 By Pepper Parr
November 12, 2015
Burlington,ON
It is true – the city is losing Scott Stewart – he will become the Deputy Chief, Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Services for the city of Guelph. His start date is very early in December. Stewart will commute to Guelph for the first while
 He was sometimes gruff – always direct and never passed the blame for mistakes along to others. Hopefully,before he leaves Stewart will tell the full story about the purchase of the piece of property at the intersection of Walkers Line and the North Service Road on the west side. We have lost a good one – at a time when we can least afford such a loss at this level.
Less than four years ago the city had three General Managers – we got down to one and now that one is leaving.
City Manager James Ridge now has to look at his senior level corporate structure and decide how he wants to organize his staff. And he is going to have to look really hard to find someone of Stewart’s calibre.
There are two people at the Director level who could move into the job Stewart has held but both are critical to the operations they now run.
 Scott Stewart the one general manager we have poses with an award he was given for leadership at the inter-municipal level. The city has a number of people who are doing exceptionally well and can be expected to grow into Director level jobs – most need three to five years to mature in their jobs and develop their leadership skills.
James Ridge has been with the city long enough to have gained the measure of most of his staff compliment but what is known about his past experience does not include this level of management reorganization.
 City manager James Ridge with Michelle Dwyer, who has shown considerable leadership in ensuring the Strategic Plan development process runs smoothly. To the left is JC Bourque, one of the two KPMG consultants facilitating the process He has developed good working relationships with his staff; his personality is such that he works well with people –
is able to draw the best out of most people.
The challenge for Ridge is going to be to get city council to do the job they were elected to do – the previous city manager Jeff Fielding soon realized that this Council was never going to do very much and he pretty well rode rough shod over them.
That isn’t Ridge’s style – his armed forces experience has taught him what a chain of command is and he expects those he serves to do their jobs. There is some heart ache coming his way.
If this had to happen to him – a year from now would have been better.
 By Staff
November 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Was it a fence, a sign or a hoarding?
 Nothing but posts in the ground – will there be new signs or will it be a fence? It took the legal department a few days to determine which it was – doesn’t matter now – it is no more.
The signs – and they were signs, promoting the ADI Development planned for the intersection of Martha Street and Lakeshore Road was taken down after the city advised the company that they were signs which also happened to exceed the allowable size.
 The lot is where the ADI Development group want to build a 26 story structure. The ADI development group has arm wrestled with the city at almost – and we do say almost – every point of contact.
 The sign that broke the rules – gone – but for how long? The relatively new to Burlington development company has completed just the one project – the Modern on Guelph Line, which is a very attractive building.
The Linx on Dundas and Sutton is a significantly different design on a site that overlooks Bronte Creek.
The project they have planned in Aldershot, described as Masonry Court but to be marketed as Station West is still at the discussion with the planning department stage.
The city released a document that suggests there has been some progress with the project.
 By Pepper Parr
November 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
This story and its headline have been revised since the initial publication.
Sometime in the very near future city hall will announce who has been selected to become the Director of Transportation. Vito Tolone has been serving as the interim for a short period of time.
The Gazette erroneously reported that Tolone had been appointed. We have been asked to publish the clarification that the this vacancy is going to be filled by competition, not by appointment. “You can imagine that reading the information in this article could make potential candidates quite uncomfortable” said the city communications department.
 Scott Stewart – his sweater says it all.  Vito Tolone – now Director of Transportation Scott Stewart, General Manager of Development and Infrastructure nurtured Tolone for a number of years as he did with Chris Glenn and Alan Magi.
Stewart is the last man standing of the team that Jeff Fielding had to work with when he took on the job of city manager.
When Fielding left for Calgary many thought Stewart would fill that roll. That didn’t happen.
 Many thought Scott Stewart, on the left would succeed Jeff Fielding, on the right as City Manager. That didn’t happen. Has Stewart found a place where his skill set will be used and appreciated? Has Stewart found greener grass somewhere?
The Gazette has picked up comment from two sources – not sure yet if it is common chatter or do they know something the rest of us don’t yet know.
Losing Scott Stewart would be a serious blow to the city which at this point has just the one General Manager and a city manager who is getting a feel for the job.
By Staff
November 12, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It is one of the really good news stories and the credit goes to a dedicated band of people who just would not give up.
 The renovation/rebuild of the Freeman Station is well underway. The sign on the front of the building stresses that help is needed to complete this task. History is being polished here. It took years to win the battle but the Freeman Station is sitting on a firm foundation alongside the fire department headquarters on Plains Road where it quietly and effectively undergoes what is almost a rebuilt.
 There was a city engineer who once said the building was not worth saving, at the time the city couldn’t sell it for kindling. What was once a sorry looking building sitting on wooden blocks is getting to the point where it will be presentable and open to the public. Not this year and maybe not next – but the direction the Freeman Station is going in is clear.
Additional help is always needed.
 The public art on the south side of the Freeman Station isn’t going to keep everyone happy. Perhaps it is not complete? The city decided recently that there would be public art in each of the wards – for ward 2 the Freeman Station was chosen – the art is in place and the structure has a decent coat of paint making it look pretty sharp from the road as one drives by.
When the official opening day comes one hopes that it is the ward Councillor Marianne Meed Ward and her colleague ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster who lead the ribbon cutting. They were the two who took on the task of finding a way to keep the station while the rest of Council sat on their hands.
By Pepper Parr
November 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The crowds are larger – they have been growing each year for the past three years. Is it because there are no WW I veterans left and we are losing those who survived WW II each month?
 During the service we sang, we prayed we listened to the Last Post and we heard the Reveille and our heads lifted to the sky as we watched the Lancaster bombers do a fly past.
 Is it because the world is a much more dangerous place and we are becoming very aware of how precious the democracy and freedom we have is?
 MPP Eleanor McMahon and MP Karina Gould Those who gather at the cenotaph each year bring their own thoughts, memories and dreams that were dashed with them. We go with the words “Lest we forget” on our lips – might we ask – was it all necessary? The It was John Lennon who got it right when he sang:– “All we are saying is give Peace a chance”
 Reviewing stand veteran A friend passed me a comment a number of years ago which went like this:
War will become obsolete when it is socially unacceptable.
