 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 16, 2012 The Regional Police got a call from the Fido store at the Burlington Mall to report a theft. This was slick – they’ll get caught – eventually.
On August 12th, mid-afternoon, an unknown female suspect entered the Fido cellular phone store at the Burlington Mall. The store clerk began assisting the woman. Soon after, an unknown black male suspect and an unknown white male suspect entered the store. The white man approached the store clerk and told her that the black man required assistance picking out a phone. While the store clerk spoke to the black man with her back to the white male and female, the white man entered the back room with the female’s black and white striped bag and proceeded to grab numerous cellular phones and place them in the bag. When the white male exited the back room, he handed the bag back to the woman and the three suspects left the store together.
 4S iPhones – a popular item.. If you get an offer of a good deal – think twice. This crew had obviously “cased the joint” and knew where the inventory was.
Stolen items include: Five 16 Gigabit 4s white iPhones; four 16 Gigabit 4s black iPhones; and one 64 Gigabit 4s white iPhone.
Suspect #1 is described as: female, possibly of aboriginal descent, approximately 5ft5, approximately 140 lbs, with a heavy build. The suspect appeared to be approximately 30 to 35 years of age, with black hair. She was wearing a black shirt, blue jeans, brown knee high boots, with a black and white bag on her right shoulder.
Suspect #2 is described as: male, black, approximately 6ft, with a slim build. The suspect appeared to be approximately 20 to 25 years of age, dark haired, with a shaved head. He was wearing a grey long sleeve zipper hoodie, blue jeans, dark shoes, and a large wrist watch on his left wrist.
Suspect #3 is described as: male, white with a tanned complexion, approximately 6ft, with a heavy build. The suspect appeared to be 200 lbs, 25 to 30 years of age, dark haired, with a shaved head. He was wearing diamond earrings in each ear, a white golf shirt with a diamond pattern, white and neon striped shorts, and a loafer style dark shoe.
 Those are pretty good descriptions. When the police eventually apprehend this crew – they will be identified. If you get an opportunity to buy a cell phone that seems too good to be true – now you know where that telephone may have come from.
Anyone with information on this or any other crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 15, 2012 It has been a challenge but there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is going to get brighter and brighter. Five of the 42 beams needed to complete the building of the Pier at the foot of Brant Street are now on site and up to nine more will be delivered this week.
The plan is to have a minimum of five beams delivered every week until all 42 are on site and ready for installation.
With the nine that are scheduled – we say scheduled because they first have to pass a very rigorous inspection on Wednesday, the 15th, there will be enough steel for some of the erection work to be started. The crane needed to do the erection work will be in place early next week.
 General Manager Scott Stewart with Deb Franke of AJ Braun and Craig Stevens discuss the welding of beams for the Pier. The progress schedule is top of mind for all three. One of the beams being welded is shown. During a site inspection at the fabrication plant last week, city General Manager Scott Stewart, Project Manager for Corporate Strategic Initiatives, Craig Stevens and I traveled to Kitchener to get a firsthand look at the work being done and to inspect the quality logs.
Almost the first question Stewart had of Deb Franke, the woman running A. J. Braun, one of three companies welding the beams, was – “do you have a grip on the problems now and do you feel you are going to be able to get the fabricated steel out the door and onto the trucks on the schedule we have put in place? .
“I think so”replied Franke, “but I want to wait until Wednesday of next week to be absolutely sure.”
That Wednesday is today. There is a lot riding on the inspection which is very rigorous. But if all the welding work passes it will indicate that the fabricators have overcome the problems they were having. At one point the inspector failed all four beams one fabricator had produced – it was that bad.
The problems that are being worked through now go back to the shipment of steel plate that came in early in February that was rejected by the company doing the quality assurance work for the city. Unfortunately city hall wasn’t as transparent as they could have been and should have been with the public about having to order new steel. City Manager Jeff Fielding was recently quoted as admitting staff had erred in not informing council back in February or March that it had some concerns.
 A J Braun, a Kitchener company doing much of the welding for the beams that will be used to create the deck for the pier has every certificate imaginable. If certificates mean anything – these people are qualified to do the job. Staff has decided they will provide updates on the pier every three weeks, instead of every six weeks. Why not provide an update when you have new information?
The kind of steel plate needed to build the pier is not manufactured in Hamilton. The first shipment came from a country outside Canada. It did not pass the quality control tests.
The second shipment came from two different steel plate manufacturers in North America. Once the plates – which measured 40 feet wide 80 feet long – were sourced they had to be transported. That’s when CP Rail went on strike. Getting a truck to transport the steel turned out not to be an option – first there wasn’t much in the way of truck transport available and our steel could only be transported in daylight hours because of the length of the load.
City General Manager Scott Stewart said at the time that there wasn’t a problem that hasn’t managed to find its way into this project. Many believe there is a book in this experience. Opinion appears to be divided on whether the book should be written as a comedy or a tragedy.
As soon as the steel that was sourced from two mills in North America, it went to Brannon Steel in Brampton for cutting. We are talking about steel plate that is 7/8th of an inch thick and starts out as 40×80 foot in size.
When the plate is cut it goes to the fabricators. That’s when a new set of problems cropped up. It is vital that the welds on the steel be perfect – and that isn’t easily achieved. Its very technical and called for a level of perfection not normally called for in the construction field but, because these beams are going to carry a very heavy load of concrete that is poured once all the beams are bolted together – they have to be solid.
 Every beam has 19 pages of documentation. General Manager Scott Stewart on the left and Project Manager Craig Stevens look over the reports that set out who did what when and how long it took to get the job done. The city learned just how solid when a crane on the site during the first attempt at building the pier toppled over. That’s when it became evident that welds weren’t holding and that the tensility of the steel was not good enough. The tensile strength is the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled. The city learned just how much tensility was needed when the crane toppled and at that time – there wasn’t enough.
Resource Industrial Group; A J. Braun and Bellcamp are now involved in the welding. Each shop do their own quality control with Herschfield Morrison doing the quality assurance on behalf of the city.
 Every weld on every beam is inspected. Here, a beam with markings from the inspector is shown. Nothing is being left to chance. At one point the inspectors sent back four beams that did not pass the tests – and that put the wind right up the you know what, at city hall. This project was never going to get done at this rate.
Traditionally one out of every five welds is inspected – this project has 100% inspection – they look at everything.
 B3 – the problem beam.. Getting the welds done so they would pass quality assurance was easier said than done. Deb Franke, chief cheese at AJ Braun, one of three companies doing the welding work take Scott Stewart and Craig Stevens through the problems. Deb Franke will tell you about beam B3 – it was a problem and had to be re-welded a number of times before they got it right.
Each welding shop does its own Quality Control – but it has to get past the Quality Assurance inspectors who are tough, tough, tough. Their job is to find something wrong and sometimes they don`t want to stop until they do find something wrong.
There are short studs, set a couple of inches apart, that are welded to each beam – they are in place to hold the concrete when it is poured. An inspector puts a long pipe on a stud and bends it. If all the studs do is bend bend and the welds don’t pop – it passes the test. If the weld pops – the stud fails. Now here is where we get a peek at just how rigorous this testing is. Two of the Nelson studs are bent for each test. If they pass – the beam is OK.
