 By Pepper Parr
October 27th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
 First we lost Emmas and now it looks as if Joe Dogs might bite the dust –literally.
Last night the public got to see the drawings for the proposed 26 storey development on Brant immediately south of the No Frills Plaza
The southern edge of the development snuggles right up against the build Joe Dogs is in.
 Joe Dogs on a winter day It would hardly be possible for the Joe Dogs operation to continue during the construction phase which is at least four years under the best of conditions.
 One of the owners of Joe Dogs “What’s going to happen to me” asked one of the owners of Joe Dogs.” What is your plan for me? We have been in business for 23 years in this location and we don’t plan to move.
David Faletta said there had to be a construction management plan put in place which would set out what had to be done about the interests of neighbouring commercial operations.
COVID-19 took out Emma’s; construction dust just might make it impossible for Joe Dogs to operate in the same place.
Maybe Joe Dogs could move into the now vacant Emma’s building?
 By Pepper Parr
October 27th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Is this the hill she will choose to die on?
Monday evening another of the Virtual Preconsultation meetings was held at which Renimmob Properties Limited listened to what the community thought of the plans for the property they bought on the west side of Brant street north of Caroline.
 David Faletta – Renimmob Properties Limited At one point one of the callers asked what the relationship was between Renimmob Properties Limited and the Carriage Gate Group. David Faletta, one of the Renimmob operation said said they bought the property and and then brought the Carriage Gate in as advisors on managing the preconsultation process and getting an application through the city’s Planning department.
Strategically that was a brilliant move for the Renimmob people.
 Nick Carnecelli, Carriage Gate Development If anyone has managed to get things through the Planning department it would be Carriage Gate.
They were the first developer to get shovels into the ground on Brant Street where they are in the process of digging the garage levels for the 24 story The Gallery.
The have completed The Berkeley on John Street but have yet to start on the above ground garage or the planned six story medical centre that has been beefed up to 17 storeys.
The also have an application in the works for the tallest, (so far) planned structured on the north side of Lakeshore Road slightly to the east of Bridgewater Development and to the west of the Nautique.
The ask is a reported 29 storeys.
 Mayor Meed Ward listening to the speakers taking part in the Virtual Pre-consultation meeting. The Mayor has been going head to head against what the Carriage Gate Group wants to do.
For the Renimmob people to bring Carriage Gate in as consultants suggest this one is going to be a battle royal.
Fur and feathers will fly.
 By Staff
October 27th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
It gets dark early in Burlington come November – and it gets cold even earlier. Come in out of the weather and experience the first-class lineup of entertainment at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) next month.
“We have put together a diverse program for November that highlights the depth and breadth of Canadian performers today,” said BPAC Executive Director Tammy Fox. “The people of Burlington deserve the very best and we will be hosting award-winning artists, recognizable performers, classic concertos and Broadway blockbusters.”
Health and Safety Precautions
BPAC is perfectly positioned to welcome back audiences with patron safety at the forefront, with its spacious Lobby, increased ventilation, physical-distancing ticketing system and additional health and safety measures to put theatregoers’ minds at ease.
All patrons must wear a mask, hand sanitize upon entry and maintain social distancing outside of their social circle. Patrons are expected to self-screen, and of course to stay at home if experiencing COVID-related symptoms or if suspecting recent exposure to the virus. Health and safety measures are also being implemented backstage to protect artists, and throughout the venue to protect staff and volunteers.
 Kevin Fox Stacked Lineup for November
Kevin Fox leads off the November lineup with two shows on Sunday, November 1, combining his beautiful voice with his signature instrument, which he plucks, taps, and loops, creating a unique and intoxicating blend of cello-driven folk/pop. Tickets are $39, or $34 for BPAC Members, with VIP packages featuring lots of goodies for $69, or $64 for BPAC Members.
Sarah Slean has published two volumes of poetry, starred in short films and a movie musical (spawning two Gemini Award nominations), penned two string quartets, held numerous exhibitions of her paintings, and shared the stage with 10 of the country’s professional orchestras over her 20-year-career. Tickets are $39, or $34 for BPAC Members, with VIP packages for $69, or $64 for BPAC Members.
 Sarah Slean Tom Allen and Lori Gemmell’s A Poe Cabaret features music by the brilliant and troubled impressionist Claude Debussy, his modernist student André Caplet and by the versatile Canadian composer Alexina Louie. The show combines the compelling and tragic life story of Edgar Allan Poe with great music conjured in his honour. Tickets are $39, or $34 for BPAC Members.
Into The Woods in Concert is a musical journey that intertwines the several beloved Brothers Grimm characters and explores the consequences of their individual’ wishes and wants. Characters like Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and the Beanstalk), Rapunzel, Cinderella and others encounter each other as they fight for what they believe is their happily ever after. Tickets are $49, or $44 for BPAC Members.
The ALTdot Comedy Lounge has been one of Toronto’s premiere comedy shows for 24 years. The show has encouraged alternative, untraditional comedy and continues to discover the best talent on the Canadian Comedy scene, providing an alternative to the mainstream in a comfortable cabaret atmosphere. BPAC presents Rhiannon Archer, Peter White, Keith Pedro and Tim Rabnett on November 27 and Courtney Gilmour, Alex Wood, Nigel Grinstead with host Ali Hassan on November 28. Tickets are $35 or $30 for BPAC Members.
 Leslie Kinton is one of Canada’s best-known and sought-after chamber musicians. Leslie Kinton is one of Canada’s best-known and sought-after chamber musicians and has been a founding member of many established ensembles, including ARC (Artists of the Royal Conservatory), the resident chamber ensemble of The Glenn Gould School. In 2019, Kinton and his duo partner James Anagnoson were named Honorary Fellows of The Royal Conservatory of Music, awarded to a distinguished group of individuals and organizations who have made an extraordinary contribution to arts and culture in Canada and beyond. Tickets are $39, or $34 for BPAC Members.
BPAC November Lineup
• KEVIN FOX: Songs for Cello & Voice (November 1, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
• SARAH SLEAN (November 7, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.)
• A POE CABARET featuring Tom Allen and Friends (November 8, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
• Talk is Free Theatre: INTO THE WOODS in Concert (November 27 to December 6, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. shows)
• ALTdot COMEDY LOUNGE: Rhiannon Archer, Peter White, Keith Pedro, and Tim Rabnett (November 27, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.)