It really is up to us.
 By Staff
November 14, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Irish Rovers are rolling into town celebrating 50 Years of music with a tourthat will have them at the Performing Arts Centre on November 20th.
If you’re a fan – you won’t want to miss this concert – it is going to be a mix of hits, rollicking jigs and reels, plus hilarious stories from their years on the road.
 The Irish Rovers kicking up a storm on stage – will be in Burlington November 20th. They usually sell out The Irish Rovers were founded in Toronto but first became known on American television in the 60s. As guests on The Tonight Show, The Smothers Brothers Show, Mike Douglas Show, The Virginian, The Dating Game (George Millar actually won the date), they gained experience before hosting their first of three television series “The Irish Rovers Show” in the 70’s.
At that time, fans enjoyed their early hits like Black Velvet Band, The Unicorn, Whisky on a Sunday and Wasn’t That A Party.
Now with a career spanning 50 years they’re not retiring, but are slowing down the touring – ironically at a time when they’re getting some of the best reviews of their career:
“Sold out in Tallahassee – All the years of touring and playing haven’t eroded the band’s ferocious chops. Those musicians are so tight. They’re virtuosos!” – Tallahassee Democrat
“Sold out in Orange County – When the band was jamming through traditional Irish sets you could close your eyes and imagine yourself at a ceili in a pub on the shamrock shore with a pint and a rocking-tight house band of the lads.” – Orange County Register
“Sold out in San Luis – Impossible to sit still as they play song after merry song off the pages of Ireland’s historic songbook. What an unforgettable experience! The Irish Rovers excite even the most discerning audience member into having a rip-roaring good time.” – Foundation for the Performing Arts
 They aren’t as young – but the lilt is still in their voices – and they are very funny guys. Tickets to The Irish Rovers at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre on November 20 at 8:00pm can be purchased online www.burlingtonpac.ca, by phone 905-681-6000 or in person at the Box Office located at 440 Locust Street.
Ciné-Starz Upper Canada Place, Burlington, ON
Burlington, ON L7R 4B6
Week of Friday, November 13, 2015 through Thursday, November 19, 2015
The Last Witch Hunter (14A)
Fri – Thu: 5:15, 7:40, 9:40
Crimson Peak (14A)
Fri – Thu: 3:15, 7:25, 9:40
Pan (PG)
Fri – Thu: 1:00, 3:15, 5:20
Sicario (14A)
Fri – Thu: 1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:40
Everest (PG)
Fri – Thu: 1:00, 3:25, 7:25, 9:40
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (PG)
Fri – Thu: 1:00, 5:00, 7:15, 9:40
War Room ()
Fri – Thu: 1:00, 3:00, 5:25, 7:25, 9:40
Minions (G)
Fri – Thu: 1:10, 3:10, 5:40
By Pepper Parr
November 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Tom Muir wasn’t at all sure it could be done that way – but when he saw the agenda for the Development And Infrastructure Committee he was at first aghast and then just a little stunned.
The Development and Infrastructure Committee received an excellent report on the tax rebate available to people who wanted to upgrade their homes that had been designated as historically significant.
It was a good report – there was relatively little debate – the usual congratulatory remarks were made and the report was received.
It was a short meeting – it adjourned after just over an hour and recessed until the evening session.
 A Mayor can call a meeting of Council whenever he chooses. Before anyone could leave the Council Chamber the Mayor called a Special meeting of city Council that had been announced to pass a bylaw that would make the recommendation on the tax rebate for designated homes legal.
It took less than five minutes – and Tom Muir still wants to know why something like that wasn’t done with the development application that was being made by the ADI Development Group for a structure they want to put up at Martha and Lakeshore Road. The Staff recommendation was to not approve the development and that recommendation was accepted at a Standing Committee meeting. The next step that that time was for city Council to receive that recommendation from the Standing Committee and vote on it. They never did that – because the time line within which that was to be dine had run out.
Muir has been pressing the ward two Councillor and the Mayor for an answer as to why the deadline was missed.
“I was looking at the agendas for this week and saw something interesting that is related to the ADI Martha file and timeline”, wrote Muir in an email he sent the Gazette.
“The D&I will pass the Heritage properties requests tomorrow, and then right after that the Special Council meeting will vote on it again and pass it. It’s the only agenda item.
“So this can be done slam dunk, but the staff recommendation to refuse ADI Martha can’t make it through in 22 days, and can’t do what is being done tomorrow.”
The Gazette has explained in the past that the Mayor can call a meeting of Council whenever he wishes. He is required to give the members of his Council some notice – but that notice can be waived. The Gazette was advised by the city clerk Angela Morgan that a quorum has to be in the room and that a Clerk has to be present.
 Tom Muir just wants to know why City Council did not vote on the ADI Development project. Muir is shaking his head – he doesn’t understand. He has apparently taken the Mayor off his Christmas card list for the way he was treated. Muir took the Mayor at his word and was prepared to be patient while the Mayor put together the promised “meaningful response” to the questions Muir had. What Muir got was a copy of an email the Mayor sent Ward 2 Councillor Meed Ward – thanking her for answering all Muir’s questions.
Muir takes issue with the way this had been handled and doesn’t feel Meed Ward answered any of his questions but danced around the issue.
For reasons that aren’t at all clear – this city council has changed its tone and is far less civil with some of its constituents.
 Will this be built? City council didn’t say it shouldn’t – the Council – not one of its Standing committees – didn’t vote on this issue. What the Gazette doesn’t understand is – why didn’t Council formally vote against the ADI project. They had plenty of time?
In the early stages of the Muir questioning he was told it didn’t really matter – then the position changed and Muir was told that Council did vote against the application – they did no such thing – they voted to receive a report from staff that recommend Council not approve the application.
Council did what they are supposed to do earlier yesterday, when a report was on the agenda and presented – this particular report didn’t get much in the way of debate or discussion. There was a delegation that asked Council to pass the bylaw that would increase the tax rebate to 25%.
Council did exactly that – within 15 minutes the Mayor called the Special Council meeting to order, read out the by law, the vote was called, they all put their hands up and it was passed.