If one of the welds pops, that is it doesn`t hold, the next test is done to four studs. If any one of the four pops, the next test is 8 studs are bent, if anyone of them – fails, well you can see where this is going. Nothing is being left to chance.
There was one occasion when the inspectors basically shut down the A.J.Braun shop while they went through everything – the beams they were expecting passed.
Time and again the Quality Control inspectors would turn down a beam because the problems with the quality of the weld. There was one particular beam that seemed to be nothing but trouble for Deb Franke at A.J. Braun, a fabricator in Kitchener that had bid on the very first tender put out for the pier back in 2005.
Franke was very familiar with the project. `We had hoped to be a sub-contractor on that first attempt but we didn’t make the cut then. Seven years later Braun is the lead player in the team that is fabricating the beams along with two other fabricators.
 Here, Craig Stevens, Project Manager for the Pier and Deb Franke head of AJ Braun, the lead company on the welding side of the project are discussing B3, the problem beam. Deb Franke was one of four daughters – `we suspected one of us was going to end up at the fabrication plant. Tucked away in the corner of her office is one of those pink construction helmets that Franke never wears – she doesn`t have to do cute to make her point. This is a no nonsense, get to the point and lets solve the problem kind of woman. Her shop works weekend shifts until this project sees the last beam go out the door.
When the beams have passed the welding inspection – they are both x-rayed and put through a magnetic particle test. The machine that does this is quite small but it is a vitsal part of the quality process and it has to have its own power supply.
A.J. Braun is doing all the railings for the pier as well. This is a line of fabrication they have a lot of experience with and they don`t see any potential for delays once all the beams are out of the galvanizers.
For Deb Franke, this project has been quite an experience. She isn’t the kind of person one expects to see at a fabrication plant. The business was owned by her father, Walt Bathe, who wasn’t able to keep up with the work load when he became ill. Deb found herself moving from rubber manufacturing into welding and shaping steel and aluminum mostly for the highway industry.
“We have learned so much on this contract” says Franke, “that we are now able to bid on jobs we didn’t know enough about before. We are now bidding on twice as many jobs as before because of this experience. We’ve learned a lot about how to improve quality control and are a better company because of this experience.”
At least someone is getting something out of the delays the city of Burlington has experienced.
Each of the 42 beams has extensive documentation. Every beam is given a number and is a part of a particular segment of the pier.
For each beam there are 19 pages of documentation that note every step taken; time in and time out of the shop; the results of each of the tests with notations showing which employee did the job.
If all goes well, the city will have the last of the beams at the construction site by the middle of September.
Craig Stevens, Project Manager on this one, serves as the right hand man for General Manager Stewart. The two talk several times a day. Stevens was heavily involved with the construction of the Performing Arts Centre and during his 24 years with the city he has been involved in Central Library Expansion, Brant Hills Community Centre and Branch Library Expansion and Renovation, Angela Coughlan Pool Expansion and Renovation, Aldershot Pool Expansion and Renovation, Aldershot Arena Expansion and Renovation, Seniors Centre Expansion and Renovation, Appleby Ice Centre Twinning and now the Pier. Except for the pier every project Stevens has been in on were completed on time and on budget.
Stevens, who has a degree in Landscape Architecture and hold a Project Manager Professional, PMP, began his career with Parks and Open Space. He was hands on with the Paletta Waterfront Park, City View Park Master Plan and our Waterfront Trail. The value of the projects he has been involved in exceeds $100M – which is quite a bit more than the city pays him.
Monitoring progress on close to an hourly basis at times, is what keeps Stevens busy and on the pier project is has gotten really messy – and this one isn’t over yet.
Wednesday, this morning at 5:30 am the inspectors were at all three welding companies to inspect three beams at each location. If they all pass, and they are expected to – they then get shipped off to the galvanizer where 6 mm of molten zinc coating is applied to every beam and then they are loaded on a truck and brought to Burlington.
The crane used to do the erecting so that the parts can be bolted together will be on site – and the city can see their pier being built – finally.
There is surely some way for the city to celebrate the arrival of that final beam.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 14, 2012 When you don`t hear very much about a project – do you assume it`s dead? Maybe there are people back there beavering away and there will be great news any day – real soon.
Or should you worry that there are some problems and begin asking some questions.
The Freeman Station – where is that project.
Well – there has been some movement. Not much on the surface but James Smith says he has a copy of the lease from the Ashland Corporation saying the land to the west of their main plant in Burlington is now leased to the city for the excluded use of the Friends of Freeman Station. That`s good news – isn’t it ?
 The sign will tell you where the station is going to sit – and that’s a step forward. Next step – getting the Joint Venture Agreement with the city in place. On the surface that is good news. The Friends of Freeman Station have had a big sign 8 feet by 4 feet that will get put up on the site in the very near future announcing the new home of the station.
So – what`s next. You’ve got a lease, then have a sign with your name on it that you’re going to put up on the property – you call the moving van don`t you and you move in.
Not so fast – this is municipal politics.
The next step is putting together a Joint Venture Agreement between the city and the Friends of Freeman Station.
There was a time in Burlington when these things were done on a handshake or a wink and a nod; maybe it took a call from the Mayor`s office – those day are over. The city now has a template for all the Joint Venture Agreements it signs. The core part of each agreement is the same with the document modified to meet the specific needs.
The Burlington Soccer Club has a Joint Venture Agreement as has the Burlington Gymnastics Club. Each is fundamentally the same with the details for each written to meet the situation.
The Friends of Freeman now meet with the city to work out just what will be in the agreement setting out who is going to do what and who will pay for what.
Smith will meet with General Manager Scott Stewart and they will work out the details. The document will go back and forth a few times and then to a Council Committee and then to city Council and right after that the Friends of Freeman get the keys and they can move the train station.
Well – not exactly – the city will do that actual move.
But once the building is sitting on a base on the leased property – the Friends can begin working on the transformation of the building. In the world of government – be it federal, provincial, Regional or local – the wheels turn slowly.
In the meantime they will begin looking for a new engineer to help them with the structural issues – the engineer they had retired.
The Friends of Freeman do have some fence mending to do – there are still a number of people at city hall who have quite a bit of clout and aren’t all that keen on the idea of the station going anywhere. Some of them haven’t gotten over the disappointment with what they thought was a solid decision to put the thing at the northern edge of Spencer Smith Park.
But that’s another story.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 13, 2012 She has a sweet, almost pretty sound. It’s light, lyrical – evocative at times. Give her a chance though and she can get as raunchy as the best of them – but music for Lisa Nicole is about being happy and having fun.
 Waiting for their call to the stage. Lisa Nicole and Daren Swanson She and her husband take to the stage at the Central Park Band shell Wednesday evening as part of the city’s summer program. The two of them work very well together – they own the stage the moment they get on it and while there is just the two of them they do each have their own guitar – so there is a chance for Burlington to once again show the world that eight million is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to getting hits with social media.
The last time Burlington did this, when introducing Walk off the Earth to the rest of the world. That group was made up of five people and the one guitar – OK so that group had a bit of help from a BIG name, but if we do this right and the Burlington Olympians (we have five of them and right now Olympians are hot) get on this band wagon we just might manage to skyrocket these two to a whole new level.