• ALTdot COMEDY LOUNGE: Courtney Gilmour, Alex Wood, Nigel Grinstead with host Ali Hassan (November 28, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.)
• LESLIE KINTON Celebrates Beethoven (November 29, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
440 Locust Street, Burlington, Ontario
Tickets can be purchased online or by telephone:
905-681-6000 | burlingtonpac.ca/bpacpresents
By Staff
October 26th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Her Worship Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor of the City of Burlington publishes her schedule for each week.
How many of you out there could maintain that schedule?
She is on the air – literally everywhere but has yet to hold an open press conference.
 By George Wolfson
October 26th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Today, almost every online casino advertises spectacular jackpots. Providers claim you can win millions of dollars for free, or after making a modest deposit. Surely, many people regard these offers as scams. You may be surprised, but millionaire-maker slots can be legit.
It is not easy to find a reliable casino. For players in Canada, the choice is abundant. Review sites like realcanadianslots.win analyze and compare different platforms to help them make a decision. Trustworthy casinos are not fiction, and some games do pay millions. Here is how they work.
 There is always a happy face when you win. Progressive Jackpot Games
The most famous game of this type is Mega Moolah. It was released over a decade ago – in 2006. Since then, its popularity has been soaring, and new variations have appeared. The original slot is safari-themed: it has five reels with cards and African animals.
What makes the game so attractive is its ever-growing prize fund. Such is the logic of any progressive slot. The jackpot keeps growing from a fixed initial size until some lucky player hits it. The Mega Moolah family has four jackpots: Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega. The latter is the most desirable: after being hit, it rolls back to the initial size of 1 million dollars.
The largest prize has already been paid several times. The most recent example is the $16,774,073.89 win secured on August 17, 2020. This is not the most spectacular result, though. In 2018, an anonymous player won a whopping $21.7 million at Grand Mondial Casino, which is part of the famous Casino Rewards system. This broke the previous record of $13.2 million – this is how much British Army lance corporal John Heywood won in 2015.
What Do You Need to Win?
It is difficult to ascertain the exact odds of hitting the jackpot. Too many factors are variable, including the number of games, betting thresholds, etc. According to some estimates, the chances are one in 50 million. Still, given the sheer number of casinos featuring the game, winning big is not impossible.
 The image on the screen tells you if you are a big winner. Types of Progressive Games
The lowest payouts are offered by standalone progressives. Each of these machines has a separate prize fund which is fed only by bets on this machine. In general, you may expect to win no more than $10,000. This type is becoming less and less common.
Other slots are connected to one another, forming groups of different sizes. Local progressives are machines linked within a single casino. Generally, the biggest jackpot ranges between $100,000 and $1,000,000.
Finally, systems like Mega Moolah are classified as ‘wide area network progressives’. These are enormous, as they connect machines across different casinos. It is exactly what makes astronomical jackpots possible and legit.
Games That Make Millionaires
The probability of winning millions online is real but modest. Progressive jackpots may grow to eight-digit figures, but they are not won every day. Still, it is clear why these slots are irresistibly alluring.
George Wolfson is an analyst who follows the on-line casino gaming sector
 By Pepper Parr
October 26th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The issue came to the surface when Medina Jones posted her complaint about the way she had been treated by the Guidance office at her high school, Oakville Trafalgar in Oakville, on her Instagram account
The item went viral.
 The Grade 12 student at Oakville Trafalgar High School in the Halton District School Board, has been working her entire high school career with the aim of attending a prestigious British university where she could excel in her selected field of study.
To apply to the U.K., Jones required a letter from her school providing a set of predicted grades based on both her previous achievements and what she and her teachers expected she would achieve in her courses this year.
The British system leaves room for discretion, according to the U.K.-based Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS), though it outlines policies to guide educators on how to ensure grades are neither inflated nor suppressed.
“Students should be given the opportunity to discuss their predicted grades with you,” reads UCAS’s recommendations.
“It may be that they can demonstrate progress, and you’re comfortable in changing their prediction. Equally, you may not be aware of extenuating circumstances that have affected their performance to date.”
Yet Jones claimed that the school’s guidance department didn’t consult with her past teachers, nor did it speak to her about her goals. Instead, she was dismayed to find she was provided with several predicted grades that were below what her record indicated she would likely achieve.
From Jones’ perspective, this was just one more example of a pattern of anti-Black racism in which Black and racialized students at the school were discouraged from pursuing ambitious goals.
 Instagram She took to Instagram to share her story earlier this month. The video went viral, racking up over 15,000 views, liked and commented on by past and present students, some who shared their own experiences of racism.
In the meantime, her mother Rowda Mohamud wrote to the school and to the board’s Superintendent of Equity and Inclusive Education.
The Superintendent followed up with the school principal. After a frustrating back and forth, Jones eventually received revised predicted grades she felt more fairly reflected her capabilities, though without any further transparency.
The Board superintendent responsible for the school ,Tina Salmini told the family an investigation was underway, saying only that the allegations “are serious and will be responded to accordingly and in conjunction with our policies and procedures.”
 Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. The Director of Education for the Halton District School Board, which administrates the public schools in Oakville met with Mohamud and Jones, and later tweeted that “although the specific incident that came to light this week has been resolved, the much larger issues both she and the comments illustrated have not yet been fully addressed.
“It is clear from the comments and sentiments expressed by her and the other Black and racialized students of the HDSB that there is much work for us to do to end anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism.”
(Jones and Mohamud said they won’t consider their issue “resolved” without an apology and accountability.)
That same day, Jones’ principal sent out a statement to the school community acknowledging concerns around “systemic discrimination” and inviting students to submit experiences through an online form.
Alexsis Morrison, who is Black and currently a second-year college student, said she took the school up on its offer. Back in Grade 10, she was told her 80 per cent average wasn’t good enough for her to transfer to the school by the same guidance counsellor accused of discriminating against Jones. She said her brother, currently in Grade 11, was also treated unfairly and discouraged from pursuing academic-level courses.
In an interview with CBC this morning Miller said the “short term issue circumstances” have been resolved. “We know what happened and how it happened.”
“We now have to be responsive and accountable to this community and that is going to require more work and more time.
“Being accountable is what we now have to focus on. These feelings are real,” said Miller after meeting with parents and students, “and they are going to be addressed and resolved.”
