week periods. A magnet sign costs three hundred dollars for 2 weeks. Ask Al at Magnet signs. His phone number is 905.332.5291. To advertise in the Burlington post is almost 800 dollars for a half page ad one advertisement. The city allows all of the franchises to advertise. Drive down Guelph line and upper middle and there’s a huge billboard for McDonald’s. All of the traffic in the summer is directed to every weekend down by the lake, billboards up for sound of music, lobster and beer fest all hung around the MM robinson school fences. So tell me how is this fair? I work ten to twelve hours a day, I pay my taxes, my business permit, and I volunteer, I help the Ronald mc Donald charity in Hamilton by doing food drives and give back to other local charities. Why am I not allowed the same as all the other franchises? It’s extremely unfair. You don’t want it to look messy huh? Well I think all the attention put towards the downtown core and “the community” looks messy. It’s a garbage excuse that’s what it is. The by law officer, even said he feels bad because he has to sit in his truck all day and take signs away from people who work really hard.
I don’t know how many more hours you’d like me to work to be able to pay for all the advertising you’d like us to be able to afford, but your suggestions are welcomed. Perhaps 24 hours a day would be good enough, I am not quite sure.
Gator Ted’s just opened a new bar and they’ve had a huge billboard up for about 4 months advertising their new restaurant Barra Fion. No one has said anything to them. Fion McCools on Appleby and upper middle has billboards out and no one says anything to them either. The list is endless and perhaps one day when all the small businesses aren’t around anymore, you can sit and reflect on why. I understand that rules are rules, but sometimes they need to be changed. Small businesses make up a lot of Burlington, and I see fewer and fewer each day. Makes me sad to work in a community where no one stands up for small businesses and signs look messy. What sort of a community are we? -Jennifer Soukup.
On May 2, 2016, at 4:23 PM, His Worship responds:
I appreciate you taking time to write and share your concerns regarding signage to promote your business. It is my understanding that somebody from our by-law enforcement staff has connected with you and provided reasonable signage suggestions to you. Could you please advise me where you are with your specific concerns? Are you comfortable with the discussion you have had with city staff?
At 7:31 PM the same day Jennifer Soukup responds – they are now on a first name basis:
A smile comes with those Fish and Chips.
Hi Rick-
Thanks for writing me.
My concerns are as follows:
I’m in a plaza on Guelph line and Dundas, pretty far from the street. People drive past but don’t really see me.
I’ve been putting my sign out for the last 6.5 years that I’ve owned Boston and no one has said boo to me.
Then subway moves in and gets their sign taken away from them, so they call on another company. While that other company is getting their sign taken away mine has to as well. (He can’t just leave mine).
I spoke with the by law officer and he totally understands why I’m upset.
I started my business when I was 24, and I’ve worked really long and hard to have it. Now that my sign isn’t out there it’s not as busy. That sign is a little reminder to people that I’m here. A hello! Eat fish and chips!
My other concerns are: why is the entire downtown core allowed to have sandwich signs but we are not. Why are there banners spread around the city stating lobster fest/Ribfest etc and I can’t have one measly sign out. The bylaw officer explained to me that you make special provisions for the businesses downtown and the festivals to have signs. Why? Why are they allowed but I’m not. Who cares who has signs out. More people coming into my plaza means more possible business for me. 3 people coming to subway, maybe one person would like fries etc, etc.
The bi law officer said its complaint based only, so that means they only come if someone complains. He stated I’m allowed to have a flag and gave me the measurements etc. So I ordered one. However my landlords are not okay with me having one, so total waste of money.
My landlords are totally cool with me having a sign. They are super nice people. It’s the city that takes it. It’s even on our side of the sidewalk. I am just really frustrated with this situation in its entirety, I work so hard to do what I do.
If you drive down Appleby and Dundas street or the longos plaza on walkers, everyone has a sandwich sign. So I asked the by law officer, and he said well there are only 5 of us in the whole city.
The point of the matter is- we should all be able to have them. Or we should all not be allowed to have them. The end. No exceptions.
You can change this as well. Allow everyone to have them, or stop the bylaw officers from driving up Guelph line, as they don’t seem to drive up any other street towards Dundas.
Please please please change your provisions.
I’m trying to keep a good thing going, something that I love. I’m not trying to bother anyone; just do what I do and mind my own business. I want to be successful and that sign really helps me.
I’ll even throw in some fish and chips!
Many thanks,
His Worship gets back to Jennifer at 9:09:13 PM the same day with:
Hi Jennifer,
I will be meeting with staff and I will get back to you.
