 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 9, 2012 We haven’t done very much on sports in Burlington – it comes down to the manpower we have available. Saturday afternoon, while returning from an interview I noticed a lot of people in Palmer Park standing there holding umbrellas in a pretty consistent rain. I pulled over and parked.
 It was raining, the ground was wet, slippery and the football was hard to hang onto – but the game went on. There were two games going on – and it was wet. The players were slipping and sliding and there was a lot more falling on the ball than passing it – but it was high school level football. I took some pictures, asked a bystander who was playing and what the name of the league was.
 Parents buy the equipment, drive their kids to the practices and the games – and then have the joy of sitting in the rain to take it all in. The joys of being parents. The Argos and the Alouettes of the Burlington Minor Football Association were on the field I was looking at. Came home, downloaded the pictures and wondered how I could work them into a story.
Because community journalism is something that is always fresh and full of surprises – here is the balance of the story.
“My name is Christopher J. Bishop and I am a returning student at Robert Bateman High School (RBHS). Last year I was a part of the senior football team of our school. We did not win many games, but we had one thing, and it was heart. We were a family. Many of my brothers of the team stayed an extra year to play the sport we love, with the most returning students we’ve seen. Last year we played with a roster of around 18 members. Every year we have training camp in the summer before school and our season starts to get trained and a step up on other schools. This year was a bit different; we had new members added to our family, Coach Kevin Holmes and Coach Podlewski. With more than 20 years of coaching experience and time played in the CFL, the team had a new program ahead of them, and was ready to pave a path for the years to come of Bateman football.
“We regularly had 18 players out to practices just like the previous years, training harder and learning the game of football better than we ever had before. With dedication and commitment we were excited for our new season of ball, and being a part of the change. A week before today, our goal was to get 20 players out to have an even more successful year than the last.
“We still made it out to practice and spread the word around the school. Last night though around 5:00PM it changed. The director of physical education at our school, Tim Middlebro, told the coaches to tell the team that we were cancelling the team and folding the season.
“Students and players spoke to coaches, staff, and administration to see if there was any way of participating this season with our team, the Wild. Principal Regan Heffernan spoke to members of the team explaining that the issue was the lack of players coming out.
“Mr. Heffernan suggested that if 30 players were out to practice the decision would be reconsidered by the school. Taking the knowledge, players of the team rallied together using social networking to assemble an increased line-up of players for the team. Then today, with a shocking number of 32 players gathered, the team was told that Tim Middlebro went to a pre-season football conference the night before with the board explaining he wanted the team cancelled.
 The students on the Bateman High School football team would love an opportunity to play in the rain. According to their side of the story they are not being given the chance they feel they deserve. “The team arrived at our change room to find the door locked and nobody was there to open it. We had to search for a phys-ed teacher who reluctantly opened it. We shortly then after were forced out of the room by our ex-coach, Geoff St-Dennis. He had not yet been involved in the senior program this year, yet however today, he made his second appearance. They told us we couldn’t practice without a coach and that we’d have to leave, however, Coach Podlewski was waiting to see his 30+ players in the parking lot near the side of the field. Once the staff heard of this, they told us we couldn’t practice because “there was no longer a senior football program at Robert Bateman High School.” Within a moment our new found ‘family’ had been ripped apart.
“Many of the players took a stand, telling the coaches it was unfair, bringing up points on how we hadn’t even been given a time frame or knowledge that the team would be folded. The coaches, who decided to coach junior this year, informed us that we were folding the team because they were afraid that if our senior team folded, our junior team would receive a penalty or suspension from the league for the next year. They stripped senior students of their chance to play one last time so the program would have a chance in later years. Some of our players returned solely for football. I looked around the room seeing players in tears. Grown, high school, football jocks crying. We tried to fight hard. We did everything we could within our school to keep our program alive, but our coaches stabbed us in the back.
 For a parent watching a BMFA game on a rainy Saturday afternoon – a fashion statement is still possible. “Tomorrow, we will be protesting out front of our school. Signs, People, anything we can get our hands on to bring attention. We hope that you will be able to join us because all we want is for people to know that we want a football team. We are hoping for more than 100 players, students, parents, and community members coming together for the cause.”
We will try and be there – learn what’s going on.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 8, 2012 – This is a dodgy subject; what do you say when you learn that someone you know took their own life or that a member of a family you know well committed suicide. You’re stunned and you wonder if there was something you should have done, could have done. And what do you do now?
Society is at least talking about suicide. The Region of Halton is partnering with the Talking about Addictions and Mental Illness (TAMI) program to offer two community forums to help break the stigma associated with suicide, help people to talk openly about suicide, and show how everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention
Personally I’ve never understood the stigma sometimes attached to suicide – these are family tragedies that need the help, compassion, understanding and support of the community to be part of the healing.
 There is a point where utter desolation becomes more than a person can handle. An understanding of what depression is; what it does and how best to cope with it is part of the process. Ignoring it or even worse stigmatizing it socially just drives this very real problem underground where we can’t deal with it .
Monday, September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, and the Halton Suicide Prevention Coalition (HSPC) is partnering with the Talking about Addictions and Mental Illness (TAMI) program to offer two community forums.
Both events will be running from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on the following dates and locations:
September 10: Holy Trinity High School – Theatre, 2420 Sixth Line, Oakville
September 13: Craig Kielburger Secondary School – Auditorium, 1151 Ferguson Drive, Milton
Suicide can be a difficult subject to talk about and that often stops individuals and families from reaching out for support. Regional chair Gary Carr adds: “That’s why I think it’s wonderful that both the Coalition and the TAMI program are coming together to help reduce the stigma and use World Suicide Prevention Day as an opportunity to open the dialogue.”
