 By Pepper Parr
November 11, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather was as good as it was going to get for a November Day. A great day for a parade. A fine day to pause, reflect and remember.
With blood on the ground at the base of the National War Memorial and six of our aircraft and a couple of hundred support people in the Middle East in harms way – Canadians have reason to ask themselves: are we safe? Is there something wrong with us as a country – and to reflect on just how much we have going for us and the men and woman who made all this possible.
 Canada is at war – not a big war in terms of the resources we have put into it, but a big, big war for the ISIS people. (ISIS stands for The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant; which is also translated as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) They want to change fundamentally the way society will function. Could they do that to us? War is a very dangerous game and history tells us that the bad guys do win sometimes.
Our columnist, Mark Gillies did a series of articles on the 38 men from Burlington who were lost in the First Great War. It was surprising how little we knew about them. Gillies is looking forward to the public responding and filling in some of the blanks.
It was disquieting to see armed police officers around the perimeter of the Cenotaph. What would that infantryman at the top of the statute have had to say about that?
The loss of two members of our Armed Forces has brought home to all of us just how much we have to lose. Recognizing our history and understanding what it means to each of us is one of the steps to maintaining the democracy we have.
Cherishing that democracy and practicing it is another step. A 34% voter turnout for a municipal election is not cherishing the democracy we have.
 By Staff
November 11, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Join the Arts Burlington Council in starting off the holiday season.
They will be conducting their annual Christmas Fine Art and Craft Sale, which takes place at the Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) Thursday, November 13 – Sunday, November 16.
 The six Arts Burlington guilds participating in the event include: Latow Photographers Guild, Burlington Potters Guild, Burlington Fine Arts Association, Burlington Rug Hooking Craft Guild, Burlington Hand Weavers and Spinners Guild, and the Burlington Sculptors and Woodcarvers Guild.
The guilds continue to be an integral part of the AGB (formerly The Burlington Art Centre) since its inception more than 35 years ago. As drivers of arts and culture in the community, together the Art Gallery of Burlington and Arts Burlington strengthen the cultural landscape. With objectives to develop and maintain onsite and outreach programs, creative outlets and the expansion of visual arts, both organizations require support from the community. Providing an opportunity to increase public awareness of their services, this event is an important fundraiser for Arts Burlington and the Art Gallery of Burlington.
We invite you to come and take part in gift shopping from the unique works of art provided by the six guilds. In keeping with holiday tradition, there is a special tree filled with small gift items made by the guilds. All proceeds of these specially made items will go to the Art Gallery of Burlington.
Additionally, the AGB is hosting the always well attended Soup Bowl event. For more information and tickets (get them soon!) please visit
Dates:
Thursday, November 13 – 11am-3pm
Friday, November 14 – 11am-9pm
Saturday, November 15 – 11am-4pm
Sunday, November 16 – 11am-4pm
The Place:
Art Gallery of Burlington
1333 Lakeshore Road
Burlington, Ontario
905-632-7796
 By Mark Gillies
November 11, 2014
Burlington, ON.
The Kerns family is prominent in the history of the city. The family immigrated as Loyalists in 1803. They had originally emigrated from Germany to the American colonies. A Kerns was the first settler to buy land from Joseph Brant: 200 acres on the east side of Brant Street.
 The death details document sets out in short stark sentences how Kerns died. Private Kerns was born in Burlington, Ontario, south of Milton and was son to Edward Bruce Atkinson and Sarah Kerns of Zimmerman, Ontario. He attested to the 164th Infantry Battalion on March 23, 1916. From there he passed through the 2nd Reserve Battalion prior to his service posting with the 102nd Battalion (4th Division, 11th Infantry Brigade) on February 28, 1918.
On October 4, 1918 Private Kerns was sent “dangerously ill” to the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station with appendicitis. The unit had recently returned from front line duty at Bourlon Wood at the Battle of Canal du Nord and Cambrai. The unit had been on loan to the 3rd Division.
He was subsequently sent to the No. 8 Stationary Hospital Wimereux and then admitted to hospital in Manchester, England. October26, 1918 where he received surgery. He was discharged “fit for duty” to the 8th Reserve Battalion in Witley on January 31, 1919.
Private Kerns was admitted to Kinmel Park Military Hospital with severe abdominal pains at 4 pm March 7, 1919. He subsequently died at the No. 9 General Hospital Kinmel Surgical Hospital at 8 am March 9, 1919 after surgery to relieve and intestinal obstruction. His service record is very detailed on this event.
William Kenneth Atkinson Kerns died of an obstruction in his stomach and was buried in a Parish churchyard, Bodelwyddan (St. Margaret), Flintshire, United Kingdom in Wales on October 2, 1919.
 Peppiat, a graduate of Wycliffe College Frederick Charles Peppiatt, a graduate of Wycliff College served at the Somme and Vimy Ridge. He died May 2nd, several months after marrying in Toronto.
 Peppiatt spent almost all of his war time experience in the trenches where foot rot was common. He was given a short break at Christmas when he was able to send a single word cable to his wife – SAFE; that was the last word she received from her husband,
Peppiatt had three nephews serving in Europe.
 Private Stanley F. Smith was born in England, came to Canada with his Mother and settled in Burlington. He died of wounds. He was single.
 Details on the death of Private Edward Summers. Private Edward Summers was reported to have been wounded in the face from a piece of shrapnel. The short news report has some detail that is hard to decipher on the army Death detail documents. Not much more is revealed other than his death took place on September 4th, 1917
 The names of Harry Brain and Robert Morse appear on the same marker. Private Harry Brain was in the engineering Corps. These men were commonly referred to as “Sappers”. Brain was with a party of Sappers at the edge of a wood where an enemy shell landed, instantly killing brain and 12 other soldiers.
Private Robert Morse was of the party of soldiers killed in the same action as Private Bain.
Charles Hartley Allen was killed in France on August 8th , 1918 . He worked in the hardware business and spent all of his life in Burlington where he was well liked and respected.
Allen was a sports enthusiast who left a brother and three sisters along with his parents to mourn his death when the telegram arrived from Ottawa.
This six part series of articles on the 38 men whose names appear on the cenotaph just behind city hall is the beginning of a new career step for me.
In the near future I will be writing a regular column for the Gazette that will be called Who Knew? I will be writing about the history of Burlington and its people and will continue with my writing on the history of the Freeman Station and its restoration.
 By Pepper Parr
November 11, 2014
Burlington, ON
From the RCAF Awards & Citations Page
BIRCH, F/O John Oswald (J23888) – Distinguished Flying Cross – No.103 Squadron – Award effective 26 September 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 2373/44 dated 3 November 1944. Born 1920 in Winnipeg; home in Toronto; enlisted there 21 January 1942. Trained at No.6 ITS (graduated 31 July 1942), No.12 EFTS and No.2 SFTS (graduated 19 February 1943). Commissioned 1943. Award sent by registered mail 19 December 1945.