Done a slam dunk! Easy, simple – Council has done exactly the same thing in the past.
The public doesn’t know why the same thing was not done with the ADI development application.
The Council member for ward two would appear to be obfuscating. The Mayor was just plain rude to a constituent. The rest of the members of this council are just as complicit – they are all sitting on their hands hoping this will go away.
There is a small group of people who want to know – why. They have patience and are aware that come January 1, there will be recourse for them.
 By Vince Fiorito
November 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Alien invaders surround us. They can be found along roadsides. They are common in lakes and rivers. Eventually they will completely over run all natural areas and green spaces.
The alien invaders aren’t people. They are plants, insects, fish, birds, animals and all the non-native species which never existed in a place until they were deliberately or accidentally introduced by people. While some of these alien species are benign, far too many have become invasive and destructive.
Invasive species are a global menace with significant, far-reaching environmental and socio-economic consequences including loss of agricultural productivity and damage to renewable natural resource industries (forestry). Invasive species have caused entire ecosystems to become dysfunctional.
 Emerald Ash Bore – This little creature is costing us a fortune – and we are not at all certain we are going to win the battle to stop the infestation.  The Zebra Mussel completely changes a fresh water ecosystem. Hundreds of alien species are currently present in Ontario. Some of the more well know alien invaders include the Zebra Mussel (completely changes a fresh water ecosystem), Emerald Ash Borer (kills native Ash trees) Dutch Elm Disease (nearly wiped out the American Elm) Sea Lampreys (decimated the Great Lakes Trout fishery) and Starlings (crowd out native bird species and cause millions of dollars in agriculture losses each year).
 Lovely to look at – as invasive as all get out – Purple loosestrife Scientists are fighting back against invasive species, with some successes. Purple Loosestrife (destroyed wetlands) is now controlled by an introduced beetle at the cost of millions of dollars in research. Their decision to release the loosestrife eating beetle was gutsy, considering that a similar effort in Australia to eradicate the invasive Cane Beetle by introducing the Cane Toad was an ecological disaster. While the Cane Toad did eat the Cane beetle, it also ate everything else it could swallow.
Since the Cane Toad had no natural predators in Australia it soon became one of Australia’s most dominant species. The Cane Toad has caused many of Australia’s native insects to become so rare, they no longer contribute in a significant way to the local ecology, with ripple effects on many of Australia’s native plants and animals which have since become rare and threatened with extinction.
The least expensive solutions to the invasive species problems are to prevent problems in the first place and reacting quickly, aggressively and decisively to the first sign of a new invasive species problem.
On November 3rd, 2015, Ontario became the first jurisdiction in Canada to enact a tough law which will reduce the invasive species threat. As per the new Ontario Invasive Species Act, no person shall,
bring a member of a prohibited invasive species into Ontario or cause it to be brought into Ontario;
deposit or release a member of a prohibited invasive species or cause it to be deposited or released;
possess or transport a member of a prohibited invasive species;
propagate a member of a prohibited invasive species;
buy, sell, lease or trade or offer to buy, sell, lease or trade a member of a prohibited invasive species.
bring a member of a restricted invasive species into a provincial park or conservation reserve or cause it to be brought into a provincial park or conservationreserve;
or
deposit or release a member of a restricted invasive species in Ontario or cause it to be deposited or released in Ontario.
First time offenses can result in a $250,000 fine and/or a year of imprisonment. A second offense could cost $500,000. If that sounds excessive, consider that first time corporate offenders could face a $1,000,000 fine with subsequent offenses resulting in fines as great as $2,000,000.
Even though this law’s punitive sanctions don’t fully offset the damages which can result from invasions species, they should sufficient to deter deliberately destructive behavior.
 Snow-On-The-Mountain (aka Goutweed) is a robust ground cover that will eventually become Ontario’s most dominant forest plant. Ontario’s new Invasive Species law will affect many local nurseries and gardeners. Several common ornamental plants which have been sold in local nurseries for decades are known invasive species problems. Snow-On-The-Mountain (aka Goutweed) is a robust ground cover that will eventually become Ontario’s most dominant forest plant. Goutweed will displace most of Ontario’s native forest species, including Trilliums which are our provincial flower. Goutweed is a likely early candidate for the invasive species list.
Another problematic invasive ornamental plant is Mountain Fleece (aka Japanese Knotweed). The roots of this tenacious alien species can destroy driveways and cause structural to buidings. Once established, Japanese Knotweed is nearly impossible to permanently eradicate. Eventually this plant will replace most native plant species growing along Ontario’s shorelines.
Both Goutweed and Japanese Knotweed have escaped cultivation locally. They are commonly found throughout Burlington’s green spaces along with invasive Himalayan Balsam, Garlic Mustard, Phragmites and Buckthorn.
These invasive species are not just serious ecological problems here in Ontario; they are also serious global ecological problems which affect natural areas near London England, Sapporo Japan, Christchurch New Zealand, Pretoria South Africa and every other ecosystem on the earth which shares similar climate and conditions as Burlington. Deliberately cultivating this species in the UK is illegal and can result in substantial fines.
 Japanese knotweed – seen all over the place in Burlington. Fiorito believes that once established, Japanese Knotweed is nearly impossible to permanently eradicate. The mere presence of Japanese Knotweed in a neighborhood lowers everyone’s property values. British Real Estate law now requires home sellers declare the presence of Japanese Knotweed on their property. If this plant is subsequently discovered on that property, then the buyer can sue the seller for eradication costs.
In Burlington, Japanese Knotweed is available at many local nurseries. Many local gardeners have unwittingly created problems that will be expensive to fix, when Japanese Knotweed is inevitably put on the invasive species list.
The easiest way that gardeners can avoid creating invasive species problem around their homes is to choose plant species which are native to the local ecosystem. Each spring the Royal Botanical Gardens holds an annual native plant sale. Most nurseries now have a native plant section. Several local nurseries and landscape designers have become native plant specialists. This new invasive species law will help forward looking local businesses grow and prosper.