 “I am sure the event will be powerful as those who attend will hear from both a professional from the HSPC and a speaker sharing his personal experience with suicide. I’m also looking forward to attending the Coalition’s annual general meeting (AGM) on November 9 where Mr. Bob Rae, Member of Parliament, Toronto-Centre will be the keynote speaker detailing Canada’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy. I hope Halton residents will take the time to attend either the community forums or the coming AGM.”
Halton Region plays a key role in both the Coalition and TAMI. Funding is provided by Halton Regional Council. Professional staff from the Health Department work directly with community partners sharing their expertise and experience. Those partners include: Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Halton Branch, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), The Schizophrenia Society of Ontario (SSO), the Phoenix Program, ADAPT (Halton Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Assessment, Prevention and Treatment Services), the Halton District School Board, the hospital sector and individuals affected by suicide.
Mental health needs the same attention and resources as physical health. One is no less important than the other.
For anyone who is suffering from depression, having suicidal thoughts, or is a survivor of suicide, help is available in Halton. Visit HSPC’s website for more information about suicide prevention and resources.
For information about services available to those struggling with mental health issues, visit Halton Region’s website, or call the Family Health Information Line and speak directly with a public health nurse.
Chairman Carr puts this perfectly when he says: “Together, we can break the silence and reduce the stigma to help save someone’s life.” The key word is ‘together’.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON September 10, 2012 Beds will be on the move up Brant Street on Sunday, Sept. 23 as the annual Amazing Bed Race returns.
From noon to 3 p.m. teams will compete to see who can push a bed the fastest over a straight-line 100-metre course starting from City Hall.
The event raises funds for The Rotary Club of Burlington North and the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital Foundation. In its first two years, the Amazing Bed Race has raised more than $170,000.
 As long as all the wheels are on at the Finish Line – 100 yards away – it’s legit. Thirty-nine teams participated last year with 34 registered so far this year. Teams will fund raise, build or borrow a bed, decorate it and race it.
Each team is guaranteed two races. They will be timed with the fastest 16 squads moving into a single elimination round. Teams will race two at a time with the fastest of the 16 being declared the overall winner.
Last year’s event added a Kids Stroller Race and it will be held again this year. It is open to kids between the ages of 4 and 12. They will race with their own stroller in a straight line for 25 metres wearing a helmet. It runs from 12:45-1:15 p.m.
 Amazing Bed Race. The event is a fund raiser for the hospital foundation. Prizes will be awarded to the grand champion bed-racing winner, to the top fundraising team and for the best-decorated bed/team.
Registration has been extended to Sept. 13. Day-of sign in is at 11 a.m. If you are interested in registering a team, sponsorships, fundraising or need more information, contact Emma Fitzpatrick at the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital Foundation by e-mailing efitzpatrick@jbmh.com or calling 905-632-3737, ext. 5542.
Donations can be made at https://www.amazingbedrace.ca/.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 7, 2102 It was blatant. Three woman walked into a store at the Burlington Mall August 13th, and began taking baseball caps off the shelves and stuffing them into the large shoulder bag one of them was carrying.
The police did what police do and earlier this week one of the three suspects was arrested and is being held for a bail hearing later today.
The crime took place at the ‘Lids’ store located at the Mapleview Mall.
One woman has been arrested; two others are being sought. The suspect threatened to cut the employee if he did not let go of the purse. The victim complied and all three suspects fled the scene. Estimated value of stolen property is $1600.
As the suspects were leaving the store, a store employee confronted them and grabbed the purse containing the stolen property. The suspect responded by brandishing a utility knife that was concealed in her bra. The suspect arrested, is believed to have been the one armed with the knife. The other suspects are still being sought.
Arrested is:
Alicia CALDERON, 32 years, of Brampton. CHARGES: Robbery, Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, Carrying a Concealed Weapon.
The two additional suspects are described as:
#1 – non-white, 5’6″ – 5’7″, 160-170 pounds, long black hair, wearing a short sleeved t-shirt, beige shorts, pink or white baseball cap and yellow flip flops
#2 – non-white, 5’6″ – 5’7″, 160-170 pounds, short black hair, wearing a black and white handkerchief wrapped around her head, grey pants or possibly blue jeans and a black short sleeved t-shirt
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 x2315, Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes).
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON September 6, 2012 Three days into the school year and a school bus mounts a curb, strikes a tree, crashes through an iron fence and comes to a precarious perch atop a retaining wall adjacent to Bronte Harbour. Shortly before 8 a.m. a school bus was southbound on Bronte Road near Marine Drive (in the Bronte Harbour District) when for unknown reasons it left the roadway.
Emergency crews were called to the scene and the unresponsive driver, a 62 yr old Burlington man, was removed from the bus and rushed to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. Two boys, brothers aged 11 and 7, were also removed from the bus. They were uninjured and turned over to the care of their mother. The students were picked up at their stop minutes before the crash.
The driver was transferred to Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga where he remains in serious condition. Due to the condition of the driver, the Collision Reconstruction Unit (C.R.U.) has taken carriage of the investigation. Bronte Road between Lakeshore Road and Marine Drive was closed for three and a half hours while the investigation took place.
No other vehicles were involved in this collision and luckily no pedestrians were hurt. The area is usually busy with a high volume of pedestrians and business operators starting their day. The retaining wall and fence are being inspected by Town of Oakville officials.
The bus has been seized by police and will be undergoing a mechanical inspection; a routine part of the reconstruction investigation. Investigators will also be looking at the possibility of a medical issue on the part of the driver.
Police will not be releasing the names of the driver, students or destination school. The bus is operated by Attridge Transportation Incorporated based out of Burlington.
Several witnesses have already come forward, any further witnesses are asked to contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 6, 2012 Next Friday September 14, Centro Market is hosting special guest chefs Chris Haworth and Andrew McLeod with their mobile demonstration kitchen – aka “the pen”.