 Those are the bare facts – set out as only a military bureaucrat could. The fill story is:
One night in July 1944 John Oswald Birch was pilot and captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Stuttgart. At the commencement of the bombing run the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The starboard fin and rudder and a portion of the tail plane and elevator were shot away. The mid-upper and rear turrets were rendered unserviceable. A fuel tank was pierced whilst much damage was sustained to the control surfaces. In spite of this, Flying Officer Birch executed his attack. On the long flight home it was very difficult to maintain control and it was necessary for another member of the crew to assist by maintaining pressure on the rudder controls but an airfield was eventually reached and a safe landing effected. In most difficult circumstances, Flying Officer Birch displayed notable skill, courage and tenacity.
Part of the crew on that Lancaster bomber that night was a man named McDonald. His son Terrence contacted the Gazette asking if a comment written by John Birch might be related to the man who brought that Lancaster bomber back to London where it crash landed.
Terence G. McDonald wrote the Gazette asking:
Dear sir, I was looking up something regarding Bomber Command and I came across your article dated August 27, 2013. One of the people who commented is John Birch. I was stunned because his father and my father were on the same crew.
 My father was the wireless air gunner and when they hobbled back to England my father, after seeing the majority of crew bail out, in turn bailed out and landed in a tree in Battersea Cemetery. In my father’s memoirs he talks about J.O.
I’ve attached the story as written by my father about that night. If you can track down John Birch and give him a copy I’d appreciate it.
We put the two men together and Terence G. McDonald and John Birch began a long electronic conversation.
Birch wanted to know if Terrence has “any photos or more info re my father, they would be deeply appreciated, as my father’s pilot log book, photo binders, DFC & other service medals, and uniform along with a treasured engraved Ronson lighter with the 103 Squadron logo gifted to him by his crew, and their names engraved on the reverse side, ‘to F/L J O Birch DFC, for getting us home’ were all lost in a house fire in the early 1950’s on Indian Point, Burlington.
 Officers and crew flying in Lancaster bombers were always at great risk and there was no comfort. These were bare bones aircraft built to carry bombs and fight off attacking aircraft with machine guns in turrets. “My father, so my mother told me, was deeply moved by the gift from his crew.”
Burlington’s John Birch went on to say that: David Fell, archivist for 103 Sq Association Elshom Wolds put me in contact with one of my father’s crew still alive. I received a very personal letter, from F/O A C P Gamble DFC a few years ago, who had replaced F/S Evans as upper turret gunner sometime in August 1944. F/O Gamble was on his second tour and was considered a lucky addition to the crew. He and my father became good friends and everyone referred to my dad as J O.
Mr Gamble stated in the letter, he’d flown with many pilots and considered “good old JO was the best and most skilled pilot I had ever flown with …, I feel I owe my life and surviving the war to your father’s flying skills’
“According to Mr Fell, that night, July 28-29 1944, 103 Sq suffered the worst losses of the war, having contributed 8 aircraft to the 3rd Stuttgart raid, only 4 returned, the rest either shot down or damaged and landing elsewhere. The sister Sq also operating out of Elshom Wolds, contributed 7 Lancs, with only 4 returning.
“Fell wrote that when my dad arrived July 7th 1944 at 103 Sq, moral was quite low, for the preceding 6 months not one aircrew had survived to be rotated out at the end of their tour.
“Casualty rates, as you know, in bomber command was 54% with a statistical likelihood of 5% loss per operation. 5% x minimum 30 operations to complete a tour – well, the math didn’t work out well for the aircrews.
 At the nose of a Lancaster there was a bomb aimer and gunners just above them Birch continues in his correspondence with Terrence to say: “While I knew the entire starboard fin, rudder; controls and horizontal stabilizer were blown off, and the turrets rendered inoperable due to the loss of the hydraulics, and the fuel tank holed, I did not know that 6′ of wing was also blown off along with the bomb bay doors. Lancs could take quite a beating. Quite amazing considering the Lanc’s origin was the disastrous Manchester – but the slide rule boffins at AV Roe added 15 feet of wing to the Manchester and an extra pair of Merlins, called it the Lancaster and a legend was born.
“I do know my father was quite worried when they didn’t report back to base for 3 agonizing days as he thought he might have ordered them to their injury or deaths. My dad’s Lanc made a belly landing at White Waltham SW of London (being the closest field they could make and near out of fuel) and he had directed the non essential crew to bailout once over England, as it was a very tough landing to effect – particularly so now that I know the bomb bay doors were blown off too, leaving a 33 foot long scoop on the bottom of the aircraft. The landing gear could not be lowered.
 At the tail of the plane were two more machine guns to ward of attackers from the rear. Birch adds that “it was a good thing for both of us my dad and crew regained control and pulled PB147 out of that dive, for neither of us were yet conceived – and Lancs had such a terrible survival rate in an uncontrolled bailout.
F/O J O Birch DFC was promoted to F/L. He was a Lancaster pilot attached to 103 Squadron RAF. As was common practice RCAF and other Commonwealth crews flew together often as mix and match from across the colonies.
“We owe so much to all of they who served, and really have no idea what it was like.”
That sentiment will fill the air and the hearts of those who gather at the Burlington cenotaph this morning.
By Pepper Parr
November 10, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
There is so much money coming to Burlington from the provincial government that Ron Foxcroft offered to loan the city a couple of Fluke Transport trucks to get it from Toronto to Burlington.
Ron Foxcroft is the owner of Fluke Transport and the Chair of the Burlington Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund Raising Committee.
 From the left: Ron Foxcroft, Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon, HAlton MPP Indira Nadoor Harris and Mayor Rick Goldring preparing to speak at the media conference where the provincial contribution of $3 million for disaster relief was announced. MPPs Indira Nadoor-Harris of Halton and Eleanor McMahon, who represents Burlington in the provincial legislature, jointly announced this morning at a city hall media conference that the province has a approved a total of $3 million for Burlington to be given on a two-for-one basis.
If Burlington raises $1.5 million the province will send us $3 million
The Burlington Community Foundation has to date raised very close to $900,000
The 100 day campaign that Ron Foxcroft announced in August will come to a formal close on November 14th – this Friday.
Foxcroft has said there are still some significant corporate contributions to come in and the public can continue to donate until December 14th.
 Burlington Community Foundation president Collen Mulholland opens the media conference where the province announced grants of up to $3 million for Burlington. Regional Chair Gary Carr and Burlington Interim city manager Pat Moyle look on. On December 15th donations close as to applications for financial support.
The funds raised will begin to be distributed once the deadline for applications closes. People who were uninsured or under insured are the only ones eligible for financial support – and that support covers just household essentials.
If the furnace was damaged – you will get compensation. If that 52 inch high definition television set was damaged – think in terms of a smaller less expensive television set.
