 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON October 22, 2012 An old-fashioned fall fair right here in the city! Next weekend, Sunday, September 30th! ~11 – 4 p.m. at the Ireland House at Oakridge Farm, 2168 Guelph Line, Burlington
 The Farmall tractor – hundreds of the things, if not a couple of thousand, tilled the fields that are now sub-divisions in Burlington. Manufactured by International Harvester, a company that has been in Burlington for more than fifty years but is now moving to Hamilton You can start the day with a Country-style home-made pancakes & specialty syrup! That runs from 9:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.
What else can you expect?
Jump into the sea of hay and join in a great harvest fair tradition – Make Your Own Scarecrow!
How about a try at the Hay Maze?
Live roping demonstrations with the Ontario Rodeo Association!
Take a tour through the historic Ireland House
Experience historic cooking, apple schnitzing and apple cider making!
See antique tractors and historic automobiles on display.
 Ireland House, a part of the Museums Burlington operation, is the only example of a farming property that is publicly viewable in the city south of Dundas, It is an excellent example of its period. Worth as visit Watch as fascinating artisans demonstrate their craft! Make your own neat crafts! Have fun with the Fall Harvest Obstacle Course and Games, Pony Rides (12-3pm), Junior Farmer Competitions and Games, Fair-Style Activities, Historic Cooking and Horticultural society arrangements.
There will be animal exhibits and special farm displays! Check out the Trifles & Treasures Bazaar. Find excellent fall treasures, home decorations and unique handmade items in the vendor area. Enjoy live stage entertainment all day including country dance demonstrations and musical performances! And don’t miss your chance to bid at the Applefest Silent Auction!
Finally, be sure to sign your children up for their chance to be crowned this year’s Applefest Fall Fair Prince and Princess! Contest is open to children 6-10 years old!
Admision to Applefest is FREE thanks to the generous support of The Rocca Sisters Team! Additionally, all children will receive a free goodie bag and a ticket to be entered into a draw to win a special prize basket!
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON October 22, 2012 In the week we are going into more than 4,000 Halton students will spend a part of a day taking part in the seventh annual Halton Children’s Water Festival (HCWF) being held from September 25 to 28, 2012.
Students from grades two to five registered to participate in the festival taking place outdoors at the picturesque Kelso Conservation Area in Milton.
 He really wants you to look at the bullfrog he is holding. Students at the Festival will experience a unique opportunity to learn about water in a fun and interactive way at activity centres which cover Ontario curriculum requirements. New this year, French language activity centres will be piloted with grade five French Immersion students on Thursday, September 27. The HCWF features nearly 60 activity centres that incorporate four main water related themes:
 Kids + water = fun and noise – all part of the Halton Children’s Water Festival. A full day of fun at a cost of $5 per student. “Since the Halton Children’s Water Festival began in 2006, more than 25,000 children have participated which shows the demand and interest for high quality environmental education in our community,” said Conservation Halton Chairman John Vice. ”The Festival’s success is due to the enthusiastic participation by volunteers, teachers and students backed by the commitment of partner organizations as well as tremendous support from individuals and businesses in the community. We thank everyone who has participated and contributed to the Water Festival over the past seven years.”
The Festival is co-hosted by Conservation Halton and Halton Region in partnership with, the Halton District School Board, the Halton Catholic District School Board, the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. This partnership has created a successful and financially sustainable water festival in Halton. Conservation Halton Chairman John Vice and Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr serve as the Festival’s honorary co-chairs.
 It isn’t all classroom stuff – just look at the way this girl rounds the bale of hay. A winner for sure. The Festival is a community partnership dependent on more than 150 volunteers each day to help with various activities. Halton high school students and community volunteers are once again generously offering their time and gaining experience in community outreach, public speaking, teaching and time management.
The Festival is offered to Halton schools at a cost of just $5 per child, which includes a full day at the Festival as well as transportation to and from the event. Schools seeking Ontario EcoSchools certification can count their attendance at the HCWF as a field trip in the Curriculum category.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 21, 2012 The Halton Regional Police have been tracking a person they suspected of being a drug dealer. Late in August, an undercover officer contacted the male and arranged the purchase of 1.75 grams of cocaine. The transaction was completed in the City of Burlington.
On September 20th 2012, an undercover officer contacted the male and again arranged the purchase of 1.75 grams of cocaine. The male attended the pre-arranged location where he was placed under arrest by members of the Drug and Morality Unit and Guns and Gangs Unit. The police then seized a quantity of cocaine, currency and other evidence of drug trafficking.
 Oxycodone is a visicioulsy addictive drug. Intended for pain relief the drug was soon abused and became a favourite for drug addicts Subsequently, police conducted a search warrant at a residence in the City of Hamilton and located a sophisticated indoor cannabis marihuana grow operation. The grow operation contained 678 cannabis marihuana plants in various stages of growth. Also located was a quantity of Ecstasy, cocaine, cannabis resin along with , Oxycodone and Psilocybin. Investigators estimate the street value of the controlled substances to be $695,000.
In addition $16,800 in Canadian currency, $1000 in Euro and $280 in U.S. currency was also seized. A further search revealed a restricted firearm with ammunition, 1400 volt Taser, 3 shurikens (throwing stars) and a set of nunchaku.
Three members of one family have been charged along with a fourth individual.
Radomir ACAMOVIC (22 years) of Hamilton has been charged with:
Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking (two counts)
Trafficking in Cocaine
Production of Cannabis Marihuana
Possession of Cannabis Marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking
Possession of Ecstasy
Possession of Oxycodone
Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Weapon (three counts)
Also charged was Dragomir ACAMOVIC (24 years) of Hamilton. Those charges were:
Possession of Cannabis Resin for the Purpose of Trafficking
Possession of Cannabis Marihuana over 30 grams
Possession of Psilocybin
Possession of Ecstasy
Production of Cannabis Marihuana
Possession of Cannabis Marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking
Dalibor ACAMOVIC (48 years) of Hamilton was charged with:
Production of Cannabis Marihuana
Possession of Cannabis Marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking
Possession of Cocaine
Improper Storage of a Firearm
Possession of a Restricted Firearm without a Licence
Possession of a Restricted Firearm with Ammunition Readily Available
Diogo CARRUCO (30 years) of Scarborough was charged with:
Production of Cannabis Marihuana
Possession of Cannabis Marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking
CARRUCO was released with a court date in October 2012 with conditions. Radomir ACAMOVIC, Dragomir ACAMOVIC and Dalibor ACAMOVIC were held for a bail hearing on today’s date.
Police investigators remind the public to utilize Crime Stoppers to report on any illegal drug, gang, or gun activity at 1 800 222 8477(TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes).
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 21, 2012 It would have been great – as it was it was very good. The rain spoiled the public participation but it didn’t stop two chef’s from Spencer’s on the Waterfront from showing a small crowd that huddled under umbrellas as Chris Hayworth and Andy McLean put together two really fine meals at an outdoor location in what the Farmer’s Market called Street Fight # 1 with Hayworth vs McLeod. The knives were out.
 You don’t see hand drawn type like this very often It was promoted as a Street Fight # 1, indicating that this would become an ongoing event. The first pitted two experienced chef’s from one of the better, if not the best, restaurant in the downtown area.
While the rain certainly dampened the public attendance the event was clearly something that could be done fairly frequently next season. If promoted effectively it could become an event to which day tourists travel to Burlington to take in.
The crowd that was on hand last Friday certainly enjoyed themselves even if they had to huddle in the rain under umbrellas tasting the results. Hayworth’s cauliflower soup was especially nice.