 The Dueling Chef’s from Spencer’s on the Waterfront will choose produce from a stand like this and whip up a meal on the spot at the Farmer’s Market on John Street – behind Centro Gardens. Stick around and you could get to taste the results. The match-up — these two local chefs will pick from the Centro Farm Market’s fresh ingredients to create an amazing dish — live, in gritty real time. They’ll have 1 hour to select ingredients and then duke it out to prepare their dish ready to serve to the lucky visitors of the market.
Market goers will sample their amazing food and judge who’s the victor of the Chef Street Fight. That simple but oh so fun.
The market will be set up with theatre seating and tables to enjoy the food. So come down to shop the market, support your local farmers and stay for the entertainment and a bite for lunch.
So – are we seeing some raza mataz in the downtown core? Barry Imber the driving force behind the idea of a Farmer’s Market in the downtown core is hoping that the “duel” will attract people that didn’t even know the market existed.
The market runs from noon to 2:00 pm on Friday. A not to be missed event.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON Sept. 5, 2012— Watch for painted signs along the side of more than two dozen roadways in Burlington. The city is installing 285 new sharrows throughout the city on streets identified in the city’s Cycling Master Plan as proposed bicycle priority streets.
 At $95 a pop – tax included – the city is putting in a couple of dozen of these. They are called sharrows and they tell drivers to share the road with cyclists. Sharrows are bicycle use road markings that are painted on the road where a complete bike lane barrier cannot be installed. The markings are meant to attract cyclists who prefer to ride on less busy streets and help increase driver awareness.
“The city’s efforts in improving our cycling infrastructure demonstrate our long-term commitment to promoting and encouraging active transportation in Burlington,” said Scott Stewart, general manager of development and infrastructure.
Burlington received the Bicycle Friendly Community bronze medal award from the Share the Road Cycling Coalition last August. Share the Road is an Ontario-based non-profit organization that promotes bicycling as a mode of transportation, recreation and fitness through provincial advocacy.
Work crews are installing 285 sharrows on the following streets:
• Millcroft Park Drive from Dundas Street to Walkers Line
• William O’Connell Boulevard from Millcroft Park Drive to Upper Middle Road
• Jordan Avenue from Walkers Line to Headon Road
• Headon Road from Palmer Drive to Headon Forest Drive
• Forest Run Avenue from Walker’s Line to Bianca Forest Drive
• Bianca Forest Drive from Forest Run Avenue to Pincay Oaks Lane
• Headon Forest Drive from Headon Road to Northampton Boulevard
• Northampton Boulevard from Headon Forest Drive to Dundas Street
• Duncaster Drive from Upper Middle Road to Cavendish Drive
• Coventry Way from Cavendish Drive to Guelph Line
• Tyandaga Park Drive from Brant Street to Kern’s Road
• Kerns Road from North Service Road to Canterbury Drive
• Mount Forest Drive from Brant to Fisher Avenue
• Fisher Avenue from Mountain Forest Drive to Mountainside Drive
• Mountainside Drive from Fisher Avenue to Guelph Line
• Mountain Grove Avenue from Mountain Forest Drive to Dead End
• Martha Street from Centennial Bikeway to Lakeshore Road
• Pine Street from Brant Street to Martha Street
• Northshore Road from Belhaven Crescent to LaSalle Park Road
• Pearl Street from Pine Street to Lakeshore Road
• Spruce Avenue from Kenwood Avenue to Hampton Heath Road
• Spruce Avenue from Goodram Drive to Appleby Line
Motorists may experience some delay while pavement markings are put in place. The work is underway and will be completed this week.
Each sharrow costs $95 to put in place. The city expects to spend approximately $31,000 this year on sharrows.
$55,000 is budgeted for cycling each year. It is used on minor cycling improvement projects……this includes installation of new bike lanes (grinding of vehicle lane pavement markings and applying new bike lanes)…..curb cuts, sharrows and signage.
Hopefully drivers will see the markings on the roadway and recognize they are expected to share the road they are using with those who choose to cycle.
Once the sharrows are in place we can perhaps see more people using side streets and locations where they can fel safe and be safe. The REAL challenge for Burlington is coming up with ways to make it safe to use a bicycle on Guelph, Walkers and Appleby Lines.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 5, 2012 Once they become Olympians the title is with them for life. We applaud them, we laud their achievements and in Burlington we have claimed five as our own – and then we realized we have a sixth – that being Brandon Wager who is participating at the London Paralympic Games.
 Canadian cupcakes for three of our Olympians. From the left – Mark Oldershaw, Colin Russell and Melanie Booth. Burlington held a small reception for the Olympians, it was the second such event. There was a get together in the Atrium for Colin and Sinead Russell, held to accommodate Sinead’s travel plans. She was leaving the next day to begin her sports scholarship at a university in Florida.
The event Tuesday evening was larger and included Melanie Booth and Mark Oldershaw. Melanie was part of the soccer team that dazzled Canadians who felt the pain when the Canadian team lost the opportunity to bring home Gold – but we happily accepted bronze and know that next time out the world is going to watch a superior soccer team.
Oldershaw, who is the fifth member of his family to take part in the Olympics, was on hand. The man has a remarkably laid back approach to people and speaks exceptionally well. We will see more of this man.
Both athletes in the room passed their medal around and let anyone wear it for a while.
 The unpredictable weather resulted in a small crowd. Other activities kept MP Mike Wallace away (on vacation in Italy) while MP Jane McKenna was in the Legislature debating a bill to ensure teachers don’t walk out. The Mayor came close to getting all mushy about that final soccer game when the Canadian team earned bronze medals Mayor Goldring came close to getting a little carried away with himself when he spoke of watching every minute of the soccer game “that brought home” the bronze medals. Didn’t we all do that?
These young men and woman went to personal lengths few of us manage to do in our lives. Mindless hours of putting their bodies through routine after routine. They take on a lifestyle that shuts out many of the pleasures and pleasantries the rest of us enjoy day in and day out.
