 By Staff
September 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It was blistering hot out there today and it isn’t going to be any cooler on Sunday – this heat is expected to stay with us until Monday.
 The lake is often shrouded in fog = as ship works its way toward the entrance of Hamilton harbour – passing the Burlington pier Maximum temperatures near or above 30 degrees and minimum temperatures near or above 20 degrees are expected through Monday. Meanwhile, peak humidex values near 40 are forecast for Sunday and Monday. These conditions may produce much discomfort for those who may not have access to a cool or air-conditioned place.
It is expected to remain very humid Tuesday, with maximum temperatures in the high twenties.
While extreme heat can put everyone at risk from heat illnesses, health risks are greatest for – older adults – infants and young children – people with chronic illnesses such as breathing difficulties, heart conditions or psychiatric illnesses – people who work in the heat – people who exercise in the heat – people without access to air conditioning and – homeless people.
 Drink plenty of liquids especially water before you feel thirsty to decrease your risk of dehydration. Thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration.
Take a break from the heat by spending a few hours in a cool place. It could be a tree-shaded area, swimming facility or an air-conditioned spot such as a public building, shopping mall, grocery store, place of worship or public library.
 By Staff
September 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A probable human case of the West Nile virus (WNV) illness has been identified in an adult from the Town of Oakville. This is the first human case for Halton in 2015.
Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health pointed out that “80 per cent of people infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms, others will have West Nile fever consisting of fever, headache, muscle ache and a rash. If residents are concerned, I’d encourage them to visit their health care professional.”
 This is how West Nile Virus is usually transmitted Urban areas are more likely to have mosquitoes that carry WNV. The types of mosquitoes that transmit WNV to humans most commonly breed in urban areas in places that hold water such as bird baths, plant pots, old toys, and tires.
The following are steps that residents can take to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes:
• Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly-woven fabric.
• Avoid being outdoors from early evening to morning when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, as well as at any time in shady, wooded areas.
• Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.
• Use an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET or icaridin.
• Make sure your window and door screens are tight and without holes, cuts or other openings.
As part of its ongoing West Nile prevention program, Halton Region staff continually monitor areas of standing water, eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites and larvicide when mosquito larvae are found. A map showing the locations of standing water sites that have had larvicide applied is available at halton.ca/wnv.
B y Pepper Parr
September 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Where are the Greens?
The Conservatives, the Liberals and the New Democrats have named their candidates and they have people in the field.
Rib Fest is likely to be the event in the city this weekend and you know that the candidates for those three parties are going to be out there with their T-shirts – but so far – no Green candidate.
 That party has a very effective leader and a strong following.
Hopefully the Green party is in the final stage of their vetting process – there are a number of people who could do well for the Greens – they have a statement that needs to be heard.
 By Ray Rivers
September 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
 Prime Minister McKenzie King introduced the first pension plan. It’s the closest we come to socialism, excepting welfare and universal health care. The old age pension, a national universal pension was first established in 1927. William Lyon Mackenzie King delivered on his campaign promise to create Canada’s first national pension plan. It was modest and income-weighted but welcome relief for Canada’s needy seniors, allowing them to live out their remaining years in dignity, or at least out of starvation.
 Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent improved on the Canada Pension Plan McKenzie King created. In 1952 Louis St. Laurent reformed the pension program, which had barely survived the great depression and WWII, into today’s Old Age Security (OAS). Over the years the OAS has been tweaked, adding an income supplement for those in need, reducing eligibility from 70 to 65 years of age, and inflation-proofing it through indexation. Mr. Harper has partially reversed these progressive changes by deferring OAS eligibility by two years to 67, while his predecessor, Brian Mulroney’s 1985 attempt to remove indexing collapsed before a crack squad of raging grannies.
The OAS is not the only retirement goody that Ottawa offers. There are registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), initiated by Diefenbaker, which allow deferred taxation; registered interest tax-free savings accounts, started by Harper; and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), established in 1965 by Pearson. But unlike OAS, which is essentially a welfare program for seniors, these are contributory plans, though the CPP is co-funded by employers.
 It is something everyone is going to need – make sure you are satisfied with what whichever government we elect is giving you what you think you need. Unlike the OAS which is an entitlement, the pensioners actually are owed the money socked away in these plans, something governments sometimes seem to forget. For example, since Canada has no inheritance tax, the government requires us to continually reduce the value of our RRSPs beyond age 71, whether we need the money or not.
And then there are the myriad of private plans, more now being offered as ‘defined contribution’ rather than ‘defined benefit’. These plans are typically managed by intermediaries, insurance companies or mutual fund managers, who invest the retirees’ future into the vagaries of the market for better or worse, depending on whether the market and interest rates are up or down.
There are so many opportunities for today’s seniors to harvest their retirement earnings that Maclean’s Magazine ran an article (September 15, 2014) titled “Old, Rich and Spoiled”, claiming that today’s retirees are “the most prosperous generation ever”. Despite the inflammatory headline there is no doubt this generation’s seniors are better off than preceding ones. But there are still seniors living below the poverty line and surveys show there is great financial insecurity among a majority of Canadians being put out to pasture.
 Notrel in its day was a great multi-national company that failed to keep up with a rapidly changing technology – it also failed to ensure that its pension obligations were met – the provincial government had to pick up that tab. Private company pensions look good if you worked for the right company, the one that might still be in business through your retirement, unlike we saw with Stelco or Nortel. Even my former employer, the federal government, unilaterally decided to downgrade my superannuation package recently. If you can’t trust the feds to keep their word, who can you trust? In the case of Nortel, the Province has had to take over paying the retirees.