While the competition was to have two chef’s competing the event turned out to be a battle with the elements. With just drizzle, one umbrella was enough; but when it turned into real rain – Barry Imber went looking for as many umbrellas as he could find. His finds and what others had on hand kept most of the rain off the audience.
 Chef Hayworth on the left and Chef McLean next to him take their recipes through the final stages of preparation before letting the crowd taste the meal – and it most certainly was a meal.  Chef Chris Hayworth on the left with chef Andy McLean to his left prepare food for individual tastings. There wasn’t nearly enough to go around. The original plan was to have people sitting on benches observing; but the rain had people huddling around the cooking tables, while the chefs worked in very cramped quarters constantly hoping the electrical cables wouldn’t short out. The Farmer’s Market will shut down sometime in October and has to be seen as a success – not a raging success but a very positive addition to life in the downtown core.
Our Burlington supported the event from its very beginning and we will be reminding you about its return in the Spring.
Barry Imber is the driving force behind the concept and the guy who did much of the hands on work to make it happen. He was the guy who made the phone calls to get people to take part; he was the guy who chased down umbrellas and put them up as the rain moved from a drizzle to a real rainfall. He was the guy who went looking for additional electrical extension so the chef’s could continue cooking.
 One of the vendors teaches children at the Farmer’s Market some hand clapping dances There were different vendors throughout the year with Featherstone and Plan B on hand consistently. Some vendors were on the site when they had product – Gibson’s Honey who sold out every time he was there.
There were people from the Tourism office watching the event which many thought could be something done several times during the season and promoted as a destination event. There people who would love to make a day trip to Burlington to attend an event likes this, stay for the day and drive up into the Escarpment. As an event – it has potential.
The market is intended for those people who are purely organic. If you want pure food with nothing added, no preservatives or colouring to make the food look nicer.
What many wondered as the two chef’s worked away was – who was doing the cooking at Spencer’s while Hayworth and Mclean were at the market.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 19, 2012 Community Development Halton held their annual general meeting last night and it was much more pleasant than the meeting they held last year when their funding from the Region was seriously challenged. The community got behind the CDH people, the funding was kept in place, albeit with a little jiggling and shuffling on the part of the reason.
Nina Truscott, president of the non-profit corporation, whisked the audience through the AGM part of the evening in very short order. The organization bid farewell to Angus Coll-Smith and Penny Smith who have completed their term of office.
 Joey Edwardh talking to the Gooding’s after the Community Development Halton annual general meeting. Surprisingly, the Executive Director, Joey Edwardh, did not make any “state of the nation” comments.
Truscott informed the audience that the CDH was alive financially and at the same time recognized a very generous anonymous donation during the past two years.
Community Development Halton is funded by the Region to the tune of $244,500 from the Region for the 2012 fiscal year. Funds are received from the Burlington/Hamilton United Way as well as the Oakville United Way. Total revenue for CDH is $802,745 with expenses coming in at $802,021 – slim but that’s the financial reality of the not for profit community. No fat in this operation.
Where CDH excels is in project administration and the data they collect on changes in the socio-economic makeup of the Region.
 Angus Coll-Smith retires from the Community development Halton board after completing his term of office. There are two research associates that collect, analyze and put data in formats that make the information useful to the user. Burlington uses their data as does the Region. Our Burlington has been fortunate enough to be able to use some of the CDH data to explain a point we try to make.
 Penny Smith, after completing her term of office, retires from the Community Development Board CDH sources funds from different government agencies to carry out a project and the research needed. Volunteer Halton is part of their operation – it’s the place to go if you want to volunteer as well as the place to go if you are looking for volunteers.
Retired people tend to want to remain active and look for ways to volunteer in the community – with the aging population in the Region growing the Volunteers arm of CDH should be kept busy.
The evening ended with a presentation by the Burlington Theatre Centre and the Tottering Biped Theatre.
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 19, 2012 We knew the Zellers store was going to close – we told you that in May of this year.
Now the closing is very real – the signs came down today and the stores have had almost everything taken out of them.
 The Zellers sign comes off the store in the Burlington Mall. Store will get a total makeover and re-open as a Target store in April 2013 During the months ahead there will be a total gutting and then Target, the new store brand, will begin to put their equipment, sales counters, check out aisles and racks to display merchandize in place. Burlingtonians will flood into the new Target store sometime in April of 2013 – which will be a month or so before the pier opens to the public.
Two Zellers stores are closed; the one in Millcroft Centre and the one in the Burlington Mall.
 Not a sales clerk in sight. In April, 2013 the space will be filled with new merchandise in the kind of store Burlington hasn’t seen for some time. All the Zellers staff lost their jobs. Target didn’t buy the Zellers store – they assumed the lease, which means they now pay the rent and can do whatever they want to do with the space. That space is now empty and in the next five or six months the store – two in Burlington, will get new equipment and new staff will be hired and trained.
Target is a very different kind of retailer. They bring a different product line and they operate differently. Tough on the people who no longer have jobs. Some of them may get hired by Target but the betting in the retail community is that Target will not want people with Zellers training.
Zellers is no more – Target is now king. The Bay and Sears along with a number of other retailers in Burlington will see a bit of an uptick in their sales which they should enjoy while it lasts because the moment Target opens its doors – the customers they had will flee in droves to Target who will do everything they can to make them loyal customers.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 19, 2012 She used the Save our Waterfront (SOW) to win in Ward 2 in 2010. She did her best to get at least one of her people on the Waterfront Access and Protection Advisory (WAPA) Committee and when she realized it was going to come to an inglorious end when the city sunset the thing, she quickly formed another committee on the waterfront.
 All is not going to stay quiet on this waterfront. A city council member, Marianne Meed Ward has created a citizens advisory committee on the waterfront that is going to take a holistic look at what is best for the city. The unfinished pier is in the background. Marianne Meed Ward announced this week that there will be a waterfront committee (it doesn’t appear to have a name yet) that will be run out of her office.
Meed Ward, along with the existing 11 committee members felt the waterfront was too important to come to an end and come January there will be a new one.
Meed Ward voted for the sun setting of the committee because, she says, there was too much duplication with other committees in place. Those other committees are still in place but that isn’t going to stop Meed Ward. Her committee is going to be unique in its makeup and focus.
If Meed Ward focuses too much of her attention on the Beachway Park, which is the biggest issue on the waterfront at this time, she will run into some pretty stiff opposition from Rick Craven – the Beachway is in his ward.
 At some point in the near future the Riviera Motel will get torn down and construction will begin on at least one part of the Bridgewater complex that is permitted to put three structures on the property; two seven storey and one 22 storey. Meed Ward has a very special interest in this part of the waterfront Meed Ward is going to bring a “holistic” view to her committee, which she will chair but not have a vote on. She expects to have two people from each ward in the city with a number of alternates to handle those situations where someone can’t make a meeting.
One of the problem WAPA chair, Nick Leblovic had was ensuring that he actually had a quorum; there were occasions when he had to suspend his meeting while someone went to the washroom.
Meed Ward was the only member of this council that voted against going to a new contractor to complete the pier. She felt at the time that the city should have and could have worked out the construction problems with the original contractor Henry Schilthuis and Sons Ltd.
The city begins spending really serious dollars in November on the pier when all the lawyers gather in rooms to begin the process of discovery – which is when each side gets to question the other sides witnesses on who did what when. That process could take a month – and it is going to be very expensive.