That Persian rug you had will not be considered essential.
Forms for application for financial support are on the Burlington Community Foundation.
 By Staff
November 10, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
This Thursday Nov. 13th at 7pm., Rm 305, at City Hall, the city and Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward will host a public meeting to review the proposed five story condominium for the property at Blathwayte Lane and Elgin Street (Stretching over to Locust Street).
The lots are zoned as four storeys maximum. Five storeys will require a zone change and zone changes on any property in St. Luke’s Precinct will set a precedent toward other zone changes.
 Area residents do not approve of an additional storey being added to a proposed condominium in the community. The St. Luke’s precinct residents have been very successful in having developers stick to the rules and the zoning given to a property.
This meeting is an early stage of the process event where the developer is gauging community reaction. The precinct residents see this as a critical first meeting where they can influence a design and urge to the developer to adjust the building to fit within zone or take their model somewhere else.
St. Luke’s is an easy 15 minute walk from the intersection of Lakeshore Road and Martha Street where a developer wants to put up a 28 storey structure on a site zoned for a maximum of eight storeys. While there has been strong reaction to the Martha Street project that part of the city has not had the same success as the people in St. Luke’s.
By Mark Gillies.
November 10, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
With a population of less than 2000 in 1914, Burlington was the classic example of a rural community.
No traffic lights, maybe a few stop signs. Everyone knew everyone. Families inter-married.
The local paper, the Gazette at the time, printed anything they could find about the people in the community. The publisher of the paper was also the mayor of the town – something that wouldn’t be possible today.
 All the Burlington troops left from the Freeman station. They were proud men with smiles on their faces heading for a ward that was brutal. Earlier this year when the fact that the First World War started 100 years ago was becoming part of the news cycle I began to wonder who the 38 names on the cenotaph behind city hall were.
Each year on Remembrance Day veterans, many in wheel chairs take part in a ceremony that draws large audiences.
I began to research the names on the cenotaph. There is very little information on some of them. “Killed in Action” is all that appears on some of the Army Death detail documents. We called the army the Militia on those days. The men who “signed-up” were part of the Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force.
 Walter Tarry’s marker in a cemetery in Europe. Walter Tarry died of his wounds in the field on June 15, 1918. We are told where he was buried – in a community cemetery – Row 4, grave 4. Cross erected. That is all we have.
 The Militia Death detail document has a lot of information on Private Carter. It is one of the few hat was typed up. Clifford Carter was accidentally killed on August 13, 1918. He was a member of the grenade platoon instructing men on the use of grenades when he accidentally put in a live fuse that exploded and killed him instantly. The was a Court of Inquiry that found the death to be an accident and no one was blamed.
Robert Saunders died on April 23, 1915 in an attack on St.Julien. Burlington lost a number of men in that battle.
 We know nothing about a burial which was the case with those who were blown to pieces from an explosion and there was nothing to recover.
 Kearse is shown with his son. It was not uncommon to dress male children in uniform for photographic portraits. We have a very full story for Herbert Kearse who was Killed in Action. The touching photograph of the Private and his son is par of the record along with a letter of appreciation he wrote Miss Smith of “the committee” thanking them for hand knitted socks, cigarettes, tobacco and chocolate. In his letter, which was published in the newspaper Private Kearse said: Letter of appreciation
Miss Ethel Smith has received the following letter from Private Kearse which was written a few days before he was killed in action in France.
 Somewhere in France April 15, 1917
Miss E Smith and QCHC Burlington Ontario.
I am writing to thank you for the parcel you sent me which arrived safely yesterday containing 3 pairs of socks, one towel, cigarettes and tobaco, and chocolates. It had taken quite a long time to come, being addressed to MG Depot in England, so please note change of address.
Although being a long time coming it was never the less very welcome as there is nothing like hand knitted socks to where on the march as we get in the mud, and I can assure you that it is encouraging to us to know that friends away back in dear old Burlington have not forgotten us and are doing what they can to bring us a little more comfort, and knowing this it helps us no small way to carry on with greater determination what we have set out to do, and I can assure you that the efforts being put forth in Burlington by your committee and other friends is highly appreciated by all the Burlington boys.
We only hope that time may soon come when we shall all be back with you again.
Again thanking you and wishing your committee every success, I am, yours truly HW Kearse.
 The Vimy Ridge Memorial built on land that France ceded to Canada. The names of all those lost in the First World War are inscribed on the structure There wasn’t the same amount of information and detail for Warrie Joseph Charles Potter who was Killed in Action on November 16, 1917. His name appears on the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France.
 By Pepper Parr
November 10, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
It is going to be great news.
There will be an announcement made at city hall related to the provincial funding for the Disaster Relief Fund that was created by the Burlington Community Foundation
 Ron Foxcroft, on the right, doing his persuasion number on the Mayor of Burlington. He apparently did the same to the Premier and MPP Ted McMeekin – to Burlington’s benefit. Ron Foxcroft is reported to have spent much of the weekend persuading Kathleen Wynne, the Premier and MPP Ted McMeekin that Burlington needed provincial help.
McMeekin and the Premier didn’t have a chance. The Tiger Cats won their Saturday football game and Foxcroft was on a roll.
Details will be released at city hall later today.
By Mark Gillies
November 10, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The first news about the loss of a soldier who lived in Burlington was a telegram from Ottawa. That telegram would have come through the railway station that the men board the train to Toronto on.
 Edward Cooper Simmons My grandfather served in that war. He wasn’t one of the of the 300 men from Burlington but he was part of that cohort that volunteered to fight in the first Great War. They believed it was the war that was going to end all wars.
Burlington was a town with a population of less than 2000; it sent more than 10% of its population off to fight a war that was on the other side of the world. everyone in town knew some of these men.
 The Army Death detail document tells us Private Simmons died if influenza and pneumonia in the field. We are given the name of the cemetery his remains were laid to rest in. One of the those men was Edward Cooper Simmons. He died in the field of influenza and pneumonia.
 Buckingham’s name is on a small cenotaph elsewhere. Shown is a closeup of the names. There is the name of a seaman as well. Robert John Buckingham was killed in action on May 30th, 1918 at a battle south of Sancourt. The Army death documentation says where he was buried. That is all that exists in the way of documentation but along with his name there is a tombstone with Robert John Buckingham’s name on it.
 Some detail taken from the Gazette, which at the time was the newspaper for the town. Note the easy, almost colloquial style. The Allen’s were a very prominent Burlington family. They owned a hardware store that was on Brant Street – not far from where Burlingtonians will gather on Remembrance Day. Joseph E. Allen was one of the 38 that left for the war and did not return. As a boy Joe surely walked by the place the cenotaph now stands. The short news item in the Gazette told of an injury. Allen later died of that injury.