How do you do that? Well first – listen to the sound. They will be playing at the band shell in Central Park on Wednesday, the 15th from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.
The two, Lisa and Daren refer to themselves as Alchemy Unplugged, a duo that was formed in 2002.
 Lisa Nicole and Daren Swanson will take the Central Park band shell Wednesday the 15th Daren wrote a piece about a homeless guy he passed on the streets of Toronto. As I listened to the lyrics I realized – I know that man. He sits on a cushion almost every day of the week selling cheap ball point pens out of a tin cup and telling the women they look like Marilyn Monroe and they should be in Hollywood. The men get told that they look like Robert Redford. He isn’t a beggar – he is selling you a ball point pen.
When I asked Daren – do you remember the man’s name – he said – I never asked – neither had I but if you bump into him on the street – buy a pen and say hello for Daren and me.
What makes this man, who looks homeless, unique is that twice a week he goes to the hospital and gets plugged into a dialysis machine to have his blood cleaned.
Listen to the music about this man. It’s what’s in store for you if you happen to spend part of a summer evening at the band shell in Central Park.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 13, 2012 The pint sized lady who is going to swim Lake Ontario from Port Dalhousie to Burlington this Friday and Saturday, is at that frenzied stage; trying to get it to that “it’s all together now” stage. Michele Benoit isn’t there yet.
The hard, day in day out training is behind her – if she isn’t in top shape physically now – she never will be. Her mental condition will be known by this swimmer the moment she slips into the water.
She could use someone with a Zodiac for the trip that will last at least 20 hours. She has one – she would like a second one. By the end of the week she will have all the pieces in place and slip into the water Friday evening and begin the solid stroke after stroke that will get her from there to here.
 That pixie look hides a very determined woman who has decided to take on Lake Ontario Making this happen has not been an easy task. The swim is badly under-funded. It has had to scrimp and scrape to get the equipment and people needed to make this happen. But bit by bit – the pieces are falling into place and Benoit continues her daily swims and exercise routines.
Mayor Goldring has been tweeting his audience about the event. The city is getting ready to set up a small tent to receive Benoit when she comes ashore sometime Saturday afternoon. The special entrance being put in place to get to the “instant beach” formed on the west side of the under construction pier was moved up in the schedule so Benoit could land there.
They are still working out just where the people who are going to be at Port Dalhousie with her will park their cars once someone brings them back to Burlington.
Stephen Turner is part of the crew serving as the paramedic. Billy Johnson and Joe Atikian will drive the boats. Christine Arsenault is her swim master. Colleen Shields is one of the pacers as well as a boat driver.
 You swim across a lake by putting one arm in the water after the other – with a Lake Ontario swim – you can be doing that for as much as 24 hours. That`s the battle between Michele Benoit and Lake O As Benoit strokes toward shore there will be a large crowd of people out on the Beachway Park building sand castles and when the word gets to them – they may walk to the other end of the Park and be on hand to greet this unbelievably committed young lady who has been doing media interviews that range from the French CBC radio station to a handful of small Christian based radio program and an interview on 100 Huntley Street.
Benoit brings a strong Christian commitment to the swim – it is not something she is doing just to get her name on a list of people who have swum across the lake. The swim is the first step in a planned approach to raise funds for an organization that helps people in Africa get fresh water.
Benoit will tell you all you ever want to know about the plight of people in a number of African countries where fresh water – something we take for granted – is a precious and at times hard to come by commodity.
Waves for Water is the charity all this swimming is being done for. Once the swim is completed – and there is absolutely no doubt in Benoit’s mind that she will complete the swim – in record time? That’s not something she can tell you. Everything depends on the weather. High winds will mean large waves and that means more time – but for Benoit –well she will face what she is given.
Her team is in place – for the most part. Her Mom and Dad is going to be there as is her sister, niece and nephew, who will handle the land side communications.
Her feeders are in place – these are the people that will get nutrients to her from a cup at the end of a pole. Matt Smith heads up that task as well as being the crossing coach. Deborah Arsenault is the nutritionist preparing the feed. Her pacers will be aboard one of the accompanying craft. During the swim various pacers will be in the water with her to help her keep a steady arm over arm stroke.
 It`s a cold forbidding body of water that Benoit will slip into next Friday night. She believes that she is up to the challenge. Doug Hawksworth will be out there with his sailboat along with members of the family, Chelsea and Candice and Brett White helping out.
Sue Reed is her crossing manager. Miguel Vadillo will help with the pacing as well as driving the boat which has to have huge lights on it at night so that Benoit is never out of sight.
Geoff Farrow will also pace and drive the boat.
Jessie Douglas will be along as the photographer.
Michael Shaen and sister Kim are land co-ordinators.
Chris Chriswick, Bud Seawright, Nigel Reed and Branko Dren will be part of the crew on the landside of things.
There is a team meeting on Tuesday – the last one before the pace changes and Michele Benoit prepares herself for the challenge – the awesome struggle between her and what she calls Lake O.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON August 13, 2012 The Conservation is getting into marketing and helping parents get the kids off the couch and away from the screen and out into the green.
 Getting them away from the screen and out into the green – Mountsberg has a great program. “Does your child suffer from Nature Deficit Disorder, or do you just want them to take a break from screen time and get some green time? “ they ask. And they offer a 50 Things To Do Before You’re 12 program.
It all starts Sunday August 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mountsberg Conservation Area. It includes many activities some ‘old timers’ may remember doing as kids.
 Mountsberg offers great outdoor programs year round. A must visit if you`re raising children At 50 Things To Do Before You’re 12, children will learn how to use a compass, build a fort, start a fire without matches or skip a stone on the lake. Mountsberg is especially excited to welcome Maple Hill Tree Services who will help you to climb a big tree, without having to worry about falling.
50 Things To Do Before You’re 12 is based on a list created by the United Kingdom’s National Trust. All the activities engage children and their families with nature in a way that is sure to create long term family memories.
 Mountsberg is an incredible collection of things to do. This little guy would never get a chance to do something like this – churning – anywhere else The program is part of a response to the growing disconnect between children and nature. He coined the term ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ to describe the poor physical and emotional health of children and adults due to the lack of direct exposure to the outdoors.
There is no additional charge for the program; it is included with regular gate fees, and free for Conservation Halton Annual members. It will be a great day full of family fun, who knows maybe you can prove you are the greatest stone skipper of all time!
Getting there: Mountsberg Conservation Area is located on Milburough Line, five km west of Campbellville, ON, between Highway 6 South and the Guelph Line.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON August 10, 2012 They`ve been doing it for 21 years – playing in the sand, to the delight of hundreds of children. It happens every August at Beachway Park during the Annual Children’s Festival, the highlight of which is the sand sculpting competition, an event that is open to participants of all ages and abilities.
You don`t have to be sand castle builder to enjoy the event. Visitors can see local sand sculptors Sandi ‘Castle’ Stirling and Nick Blandin, winners of several North American sand sculpting awards, and Sharon Nesbitt, People’s Choice winner from the 2010 competition.
Tanya Kastl will also join the event this year. The four sculptors can be seen sculpting their jungle themed master pieces throughout the event.