Meed Ward plans monthly evening meetings that will be open to the public. Because this isn’t a city created committee it won’t report to any of the city council committees. It will probably have to rely on Meed Ward piping up at appropriate times and explaining what “her people” have to say. She may have them delegating the way she did as a citizen.
It all gets even a little fuzzier with Mayor Rick Goldring having said that he too was going to have a Waterfront Advisory Committee. Mayors in the past have created committees to advise them, this is probably the first time the city has had a council member create a committee of citizens.
This is certainly a different approach for Burlington. There will be people in the Mayor’s office scratching their heads over this one and asking: ‘Can she do this’?
It appears that Meed Ward is going to invite all the former members of the WAPA committee to join this new venture. What are the odds on Leblovic serving on this new committee?
Meed Ward apparently “sees a long and bright future for the committee” . Her office can be contacted on how to apply for the new waterfront citizens’ committee.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 19, 2012 It’s one of those events you need to plan for and to note it on your calender. The annual Burlington Art in Action tour which takes place the weekend of November 3rd and 4th this year.
 One of the better studio tours in the province. If art matters to you – don’t miss this event. The Art in Action people will be announcing the line up early in October and we will tell you all you need to know. Today, we just want to give you a heads up.
Great event. Last year we spent a full day going from studio to studio and met some really neat people, saw some art that interested us. Watched artists sell their work to people who were just beginning to collect art.
Note the dates.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, O N September 18, 2012 Members of the Chamber of Commerce saw a different Jane McKenna last Friday morning when she met with business leaders to talk about what she has been doing at Queen’s Park on their behalf.
McKenna, Burlington’s MPP, is very partisan; it’s in her nature. Nothing wrong with that – she is a politician with an agenda and she has certainly grown since she was first nominated as the Progressive Conservative candidate for Burlington. She knew next to nothing when she was nominated and her campaign committee, wisely, kept her in a bubble during the campaign.
 The Jane McKenna we saw during the election campaign wore the right Tory blue pin stripe suit and was taught to be earnest and direct with people. The Jane MC Kenna we saw at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast had a grip on the numbers that mattered and was capable of being as angry as an opposition MPP is supposed to be. But the Jane McKenna you see today is not the ‘didn’t know very much” that we saw six months ago. McKenna has a very impressive grip on the numbers part of what’s going on at Queen’s Park. It sounded as if she could give you a number on just about anything that was going on in the province. How much had been spent on the cancellation of the hydro plant in Mississauga or how much had been spent on the cancellation of the hydro plant in Oakville as well? McKenna has those numbers at her fingertips. Well not the Oakville numbers – and that has her getting ready to go after the Minister of Energy.
She did err a little on the size of the deficit – she threw out a $15 billion deficit number – when it is close to $13 billion. McKenna argues that “we are broke”. How broke? She maintains we are spending $1.8 million more a day than we are taking in and that 20% of the money we spend is borrowed money”. “It is bad” said McKenna and for a room filled with business people who know what it is to deal with a cash tight situation – McKenna was preaching to the converted.
McKenna wants to see an across the board pay cut to every civil servant. She has no problem with what the province is doing to the teachers – she wants the same thing done to everyone. I would assume that includes her own salary – which I’m pretty sure McKenna would say: Everyone means everyone.
 The Ornge helicopter scandal has McKenna bursting with indignation She railed at the 8.7% increase the MPAC people were given. (MPAC- Municipal Property Assessment Corporation – the people that determine the value of your home for tax purposes). Some 150 people attended the breakfast event at the Burlington Golf and Country Club where McKenna was described as heavily involved in the community. That was a bit of a stretch. What we appear to be seeing is a resume upgrade, which, if repeated often enough, will become truth.
Jane McKenna ran in one municipal election. She did so at the request of a colleague and came in dead last. She did run her own advertising sales agency and consulted for others on minor projects.
She did not intend to be a candidate for the Progressive Conservative nomination. She was, at the time, the campaign manager for a person who was asked by the party to step aside as a candidate for the nomination. Sometime after that candidate stepped aside, the PC association approached Jane McKenna, asked her to consider being the candidate and she took advantage of the opportunity. If you know Keith Strong – you know how that conversation went.
What we appear to be seeing is a Member of the provincial Legislature becoming exceptionally political – we don’t see this kind of political posturing from Mike Wallace the Conservative member of the House of Commons for Burlington.
 Jane McKenna yuks it up with guests at the Joseph Brant hospital annual meeting. A few months earlier she couldn’t get in the place to attend a meeting with the Liberal Health Minister who was delivering cheques. McKenna is creating a political persona of a politician that has a deep understanding of what the government is doing and where they are making their mistakes. It will all be very political. Is this something McKenna has decided to do on her own or is this something her handlers are creating? Whichever, anyone who thought she would be a knock off in the next provincial election is in for a surprise. We won’t see the fumbling that we saw at the Central High School debate. McKenna is now much more confident and while she may not fully understand the issues and their longer term implications – she can and will throw numbers at you until your dizzy.
She nailed Chris Bentley, Minister of Energy for his failure to provide information to a Legislative committee last May. Secret documents on the cost of scrapping the Oakville power plant — located in a Liberal riding, — must be released, the Speaker of Ontario’s legislature ruled Thursday, the day before McKenna talked to the Chamber crowd. Basically the Liberal Energy Minister was on the verge of a rare contempt of parliament censure for refusing to release the documents.
McKenna will pounce all over the Minister on this one – and she’s right. The Liberals pulled a fast one during the provincial election – and got away with it.
They tried the same thing in Kitchener-Waterloo where they caused a by-election to be held after offering a nice plum to Elizabeth Witmer, the sitting member, who was not very happy with PC leader Tim Hudak and was quite prepared to leave the Legislature.
Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty and his political advisers thought they could win the seat. A win in Kitchener-Waterloo along with the all but guaranteed win in Vaughan and the Liberals would have the majority they didn’t win during the provincial election. The New Democrats spoiled that plan and they won the seat.
McKenna told the Chamber breakfast that her party didn’t have a platform during the by-election. That’s a pretty bold admission; refreshing.
McKenna does have PC leader Tim Hudak’s ear and she has some clout, partially because of her energy and drive. McKenna told the breakfast meeting that when she got to Queen’s Park she was “shocked. The process didn’t work. The Ornge hospital helicopter disaster and the $300 million loans the Health Minister didn’t know about” “The shutting down of the two power plants. Where does it stop? I knew absolutely nothing about this stuff before I got to Queen’s Park”, she said.
McKenna wants much more transparency and accountability, which is easy to call for when you are in opposition. How will McKenna handle things if she is part of a government and learns that that is the way government does things – you say nothing unless you have to and then you put out a press release late on the Friday afternoon of a long weekend.
Is McKenna going to be the fresh face of provincial politics? Not in the next three years and if she is part of a government it will not be one led by Tim Hudak. Is McKenna leadership material? Not yet and a little too early to tell if she has real leadership within her.
McKenna talks about being big on “transparency”. “Everything we do is on line” she told her office. Sure, if you know the name of the document and you are aware it is actually on a web site. McKenna doesn’t send out press releases from her office. She will answer direct questions if you can get some face time with her.
When the city of Burlington used some “political protocol” nonsense to keep McKenna away from an event that had the Liberal member Ted McMeekin, the closest Cabinet Minister to Burlington, talking about the money the province put up for the Community Garden project – McKenna talked to Our Burlington and at the time didn’t fully understand why she was being “uninvited”. We did a small piece on the stupid position the city had taken.