And that is part of the reason why Ontario’s premier, after petitioning the federal government to ramp-up CPP – and being shown the door – is developing her own pension plan, the ORPP. Notwithstanding her understanding that an enhanced CPP would be a better route to go for national portability and consistency, she has little choice but to go it alone. And the provinces have primary jurisdiction over labour matters, which is why Quebec has its own version of CPP.
As a result the provinces can find themselves bailing out defunct pension plans for companies, like Nortel, when they go belly up. Then Ontario also has been topping-up the federal OAS, through its GAINS program. So it has a legitimate dog in this issue, a right to protect the lot of Ontario seniors. And there is broad support for change in other provinces beyond Ontario, judging from the interest the Premier has churned up with other provincial leaders in the Council of the Federation.
Ontario’s plan would only apply to those currently without a company pension plan. It would ‘level the field’ with employees in the banking, insurance, municipal, teaching, and civil service sectors of the economy. Someone who has been employed for 30 years would typically receive 60% of his/her salary as a retirement pension, as most of the institutional plans offer.
But Mr. Harper will have none of it, refusing to change CPP and even refusing to help Ontario reduce the costs of its planned ORPP by harmonizing it with the CPP for collection and management. That is something which would cost the federal government very little but would save debt conscious Ontario from setting up a duplicate bureaucracy.
 They needed each other on the pension issue – will the Ontario idea of a provincial pension plan prevail? Quebec has its own pension plan. The federal plan as it stands now is not meeting the needs of many Canadians. Whatever Mr. Harper’s reasons, he is using Canada’s seniors and future seniors, as fodder in his war against Ontario’s premier. As could be expected, Premier Wynne has responded in kind, directly supporting Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, who has committed to modernizing the CPP. And justifiably, since so much of Canada pension framework of was developed by Liberal governments.
The PM is right that refreshing the CPP will add costs to the employers’ payroll, though it should allow the eventual phasing out of the myriad of piecemeal company plans. And that will reduce labour costs for business in turn, while enhancing labour mobility.
Come voting time, pension issues may well be a low priority for young families struggling to manage new families and their first home, where every dollar counts. And the issue will have little, if any, direct payback for seniors already living through their golden years. But making our income systems more equitable and secure is an issue that affects us all as a society.
Fortunately there are clear choices on this issue in front of the voting public. In that regard, Mr. Mulcair has announced that he would call a provincial-federal meeting to reform the CPP within six months of becoming PM. Given his persistent ranking at the top of the opinion polls that must be music to Premier Wynne’s ears, though we shouldn’t expect her to also campaign for him.
 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:
OAS Canada’s Pensions World Pension Systems
CD Howe on Pensions Mulcair Harper
Federal Pensions GAINS ORPP Wynne
 By Staff
September 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington is reopening Waterdown Road between Plains Road and Masonry Court on Friday, Sept. 4 between 4 and 5 p.m.
This section of the road had been closed since May 2015 for reconstruction. Working with the city and Halton Region, the contractor installed the new storm sewer, new water mains and reconstructed the roadway, widening the road by one lane northbound and one lane southbound and adding bike lanes in both directions.
 The work done to upgrade Waterdown road south of Hwy 403 got done in pretty short order. It has to be seen as part of the growth that will take place in Aldershot in the near future which will include significant population increases – might call for a ward boundary change as well. Waterdown Road carries 20,000 vehicles a day. The city wants to thank motorists and nearby residents and business owners for their patience during the temporary closure.
The reconstruction project is scheduled to finish in June 2016
The reconstruction of Waterdown Road followed the opening up of the access ramps to highway 403 and sets up Aldershot for a level of development that is important to the city but unwelcome by a number of Aldershot residents.
 The expropriation of all the variety store property, which wasn’t necessary, did open up the land to the east of Waterdown on the north side of Plains Road – a stretch that includes the adult entertainment operation that many would like to see leave the community. The expropriation of the Murphy’s Variety property at the Plans Road – Waterdown intersection was necessary for the road to be widened – taking all the property when the findings of an WOD said it wasn’t all necessary was brutal – showed municipal government at its worst.
The ADI Development Group plans for a large two phase development that was to include apartments and stacked townhouses is somewhere within the planning department – it isn’t clear if the application has been withdrawn or if the city is still negotiating with ADI
 He loves his Ward, he knows his constituents and their needs. He has to be given credit for shepherding the significant amount of development that has taken place. Does the Council member have a larger vision for Aldershot? The proximity of the Aldershot GO station made this part of the city ripe for development. The King Paving property on the west side of Waterdown is surely getting a close look by developers who can put that land to better use and help Burlington meet the intensification targets the province has given the Region
This development takes place at the same time the city gets closer to selecting a new planner to replace Bruce Krushelnicki who retired several months ago.
The re-opening of Waterdown Road and the construction of the King Road grade separation suggest that Aldershot is primed for major growth – which might even include sidewalks on those streets that don’t have them.
 By Staff
September 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
In April the Halton Regional Police Burlington Offender Management unit launched the Fugitive Friday initiative.
It was designed as an opportunity for the Halton Regional Police to share the identity of wanted persons with the public in an attempt to bring attention to individuals who may be living and hiding in our communities.
