City council got their first detailed look at the draft of the Transportation Master Plan. They didn’t exactly cheer when the presentation was finished – it is going to mean some hard political decisions – which this council tens to do its best to avoid.
The draft plan however laid out a number of realities the city has to face. In the first of this series we set out the players involved in transportation planning and the rules, regulations and provincial policy that impact on decisions the city makes.
With those limitations – and they are not insignificant, the transportation department is beavering away at completing the study and aligning it with the Official Plan in order to support and expand upon new and updated policies.
While the transportation department works on its plan – the planners work on the review and revision of the Official Plan and a team at city hall, plus city councillors develops the Strategic Plan the city wants to work to for the next four years.
What also has to be added to the transportation mix is what role mobility hubs will play in future thinking.
The transportation people, led for the time being by Vito Tolone, are doing a solid review of transportation trends in conjunction with our changing demographics, travel patterns and future community planning. Part of the team is planner Kaylan Edgcumbe.
They are Identifying the transportation facilities and services that will be required to meet the needs over the next twenty years and then develop the policies, guidelines, plans and actions that will guide day to day transportation programs and provide a basis for future capital budgets.
That is a mouthful!
What is NOT included in the TMP is a detailed analysis of specific intersections and roadways nor will it consider site specific impacts. Detailed assessments will be addressed through project specific studies and may be recommended as a result of the TMP
What happens if the city doesn’t complete the TMP ? Well, all hell isn’t going to break loose but over time things will stop working the way people want them to work.
Day to day transportation programs would not be current with community needs or emerging trends; Capital infrastructure planning and budgeting would not be able to address evolving development trends and growth management policies.
Council and staff would not be able to respond to changing development standards and major planning considerations.
Regulating agencies at the Region, Ministry of Transportation and Conservation Halton would not be apprised of Council’s transportation vision and its preferred strategy for moving forward.
It sounded like a good idea at the time but there was too much that both IKEA and the city didn’t know about what Conservation |Halton and the Ministry of Transportation had to say about putting a large retail operation on the North Service Road at Walkers Line
Burlington ran into this problem when IKEA announced it wanted to move its location from Aldershot to the North Service Road at Walkers Line – that proved to be something that wasn’t possible given the views of Conservation Halton and the Ministry of Transportation. Tuck Creek was a significant conservation problem and the MTO couldn’t do what needed to be done with the QEW/Walkers Line intersection in time – which brought an end to any IKEA moved and put a significant dent in the careers of a number of people involved in the project.
Had there been stronger policies in place and a clearer planning vision, and better communication between the parties, a couple of years of grinding away at something that couldn’t happen might have been avoided.
Will a solid TMP avoid problems like that? Maybe – but what is clear is the need for a plan that fits into the requirements the province and the Region lay on us; that meshes well with the Official Plan and helps achieve the Strategic Plan – and is possible with the budget the city creates.
Council members have to stand up and be counted – Councillor Meed Ward wasn’t with the majority on this vote
For all those people who think our municipal council doesn’t have a tough job, that they don’t work all that hard and it is really a part time job – think again.
This is hard work that requires the ability to think at several levels at the same time. Every member of the current council is challenged daily to keep on top of it all. Some of them don’t do all that well at it either.
The Transportation Master Plan study will:
Identify transportation policies and initiatives that are working in other areas that could be considered in Burlington Ask citizens – where do we want to to go – how do we want to get there and how do we develop a solution that meets the needs of all residents.
Develop actions and policies that will guide day to day transportation projects providing a basis for future budgeting activities
So what is Burlington dealing with?
The infrastructure we have was designed for the car – what we have was designed to efficiently move the automobile and that has left us with urban sprawl. That urban sprawl is no longer sustainable
Auto trips are rising faster than the population – building more roads will not get us out of this spiral.
90% of all trips in the city are by car
Levels of congestion are increasing; Commuting time is increasing; Cost to operate and maintain the current infrastructure is increasing; City revenue are not increasing at the same rate as growth or congestion.
This is not sustainable. And we cannot build our way out of congestion
The way we move around the community is heavily influenced by where we live, work and play. The way we travel impacts our quality of life, our health and relationship with our community
The majority of the trips are SOV – single occupant vehicle
To reduce congestion on our roads other travel modes must be available for both local and long distance travel.
Can those 2 km trips be made using a different mode of transportation? Is the car the only option? The current transit service is not going to coax people out of their cars and there are limits to how many people are going to ride bikes.
In 2011 over half of all daily trips in Burlington were 5 km or less. These trips could be easily replaced with walking, cycling or taking transit.