We can no longer ignore the destructive consequences of invasive alien species anymore. Failure to consider the ecological consequences of introducing an invasive alien species will become expensive in the not so distant future. This new law will help change attitudes leading Ontarians to becoming better stewards of the natural systems which rejuvenate our soils and clean our air and water. Ontario’s new invasive species law represents real change and will help protect Ontario from the growing international invasive species threat.
 Vince Fiorito is the steward of Sheldon Creek; a designation given him by Conservation Halton. He was recently a candidate for the Green Party and is an extremely knowledgeable person when it comes to what we are doing to our environment. Don’t get him going.
 By Staff
November 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Things get done by a city government when orders are sent out.
City Council is being asked to:
Authorize the Executive Director of Capital Works to support the implementation of the Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park Master Plan under the leadership of the Region of Halton.
The report put before the Standing Committee this week is to:
confirm staff commitment to assist the Region of Halton with the implementation of the Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park Master Plan (Master Plan) in accordance with directions approved by Regional Council
provide information related to the Region of Halton’s application for Canada 150 funding
provide a summary of findings to date for options to relocate/ bury the hydro lines
The fight to maintain the community of some 30 homes in the Beachway park wasn’t won but it wasn’t lost either – things are sort of at a standoff with the Regional government saying they will wait until a property owner is ready to sell and they will then negotiate a price and the deal will be closed. It’s a sort of grind them down over time – and so far it’s working.
 Region has applied for federal funding to get started on the Beachway Park aIn the meantime plans for a park that the public first got a glimpse of last June are well underway,
The Master Plan project is being led by the Region of Halton, in partnership with the City of Burlington and Conservation Halton. The three agencies worked closely together to develop the Master Plan that was approved at Regional Council on May 27, 2015.
 There was a willing seller for this house – and the one next door to it as well – they are being bought up one by one. The long-term implementation of the Master Plan is based on acquisition of all properties on a willing-seller/ willing -buyer basis, as approved at Regional Council on May 27, 2015. The Master Plan provides a guide for the implementation of improvements to this exceptional waterfront resource. This requires continued commitment by city staff to work with the Region of Halton to:
prepare detailed design and phasing plans
obtain approvals
administer contracts for construction
The federal government created the Canada 150 Fund as part of the celebration of the country’s 150th birthday in 2017. Canadian municipal governments and their institutions have been invited to apply for funding of various projects.
The Region of Halton applied for federal funding through the Canada 150 Infrastructure Fund for implementation of the approved Master Plan. Applications for the following stages of development of the Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park were submitted:
rehabilitation and expansion of the “Living Shoreline” in Beachway Park
renovation of the Waterfront Trail (promenade) in Spencer Smith Park
rehabilitation of the “Strand” in Beachway Park
Subject to funding, the tentative schedule is to issue a Request for Proposal for consulting services to prepare the detailed design this year; and to complete the construction in 2017/ 2018 to meet the deadline stipulated by the funding.
 Illustration on where the hydro line could go if it were to the west of the QEW These works will be coordinated with other related works required at Spencer Smith Park including improvements to drainage at the promenade and repairs to the parapet wall. The city will contribute to funding of infrastructure renewal items and to support staff fees, subject to approval of the 2016 Capital Budget and 2017 – 2025 Forecast.
 Illustration of where the hydro wires could go if they were to the east of the QEW Hydro Lines Relocation
Back in June 2013 Hydro One undertook a preliminary investigation to review options and determine high level costs for the relocation and/ or burial of the hydro lines located in Beachway Park. Three options were out forward
Option 1- Relocate structures/ lines westward to the east side of the QEW
build new structures #18 to 26 including 5 new lattice towers and 4 new steel pole structures
remove existing structures #18 to 26
estimated high level cost $8 – 9 million
Option 2- Relocate structures/ lines westward to the west side of the QEW
build new structures #18 to 26 including 6 new lattice towers and 4 new steel pole structures
requires two QEW crossings
remove existing structures #18 to 26
estimated high level cost $9 – 10 million
Option 3- Relocate structures/ lines underground to the west side of the beach, east of Lakeshore Road
keep towers #17 and #27 and bury the sections in between
remove existing structures #18 – 26
estimated high level cost $32 – 36 million
 Illustration of where the hydro wires would go if they were buried – best solution and of course the priciest one. The Region of Halton has determined that approximately $12 million is required to relocate the hydro lines. Staff from the region and the city have met to review the high level options. The Region of Halton will lead further study required to determine a preferred option for more detailed assessment.
Financial Matters:
The region has applied for funding toward implementation of the Master Plan through the Canada 150 Infrastructure Fund, with matching funding to be provided by the region.
Further funding to continue implementation of the Master Plan is currently under consideration by the region and subject to approval of the region’s budget, anticipated to be approved in December 2015.
The city has budgeted funds for infrastructure renewal improvements to Spencer Smith Park which will be included with the project and yearly funding for staff fees to support continued commitment to this project, subject to approval of the 2016 Capital Budget and 2017 – 2025 Forecast.
Current budget impacts, related to ongoing requirements to maintain/ operate the park as the park improvements are implemented will be brought forward as part of the current budget process.
The next step is to learn just what the city might get from the federal Canada 150 funding opportunity.
Our former MP Mike Wallace will have had a firm understanding as to just what was possible – Karina Gould, the newly elected MP will have to be reading late into the night to learn how the program works and develop the relationships that will be needed to get whatever is possible for Burlington.
By Pepper Parr
November 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
As a city that hosts three of the top 100 Festival and Events in Ontario city hall wants to improve the way these events are managed.
The Sound of Music and RibFest come close to taking over the city and Canada Day gives everyone to celebrate who we are as a country. The city has been recognized for the excellence of these three events
Festival and events of all sizes take place which leads to connectedness and civic pride. The City directly delivers a small number of events with the majority of events being delivered by the community for the community.
 Ribfest Burlington – said to be the biggest in the province. The City supports festival and event’s organizers because they activate the community, achieving two of the three strategic goals; Vibrant Neighbourhoods and Prosperity. In addition, Festival and Events have been identified as a cultural resource in the City’s Cultural Action Plan 2013 and key to the activations of the Downtown Core Commitments.