Asked by Ismaila Alfa, on CBC, how he was going to be accountable to the wider community on what happened, Miller didn’t duck the issue nor did he equivocate.
He acknowledged there are problems within the system saying that not only more has to be done to fix the problems, it has to be done faster.
HDSB’s Equity and Inclusive Education department is working hard to address systemic racism and the board will take the experiences of these students seriously and will be held accountable for necessary change.
“We will listen to parent and student feedback of their experiences and will work to eliminate the experiences of systemic racism for our Black and Indigenous students,’ Miller said in the statement.
The issue of colour is not new to Oakville, a prosperous community just to the west of Toronto.
 Che – Marvel, In 2016 Che Marvel, a woman of colour ran as a Black Woman in a privileged white community. In a local newspaper she said:
“In Canada we don’t talk much about race, not really. Sometimes an event will ignite public outrage, and then only some of us talk about it with in our own groups. It then disappears into the ether.
“We take great pride and solace knowing that we live in a relatively integrated and diverse society. Our racial gaze is often fixed on our neighbours in the United States, on their spectacle, their violence, their long unresolved racial history as though we don’t have our own. We have more conversations about the “Oscar So White” debate than Islamaphobia or Carding. We seem unable to have our own unique Canadian conversation on race and are unwilling to deliberately delve into the murky water of the politics of race.
“Maybe we are too polite, too uncomfortable, in too much denial, too afraid or perhaps we just don’t know how to really begin. Even in the midst of our own potent examples: the backdrop of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Findings, Carding, the over representation of First Nations and Afro Canadians in our prisons, and the Niqab firestorm.
“Incredibly, we can still act as though race is not a legitimate topic for public dialogue; and yet it is there. Always, it seems to be someone else’s problem. “
The “problem” is now very front and center in Oakville.
Significant parts of this article were picked up from the Toronto Star and the Oakville News
By April Smith
October 26th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The impact the coronavirus has had on global markets has been significant and sudden. Global and local economies are on the long road to recovery.
The stock market, for instance, experienced a dramatic crash in February which lasted until April. Investors’ immediate reaction to the pandemic was to sell their assets out of fear they would lose value. This of course resulted in prices plummeting. Amidst global panic, investors flocked to what’s long been considered a safe haven: gold.
Why gold is attractive
 Gold is regarded as a safe haven because of its inherent value. Among all the precious metals, gold remains the most traded with the biggest market. It is regarded as a safe haven because of its inherent value that comes with it being a shiny, durable, and rare commodity. Throughout history gold has been used as a standard of value and even used as a medium of exchange. Although countries no longer negotiate using gold, the metal is still highly coveted around the world.
For those reasons, gold is an attractive asset to own in times of economic uncertainty. The value of gold tends to rally in the midst of financial turmoil which is illustrated by its record-setting prices in recent months. Uncertainty from the coronavirus is, of course, the main reason for the surge in gold prices. Other factors that influence the price of gold are supply and demand, economic and geopolitical stability, and investor sentiment. But compared to other securities that perform when a nation is at its best, gold typically has an inverse relationship with stability.
The basics of investing in gold
There’s more than one way of investing in gold but the most direct is to own it. In fact, Canada has experienced a surge in gold jewelry sales not so long ago because of the positive sentiment towards the metal amidst financial hardship. The prices are more competitive and older people who still owned jewelry were able to take advantage of this by trading it. You can also consider purchasing bullion or gold coins to diversify your investment portfolio.
However, owning physical gold is challenging because you will have to authenticate it and find a way to store it securely. That’s why people turn to gold receipts, which are backed by actual gold and can be redeemed later on, or other assets backed by gold such as derivatives. These are investment instruments that allow investors to speculate, invest and trade in the market without owning the underlying asset. The other option is to own shares of assets backed by gold such as with an exchange traded fund or ETF. With gold ETF, you own assets or derivatives that are backed by the metal. Gold mining shares and gold futures are examples of what can be in a gold ETF which can give you the opportunity to profit from the performance of gold without owning it.
When to invest in gold
Experts state that there is no right time to buy gold — every investor should have some in their portfolio. It’s best, though, to buy gold when it’s still inexpensive. Gold prices have been declining recently as the US, which has the most active gold market, rebounds. Now might be a good time to purchase gold or gold-backed assets and store it for the long-term while it rides out many highs and lows.
 By Pepper Parr
October 25th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Is it time for a painful reality check?
Are we paying attention to the COVID-19 numbers?
1042 new cases identified in Ontario – highest number ever and the colder weather that will keep us inside more often has yet to really start.
 We are in the beginning of a second wave – it was expected. How long will it last? Burlington MPP Jane McKenna penned a letter to the Chief Medical Officer for the province urging him not to put Halton back into Stage 2. York, Peel and Toronto were moved into Stage 2 earlier in the month when their numbers kept climbing.
With Peel in Stage 2 there are reports of people from those communities driving into Halton for dinner at our local restaurants.
A tough question: Are restaurants essential?
More than 15 schools in Halton have reported infections – not huge numbers but infections nevertheless.
A Burlington MacDonald’s reported an infection; a very popular Oakville supermarket reported an infection.
Is it time to think in terms of mothballing the hospitality sector?
These are tough decisions that have to be made.
McKenna has asked the Provincial Medical Officer to hold off – isn’t that a decision that is made by the Halton Medical Officer of Health? In her letter McKenna said: “In June, when we began to emerge from the lockdown, the advice given by our medical experts was to wait two weeks (the incubation period), before lifting any restrictions. When taken together with our decreasing case counts, there is no evidence to suggest that moving Halton to a modified Phase 2 will have any meaningful impact on reducing case counts. One thing that is certain, is that many people and businesses can not financially withstand another shutdown.”
Noteworthy is the fact that neither Oakville Mayor Rob Burton nor Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette signed the letter – perhaps they were unavailable?
Burlington is spending very large sums of money to protect the people who work at city hall. The majority are still working from their homes and for the most part doing a good job.
The economy is vitally important – is a healthy population not just as important?
Do we really have to get out for a beer and mix with people? Can we not buckle down, find within us the personal discipline and do what is in our best interests and see ourselves through what is a crisis that has the potential to rip us apart as a society?
What will we do if a third of the schools are shut down for a couple of weeks at a time? What happens when the number of classroom teachers who become infected are in the hundreds?
Is this being alarmist?
That 1042 number of infections reported on Sunday by the province was a fact.