 This is what an Olympian wears when they want to make a fashion statement. They push their bodies to limits the rest of us don’t even think about doing. They go without. They take a pass on opportunities that don’t fit in with the lifestyle of being an Olympian,
We remember them when they win medals and forget them if they don’t. We want their autographs when they win and don’t even recognize them when they just take part in the Games.
For the record – here is what these remarkable men and woman did:
Melanie Booth; Bronze medal in Woman’s soccer
Scott Dickens, Men’s 100 m breaststroke, Men’s 200 m breaststroke, Men’s 4×100 Medley Relay
Mark Oldershaw; Bronze medal in 1×1000 m canoe sprint.
Colin Russell: Men’s 4×100 Freestyle relay, Men’s 4×200 Freestyle Relay. Colin retired from Olympic competition this year.
Sinead Russell; Woman’s 100 m backstroke, Woman’s 200 m backstroke.
Brandon Wager; currently at the Paralympic Games
 Susan Fraser brought her canoe paddle to the civic reception for the Olympians hoping that Mark Oldershaw would autograph it for her. He willingly signed the paddle which will probably never go into the water again. The beauty of an electronic media is that what we write is on the web site for as long as we choose to keep it there – and we are thinking in terms of decades. Among the memories will be the picture of Susan Fraser having her paddle signed by Mark Oldershaw. “What are you going to do with it now?” someone asked. “I’m taking it to bed with me tonight” replied Fraser. “My husband can sleep on the couch”.
Oldershaw was very generous in letting people handle his Bronze Medal and put it around their necks. The scene in the city hall atrium was a public adoring and honouring their Olympians.
The Paralympic Athletes had 20 medals as of this reporting with five gold in the bag. Brandon Wagner who plays basketball from his wheelchair learned his sport inAldershot. He will be honoured by the city when he returns from the games.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 4, 2012 It was more of a love in than a change of command – even though one guy gave the other guy a sword. Steve Tanner had come home and they were lined up to give him hugs or salute him. The Region was swearing in its new Chief of Police at the Burlington Convention Centre where it was a standing room only event.
 It was standing room only for the Change of Command and Swearing in of the new Chief of Police at the Burlington Convention Centre Tuesday. While not a very useful picture, this one shows just how packed the room was. There was a Pipe band, a choir, a colour party and an invocation from the Chaplain, and everyone reminding the audience that the Region was the safest in the country for the past five years.
Steve Tanner, who started his career as a Constable in Burlington, was back 17 years later as the Region’s Chief of Police. Along the way he was a deputy chief in Guelph and Belleville and then a Chief in Belleville and Kingston.
 The swearing in turned into a reception with Chief Tanner accepting congratulations and a few words of advice from all those who chose to shake his hand. The Chief wanted to “shake” while the citizen wants to make a point. There were accolades galore but there wasn’t much about what the new Chief was going to do.
But before the new Chief took command the event took the time to recognize the job Chief Crowell did during his command.
Crowell brought in a focus on women in the police service that was not as evident before he arrived to serve as the fifth chief of police. Crowell introduced new budget and cost controls. He introduced a higher level of transparency and efficiency. He also recognized the changing make up of the community and ensured that the different faiths were recognized and accommodated. Child and female abuse were aspects of policing that he paid particular attention to as well.
Gary Crowell turned the sword of office over to Steve Tanner, saluted the new Chief and became part of the history of the Halton Regional Police Service.
While being sworn in Steve Tanner promised to be loyal to the Queen, loyal to the constitution of Canada and both faithful and impartial in carrying out his duties as police chief.
It was clear from the background on Tanner that he is a good administrator and he is going to get every new toy the police service needs. Much mention was made of the growth of the police service – an additional 369 officers since Tanner left. But not a word about the budget or the crime issues the community faces.
Identity theft is rampant and it is our seniors that take the hardest hits on that one. Armed robbery is consistent – not very high but consistent.
Mention was made of transparency and the need to respect each other. All the words that the spin masters use were trotted out.
Tanner made mention of the people in Burlington who were formative in the development of his career. There were a number of people he chose to remember very fondly.
We don`t yet know what kind of police chief Tanner will be. Is he part of the new breed that understands and can work with the technology that wasn’t even thought of during his days as a Constable? Is the shift in the demographic makeup of the community something he is really tuned into? Does he understand the mentality of the young people that grow up in Burlington? Does he have a solid grip and understanding of how devastating the drug trade is and the role it plays in the crime in the Region?
In the next year we will gain a better understanding of the man who now leads our police service.
 One of the only people in the room carrying a weapon was this officer from the Tactical Rescue Unit. Wasn’t sure about the look he was giving me. For the most part Burlington has an excellent police service; one that is seldom challenged because the community is close to crime free. No mention was made of the number of officers we sent to the G20 conference in Toronto and what part they may have played in that event.
Domestic abuse doesn’t seem to be a problem in Burlington. We don’t hear a word about pedophiles. We do hear quite a bit about drug busts and Burlington got swept up in a banking machine scam that was taking place everywhere but the arrests were done by Burlington – so we got the TV coverage on that.
Every chief officer brings their own style to the job. Steve Tanner has solid roots in the community and understands it well – what we are getting is a man from the community who brings back solid experience gained elsewhere in the province. He also sports a mustache he didn’t appear to have in earlier pictures.
That and a badge (the same one he wore 17 years ago # 1214) should have him settled in his office nicely. Time for us to take a look at the current police budget and business plan.
 By Margaret Lindsay Holton.
BURLINGTON, ON September 4, 2012 I did not know much about this massive concrete pier that juts far out into the lake until very recently. And wow, what a discovery and treat it is. Albeit, ‘as is’, it is sadly neglected and regrettably inhospitable. Where is it? This pier is located on the northern side of the Burlington Canal entrance to the Burlington Lift Bridge, a mere stone’s throw from the downtown core.