Every Friday since that time, a news release and accompanying photo has been issued to the media identifying a wanted person or wanted pair for offences in which they have evaded police or failed to attend court. Each weekly fugitive has also been promoted on Twitter and Facebook.
The Fugitive Friday initiative has been a great success. To date, six out of 12 featured persons have been arrested, in large part due to pressure from relatives of wanted people, friends and/or the community as a whole to turn themselves in to police.
The Gazette is preparing a more detailed report on how the Burlington division of the Regional police have made the Fugitive Friday program work and plans for its future development.
The police continually investigate and search for individuals who evade the law and the Fugitive Friday information sharing initiative has proved successful due to the teamwork and partnerships with our local media and our communities. We all have a role to play in keeping our communities safe and the extra eyes and ears are always a big help.
The Regional Police will share “Fugitive Friday” information on their website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
In this edition of Fugitive Fridays, the 20th, the 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for Joshua David WEEDMARK 30 years old, of Huron County, ON.
It is alleged:
In September 2014, the accused engaged in a heated argument with the victim and destroyed the victims cell phone and other property.
The accused was arrested, charged and released on a Recognizance with several conditions.
He failed to re-attend court in June 2015 and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He is wanted by Halton Regional Police for:
Mischief – Interfere with Law
Mischief under $5000
Fail to Comply with Probation
Fail to Re-Attend Court
He is also wanted by Huron County OPP (Goderich) for:
Fail to Comply Probation x 2
 Joshua David WEEDMARK 30 years old, of Huron County, ON. WEEDMARK is described as 6’, 245lbs, brown eyes and brown hair. WEEDMARK has a tattoo of a “Cross” on his left arm and may have other tattoos on both hands.
WEEDMARK has ties to Burlington, Huron County, Orangeville, Brampton and parts of British Columbia.
Anyone who may have witnessed this male or has information that would assist investigators in identifying him are encouraged to contact D/C 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 Pepper Parr
September 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s getting tight people.
The high school students have a place to go next Tuesday and the Catholic students know where they are going to be as well. But the public elementary teachers are still jaw boning.
The doors will be open and the teachers are going to do the job they were trained to but they are not going to attend meetings nor will they be doing any of the administrative tasks that are not directly related to teaching.
 Teachers reminding the public just how much they do – they are hired to teach. The provincial government seems to have forgotten that teaching is not just the time spent with students in a classroom; there is paper marking to be done and all the tasks needed to keep curriculum material fresh and relevant. The internet has radically changed the flow of information and it is a monumental task to keep up.
Deb Matthews, President of the Treasury Board, released the following statement on the status of contract negotiations between the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU):
“I’m pleased that the parties have agreed to shift their efforts from negotiating essential services back to bargaining a collective agreement. We expect these conversations to begin next week.
Our government remains firmly committed to continuing to work with OPSEU to reach a fair agreement that balances the interests of employees with the need to provide sustainable and affordable public services, both now and in the future.”
I didn’t see the needs of the students anywhere in that statement – I thought schools were all about the children.
By Staff
September 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Changes on Route 1: Detours because of the Labour Day parade in Hamilton. detour on Labour Day – Monday, Sept. 7, 2015
 And the union makes them strong – Canada Auto workers – marching in a Labour Day parade Due to a Labour Day Parade in downtown Hamilton, Burlington Transit’s Route 1 will need to detour from approx. 9:30 a.m. – noon as follows:
Route 1 West (into Hamilton)
Regular routing to York Blvd. and Dundurn St.
• Right at Dundurn
• Left at Main St.
• Right at Locke St.
• Left at Bold St.
• Right at James St.
• Left at Augusta St.
• Left at John St.
• Left at King St.
Route 1 East (out to Burlington)
From King and John St.
• Left at James St.
• Right at Hunter
• Right at Locke St.
• Left at King St.
• Right at Dundurn St.
• Left at York St.
• Resume regular routing…
 By Pepper Parr
September 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If you thought you had heard the end of the battle over what is going to happen to the 29 homes in the Beachway Park – think again.
The Regional announced that they have now managed to purchase four homes in the Beachway:
1011 Lakeshore Road which they bought close to a year ago, I09 Willow Avenue, 115 Willow Avenue which were estate sales and 1019 Lakeshore Road which was sold in April.
 Sold to the Region as part of estate sale; this unit was barely habitable. Nevertheless a princely price was paid for the house. The two Willow residences were part of an estate sale; one of the houses was close to being uninhabitable.
The 1019 Lakeshore Road residence was owned by Burlington lawyer Katherine Henshell who was a candidate for the ward 1 seat in the last election. She fought a tough battle and managed to ruffle the feathers of the incumbent, Rick Craven, when she suggested his property be turned into a bird sanctuary. Craven nevertheless prevailed and remains the ward 1 council member.
Henshell said she arrived at the decision to sell after talking to Anne McIlroy, the planner who was retained by the Region to put together a draft design for a park which was shown to the public at a meeting last April.
 The public got its first look at what the Region had planned for the |Beachway – it was to be a public park with no homes in it. It was a long range plan – 20 years plus and was going to cost $51 million Henshell says she talked with McIlroy, and asked if her instructions were to produce a plan with the homes in place and to produce another plan without the homes in place.
 Planner Anne McIlroy who has done a lot of work for the city of Burlington as well as the Region was retained by the Region to design a park for the Beachway. Henshell says she was told that the instructions the planner was given were to produce just the one design. Henshell said she decided then that there was no point in holding out and that she didn’t think there was much hope.