The Premier will be sweating this one out when it is the public that needs to do the sweating. The people from Toronto and Mississauga who travel to Burlington and Oakville for an evening out have to learn to stay within their own communities and spend time with the people who are in their immediate circle.
This virus may be very hard to beat and we may have to wait until there is a vaccine – but in the meantime we can limit its growth by limiting what we do.
Do your best to not pick up the infection from someone else and do your best to not pass it along if you do get it.
In the meantime we wait for the numbers from the province Monday morning and wait to hear what the Halton Regional Medical Officer of Health has to say.
Her job just got a lot harder.
By Pepper Parr
October 25th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward has a regular television show on the Cogeco cable network.
Cogeco provides the free time as one of the conditions attached to their license.
Late in September the Mayor and Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan took part in a virtual conversation with Curt Benson, the Regional planner about the Nelson Aggregate application for new licenses to continue open pit mining for aggregate needed for the concrete used in construction for everything from high rise towers to sidewalks in the city.
 Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Rory Nisan (lower right) and Regional Planner Curt Benson on the Cogeco cablecast. There is considerable opposition to the license applications from people who live in the rural part of the city.
The process and level of public involvement is complex and involves five levels of government and agencies.
The Mayor had Benson take her through the process that would be used. It is complex and time consuming and will take at least two years before they are anywhere near a decision. A municipal election will have taken place before the issue is ready for a decision.
Burlington’s city council is one of the bodies that makes a decision but it is the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) that has the clout. If they decide the granting of licenses is not in the public interest and does not meet with the NEC mandate there will be no license.
The provincial Ministry is the body that will actually issue the license.
At this point in time the focus is ongoing through the thousands of pages of documents that were submitted with the application. It will take a couple of years for this to be completed.
 There are a lot of hoops for the application to get through before this gets to a decision point. During the half hour broadcast Meed Ward and Nisan talked about community involvement, protection of the environment and the interests of the citizens – especially those who live in rural Burlington. Ward 3 covers the North West part of the city and while the population is not all that large – they certainly have clout.
Meed Ward and Nisan want to be able to say that they have done their best to save rural Burlington. They are half way through their first term of office and can be expected to shift the shape of the way they see things and move into election mode.
As elected officials they are not in place to focus on just the immediate and short term interests but the longer term interests of the city.
And that is where Meed Ward and Nisan failed miserably.
Neither made any mention of the offer to turn the mined out properties over to the city to be used as a public park.
Meed Ward did say that the area did have a park – she was referring to the Cedar Springs Golf Club – private and expensive.
Much mention was made of the community group that is opposed to future development of the open pit mines – little mention of the citizen’s group that would like to see a park created out of the land once the aggregate is mined out.
Spencer Smith Park and the Beachway are packed on the weekends when the weather is good.
The Conservation Authority is now charging a fee to enter their parks and limiting the amount of time you can spend there.
Lowville Park, a destination for large family gatherings, now meters the number of vehicles that can be in the park and limits the amount of time people can stay – which puts a real damper on family groups that often spend the best part of a day in what is a very nice park.
If there are limits now on where people can enjoy the outdoors what will Burlington do when they have added 15,000 to 20,000 people to its population by the time the quarry is ready to be closed?
The long range look is part of a city Councillor’s job – a Mayor is expected to take a long term view and to prepare the public for what is coming and to make the best of an opportunity.
The public didn’t see much of that when the Mayor dragged the Regional Planner into the fray.
Benson was pretty good at keeping his distance by being the professional he is – he was not about to be co-opted by a Mayor.
Nelson Aggregates may be talking to the wrong level of government. The Conservation Authority operates the Mt Nemo property which is a couple of football field lengths away from the quarry. They would be more suited to operating any park that might be developed in the future.
More on this in the weeks ahead.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
Related new stories:
Citizens organize to oppose quarry expansion
Nelson Aggregates releases plan to turn quarry into parkland
 By Pepper Parr
October 25th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The Region of Halton is in talks with Hydro One about burying the hydro cables that are now strung from tower to tower along the Beachway and on up through the city.
 Hydro towers along the Beachway are said to be nearing their end of life cycle – burying the cables underground is being discussed. The towers are said to be at the end of their natural life cycle which would suggest that if the cable is going to be buried this would be a good time to talk about it.
The cost of burying hydro cables is high and there are concerns that were brought up by the Hydro One operations people about ensuring there is always access to the cable in the event of a problem.
Oil and gas pipeline have access points – something similar would have to be put in place for the hydro lines.
The Region thinks there might be some provincial money available to cover the cost.
At the Regional Council last week Regional Chair Carr said that he and Mayor Meed Ward would write a letter to the senior people at Hydro One and see if they can get some movement on the file.
 Burlington’s ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith wants to be in on hydro tower removal conversations. Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith piped in asking that he be made a part of that letter writing exercise – pointing out that the towers were in his ward. Galbraith is making it clear that he is no “shrinking violet” and is as capable as the Mayor in ensuring that he is at the tables that count.
It is hard to imagine a Burlington skyline without those towers.
By Staff
October 24th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) would like to remind residents that discarded cell phones are not appropriate toys for young children.
 Too young to be playing with a discarded cell phone. A cellular phone that is no longer connected to a service provider can still make outgoing emergency calls to 911. This is a safety feature that is well intended and can save lives, however it can also needlessly exhaust emergency service resources when old phones are put into the wrong hands.
The HRPS 911 call centre receives hundreds of calls each year from phones given to young children as toys. These calls tie up resources including the communication members who take the calls and responding officers. If the 911 operator is unable to confirm the call was made in error or by a child playing with a phone, the police must be dispatched. There are also circumstances that may involve fire and EMS being dispatched as well.
A recent call to our 911 centre involved a young child using an old cellular phone as a toy. Operators kept the child on the line for more than 90 minutes while officers knocked on over 50 doors looking for the child to ensure their safety. It was determined that the same child had also called 911 from the same phone the previous night, again tying up lines and utilizing unnecessary resources.
“As much as we love talking to our youngest citizens, cellular phones (old or new) are not toys. These calls could have serious consequences for those who truly require assistance.”
By Pepper Parr
October 24th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
It has been some time since we have heard anything about progress on the development of the Beachway Park.
We do know that the Region has been using their “willing buyer to willing seller” approach to buying up as many of the houses that are left in that once robust community.