 The phrase “sign-up” refers to this document which the Militia called an Attestation Paper. Private Reese was Killed in Action in a battle at St. Julien on April 28, 1915. The documents tell us little more than that. When men enlisted they completed what was known as an Attestation form that set out the information the government needed. The department that handled all the paper work was called the Militia Department.
Robert Ray Reese was part of the Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force. He signed an Oath that was then signed by the local magistrate. His next of kin lived in Toronto. Reese was single. There was an Attestation form for every man that “signed-up”
 There wasn’t a lot of information available on Private Albert Oakes. Albert Oakes died in the same action as Private Reese. The battle at St. Julien took at least two men from Burlington. They died days apart on the same battlefield. All we have in the way of records is the Army death detail document.
Harry George Bracknell was at first thought to be missing. The documentation says he was later presumed to be dead while fighting in a battle on Hill 60 in Belgium. The document was signed by General Murray Maxwell.
 Harry George Bracknell – Very few details, missing, presumed dead. Thousands of men were blown to piece by shells that landed close to where they were standing. There were no remains to bury – just a document saying they had been lost. All we have is a name on a cenotaph in Burlington.
 By Pepper Parr
November 8, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The parking garage the Joseph Brant Hospital wanted the city to pay for is now open and doctors have begun moving into the Halton McMaster Family Health Centre (HMFHC) which is part of Phase One of the Redevelopment and Expansion Project.
The opening of the structure, located on the south west corner of our hospital site, accessible from Lakeshore Road, marks the completion of Phase One of the Redevelopment and Expansion Project.
 A little landscaping, a couple of trees and the new Family Health Centre will look just fine. Let’s hope the parking prices don’t send people to a cardiac unit. The Halton McMaster Family Health Centre (HMFHC) which is part of Phase One of the Redevelopment and Expansion Project, is located on the south west corner of our hospital site, accessible from Lakeshore Road. The Health Centre opened its doors to patients in late September and is home to the Burlington Family Health Team.
 The Burlington Family Health Team (BFHT) is made up of a team of family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, dieticians and other professionals who work together to provide health care for their community. The vision of a Family Health Team is for physicians, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals to practice together, sharing and benefiting from the complementary knowledge and skills of their colleagues.
The construction of the Halton McMaster Family Health Centre marks Joseph Brant Hospital as a designated clinical education campus of McMaster University, with students learning such specialties as emergency medicine, surgery, obstetrics and family medicine.
 One of the final beams signed by staff and dignitaries is part of the Family Health Centre now opened and operational. Phase One of the Redevelopment is now complete The designation of a clinical education campus also helps increase the hospital’s ability to recruit and retain new physicians and attract healthcare learners to the community. Doctors at the Family Health Clinic will learn alongside Joseph Brant Hospital physicians and healthcare teams.
The four-storey parking facility, which was designed to accommodate two additional storeys in the future, can accommodate more than 820 vehicles. It will support the patient first philosophy by increasing the availability of parking for patients and families.
 By Pepper Parr
November 8, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON,
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon Burlington’s MPP Eleanor McMahon and Halton MPP Nadoor-Harris will be standing at city hall sometime Monday making an announcement. That was the extent of the media advisory.
The only thing that would bring the MPP to city hall is something to do with the flood relief funding the city is looking to the province to provide.
If it is a flood related announcement – Minister Ted McMeekin would normally be making any announcement with McMahon. There is no mention of McMeekin in the media advisory.
Premier Kathleen Wynne is going to be in Hamilton today pinning medals on four members of the Argyll’s and attending at least a part of the Montreal – Hamilton CFL football game. We have been led to believe that there will be some arm twisting during the opening game ceremonies.
The Gazette has also learned that there have been extensive discussions with Minister McMeekin during the past few days which appear to have led to some form of resolution.
This is a developing story.
 By Pepper Parr
November 6, 2014
BURLINGTON. ON.
Local government works best when the people in the community play a meaningful role in the determination of what the tax rates should be and what the money raised is to be spent on.
Bureaucrats can`t do it all. In Burlington, many of the senior people don`t live in the city 0- their relationship with citizens is for the most part paper based and interactions at committee or Council meetings.
Burlington has a number of Advisory Committees – some work exceptionally well while others are a mess. This reporter has sat in on two Advisory Committee meetings where members were throwing copies of reports at each other.
 Nicholas Leblovic. chair of the now sunset Waterfront Advisory committee. Some Advisory Committees work well – others don’t. The city has created Advisory Committees and shut them down before they completed a full term; that was the fate of WAPA – the Waterfront Access and Protection Advisory committee that was the starting point for that startling decision of the Council that will end its tem at the end of the month.
There are Advisory Committees that do superb work – better than staff people at city hall. And there are Advisory Committees that are poorly chaired.
Who sits on the Advisory Committees?
The city runs advertisements asking for people to submit an application; they are reviewed, people are interviewed and the selections announced. The decisions of city hall staff who make the recommendations then go to Council where they are approved. There have been occasions when Council decide not to approve a particular person – that kind of a decision gets made in a closed session.
Thus the final word on who sits on those Advisory Committees is made by Council – they want to keep the trouble makers out – or do they want to ensure they will get people who will support what Council wants to see done?
Do Council members put names forward?
There are people in this city that do not agree with some of the policies city Council puts forward and they would like to see some form or organized opposition in place.
While municipal governments do not follow provincial or federal party lines – there are people who would like to see something in the way of an organization that is not specific subject based.
 The Official waterfront advisory committee was shut down by the city – citizens thought it important enough to have a committee and formed something independent of city hall. The Burlington Library is working with the city this year to put on an event that will let people learn more about the different advisory committees. The event will include committees that are not part of the civic administration.
The event: An Introduction to Boards and Committees, takes place on November 19th at the Central Library – starts at 7:00 pm. Oddly enough it doesn’t appear on the Library calendar and the city hasn’t said a word about it publicly. Disapointing.
The city has since advised that the event is n the city web site and that paid advertising is to appear soon.
While a large part of the city population lives south of the QEW – there are a lot of people north of that stretch of pavement. Why isn’t an event like this held in Alton in the recreational complex up there? This would give the people north of Dundas and those to the immediate south a chance to really participate.
Among the Boards and committees that will have representatives at the event are:
Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee
Burlington Cycling Advisory Committee
Sustainable Development Advisory Committee
Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee
Senior’s Advisory Committee
Inclusivity Advisory Committee
Mundialization Committee
Committee of Adjustment
Downtown Parking Advisory Committee
Burlington Public Library Board
Burlington Museums Board
Doors Open Volunteer Organizing Committee
Canada Day Committee Organizing Committee
Christmas Parade Committee
 Bfast is an independent group that is well informed on transit matter. They delegate frequently. We understand that BFast (Burlington For Accessible Sustainable Transit) will also have a table for people who want to be involved in transit issues.