Henshell had her law offices at the location but moved those office to the downtown core and was renting the property.
She apparently felt that now was a good time to take whatever price the Region was offering. She declined to say what that price was – but did say it was registered on title. The Gazette dug out that those numbers. Wow!
 The Henshell property is on the right. The property to the right was bought by the Region last year and was rented back to the sellers for a two year period. Property transfer closed on August 12, 2015. Purchase price appears to be $550,000.00; the documents do not say if this figure includes all the other incentives; legal costs, moving costs, and a disturbance allowance which the Region has said in the past it would provide. The Region’s appraisal report has not been made available.
The Henshell property was transferred from her name to a numbered company early 2015.
The net gain to Henshell over four years was $240,000, that’s a 65% increase over a four year period, which is well over the market price increase trend.
All these numbers are part of the public record.
The property sold for $90,000 in 1995
It sold next for $110,000 in 1999
Sold next for $310,000 in 2011 – Henshell was the buyer.
Sold next to a numbered company that Henshell is believed to have owned and the sold to the Region for $550,000.
Who ever said property was not the best possible investment in Burlington?
Assuming no significant improvements were made to the house, and if you use a 10% price increase year over year, that would bring the property up to about $450,000 from July 2011 when she bought it, to August 2015 when she sold to the Region.
It would be easy to conclude that the Region paid an extra $100,000 just to shut her up. Henshell appears to have done well on this transaction.
The Henshell lot is only 2,400sf, whereas the lot next door (1011 Lakeshore) is just over 8,000sf.
 This was as close as Katherine Henshell got to representing the ward 1 seat she ran for in 2014. Hensehll adds that she felt the instructions to produce just the one plan – one with no homes in place – came from the city. Nothing to that effect was ever said at any Burlington municipal meeting. Her view was that if the city was not going to do anything to support the concept of homes in the park then it was wise to take the price being offered and get the equity out.
The Region is arguing that all sales are made on a willing seller/willing buyer basis. The Region is cerainly a willing buyer with a cheque book that seems to have no limits.
The sellers have no one else to turn to – no one is going to buy the property knowing that the Region is going to hound them into selling by offering great prices.
While the willing buyer/willing seller case it put out – there isn’t a person in the Beachway who doesn’t believe the Region will expropriate when they get down to the last few homes – but that is 20 years away.
In May of this year Halton Regional Council approved the Burlington Beach Regional Park Master Plan which would turn the park into a signature waterfront destination, while preserving and protecting its rich and sensitive natural environment.
In a recent statement the Region said: “Implementation of the plan has begun and Regional staff is committed to ensuring you are kept informed about our progress on the work happening in your area. This letter is to inform you that as of October 1, 2015, Halton Region will commence the decommissioning and demolition work to remove all structures located on the following properties in Burlington: 109 Willow Avenue, 115 Willow Avenue and 1019 Lakeshore Road
Halton anticipates these works to be complete by December 31, 2015. As part of the demolition works, the site will undergo environmental remediation work to ensure that the properties are suitable for future park use. The environmental work includes: excavation of any contaminated soils and/or septic systems, filling and
 An attractive, well maintained home in the Beachway – the owners struggle to ensure they will be able to remain in their home. The Region is said to have offered $750,00 for this property which has a smaller unit at the rear of the lot. grading of the site (if necessary), and surface plantings to inhibit soil erosion and control surface drainage. This work will be complete during normal business hours to minimize disruption. The Region advised people in the community that all materials left on site from this work will be disposed of. “If you, or someone you know, are presently storing materials at these locations, we ask you to remove them at your earliest convenience.”
Full disclosure: The Gazette has retained Katherine Henshell to represent the company as defendants in the libel case with the Burlington air park.
By Staff
September 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Watch for it. The smoke from the grills at Spencer Smith Park should begin to rise sometime this afternoon as the crews prepare for the opening of the 20th Annual Burlington Rotary Ribfest.
The event starts today Thursday at 5:30pm And runs to 11pm, Friday to Sunday 11am – 11pm and Monday 11am – 8pm
To celebrate the 20th year Rotary added an additional day for feasting on those ribs.
 Premier Kathleen Wynne decided to show the boys how ribs should be flipped. Mayor Rick Goldring on the right likes the look of what he has done while Gary Murray, president of Gypsum Technologies adds another to the ribs that will go on sale. A couple of years ago the Premier of the province put in a shift at the grill – a very short shift – but she was there flipping those ribs.
While all is well at Spencer Smith Park and the Rotary operation – there is a simmering battle between two competing ribfest organizations heating up in Hamilton.
The following was reported in the Hamilton Spectator:
The Rotary Club of Burlington-Lakeshore is locking horns with a private ribfest company, the Northern Heat Rib Series, over the timing and location of their smoky, meaty, BBQ-sauce-infused events.
The Burlington Rotary, which runs Canada’s Largest Ribfest, hosts a massive event at Spencer Smith Park every Labour Day weekend.
The Northern Heat Rib Series — a brand-new business launched in April — hosted the first Hamilton Ribfest at Valley Park on the first weekend in June. Justin Brown, owner of Northern Heat, says he was simply aiming to provide a ribfest in an area that didn’t host one.
But the Rotary club isn’t impressed. Earlier this summer, Brown received a letter from several Rotary clubs — spearheaded by Burlington-Lakeshore — stating the club’s disappointment in his fledgling business venue.