40% of the people who work in Burlington also live in Burlington – that means 60% of the working people use some form of transit
Most of our residents work outside of the city – that represents a major transportation challenge.
Is the answer to all the questions that get raised in the data we have? Because there is a lot of data.
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington will be doing maintenance on IT databases beginning in the late afternoon on Friday, July 10. As a result, the following online services and forms will be temporarily out of service.
• Burlington Heritage • Online Tax Assessment • Poll Locator • Rep Locator • Dog Licence Application and Renewal • Property Information Request • Business Licence Renewal
The online services and forms are expected to be back in service by 10 p.m.
Three Burlington mortgage professionals have been recognized in a list of the industry’s female rising stars.
Carmen Campagnaro of Pro Funds Mortgages, and Ana Cruz and Lisa Pellerin of LA Mortgage Team Mortgage Intelligence have been included in Canadian Mortgage Professional magazine’s Women of Influence report.
This annual list honors 26 females who are making waves and reshaping the business – women who are behind some of the biggest deals and innovations in the industry. The list is diverse from CEOs to company founders to leading brokers – but all are professionals at the top of their game.
“We asked our readers to nominate women who are making a difference in their communities and the mortgage business as a whole,” said Vernon Clement Jones, editor of Canadian Mortgage Professional. “In just a few short years, the broker channel has seen a shift to fairer gender representation. While there’s still a long way to go, this year’s Women of Influence report is a testament to those strides.”
Carmen Campagnaro
Carmen Campagnaro got hooked on real estate when she purchased her first property at the age of 18. Since then, her passion for real estate has been complemented by a keen eye for sourcing, purchasing, flipping and selling properties. Being an avid investor herself, Carmen launched Pro Funds Mortgages in 1997 with the goal of helping others realize their own real estate goals with a focus on creative financing solutions.
Lisa Pelleri, on the left and Ana Cruz
Lisa Pellerin and Ana Cruz had an impressive 2014. In addition to increasing L A Mortgage Team’s revenue by 30%, they have built a solid team of mortgage professionals contributing to their success and won the Canadian Mortgage Award for Best Newcomer Brokerage.
Planning is making sure that all the pieces are in place before doing anything. Before that you have to be sue you know what all the pieces are.
The key document is always the budget – that tells you what the costs are and where the money is going to come from. It will be coming from your pocket – but then you knew that.
Municipalities are creatures of the province – they set the policy and municipalities work within that policy. Cities have to adhere to Regional policies as well.
The population of the country is growing; people gravitate towards the larger cities – Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver – you name it.
The province told the Region of Halton – you need to grow your population by a million people by the year 2041. The Region takes that number and divvies it up between Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills.
When Burlington gets its number we have to ensure that our policies allow for that kind of growth.
The developers are very aware of the policies and they bring forward development proposals that meet the policy.
The top part is the plan for 300+ townhouses, the bottom is the “thinking” for apartment buildings that would be in the 5-6-7 storey range for a development in the west end of the city walking distance from the Aldershot GO station.
Thus you get the ADI Development Group going to the city and saying they want to put 300 plus homes out on Masonry Court – and try to convince the city that the project meets all the rules – the biggest of which at this point in time is our need to intensify.
That need to add to our population bothers a lot of people – they want things to remain just the same – they like it the way it is. The one thing everyone can be absolutely certain of is this – nothing is going to remain the same.
There will be more people, there will be more traffic in Burlington. For those who don’t like the growth – they can move further out into the country; that’s just a hard fact we all have to live with.
Burlington has to figure out how it is going to handle all those new people who want to drive their cars on streets that weren’t built for the volume that is coming our way.
Burlington is developing a Transportation Master Plan (TMP) that city council was given a peak at a few weeks ago.
The plan, which is some distance from complete sets out some of the realities the city faces – one of which is a decision made in the 90’s not to make Fairview a seven lane road.
In the lengthy presentation that set out a lot of facts – some of which the public is not going to like – the transportation department also offered up some idea. Get used to hearing the phrase “complete streets”
What is the Transportation Master Plan? It is a blue print that will be used to guide planning and implementation of a future transportation system, that is to be guided through the development of a sustainable, balanced transportation system.
The goal is to have a transportation system that is convenient, affordable and efficient – one that provides choice and allows residents to travel whatever way they please.
Traffic barriers in place on Lake shore Road fora Car Free Sunday.
That sounds very nice doesn’t it? – travel whatever way they please – hard to do if the road you want to drive on is clogged with traffic.