 Bought by the Region and then torn down  Sold to the Region by the owner who rented the house for a few years. Then it was torn down The Region recently released a map showing who owned what – not much left in private hands.
 There was a time when there was a small community made up of people with modest incomes who lived in this part of Burlington where one of the best beaches in the province exists. Once the Region acquires a property they have it bulldozed to the ground, sprinkle some grass seed on the land and it becomes just another open space.
There are plans to turn the area into a park – not much news from the planners working on the project.
The public did get to see some renderings setting out what would be done. All there is at the moment are the six area park areas that have names attached to them.
 A study is in the works – not a lot of detail on just what the objective of the study is.
We will see what we can pry out of the communication advisers the Region pays to keep us all well informed.
 By Pepper Parr
October 23rd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Having gone through a serious lock down Burlingtonians began to look for ways to at least try to get some normality into their daily lives.
Dealing with what the school board has been able to do, figuring out what the Parks and Recreation department has made possible, and learning to live with social distancing and hand sanitization, the idea of getting out for a drink or having a meal with friends has been a bit of a challenge.
 The Gazette took up the opportunity to report on the Taste of Burlington, a program that has restaurants in the city offering attractive meal opportunities in an attempt to coax people out of their homes and into the restaurants where rules to ensure public safety were in place.
The Taste of Burlington is a program gone run by the city’s Tourism and Events Department. The once vibrant Burlington Restaurant Association has gone disappointingly silent as its membership struggles to stay alive.
 Rahoons Persian Eatery at Village Square For Michele Bogle the three things that matter when she is doing a review are: the service, the plating and the flavours. In the seven reviews she did for the Gazette the flavours at Rahoon’s stood out.
Knowing that there are serious public health concerns, Bogle was watching for how the restaurants were dealing with the need for the highest possible levels of cleanliness. She would have liked to have seen sanitation stations front and center – yes “they would have looked a little cluttered” she said “but it was important for people to be able to see the station and use it”.
Bogle found the devices to take temperatures were iffy at times. The small device that is placed near the forehead didn’t leave Bogle feeling all that comfortable. “They had to do my forehead twice in one place” said Bogle who found she was very comfortable with the full facial scanner.
The customer space was always done up nicely: tables were not set, staff were all wearing masks. Bogle said she “would have liked to have known what was going on in the kitchen” and wondered if perhaps a monitor could not have been set up with a camera trained on the kitchen so the public could see how health precautions were being carried out.
 There were line ups – it was a Saturday night. Traffic in many of the restaurants she reviewed was slow, which Bogle added was “being polite”. Her review of Turtle Jack’s reported line ups of people waiting to get into a space that was limited. “To be fair, many of the reviews were done during the week when patronage was slow.”
“People”, said Bogle “were not ready to go out”. I had to take my children with me, none of my friends were up to going out.
The Taste of Burlington is an event put on and promoted by the Tourism and Events department of the city. The hospitality sector decides if they want to take part. The event has those participating offering menu choices that are reasonable priced using prix fixe menus.
This year there weren’t very many restaurants from the ethnic communities taking part. “Everyone loses when that happens” commented Bogle.
“As an amateur cook and foodie, I find it difficult to be impressed when I dine out because I’m most particular about flavour profiles. Good service is a great part of the dining experience. I found service in most of the restaurants that I visited in this event to be above average.
“People in this position recognize the role that they play is not only to extract the greatest tip percentage at the end of each meal; but that their livelihood stands in the balance should the guests not have an ultimate dining experience. Plating is almost as important as the taste and more and more restaurants are on board with this reality.
“ I found most of the dishes I experienced in the past few weeks looked as delicious as they tasted. Finally, the flavours: I was impressed with many individual elements from various restaurants. I even had the pleasure of being introduced to new and exotic flavour combinations.
“Whether your reasoning for going out, be it social, to have an intimate dinner, or just because you’re too tired to cook for the family that day, a setting appropriate for any mood or event to celebrate can be found in a restaurant in the city of Burlington.
Eating out doesn’t just need to be an escape from the kitchen; it can be an ‘experience’. One to be enjoyed with friends or family.
“After your own research, if you can find some comfort level, even enjoying one of the participating restaurants on the patio, now is the time to support your local restaurants. If you wait until we are free of restrictions again, it may be too late for some of our city’s favourite eating establishments.
Burlington restaurateurs appreciate your continued support. There are three days left to the event- Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Asked how much weight she had put on dining out three nights a week Bogle said. “That’s not a question I want to answer.”
The restaurant reviews:
West Plains Bistro
Gator Teds
Turtle Jack’s
Studebaker
Paradiso
Barra Fion’s
Rahoons
By Pepper Parr
October 23rd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
For most of us it’s a Friday, another weekend where there are more restrictions than things to do.
But for most of the members of city council Friday matters. Marianne Meed Ward was elected Mayor, Angelo Bentivegna, Kelvin Galbraith, Rory Nisan, Lisa Kearns and Shawna Stolte were elected to council for the first time.
Paul Sharman was re-elected – he wasn’t certain that he was going to pull it off – but he did.
 Minutes before the Chain of Office was placed on her shoulders in December of 2018 Meed Ward has certainly made her mark during this first two years as Mayor. She has and is moving the needle.
The Gazette will report in depth on how each of the newly elected have done now that they are at the half way point and their minds get turned to re-election or deciding that being a council member isn’t everything they thought it was going to be.
It is certainly a harder job than any of the five new members thought it was going to be.
Some have grown into the job, for others it’s clear they shouldn’t be there.
There have been some surprises – the job is clearly a calling for them.
COVID-19 hasn’t helped these people adjust to the job. There is still a little trying to figure out just what they can do and what they can’t do as members of Council when a lot of the decision making is in the hands of the City Manager and senior staff.
This Friday the five newbies deserve congratulations – they have worked hard; they have struggled and they are learning.
Mayor Meed Ward is, for the most part, doing what she said she would do. There are parts of her promise she may not be able to keep but it won’t be for lack of trying.
Like the five newbies she is adjusting to a role she has thirsted for, fought for and won.
Much to her chagrin she has found that some of her colleagues are not looking to her for the leadership she would like to provide. In the municipal world the Mayor is just one vote with a bully pulpit along with some bling.
The money is decent, more than most of the members of this council have ever earned in their lives.
The newbies have power; they can make things happen.