 Burlington RibFest is a remarkable success – the result of a lot of hard work over a long period of time. If you looked around there was still some sitting room. The weather was close to perfect and the music was good – great way to bring a summer to a close. Soon after, a ribber booked on Brown’s Northern Heat Rib Series was kicked out of the Rotary’s Labour Day event in Burlington. Other ribbers have since pulled out of Brown’s events for fear of the same treatment. Brown has also lost one of his major sponsors.
“I’m not interested in any of this conflict. It’s not what I’ve decided to come into business for,” Brown said.
But Jeremy Racicot, co-chair of Canada’s Largest Ribfest, says Rotary is simply trying to defend its customers. He says the ribfest market in this area has already been saturated.
“We’re not a bully. We’re just protecting our charity,” he said.
This is the 20th year the Rotary Club of Burlington-Lakeshore has been running Canada’s Largest Ribfest — just one of the many Rotary chapters that operates ribfests around southern Ontario. The Waterdown Oh Canada Ribfest, run by the Rotary Clubs of Flamborough and Waterdown is a smaller player — albeit still popular — on the local ribbing scene.
 John Thorpe on the left and Bob Penning stand beside the cupboard with crests from Rotarian clubs around the world. Both men were founders of the exceptionally successful Rotarian Rib Fest celebrating its 20th year of operation, Later this week we will tell the story of how Name Thorpe and Bob Penning; two Rotarians, built the Rib Fest to the event it is today. It’s quite a success story.
By Staff
September 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Canadian National Exhibition has been holding the Rising StarTalent dance and song competition for more than 29 years. some great performers got their start at that event.
This year three girls from Burlington took part and all three made it to the semi- finals.
 Lauren Salt made it to the finals at the CNE Rising Star Talent contest. Lauren Salt trains at the Dance Station and both Poppy and Olivia train at the Creative Edge Dance Studio under the name of “Frenemies”.
Lauren Salt has made it to the finals and will dance at that level Saturday night. Her Mom says “she is pumped”. Lauren has been in dance since the age of two – she sees this as a full time career option. We will report on the results.
 Olivia on the left and Poppy on the right – made it to the semi-finals at the CNE Rising Star competition. Poppy and Olivia are content with having made it to the finals. They had a lot of fun and the experience was good for them. we may see more of these two in the future.
 By Staff
September 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The folks at the Mountsberg Conservation Area are going to use the coming weekend to celebrate one of nature’s most incredible, and frequently misunderstood, creatures – the vulture.
Believe it or not there is an International Vulture Awareness Day.
 Turkey vultures have a really big wing spread which allows them to float above their prey for quite a while. Vultures all over the world are facing ecological challenges brought on by loss of habitat and pressures from human activity. This is your chance to learn about these fascinating animals, including the Turkey Vulture, Ontario’s only native vulture species. Park visitors will have the opportunity to learn all about how beneficial vultures are to the environment, and how intelligent and social they can be.
The day will include:
 You get to meet Casey and Buzz – face to beak. He isn’t exactly pretty is he? Vulture-themed crafts and colouring
Vulture games
Vulture displays
Opportunities to meet the Raptor Centre’s residents Turkey Vultures, Casey and Buzz, up close and ‘nose-to-beak’!
The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is Ontario’s only native vulture species, and their graceful silhouettes are often seen soaring near the escarpment and over Greenbelt rural land. Their bald heads and grisly culinary habits often lead people to dismiss them as unsanitary and unattractive, but this is unfair to the hard-working and highly efficient turkey vulture.
This event is free with cost of park admission ($7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and children 5 to 15 years, and free for children 4 years and under); Halton Parks members only need to show their pass for admission. Mountsberg’s International Vulture Awareness Day activities will take place throughout the day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 5.
A nice inexpensive way to ease the kids from those lazy hazy days of summer into the discipline of a classroom and text books.
The Mountsberg Conservation Area is located on Milburough Line, five km west of Campbellville, ON, between Highway 6 South and the Guelph Line.
By Pepper Parr
September 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Prime Minister came to town and spoke to a decent sized audience at a small steel plant and told them if his government was re-elected there would be an Advanced Manufacturing Hub created in Burlington. A number of people in the twitter world were asking – what is an Advanced Manufacturing hub?
 Prime Minister Harper making his Advanced Manufacturing hib at a steel plant in Burlington on Tuesday. The Gazette is asking – where does that hub fit in with the long range Strategic Plan the city has been working on. We are in pretty close contact with the Economic Development Corporation in Burlington and we’ve not heard a word about this idea from them.
The city is certainly talking about hubs, mostly in a transportation context, with the idea of developing both housing and office accommodation as part of those hubs. The city has four mobility hubs of in mind; one at each of the GO Stations and another at the John Street bus terminal.
 Federal Liberal candidate for Burlington: Karina Gould Liberal candidate Karina Gould, who was in all probability not in the audience when the Prime Minister spoke, had these comments on the Conservative announcement.
“After a decade of watching manufacturing jobs disappear under Stephen Harper no voter is going to believe that he suddenly cares about the sector. Over the next 10 years a Liberal government will invest $60 billion in the kind of productivity enhancing infrastructure that all sectors, including manufacturing, need to compete in the 21st century.
“Strong economies produce goods. Manufacturing is the number one investor in research and development. It provides good jobs outside urban areas as well as in urban centres. We will help manufacturers to modernize and to reach new markets. We will help small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets and help them gain a foothold in Europe. We need to be prepared for the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
“Since Stephen Harper came to power our growth in exports has been the worst of any G7 country.”