 Now that is a sandbox. Expert Sandi “Castle” Stirling will be in Burlington August 18, building sand castles Sand sculpting competitions will be held for adults (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), families (noon to 3 p.m.), youth (noon to 3 p.m.) and children ages 4 to 12 years (2 to 3 p.m.).
Sculpting will be judged by the sand sculptors beginning at 3 p.m. with winners announced after 4 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to fill out a ballot to help choose the winner of the People’s Choice Award.
In addition to the People’s Choice Award, prizes are awarded for first, second and third prize in all four categories. First prize includes a commemorative trophy featuring a handmade sandcastle. A small fee is needed to enter the competition. Those interested in competing should preregister using RecExpress, at City Hall or Tansley Woods to guarantee a spot.
 Sandi “Castle” Stirling has been building sand castles for more than 15 years during which time she has delighted tens of thousands of children. On-site registration opens at 9 a.m. and is first-come, first- served.
Saturday’s free event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature entertainment by the Beach Party Boys, Mystic Drumz and Safari Science. Event attendees will also have the chance to walk on water with What A Ball and try Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) on Lake Ontario.
Sunday’s program includes free children’s entertainment and jungle-themed activities. Everyone is invited to join the festivities at Spencer Smith Park from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with our outdoor movie starting at 8:30 p.m. showing Madagascar 2.
Themed performances include an interactive Jungle Cat World show; a Jungle Jack puppet show; a tribute to Katy Perry; Safari Science; and Madagascar: Circus, Circus performance and Alex the Lion meet and greet. Children are invited to come dressed as a jungle themed animal or safari adventurer for our Promenade Parade at 12:30 p.m. The festival will also feature inflatable bouncers; face painting; crafts; a children’s marketplace; an obstacle course; games; a food court; and amazing balloon creations.
If you want to get serious about building a sand castle – log into this web site where you’ll find all kinds of tips and instructions and learn how a woman, who started out watching others make sand castles and found herself in the business of making the things herself and then teaching others how to do it.
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 9, 2012 Water quality at the Burlington Beachway is just fine. Oakville’s Coronation Park East is still not safe – that’s been that way for some time.
The Halton Region Health Department monitors the water quality at public beaches throughout Halton. We get the information from the Region and pass it along to our readers.
 Many people don’t go near the water when they go to the beach but those who do swim have the right to know the water is safe and that they are personally safe as well. Lifeguards do that job. Beach water monitoring on August 6 revealed the following beaches are safe for swimming:
Burlington – Beachway Park
Halton Hills – Prospect Park Old Beach
Milton – Kelso Conservation Area
The following beaches are unsafe for swimming:
Oakville – Coronation Park East, Coronation Park West, Bronte Park Beach.
This is great information if you’re a regular reader of Our Burlington, but alas, not everyone reads what we have to say.
When you walk out to the Beachway there are days when you can see literally hundreds of people enjoying the water. In the past, when the water was not deemed safe by the Region, the public had no way of knowing the water was not deemed to be safe.
At one point the Region used to divide the Beachway into North and South – with no really clear dividing line between the north and the south.
 On a long weekend there are far more people using Beachway Park in Burlington than the number using the beach shown above – we don’t employ lifeguards nor do we post adequate signs to explain the condition of the water. The city owes its public better service on this one. The Region did provide a map that we posted – but then they discarded the North and South parts and just call it the Beachway – which was fine.
The problem however is that there isn’t any way for those who don’t read Our Burlington to know the water is not safe. There is a solution.
Do what other jurisdictions do; Put up signs or put up flags that tell the people what the water condition is.
On those occasions when there are literally hundreds of people using the beach – where are the lifeguards? It will cost money to hire lifeguards – which the Region or the city will do in a flash the moment there is a drowning.
Time for the city to take a hard look at the way the beach is used by the public and what the city should be providing in the way of safety services.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON August 9, 2012 A 42 year old Burlington resident, driving without a valid driver’s license, struck a pedestrian who was crossing Brant Street between North Service Road and Mount Forest Drive
The event took place at approximately 12:30 am on August 9, when the 25 year old male pedestrian was crossing Brant Street, eastbound, in an uncontrolled location of the roadway. He was struck by a northbound Honda Prelude and was knocked to the pavement.
 Police lay charges against unlicensed driver of car that struck pedestrian on Brant Street The pedestrian was removed from the scene by paramedics and transported to the local hospital where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
There was no indication that either the pedestrian or the driver had consumed alcohol.
Jason MURDOCH, age 42 years, of Burlington has been charged driving a motor vehicle with no licence contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
The investigation is continuing relating to actual causes of the collision.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 7, 2012 The Region is seeing more positive West Nile Virus results in its testing than it normally does at this time of year.
A sample of mosquitoes collected last week in Halton Hills (Georgetown) has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV), bringing the number of positive batches for Halton Region in 2012 to nine. Each of the other local municipalities also had a new positive batch, with Burlington and Oakville now at three each and Milton at two.
“We are now in the highest risk period for human West Nile virus illness. Please protect yourself against mosquito bites,” said Dr. Monir Taha, Halton Region Associate Medical Officer of Health. “These high-risk weeks are almost certain to keep up well into September: Don’t let down your guard.”
 The mosquito gets infected when it bites a bird that is carrying the virus. If that mosquito bites you – then you get infected. So you need to cover up and not let the mosquitoes bite you. 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. 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:
The safety measure you can take are pretty simple:
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.
Replace or repair window screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
What do you do if you are bitten by a mosquito? Depends on whether or not the mosquito has bitten a bird carrying the virus. But if the mosquito is infected what is that likely to mean to you and what do you want to watch for?
Dr. Monir Taha, Halton Region Associate Medical Officer of Health has this to say:
“The symptoms, especially in mild infection, do overlap with those of many other viral infections. As with all infectious illness, we recommend seeing a medical doctor when an illness keeps getting worse, or, if it is not getting better, even though it is no longer getting worse.
 You know when you’ve been bitten by a mosquito. Pay attention to how your body reacts – don’t panic but do pay attention to the symptoms. “For infants (though recalling for WNV illness the very young are at least risk), the elderly, or people with underlying illnesses, one should have a lighter trigger for seeing the doctor (this is especially the case for infants with fever).
“There is no hard and fast rule about when to see a doctor, but if you are worried and things just don’t seem right, then it is better to go than to delay. (There are other conditions, of course, such as stroke or heart attack, which should result in an immediate 911 call.)
“WNV would not be automatically tested for. This would be up to the doctor’s clinical judgement. We have alerted all Halton physicians that WNV is a risk now, so when doctors are seeing patients with fever and some of the other symptoms (e.g., headache, muscle aches, etc.) they should be thinking of WNV as well as other potential causes. A patient’s history of being out of doors and of mosquito bites would be helpful.
“However, since there is no specific treatment for WNV illness other than supportive care (which in severe illness could require intensive care unit admission), in mild illness not having a laboratory test result would not really be a disadvantage. In more severe illness, knowing the specific cause is important to help rule out conditions that do have specific treatments and, when it is WNV, is helpful for guiding the supportive care and for prognosis
“Laboratory tests are also helpful from a surveillance point of view as they let us know the extent of the disease in the human population and then allow us (the Health Department) to further alert physicians and the public and to guide mosquito control activities. As such, we would support the decision to test for WNV even in mild infections (West Nile fever).