Power often does funny things to people; it tends to eat into whatever humility they had before they took the oath.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Robert Fennell
October 22, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Can gambling be a hobby, or is it just an addiction? Continue reading to find out if gambling is a hobby and how to identify that it turned into an addiction.
There is no denying that gambling is incredibly attractive in terms of the fun and excitement it provides. It is also quite tempting due to the chance of winning a big payout. Many people gamble for different reasons; it can be a source of entertainment for some, it can be a source of income for some, and some gamble because they find it difficult to give up. It is vital to know why you are gambling to know if it is a hobby or it has become an addiction.
Gambling as a Hobby
 Gambling can be fun – just know your limits and have fun. A hobby can be described as any activity a person does and enjoys in their spare time for fun. It is a hobby as long as they derive pleasure from doing it. Activities like gardening, cycling, watching movies, watching sports games, racing, singing, and many more are hobbies that many people enjoy doing.
And for some, gambling is a hobby that they enjoy. They take different gambling activities like placing bets on sports and casino games as a source of entertainment. These people tend to visit casinos or claim bonuses like the 1 deposit casinos bonuses online to play games for fun. In some circles, there is a stereotype that gambling is a bad habit and that most people who engage in it are addicted. However, just because a person enjoys the activity a lot doesn’t necessarily mean that they are addicted to it. As long as you have strict schedules and plans for your gaming activities and stick to it religiously, it won’t become a compulsive habit, and it would be difficult for you to get addicted to it.
Gambling as an Addiction
Addiction happens when an activity has become a habit of an individual, making it extremely difficult to stop or give it up. It is normal to lose money when playing casino games, but it now becomes an addiction when you deviate from your established pattern, start chasing losses and find it difficult to stop. When gambling stops being fun and starts to become an obsession for you, you should know that you are starting to get addicted.
 All in – seldom a good place to be. Whatever the limit it – it isn’t being observed Gambling addicts get obsessed with chasing the high they get from anticipating their bets’ results and end up in the cycle of losing and trying to recover it by continuing to gamble. Eventually, such people’s activities trigger a lot of consequences, which gets them into financial trouble and affects their mental health and their relationships with their friends and family.
Signs to Recognize Potential Gambling Addictive Behaviors
There are various signs and behavioural patterns that you can use to know if you are getting addicted and need to either take a step back or stop. Some of the signs to know that gambling activity is becoming an addiction:
Ways to Avoid Turning Your Gambling Hobby into an Addiction
- Don’t let gambling be a coping mechanism for boredom or problems that you are facing
- Find another hobby you can enjoy
How to Try and Treat Gambling Addiction
- Admit you have a problem
- Get support
- Avoid any avenues and environments that will lead to it
- Replace gambling with other positive activities or hobbies
- Ask for help
There is a thin line between a hobby and an addiction because it is often our hobbies that usually end up turning into addictions. Being addicted to gambling doesn’t happen in a day, so it is important to monitor yourself to know when your habit is getting out of control, and your hobby starts to become an obsession.
By Michele Bogle
October 22, 2020
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO
 Everyone has a patio Named after the football team, the ‘Florida Gators’, this family restaurant has celebrated more than 45 years of doing business in Burlington, renamed to in 1994. The location has survived continued expansions; both indoor and out, and a lengthy Human Rights legal battle. Ted Kindos, co-owner of Gator Ted’s with his mother, contemplated selling in 2013. Fortunately for the community, Ted reconsidered and committed to continuing on.
This hot spot, known for its beer and wings enjoyed while watching sports on the numerous screens also serves up other tasty dishes. Gator Ted’s ‘Halibut & Chips’ can be found on the Taste of Burlington’s Pre-Fixe menu.
From the menu, we chose their fish & chips. It has been my experience to have found a generous amount of fish inside the beer-battered coating with freshly cut fries with a side of crisp coleslaw. A rich slice of pecan pie finished the meal off just right. The menu offers a lot of value in this $25 dinner.”
 They don’t skimp on the portions For a reasonable price of $25 you could also choose from a selection of soup or salad; a medley of pastas in their ‘Tour of Italy’, Jambalaya.
Great location for groups. Patio seating is available. No reservation was required, but our contact information was collected at the door where our temperature was taken. This location also invested in a facial temperature scanner. The booths are stationary; the guests were seated with the appropriate safety regulation spacing. Masks were worn by staff and patrons who moved about the establishment.
 Some bacon bits in there as well. As a reminder; for more information on the Pre-Fixe menu options during this dining event that ends on October 25, 2020, please check the Taste of Burlington website for more details. https://tasteofburlington.ca/prix-fixe-program/. Remember to sign up for the Taste of Burlington Passport to make menu selections from the app, paperless. The more you check-in from the app, the more chances you have of winning the weekly gift certificate giveaway and eligible for the grand prize of a $500 gift card to a restaurant of choice. This is useful for family gatherings now that the holidays are approaching.
 Michele Bogle is a Burlington resident who writes for the Gazette on community issues. Ms Bogle has taken part in the Food Network for the second year in a row to audition for the ‘Great Chocolate Showdown’ 2020 and 2021. She made it to the second stage of auditions for ‘Wall of Chefs’ 2019 and finished top 1% of auditions last year for ‘The Great Canadian Baking Show’.
By Staff
October 22, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
With the application from Nelson Aggregates complete and accepted, the process of going through the numerous documents presented to support the request for additional licenses can begin.
The process is going to be daunting.
An extension of the Burlington Nelson Quarry would require Provincial, Regional and City approval. There is a sequencing of decisions required and parallel review processes happening at the provincial, regional and city level.
It will be years before there is a decision.
 This site is close to being mined out – Nelson Aggregates has applied for additional licenses to expand The City of Burlington received an application to amend the Burlington Official Plan designation of the subject lands to expand the existing Nelson quarry operation on May 14th.
Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan said “Council is committed to a transparent process and I look forward to the project coming before the council table. I urge Burlington residents to get involved and to ensure their opinions about this application are heard.”
An extension of the Burlington Nelson Quarry would require:
Public consultation and engagement, including a statutory public meeting
Amendments to the Niagara Escarpment Plan and issuance of a Development Permit
Amendments to the Region of Halton Official Plan
Amendments to the City of Burlington Official Plan
An Aggregate License from the Province of Ontario, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for the proposed expansion area
An application to the Niagara Escarpment Commission, Region of Halton and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry were received at the same time the City received an application.