 Conservatives at 28.8; NDP at 30.8 and the Liberals at 29.7 – tight. There is certainly an election taking place and with the opinion polls where they are it is an all-out effort on the part of every candidate.
By Pepper Parr
September 1, 21015
BURLNGTON, ON
It wasn’t a debate – but it got pretty freewheeling a couple of times and it was a more than decent opportunity to hear what the candidates thought about specific issues and to get a sense of where they were coming from in terms of why they were in politics.
The national picture – tight – some of the Conservative seats are going to have a different seats are going to be a different colour – |Is Burlington one of them? Too early to tell.  The event was sponsored by 3Things for Burlington – and was an event intended for youth. There were as many adults as there were youth in Centennial Hall at the public library but the young people brought the energy to the room. Some adults had questions they wanted to ask – there was no time – the young people had good direct questions – it was a pleasure to see them involved.
 Randi Minaker introduces the panel: Laird, Best, Gould, Damoff, Shabaz, Clement and |Wallace. They each set out the position and their main arguments quite well. Some had to use notes – why? – while others wandered off the topic – Wallace. Attending were David Laird, New Democrat candidate for Burlington, Janice Best for the NDP in Oakville North Burlington, Karina Gould, the Liberal for Burlington; Pam Damoff the Liberal for Oakville North Burlington.
Adnan Shabaz the Green candidate for Oakville North Burlington, David Clement the Libertarian candidate and Mike Wallace.Member of Parliament for Burlington
David Laird is a long time New Democrat with some pretty hard boiled views on the economy and the role the banks play – he sees the money system as one that is a private thing run by the banks – he seems to have forgotten that the Bank of Canada is in the game and that the federal government regulates the banking industry.
Laird has the government in the pockets of the bankers. He referred to an Oxfam report that had 85 people owning 50% of the wealth in the world – which is a stretch.
Laird commented that he had never seen youth involved in an election before.
Karina Gould the Liberal candidate for Burlington reminded Laird that he once spoke at a civics class at MM Robinson – she was in the class – she went on to explain that it was those high school days that were the beginning of her political career.
Gould told the audience that most young people saw politicians as older men in suits. Gould said she found younger people don’t think they will ever have the lifestyle their parents have and that student debt and the environment were key issues – most seemed to feel they would never be able to own a home.
 Mike Wallace, Burlington MP, takes a closer look at art work at the Art Gallery of Burlington. Mike Wallace, the current Member of Parliament for Burlington has been an MP since 2006 and a politician for 26 years. Wallace commented on the audience having as many adults as youth – he wasn’t wrong. His advice for the young people: do your research and decide who has the competency to do the job.
David Clement is the Libertarian candidate for Oakville Burlington North. That political party. Which Clement described as fiscally conservative and socially liberal, has yet to actually elect a member to the House of Commons. Clement said he didn’t see politics as either left or right – what he wanted to see was a political process that empowered people.
Adnan Shabaz is the Green Party candidate in Oakville North Burlington. That party’s leader is a hero in Shabaz’s eyes – “She stands up and speaks her mind” and Shabaz certainly came across as very well informed with not much nonsense in his comments and answers to the questions he was asked.
He told the audience that a politician’s job is to represent the people; that their views are why a Member of the House of Commons is in Ottawa.
That is not what party politics is about. Several references were made to “whipped” votes – but no one explained to the young audience just what a “whipped” vote is.
Every political party has a person known as the “whip” whose job is to make sure the members of the political party are in the House and casting their vote in favour of the party’s policy.
The practice is referred to as “party discipline – without that discipline it would be very difficult to get anything done. However, it is when party discipline is overdone that democracy suffers; many feel that this is where politics in Canada has gotten to under the Harper government.
 Pam Damoff – Liberal candidate for Oakville North Burlington Pam Damoff, the Liberal candidate for Oakville Burlington North never tires of telling people that it is the young people that change the world – and she wants to be around as many young people as she can. The room at the Central Library certainly had more than her share of kids in red T shirts.
Damoff wants to see young people at the table – based on what was heard at the meeting Monday evening – those young people deserve a seat at the table – they had good questions and handled the meeting very well.
Damoff told the audience that the federal government is not doing enough at the municipal level – a point that Regional Chair Gary Carr would agree with that statement. The pie chart shows where the tax dollars go – that isn’t where the spending goes.
Janice Best, the New Democratic candidate for Oakville North Burlington commented that she would certainly like some of those young people on her campaign team.
She delivered one of the toughest comments to the young people. “You are going to become part of what is called the “precarious work force” – part time, low wages and no benefits. And if you did get to university” she added “you will leave with a degree and a debt load of about $26,000.
She pointed out that the student loan legislation has not been upgraded since 1971.
What was disappointing was that both Damoff and Best had to read from notes – one would have hoped that these two women would have had more than enough of a grasp on what they and their party stood for to be able to speak extemporaneously.
However – the two women were in the room – the same could not be said for Effie Triantafilopoulos, the Conservative candidate in Oakville Burlington North. She was a no show.
 Oakville Burlington North is a new federal riding.  Stephanie Bye and Randi Minaker made sure the event went smoothly – expect to hear more about Bye – WOW – she ran the event with an iron fist. Handling the speakers was left to Stephanie Bye – what a stick of dynamite this young woman was. Awesome she would say when a speaker had finished. Cool she would add. And when a speaker was getting off topic Stephanie was in there like a little Bull Terrier getting them back on track.