Mild Infection
The incubation period is thought to range from 3 to 14 days.
Symptoms generally last 3 to 6 days.
Reports from earlier outbreaks describe the mild form of WNV infection as a febrile illness of sudden onset often accompanied by:
malaise [feeling ill] ; headache; anorexia [loss of appetite]; Myalgia [sore muscle]; nausea; rash; vomiting; Lymphadenopathy [swollen glands]; eye pain; arthralgia [sore joints]
Approximately 1 in 150 infections will result in severe neurological disease.
The most significant risk factor for developing severe neurological disease is advanced age.
Encephalitis [inflammation of the brain] is more commonly reported than meningitis [inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord].
In recent outbreaks, symptoms occurring among patients hospitalized with severe disease include: fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, weakness, change in mental status.
A minority of patients with severe disease developed a maculopapular or morbilliform rash involving the neck, trunk, arms, or legs.
It all sounds serious and it is serious. Pay attention to how you feel and if the ill feelings last more than two days – go to a Walk in Clinic.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 7, 2012 Is the world just waiting for your videography skills?
Do you really know that you are great behind a video camera and that all you need is a chance and once you have that chance you are on your way to Hollywood fame?
Stand by – there is an opportunity coming your way. Give a listen.
WNED, a Buffalo television station that is part of the PBS television network, which is a sort of copy cat of our CBC is looking for 20 to 25 videographers to produce material for a one hour production. Many people in southwestern Ontario, according to WNED, see the station as their CBC.
 The Burlington story – to be told by the people of Burlington on American television. This is a great opportunity. If you have some ideas that you think would make great television WNED wants to hear from you. If you are good with a video camera and want to get some practical experience WNED wants to hear from you.
Lynne Bader-Gregory is the producer behind this series which WNED has done on both sides of the border. She will be in Burlington early in September to meet with the volunteers who want to take part in this program. She will brainstorm with people, give videographers technical tips on how to capture an image; work with people on their ideas and then give them two to two and a half weeks to get into the field and do their filming.
For anyone wanting some real experience with video – give this a look. If it isn’t for you – then think of someone who would be interested and pass it along.
This is a chance to get some experience and tell the Burlington story as well.
Editing for the one hour television program, will be done sometime in November at which time WNED will announce the air date. The program will be something like a video scrapbook of the people, places and happenings of Western New York and Southern Ontario towns as seen through the eyes of their residents.
People will use their cameras to shoot footage. WNED-TV will give you a one hour blank videotape for each volunteer in the format of their choice. There are no restrictions as to age or experience and no cost to participate. Just a willingness to be part of the project.
Bader-Gregory has some of the volunteers they want but they’d like to have a full compliment which is 20 to 25 people. Volunteers are asked to attend one of two pre-production organizational meetings to answer any questions about the project and to brainstorm a list of subjects to videotape. After footage has been shot, all volunteers participate in an on-camera interview about their subject.
Contact Lynne Bader-Gregory, Senior Producer, WNED. 716-845-7000, ext. 251 or email her at
lbader-gregory@wned.org
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 7, 2012 The city of Burlington publishes a magazine they call City Talk – they do that three times a year.
The city has the post office distribute the magazine to every home in the city – that costs a bit less than $20,000.
Based on our very limited research (sample of 75 people located in Wards 1,2 and 4) we found most people did not recall getting the magazine. When shown a copy, most have a vague recollection but don’t recall what they did with the publication.
Some – 32 of the 75 – kept the magazine until waste collection day and then threw it out.
The city has created a place on their web site asking you to tell them what you think.
Click and tell hem what you think.
 The city wants to know if they should continue sending you their magazine three times a year. If you say no they will be able to save $50,000 a year If you say yes – they will have to cut down more trees.
We think the part (about 50%) of the magazine written by the members of Council is a total waste of time. While somewhat informative the Council members do a better job with their web site newsletters. Councillors Meed Ward and Craven have excellent newsletters. Councillor Dennison is catching on. Councillors Sharman, Lancaster and Taylor either don’t know how to get a newsletter out or don’t care all that much.
Councillor Taylor has such an excellent relationship with his constituents that he hardly needs a newsletter.
The communications game is changing on a monthly basis and the city struggles to keep up with the changes in the technology. Citizen Committees are not allowed to create Facebook pages for the people that are interested in what they are doing. If a committee wants to publish or publicize anything they have to work through a Clerk to get something on the city web site – where it is not always easy to find what you are looking for.
The city has made a commitment to upgrade its web site and has a specialist on staff to prepare for the implementation of new software that will eventually link city department reports to council meetings. No date on when we are going to see that implemented.
Burlington is still stuck in the world of print – getting out of that kind of a rut is easier said than done. You can help the city but telling them what you think of City Talk.
We asked the public affairs at city hall how the survey was going and if they would be releasing numbers when the survey ended.
Here was the response:
If we need to, we may have the survey open longer than Aug. 10. If so, we would let people know that it is being extended. If we do not achieve high enough numbers, we will keep going until we do.
Help these people – do the survey and put them out of their misery
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 6, 2012 I called them “pixies”: there were hundreds of them; they came from everywhere and had congregated on the grounds of the Hendrie Park at the Royal Botanical Gardens on a sunny summer holiday.
 These “junior pixies” were settling in for a time to talk and whisper and plan on which Mystical Creature they would meet next. They were there for the Enchanted Garden weekend and also to meet the Mystical Creatures that included Melody the Bird Song Fairy.
 Poppy, Queen of the Faeries held court and listened to the wishes of all the pixies that came before her. Flora the Flower Fairy was there as well but before a pixie could meet a Mystical Creature the pixie had to have their faces painted. It helped if they had their pixie dresses on as well.
Poppy, the Queen of the Faeries was on hand and she met every pixie that came by her tent.
 Oberon, the Dwarf King signed documents for all the pixies that passed by. Oberon the Dwarf King signed a document for every pixie that stopped by his station as well.
 One of the 15 Mystical Creatures the pixies got to meet with and learn all about the flowers, the trees, the Lilly pads and the caterpillars that are part of the Hendrie Park. The 14 Elf`s, Fairy`s, Painter`s and Gnome`s were stationed about the garden so that the pixies could find them and learn what it was these Mystical Creatures were doing in the Garden.
All the flowers and plants and shrubs and trees were looking their very best. The Enchanted Crab Apple Tree was actually behaving – not being crabby.
The Mystical Creatures live in the garden and take care of the plants, keep the flowers beautiful, the trees strong and the grasses tall.
 Before the pixies could head out to meet the Mystical Creatures they had to have their faces painted so that the Mystical Creatures would know they were real pixies. And the pixies roamed and romped around the grounds wearing their costumes and painted faces – there to delight everyone and to see what mischief they could find.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 6, 2012 Marvelous Mike was there, asking – “did you get the cheque?” Mike delivers money from the federal government in Ottawa to the good people of Burlington, who in return put a check mark beside his name every four years or so, which sends him back to Ottawa so he can continue doing the same thing. It’s a nice job.