The current event process is complex as it touches various departments within the corporation and the Region of Halton. To address these complexities, a staff team was formed, represented by various departments in the organization. In the fall of 2014, the team conducted a Business Process Management Review (BPM) of the Eventing Management Process.
The purpose of the process review was to:
1. Determine and implement process efficiencies
2. Reduce duplication of work
3. Streamline sub processes as necessary in each service area and across the organization
4. Increase role clarity for the staff and event organizer, including internal corporate events like facility openings
5. Increase event organizers satisfaction
The top action item identified through the BPM process was to develop a corporate strategy for event management inclusive of the service perspective of sport, recreation & culture.
The strategy will:
• Provide linkages to existing Service Business Plans
• Set a vision for events in Burlington by determining why we allow events to be hosted in the City and what is the City trying to achieve through event hosting, strategically seeking certain types of events
• Guide the development of a new events process; providing criteria and a process for considering new events and/or eliminating duplicate or less desired events
• Outline the approval requirements and risk assessment process
• Define different event types
• Outline the guiding principles for funding support from the City
A Staff Direction issued earlier in the year directed the
Director of Parks and Recreation to work with the Sound of Music event organizers to develop a policy that addresses city funding allocations and alignment within the strategic plan, in order to inform future budget considerations.
 When the Sound of Music is good – it is very very good. The Sound of Music has wanted the city to increase its grant and align it with the grants it gets from the federal government and the province. There was a point at which Sound of Music did not want to open their accounting records but still wanted an increase in their grant – that got worked out.
The implementation of the Results Based Accountability (RBA) Business Process Management (BPM)and Service Based Budgeting (SBB) that are now standard procedures for the administration has resulted in better managed programs. With specific staff members now responsible for the effective delivery of programs the move to taking a more strategic look at what will be done in the future was a logical next step.
What does the city want to do with the festivals it funds? Are these the right events for the city or have they passed their best before date? Everyone wants to use Spencer Smith Park – is the space being used in such a way that the city and its citizens benefit or are their organizations that use the space with little real benefit to the city and the brand it is in the process of creating?
The development of an event strategy will help guide the community and staff on what the corporation is trying to achieve through events. This visioning exercise is becoming progressively more important as there is increased interest in hosting events in the Downtown Core and in particular at Spencer Smith Park.
Spencer Smith Park has reached its capacity for hosting events. Currently there is a historical approach on what events are hosted in the park. Just because an event has taken place for a number of years does that mean it should continue?
 At some point, perhaps in the distant future, there will be a different park to the west of Spencer Smith – it might even have some private homes in it – this might be a good time to talk about the kind of events hat should take place in what will be called the Beachway Park In addition some business and residents have suggested expressed that the downtown roads have also reached their capacity for event hosting and that there is a need for balance.
There is a desire to expand eventing outside of the downtown core. Currently there is limited infrastructure to support this interest. If expanding eventing is the key outcome of the strategy, it is anticipated there will need to be an investment from the City to make this feasible.
The city has had some difficulty getting events that are focused on Spencer Smith to work their way up Brant Street and into some of the streets to the east that have something of a commercial base.
To initiate the input /engagement phase for the development of an overall Events Strategy, it was decided to use a Committee of the Whole format to allow for dialogue in more of a workshop format on the vision for eventing in Burlington. Pamela Hubbard has been retained to guide committee through a focused conversation on events.
Following Committee’s input facilitated sessions will be conducted with:
• Festival and Events Organizers
• Businesses
• Residents
• Staff
Representation from downtown and city wide will be sought.
Using the information gathered from facilitated sessions, and baseline data gathered through the BPM process, a team comprised of staff from various departments in the corporation will review the feedback and build a vision for events in Burlington.
 Culture is getting more play in the city; it is getting m,ore attention in the draft of the Strategic Plan. How can the Culture Days events get tied into the Festivals and Events more tightly – and can the Performing Arts Centre and the Art Gallery be brought in as well? The team will also outline an action plan to achieve that vision. This draft strategy will be presented to Committee in 2016 for support and endorsement helping to guide the community on eventing in the future.
Included on the staff team is the Downtown Coordinator and the service owner for Culture to ensure that there is interconnection between Core Commitments and the Cultural Action Plan.
Festival and Events bring energy, smiles and enjoyment for residents and visitors and are a large part of the way the city is seen by the rest of the world. Are we satisfied with the image we are projecting?
The development of an event strategy will help guide the community and staff on what the corporation is trying to achieve through events. This visioning exercise is a very good opportunity for the public to make a comment.
A little more notice would have been useful – and holding the discussion in the evening would have let ordinary people take part in the meeting.
A good hard look at what we do with the magnificent waterfront property we have is just good corporate governance – open it up and let some of the ideas the citizens have make it to the table.
The route we are talking allows the vested interests to lead the parade. Not in the long term best interests of the city.
You may not have time to get to the meeting – Councilor Jack Dennison is the chair – he is pretty good at listening to people and is always open to new ideas – send him a note if you have comments.
By Ed Keenleyside
November 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The city recently installed attractive and informative identification plaques on many of our public art displays. A brief explanation is provided so that the public will know who the artist was or how and why the piece of art came to be.
There is a plaque beside the Spiral Stella outside the Performing Arts Centre and another tucked in behind the clock on Brant Street outside city hall.
 Ed Keenleyside points to three significant errors in the plaque the city put up explaining the background of the war memorial just north of city hall. The City is to be congratulated for this effort… but when there are errors on any of those plaques, it is embarrassing.
The errors on the plaque beside the Cenotaph Memorial is embarrassing. Within the handful of sentences describing this important monument, are the following mistakes:
1. There are 38 World War I casualties listed on the memorial, not 39.
2. The 38 fatalities listed are soldiers from the Great War (or World War I ), not from the Second World War.
3. There are 44 local service people listed from the Second World War, not 43.
In addition to the embarrassing errors on the plaque, I wonder why the Korean War Veterans are recognized at the base of the Cenotaph but the Afghanistan War Veterans are not recognized.