McKenna, like her or not, is Burlington’s representative at Queen’s Park. She got shut out of meeting when the Minister of Health was at the hospital talking about the funding JBMH eventually got from the province.
McKenna, has real “cahonies” when it comes to being brash and bold. The woman knows no shame (that is meant as a compliment) when it comes to going after what she wants.
Politics is all about power. With a majority in the Legislature a political party can do almost anything it wants. The Tories aren’t in power but then neither are the Liberals. The New Democrats were offering the people in Kitchener-Waterloo what they wanted and they ran a better campaign and won the seat.
Jane McKenna is growing as a politician. A little less stridency, more reflection and over time she could become a Charlotte Whitton – all the Tories that matter in this town will remember her – and nod approvingly.
Can McKenna make that transition. It will be a challenge.
 Part 4 of a 4 part Terry Fox Run photo essay.
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 17, 2012 It was for the COZ – there were close to 200 people wearing the small piece of paper that read Team Casey.
There were T-shirts, several handmade creations that said they were there to support Casey Cosgrove as he battles cancer.
 Parts of Team Cosgrove As Deb Tymstra was having the walkers get into the line in front of the starting gate – someone had Team Casey at the other side of the starting gate. There were so many Team Casey people that the walkers couldn’t get started until the Team Casey people were out of the way. So Deb Tymstra put them through a warm up exercise given by the Cedar spring ladies. Eventually, the photo shoot was done and the Team Casey people worked themselves into the walking line and Don Pace did the – Get Ready, Get Set and Go call.
 The Team Casey members were easily recognized. Besides being the biggest group they were probably the noisiest as well. There was never any doubt when a team member crossed the finish line. They were walking for Casey Cosgrove and along the way appreciating who he was and what he has done for his community. They thought about the really funny stuff that pops up on his Facebook page and they wondered as well about how much Terry Fox has done for cancer research.
It is cancer research breakthroughs that offer Casey the hope and the opportunity to beat the cancer he battles. Casey is quite open about his struggle. He has good days and bad days – but he has hundreds of friends to support him.
 Part of bearing the load. Top two members of Team Cosgrove Terry Fox brought the same robust attitude to his situation: he refused to regard himself as disabled, and would not allow anyone to pity him, telling a Toronto radio station that he found life more “rewarding and challenging” since he had lost his leg. His feat helped redefine Canadian views of disability and the inclusion of the disabled in society. Fox’s actions increased the visibility of people with disabilities, and in addition influenced the attitudes of those with disabilities, by showing them disability portrayed in a positive light. Rick Hansen commented that the run challenged society to focus on ability rather than disability. “What was perceived as a limitation became a great opportunity. People with disabilities started looking at things differently. They came away with huge pride”, he wrote.
 Two members of Team Casey giving it that final push. Casey Cosgrove has taught thousands how to deal with health adversity. Some disabled people are made to feel like failures if they haven’t done something extraordinary. Casey is just an ordinary guy doing his best and giving just as much as he is getting.
One of Fox’s earliest supporters was Isadore Sharp, founder of the Four Seasons Hotels. Sharp had lost his own son to cancer and offered Fox and his companions free accommodation at his hotels. He donated $10,000 and challenged 999 other businesses to do the same. Sharp also proposed an annual fundraising run in Fox’s name. Fox agreed, but insisted that the runs be non-competitive. There were to be no winners or losers, and anyone who participated could run, walk or ride. Sharp faced opposition to the project. The Cancer Society feared that a fall run would detract from its traditional April campaigns, while other charities believed that an additional fundraiser would leave less money for their causes. Sharp persisted, and he, the Four Seasons Hotels and the Fox family organized the first Terry Fox Run on September 13, 1981.
 Some members of Team Cosgrove made their own sweaters. One of those has to be used in the Spiral submission for the Performing arts Centre if that submission is chosen. Over 300,000 people took part and raised $3.5 million in the first Terry Fox Run. 4000 of those dollars came from Burlington.
Schools across Canada were urged to join the second run, held on September 19, 1982, and now have their own National School Run Day. The runs, which raised over $20 million in its first six years, grew into an international event as over one million people in 60 countries took part in 1999, raising $15 million that year alone.
Last Sunday, in Burlington, more than 1000 people did the run – and 200 of them were there for Casey Cosgrove and the COZ.
Part 1 of 4
Part 2 of 4
Part 3 of 4
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 17, 2012 After months of organizational work. Hours of committee meetings – the day had arrived. The weather was great. Just a little nippy at the start of the day when the Terry Fox Run team began to gather on site. A sign that the weather was going to be perfect.
With everyone in place; security checked out; the starting gate filled with air and the food and snack tables getting set up and the ladies getting into place at the registration tables – the day was getting close to starting.
The crowd was coming together – you could feel the buzz in the air.
Runners were lined up at the starting gate – but not quite yet. The exercise girls from Cedar Springs had to take them through a short warm up.
 Starting gate is readied for the runners. And then they were off. Carrying on a 32 year tradition in Burlington that has seen more than $1.4 million raised. We will let you know what the amount raised was this year.
 The warm up ladies from Cedar Springs took the runners through a series of exercises before getting them through the start up gate. The tradition began back in 1980 when the first Terry Fox run took place and raised $4000 It`s been a steady grow upwards since then.
In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, Terry Fox embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi), and ultimately cost him his life, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. The annual Terry Fox Run, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over $500 million has been raised in his name.
 And they were off. There are parents out there who wonder why these lads don’t move quite as fast in getting ready for school or doing their homework. Look for the Tweeters getting out the word. Fox was a distance runner and basketball player for his Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, high school and Simon Fraser University. His right leg was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, though he continued to run using an artificial leg. He also played wheelchair basketball in Vancouver, winning three national championships.
 They just kept pouring through the starting gate. In 1980, he began the Marathon of Hope, a cross-country run to raise money for cancer research. Fox hoped to raise one dollar for each of Canada’s 24 million people. He began with little fanfare from St. John’s, Newfoundland, in April and ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day.
 Good start and setting a nice pace.  Pumping away on the backstretch going east from the canal on the way to the Waterfront Hotel. Nice 5k run Fox had become a national star by the time he reached Ontario; he made numerous public appearances with businessmen, athletes, and politicians in his efforts to raise money. He was forced to end his run outside of Thunder Bay when the cancer spread to his lungs. His hopes of overcoming the disease and completing his marathon ended when he died nine months later.
Fox was the youngest person ever named a Companion of the Order of Canada. He won the 1980 Lou Marsh Award as the nation’s top sportsman and was named Canada’s Newsmaker of the Year in both 1980 and 1981. Considered a national hero, he has had many buildings, roads and parks named in his honour across the country.
 Doing the first half of the Burlington Terry Fox 5k run  These ladies are in the homestretch of the Terry Fox 5k run.  Each runner sets their own pace. The backstretch of the run is easy going and well shaded. Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Rolland “Rolly” Fox and Betty Fox. Rolly was a switchman for the Canadian National Railway. Terry had an elder brother, Fred, a younger brother, Darrell and a younger sister, Judith. His family moved to Surrey, British Columbia, in 1966, then settled in Port Coquitlam in 1968. His parents were dedicated to their family, and his mother was especially protective of her children; it was through her that Fox developed his stubborn dedication to whatever task he committed to do. His father recalled that he was extremely competitive, noting that Terry hated to lose so much that he would continue at any activity until he succeeded.
 One of the younger runners enters the home stretch of the Terry Fox 5k run. Many his age did a second go around to make it a 10k run.