With Marvelous Mike out of the way, Dave Vollick, the Town Crier who served as Master of Ceremonies for the John Brant Day at LaSalle Park, worked his way down the food chain from MP, to MPP, to Regional Chair to Mayor. That’s what we pay these guys for – to come out and say hello.
As Vollick called up each of the dignitaries he sounded a bit like the ring master at a wrestling match calling out the names of the participants. Regional Chair Gary Carr asked if perhaps Vollick was available to the Region; Carr thought he would be useful in getting the Regional message out.
 From the left, John Norton, Sir Isaac Brock and John Brant at the LaSalle Park Brant Day event. All three men played a very significant role in the War of 1812. While Brock lost his life at Queenston Height, Brant and Norton went on to play major roles in the growth of the native community. With the dignitaries off the stage we got to hear from General Sir Isaac Brock and John, the son of Joseph Brant, both of whom were done as en-actors telling us a part of the story of the War of 1812 – which few in the area know all that much about.
That War was the first the new American republic declared on anyone anywhere – and they lost that war. Since then, Canada and the United States have worked their differences out peacefully.
A smart bunch of people were hired to put together a series of events to tell the War of 1812 story and how Brock worked with the aboriginal people to beat back the Americans. Joseph Brant died in 1807 and wasn’t a part of this war but his son John served with Brock in many battles.
 Protocol and discipline were what made the British troops the fighters they were. Here an officer takes the salute from his troops. One of the difficulties Brock had while preparing for the war with the Americans,was finding enough volunteers and then training them properly. He traveled between York (now called Toronto) and the Niagara Peninsula and passed through Burlington frequently.
Unlike the Americans we don’t do much work on our local history and can’t point to buildings and say “Brock slept there”. We can point to the almost exact spot at Queenston Heights where Brock was felled by a bullet from a sniper.
Monday, at LaSalle Park, we heard one of the Proclamations Brock read out to the people of the area exhorting them to sign up and serve King and Country and beat back the Americans.
To commemorate that War and all the events that were part of it, a Brock en-actor is doing a walk from York through to Port Dover over the balance of the week.
 Different regiments that took part in the War of 1812 were on hand for the Brant Day event at LaSalle Park where Sir Isaac Brock met with John Brant and John Norton – all three were participants in the Queenton Heights battle where Brock lost his life. There was a very solid crowd on hand for the event. Probably more than 100 War of 1812 en-actors with their encampments and camp followers dressed in period costume.
Two things stood out for me. We learned nothing about the various regiments that were on hand. Who were the guys in the grey uniforms and what did they do? And who were the guys in the red uniforms? Were they the ones that stormed Queenston Heights with Brock?
There was a missed opportunity to get into some of the detail of those battles. Where were these men recruited? What did they get paid? The British were famous for their battle formations and their tight drills. It would have been something to see these drills done out there on that field with a volley of musket fire and Generals barking out orders.
Instead we got to see the Burlington Teen Tour Band who were wise enough to take off their uniform jackets – it was a scorcher.
We saw very little of the native community this year – again. The natives and the Museums of Burlington don’t have a very good working relationship.
 A 7 year old aboriginal boy demonstrated using hoops at the Brant Day event at LaSalle Park There was one young man, a 7 year old aboriginal, showing us where has was in his “hoop dance” training. The adult with him beat out a sound from a small drum and called out a dance tune as the young lad did each of the routines. I look forward to coming back in a year or so and seeing this young man in full warrior dress doing a superb hoop dance.
The day at LaSalle Park has been traditionally called Joseph Brant Day but this year it was named John Brant day and the focus was to be on his son and his relationship to Brock. Other than a few words said by the John Brant en-actor we heard nothing and learned less from this young man. Another opportunity missed.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON August 6, 2012 Just after 9:30pm, Sunday, an east end Burlington home was invaded by two males.
One of the two residents in the home at the time, heard a knock at the door, opened it and was immediately shoved aside as two males forced their way in to the house.
The two men then ran to a second occupant of the home, assaulted him and demanded cash and jewellery.
Upon receiving a small, as yet undetermined, amount of cash the two males fled the residence. The male resident of the home suffered minor injury and was taken to hospital. The female resident was attended to at the scene by Halton EMS.
The two male suspects are described as; white, approximately 30 years old and slim. They were wearing dark hoody style sweatshirts with the hood pulled up over their heads.
The Halton Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying these two males.
Anyone with information is asked to contact:
D/Cst Brad SImpson at (905) 825-4747 x2329,
D/Cst Phil Vandenbeukel at (905)825-4747 ext 2313,
The investigation is continuing by officers in the #3 District Criminal Investigation Bureau.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 4, 2012 It was billed as a bit of political theatre – in a bookstore.
What was Ian Elliott over at The Different Drummer up to now?
It was an election rally – sort of. It was a book launch – sort of.
It was certainly a different play on US-Canadian election processes.
Brian Calvert co-author of “America, but better”, told an audience that he was sitting with chums in Vancouver with his co-author, Chris Cannon, thinking about the American presidential election and commiserating over the qualities of the different candidates and said to Cannon: “What America needs is more of us in their lives”.
They run their elections and we run ours.
Calvert wasn’t prepared to leave it at that. “What, he wondered, if Canada ran as a candidate in the American election for president?”
It was a novel approach – could it work? Canada would be the candidate
 Bumper sticker for the Canada Party candidate in the US presidential elections. Launch of the political party took place in Burlington last week. And that’s what Calvert’s book is all about. Written in a light, meant to be a bit of a send up tone, not a word of which is to be taken seriously. The kind of thing you would read parts of to friends or leave in the outhouse along with an old Eaton’s catalogue for those who find they need a place for some peace and quiet and personal contemplation.
There were definitely some upsides to the proposition and the opportunity for some fresh thinking.
In the introduction the two authors set out the why of what they want to do.
“Hello America, it’s us – Canada
“We’re you’re next door neighbour, and the paper thin border has done little to muffle the sound of your political anguish, so we are pursuing the only option left. We want you to elect us the next President of the United States.”
“We had a chat with the rest of the world, and everyone agrees your addiction to dangerous, divisive politics has gotten out of hand, and you’re headed for an overdose.”
“We’re offering you the chance to kick back for a while and let a trusted friend cook your meals and fluff your pillow, giving you time to do some healing and generally reevaluate yourr place in the universe. So this is not an invasion; it’s an intervention.”
“Why are we qualified to lead America? Because we are America Jr., the little brother who has idolized you since we were baby colonies spitting up in Britain’s lap. We’ve grown up together, tamed a frontier together, laughed, cried, bled, overeaten at Thanksgiving, and conquered outer space together.”
“We share the same spacious skies and amber waves of grain, the same purple mountain majesties, the same sea to the same shining sea .”
“Which is why it has been with great sadness, and more than a little nausea, that we have witnessed our American brothers and sisters betrayed over the past decade by privately owned politicians who have created franchises out of persecuting the dis-enfranchised, fetishized ignorance at the expense of reason, deprived citizens of their civil liberties in the name of a very profitable notion of security, and driven up tax payers debt to finance solid gold pockets to carry their other gold.”