 Ed Keenleyside can’t understand why the plaque that explains the history of the war memorial he is standing beside has so many errors on it. I am currently researching the names of the 82 casualties etched on the Cenotaph with plans to publish an informative book, which will put faces and personalities to those who died so many years ago.
I have information on all but one name and that person, J. W. Williamson, is among the 44 World War II fatalities. If anyone can identify this person I would be most grateful. Please contact me at ekeenleyside@cogeco.ca if you can help.
 By Staff
November 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Between October 19 and October 26, 2015, the Halton Regional Police Drug, Gun and Gang Unit ran a week long amnesty for residents to get rid of unwanted weapons. Officers responded to pick up requests from citizens around the region, looking to surrender and dispose of firearms, weapons and ammunition.
 Police display the weapons turned in by the public during a weapons amnesty. A list of items turned into police is as follows:
55 rifles
14 shotguns
27 pellet handguns
22 pellet rifles
17 handguns
2 starter pistols
1 one-handed crossbow
10 knives
250 pounds of ammunition.
It is evident our communities in Halton are that much safer due to the partnership between the community and police. 135 total weapons capable of firing some form of projectile are no longer available for opportunistic thieves.
A Remembrance Day Ceremony will be taking place in downtown Burlington on Wednesday Nov. 11, 2015.
Buses will be detoured from approximately 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as follows:
Routes 3 South and 5 East to Burlington GO
• Leaving the Downtown Terminal
• Right on James Street
• Left on Drury Lane
• Left on Prospect Street
• Right on Brant Street
• Resume regular routing
Route 300 to LaSalle
• Regular routing to Downtown Terminal
• Right at James Street
• Right at Elizabeth Street
• Right at Lakeshore Road
• Right at Burlington Street
• Left at Ontario Street
• Resume regular routing
Routes 3 North and 5 West to Downtown Terminal
• Leaving Burlington GO Station
• Regular routing until Brant and Prospect Streets
• Left on Prospect Street
• Right on Drury Lane
• Right on New Street
• Left on John Street to Downtown Terminal
Route 300 to Seniors’ Centre
• Regular routing to Ontario Street
• Right at Burlington Avenue
• Left at Lakeshore Road
• Left at Elizabeth Street
• Left at James Street
• Left at John Street
By Pepper Parr
November 6th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Tom Muir is not happy.
He asked what he thought was a pretty simple question about a development in ward 2 – the downtown part of the city. It seemed logical to Muir to ask Marianne Meed Ward the questions she had; the project was in her ward and she had a reputation for getting back to her constituents.
Tom Muir just wanted to know why the city failed to vote on a development application and found itself defending the failure to do so at an OMB hearing. While Muir didn’t live in the ward the Council member had a reputation for helping everyone – no matter where they lived.
For reasons that aren’t clear, Meed Ward didn’t get back to Muir – she apologized later for the oversight.
When Muir didn’t get a reply he sent a second email and this time copied the city manager and the Mayor.
Meed Ward then responded and proceeded to give Muir reams of information – none of which Muir later said actually answered his questions.
There was a lot of back and forth of long answers from Meed Ward and even longer follow up questions from Muir – these two clearly deserved each other.
Things got to the point where other people jumped into the discussion and Meed Ward decided a conversation was the best thing to do. She invited Muir to call and ask for a meeting.
Muir wanted to know who else would be at the meeting: the Mayor and city manager perhaps?
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward gets tripped up by a resident who writes longer messages than she does. Meed Ward didn’t see it that way – she was prepared to meet with Muir and address his questions. Muir came back with: “Addressing questions is not answering them. So what exactly do you mean?”
While all the back and forth was going on the Mayor finally got back to Muir and apologized for the delay asking him to be patient and that he would in the fullness of time give Muir a “meaningful response” – words I am sure the Mayor now regrets.
Tom Muir wanted to know why the city failed to hold a vote on the application to build a very high building on a very small lot. Muir thought about a meeting with Meed Ward – decided it couldn’t hurt – but what he really wanted was an explanation from someone as to why the city failed to vote on the ADI Development application for what is now believed to be a 26 storey (not 28 anymore) structure at the intersection of Martha Street and Lakeshore Road.
Then out of the blue Muir gets a response from the Mayor – sort of. What he got was a copy of an email from the Mayor to Meed Ward thanking her for answering all Muir’s questions.
Muir then gets back to the Mayor with “Your message – “Thanks Marianne for addressing all of Tom’s questions” – is ambiguous.
Muir adds: “And the meeting invitation that you replied to with this message has not yet taken place. So nothing at all, including questions, could have been “addressed” yet, never mind answered, or provide anything to be thanked for.”
Muir continues: “Marianne has not answered any of my questions, and there is no evidence of answers for you to thank her for. So your use of ambiguity obscures and evades, and is to me a case of political double-talk.”
Muir points out that on October 8 the Mayor wrote me the following;
HI Tom, – You will receive a meaningful answer.
I was away recently for 10 days and am obviously behind in responding to some emails as well.
Please be patient. – Thanks – Rick
 Mayor doesn’t appear to be evading questions here. Muir then be begins to lace into the Mayor:
“You have been a recipient of all the correspondence on this matter, so you are familiar with all the questions I have asked.
“You promised to provide a “meaningful answer”.
“You have not lived up to your word.
“You have provided nothing yet, except what appears to me to be a double meaning spin.
“You appear to be evading the questions.
“You asked me to be patient, and I think that waiting a month and more is patient.
“Please provide me your meaningful answer.
“Thank you.” – Tom Muir
You can see where this is going.
Tom Muir delegates at council meetings frequently. He is a dog when he gets a bone in his mouth – something the Mayor should have known.
Informed citizens are not to be trifled with – tread carefully and provide considerate answers – never blow them off.
Political pundits often describe politicians who don’t quite get it when they are ‘doing politics’ – as people who have a “tin ear”.
They might well be describing the Mayor of Burlington.
By Staff
November 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Offender Management Unit of the Halton Regional Police Service is searching for Scott Michael MACDONALD 36 years old of, St Catherines ON.
 In September 2015 the accused stole a quantity of electronics from a store in Burlington and made good his escape.