There are actually two piers out there – the Burlington Pier and the Hamilton Pier – each one on either side the Burlington canal which is currently part of the boundary between the two cities.
 Looking a little forlorn and very unused, the Burlington Canal pier was once a hub of activity with hundreds of people on the pier waiting to board small ships passing through. Located at the far end of what is known as the Burlington Beach strip, current access is very limited. Parking is forbidden in the nearest cul-de-sac and there is no readily available public-access parking. An overgrown and narrow pathway, (a remnant of the once exulted Waterfront Trail), provides a shabby unwelcoming ‘entrance’. An untended sandy footpath veers off the paved Waterfront Trail, (that continues on under the lift bridge), to the pier.
Once on the pier – aside from truly eye-popping views – dilapidated signage, weeds bursting through surface concrete, no benches, no civilian garbage bins and little care-taking whatsoever, present a grossly overlooked civic and tourism opportunity.
 These are some of the views from the pier that Burlington already has. Well worth the walk to see the city from this vantage point. Compared to the Hamilton side of the canal, Burlington’s forgotten pier is a bit of a civic embarrassment. Hamilton’s side has clean current signage, a wider (and tidier) beach boardwalk that has convenient sturdy bench parkettes accented by historical signposts about the development of the Burlington Canal. Ample public paved parking is available beside the pier pathway. Civilian garbage bins are emptied regularly. Attractive sand grasses and natural indigenous lake vegetation grow in profusion. The area is frequented by walkers, bikers, runners, roller-bladders, birders and driving tourists. All in all, Hamilton’s side of the Burlington Canal is much more alluring then the Burlington side.
 A collage of pictures showing the state of the Hamilton pier on the west side of the Burlington Canal Both sides could upgrade their pier lamps (and maybe incorporate circular wooden benches beneath the posts?). But, as the canal is classified as federal property, perhaps this is just not possible without intense high-low-level political negotiations. Even so, clearly, both these piers are under-developed from a civic and tourism point of view – municipally, provincially and federally.
The Burlington Canal Lift Bridge was originally opened in 1826. It was among a series of Ontario waterway projects, begun over 200 years ago, to provide navigation from Lake Erie to the Atlantic Ocean. The lift bridge is, in and of itself, a mechanical marvel. Pier access, from either the Burlington or Hamilton side, gives an unprecedented opportunity to watch this grand old dame in action.
The bridge structure is a tower driven vertical bridge lift. The lift span is 380 feet long, weighs 2200 tons and has a vertical lift of 110 feet. A pulley system, originating in the two towers on either end, contains the machinery and wire ropes used to move the centre of the bridge up. There is one 150 horsepower drive motor in each tower to supply power to the machinery, and one 150 horsepower motor in each tower to synchronize the drive motors.
 Photo courtesy of Hamilton Public Library Archives There have been five different moveable bridges located on this site since the 1820s. The present bridge was opened in 1962 and carried two lanes of vehicular traffic across the canal as well as tracks for the Hamilton-Northwestern Railway until the rail tracks were removed in 1982 when the roadway over the lift bridge was widened to four lanes.
Since its installation, the lift bridge has been raised more than 166,380 times allowing the passage through the Burlington Canal of over 250,000 water vessels. On a yearly basis, the bridge will lift approximately 4000 times allowing approximately 6500 vessels to pass through before the winter freeze up. Annually, more than 1000 cargo-carrying vessels chug through the 29ft deep canal.
In January of this year, the Canadian government announced a $1.9 million contract to prepare construction drawings and specifications to upgrade the lift bridge’s 50 year old electrical systems. Construction is expected to start in 2014.
Considering that the Feds are re-investing in the bridge soon, it makes sense that the City of Burlington ramp up its own investment in the adjacent civilian area. To wit, currently underway is the ‘Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park Master Plan’. I missed the Public Design Consultation in June of this year, but the event was covered by Our Burlington.
Let’s hope this forgotten pier, and adjacent seemingly-abandoned Burlington park approach, get a naturally appealing Made-in-Burlington design make-over using the thriving flora and fauna native to Lake Ontario, unlike, say, a recent City of Burlington ‘out-of-sync’ wholly unsustainable park design that was developed by high-rolling out-of-towners who seem to prefer their ‘local’ parks heavily ‘botoxed’ with perfectly-proportioned fake knolls covered in tons of non-native “scientifically engineered topsoil”. There, the scalped pancake-flat bits have been smothered over with life-defying plastic grass. This plastic (and rubber infill) must, by law, (and at Burlington taxpayer’s eventual expense), go to a toxic dump when they expire in 5-10 years. And where is this dolled-up ‘visitors’ plastic park? City’s largest park, City View Park, a Federal-Provincial (read: PanAmGames) and City joint-venture costing well over $20 million, is in the Greenbelt, on top of the escarpment at Kerns Road and Dundas Street. It officially opened in June of this year, and now has the dubious distinction of being the FIRST public space within the UNESCO World Biospheres to have plastic grass. – Hey! Way to go Burlington!)
But I drift.
You will not get this sense of regional history or the riveting panoramic views or a well-developed ‘global’ education from Burlington’s tarty, puny and rather useless ‘new darling’ downtown pier. Seriously, you just wont. Instead, take the time for a good long walk on the wild and worldly side of the long forgotten Burlington Canal pier. And you just might see something like this: The Robert S. Pierson passing through the Burlington Canal.
Photography by Margaret Lindsay Holton except where otherwise noted.
Margaret Lindsay Holton is both an environmentalist and an acerbic social activist. She is an artist of some renown and the designer of a typeface. She is also a photographer and the holder of opinions she will share with you in an instant. She appears as an Our Burlington columnist every two weeks.
 REVISED.
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON September 4, 2012 If you were able to get out onto the pier last week you would have seen the crane, which has computers inside that basically make it almost impossible to topple the thing, – and that’s a relief.