After each speaker had explained why they were there the questions came from the audience – here is where the audience got to see what they felt on an issue by issue basis.
Immigration was the base of a question from a young man who asked why a close friend had been waiting more than 11 years to get landed status. Mike Wallace did his best to explain what the issues work – but his colleagues were not buying it. It was almost a pile on.
Both Shabaz and Gould explained that if their parents had been in a Canada that has a Bill C 24 when they came to Canada– they would have been described as citizens with “second-class status”
 The boundaries for the federal constituency were changed – not by much but they were changed Bill C 24 is seen as a controversial piece of legislation that recently came into effect, allowing the government to revoke Canadian citizenship from dual citizens who are convicted of terrorism, high treason and several other serious offences.
As a result of the new provisions that came into effect a few months ago, many people warn that dual citizens, including those who were born in Canada, now have “second-class status” and that their Canadian citizenship can be “stripped arbitrarily.”
Added to that mix was the amount of information the government now collects on people. Both Shabaz and Clement felt this was a very serious problem. “No government should have that amount of information on any citizen” he said. The only person at the table who wasn’t comfortable with collecting of the data was Wallace – he seemed to buy into the government policy that this was necessary to catch the terrorists. Shabaz, Damoff, Gould and Clement saw this as fear mongering and believed that this approach to problem resolution was hurting the country.
 Karina Gould listens to a senior who had decided to take part in the Youth led event. Gould wanted to know “what has happened to Canada on the world stage” the reputation the country had twenty years ago is not the reputation we have today. The admiration and respect we used to have is no longer there, said Gould.
Damoff set out the environment, the economy, health issues and changing behavior as the issues that she wanted to hear about from people,
Clement wanted lower taxes “leave more money in my pocket” was his war cry.
Wallace, understanding what he has in the way of a political base, brought up the Old Age Supplement – he wanted to see the formula used to increase that monthly payment to seniors given an index that was considerably different than that used for the consumer price index.
His comments were well out of the ball park and Stephanie Bye shut him down pretty quickly.
 Richia Burke explains to members of 3Things for Burlington how she expects the meeting to go – and hands out the work assignments. The event was run by 3Things for Burlington, a youth group formed by Community Development Halton – they were great but no one said a word about that organization which is often struggling for funding to stay alive.
By Staff
eptember 1, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Performing Arts Centre is going to be one of the stops for the World Premiere Tour of the unique classical ballet Sleeping Beauty.
The performance will take place October 2, 2015 at 8:00 pm.
Dance Critic Gary Smith will give a pre-show talk, in addition to a post-show chat with the artists.
 Sleeping Beauty, Performance, Act I Sleeping Beauty is one of the world‘s most famous classical ballets and holds a place in the repertoire of virtually every major company.
This major new ballet tells the enchanting story of Aurora and her prince complete with its inherently magical qualities and dazzling choreography. The fairy tale about a young woman placed under a spell to sleep for a hundred years only to be awakened by a kiss is an easily accessible story. It appeals to a child’s imagination and holds a special place in the hearts of adults.
 Superb performances of Sleeping Beauty are going to take place on the stage at the Performing Arts Centre – October 2 The underlying theme is the tug between the forces of good (the Lilac Fairy) and evil (Carabosse), serving as an important thread to the plot. Told in three acts, the ballet benefits from the character development and technical expertise for which Canada’s Ballet Jörgen is known.
Artistic Director and award-winning choreographer Bengt Jörgen focuses on the magical elements and the interpretation of the ballet as a nature allegory: The young woman represents nature, the wicked fairy is winter, who deadens life with pricks of frost until a young man, spring, cuts away the brambles to allow the sun to awaken sleeping nature. Sleeping Beauty by Canada’s Ballet Jörgen draws on the traditional choreography by Marius Petipa to spin a tale of nature and love that will inspire young and old alike.
 Sleeping Beauty has a very large cast – it is a traditional ballet that has been done as a Walt Disney film and is a favorite with young people and adults that appreciate the richness of the story and the strength of the dancers. The delightful story will be danced to the original 1890 score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, set to a libretto based on Charles Perrault’s story La Belle au bois dormant. In ensemble with stunning costumes and captivating lighting design, Sleeping Beauty by Canada‘s Ballet Jörgen is guaranteed to provide an evening of entertaining and inspiring live performance.
If you want your children to have some understanding of what great ballet is – this is the event to take them to – the Walt Disney movie version always does well – real dancers with fabulous choreography is one of those things every child should have an opportunity to see.
Tickets can be purchased online www.burlingtonpac.ca, by phone 905-681-6000 or in person at the Box Office located at 440 Locust Street.
By Staff
September 1, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
You know the federal election is in full swing when the Prime Minister comes to town and announces his government will build a new Advanced Manufacturing Hub in Burlington if he wins the Oct. 19 election.
Prime Minister fills the floor of a steel plant in Burlington – promises to create an advanced manufacturing hub in the city – if he wins the election. No details on who the private sector partners are or which part of the city this might be located in. Speaking at a campaign event at Harvester Steel in Burlington, Harper said the centre will focus on “cutting edge products and technologies.”
Everyone should know by this time that governments do not create jobs – unless they hire more civil servants.
The private sector creates jobs and there wasn’t much heard from the private sector about how much of their money was going to be pumped into this idea – and that is all it is at this point – an idea – a good one if it is executed properly.
The announcement will have come as a bit of a surprise to the Chamber of Commerce and the city’s Economic development Corporation who were expected to attend and clap at the appropriate time.