During the investigation it came to light that the accused was on a separate release for similar offences in York Region as well as probation for a similar offence in Halton Region
Officers made numerous attempts to locate the accused with negative results and a warrant was issued for his arrest
To date the accused has managed to amass 25 convictions for various offences including; Thefts, Frauds, Break and Enters, Over 80 mgs and Fail to Attend Court
He is wanted by Halton Regional Police for:
Theft under $5000
Fail to Comply Undertaking x 2
Fail to Comply Probation
MACDONALD is described as 5’9”, 150 lbs with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. He has numerous tattoos – Right forearm – “SATYANEARY”, Left arm – full sleeve, Left forearm – “MIKAYLA” in Cambodian. MACDONALD is known to frequent the areas of Burlington, Brantford, York, Niagara and the surrounding areas.
The Regional police began a Fugitive Friday program intended to seek the support of the community to apprehend people who continue to evade the police and the court system and continue to live out in our communities while having a warrant for their arrest in place.
Every Friday, the Burlington Offender Management Unit will share information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual. The information will be on the Police Service web site and made public via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
The HRPS shares “Fugitive Friday” information on our website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
Anyone who may have witnessed this person or has information that would assist investigators in locating him are encouraged to contact D/Cst. Bulbrook – Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Offender Management Team at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2346 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Ray Rivers
November 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
No matter who one voted for in the October federal election, we should all be proud of how Mr. Trudeau is conducting himself. Gracious, positive and confident, he appointed a Cabinet which everyone agrees more closely reflects the face of Canada than at any other time in our history.
 Do we see ourselves as different now? Can a political leader bring about “real change”? Beyond diversity, the men and women who will be leading this nation come with qualifications that should help make them the decision makers the new PM wants them to be. Trudeau’s plan is to decentralize decision-making from the center, to reverse a process which had started with his father. Of course, there are dangers inherent in this democratizing of policy making – this ‘government by cabinet’ approach – since it will increase the potential for jurisdictional conflicts among ministers and could lead to somewhat inconsistent national policy.
Trudeau’s Cabinet also involves a real generational change, and as a result some ministers in key positions are relatively new to political office. Take the thirty year old Afghan refugee now responsible for democratic reform; the aboriginal former provincial prosecutor heading up the justice department; a pension expert taking over the finance ministry and a former soldier leading our national defence. But then who could argue with these men and women bringing this quality of real life experience to their offices.
 Justin Trudeau and Stephane Dion – they go back some time – Dion a former leader of the Liberal party is now a Minister in anew cabinet. And there are some political veterans, including Ralph Goodale, charged with undoing the Conservative’s oppressive security legislation, and former Liberal leader Stephane Dion, who will bring his experience to the foreign affairs ministry. Mr. Dion will have a special role this month joining the PM, the environment minister, opposition leaders and provincial premiers at the UN climate change conference in Paris.
For our relatively small population, Canada is the tenth largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), topping the UK, Brazil and Mexico. And we are among the highest polluters on a per capita basis. There was a time when we Canadians were once recognized as the strongest supporters of the environment and climate action.
 How different will Justin be from his father? Early signs are that Justin will run a different PMO – Prime Minister’s Office Maurice Strong, a Pierre Trudeau diplomat, chaired the 1972 Stockholm conference on human environment, and Mulroney’s environment minister, Jean Charest, made a big splash at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Only a few years later Mr. Chretien signed the country onto the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, a legally-binding experiment for global cooperation on climate change, which he helped craft.
I was an observer at two of the earlier UN conferences and observed the measure of respect accorded delegates from this nation. Even after GW Bush ended US participation in Kyoto, the Liberal government insisted on ratifying the agreement helping to bring it into force internationally. Some said we were destined to fail since the US, our biggest trading partner, was sitting on the sidelines.
And the election of the Harper government in 2006 made that a self-fulfilling prophesy. Emission reduction initiatives, begun by the Liberals, were either killed or curtailed as Mr. Harper demonstrated his disdain for Kyoto and anything to do with climate change.
Mr. Harper was never happy with the 6% (below 1990) Kyoto target and eventually chose his own – 17% below 2005 emission levels. The irreverence and arrogance of unilaterally changing one’s target and baseline, while being a party to the legally-binding Kyoto Protocol, was lost on no one. And nobody was surprised when Canada became the first and only nation to drop out of the Kyoto Protocol (2012).
There is inherent conflict between seeking emission reductions and expanding the world’s most polluting oil production process. So by 2015, with the Paris conference and a federal election on the horizon, and with no hope of meeting even his more modest emission goal, the former PM changed the target again. By choosing 30% by 2030, he effectively insulated himself from accountability – unless he were re-elected PM another five times.
Fortunately over the last decade a number of GHG reduction initiatives were undertaken by several provinces. Ontario was the most successful, with its phase out of coal-fired electricity. But Quebec and B.C. also moved forward with a number of measures including a carbon tax. In fact, were it not for the oil-sands projects, Canada might have come close to meeting the original 6% Kyoto target, even in the absence of federal involvement and support.
Neither Harper, nor Chretien for that matter, consulted the provinces before grabbing a number out of the air to use as a target. Alberta, was so annoyed at the Chretien government, the province threatened a constitutional challenge over Kyoto. And four provinces, tired of waiting for the federal government to act, joined a California based emissions trading experiment – including an even different target.
 Changing pictures like this – can we do it in time to save the planet? It is that critical. During the election campaign, Mr. Trudeau had been criticized by his opponents for not choosing his own GHG emissions target. What he has done is invite the premiers to join him in Paris, to participate in the deliberations and to carve a new place for Canada at the table of serious nations.
After all Canada is a federation. And leadership in a federation means bringing all the jurisdictions to the table, something his father couldn’t always do and which Mr. Harper rarely, if ever, tried.
The new PM’s biggest challenge will come in Paris – a test case for co-operative federalism. Fortunately for him most of our provincial leaders, including Alberta, are more than willing to move forward on this file.
And, if they are successful, eventually the PM and his provincial partners will have developed realistic GHG emission reduction targets which we can actually achieve in our lifetimes. Then, hopefully, they can build on that momentum and move onto other issues of import to our federation.