By Pepper Parr
November 6, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
In his day he was one of the heavy hitters at Queen’s Park. He ran the elections that got Dalton McGuinty elected and re-elected. He had his own problems with an inquiry and was totally cleared. He experienced a little too much zealousness on the part of the police.
A new session of Engaging Ideas, proudly hosted by A Different Drummer Books and Burlington Public Library, features a guest renowned for his achievement and experience and for his insight into our political process:
 Greg Sorbara in the Legislature – always on his feet with the facts at his finger tips. A senior figure in Ontario’s governance, as long-serving MPP, as Liberal Party president and as Minister of Finance, Greg Sorbara will take his audience through the many colourful challenges of his long and extraordinary career, and share the startling facts and opinions newly revealed in his candid and provocative memoir.
“This is a lovely, insightful book from one of modern Ontario’s most influential figures. It provides deep insight and personal reflections on both the policy process and the real-world of politics from a man who has shaped the evolution of Ontario as much as anyone in the past three decades.”: that’s how Matthew Mendelsohn, a former senior federal and provincial civil servant describes the book.
The Battlefield of Ontario Politics on November 17 at 7pm at Centennial Hall, Burlington Central Library, 2331 New Street. Tickets are $10, available at A Different Drummer Books and at the Third Floor Information Desk at the Library.
Sorbara has been a member of the Ontario Liberal Party, and served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 until 1995, and then from 2001 until 2012, most recently representing the riding of Vaughan. Sorbara served as the Minister of Finance in the Liberal government of Premier Dalton McGuinty from 2003 to 2007.
He differed with Premier David Petersen on the calling of the 200xx election – won his seat but the Liberals lost that election. He ran for the leadership of the party; lost to Lynn McLeod.
He was a supporter of Dalton McGuinty and did all the backroom thinking for each of the McGuinty elections.
He resigned on October 11, 2005, following a police investigation involving his family’s real estate development firm and was reinstated on May 23, 2006 after a judge ruled that there was no cause for including Sorbara’s name on a search warrant.
 Greg Sorbara during the public investigation days. He was totally cleared of any wrong doing. Sorbara chaired the party’s successful 2007 election campaign but announced on October 26, 2007 that he was leaving the cabinet to spend more time with his family but would continue as a backbench MPP.
On August 1, 2012, Sorbara announced that he was retiring from the legislature but would stay on as chair of the Liberal’s election campaign.
He will be at the Central Library on November 19th – should be a fine evening. The man has a great story to tell.
 By Pepper Parr
November 5, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
They have a neat name _ Team Gould and they are going to make sure Burlingtonians fully understand what the federal government is – and isn’t doing for them.
 Karina Gould, the Liberal candidate for the October 2015 election in Burlington, , would like to set the record straight about the Conservatives’ income splitting announcement, which has been criticized by renowned economists.
The Conservatives’ “income splitting plan is bad for growth and is bad for the middle class.” Even the late Conservative Minister of Finance, the Honourable Jim Flaherty, spoke about his serious concerns about this tax break which abandons the middle class.
“In contrast to the Conservative party, I believe Canada must do a better job of ensuring that new tax policies help the middle class and families at the lower end of the income spectrum,” said Gould. “It is unfair to ask middle class families to pay for this tax break from which single parents and families with parents in the same income bracket will not benefit. It will cost $2 billion a year at a time when both childcare and senior care are at a crisis in this country.”
 “Income splitting plan is bad for growth and is bad for the middle class claims federal Liberal candidate Karina Gould “At a time when many individuals and families are still struggling, we need to be investing in our future in a way that addresses the challenges faced by all Canadians,” stated Gould.
“Liberals will oppose this policy”, Gould added “and we will continue to put forward positive solutions that will help our economy grow and give the people of Burlington and all Canadians a real and fair chance at success.”
Gould didn’t say what a Liberal government would do instead of the income splitting plan the Conservatives have come up.
 By Pepper Parr
November 5, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Should the room in which the Burlington Community Foundation Information session on flood damage assistance have been fuller? CBC National news reported that attendance was poor and some people learned they weren’t going to be getting what they thought they would get.
 The room looks pretty full; the mirror at the back gives that impression but there were less than 100 people in the room – many of them providing information, There were less than 100 people in the room. The BCF understands there are about 500 homes that they think qualify for financial assistance but to date there have been just 50 applications submitted.
The assistance is limited to people who were uninsured or under insured. Most of the people who were uninsured were not able to get insurance. There were a number of homes in ward 5 that experienced serious flood several months prior to the August 4th flood. Other people were told that their deductible was being increased.
 Keven Reimer, the insurance adjuster assigned to the Claims Committee speaks to a couple of worried people. The application – all 11 pages of it – is complex and Keven Reimer, the insurance adjuster proving support to the Claims Committee, took the audience through it and explained what information was needed and why it was needed.
The funds raised by the community – $810,000 has been raised to date – is what is required under the provincial government’s ODRAP (Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program). The community raised funds which the government “might” match on a two-for-one basis.
To date the province has not said they will actually do any matching, although Colleen Mulholland, president of the BCF did say she has been told to be “optimistic”.
 Mark Preston, on the left and Rick Burgess holding his chin are members of the BCF Claims Committee. The public got to meet and talk to the members of the Claims Committee – Mark Preston, Preston Insurance Services; Bruce Russell, Wardell Insurance; Nancy Swietek, Dan Lawrie Insurance and Rick Burgess, Burgess Law Office.
Keven Reimer is the insurance adjuster supporting the Claims Committee.
Cunningham Lindsay, an insurance adjusting firm was brought in by the BCF to provide this service: Reimer, Branch Manager in Burlington for Cunningham Lindsay, took part in the information meeting and explained the process.
Their role is to provide claims adjudication services to the BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee; Receive and triage all files; review claims submissions following the (ODRAP) rules. They will attend residential location where necessary to assess claim and provide the Claims Committee with a recommendation of the amount of eligible claim expenses
Reimer said: ODRAP is not primary insurance – any and all insurance options must be utilized prior to consideration by ODRAP
Key Dates were given to the audience:
December 15 is the application submission deadline: all applications must be received by BCF Flood Disaster Relief Committee.
December 15 – Total available Flood Relief Funds will be known
Eight weeks after the close of applications being received, approved applications will begin to receive some financial assistance.
 A flooded home owner doesn’t appear to pleased with the answer being given by Nancy Swietek, Dan Lawrie Insurance, a member of the BCF Claims Committee. Reimer did say the forms were complex. He urged people to get the forms in before the deadline. “We can’t do anything with forms we don’t have” he said. “If there is some information you don’t have – we can help you determine some of the numbers with computer software we have – just get the forms into us.”
One part of the application form will cause some indigestion for many: “Applicants are required to authorize the collection of personal information. “Pursuant to Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act Legislation this allows the Disaster Relief Committee or any assigned agency (such as Cunningham Lindsey) the right to collect personal information for purpose of investigating claims to the Disaster Relief Funds.”