“We have watched from a distance with the same horrified stare one might impart on a bus load of kittens being carried away by a tornado. We have watched class warfare committed by classless bourgeoisie. We have watched as huddled masses yearning to breathe free were told that it is un-American to huddle, mass, yearn or breathe. We have watched, and for years have asked ourselves, “Isn’t someone going to help those poor folks!?”
“And then we realized: we are a somebody. And we are not just an “outside the beltway” candidate, we are outside the border. So we have written this book – translated from Canadian to American English – to explain our platform and convince you that you are better off getting an overhaul from an honest mechanic than being scrapped by China and sold for parts.”
 Authors often refer to this table at the Different Drummer as the next best thing to an ATM – it’s the place readers come to have their books signed – which means a purchase has been made. What’s interesting to watch at the Different Drummer is how many people buy multiple copies.
Here Brian Calvert, co-author of America, but better. That is what the book is about – They call it the Canada Party Manifesto. The right to bear arms that the Americans are so in love with – it was the second amendment to their Constitution – gets easily solved. The Americans can have all the weapons they want – they just can’t buy the ammunition – the Canada Party would outlaw bullets. There – that’s that problem solved.
If the Canada Party were to win the election campaign and become the President of the United States – who would sit in the White Houses? You, and you and you and you. Each of us would get our 15 minutes of fame and be President of the United States for a really, really short period of time – that way we wouldn’t do too much damage.
Calvert was pretty sure he was on to something here and he convinced a publisher to produce his book and then convinced Ian Cameron at the Different Drummer to hold the book launch.
You could buy a copy of the book – but more interesting – you got a bumper sticker instead of a bookmark as your take away.
Calvert expects that at some point he will be a guest on the Colbert Report where he will debate with Stephen Colbert on how Canada can help the Americans solve one of their more significant problems – finding a new President.
You heard about it first in Burlington, Ontario.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 5th, 2012 I wasn’t in town on Friday, so I don’t know if the Burlington Teen Tour Band came marching down Brant Street to greet the flatbed truck that had the single girder and 95 additional parts that are going to be used to get us to the point where we are actually building a Pier.
I don’t know if the Mayor was on hand – I think he is in Newfoundland – talk about getting as far away from your problems as you can, but I digress. The girder is there – the pictures tell that story.
It arrived Friday forenoon; the construction crew off loaded the steel and closed down for the weekend.
 It arrived, quietly apparently on Friday before noon when everyone was thinking about getting away for the long weekend. But it is here and there is the promise of more to come real soon. There is just the one girder – not sure why just the one – was that all they had ready? Hmmm. The full story surrounding the delays in getting the steel we needed and then getting it through all the tests will have to wait for another time. All that can be said today is that the whole truth and nothing but the truth wasn’t told. We do have a problem with transparency in this city.
But let’s be positive.
More girders are expected next week. We need a total of 39 of them to complete the Pier and sometime next week, once we have this holiday weekend behind us – the real world will present itself again and we will listen to what city hall has to say is the game plan this time.
The pathway built to access the “instant beach” that has been created to the west of the pier, snuggled up against the Spencer Smith Park promenade, will be open and available for Michele Benoit to walk ashore, when she finishes her swim across Lake Ontario swim August 18th – that should be the first major event in which the Pier plays a part.
So that too is progress.
If the weather we are experiencing now holds through September and into the fall we just might be able to make up the time that was lost in the Spring and Summer.
City Hall has decided that we are to get Updates every three weeks instead of the scheduled every six weeks. We should get an update whenever there is something the public should know. It’s amazing that city hall will have relevant information sitting on their desks and keep it there until there is a scheduled Update.
But let’s stop carping and spend the summer evening wandering by the Pier and watching the girders being dropped into place and the bolts pulled in tightly. When the crane arrives to lift the girders can we assume that it won’t fall over and have us starting all over – again.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 4, 2012 The West Nile virus has always been out there – it had just not been seen with human beings until last week when the Regional Health department was notified by Public Health Ontario of the first probable human cases of West Nike; one a female in her fifties in Burlington and a female in her thirties from Milton.
 “These first human cases of West Nile virus illness underscore the need to protect yourself from being bitten by mosquitoes,” said Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “This message is particularly important for older adults because they are at higher risk for more serious West Nile virus illness.”
In Halton, the months of highest risk for human WNV illness are August and September, however with the abnormally high temperatures the high risk period has started earlier.
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. 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.
Click to see map showing the locations of standing water sites that have had larvicide applied.
BURLINGTON, ON August 3, 2012 When a company employee makes an obvious error, who should absorb the cost of that error – the company or the customer? This situation is all too common these days with the customer generally footing the bill for a company’s mistake. Whatever has happened to ‘customer service’?
On July 25th, at 3pm, I went into a ‘full service’ gas station in Burlington Ontario to get gas. The attendant, who I have dealt with over a number of years, said ‘how much?’ As per usual, I said “$20, and can you check all the fluids? Thanks.’. He nodded. I then opened the gas cap lock. He put the nozzle into the tank and walked up to the front of the car. I unlocked the hood from inside the car. He lifted it up and checked the oil, the power steering and the window washing liquid. He came around the corner of the car and said, ‘You need power steering and window washing fluid’. He then quickly switched off the gas. It had reached $61 dollars.
I got out of the car and went to the trunk. I retrieved my left-over stock of steering fluid and washer fluid and handed them to him. He said, ‘You owe $61 for the gas.” I looked at him, and said, ‘No I don’t. I owe $20 for the gas that I ordered.” He stood holding the two bottles, unsure. The nozzle was still in my car.
I took the two bottles from him, went under the hood and added the fluids myself. I then went into the manager’s office. A young man, the ‘new’ manager, was on the phone, so I waited. He put his hand over the receiver and gave me the ‘what’s up’ look. I said, ‘I ordered $20 worth of gas, but the attendant, in error, filled it up to $61.” He gave the ‘one minute’ finger and went back to his call. I waited.
 Twenty dollars was all our columnist Margaret Lindsay Holman was prepared to pay for the $20 worth of gas she ordered.
What would you have done? As I had left my wallet on my car seat, I returned to the car to get it, and said, on route, to the attendant who was soon filling up another car, “I am prepared to pay $40 on a $20 order, but as it was your error, you have to absorb the difference.” He didn’t say anything, knowing full well he was in the wrong.
The young owner/manager came out a couple of minutes later and said to me, ‘You now have the gas in your car, so you have to pay for it.” I repeated, I only ordered $20 worth of gas, not $61 worth of gas. He said, ‘In principal, you have the gas, and you’ve got to pay for it.” I answered, “In principal, the customer ordered $20 worth of gas, not $61 worth of gas”. He said NO, ‘Pay Up’. I said NO. I’ll pay $40 only. He said NO, ‘Pay Up’/ I then said, NO, I did not order this gas, so siphon the extra out’. He said ‘Alright, move your car over to the garage’. This terse dialogue happened in a matter of nano-seconds.
I moved the car and waited to see what would happen next. The owner/manager disappeared into the garage bays.
An older guy came out and tried to argue that ‘everyone’ makes mistakes, and that a reasonable person would understand that and just pay the difference. I said I fully understand the mistake, and that I was willing to pay $40 on a $20 order, but that the attendant had to understand his mistake too.