All this thinking loops back to the city’s Strategic Plan – what do we want ? What can we afford and how do we do all this and keep taxes at a level that are bearable?
The transportation department and the planning department are working together to produce a document that will give both city council and the public some choices.
One of the more immediate problems for Burlington is that we don’t have a Director of Transportation nor do we have a Director of Planning – which should be telling you the tax payers something. Why don’t we have these people in place today?
The former Director of Transportation decided that he wanted to try living in a different part of the country – he was ready for a change so he took a transportation job in Halifax. Same kind of job – just in a different city.
The former Director of Planning came to the conclusion that it was time to retire – that may not have been just his decision.
The city is without significant leadership in two critical departments and we are working with a city manager who is still figuring out where his bench strength is – truth be told – there isn’t all that much bench strength. James Ridge, the city manager, is down to a single General Manager who is stretched pretty thin at times.
A crack in a furnace released carbon monoxide into a home –
CO is a gas you can’t see, smell or taste so the only way to detect it inside the home is with an alarm.
The Burlington Fire Department has released a public safety video to create awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO). Julia’s Story captures the emotional account of one family’s close call with CO after a crack in the home’s furnace led to a CO leak inside the home. The video addresses the signs and symptoms of CO exposure and how to prevent the threat of CO poisoning at home.
“Julia’s story is part of a storytelling campaign aimed at sharing the experiences of city residents during emergency situations,” said Fire Chief Tony Bavota. “We are grateful to Julia and her family for allowing us to tell their story, which underscores the importance of working carbon monoxide alarms.”
If you live in Burlington and have experienced a fire or life safety emergency, the fire department would like you to share your story; email them at – firedepartment@burlington.ca.
“The intent of the video is to tell a real and meaningful story to spark conversation within our community about CO,” said Public Education Officer Kim Sopko. “There are many stories out there like Julia’s. Our goal is to find and share those personal experiences to hopefully prevent the same situation from happening to others in our community.”
Julia’s Story and other fire and life safety education videos can be viewed on the fire department’s YouTube channel.
CO is a gas you can’t see, smell or taste so the only way to detect it inside the home is with an alarm. If it the alarm sounds, get outside immediately and call 9-1-1. More information on CO can be found at: www.burlington.ca/co.
The Burlington Fire Department is a composite force that includes career staff and volunteers serving the diverse needs of the community. The department’s activities include fire suppression, fire prevention, education, training and emergency planning.
The Joseph Brant Hospital tag team paid a courtesy call on Council earlier this week and chit chatted about how things were coming along on the construction site; updated council on where things were with the community portion of the $120 million we have to come up with to get that refurbished hospital, large parts of which will be brand spanking new, top the point where people can use the place.
Annissa Hilborn and Eric Vandewall, she of the Hospital Foundation and he of the hospital itself, also left the city with a document that set out when and how much of the $60 million city taxpayers have been putting into a reserve fund for that rainy day when the hospital comes looking for a cheque.
The purpose of the meeting was to approve the amendments to the City’s Contribution Milestones and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute the amending agreement.
Most recent rendering of the Joseph Brant Hospital showing the bridge from the garage.
In July of 2012, Council approved a Contribution Agreement that had the city contributing $60 million towards the purchase of eligible equipment costs.
At the time there was a bit of a squabble on how the city was going to give money to the hospital. They, the hospital, wanted the city to pay for building the parking garage which Councillor Taylor objected to – unless the city was going to get the parking revenue. That idea didn’t fly.
They eventually settled on the city agreeing to pick up the tab for up to $60 million in equipment costs.
The initial cash flow from the hospital represented the their preliminary estimate of the equipment needs and cash flow requirements over the life of the JBH Redevelopment Project prior to the award of the construction Contract to Ellis Don Infrastructure JBH Inc.
The revised schedule is now reflective of the equipment purchases required to align with the construction schedule of Ellis Don Infrastructure JBH Inc. which includes the opening of the new tower in 2017. The equipment requirements for the hospital fiscal years 2015/16 have decreased by $10.1 million. In 2016/17, the equipment requirements have increased by $22 million from the original contribution agreement. These changes are consistent with the construction project schedule and the requirement to acquire furniture, fixtures and equipment and install the same prior to the opening of the new tower in 2017.
The new tower will include a new Emergency department, three medical/surgical floors, a new ICU, new OR’s and day surgery and ambulatory care including a new Ophthalmology Clinic.
The comparison of the Revised Contribution Milestones is provided below:
2016 is going to be a crunch year – the hospital wants a lot of the money then – and we don’t have it – so we borrow – hoping that interest rates remain low.