A conceptual flowchart showing the parallel review process for the application is set out below. This process includes statutory timelines, application benchmarks, decision points and highlights opportunities for public consultation and engagement.
An inter-agency Joint Agency Review Team (JART) framework will be used to review the application for the proposed quarry expansion to ensure coordinated review by all agencies. The JART consists of technical staff from the Niagara Escarpment Commission, Region of Halton, Conservation Halton and the City of Burlington. The function of JART is to review the completeness of the application and analyze the proposal on its technical merits. JART itself does not make a recommendation on whether or not the application should be approved.
There will be regular reporting to Burlington City Council with progress updates and clarity on timing as the review process unfolds.
Prior to any decisions being made, public consultation will occur, including a statutory public meeting. The timing of the statutory public meeting has not yet been determined and will be scheduled once the technical review of the proposal has progressed further. Residents are encouraged to subscribe to the City’s Nelson Quarry Extension webpage Burlington.ca/nelsonquarry for up to date information on the application.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward along with Regional Planner Curt Benson (top right) and Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan taking part on the Cogeco cable channel. The quarry is in ward 3 Communications will go out to residents informing them about the opportunities to engage and provide their feedback on any requests for comments
Both the NEC and the MNRF will be releasing requests for comment on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. This is anticipated to occur within 2020, and the ability for the public, the City and other agencies to comment will be open for a limited time.
Mayor Meed Ward has said: “I know residents across our city and region are watching this very carefully because it affects us all. Our primary consideration will be how this will affect the health and safety of our community and the environment of this very sensitive area. I want to credit our Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan in ensuring residents know what is happening and are informed about the process so that they can be involved. There is a long road ahead.”
Related news story:
Residents don’t want an expansion – raising funds to oppose.
By Gord Pinard
October 22, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
There are two things we would like to share with you today.
The first is this: we raised $8140 with our Pumpkin Fundraiser! We are absolutely floored by this number. Never in our most optimistic moments did we imagine that we could raise that much money from the sale of pumpkins. Thank you so very much to all of you who donated in varying amounts to this fundraiser. We are feeling encouraged in the truest sense of the word: your generosity has given us courage to continue this fight to protect our beautiful escarpment from the permanent environmental destruction that will arise if Nelson Aggregate’s application for two more open-pit mines is approved.
The existing quarry has a number of years left. Community resident want this to be the end of open pit mines on the Escarpment. Which brings us to the second thing: CORE Burlington consists of thirteen of your neighbours who have been working our hearts out for a year now, trying in every way we know how to stop this application from succeeding. We’re researching, reading dry reports on subjects that are new to us; we’re communicating to the public via our website, social media and email, in order to educate and update; we’re calling for critical emails-to-officials as required throughout the application process—which is complicated and involves approval from five different agencies!
 The shaded areas to the left and at the bottom are where Nelson Aggregates wants to expand But mostly, lately, we’ve been fundraising. Unquestionably the best shot we have at beating Nelson is to counter the case put forth in the review process by their lawyers and experts, with the case put forward by ours. We’ve raised just over $50,000 thus far, which we think is incredible. But we need to raise another $50K over the next few months and additional funding in 2021/22 in order to continue funding the expert help that has already begun.
Our fundraising team needs more worker-bees. We need help with planning and doing and donating and delivering. We also need some place to store the ‘in-kind’ donations we’ve been accumulating. Our next project is likely to be a pre-order gift basket sale for Christmas. We’d like to do an online silent auction as well, since we’ve had several wonderful silent auction items donated in the past while.
Is there anything you can do to help? Are you willing and able to join the CORE Burlington fundraising team? We’ve been doing our work via phone-calls, zoom meetings, emails and outdoor, distanced meetings. It’s been challenging to do this work during a pandemic, but we’re pretty pleased with our fundraising results so far. And we’re (honestly) having fun. Doing this sort of work is not such a bad way to find light and inspiration in these darkening COVID days.
Related news story:
The CORE argument
Gord Pinard is the spokesperson for Conserving our Rural Ecosystems
By Michele Bogle
October 22, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Studebaker owners, Anand and Naomi Maharaj dreamed of opening an eating establishment together. They opened in February of 2019,
 All of Studebaker’s ingredients are fresh, and they’re proud to note that their food is made in-house; down to the hand-cut fries and delectable desserts. The Maharaj’s not only concerned with the food that they serve, but also of the image that Studebaker projects. “We are a modern-day upscale diner, where you can feel comfortable and relaxed, like being in a room full of friends.”
There’s a vibe that’s unlike many eating establishments; maybe it’s because it’s new, or because those working there seem invested in making sure that the atmosphere feels upbeat and well-run.
Everything looked clean. The staff wore masks, the tables were not pre-set and were spaced apart appropriately. Our contact information was taken on the phone when we made our reservation. They also offer extended outdoor tented seating, with heaters.
Every Friday they have live entertainment. Check out their website for details. https://studebakerburlington.com/
 Crispy Brie We started with our Pre-Fixe appetizer; part of the menu designed exclusively for the Taste of Burlington Fall Dining Event. A ‘Crispy Brie’ served with a cranberry chutney, roasted walnuts and perfectly toasted crostinis which had the texture of delicious buttery garlic toasts.
 Mac & Cheese – for the cheese lovers there is no better place to be. The entrees; a moist 6-ounce ‘Grilled Salmon’ fillet over parsnip puree, with roasted parsnips and cauliflower; ‘Triple Mac & Cheese’ which was visually unappealing but if you’re a cheese-lover you’ll appreciate the mozzarella, asiago, smoked cheddar combination that’s fabulous when eaten; lastly the ‘Duck Leg Cassoulet’ which is duck confit with a bed of spicy chorizo, carrot and cannellini bean ragout. A hearty combination that’s flavourful and filling.
 Apple crumble with a really decent size scoop of ice cream For dessert Studebaker offers a hot, crisp apple crumble made with Ontario-grown apples, topped with vanilla ice cream; or a ‘Cinnamon Bun Cheesecake’. This New York-style cheesecake has cinnamon swirls within and is topped with cream cheese frosting. Both are divine.