 The runners working the back stretch of the 5k run. You name it and that kind of runner was out doing their part. He was an enthusiastic athlete, playing soccer, rugby and baseball as a child. His passion was for basketball and though he stood only five feet tall and was a poor player at the time, Fox sought to make his school team in grade eight.
 That finishing line looks good to everyone that sees it. Some used it as an opportunity to make a final dash. His physical education teacher and basketball coach at Mary Hill Junior High School felt he was better suited to be a distance runner and encouraged him to take up the sport. Fox had no desire for cross-country running, but took it up because he respected and wanted to please his coach.[6] He was determined to continue playing basketball, even if he was the last substitute on the team. Fox played only one minute in his grade eight season but dedicated his summers to improving his play. He became a regular player in grade nine and earned a starting position in grade ten. In grade 12, he won his high school’s athlete of the year award jointly with his best friend Doug Alward.
Though he was initially unsure if he wanted to go to university, Fox’s mother convinced him to enrol at Simon Fraser University, where he studied kinesiology as a stepping stone to becoming a physical education teacher. He tried out for the junior varsity basketball team, earning a spot ahead of more talented players due to his determination.
Part 1 of a four part photo essay on the Terry Fox Run
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 12, 2012 The first run was in 1980 when the city raised $4000 for the Terry Fox Research Foundation and a cure for cancer.
More than 1000 people were out on the pathways at Beachway Park and running through Spencer Smith Park.More than 100 volunteers helped people with massages, warm up exercises, giving directions and handing out glasses of water.
 These are the ladies that collected the funds raised. One family came in with more than $1600 raised in their community. We will have the final count later in the week. We will know later in the week how much was raised in 2012. The total raised since 1980 in Burlington is now over $1.4 million.
Who would have thought that 32 years after Terry Fox had to abandon his run across the country using an artificial leg, that we would have hundreds of people coming out every year to run for a cause.
 Don Carmichael, chair of the Terry Fox run in 2012, meets with part of his team to go over the final check ins before the event gets serious and the crowds begin to show up. Many, perhaps even most of the people who ran today were not alive when Terry Fox did his run. I heard about a one legged man declaring that he was going to run across the country when he dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic ocean and headed west. It seemed like a bit of a stunt to me – I knew nothing about the man.
 It was a little nippy in the morning, the kind of weather that helps the leaves turn colour and keeps people shivering just a bit. That changes when they begin their run. I was sitting in an office window watching Terry Fox run with that half limp, half trot of his as he headed south and into Nathan Phillips Square where more than 100,000 people were on hand to greet him. This was no stunt.
The fund raising drive, which hadn’t done all that well when it worked its way through the Maritimes and Quebec, picked up momentum as the national media picked up the story in Ontario and from that point it just took off. There were close to nightly news reports with a summary at the end of each week. The country was mesmerized by what this man was doing.
Eight years earlier Canada came together as a country when a Canadian Team beat the Russians in a closely fought hockey series. We had a sense of who we were after that and when Terry Fox caught our imaginations we had no trouble getting behind to help.
The country almost automatically made the project theirs and we’ve been doing that ever since we lost Terry Fox in 1981
He was born Terrance Stanley “Terry” Fox, on July 28, 1958 and was made a Member of the Order of Canada. There is much more to the Terry Fox story than this. Follow the Burlington event and the young man`s story.
Part 2 of the Terry Fox story and the Terry Fox run; a photo feature.
 Deb Tymstra MC’d the event – her second year doing that job. Here she goes over her notes to prepare for an event that almost got out of hand when the Casey Cosgrove supporters were gathered to have pictures taken. That crowd was so large that it held up the Bikers and the Walkers who Tymstra wanted to get started. She managed the chaos.
 Jane Goodall, renowned environmentalist will be in Burlington this week. Major coup for the BurlingtonGreen people and a day those attending her events will never forget. By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 17th, 2012 It is going to be a boffo week for the BurlingtonGreen crowd.
Dr. Jane Goodall is now in Canada; the BG’s are incredibly thrilled to have her first event presentation taking place right here in Burlington on Wednesday, September 19 !
Goodall will be sharing fascinating stories from the field, her reflections on global conservation and hope for the future of the planet to both a daytime audience of 700 Halton youth attending our annual “Imprints” Youth event followed by a sold out evening event also taking place at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
Not only can ticket holders look forward to this rare opportunity to get inspired by this world renowned environmentalist and UN Messenger of Peace, but there will also be a variety of great opportunities to learn more about how individuals can get involved with and support the important work of both the Jane Goodall Institute and BurlingtonGreen.
There will be a raffle for a chance to win a hugely popular paddleboard courtesy of Mountain Equipment Co-op. There will be book signing by Dr. Goodall, eco-displays and a fast paced but awesome Eco (silent)Auction too ! Click here for a sneak peak of the amazing auction packages that have been creatively and thoughtfully compiled that event participants will have an opportunity to bid on and take home!
The evening will be the perfect opportunity to celebrate some of our greenest achievers in Burlington following Dr. Goodall’s message of how individuals can truly make a difference. A worthy recipient from each of our award categories(individual, school, child, group, youth & business) will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Dr. Goodall on stage to receive a special presentation – wow!
Clearly, the BurlingtonGreen people are excited – and they should be. This is a major achievement on their part. For those of you who didn’t manage to get tickets – stay tuned – we will tell you as much as we can about this really important visit.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 13, 2012 We didn’t notice the appointment at first, the city has an awkward process of treating the names of people as confidential and making them public once they’ve been approved by Council. The sheet of paper with the names on it gets handed out at the end of a meeting and at times they don’t have copies for everyone at the media table. Whatever, I missed the list.
Burlington has a Committee that accepts nominations for Civic Recognition in a number of categories: Youth, the Arts, Senior of the year and Citizen of the year. The award has been given since 1965; one of the nicer events the city holds. The Civic Recognition Committee is comprised of 10 voting members, including: 6 citizens from the community, and four representatives from media and information agencies.
The event takes place, usually in May of each year . It is the one event that we do not cover as media; we buy our ticket and sit in the room as citizens recognizing honouring those who have served the city.
 Keith Strong – recruited Jane McKenna as the Progressive Conservative candidate for Burlington then helped manage her winning campaign. Strong appears to have gotten McKenna on to the Citizen’s Recognition Award committee as well. This is a citizens event – it is not a political event. But this time out the people who were placed on the committee that reviews the submissions and chooses the winner in each category has a distinct political flavour to it – and that isn’t good for the process which was to recognize people who have made Burlington a better city no matter what their political stripe.
Most people have a political persuasion – but they are not “politicians”. They believe in an approach to government that is different than what others believe.
In October of 2010 the Clerks Department placed advertisements in the Update section of the Burlington Post seeking volunteers to fill vacancies on various local boards and citizen committees. In response to the advertisement, applications were received from a number of individuals expressing interest in the committees.
Part of the city’s Strategic Plan is to “engage citizens more effectively in City Council’s decision making processes”. Through citizen committees and boards, Burlington residents are provided the opportunity to offer Council advice and recommendations on various matters and/or organize activities that strengthen the community’s connection to the municipality.
The selection process for the Burlington Civic Recognition Committee was undertaken in February, 2011. The interview team for the committee was comprised of Committee Chair and its Past Chair. Staff from the Clerk’s Department also assisted with the process. The number of applicants this year did not exceed the number of available positions.
The interview team’s recommendation was based on the committee’s needs as well as the applicant’s knowledge of the role, relevant skills and experience, expressed dedication / commitment / time availability, and communication skills.