This guy also said NO. He then took the car into a car bay. I waited. Five minutes later he took the car out and parked it. He said this was going to take more time then he thought to calibrate the exact $41 extra of gas and that this whole business was going to cost them money. I said, yes, this wasted time was also costing me money. I stood by the car. Waiting. He went back into the garage.
Another five minutes passed. He came back out and said, would you settle on $50 for the gas? I thought about it. We’d been at this for nearly a half hour, and it was clearly going to take that long again, so I said ok. I gave him $50 cash and left the lot with $61 worth of gas on a $20 dollar gas order.
And yes, this is very much about the principal of the thing. Customer Service should mean something. I have been a frequent and, until now, very satisfied user of this garage. All has been fine to date with no complaints, and yet, with this error, I am supposed to absorb their mistake? I don’t think so. The likelihood that I will use this garage is very slim. I have no hard feelings toward the attendant himself, it was an honest mistake, and he knew he had made it. Where it went wrong is that his boss, the owner/manager, should have covered his error, instead of ‘forcing the issue’ back onto a regular paying customer.
Here’s the added conundrum. What if I only had a $20 bill in my wallet? What then?
Should I be expected to go to the bank? Should I waste MY time to cover THEIR error?
I don’t think so.
Thoughts welcome.
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. Welcome her as an Our Burlington columnist who will appear once every two weeks.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON August 2, 2012 It takes a certain character, commitment and frame of mind to get up well before the sun rises each day and slip into the cold waters of Lake Ontario.
It takes time, energy and a certain focus to swim day after day while you build up your strength and your stamina as arm goes over arm pulling yourself forward through the water – sometimes against a tide that wants to take you in another direction.
 A chase craft follows every foot of the way – watching every move while Michelle Benoit completes a 25 km swim on the old Welland canal with Christine Walker in the water pacing her. Later this month – Michelle Benoit, a 42 year old nutritionist and personal trainer with a life’s worth of swimming experience, will put herself up against one of the harder challenges in the world of long distance swimmers. She will leave Port Dalhousie the evening of Saturday the 17th of August and head for Burlington where she plans to land close to 18 hours later on the “instant” beach in the eastern end of Spencer Smith Park.
Our Burlington has been calling it the “instant beach”, since the day we saw it while on a tour of the pier construction site while looking for those lamp lights that had disappeared. The beach was formed due to the way water swirls around the caissons and the land formation built as part of the pier, could well be named Benoit Beach honouring the crossing of the lake.
Toronto has a Marilyn Bell Park to commemorate her successful crossing of the lake; an opportunity here for the Mayor to put a bit of a positive spin on the problems that surround the pier.
 Marilyn Bell in 1954 as she swan across Lake Ontario as a 16 year old. Just over 65 people have managed to successfully swim across Lake Ontario since 1954 when Marilyn Bell, then a 16 year old, completed her swim in 20 hours and 55 minutes on September 8th and 9th. 50,000 Torontonians were on the shore to welcome her landing from her start in Youngstown, Ohio – can Burlington produce even 5,000 people.
 Part of the team that follows every stroke: Brian Finlay, on the right, a master long distance solo swimmer who has done the English Channel, serves at the key guide. Mike Schultz, drives out from his printing company in Toronto every time the boat is needed on the water. The moment Benoit is out of the water Finlay checks her body temperature to make sure she is recovering from the swim. Benoit had a magnificent crew working with her while she did the hours of training. Christine Arsenault, Billie Johnson, Chris Chriswick and others were in the water pacing her through the nine hour day.
There isn’t a day that Benoit is not in the water doing stroke after stroke as she strives to keep her body in top physical form.
 After more than nine hours in the water during an endurance swim on the Welland River, Benoit gobbles down a banana and enjoys a laugh with her crew. Earlier in July she did a 25 km endurance test in the Welland River, a body of water that has both wind to deal with and strong currents. She swam leg after leg as she piled up the kilometres with different pace swimmers joining her on the journey. When she completed that endurance test she headed for the dock where she pulled herself up out of the water and sat shivering on the deck while her pacer heaved to hoist herself out of the water – but not quite hard enough and slipped back in. That was a funny moment for the less than half of dozen people out to help during the test.
As a nutritionist Benoit knows how to care for her body and ensure that she is getting the protein she needs. While she is just a slip of a thing she has amazing physical strength; but it is her strength of mind that carries her forward. For Benoit this swim is as much a personal calling as it is a swim across an unforgiving body of water. She is not a “professional solo long distance swimmer. She has a mission and that is to raise both money and awareness for what she sees as a tragic situation in Africa – Togo to be specific, where tens of thousands of children die every year because the water they drink and use is contaminated.
Benoit has partnered with Compassion Canada, an organization that can issue tax receipts and ensure that the donation goes to the project they were meant to support – water projects in Togo Africa.
While Compassion Canada serves as the organization that can accept funds, issue tax receipts and ensure they get where they were supposed to go – Benoit’s Waves for Water is her longer term project.
It is going to cost close to $20,000 to get the work done needed in Togo and that doesn’t deter this almost tiny woman with a smile that charms and energy that is infectious.
Benoit sees challenges as opportunities. When she was completing her endurance swim in Lake Ontario a few weekends ago she had difficulty getting to the shore – not because she was tired or the waves were too high.. “We couldn’t see the shore line – there were too many motor boats and Seadoos racing by. They had no idea what we were doing but we knew what they were doing – getting in the way.”
When the solo swim across the lake is done Benoit will then begin working on the next phase of her mission – and that is to create a charity that will be called “Laps for Loonies” which will be held across the country – much like the Terry Fox run – to raise awareness about the problem with water in many African countries and to raise funds as well to build water solutions for these people.
Benoit chose to swim form Port Dalhousie to Burlington rather than the traditional Niagara to Toronto route. “Burlington is home and I wanted to land in the community where I am asking people to support an important project” explains Benoit. She has partnered with Compassion Canada so that all funds donated go directly to the project in Africa.
 What MIchele Benoit is setting out to do is a challenge but it is also poetic – her body is at one with nature as she strokes through the water – here she is working her way through a 25km swim with a pacer in the water with her – the sun on their bodies as they swim in unison.  After most of the day in the water Benoit shivers on the dock on the Welland River, waiting for blankets and for people to check her body temperature. Benoit works part time for a health services company in Burlington and at the same time trying to breathe some life into her nutritional supplements business. “That’s something I may have to give up on” says Benoit, “I’ve been at that one for ten years and it may be one of those things that just wasn’t meant to be.”
 Michele Benoit with her dog Buckley – he goes wherever she goes but he won’t be in Lake Ontario when she does her across the Lake swim. Expect him to be on hand when she comes ashore at Spencer Smith Park. Financially – life is a challenge. The swimming takes up all her time but the rent has to be paid and she has to eat so she works at something that fits in with her approach to life and her demanding schedule.
Throughout it all Benoit has her family supporting her emotionally as well as her dog Buckley, who misses her when she is out of the house but who is definitely not going to swim along beside her.
When Benoit comes ashore there will be a large crowd, maybe someone from the Mayor’s Office, television crews and all kinds of media. There will also be an ambulance standing close by – a requirement if the swim was to be sanctioned and also a sign that solo swimmers are at significant personal risk.
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