The Mayor does get back to Jennifer, he visits the shop, pops in but doesn’t take her up on the free lunch. “He stayed three minutes” said Jennifer.
So far – nothing from city hall – maybe they need more time – that’s reasonable. We will watch to see how this turns out.
Question? Where was the ward Councillor in all this?
Our interest in this situation is this – I am one of those consistent drop in for a good meal customers – she has a really neat collection of root bear soft drinks and the food portions are more than decent. We did a small article on the shop a while back – and we paid for our meal. The Boston Fish and Chip shop is one of those places that is just plain nice to go to.
We were driving north to take some pictures of a barn that is being rehabilitated for a beef operation and wanted to see how it was progressing. Lunch time and we hung a hard left at Driftwood and settled in for a good lunch and a chance to finish the Globe & Mail – when Jennifer pops out of the kitchen to tell of her visit from the Mayor.
For those who survived phase 1 of the New Street construction project – feel some compassion for the people who live within the phase 2 boundary.
Local traffic has to bob and weave to get through New Street – phase 2 starts on Monday.
Gary Carr, Regional Chair, owes everyone near the New street Guelph Line part of the city at least one car wash. The dust is terrible – progress they say.
Mayor Goldring was once heard to say that New Street is the one he drives along most frequently – hopefully he shares our pain.
Phase 2 of the construction project begins May 9, 2016 affecting detours on Burlington Transit routes: 4, 10, 50, 52, 300, 301 and 302.
Route 4 and the Community Connection Routes: 300, 301 and 302 will not have access to the bus stop on Teen Tour Way during this time.
The New Street construction project is scheduled until September 2016.
During this time, Burlington Transit has had to re-route and provide new schedules for Routes 10, 11 and 20 to allow for connections at the Appleby GO Station.
Route 10 no longer becomes Route 20 at the Appleby GO Station which means a transfer is needed when going between Routes 10 and 20. The new Route 20 schedule has increased to every 15 minutes.
PAYBYPL8 – means you need to know your license number to use the new parking meters. And you will be able to pay with your credit card AND merchants will be able to pay for your parking if they want your business. Things are getting better.
Ideally the city will hood the old parking meters on Monday and explain to people that the new parking meters are where your money should go.
It will take a few tries to get the hang of the things – they are different – the biggest difference is that you will need to know the license number of the car you are parking.
Let us say that again – YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER FOR THE CAR YOU ARE PARKING.
Does anyone remember why the Harper government decided to cancel the long form census in 2011 and replace it with a voluntary survey? It wasn’t to save money because, when adjusted for inflation, the 2011 census exercise cost more than its predecessor, the 2006 census. It wasn’t, as they argued at the time, about privacy. There had been no cases or serious complaints about census questions violating our rights to privacy. The Supreme Court had not charged the government to change how and what data it collects.
The law requires everyone to fill in the census form sent to them.
And it wasn’t to improve the quality or degree of information gathered. That is the information used by governments to influence a wide range of policy and program decisions, as well as the many private companies and organizations who had complained of the changes at the time. And those complaints were warranted, given the general conclusion that the 2011 census was largely a wasted exercise.
Doesn’t conservative have something to do with retaining tradition, and what could be more traditional and time honoured than establishing accurate census information. The first stock-taking in our nation’s history, in fact in North America, goes back to the one undertaken by the New France Intendant, Jean Talon, in 1666. As the Canadian colonies came together to form our nation, section 8 of the British North America Act required a ten-yearly census to be undertaken. So in 1871 the new confederation of four provinces conducted its first national census.
Reproduction of the cover page from what is seen as the first census – the Domsday Book.
The 1086 Domsday Book is heralded as the first census, though there are biblical era references to surveys conducted well before that time. Still, William the Conqueror’s effort to establish his rightful tax base and various property holdings across Great Britain holds its place in history and was only replicated some eight centuries later, in 1873, through the so-called Modern Domsday Book. The title itself had little to do with doom or disaster, but rather was a derivation of the old English word “doom” meaning law or judgement.
It may have been ‘Tea Party’ Ideology, a disdain for science and knowledge, or just a bone-headed mistake. One can only speculate as to why the former PM was so determined to fix something which wasn’t broken, in fact had been working well and serving us well.
Census map with population data
So one of the early actions of the new Liberal government was to give Statistics Canada the right to return to traditional data gathering with the 2016 census.