The change in the cash flow advances the amount of debt required, but given the current favourable interest rates, the revised cash flow reduces the total levy and the length of time for the dedicated hospital levy from $62.1 million (19 years) to $59.5 million over 17 years.
The original cash flow is set out below
The revised cash flow means the city doesn’t have to borrow quite as much as it would have under the original flow.
The Contribution Agreement requires that JBH provide a Milestone Notice to the city at least three months in advance of each contribution date. This is critical in 2016 as this is the largest payment requiring a significant amount of debentures through the Region of Halton.
Each notice must contain:
• A statement confirming the application of all installments previously provided by the city to eligible costs • A statement confirming the amount contributed by the Foundation to Local Share Plan Costs at that time (the agreement stipulates that the cumulative city contribution is not to exceed the amount contributed by the Foundation) • A statement confirming the application of any unused funds from any prior city installment together with interest earned • Any unused funds together with interest earned shall be used on account of the next city installment.
The city’s $60 million contribution is made up of cash payments totaling $24.1 M and debentures of $35.9 M. Debt repayment (principal and interest) amounts to $41.52 M (10 year debt at 1.951% for the 2015 issue and an assumed 3% for the 2016 debt issue). All cash and debt repayment is funded by the dedicated tax levy for the hospital.
On a cold summer’s day the Burlington Bandits made their way North up the 400 to once again battle with the reigning IBL Champion Barrie Baycats. Unfortunately Burlington was not able to come out on top in the game, losing in a shootout, the final score 9-8 in favour of Barrie.
The game almost never happened as Barrie experienced heavy rainfall for the majority of the day. In the end the rain let up just in time, allowing Burlington to try and redeem themselves after losing to Barrie 17-4 at home last weekend. “We’ve been better,” said Burlington’s Coach Kyle MacKinnon, “we still have to fight with the top dogs. Keep scratching out the wins we should, and beat someone we shouldn’t.”
After a 45-minute delay the field was finally ready and Colonel Doyon, Commander of Canadian Forces Base Borden, took the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Military Day at Coates Stadium.
Luis Diaz tosses his bat after being walked.
When the game finally got underway it was easy to see that the wet conditions were making it tough for both teams. In the top of the first inning Adam Odd hit a ground ball right at Barrie’s second baseman Luis Diaz; the play should have resulted in an easy out, but the conditions resulted in Diaz losing grip on the ball, throwing into his own dugout. Odd would score shortly afterwards to open the scoring for the game.
From that point on there were several lead changes that saw Burlington put up the fight their coach was asking for.
However, they weren’t able to find that killer instinct and put the game out of reach. After holding the lead several times the Bandits found themselves going into the eighth inning down 8-5. After Brandon Hillier singled to left and Adam Odd singled to right Shaun Cooper stepped to the plate and belted a home run to tie the game.
Bandits lose to the Barrie Baycats – Close – but that doesn’t count in baseball.
Sadly the win wasn’t in the cards for Burlington, in the bottom of the eighth Luis Diaz scored for Barrie on a single by Kyle DeGrace, putting the Baycats on top for good as they went on to win the game 9-8.
The loss leaves Burlington with an 8-16 record, and in sixth position in the eight team league.
The Bandits now travel to Brantford to play the Red Sox tonight, Wednesday July 8 at 8:00 p.m.
What if the transit drivers decide they want to force their issues and walk off the job Monday morning – the 13th
Transit people will tell you that once a bus rider leaves it takes a long, long time to get them back.
Mayor explains using the bus schedule on his cell phone
Riders are forced to find some other way to get around – and they often like what they find – even if it costs more and they stay with it for some time.
There is a break in the trust that existed between the transit drivers and those who use the buses.
People who depended on transit had their lives significantly disruptedand they don’t see their transit driver as the friendly person who they met and chatted with every day.
There is a disintegration in public trust – something that is hard to quantify or measure but it is certainly there.
Burlington is not a transit friendly city. There are people who will be delighted when the bus no longer drives by their house making more noise than they want to put up with.
Those same people don’t like the noise the garbage truck makes but they put up with it because they want their garbage removed.
They are not transit users and they resent the amount of their tax dollars that are used to support transit – they see transit that is something for people of limited means – and they don’t see Burlington as a city of limited means.
This attitude is part of a particular demographic – it isn’t seen in the younger people – they adapt more easily and tend to have a different take on the damage that cars do to the environment.
It will be interesting to see what the transit workers decide to do and how city council reacts.