On February 24, 2011, the Council made the names for the Burlington Civic Recognition Committee public. Each person is to serve for a term that expires December 31, 2013 or until their successor is appointed, which suggests the appointee could be there for a very long time.
 Does a sitting politician belong on a Citizen’s recognition committee? Jane McKenna now sits on the Board that chooses those who are to be recognized based on the nominations sent in. Lisa Boyko, Linda Cupido, Bob Hilton, Jane McKenna, Ann Coburn and Keith Strong were appointed.
Strong was the previous chair of the committee so he was re-appointed.
Jane McKenna was recruited as the Ontario Progressive Conservative candidate for Burlington by Keith Strong who was heavily involved in her campaign. McKenna went on to win the seat during the provincial election.
A number of people who are recognized for their contribution to the city go on to serve in a political capacity. That’s fine. But to put a sitting politician on a committee that is there to recognize others adds a political strain to a process that is there to recognize people for what they have done – not for which political party they favour.
Staff at city hall should have seen this one for what it is – political manipulation. We can do better than this.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 17, 2012 If what football fans saw on Saturday at the Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton is an example of what we might see during the 2012 United Way campaign – this is going to be one heck of an event.
During the game – which Hamilton won against the Edmonton Eskimos 51-8, the United Way campaign did their kick off and announced a target of $7 million of which $2 million is the Burlington portion.
 City of Burlington Clerk’s department did a great job last year during the United Way campaign drive. Interesting to see what they do this year. Burlington campaign has a $2 million target More than 20,000 fans took part in the kick off the 2012 United Way Campaign which got off to a roaring start as ArcelorMittal Dofasco President & CEO, Juergen Schachler and company Employee Donations Fund chair Larry Meyer announced a combined donation of $500,000. They presented a cheque on the field at halftime to Burlington Campaign Chair, Hon. Paddy Torsney and Hamilton Campaign Chair, Dr. Nick Bontis.
ArcelorMittal Dofasco extended an additional challenge to the community to step up for the United Way. The company and employees announced they would match an additional $50,000 for money raised through new workplace campaigns, new leadership donations of $1,000 or more, leadership donations that increase by a minimum of 10%, or donations that increase to the $1,000 level (the increased amount). The program is designed to inspire the people of Hamilton and Burlington to help build community strength by donating to the United Way.
With more than $1,134,732 already raised via corporate and individual contributions, the community has already begun to show their support for United Way. Of that total, the United Way family, (Board of Directors, Campaign Cabinets and staff) contributed $88,359.
 Nick Bontis is chair of the United Way Campaign for Burlington and Greater Hamilton. He teaches at McMaster where his mile a minute delivery dazzles his students. Bontis dazzled an Economic Development luncheon earlier this year. Nick Bontis of McMaster University fame found himself having to hand off quite a bit of the kickoff event to Paddy Torsney who is heading up the Burlington part of the campaign. Bontis did some serious damage to one leg during a soccer game. Don’t think that’s what they intended by “kick off”.
Torsney, who had never kicked a football in her life, got some tutoring and did a more than credible job at “getting some air” under the ball. For the United Way campaign team they too feel there is some air underneath their efforts.
“We have a lot of younger people involved in the campaign this year”, said Torsney and ” we are going to put part of our focus on those smaller corporations in Burlington that don’t have an employee program”.
The Burlington team has two families involved in the campaign who both have twins – “they obviously now know how to manage their time – they will do great work for us” said Torsney.
Brian Ferguson of VM Ware is onboard as is Gayle Cruikshank of Food for Thought. Kim Phillips, a city of Burlington General Manager is handling the campaign at city hall as well as the government sector.
Torsney, the one time Member of Parliament for Burlington wants to grow the $2 million target for Burlington by seeking additional leadership donours and getting into companies that currently don’t have a program that allows their staff to donate through a payroll program.
Deb Pickfield of ThinkSpot is heading up a unique “mystery night” event that will appeal to this community.
“Community investment is a longstanding tradition for our company and our employees,” says Juergen Schachler. “We know that continuing to build the strength of Hamilton and Burlington is an important part of being a business leader. For 100 years, the company and its employees have been a key pillar in the community. With our additional challenge, we are inviting others to step up to help the United Way as they continue to create change in our communities”.
 Paddy Torsney heads up the Burlington side of the United Way campaign for 2012. Expect a call from her – soon. Over 222,000 residents rely on United Way programs and services. In the weeks ahead we will tell you more about the people and the services that are delivered because the donations are made.
United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton works to effect long-term changes that make a measurable difference in the community. When you donate to the United Way you are having a direct impact and are changing the lives of those in need in our community.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 13, 2012 Two Spencer’s Restaurant Chef’s will duel it out at the Farmer’s Market on Friday. Chris Hayworth and Andrew McLeod will shop from the different vendors at the market and then cook up a meal, using what they bought at the market – all organic, that visitors to the market can sample at the tables Barry Imber, the driving force behind the idea of an organic market in downtown Burlington, plans to set out for people to use.
 It’s not a crowded market but it does have a consistent flow of traffic during the two hours it is open. Great produce, pork offerings are very good and each week someone else shows up with a new product. We got great sour-dough there last week.  Fresh bread – straight from the ovens – but you had to get there while the basket still had something in it. The Farmer’s Market, located off John Street just north of James back in behind Centro Gardens, focuses on local organically grown produce, meat and dairy.
It started up during the early summer and while traffic has not been overwhelming, it is consistent with people drifting in and out during the noon to 2:00 pm window they are open.
 Chef Chris Hayworth shows how he will use his knife at the Chef’s Duel scheduled for Friday just after noon at the Farmer’s All Organic market on John Street. Imber decided to give the location a bit of a promotional boost and challenged the two Spencer’s chef’s to duel it out over their stoves using just the produce available at the market.
 Candace Ivezich, sales agent with LeavoyRowe, purveyors of fine meats just might be Chef Hayworth’s secret weapon. Hayworth plans to play it by ear and see what is on sale- and then use his creative imagination to pull together a meal he is sure will win the day for him.
Hayworth is a full range chef but he tends to like to focus on the appetizer part of the menu – and where he can he goes local.
Could be fun – certainly will be tasty.
Chef Hayworth has a bit of an advantage – he has a supplier that wants him to win; that might tip the scales.
At press time we had not heard from Chef McLeod – maybe he has decided to concede and won’t show.
You be the judge – and see what they serve up.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 12, 2012 There they were, out on the field, grunting, running, stretching their limbs – more than thirty of them practicing as the Bateman High School Senior Football team.
 The protesting team – from the left: John Phelps, Chad Doan, Kennedy Dyet and Chris Bishop. When the football players learned their team had been scrubbed from the football schedule they took to the streets in protest. They made their point and the football team is back on the field. Now they might have to deal with a teacher work stoppage. They had to protest to get there – but after a part of a day out on the street waving signs and seeking support for their team – they were back in business.
No one remembers when there was a demonstration by students at Bateman before and it took courage to make the decision to protest when they learned that their wasn’t going to be a Senior Bateman football team on the field for 2012.
Chris North sent an email to Our Burlington – we ran with his letter and followed up with a visit to the school to see how the protest and demonstration went. While there, we saw some student behavior that was great, we saw kids talking in groups the way students around the world talk in groups and we saw students that were behaving – let’s be blunt about this – it was just plain dumb behaviour. We certainly heard about that from more than 45 students and the parents of students. That’s all part of an interactive process where people get to say what they think. We will comment on how that went later in the week.