And Canadians have responded overwhelmingly, in fact overloading and crashing the census website with their enthusiasm, and their determination to be counted.
I received both the long and short form, went on line, and had them each completed on-line in a matter of a few minutes. And, as I recorded my confirmation number I couldn’t help asking myself – what was all the fuss about?
Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province. Rivers is no longer active with any political party.
What started out as “unforeseen maintenance” issue has grown into a full blown electrical upgrade that is going to shutter the Aldershot Arena until the week of May 31 as the city replaces the electrical system on site following a transformer issue.
The power was shut off on April 22 in response to a problem with a transformer that supplies Aldershot Arena. The replacement of that hydro transformer means the city needed to upgrade its electrical service to meet Burlington Hydro’s current standard.
Parks and Recreation has temporarily moved its programs, including ball hockey, lacrosse and the No Socks for Ivan program, to other sites until the arena reopens.
“We are doing our best to make sure that all activities, including lacrosse, ball hockey and the No Socks for Ivan youth drop-in, have space in other arenas or buildings,” said Chris Glenn, Director of Parks and Recreation.
“We are informing people who need to know, and we want to thank everyone for their patience as we manage this temporary closure.”
She was born and bred in Lowville – the strongest part of her support network is the five girlfriends she worked with at Emmas – at times she moves from place to place with an armed escort.
Lindsay Hawkin talking to a couple that wanted to know about the gifts of chickens and goats to refugees.
Lindsay Hawkin works for World Vision – she is a project manager – responsible for the delivery of programs to refugees in some of the most dangerous places in the world.
Lindsay, who works and lives among Syrian Refugees was home for as short break and talking to people at the Lowville United Church about her experiences while living in refugee camps as a worker.
Lindsay has been “in the field” for the past seven years, mostly with World Vision but at times with other organizations.
The work that gives her the most satisfaction is when she is working with children and woman. She takes great satisfaction from a clinic that was opened and staffed by women that had a psychological counselling service for women who were victims of sexual abuse – something that is prevalent in the countries she works in.
Lindsay has a degree in political science and a Master’s degree in International Relations. For a period of time she worked for the Canadian government at the embassy in Washington.
She has a strong grasp of both the world wide refugee picture and a solid understanding of what happens day to day in refugee camps with populations of 22,000 plus people.
For much of the time she lives in a shipping container – made of plastic. The containers cost between $2000 and $3000 and are air conditioned.
Members of the Lowville and Nelson United Churches listen to Lindsay Hawkin as tells of her work in Middle Eastern refugee camps.
Lindsay told the small group she was talking to that at the end of December 250,000 people had been killed in Syria, 4.8 million people had to flee the country and 13.5 million people needed some form of humanitarian assistance.
In a country where kidnapping is rampant – three of her staff were taken – and recovered. The hospitals her people work in were bombed
She told the small audience – made up mostly of people from the Lowville and Nelson United churches who were involved with the sponsorship of refugees – that the risk factor may appear high – but if we are careful – we are safe.
Non governmental organizations (NGO’s) strive to create relationships with the people they serve. We are never armed, we do not take sides – our job is to help people who need help. To look for ways to add something to the lives they lives.
“I know why I am here” said Lindsay “to make a difference.”
Zaatari Refugee Camp – Jordan
Working in the Middle East is a personal choice, she said. “I don’t always know why I make the choices I do but I am comfortable with the decisions I make.” “My work in the Middle East started with a travel bug – I just wanted to see more of the world” – she now works in some of the most dangerous places.
Burn out, depression and PTSD are part of the work that Lindsay does. Some people turn to alcohol or drugs to handle the difficulty they are having. But that is a “rabbit hole” and there is nothing there for you down that hole. “I have been fortunate in that I have strong relationships that support me in the work I do. My five girl friends are a life line – even though I don’t see them very often,
We are called the visibles by the people we serve. That is because we are white and to them we are visible.
The delight Lindsay takes in the work she does comes through in the stories she tells. “We were in Mogadishu on an ocean beach and I wanted to go swimming. One of the woman told me she had never gone swimming so we both waded into the water – her full clothed because women in the Middle East do not expose their bodies. I held her hands and pulled her through the water while she laughed and laughed.
There isn’t much for these people to laugh about added Lindsay
Lindsay met the man she is now married to in Afghanistan. He is a Brit, works as a contract bomb disposal technician. “He is pretty dreamy” she said.
Asked what does she does the moment she is back in Canada. I ask my brother who often picks me up at the airport to buy me a hamburger.