 We’ve been down this road before haven’t we? This time there has been so much Quality Control and Quality Assurance that it can’t fail – can it? The pieces that are horizontal between the girders are called diaphragms. Those bolt like things sticking up are there to hold the concrete in place while it settles and cures. The crane “flys” girders into place while construction workers bolt them together and then set in place steel pieces they call diaphragms – these are the cross piece that keep the long girders apart.
The pier consists of fourteen segments – each segment having three girders. Segments 1 and 2 are now complete and there is enough steel on site to get segments three and four done by this week.
The schedule calls for two and at times three segments to be completed each week. The steel fabrication problems have all been worked out and there is now a steady flow of fabricated steel that has gone through the contractors Quality Control and the city’s Quality Assurance processes on the way to the site.
 These are the guys that are on top of everything on the site. Brad Cassidy of Graham Infrastructure, Tom Eichenbaum, Director of engineering, Craig Stevens, city project manager on this project and an unidentified Graham Infrastructure employee. With four of the 14 segments done – leaves 10 to do. At two a week – that part should be done in five weeks, which gets us to the first week of October. That still leaves the node part to be built but the contractors expect to be able to build that part while the girders are being put into place.
Putting the steel girders into place and getting the diaphragms into place however, is just part of the job.
Then there is the central node – which is the device that will support the beacon tower that was to house the windmill generator. That windmill got thrown overboard, but the beacon is still very much a part of the project. This is the device that will have hundreds of LED lights that come on each evening to illuminate the pier and make it visible for miles around.
We asked Director of Engineering Tom Eichenbaum just how bright the lights will be at night and he “guestimated” they would be twice as bright as the lights inside the Performing Arts Centre are when that building is lit up at night.
While crew are working on segments six, seven and eight, form workers will be setting up the forms that will allow the pouring of concrete.
At full tilt we will see steel workers flying the beams into place, construction workers bolting them together at one location on the pier while forms are put in place at another and concrete poured at yet another – all at the same time.
Concrete needs 28 days to fully cure. Testing is done at days five and six to ensure it was a good pour.
 Brad Cassidy of Graham Infrastructure talks to crew member who will work on bolting parts into place. It is now “theoretically possible” to have the girders in place and the concrete poured before the site is shut down for the winter.
It is also “theoretically possible for the crews to work through much of the winter “if” the winter this year is as mild as it was last winter.
Craig Steven’s, the city’s project manager for the pier worked on the construction of the Performing Arts Centre and was able to work right through the winter of 2010. “We basically didn’t have a winter to deal with” and the structure they were working on was protected to a considerable degree by the parking garage next door.
However, those who work on projects that reach out into Lake Ontario will tell you that the “lake changes in September – it just becomes a different place and you can’t count on it to let you do much construction.”
We are just going to have to wait and see – for those who live or work close to the water, they have some idea as to how the lake behaves.
Brad Cassidy, Graham Infrastructure project manager on the site points out the project has been accident free. “We are very tight when it comes to safety on our project. It doesn’t pay to cut corners and the men on this project know that”, said Cassidy.
Steel was available from the fabricator before the start of the holiday weekend but the contractor, with input from the city, decided not to bring it in while RibFest was taking place; they didn’t want to disrupt that event. When you’re on the site, at least the day I was there, I felt no sense of “let’s get this done”. There wasn’t the sound of jackhammers pounding away or men swarming over parts and bolting them together. It was all kind of easy going and laid back.
 A crane with a computer program that basically prevent the thing from toppling over, wraps slings around each girder and flys them into position where they are bolted into place. Trick work that requires skilled operators. If we are counting – and everyone is counting – we are 40 weeks out from completion based on the city manager Jeff Fielding’s numbers; 41 weeks out if we are using the first number the Mayor had – but he moved back and got himself to the point where he was mentioning Thanksgiving of 2013.
The only answer anyone should be giving is – “wait and see”. But it is coming together.
While the construction part of the pier shows real progress so does the legal side of the project. The lawyers are doing their discovery work, each side is getting a deeper look at what the other side has – it isn’t a pretty picture.
The city talks of the pier coming in at something over $15 million. By the time this is all wrapped up – think in terms of $20 million and you won’t see that figure until well into the next administration – somewhere around 2016 – maybe even longer and when the bills has to be approved – it will be done as quietly as possible.
The pier will look great, we will all be very proud of the thing – but we will also have paid far, far too much for what we got. But hey – it’s only your money.
It’s development and construction will have gone through the MacIsaac administration, the Jackson administration, and the Goldring administration; we will see it settled in the Meed Ward administration and she will tell everyone that it needn’t have been as expensive as it was. And she will be right.
Editorial note: In this piece we mention a Meed Ward administration which in the fullness of time we expect to see. The numerous comments sent to us via Facebook and directly seem to take the impression that we are saying Meed Ward will be the NEXT administration. We wouldn’t go that far. She will wear the Chain of Office but not in 2014 – Goldring has got that, if he wants it.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 29, 2012 In the world of politics – it doesn`t matter if it`s federal, provincial or municipal – a summer picnic is one of the most effective ways to pull a crowd together and just stand around and chat – get caught up and take the pulse of the community.
 This is what a corn roast is all about. Lay on the butter and chomp away. Guests were attending Blair Lancaster’s Ward Corn Roast – good political move. This country is known for some great summer BBQ`s but there doesn`t seem to be a tradition of that sort of thing in this city.
Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster just might have hit upon an idea and a location that will create such an annual event. While it will probably be a Tory Blue event, that’s just a fact of life in this part of the world.
 Blair Lancaster – almost holding court with her constituents at a corn roast. Lancaster chose the Burlington Air Park as her location and having the aircrafts set out for the crowd to look over was certainly a nice touch. There was a double wing bi-plane in the air doing all kinds of stunts; as well as a plane that looked about the size of one of the Mercedes Benz Smart cars up in the air with both the pilot and a passenger aboard. The comment on that was “not in this lifetime for me”.