Harper’s event, which focused on beefing up the manufacturing sector, came on the same day that economists announced Canada is officially in a recession.
Does the Prime Minister’s visit to Burlington suggest that Mike Wallace’s seat is in trouble?
If we see him again before October 19th – then Burlington is up for grabs.
Cine Starz Upper Canada Place
460 Brant Street
WWW CINESTARZ.CA
SHOWTIMES September 4 to 10 , 2015
SINISTER 2 14A
Fri to Thur 1:20 3:30 5:20 7:15 9:10
AMERICAN ULTRA 18A
Fri to Thur 1:35 5:40 7:30 9:20
FANTASTIC FOUR PG
Fri to Thur 11:30 1:30 3:15 5:30
JURASSIC WORLD PG
Fri to Thur 11:10 1:00 3:20 5:10 7:00 9:15
VACATION 14A
Fri to Thur 11:20 1:30 3:15 5:10 7:30
SOUTHPAW 14A
Fri to Thur 11:15 7:20 9:30
INSIDE OUT G
Fri to Thur 11:15 1:15 3:15 5:15 7:15
PAPER TOWNS PG
Fri to Thur 11:00 3:30 9:30
AMY 14A
Fri to Thur 9:15
By Staff
September 1, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Below is a review of real estate sales for the full month of July 2015, provided by the Rocca Sisters and Associates, broken down by area with their latest forecasts.
 
The Burlington market has remained strong into the summer with a 3% increase seen in both average sale price and the number of home sales in July 2015 as compared to the same month in 2014. The number of days that a property remains on the market has also decreased from 29 days to only 27 days. We are experiencing a higher than average number of requests for evaluations this month, so our prediction is that there will be a strong, more balanced upcoming fall market.
By Staff
August 29, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Lane Restrictions on Pine Street – Sept. 3 to 5
 You are looking at a Master Coffee Brewer- finest coffee in town Halton Region will be installing new wastewater main liners on Pine Street, between Elizabeth and Pearl Streets. This construction will take place at night from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. starting Thursday, Sept. 3 to Saturday, Sept. 5.
Lane restrictions will be in effect.
Whew – so I can still get my engines going at Tamp – need that coffee
By Staff
August 31, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A monument. A tangible piece of history placed in a prominent spot to signify the beginning or end of something – a life, a war, a turning point in history – that is what Burlingtonians can expect to see in the very near future.
 Prominently located at the west entrance to Spencer Smith Park there will be a six foot high, three foot wide place marker to remind the public and tell the youth of the future about the remarkable attempt a young man made to run across this county with one good leg and the other an artificial leg that was always uncomfortable.
There are several markers in the Terry Fox Journey – British Columbia where his dream was born; St. John’s, Newfoundland – where his journey began and sadly, Thunder Bay, Ontario – where his run came to an end.
“We as Burlingtonians make no special claim of ownership over Terry’s legacy,” said Greg Costa, the lead on the Monument project, “however, on July 13th, 1980 something extraordinary did happen here. Terry brought his Marathon of Hope along Lakeshore Road, to North Shore, up King Road, and across Plains Road.”
“We weren’t the beginning or the end of this journey, but we’re proud nonetheless to be part of the journey. While the end of his run, and subsequent death left a permanent mark on every Canadian, it was his journey that truly touched lives. It’s what brought people to the streets to witness a once in a lifetime moment. A moment that showed the full spectrum of what it is to be human. Terry’s run was about sacrifice, friendship, determination, and strength. Not just physical strength, but strength of character.”
On this the 35th anniversary of Terry’s run through Burlington, what’s the perfect way to mark the occasion? While 35 years is a long time, no doubt, it’s not nearly the end.
Terry reached Burlington with many kilometers behind him, and many yet to go. Just as we have reached 35 years of participating in community runs in Terry’s name to raise money for cancer research – we have many years ahead of us.
Terry said: “Even though I’m not running anymore, we still have to try to find a cure for cancer. Other people should go ahead and try to do their own thing now.”
And we did. We have for 35 years – but we’re not done yet.
 The Burlington Terry Fox Monument Project Team has proudly announced plans for a “mile”marker” monument at the west end of Spencer Smith Park to celebrate Terry’s journey. “We hope that this will not only pay respect to one of the greatest Canadian Heroes this country has ever known,” said Costa, ” but to act as a reminder that we’re not finished what he started. Not yet.”
The Monument group is grateful to the City of Burlington for donating the location where the monument will be placed.
Funds for the monument are being raised privately and separately from the Terry Fox Foundation or the Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee
This is a separate community project – they have decided to be very low key until the annual Terry Fox runs takes place September 20th. They do not want to confuse the public – the Monument is not part of the drive to raise funds for cancer – it is to pay for a marker; something that every citizen will smile at when they see it and every visitor will want to have their picture taken in front of.
Greg Costa at the Burlington Terry Fox Monument Project, is passionate about Terry’s vision and his legacy. You can reach him by calling 905-335-1909 or emailing him at costagreg@cogeco.ca.
Their goal to erect a monument to commemorate the 35th year of the Marathon of Hope in memory of Terry Fox and his life time achievements in the fight against Cancer.
 This is a private citizen group led event. Costa points out that “we are not a registered charity, your donation cannot be tax receipted.”
This initiative is the kind of thing that makes people proud of the city.
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Drink plenty of liquids especially water before you feel thirsty to decrease your risk of dehydration. Thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration.