Burlington’s Oh Geronimo has advanced in CBC Music’s Searchlight contest.
The national competition which now has a field of 25.
There were about 2,000 hopefuls when Searchlight 2016 opened earlier this year.
There are 23 regions in total, each with a finalist. Oh Geronimo wins the Hamilton region.
Voting for the national round closes Monday, May 9 at 2:59 p.m.
The field is then trimmed from 25 to four.
Searchlight’s judging panel of Maestro Fresh Wes, Sarah Blackwood and Dallas Smith, will decided the three finalists who will move forward.
The fourth finalist will be determined by popular vote.
There also is exposure on CBC Radio’s q and, for the first time, on CBC-TV in a live special when 2016’s four finalists compete before judges and fans.
The lads explain: Oh Geronimo is a project that provides an escape from the daily rigours of adult life. In order to fully express ourselves, we ignore all of the distractions and freefall into the moment. Although Oh Geronimo was created about 3 years ago, the project truly came to fruition in August 2015 with a line-up change and the release of a 7-inch record. After touring the East Coast of Canada, from Toronto to Newfoundland and back, we released our debut full-length album, ‘Sleep Rhythms’, in March 2016.
Oh Geronimo is excited to explore the many roads yet travelled.
Successful Commercial Motor vehicle blitz By Staff
May 4, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Over the course of a two day period a joint commercial motor vehicle blitz was conducted in partnership with the Halton Regional Police Service (20 and 30 Division District Response Team), Peel Regional Police Service, Guelph Police Service and the Ministry of Transportation Ontario.
Police officer doing a safety check on a truck.
The May 2nd and 3rd blitz received an overwhelming success, 91 trucks were inspected resulting in 187 charges being issued with 53 commercial vehicles being removed from the roadway for unsafe violations. 2 drivers were suspended and 5 licence plates were removed. In one circumstance officers prevented a possible critical situation when they identified one commercial vehicle that had all its lug nuts loose permitting its tire to come unfastened.
These are astounding numbers – more than half the trucks inspected were taken off the road – one had wheels that were close to falling off!
As describe by Sergeant Bistas of the Oakville DRT Team, “taking these trucks with major defects off the road makes our community a safer place to drive”.
Tougher decisions and higher fines are in order here. We share the roads with those trucks.
If any citizen would like to report a traffic concern in Burlington or Oakville they can do so by calling (905) 878 5511 or visiting our website and submitting an online traffic complaint at https://www.haltonpolice.ca/services/reporting/trafficcomplaints.php
Hoosgow: a correctionalinstitutionused to detainpersonswhoare in thelawfulcustody of thegovernment
There are a number of organizations offering a Mother’s Day Tea on the weekend.
For many – the parents live in Burlington and their adult children live elsewhere.
Doesn’t get much better than this does it?
With the warmer weather coming (it feels as if it is here) there are opportunities to get out.
The restaurants will be packed that weekend and besides – you get out to restaurants often enough.
Here are the events we have been told about.
Ireland House
May 8 2016, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Mother’s Day Tea Party – Au Chocolat
This year, we will be celebrating Mother’s Day with a chocolate themed tea party at Ireland House at Oakridge Farm. The day will feature presentations by local chocolatier Bernhard Mueller and a guided tour of the Museum.
The Mother’s Day Tea will serve premium tea from 3Teas and traditional tea refreshments such as sandwiches, scones, sweets and chocolate specialties. Tea times will run at 1 hour and 15 minute intervals, at 11am,
12:45pm, 2:30pm and 4:15pm.
The cost is $40 per person and must be purchased in advance, as seating is limited – Call 905-332-9888. Please request group seating if needed, at time of booking. Not recommended for children under the age of 10.
For more information visit www.museumsofburlington.com or call: 905 332- 9888.
Making the time for them -they made the time for you.
Gallery 2 in the west end of the city is also offering a tea.
Cheryl Golding and her colleagues at the Gallery 2 on Spring Garden Road are hosting a Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea on Saturday, May 7, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
They will be serving: tea/coffee, scones with cream, and a variety of sweet treats.
Cost: $30.00 per person.
St Stephens Mothers Day tea is a ticketed event, tickets will not be sold at the door. Give Linda Draddy a call at 289-337-4403 or email her at: pdraddy@cogeco.ca
I think most of the people who attended John Taylor’s constituency meeting at the Conservation Authority office on Britannia Road Monday evening expected to get a really clear explanation as to why the city decided not to go forward with the Mt Nemo study that started back in 2013.