The hangers and the administrative side of the Air Park operation are accessed off Bell School Line – but over on Appleby Line there is the start of some significant construction. But the city knows nothing about that according to Lancaster. Airports are a federal matter even though this site is clearly within the borders of Burlington. Apparently the Conservation Authority isn’t in on what’s taking place – and there is certainly “something” taking place. More than five pieces of heavy construction equipment are grooming the grounds on the Appleby Line side of the property.
At one point in 2007 Rogers had an application to install a cell tower in the southwest portion of the air-park property. The application was withdrawn, a pity because cell phone reception is really spotty in that part of the city.
The Burlington Airpark was founded by Victor and Gwen Kovachik in 1962. It is still a family owned operation with a number of services available on the site including flight training, engine maintenance and overhaul as well as charter services and a place to rent a hanger to store planes.
 Aerial view of the Air Park in North Burlington. This isn’t a rinky dinky little airport out in the country. Count the number of hangers. Privately own, within the city, federally regulated. Located in North Burlington where there are a number of people who can fly from their escarpment country residences into Toronto or points east and west.
The location is a short drive from Milton, Oakville and western Mississauga.
Burlington’s Economic development people just love the idea of the city having its own airport. At the moment the facility is not a port of entry but a small regional airport that serves a specific clientele.
 This field isn’t being graded to grow cabbage. Does it look like a construction site? All the grading work being done along Appleby Line suggests there is something much bigger both in the minds of the people who own the facility and the people who use the airport. Wonder who at city hall knows anything about this? Is someone trying to develop an opportunity here? Would that mean light jet aircraft flying in and out of the escarpment at night?
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON August 31st, 2012 The beach water monitoring results done by the Regional Health Department revealed the following beaches are safe for swimming:
Halton Hills – Prospect Park Old Beach
Oakville – Bronte Park Beach, Coronation Park East
The following beaches are unsafe for swimming:
Oakville –Coronation Park West
Burlington – Beachway Park
Milton – Kelso Conservation Area
The Beachway Park has been safe for swimming for the past six weeks – this report is a change in the condition of the water.
Unfortunately, other than media posting, the public that uses the Beachway Park in Burlington has no way of knowing if the water is safe or unsafe. There are no signs to indicate the condition of the water. Unfortunate indeed.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON August 31, 2012 Halton Regional Police are investigating a robbery that occurred at a Rogers Wireless store in Burlington. On August 30th at approximately 1:10 pm three masked suspects entered the Rogers Store located at 3455 Fairview Street Burlington.
One suspect produced a handgun and ordered staff and customers to lie on the floor. The suspects demanded cash and access to the store safe where they stole a quantity of cell phones. They then left the store and fled the area in a waiting vehicle. No staff members or customers were physically injured during the incident.
The suspects are described as follows:
3 black males aged 18 to 25 years old. They were of average height and slim to medium in build. Suspects were wearing dark clothing that included hoodies and balaclavas. They fled in a Silver 4 door Sedan, last observed headed westbound on Fairview Street.
Anyone with information pertaining to this incident is asked to contact the Burlington Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-825 4747 ext 2315, Crime Stoppers at 1-800 222 TIPS (8477), online at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON Burlington, ON—Aug. 30, 2012 – Burlington resident Michele Benoit who was scheduled to attempt a 45KM Lake Ontario crossing this summer has had to postpone until 2013. In an effort to raise awareness and funds for clean water in Africa, Benoit was scheduled to swim 45KM from Port Dalhousie, St. Catharines to Spencer Smith Park in Burlington on August 17, 2012. Severe, unfavorable weather and water conditions forced the swimmer to reschedule and re-plan for a new date.
“Open water swimming is one of the most unpredictable sports around due to the reliance on the conditions” says Benoit. “You can plan and be completely prepared to attempt a crossing, but if the weather and water do not cooperate, it’s completely out of your control”.
 Lots of pool time this winter for Michele Benoit as she turns her energy and determination to being ready for a 2013 attempt to swim from Port Dalhousie to Burlington as a fund raising event for Waves for Water, a charity that wants to build systems in Africa that will provide fresh water. And this is what Ms. Benoit has had to accept. “I have done everything possible to make my attempt for 2012 but between unfavorable conditions and unavailability of boats and crew at the end of the season, I have to set my sights on next year.”
With the water and the air getting a lot colder now, the focus will be on a new year of training, planning and continuing to raise awareness and funds for clean water in undeveloped countries. “I will be back in 2013 strong, ready and determined to raise as much money as I can for clean water in Africa. “
Ms. Benoit started Waves for Water to help those in need. Her choice to do a swim of this magnitude was to raise awareness and funds and spread the message of ‘Making Waves for Water’ big or small. “This swim has never been about Benoit – it was about how an event can champion a cause”. A new date will be announced in the Spring of 2013.
Maybe Burlington will be able to stand on the pier and watch Benoit arrive at the small beach to the west of the pier currently under construction. The city still talks of it being “open” in the spring of 2013 and if the weather holds that just might be possible.
“I would like to thank my family, my team and everyone who was so incredibly supportive,” Benoit said. “Be ready! I plan to return next year for a successful crossing!”
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 30, 2012 The West Nile virus is still very much with us. The Halton Region Health Department reminds residents to continue to cover up, use insect repellent with DEET, and keep mosquitoes out of homes.
 Standing Water Sites Larvicided
August 19 – 25, 2012 The mosquito trapping done by the Regional health staff has found mosquitoes positive for West Nile virus (WNV) for five consecutive weeks. Laboratory test results over the last three weeks bring the total of human infections with WNV in Halton to nine: seven in Burlington and two in Milton.
Two of the Burlington cases were persons who did not have symptoms but were identified during routine testing as part of the blood donation process.