This piece is about the football team – the guys that decided they weren’t prepared to see their team disappear from the roster. Chris Bishop led the group that was made up of Chad Doan, Kennedy Dyet and John Phelps. All are back at Bateman doing an additional year to upgrade their marks. All have clear plans to attend university with a pretty good idea of what it is they want to study.
 Four high school football players who felt their team was wronged and took to the streets in protest. They made their point and are now back on the football field. Gotta be at least eight proud parents out there. From the left: John Phelps, Chad Doan, Kennedy Dyet and Chris Bishop. Doan wants to study psychology. “I’m interested in the way people behave and want to learn more about that”, said Doan, which led to questions about how the school administration behaved when they decided to shut down the team.
Chris Bishop thinks he wants to study criminology and maybe look into law. Another student wants to study sports management.
The students felt they were told it would be “impossible” for a senior team to be put together and so they were scrubbed from the schedule.
“They had a mind-set and didn’t think we could field a team” said Dyet who coaches a team in the Burlington Minor Football Association.
These four young men didn’t see it that way. They believed they could mount a team but, just as important to them was the rule that would mean there would be no team playing the following year if they did not mount a team this year – and these four young men didn’t want to see that happen to those that would follow them.
Kennedy Dyet wonders why they had to protest. “We were told there was nothing they could do for us” but once the protest was underway the principal of the school met with the football players and asked how he could help.
It looks as if the Phys-ed people had given up on the students and pulled the team from the schedule. The students say they weren’t told the team was being pulled. There was clearly a lot of energy and enthusiasm on the part of at least some members of the team, which when identified, moved the administration to get behind the students. Now the football players have to get the school behind the team and begin winning some games.
On Tuesday evening there were 29 seniors out on the field – huffing and puffing through the exercises. It looked like a good workout from the side lines.
The Bateman Seniors are a Tier 3 team – they want to move to at least Tier 2 and see Pearson and Aldershot as the schools they have to beat. “We’ve got six to seven regular games in the season” explained Dyet “and then the semi-finals.
 Football team protests the scrubbing of their team from the schedule. Administration changes its mind – team out practicing – next they have to win some games. Chris Bishop feels the support they need is now there for them within the administration but also feels that it wasn’t there for them before they hit the streets with their signs. “The principal did meet with us at the Bistro and asked us what it was we wanted and we told him we wanted our team on the field. “Mr. Heffernan said he would do everything he could to help us – that’s all we wanted” said Bishop.
Kennedy Dyet added that the volleyball players are battling for a program “and we think what we’ve done will help them get what they feel they deserve.”
“We had faith that we could make out point” added Dyet “and now we have to do the hard work.”
The players commented on the new coaching staff they have. “These guys have great history commented” commented Chad, “one of our coaches was with Team Canada.”
Is there a problem with the commitment level on the part of the phys-ed staff and the school administration at Bateman? May have been. Had they given up on their students and as Kennedy put it, brought a “mind set” to the table that prevented them from seeing what the students wanted and what they were prepared to do.
Will the “no strike” legislation the provincial government has passed impact this football team that has shown it wants to be out on the field playing the game. Are teacher politics going to get in the way of the educational process the way it did in when the Mike Harris government was battling the teachers?
The young men we talked to were polite, focused, left me feeling there was a clear sense of purpose and an objective they had thought through. I came away with the feeling that there are eight proud parents out there somewhere.
The task now is to develop and condition their team and support them with enthusiasm that provides the energy and that extra bit of “make it happen” that a cheering crowd can give a team. All four young men know exactly what a cheering audience can do for athletes.
Go Wild!
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 11, 2012 Mayor Rick Goldring finally gets his Cabaret off the planning Boards and onto the stage of the Burlington Performing Arts centre where both the Arrogant Worms and The Lighthouse will take to the stage.
The day before the Mayor does his thing Burlington’s Gordie Tapp of Hee Haw fame is going to MC A Laugh a Minute — The Mike Wallace Roast.
 Wallace does know how to laugh and take a joke – expect him to be at his funniest while his colleagues roast him royally – with Gordie Tapp leading the crowd – it will be a riot. The Wallace event, taking place Friday September 28, is sponsored by the Burlington Federal Conservative Riding Association. The guest list of roasters includes Halton Riding Conservative MP Lisa Raitt and Michael Chong, Tory MP for Wellington-Halton Hills.
Cocktails are at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m.
Mayor Goldring came up with the Gala idea some time ago and had to shift the dates but he is now ready to have the curtains of the Performing Arts Centre stage pulled back for an evening of entertainment, receptions and both live and silent auctions. This might be your chance to get one of the Mayor’s election signs.
A variety show featuring special guests Lighthouse and The Arrogant Worms, along with some very talented local artists will make up what the Mayor says is “ sure to be an extraordinary evening”.
Lighthouse is a Canadian band whose music includes elements of rock, jazz, classical, and swing. They won Juno Awards for Best Canadian Group of the year in 1972, 1973 and 1974. Some of their hits include One Fine Morning, Sunny Days, Pretty Lady and Can You Feel It.
 Featured performers at the Mayor’s Cabaret – the Arrogant Worms bring their music to the Performing Arts Centre. The Arrogant Worms were formed in Kingston, Ontario and consist of Mike McCormick, Chris Patterson and Trevor Strong. Their musical comedy act has been played on three continents to crowds as large as 100,000 and they have sold more than 150,000 copies of their 12 albums. The Arrogant Worms have been described as “too much fun for their own good.”
Funds raised from this event will benefit The Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Tickets, $150 with a tax receipt issued for $100 are on sale now at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre box office.
Dress code is polished casual; that’s a new one. In addition to the show, there will be pre- and post-show receptions and silent and live auctions.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON September 11, 2012 This morning at 9:35 a.m., an employee of a Burlington CIBC bank, located at 575 Brant Street, contacted police to report a suspicious bag left in the ATM vestibule.
Police attended and a determination was made to enlist the assistance of the Explosives Disposal Unit.
Appropriate measures were enacted to minimize any risk to public safety and established procedures were utilized to ‘disrupt’ the package.
Which is the police way of saying the bag was removed from the premises. Halton Regional Police have a robotic unit that can be used for such situation
At this time, investigators are unable to determine whether the bag was innocently left behind by a customer or deliberately placed to resemble a threat. Further investigative efforts are being undertaken.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 11, 2012 After many months of keeping everything under wraps, Jeremy Freiburger finally opened the curtains and is letting the public see what the three Burlington judges have chosen as finalists for the public art that is going to stand in front of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
Burlington is slowly learning that if you want the public to buy into an idea – let them know what you are up to; ask their opinions and listen to what they have to say.
You can view models of the three finalists at the Central Public Library or see large photographs at City Hall and Tansley Woods – and that is about as far north as the public viewing will go. Something for the city to look into – the people north of Upper Middle Road are just out of luck when it comes to knowing much about what goes on at city hall, unless they want to drive well outside their community
 The currently unadorned Performing Arts Centre may soon get some public art. The plans are to place the art in the small fore-court – shown in the right of this photograph. Art is a very subjective thing. Many people feel that they know what they like the moment they see it – and that is certainly true. But taste is something that is developed; something that evolves over time. That development takes place when you see and experience different forms and examples of art. Some feel that public art should come from within the community – others feel the search should be world wide.