There was an explanation – sort of. A combination of the things the study didn’t have going for it and the amount of money it was going to require (that is more speculation than fact – no one was able to say during the meeting just how much had been spent).
Director of Planning Mary Lou Tanner – joined the city six months ago.
The explanations – three city staff people took a crack at it – was that they were going to go back to all the feedback that came from the Rural Summit in 2013. That event certainly produced a lot of comment – what disturbs is that neither the current planner nor senior policy planner Don Campbell were in place at city hall when that meeting was held.
Staff would have collected a lot of notes and there were probably a number of briefing papers prepared but there is nothing like being in the room to get a sense of what really happened.
It sounded as if the planning people – with a lot of input from the city manager – had decided that everything should come under the Strategic Plan umbrella. The Mt Nemo study didn’t appear to do that – so it got the hook.
Rural Burlington residents look over a large aerial photograph of their part of the city and wonder how ling it is going to remain the way it is.
The Official Plan Review – that is now on again – is to comply with the Strategic Plan. A significant statement in that Strategic Plan is to manage and protect our rural environment. Manage it for who and protect it from what was a question residents asked on several occasions.
The city set out what had been done when the Heritage Character of the Mt Nemo Plateau was being studied.
1. Preliminary Study of the Heritage Character of the Mount Nemo Plateau
2. Heritage Conservation District Study
Assessed character and heritage.
Identified options for the long-term conservation and enhancement of the character and heritage.
Recommended further study.
Key Finding
‘…a distinct historical community represented by a range of heritage features and elements…bounded in such a clear physical manner…the study area can be identified as an organically evolved, continuous Cultural Heritage Landscape’
What is a Cultural Heritage Landscape? A collection of related built form, landscape, vegetation, archaeological resources and other elements that have heritage value.
What is a Heritage Conservation District? What would it do for people within the district. Most felt that all it really was – was another layer of regulation.
Geographically defined area Protects from unsympathetic alterations Applies to a collection of historic buildings, streetscapes, landscapes Areas are referred to as “designated” Tool to manage change in accordance with a set of Guidelines (Heritage Conservation District Plan) Plans are unique and is developed with the community
Chronology:
June 2013 Council direction to undertake preliminary research January 2014 Preliminary assessment presented to Committee January 2014 Council direction to consult with public February 2014 Public consultation event shared findings of the preliminary assessment April2014 Public consultation event to discuss the preliminary study, proposed next steps in starting a Heritage Conservation District Study May 2014 Council Decision: To proceed with the Heritage Conservation District Study October 2014 MMM Group retained to complete the HCD study February 2015 Public meeting to present research and field work completed by MMM Group to date February 2015 Council direction: Place Official Plan Review reports and Mount Nemo on hold pending start of the new city manager and Strategic Plan. January 2016 Official Plan Review restarted.
Between February of 2015 and January of 2016 city council was working its way from what started out as a four year Strategic Plan to a document that covers the next forty years.
Rural Burlington residents wanted to know what the benefit was for them from this new approach. The comment was that while downtown grows “up” – the result of intensification, the rest of Burlington would grow outwards which would have more people using the rural part of the city.
The early draft of a vision got put on a huge board and for the most part the community liked the look of what they had said to each other.
Most residents resented the layers of regulation they had to deal with: Conservation Halton, Niagara Escarpment Commission, the Region and then the city. It was too much.
Once the planners had determined what the pros and cons were – the decision was pretty easy to make.
The planning department had two new staffers: a new director and a senior policy advisor – they reviewed everything they had and came to the conclusion that a Conservation Heritage District wasn’t needed, didn’t fit in all that well with the Strategic plan and certainly wasn’t’ what the residents wanted. Their graphic setting out the pros and the cons was enough to convince the politicians.
Staff saw the killing of the Heritage Conservation Districts as an opportunity to refocus; build on community feedback received to date and find the local vision that they believed came out of the Rural Summit in 2013.
Keep you and your loved ones safe and dispose of old prescription medication.
The Halton Regional Police Service would like to remind everyone that the annual Prescription Drug Drop-Off Day will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2016, between 10 am and 3 pm.
Members of the public are encourage to drop-off their old and unused prescription medication safely and confidentially at one of several locations throughout the Region of Halton.