Mayor thinking through a problem – transit is going to occupy some of his thinking this weekend.
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre has issued a new call for applications to audition for talent Showcase spots that will be part of the 2015/2016 season
The Performing Arts Centre has initiated a Community Engagement program that will introduce amateur performers to theatre patrons.
This is part of the Centre’s Community Engagement initiative. They want to involve local amateur talent in Burlington and surrounding areas to showcase prior to a selection of events in the Main Theatre throughout the 2015/2016 Season.
These showcases are to complement the show in Main Theatre. For example if the event in the Main Theatre is a dance event then the group that will be chosen to Showcase their talent the lobby will be dance.
If the Main stage has song then the group – or a single person – will be a singer.
The objective is to have what is being showcased compliment what is taking place on the Main theatre stage.
There is a small honorarium for the Lobby Showcases and artists will get an opportunity to market their brand at that time, while reaching a new audience. The artists may also be added to the City of Burlington’s Artists database, with their permission. The honorarium was a change from the original announcement
The selected performers will get one of eight Lobby Showcase spots available throughout the 2015/2016 Presenting Season and they, as well as others selected, may also get a chance to be featured in the Culture Days celebrations, September 25 to 27, 2015.
The Centre’s goal is to provide these local acts with greater exposure – to introduce the artists to the Centre;s patrons, and a wider audience – encouraging local artists on their way to becoming better known in the community.
If the Burlington Teen Tour Band can do their thing in the lobby of the Performing Arts Centre – imagine what a smaller group could do?
We are looking for singer/songwriters, dancers, singers (pop, jazz, blues, folk, classical), bands or combos, instrumentalists and soloists (classical, jazz, etc.), performance art and comedy. Please submit the following by email to: BPACAuditions@burlington.ca
Include photos, a short biography and background information, a description of the act or performer, any links to YouTube videos if available, and contact information.
Dateline for submissions is July 24, 2015.
There are limited spots available so only the acts or artists selected will be contacted with an audition date and time. Auditions will take place on September 19 and 20, from 10am to 5pm.
Any further inquiries may be made to Community Engagement Manager, Costin Manu, at costin.manu@burlington.ca
A tentative settlement was reached today between the City of Burlington and the members of CUPE Local 2723, representing Burlington Transit workers.
The union will be holding a ratification meeting on July 12. Both parties have been ordered by the conciliator to respect a full blackout on any details of the settlement until the day of ratification. Both parties fully recommend the tentative deal.
The city has known for some time that there were going to be problems with the transit union; a tentative deal, which was recommended by the union negotiators to the membership, was nevertheless turned down by the membership.
There is something the transit workers are really unhappy with. Was the city able to sweeten the deal enough for the membership to accept? We will know Sunday evening
The union has informed the city that if the tentative settlement is rejected by the union members, a transit strike would start effective 12:01 a.m. on Monday, July 13.
That’s cutting it close.
City staff are concerned that a lengthy strike will drive people away from transit – and it takes a long long time to win them back. Critical; time for transit in Burlington
The community is encouraged to consider alternative arrangements for transportation in the event of a strike.
Traffic alerts –Maplewood Drive and Plains Road West have trouble spots.
Maplewood Drive will be temporarily closed from Brant Street to Robinson Street from July 2 to July 9, 2015 for the installation of a sanitary sewer.
The northbound lane of Plains Road West between Hillsdale Avenue and York Boulevard will have a temporary lane closure for work to rehabilitate a bridge.
The lane restriction is in place from July 7 to Oct. 30, 2015.
Access to buildings along this section of Plains Road West will be maintained at all times.
Food trucks are more than just a phenomenon, they’re a social movement
What was once the domain of fried potatoes and tubular meat products has undergone a culinary revolution. Food trucks are more than just a phenomenon or fad. They represent a new social movement in the culinary world and deserve a place in the foodscape of a vibrant community.
That is a crowd and that is a circle of Food Trucks – the idea has taken hold – will Burlington ever see a set up like this?
The rise of the gourmet food truck movement began early this century with the economic downtown in the United States. There was a convergence of opportunities. A drop in housing and construction saw mobile food vehicles that had once served the construction sites go under.
Restaurants felt the pinch as the economy slowed and were laying off staff, and frugal consumers were looking for inexpensive meals. Unemployed chefs, cheap trucks and thrifty consumers made the gourmet food truck an opportunity to cash in on.
Less than a decade since, IBISWorld research estimates that there are more than 4,000 food trucks operating in the United States and they have out-performed the rest of the food industry. The movement came to Canada about five years ago.