“The risk of infection will be present until temperatures cool significantly, so it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites and remove areas of standing water where mosquitoes breed,” said Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region.
 This is how the virus gets to human beings. Take the common sense precautions. Mosquitoes can transmit WNV to humans after becoming infected by feeding on the blood of birds carrying the virus. About 80% of people who become infected with WNV do not experience any illness, while about 20% will develop West Nile fever.
Less than 1% will develop inflammation of the brain or its lining, or a type of paralysis. That’s a nice number – until you realize that you’re one of the one percent.
Older adults and people with underlying illnesses should be particularly cautious as they are more likely to develop the illness. The following are steps that residents can take to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes:
Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly-woven fabric.
Avoid being outdoors from early evening to morning when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, as well as at any time in shady, wooded areas.
Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.
Use an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET.
Make sure your window and door screens are tight and without holes, cuts or other openings where mosquitoes could enter your home.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON August 29.2012 If you missed getting your kids to the Royal Botanical Gardens for the Fairy Queen visit – you can make amends and make sure they get a chance to attend the Teddy Bear Picnic that will take place on two days:
 Every little girl has a very favorite Teddy Bear that can be taken to the Royal Botanical Garden Teddy Bear Picnic. Saturday, September 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, September 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Picnics are being held at the RBG’s Rock Garden, 680 Plains Rd. W
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON August 29, 2012 Burlington experienced its first rail based fatality Tuesday evening when a youth was struck by a locomotive on a westbound GO train at approximately 11:45 pm.
Halton Regional Police are investigating the death of a teenaged boy trespassing on the GO train Lakeshore West line in Burlington.
 Some 400 passengers were kept aboard a westbound GO train late Tuesday evening while police and emergency services investigated a track-side fatality. The train had about 400 passengers and 3 crew and was traveling between the Burlington and Appleby GO stations when the 17 yr old male was struck by the locomotive. The train came to a safe stop and no injuries were reported on the train.
Emergency services were called to the scene and the male was found deceased on the tracks. The Halton Regional Police Collision Reconstruction Unit took charge of the investigation with assistance from GO Transit Safety Officers and CN Police.
Police will not be releasing the name of the teen. His next-of-kin are currently in the process of being notified.
The large group of passengers, many on their way home from various events in Toronto, were contained within the passenger compartments for about an hour and forty five minutes until it was safe to move the train to the Burlington station. Rail service for passenger and freight trains was delayed on this rail line for approximately one hour.
This is the first train fatality to be investigated by the Collision Reconstruction Unit for 2012. The last fatality involving a train occurred on October 27th, 2011 when an Oakville teen, also 17, was stuck by a Toronto bound Amtrak train near Speers Road and Fourth Line in Oakville.
 By Colleen Mulholland, Executive Director, Burlington Community Foundation
BURLINGTON, ON August 28, 2012 Over the past two decades, I’ve seen a lot of positive change in our community. Our city has grown up, from being ‘that place between Oakville and Hamilton’ to being recognized as the second best place to live in Canada.
As a long-time resident, I love to talk about our great city and show people why it’s such an amazing place to live, work and play. Recently, on a perfect blue sky and fluffy white cloud day, I introduced a friend to our lovely waterfront.
Having lived in Toronto’s Harbourfront community for a decade, she’s passionate about water views. So it was truly great to watch her take in and admire our slice of Lake Ontario. A patio afternoon overlooking the water also reminded me why it’s so important to take time to relax, slow down and take in the simple beauty of a summer’s day.
Taking time to take stock is important. And that’s why I’m so excited the Burlington Community Foundation has launched our first-ever Vital Signs initiative.
 Burlington Community Foundation wants to take the pulse of the community. They’d like your input on their initial survey. Closes August 31st. Vital Signs® is a community check-up that takes stock of the vitality of our community by identifying trends in areas that are critical to our quality of life. In 2011, 22 communities across Canada — from Okanagan, B.C. to Nova Scotia — issued Vital Signs® report cards as part of a nationwide community foundation movement to take the pulse of local communities.
Our report will be a factual check-up of key indicators.
 Colleen Mullholland looks forward to the release of the Burlington Community Foundations Vital Signs report to the community – due October 2nd. Using information from local agencies, business and government leaders and community members, as well as relevant and critical statistical data, we’re looking at the gap between rich and poor, health and wellness, arts and culture, the environment and much more.
To ensure we’re also drawing feedback from the broadest possible range of residents, we’ve posted six questions about living and/or working in Burlington on our website. The survey is live until August 31, so I encourage you to take part, spread the word and encourage your friends and neighbours to also get involved.
Our 2012 Vital Signs® report, which will launch on Oct. 2, will provide all of us who live, work and play in Burlington with a deeper and more thoughtful understanding of current issues as well as identify where support is most needed across our city.
We hope Vital Signs® will get people talking, inspire more to take action and help us build an even better city we can all take great pride in.
Visit burlingtonfoundation.org/vital-signs to complete our resident survey and learn more about our 2012 Vital Signs® report.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 28, 2012 If things stay the way they are going Burlington`s Marvelous Mike will not have to convince anyone new to vote for him in the next federal election.
Elections Canada is proposing that the boundary for the constituency of Burlington remain the same which means MP Mike Wallace will work the same fields he did last time out – he did rather well then; took 54% of the vote which was an increase from the 48.6% he got in 2008.
 Boundaries for the riding of Burlington will stay the same. Oakville gets an additional seat and Halton gets bits and pieces chopped off. A look at the voting results over the last 20 years shows Burlington to be a distinct Tory blue at the federal level. Torsney was the first to bite into the lead they held all the way back to the 1979 Bill Kempling days.
At her very best Paddy Torsney got 46% of the vote.
Halton, the constituency to the North of Burlington will exchange some territory with Milton
Oakville will lose a small chunk in its northeastern section. Hamilton has a number of changes but Burlington will stay the same.
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