 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.
Background links:
Trudeau Cabinet Government by Cabinet
Paris Cutting Programs that Cut Emissions Kyoto More Kyoto
Even More Kyoto 2020 Targets 1972 Copenhagen
1992 Rio EU 2015 Targets Current Emissions Dion
Western Climate Initiative
 By Staff
November 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Additional background information has been added to this piece after it was first published.
Cogeco Cable Community TV does a regular program live from their studio on Syscon Road where Mark Carr hosts The Issue and brings in guests to talk about specific issues.
 Pepper Parr, publisher of the Burlington Gazette The Issue invited the publisher of the Gazette, Pepper Parr to take part in a panel discussion about the problems the city of Burlington is having getting a Code of Conduct for its Council members in place.
 Che Marville, NDP candidate in Oakville during the last federal election. Che Marville, the New Democratic candidate for Oakville during the last election and CEO of Marville Media plus the founder of multiple social enterprises including the Children’s Media Museum. Rachel Halliwell, a Cogeco volunteer last year and now a student studying sports broadcasting completed the panel.
Mark Carr, moderator, was once a city of Burlington council member – at a time when a motion from then Council member Mike Wallace to reduce the size of Council from the then 17 members to the current seven.
Then Mayor Walter Mulkewich preferred a nine member Council and put forward a motion to that effect – it was defeated and the motion for a seven member council passed by a vote of 9 for and 8 against. Which is why we currently have a seven member city council.
Mulkewich points out in his response to the first version of this story that the Region of Halton had at the time reduced its size by four Councillors from 25 to 21 by taking away two from Burlington and two from Halton Hills which meant Burlington had to reduce its Regional Councillors by two and this became the trigger for the Council size issue in Burlington.
There is a longer story to this, to the saga of the debate at both the Region and City, and the reasons I voted as I did at that time. Now that Milton has dramatically grown as has Oakville, and therefore the Regional representation issue needs to be revisited – how will the Region deal with representation in this term or will it – and will there be ramifications for Burlington?
Is Burlington’s seven member Council more effective? Debatable and Carr made his views known.
Carr, who is well versed on public issues, gets into the debate and discussion as much as he can – few softball questions from him.
Che Marville can also get quite scrappy
One of the best comments was made by 18 year-old Halliwell who suggested city council take part in events that called for them to work as a team “seems to me” she said “that they need some team building opportunities.”
Halliwell voted in her first election this year
 The Issue moderator Mark Carr – Live on Cogeco Cable television The program was broadcast live Tuesday, and will be re-broadcast on the following dates on Channel 23 and HD 700
Fri, Nov 6, 2015 @ 2:00pm
Sat, Nov 7, 2015 @ 10:00am
Sun, Nov 8, 2015 @ 1:00pm
Sun, Nov 8, 2015 @ 9:30pm
Tue, Nov 10, 2015 @ 2:00pm
It got lively.
By Pepper Parr
November 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The radio forecast 21 degrees – did we reach that level?
Wonderful weather – the hospitality people are just loving it – especially those with patios.
 Mark Cole, part of the Joe Dogs management team takes advantage of the great weather to have lunch on the patio. Its been a great couple of months for Joe Dogs. Mark Cole of Joe Dogs – the people who sell us beer when our work day is done, report that they had a “fabulous baseball season and are really liking the way the weather has held.”
“It doesn’t get better than this” Mark added as he sat in the sun working his cell phone and tapping numbers into a spreadsheet on his tablet.
What has the phenomenal sports season done for the hospitality people? Exceptional – so much so that when Liberal Pam Damoff won the Oakville North Burlington seat they planned on a victory party and booked space at the Tin Cup on Upper Middle Road. There was a baseball game on that night – all they got was a little space in a corner – most people are reported to have watched the ball game.
Many of the hospitality destinations are partnering with the Art Gallery of Burlington for their annual Soup Bowl fund raising event.
 Each Soup Bowl luncheon attendee gets to choose the bowl they want to slurp from and then get to take the bowl home with them. This event has sold out in the past. The Gazette has asked those making the soup if they would share their recipes – several have stepped forward. The event runs from the 19th to the 22nd of November. Tickets here.
Watch for the recipes.
By Pepper Parr
November 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
I was supposed to get together with a friend but he cancelled –“Can’t make it – when we learned that Platters were going to be in town we couldn’t order our tickets fast enough.
“They were part of what I was raised on: he added – “you don’t get chances like this to take a trip down memory lane. I can see me and the misses getting out for a drink after the show and reminiscing. You should join us?”
The show, which is in town for the one day – Friday – tomorrow – and there are still some decent seats available. I notice the box seats don’t seem to be sold – wonder why? Will look into that.
 Meanwhile – the show. The audience will hear both the Platter and the Ink Spots – both were category breaking for their time.
For those of you who lived your lives then – you know what I’m talking about. If you’ve never heard of them – Google the guys and listen to a few tunes on You Tube – you are in for a treat.
The Platters was an American vocal group; one of the most successful groups of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the burgeoning new genre. The group had 40 charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart between 1955 and 1967, including four no. 1 hits.
The Platters were one of the first African American groups to be accepted as a major chart group and were, for a period of time, the most successful vocal group in the world.
They were part of that ground breaking, ground shaking era when the segregationist views were being taken apart.
 The Ink Spots gained international fame in the 1930s and 1940s. They preceeded the Platters and had a unique musical style that was more rhythm and blues and the subgenre doo-wop. The Ink Spots were widely accepted in both the white and black communities, largely due to the ballad style introduced to the group by lead singer Bill Kenny.
The Ink Spots disbanded in 1954; since then there have been well over 100 vocal groups calling themselves “The Ink Spots” without any right to the name; they have claimed to be “2nd generation” or “3rd generation” Ink Spots.
If there is a good thing going – someone was bound to take up the brand.
In the visuals of the Ink Spot – especially in the album covers the men are portrayed as railway porters because that was the way American then saw what they then called Negros – time have changed and today they are called African Americans in a country led by a black president.
Neither the Platters nor the Ink Spots ever thought such a thing could ever happen.
Seat selection is at: Click here
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