Some of the Food trucks are almost an art form
Niagara’s el Gastronomo Vagabundo, started operation in 2010 and is widely regarded as the first gourmet food truck in Canada and certainly a pioneer in Ontario’s growing food truck movement. It is a movement that has already established a hold in Golden Horseshoe communities outside of Burlington and contributes to their status as culinary destinations for foodies.
In today’s consumer culture we buy the signs and ideas more so than the commodity itself. In the case of food we’re not buying sustenance, we’re buying, local, organic, vegan, exotic, fusion, gourmet, authentic, exclusive, trendy, ethical, artisanal sustenance.
This shift in the culinary world is not about food trucks. Rather, the foodie culture has been a growing movement and smart restauranteurs recognize the trends. There has been democratization of the food world at the consumer end where foodies seek authentic, exotic, ethical or gourmet food but a bricks and mortar restaurant, whether it’s hole-in-the-wall or haute cuisine, is where you’ve needed to go to get it.
Food trucks, however, represent a democratization at the production end. Food truckers have brought all the caché foodie consumers seek to a mobile space that comes to a street near you. The trucks come with gourmet food, bright colours, amusing names, and a buzz created by social media.
The trucks often pay homage to the cuisine, cooking techniques or food represented. There is a playful imitation of gourmet or comfort food but in a way that celebrates the original. Comfort food like grilled cheese is elevated with gourmet artisanal ingredients. A blurring of culinary genres is a common food truck theme as evidenced by Asian tacos with kimchi or a truck dedicated to noodles from all culinary traditions.
You know what you’re getting from this Food Truck
Foodies, seeking that authentic, exotic, ethical or gourmet food now have another place to get it. Restaurant associations, rather than welcoming the culinary newcomers have lobbied municipalities for restrictive by-laws that limit them. In some cities entire zones are off limits for food trucks and although another restaurant can open up next door a food truck can’t operate for the afternoon within a specified buffer zone. What the restaurant associations don’t realize is that if a foodie wants a food truck experience they will find a food truck. If they want a Michelin star experience they will find a Michelin star restaurant. That is a part of what the foodie culture is about.
As for food truckers, they’re a plucky lot. Food truck operators in Ontario formed an association of their own to lobby for better access to streets and parks. They founded locations in some communities with access for all food trucks, and participate in food truck rallies where they come together and operate as a collective attraction.
Their marketing techniques are primarily through social media and cross promote other trucks. Some are fine to stay on the road while others may look at the truck as a stepping stone to a bricks and mortar operation. Just down the road in food truck friendly Hamilton, at least three food trucks are opening restaurants in the community.
This is taking the idea of a Food Truck a little further than the very first vehicles – but if there is a market for this – who knows.
Although meeting with resistance from traditional restaurants, and municipal politics, the renegade restaurants on wheels are a growing success and a movement that’s here to stay.
Indeed they are – the design of the Beachway Park – that we won’t see for at least ten years includes Food Trucks that will cater to the thousands of people who will use that park.
About the author:
I am not in the food truck or any food service industry, nor do I have family or friends in the industry. I work in municipal government for the City of Hamilton. The research I based the op-ed on was conducted as part of my studies towards a Masters of Arts in Intercultural and International Communications through Royal Roads University in Victoria. It’s based on a project that I completed for a Public Culture course where I looked at the food truck movement in Southern Ontario from a postmodern perspective.
It’s pretty clear now that the house William Ghent lived in as a farmer is going to meet the nudge of a wrecking ball.
The last genuine farm house in the downtown core – can any of it be salvaged?
The Development and Infrastructure Standing Committee decided not to go along with a staff report that advised the city not to issue a demolition permit.
The goose was cooked” when Jim Clemens said during his delegation that he would be very hard pressed to find a strong reason for keeping the structure.
Heritage Advisory Chair Jim Clemens didn’t see enough in the Ghent – Brant property to designate it – without the designation the city has to issue a demolition permit if one is sought.
Clemens did say that he hoped a way could be found to save parts of the structure – perhaps the façade of the building and include that in whatever gets built on the lot at the corner of Ghent and Brant Street along with the property to the south of it.
Tony Millington, the private planner on the file said that the owners of the property had not yet decided what they were going to build but that they expected to come back and ask for zoning to build at least an eight storey structure.
The city’s planning department still harbours hopes that something can be saved – the structure is the very last farm house in the downtown core.
While Ghent was the owner of the property when it was divided into eight 5 acres parcels – that would qualify him as one of the city’s earliest developers – he really didn’t live in the house all that long.