Studebaker
2535 Appleby Line
Burlington, ON L7L 0B6
905-331-7878
For more information on the Pre-Fixe menu options during this dining event that ends on October 25, 2020, please check the Taste of Burlington website for more details. https://tasteofburlington.ca/prix-fixe-program/. Remember to sign up for the Taste of Burlington Passport to make menu selections from the app, paperless. The more you check-in from the app, the more chances you have of winning the weekly gift certificate giveaway and eligible for the grand prize of a $500 gift card to a restaurant of choice. This is useful for family gatherings now that the holidays are approaching.
Michele Bogle is a Burlington resident who writes for the Gazette on community issues. Ms Bogle has taken part in the Food Network for the second year in a row to audition for the ‘Great Chocolate Showdown’ 2020 and 2021. She made it to the second stage of auditions for ‘Wall of Chefs’ 2019 and finished top 1% of auditions last year for ‘The Great Canadian Baking Show’.
By Michele Bogle
October 21st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO
Originating in Ontario in 1992, two of Turtle Jack’s franchised locations are conveniently located at either end of Burlington. One located at the Mapleview Mall at Maple Ave and Fairview St; and the other at Appleby and Ironstone giving you the convenience of not having to travel far to this popular fine-dining eatery.
 This may be a chain of commercial restaurants but it doesn’t compromise when it comes to quality food and flavours. The decor is trendy and lighting is low for a stylish, yet inviting setting.
Of course, everyone donned a mask, both staff and patrons – evident when entering. There are direction markers on the floor in an effort to avoid close contact while moving within the restaurant. Much of their seating are booths and cannot be moved; temporary plexiglass partitions were erected in between them. No reservation is required for small groups when contact information is typically gathered, but rather it’s collected, at the door. Standard practices seemed to be in place; the tables weren’t pre-set.
Although it was a Saturday night, there was no evidence that the Appleby location was suffering from a decline in patronage. At 6:30 Turtle Jack’s was at full capacity, adhering to the new guidelines of safely spaced seating, and a two metre spaced lineup developed at the door.
There was a family of ‘energetic’ people with resounding voices seated near to us. The General Manager asked if we were at all bothered. Another time my answer may have been different, but today I was quite happy to hear the sounds of ‘life’ in an otherwise quieted environment of late.
Even having looked ahead at the Pre-Fixe Taste of Burlington Menu for Turtle Jack’s, I was still undecided when I arrived. Their three course menu choices, exclusive to this dining event, all looked entirely too delicious to pick just one from each course offered. I really wanted to try the ‘Seafood Chowder’, therefore reluctantly eliminated the blackened bass from my entree choice. My son chose the ‘4 Cheese Cajun Chicken Penne’, so I knew that I’d get to sample a little; and happily landed on the steak.
 I really wanted to try the Seafood Chowder – it did not disappoint. The seafood chowder has a blend of flavours that hits your palate in the most delightful way. While just the right serving size as an appetizer, it left me wanting more.
 Steak that passed my touch test. My family, well aware that I avoid ordering steak anywhere because of the exhausting disappointment expressed when the temperature of my steak is wrong. I had noticed them shoot one of those glances that expressed concern over my choice. I hadn’t ordered steak in some time and after tasting the well-balanced blend of flavours in the chowder, I thought I’d give this restaurant the heavy task of impressing me.
The presentation for me, is a great part of the sensory preparation for what is about to be enjoyed. On paper, I had ordered steak and potatoes. Quite straight forward. The plating of my “Certified Angus Beef 8OZ Top Sirloin” was 5-star quality. On my plate was a pillow of fluffy mashed potatoes with just the right amount of salt added; crisp sauteed green beans and mushrooms; then in the centre a perfectly-sized steak with a medium-rare cook that I just knew by looking, as well gestured with great approval when doing the finger touch and it sprung back; adorned with evenly cut, buttermilk-dipped onion strings. It’s quite easy to destroy a steak.
My tastebuds rejoiced at the ‘sight’ of this dish. When the General Manager came around to ask how everything was, I was quite pleased to respond with, “perfect’ followed by the sounds of my family unanimously exhaling, then resuming their conversation. The seasonings worked well together. I thoroughly enjoyed this dish.
 Cheese Cajun Chicken Penne The ‘4 Cheese Cajun Chicken Penne’ is always going to be a palate-pleaser if you’re a cheese lover. The combination of cheeses: Asiago, mozzarella, cheddar and feta produced a very satisfying flavour combination. What was remarkable to me was the presence of cheddar that I could taste. It usually takes a back seat to the other flavourful cheeses, but I loved it! It was made with quality Barilla pasta; complemented with a tender piece of blackened chicken.
 Heavenly brownie covered w/ a layer of caramel & chocolate caramel mousse. We moved on to the dessert, all of us ordering the ‘Turtle Pie’. Here is the restaurant’s description: “Heavenly brownie covered w/a layer of caramel & chocolate caramel mousse. Sprinkled w/walnuts & chocolate flakes.” First of all, the plating was beautiful. This dessert isn’t at all brownie-like. What I tasted was a slice of chocolate mousse that was exquisitely silky smooth, not too sweet. The drizzle of caramel was the right amount to complement this dessert. While the sprinkling of walnut pieces was present, I was captivated by the silkiness of the mousse.
During the course of the time spent at Turtle Jack’s, we had gaps when our server wasn’t present and would have made mention while there if it wasn’t for the General Manager who filled in those moments when we were looking for service, in a timely manner. I have never dined at Turtle Jack’s before last night, but I’d return. I give the food ‘3-thumbs up’.
For more information on the Pre-Fixe menu options during this dining event that ends on October 25, 2020, please check the Taste of Burlington website for more details. https://tasteofburlington.ca/prix-fixe-program/. Remember to sign up for the Taste of Burlington Passport to make menu selections from the app, paperless. The more you check-in from the app, the more chances you have of winning the weekly gift certificate giveaway and eligible for the grand prize of a $500 gift card to a restaurant of choice. This is useful for family gatherings now that the holidays are approaching.
Turtle Jack’s
1900 Appleby Line , Burlington, L7L 6A1
289-288-0390
OR
Turtle Jack’s
900 Maple Avenue Mapleview Centre, Burlington, L7L 6A1
289-288-0484
Michele Bogle is a Burlington resident who writes for the Gazette on community issues. Ms Bogle has taken part in the Food Network for the second year in a row to audition for the ‘Great Chocolate Showdown’ 2020 and 2021. She made it to the second stage of auditions for ‘Wall of Chefs’ 2019 and finished top 1% of auditions last year for ‘The Great Canadian Baking Show’.
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