The judges are: Ian Ross, executive director of the Burlington Art Centre, Emma Quinn, executive director of the Ontario Craft Council, Trevor Copp, artistic director of Tottering Biped Theatre, Natalie Eldershaw, 4th-year Sheridan College art student.
The steering committee that oversaw the process included: Avery Brooks joiner – local youth involved in Culture, Dan Lawrie – project donor; Brenda Heatherington – BPAC Executive Director, site stakeholder; Mary-Ellen Heiman – member of BPAC Board and Denise Beard, Acting Manager of Community Development Services for the city of Burlington
The three finalists, chosen out of the 119 submissions to the Call for Submissions the city put out in March of this year, were asked to then create a small model and provide some detail on what they proposed to create.
Those models are now on display at the library on New Street
The project got its start when Burlington businessman Dan Laurie expressed an interest in sponsoring some public art that would be placed in front of the Performing Arts Centre, at the intersection of Elgin and Locust streets in downtown Burlington. Laurie put up $37,500 of his own money and the city used $75,000 from its Public Art Fund
The Cooke-Sasseville submission, Stay Connected, is made of stainless steel; aluminum; powder-coat paint. It is 15 feet high x 27 feet wide.
 The Cooke-Sasseville submission is certainly the most colourfull of the three. How will the bright colours stand up to weather over the long haul? In explaining their submission Cooke-Sasseville had this to say: “We are proposing the creation of a monumental and playful sculpture that stems from the idea of representing, on an exaggerated scale, a well-known, easily identifiable object that is closely tied to the performing arts: a technical console and connecting cables. Our proposal is visually striking and evocative in its usage of space and it will transcend the objects that it represents, becoming an almost abstract work that brings to mind both vegetation and the human circulatory system. The work will be firmly fixed to the ground and expand into space in a systematic manner, schematizing a perfectly orchestrated choreography where the notions of movement, exchange and transmission are represented.”
“The work that we are submitting suggests a never-ending openness towards the sky and it may be interpreted in many different ways, from the simple representation of everyday objects to the schematization of complex fractals. In doing this, we wish to glorify that which may seem banal but which is really essential, or that which is not seen but which plays a crucial role in the creation of major artistic productions: the technical side of the production as well as the importance of collaborations, human contact, encounters and communication.”
 A scale model of the Cooke-Sassville submission. These Quebec based artists have done a significant amount of public art work throughout North America. The Peter Powning submission, Spiral Stella, is to be made of stainless steel; cast bronze and stand 16 feet high and be 30 inches wide.
 The Spiral will be 16 feet tall and include in the bronze casting artifacts from the community that could well make this one of the most intriguing pieces of art in the city. Powning explains his submission this way: “My intent with this proposal is to produce an iconic sculpture of scale that has impact from a distance but which also provides an intimate experience up close. I propose a sculpture that offers an opportunity for discovery, an enhanced sense of local identity, and education opportunities; a community touchstone honouring Burlington and the Performing Arts Centre; its history, natural environment, culture and identity. A key element of this project will be community participation in providing important cultural and historical artifacts to include in the cast bronze spiral. I think of this bronze relief as cultural mulch, incorporating artifacts from the historical to the contemporary.”
“The elements I will be working with are meant to balance content and form in a dynamic approachable sculpture. The obelisk will reflect the sky, patterns of cloud and ambient light, changing hues as the day progresses, the cast bronze provides visual and textural contrast as well as an intimate tactile experience. The formal obelisk shape organizes the various parts of the sculpture in a unified, recognizable whole. In close proximity, it reveals a material richness with layers of cultural content gathered from the people and institutions of Burlington in cast bronze relief. From a distance, this monumental sculpture will be visible as a landmark.”
 The section that appears in blue is the part within which the artist will include local artifacts. No one knows at this point what will be included if this submission is chosen – but if it is chosen – expect everyone in the city to come up with something – it’s going to be out there for everyone to see for at least 50 years – perhaps forever. What doesn’t become immediately evident in the artists comments is that the people of Burlington will contribute a large part of the Spiral – and he has no idea what the public contribution will be. Somehow, what people want to see included in the spiral will get to the artist who will include it in the final structure. That could be very informative and certainly reflect the community.
Aaron Stephen calls his submission In the Round which will be made of cast zinc alloy; architectural zinc sheet and have a diameter of 28 feet.
 The In the Round submission is far more complex, and intriguing, than evident in this picture. That globe graphic is made up of more than 15,000 small figurines. Interesting approach but the location and the height of the art will need some consideration. “In the Round”, says the artist, “is composed of over fifteen thousand small human figures traversing the wall of Burlington Performing Arts Centre’s fly tower. Each three-inch metal figure interacts in a unique way. Some mill about, some talk, walk, or just look around – simply depicting a crowd of individuals interacting as we do in everyday life. From a distance the minutia of this crowd disappears while a larger whole becomes apparent. Each individual figure acts as a pixel defining the collective image of a twenty-eight foot world globe.”
“Anyone who has attended a live performance has experienced the curious moments that immediately precede the actual event. In the lobby, crowds mill around and everyday conversation takes place. There is a unique energy in the air that can only be described as communal anticipation. The evening takes a turn as the performer(s) appear on stage. In a brief moment, what previously seemed to be a haphazard group of audience members becomes a single entity.”
“Like the distinctive beginning of a live performance, In the Round encompasses the same feeling of anticipation, movement, and energy. It represents the moment in which the community of Burlington becomes fully engaged and implicated with those on stage.”
 Examples of the more than 15,000 figurines that will be used to shape a graphic of the globe in the In the Round submission. The “official” illustration doesn’t do justice to this submission. That it will be at the back of the theatre is a limitation. What is shown in the official picture is a graphic of the world – what you don’t see is the 15,000 little figures that will make up the globe.
All three submissions have merit. Several are unique in the approach they use to involve the person looking at the art.
The city has asked the public to “Tell us what you think!” and have provided a place on the city web site for comments on all three pieces of art. Log into WHERE and tell the city what you think. If you can – get over to the Library, and look at the maquettes (fancy word artists use when they really mean to say a model of what they have in mind)
There are also ballot like forms upon which people can write their comments.
The judges will review the comments and come to a final decision. That final decision doesn’t have to be the selection of a specific piece of art.
The three judges chose three submissions – they could have chosen five or ten but there wasn’t enough money in the budget to give every artist the $1500 grant to prepare the model.
Once the judges go over all the comments they will decide which of the three submissions should become the art that will be placed outside the Performing Arts Centre. The judges do not have to choose one of the three finalists – the decision they make will depend on the public feedback.
The challenge for the judges is – are they going to lead public opinion and help shape it or are they going to follow public opinion. Attempting to lead public opinion in Burlington is not always a rewarding endeavor.
If public opinion is strongly against any of the three submissions the judges can decide that none of the three put forward is what the public wants. What do they do then – and why were just three of the 119 submissions selected?
The selection process had two parts to it. First review everything that came in and then invite the three the judges thought were the best and ask them to prepare a model of what they were proposing. Each artist was given $1500 to build their mode. There wasn’t enough in the budget they had to work with to invite more than three.
This is the second major public art project for Burlington. The “orchids” ,done by Irish artist Alex Pentek, were liked by many – but just as many couldn’t understand why it was placed in the middle of busy Upper Middle Road, where it is extremely difficult to see the art as you duck under the railway overpass. Very poor location.
The Performing Arts Centre is seen as a prime public site and with the right art it will be something people will come to see; providing the city selects what the public is prepared to accept.
Make a point of getting to the library to look at the models. And let the city know what you like and don’t like – and add why you like what you see as well.
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