The property will soon be in the hands of a developer – all they have to do is convince council to give them the zoning and density they want and that corner of the city will be like most of the other – plain, bland and uninspiring.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
There are two classical Renaissance style structures on Yonge Street in Toronto that were basically abandoned years ago. Both were banks.
Abandoned bank on Yonge Street in Toronto found a new life – as the lobby to a high rise condominium. Imagine this as the front door to your home.
A developer came up with a way to use one of the abandoned banks as the entrance to a high rise condominium that would be built behind and above the old bank.
The pictures tell the story.
The classical structure was saved – lending much more comfortable street scape and a lobby that is to die for.
Does Burlington have a developer with some imagination and the ability to take a risk and include the farmhouse in whatever they decide to build – and get a little extra density for their efforts?
That farmhouse could be changed into a general store, a drug store, even a coffee shop that would enhanced the property and keep some of the city’s heritage.
It can be done.
A stretch of anything but contemporary looking homes in the Beach of eastern Toronto
There is a stretch of Toronto along the lakeshore in the east end where the road bends and becomes Woodbine Avenue. Years ago a racetrack was on that property.
A developer bought the land and developed a nice sub-division – not unlike our Alton Village. They were nice enough.
Buyers had a choice between plain bland brick and colourful semi-detached homes – the colourful homes sold for a premium.
The developer was getting on in years and decided he wanted to do something different so he built a stretch of the development that were significantly different than the rest – they were brightly painted and just different – and they ended up selling at a premium price.
The public will buy different – if the developers don’t come forward with different ideas – there are people in the planning department that can help them,
Let’s see what the end resolution is with the property at Ghent and Brant.
The unions in this city seem to be on a bit of a roll – while the city’s outside workers settled – the transit drivers have yet to accept the city’s latest offer.
The 33 front-line workers who maintain the Royal Botanical Gardens gardens, grounds and buildings, are facing the harsh reality of falling behind as their wages have not kept pace with inflation in decades.
The union points to the pride of the RBG being an ‘ecological jewel’ and a living paradise for locals and visitors to escape to, the workers who maintain the place are not happy campers
“While RBG’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) saw his salary increase by 40 thousand dollars from 2006 to 2014, the workers who tend to the ecological jewel received 0 per cent for 8 of the past 20 years,” said Sandra Walker, president of CUPE 5167, representing RBG workers.
Thirty three grounds workers make all this happen – they’d like to see the same increase in their pay cheque that the CEO got.
“While they love the gardens, our members have truly fallen behind in ‘paradise’ because at the end of the day they have to feed their families and not just admire the beauty of RBG.”
Over the years, the workers were forced to accept none to very minimal wage increases to keep the RBG operating financially. As a result of their sacrifices to keep RBG afloat, the workers’ wages have fallen behind drastically and they are now attempting to address the wage issue in this round of bargaining talks. Their last contract expired on January 15, 2015.
Both the union and management are scheduled to return to bargaining talks on July 14 with the help of a provincial conciliator. The workers voted unanimously, a 100% mandate, to secure a fair contract that corrects the wage gap, including job action if necessary.
“According to the CEO, last year was a positive year for the RBG, with a new five-year strategic plan that aims to position the RBG as a global leader in the next decade,” said Walker. “Our members support this plan and they’ve worked hard to help RBG turn the corner, and it is now time for management to help workers with real wage increases.”
To highlight the economic challenges faced by the workers, they will hold a ‘Still Falling Behind in Paradise’ rally on Wednesday, July 8 at 5:00 p.m. outside of the RBG entrance at 680 Plains Road West in Burlington.
When negotiating the idea is for each side to determine what they can give and what they just cannot give up or absolutely have to have.
The transit workers do not appear to have learned or understood that fundamental rule.
The transit terminal is open now – can the city and the transit union find a way to keep it open and avert a strike?
One of their issues is for those over 65 to be able to have access to the same range of benefits that those under 65 have, which is apparently not the case now – even though that right is said to be written into the existing collective agreement.
A reliable source reports that there is a benefit the transit workers have which they are not using – the city would like the union to exchange some of that benefit in exchange for the paying full benefits to those over 65.
The union leadership is reported to have recommended to their membership that they accept the offer the city has made – the membership said no – and everyone is now back at the negotiating table.
At a transit workshop several months ago dozens of people spoke of the high regard they had for transit drivers; young people spoke of occasions when a driver turned a blind eye to the person not having the full fare; adults told of drivers that would let them off a bus closer to their homes in the evening.
A reputation for courtesy and service was witnessed – that is not something one would want to lose.