Sounds like the police investigating a crime or a bank lending you some money. A lot of the money being dispersed came from the community – is this what the community expects?
 The body language says it all – the two home owners don’t appear to be buying into the explanation being given them. The Claims Information section allows the committee to identify which portion of the ODRAP criteria will apply to your claim.
Proof of residence for the damaged Property is required. A copy of a Driver’s License or two other unofficial documents
What is eligible? The Guidelines provide an assessment of the items that are considered under the program: essential furniture, electronic appliances such as fridge, stove, washer, dryer, furnace, freezer
Eligible restoration costs – are allowed to return the property to pre-loss condition – this means that finishes are allowed on a depreciated basis
Type of Loss are broken down into Building, Household goods, Farm Buildings, Essential Farm Equipment.
Each section of the application must have a response
Be specific – provide a list of the damaged items – floors, walls, ceiling, and give square footage of the damaged area
The amount claimed – again be specific
Provide the amount received from your insurer
If you had a sewer backup limit please advise what that limit is.
Common questions that are asked include:
If you do not have receipts provide an idea of what was paid – to whom and where at – provide what you can and we will try and assess the reasonableness of the claim.
Do provide correspondence from your insurer or from your agent providing that you do not have any insurance.
Do provide pictures.
Do provide a description of the allowed item.
Provide an e-mail address, cell/home phone number, to contact you.
There are some situations that are very sad: One man had what he saw as a very valuable collection of memorabilia that he had put together and was planning on that to be his retirement fund. He will not be able to collect as much as a dime.
 The BCF is in a bit of a sticky situation. They have done a marvelous job of raising funds from within the community. Funds came from large corporations; two of the supermarket chains got into the game; an 11 year old boy held a fund raiser at his school and collected more than $3000; and a woman in the audience advised people that there were still home backed cookies for sale at Centro on Brant Street.
The community has come through – to date the province has not and that makes it difficult for the BCF to determine just how much money they are going to have to hand out. People in the audience asked:
“What can we do to get things moving?
Write you MPP was the only answer BCF president Collen Mulholland had for them.
 By Staff
November 4, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
 Elizabeth Nugent died as the result of knife wounds to the neck.
Police were called to an apartment building on Pearl Street in the City of Burlington on October 28th
After arresting a barricaded suspect, the body of Elizabeth Nugent was located inside the apartment.
The accused, Malcolm Copeland, has been charged with second degree murder.
By Staff
November 4, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The Friends of Freeman Station are presenting their first museum exhibit in the community gallery of the Joseph Brant Museum.
Titled Railways, Regiments and Restoration: A History of the Freeman Station, the exhibit explores the 108-year history of the train station and the significance of the railways to Burlington using maps, photos and artifacts.
 Freeman station – the day cements was poured for the foundation. Visitors will learn about the arrival of railways in Burlington in the mid-1800s, their vital importance to the region’s economy, particularly fruit and vegetable production, the role of the Freeman Station in The First World War, and current efforts to restore the building to its former glory.
Highlights include a scale model of the station as it would have looked in 1906, maps showing the station’s location in the village of Freeman, and Grand Trunk Railway, Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway artifacts recently donated to the Friends and never before exhibited to the public.
The exhibit opens November 4, 2014. The museum is open Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. General admission is $4.50.
The Friends of Freeman Station is a registered charity working to restore Burlington’s only surviving GTR station to its original appearance and open it as a museum. The building was moved to its current location in 2013 and this year the group has lowered it onto a new basement and begun work on the interior.
They are currently raising funds for a new roof and seeking volunteers. Their AGM will be held Wednesday, November 12th at 7 p.m. at Burlington City Hall.
By Pepper Parr
November 4, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
As you drive south on Walkers Line and pass under the GO tracks and get ready to drive over the QEW you may not see the construction taking place on the west side just a little north of the North Service Road.
 There is a fairly large sign with the word BELL on it and a Subway shop tucked in behind. That patch of land has a level of sensitivity to it that doesn’t apply to most other pieces of property in the city.
Some of that land recently changed hands at what can only be described as “eye-popping” prices. We got calls from a number of people suggesting we sniff around a little and learned that the whopper of a land sale price is related – tangentially – to the deal that never closed also known as the new IKEA location.
 This is where IKEA wanted to relocate their Aldershot operation. They were going to build a bigger store and add quite a few head office jobs as well. The city went along with Official Plan and zoning changes. The Conservation Authority would not go along with the parking plans close to Tuck Creek. The green line is Tuck Creek. Back in March of 2011 IKEA decided they wanted to move from their current Plains Road location to a property on the North Service Road. When the Gazette first learned of those plans we drove out to the site – what was immediately obvious to us was that the North Service Road was never going to be able to carry the traffic that IKEA planned on attracting.
And it wasn’t just the North Service Road that was a problem – Walkers Line itself would not be able to handle the volume that was expected to come in off the QEW.
Anything done to Walkers Line has to go through Ministry of Transportation filter. As the city worked its way through the IKEA proposal all kinds of interesting tid bits of information bubbled to the surface – the most significant being – a lot of people both at the city and IKEA had not done their homework.
 The owner of this property had plans to develop it beyond the single storey structure. His plans did not fit with the developing IKEA Plans. That red line is where Tuck Creek flows. In order for the North Service Road to get wider Walkers Line had to widen and that impacted on the ramps that lead from and to the QEW. Those QEW ramps are Ministry of Transportation (MTO) territory .
We walked the North Service Road from Walkers Line to Guelph Line to get a better sense as to what had to happen if the IKEA site was going to have roads that let traffic get to it.
It was at about this point in time that the Economic Development people began to feel their oats and were coming up with some slick marketing phrases. Burlington was going to have Prosperity Corridors – several of them.
The property either side of Walkers Line was going to be one of those prosperity corridors. The idea was to identify property that was zoned and labelled for economic development and get them to the point where they were “shovel ready”.
Members of city council and the Economic Development Corporation really liked that “shovel ready” phrase. It seemed to mean that when someone wanted to locate in Burlington the city had property that was ready for a shovel to dig into it and put up a building that was going to house people doing well paying high tech jobs.
 We will buy this said the city…. IKEA wasn’t going to employ all that many high tech people – it’s a retail operation but they were going to expand their head office administration space and bring in a bunch of people.
The IKEA plans didn’t make it through all the hurdles. More than three years at the talking stage but it was all for naught. When IKEA withdrew their application it wasn’t clear why they had decided not to go forward. That gets us back to that piece of property that has a building going up.
IKEA apparently wanted to put parking spots a little too close to Tuck Creek which runs down the east side of what is called the Hopewell property. The Halton Conservation Authority wasn’t prepared to go along with that idea. It all hinged on what the Conservation people call “top of bank” which is a term used to describe just what it says – the top of the bank – be it a creek or a large body of water.