HRPS Headquarters: 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville Acton: HRPS 10 Division, 315 Queen Street Halton Hills: Halton Hills Town Hall, 1 Halton Hills Drive Milton: Milton Sports Centre (rear lot), 605 Santa Maria Drive Oakville: Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road Burlington: City of Burlington Operations Centre, 3330 Harvester Road
The Halton Regional Police Service also has Prescription Drug Drop-Off Box located at every police station in the Region of Halton providing the public an opportunity to safely disposed medication prior to them falling in the wrong hands.
Thanks to the drop-off boxes, the Halton Regional Police Service has collected an incredible amount of prescription drugs. The following is a list of the most common prescription drugs collected between June 2015 to April 2016: –
2500 Oxycodone pills – 750 Morphine pills – 40 ml Morphine – 2350 Lorazempam pills – 260 Hydromorphone pills – 15 ml Hydromorphone – 390 Codeine pills – 140 ml Codeine – 115 Fentanyl used patches* *Used Fentanyl patches are strongly sought after in the illicit drug market.
We all love food, so why are we throwing nearly half of it in the trash?
The Burlington Green people invite you to watch food lovers Jen & Grant take on quite a challenge.
This couple vowed to quit grocery shopping and to survive solely on foods that would otherwise be thrown away fir six months.
The film takes a glimpse into our standards for food production, and where this system is failing, leaving millions of pounds of food in the landfill, and half the world malnourished.
When: May 5, 2016, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ( doors open at 6:30 pm) Where: Burlington Public Library (Central Branch), 2331 New Street Admission: $5/person *Complimentary refreshments courtesy of Goodness Me!
This event is part of the 2016 Eco-Film Festival presented by BurlingtonGreen, the Burlington Public Library and Halton Green Screens.
Future films on the program:
This Changes Everything June 2, 2016 (join us for our AGM beforehand!)
Directed by Avi Lewis, and inspired by Naomi Klein’s international non-fiction bestseller This Changes Everything, the film presents seven powerful portraits of communities on the front lines, from Montana’s Powder River Basin to the Alberta Tar Sands, from the coast of South India to Beijing and beyond.
Interwoven with these stories of struggle is Klein’s narration, connecting the carbon in the air with the economic system that put it there. Throughout the film, Klein builds to her most controversial and exciting idea: that we can seize the existential crisis of climate change to transform our failed economic system into something radically better.
Flight of the butterflies September 22, 2016
This film is about the remarkable Monarch butterfly migration, the most incredible migration on Earth, and the determined scientist who spent 40 years trying to discover exactly where the butterflies mysteriously disappeared when they flew south for winter.
The True Cost November 24, 2016
This eye-opening documentary examines how the developed world’s desire for cheap, stylish clothes has led to the widespread abuse of the Third World sweatshop labourers who make them, the degradation of local environments, the waste produced, and what the fashion industry can do to change the situation.
Burlington has thousands of people who volunteer – and it could use an additional thousand tomorrow – there is no reason to be at home doing nothing in this city. Volunteers make the place work.
The Art Gallery of Burlington has 300 + volunteers and they wanted to find a way to thank them in a very special way.
They found a way – they are sponsoring a PRIVATE performance of the Hayley Marie Remple concert at the Performing Arts Centre.
Volunteers only –
The performance – named “An Evening in Paris” is a combination of superb flute playing by Hayley Marie interspersed by short gossipy videos of the men who composed the music she will be playing.
Remple has certainly done her research – she tells all kinds of little known facts about some of the greatest composers the world has ever heard.
While Beethoven is not one of the composers she will be playing – the video on him is a delight– Remple calls them Two minute Talks.
By Pepper Parr
They worked with Noonan to create a fund that would focus on mental health needs in the community. Burlington is a leader in recognizing this need within its population and creating an endowment that would both grow the funds and handle their distribution by accepting applications from groups and organizations that work in the mental health field.
Not certain as to when but the people who do the landscaping at Spencer Smith Park said Sunday afternoon during a Jane’s Walk that the existing Gazebo is not accessible and it doesn’t allow for much variation in terms of the way it is used.
The New Street construction project is scheduled until September 2016.
There were about 2,000 hopefuls when Searchlight 2016 opened earlier this year.
Gallery 2 in the west end of the city is also offering a tea.
Staff saw the killing of the Heritage Conservation Districts as an opportunity to refocus; build on community feedback received to date and find the local vision that they believed came out of the Rural Summit in 2013.
The Halton Regional Police Service would like to remind everyone that the annual Prescription Drug Drop-Off Day will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2016, between 10 am and 3 pm.
This couple vowed to quit grocery shopping and to survive solely on foods that would otherwise be thrown away fir six months.