Some union members feel they have the city between a rock and a hard place given the current city council schedule and the oncoming summer vacation.
Time to do some real negotiating and time for the union membership to do a fast reality check.
Have you ever marvelled at that guy in front of that big orchestra and the way he waves his arms around and gets everybody to play just the way he wants?
Symphony on the Bay has been performing in Burlington for the past 4 years at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.(www.symphonyonthebay.com)
They were the orchestra playing the concert with the fireworks on Canada Day in Spencer Smith Park.
The orchestra will be taking part in Culture Days and is looking for people, ages 6 and up, who would like to conduct the orchestra in a” pass the baton” relay at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre on Sunday, September 27.
Anyone interested can contact Andrea Battista at abattista1@cogeco.ca.
Koogle Theatre Company will be holding auditions on Sunday August 9 for local dancers!
A Koogle Theatre event that took place in Central Park – they will be taking part in Culture Days in September
They are looking for dancers of all ages for the Culture Days event on Sept 27,
Contact info@koogletheatre.com if interested.
Rehearsals will be on Sundays in August and Sept.
Culture Days, which take place in late September have grown to become almost the major growth event that involves people in the city and the thousands that visit Burlington.
If you like the idea of running for public office and ending up with a decent pension there is an opportunity for someone in Burlington to join Eleanor McMahon at Queen’s Park.
The government of Ontario decided some time ago that the boundaries for the constituencies in Ontario would be the same as those of the federal government.
The federal government added a new riding for Burlington which means that in the fullness of time there will be a new riding for Burlington.
And because it is a new seat the candidates will not have to run against an incumbent – once those people get into office they never seem to know that it is time to leave; it becomes very difficult to vote them out due to their high name recognition.
So – if a career as an elected official interests you – watch how things play out in the new Oakville North Burlington riding, then join the political party you think can take the seat provincially and you might be on your way to getting your picture in the paper regularly and maybe even making a difference for the community.
Expect to see another office like this open at some point in the not too distant future – it will cater to the people on the east side of the city and some in Oakville.
Don’t worry too much about your political convictions – they don’t matter all that much these days; promises are made that everyone knows are never going to be kept.
The provincial government introduced Election Reform legislation to Ensure Fair Representation which will increase the number of Ontario ridings to 122
Ontario is proposing changes to the provincial election system that would ensure Ontarians are represented fairly in the legislature.
Premier will follow the practice of having the same constituency boundaries as federal ridings – which will mean one more for Burlington.
Premier Kathleen Wynne announced that the government will introduce an election reform bill. If passed, the Electoral Boundaries Act, 2015 would increase the number of provincial ridings in southern Ontario from 96 to 111 for the election scheduled in 2018. This would align with the new federal boundaries, and would better reflect population shifts and increases. Most new ridings would be in areas that have seen substantial population growth, such as Toronto, Peel, York, Durham and Ottawa.
The 11 ridings in northern Ontario would stay the same to ensure that northern communities continue to have effective representation in the legislature.
Adjusting Ontario’s electoral boundaries was recommended by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). The government is also committed to addressing other recommendations from the CEO, and will be moving ahead with additional items this fall, including:
• Moving the fixed election date from fall to spring to help avoid overlap with federal and municipal elections;
• Engaging more young people with the voting process through provisional registration for 16- and 17-year-olds. The minimum voting age would remain 18;
• Strengthening rules on election-related third-party advertising.
Enhancing the fairness and integrity of the election system is part of the government’s plan to build a fairer and more inclusive Ontario.
By Pepper Parr
The way we move around the community is heavily influenced by where we live, work and play. The way we travel impacts our quality of life, our health and relationship with our community
The revised schedule is now reflective of the equipment purchases required to align with the construction schedule of Ellis Don Infrastructure JBH Inc. which includes the opening of the new tower in 2017. The equipment requirements for the hospital fiscal years 2015/16 have decreased by $10.1 million. In 2016/17, the equipment requirements have increased by $22 million from the original contribution agreement. These changes are consistent with the construction project schedule and the requirement to acquire furniture, fixtures and equipment and install the same prior to the opening of the new tower in 2017.
The city has known for some time that there were going to be problems with the transit union; a tentative deal, which was recommended by the union negotiators to the membership, was nevertheless turned down by the membership.
The union points to the pride of the RBG being an ‘ecological jewel’ and a living paradise for locals and visitors to escape to, the workers who maintain the place are not happy campers
Symphony on the Bay has been performing in Burlington for the past 4 years at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.(www.symphonyonthebay.com)