 … and you can keep that part. Top of bank is the starting point for what is called “stable top” which has to do with the geology. Stable bank is determined by a formula that starts from where the top of the bank is. All complex and esoteric but it was those two terms that brought the IKEA project on the North Service to a halt.
A lot of time and a lot of money was spent on getting IKEA from Aldershot to the North Service Road. The people that make the wheels move at city hall decided to put a positive spin on the loss of IKEA and are saying that the North Service road has to be improved anyway so let’s get on with making the road wider and ensuring that access is what it needs to be.
 During this multi-year exercise the city improved its relationship with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and what it plans on doing with the QEW and its access ramps. They learned that Walkers Line will reach capacity around 2031 (some think it is already beyond capacity but those people don’t know what real traffic is) which means the MTO people weren’t wanting to pay a lot of attention to improving things on Walkers Line.
No Walkers Line improvement – not much you can do with the North Service Road and if you don’t do something with the North Service Road there goes the Prosperity corridor concept and there won’t be much in the way of land you can put a shovel in.
Different level of government has different levels of responsibility for roads. Walkers Line is a city road whereas Brant, Guelph Line, Appleby Line and Burloak are Regional Roads with some portion a city responsibility.
While all this is happening the owner of the land that is east of Tuck Creek and to the west of Walkers Line between the GO tracks and the QEW take an application to city hall.
The plans that property owner had did not fit in with the long terms plans the city had for improving access to the North Service Road. The city knew they did not want to approve the application and they probably knew they didn’t want to expropriate – so it was time to “do a deal” and what a deal they did.
 It is still an empty field on which a lot of money has been spent. Hopewell is still looking for a buyer and there are reported to be a lot of people “sniffing” around. Access to the road will be improved but the road itself is still two lanes. IKEA had planned on a $60 million 428,500 sq ft facility to originally open in 2013 The city bought a chunk of the land – it was 1.1 acres in size and paid $5,676,880 They then apparently gave the property owner an “enhancement” in allowing him to put more on the property than would have been permitted.
One exceptionally well informed Gazette reader had these comments:
“Was the $5.7 million just for the land and the building or was there monies paid for the property owner to move his tenants out of the existing building into the new building when it is completed?”
The Gazette learned that the $5.7 million was for the land shown on the graphics and the building – even though the building sits on land that is now owned by the city and the company – 1100 Walkers Line Inc.
“Were there any sweeteners in this deal – because it is a deal” says our informant.
“It is unlikely that a private property owner enter into a deal like this unless there was a benefit to him, at a cost to the City.
The property transferred from a private commercial property owner to City on February 10, 2014. At a Council meeting on February 19th, they went into a closed session to discuss a property matter” which we later learned was IKEA. The next day the city put out a press release saying IKEA had withdrawn their application.
The city is now stuck with land for which there is no justification because there is no reason to enhance access to the North Service Road.
“It is very unusual for any level of government to secure property under speculative conditions; in fact, governments typically only acquire property once there is justification to do so; the IKEA relocation was the justification, but, that did not happen, so this deal should also have not happened. It also becomes an issue of fairness and equity; why not buy up other locations from other private landowners? And who made the decision to buy the land that was purchased. Is there anything on the public record?
“If the market value of commercial land is in somewhere in the range of $1M – $1.5M/acre in Burlington, why did the city pay $5.7M/acre? Did the purchase price include payment for the demolition of an old commercial building and the cost to build a new 6-storey office building?
If so, is the $5.7M paid so far to the private property owner the end of it, or, is there more money to be paid by the City to the proud owner of the new building.
“Is this a case of enrichment? The City should have only entered into such a deal if the City had an irrevocable IKEA relocation play in place including all MTO interchange reconstruction commitments in place, together with cost sharing with IKEA to offset the City’s share of the total costs.
“Did the city have any indication that IKEA was going to withdraw their application? When did IKEA make the call to the city.
“One of the smell tests for this situation is this: If MTO were to reconstruct the interchange, they would only pay market value for the city’s 1.1 acre; basically, the city would not be able to recover the $5.6M because that is well in excess of the market value of the land bought by the City, and the interchange reconstruction would be under the jurisdiction of the MTO.
What our informant may not have been aware of is that Walkers Line is a city Road. MTO owns the ramps leading to Walkers Line and they have the right to intervene on anything built within 300 metres of the centre line of any MTO. So – MTO was “in the room” as they say, but they weren’t picking up any of the tabs.
“It appears” says our informant” that the City made and concluded a deal they should not have completed, to the benefit and arguably an enrichment of a private sector commercial land owner, and now they are pitching it as a planned acquisition to encourage new economic development at the northwest quadrant of Walkers Line and QEW.
“This deal is an expensive outcome from a major failed relocation which appears to benefit a private owner as enrichment”
Our informant thinks there may be more money to be paid to this property owner once construction is complete but doesn’t have any proof – yet he adds.
We are still tracking this part of the deal which as one authority who understands these kinds of arrangements said: “it doesn’t pass my smell test”
 The structure will rise to six storeys and over look the railway tracks at the back and the QEW at the front. On a nice summer day office workers can wander down to the edge of Tuck Creek, The steel beams for the six storey office building snuggled up close to the GO trains tracks are being put in place. The city is clearing the land they bought to improve access to the North Service Road – not that the road will be able to handle all that much traffic – but the Prosperity concept is now still valid.
Hopewell Developments, the people who own the land IKEA was going to build on are still looking for a buyer. That is one of the few remaining properties Hopewell has in Ontario – they want to pull back to their Alberta roots where they probably realize prosperity is much more than a corridor.
$5,676,880 for 1.1 acres of land. That is eye-popping. Admittedly the city also bought the building that is now on the land – but they are going to tear that down – and you know who is going to pay for the demolition.
By Staff
November 4, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
With the weather slipping into temperatures that call for a sweater and a scarf and a search for your gloves the idea of a hot bowl of soup sounds just about right. There is soup – and then there is soup and we all know the difference.
 Individually hand crafted bowls done by artizans across the province. Enjoy a special gourmet soup and then take the bowl home. The Art Gallery has this traditional celebration of both the culinary and ceramic arts. Starting November 13 and running to the 16th – they serve guests from beautiful handcrafted bowls donated by potters from across Ontario ready to be filled with delectable gourmet soups from some of the area’s finest restaurants.
AGB event will feature all of the best loved Soup Bowl elements – beautiful handcrafted bowls donated by potters from across Ontario ready to be filled with delectable gourmet soups from some of the area’s finest restaurants.
Guests choose their bowls, fill them with a gourmet soup to enjoy with the rest of their meal, and then take the bowls home after they are cleaned and packaged for them.
Soup Bowl is an important fundraiser which supports AGB programs and is quickly becoming a sold out event. Tickets are on sale now: $50 ($40 for AGB members) for all lunch and Friday evening sittings.
Tables of eight also can be reserved. Order tickets online or by telephone (905-632-7796, ext 326) or in person at AGB 1333 Lakeshore Road, Burlington.
 Shopping at the Arts Burlington Christmas Sale is an added bonus during the Soup Bowl. There is no admission charge to browse and buy at the Arts Burlington Christmas Sale, which features a wide variety of handcrafted items produced by the Guilds of Arts Burlington with Christmas in mind.
More than 2,000 visitors are drawn to the annual Christmas Sale of Fine Art and Craft presented by the seven Guilds of the AGB, and also to the seasonal beauty of the Gallery Shop, brimming with gift items carefully selected for quality and design.
It is open to everyone on November 13 from 11 am to 3 pm; November 14 from 11 am to 9 pm; and November 15 and 16 from 11 am to 4 pm.
The Art Gallery of Burlington is located at 1333 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, and is an accessible facility with lots of free parking over the course of the event. The 2014 Soup Bowl is sponsored by Utter Morris Insurance Brokers Limited, Wendy and Don Smith, Smith’s Funeral Homes, Brechin and Huffman, Barristers and Solicitors and J.M. Edwards Associates.
 By Emma Delmore
November 4, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
“I find myself becoming more and more appreciative of what Canada does for both its people and those coming here to improve their lives or find safety for their families.
“I am a single mother, my mother was a single mother, and I am afraid of what that might mean for my own daughter one day. Being a single mom means constant stress, fear for tomorrow, and terror when looking any further into the future.
 “I want a future for my child, and I want to start building that now. My biggest issue is child care; I have had to turn down potentially good jobs because of it. When my daughter started school I searched for work, I found work as a dog groomer, than went to find subsidized child care. I was told it was wait listed, stressed and not knowing what to do I admit I let some frustration out on the worker I was dealing with at the time, I looked at her and said; What am I supposed to do, I need to work to provide for my child? The answer she gave me has become a familiar one, – Ontario Works.
“I refuse” say Delmore “to let this be my answer. The Canadian Women’s Foundation reports that “a single mother with one child can earn as little as $14,829 on Ontario Works,” – what kind of life is that. As a parent I am contributing to raising the next generation of young people, – what chance do children of single parents have to be successful Canadians and contributors to our communities under these circumstances?
“I tried finding child care independently in my community that was affordable. I made a choice I am to this day deeply ashamed of.
Joey Edwardh, Executive Director of Community Development Halton, knows this story all too well.
 Joey Edwardh – one of the best advocates for the under privileged in a Region that has so much more than other parts of the province. “This story is not new”, she said, “ it is repeated over and over again. It is impossible for this woman and her child to live in safety and dignity with access to opportunities to be full participants in the economic and social life of their community.
“This is a story of the failure of public policy to provide early education and child care for our children. We all know that a child that grows up in poverty has unequal futures as a little person of today and as an adult of tomorrow.”
“This story also demonstrates the deep poverty that our government establishes for people living on Ontario Works, Ontario’s social assistance program. A single Mom and her child living on approximately $23,038 per year are deemed poor or low income. But on Ontario Works the support received totals approximately $12,600. This is a gap of $8, 584 and leaves this woman and her child unable to meet the necessities of life. We relegate then to destitution in a community and province that has so much.”
“I chose instead to have inadequate child care up until her safety was on the line; I did so because I felt I was left without choices.
 “Searching for a way to break a cycle and improve our situation I decided the answer might lay in gaining an education that I did not have. I spent two years at St. Lawrence College, taking a Social Service Worker course. It was something I believed in, and that I thought was a way to act as a change agent in improving situations for people that knew what it was like to feel hopeless; after all I have been there.
“I also felt that educating myself could potentially change my situation and offer me the future I desired while also making me a better role model to my child. I received excellent marks, graduated with distinction and for the first time since becoming a parent felt I had a place for me to be myself outside of being someone’s mother.
“I loved the work I was doing both in class and in the community as part of my placements until graduation day. I worked for non-profit agencies that I admired, but like many non-profits there was no room in the budget for added employees. I went to interviews that I researched hoping to improve my chances of working but those with experience got the jobs. I decided to come home to Burlington after nine years in hopes of finding better opportunities.
“I had a better support system in Burlington and saw it as a wonderful place to raise children. I had friends and could be closer to my aging grandparents and enjoy the time I have with them and build an invaluable relationship between them and my child.
 For many single Mothers – it is about going without and wait listing. “As the rules go when it comes to subsidized childcare, first you have to get the job, than the subsidy, it is unnerving to say the least. And so I did, I was offered an amazing opportunity in my new field, a chance to build upon my future, provide for my child, and make a difference in my community. Right away I looked into childcare, a before and after school program at her school Tom Thomson Public School, wait listed, then called about getting it subsidized, that too, wait listed. And again I said in frustration, what am I supposed to do? And again came the Ontario Works Speech.
“Constantly mothers are expected to make the choice between work and a better future and our children’s well being, why? I hate living in poverty, I hate what stress has done to my life and to my child’s life, I hate that time and again my sweet child has approached me with sad eyes and her piggy bank trying to make my life easier when it is my job to make her childhood wonderful and carefree.
“I believe in responsibility, both to ones work and to our families, but why does it always have to be a choice. Women make up the largest percentage of underpaid, minimum wage, part-time employees because we feel the greatest responsibility to provide and protect our families.
 Beth Hudson formed INCITE – had to close it down because they could not get charitable status without which donations just did not flow. Beth Hudson launched INCITE A Single Moms Support Group. Single moms are women-in-need; generally living at or below the poverty-line; that have been left alone to fend for themselves with little to no support.
INCITE offered a variety of programs to help these women make informed choices, learn, grow, have fun and give back with their Affordable Advice Program. INCITE had a team of over 50 volunteers, including professionals, that helped, offering one-on-one counseling in areas of financial, legal, mental health.
INCITE had a very exciting and rewarding short tenure helping single moms, but unfortunately, after almost 4 years in operation, INCITE had to close its doors. The nail in the coffin was being declined as a charity from Ottawa. They felt, “There was not a specific need for Single Moms.”
Delmore explains that “we need help, we need more support, and we need to feel that there is hope, that our children do not just deserve better but that they have a right to better, the question is, is who out there is going to help give us a means to do this? Child care services? Employers? Government services? Maybe more Pressure on our male counterparts?
“I am sick of relying on a subsidy that is never there when it’s needed, and being unemployed or underemployed. At this point I am in heavy debt due to student loans, and I am not sure how my bills are going to be paid. I am not searching for temporary solutions but rather long term ones, and I am sure  that I am not the only one who is frustrated with a faulty system! I believe that someone needs to look at the personal side of single parent issues, ask single parents what they want, and work towards making changes.”
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