Terry Fox runners come out in droves to raise funds for cancer research. Part 2 of a 4 part photo essay.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  September 17, 2012  After months of organizational work. Hours of committee meetings – the day had arrived.  The weather was great.  Just a little nippy at the start of the day when the Terry Fox Run team began to gather on site.  A sign that the weather was going to be perfect.

With everyone in place; security checked out; the starting gate filled with air and the food and snack tables getting set up and the ladies getting into place at the registration tables – the day was getting close to starting.

The crowd was coming together – you could feel the buzz in the air.

Runners were lined up at the starting gate – but not quite yet.  The exercise girls from Cedar Springs had to take them through a short warm up.

Starting gate is readied for the runners.

And then they were off.  Carrying on a 32 year tradition in Burlington that has seen more than $1.4 million raised.  We will let you know what the amount raised was this year.

The warm up ladies from Cedar Springs took the runners through a series of exercises before getting them through the start up gate.

The tradition began back in 1980 when the first Terry Fox run took place and raised $4000  It`s been a steady grow upwards since then.

In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, Terry Fox embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi), and ultimately cost him his life, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. The annual Terry Fox Run, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over $500 million has been raised in his name.

And they were off. There are parents out there who wonder why these lads don’t move quite as fast in getting ready for school or doing their homework.  Look for the Tweeters getting out the word.

Fox was a distance runner and basketball player for his Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, high school and Simon Fraser University. His right leg was amputated in 1977 after he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, though he continued to run using an artificial leg. He also played wheelchair basketball in Vancouver, winning three national championships.

They just kept pouring through the starting gate.

In 1980, he began the Marathon of Hope, a cross-country run to raise money for cancer research. Fox hoped to raise one dollar for each of Canada’s 24 million people. He began with little fanfare from St. John’s, Newfoundland, in April and ran the equivalent of a full marathon every day.

Good start and setting a nice pace.

Pumping away on the backstretch going east from the canal on the way to the Waterfront Hotel. Nice 5k run

Fox had become a national star by the time he reached Ontario; he made numerous public appearances with businessmen, athletes, and politicians in his efforts to raise money. He was forced to end his run outside of Thunder Bay when the cancer spread to his lungs. His hopes of overcoming the disease and completing his marathon ended when he died nine months later.

Fox was the youngest person ever named a Companion of the Order of Canada. He won the 1980 Lou Marsh Award as the nation’s top sportsman and was named Canada’s Newsmaker of the Year in both 1980 and 1981. Considered a national hero, he has had many buildings, roads and parks named in his honour across the country.

 

Doing the first half of the Burlington Terry Fox 5k run

These ladies are in the homestretch of the Terry Fox 5k run.

Each runner sets their own pace. The backstretch of the run is easy going and well shaded.

Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Rolland “Rolly” Fox and Betty Fox. Rolly was a switchman for the Canadian National Railway. Terry had an elder brother, Fred, a younger brother, Darrell and a younger sister, Judith.  His family moved to Surrey, British Columbia, in 1966, then settled in Port Coquitlam in 1968.  His parents were dedicated to their family, and his mother was especially protective of her children; it was through her that Fox developed his stubborn dedication to whatever task he committed to do.  His father recalled that he was extremely competitive, noting that Terry hated to lose so much that he would continue at any activity until he succeeded.

One of the younger runners enters the home stretch of the Terry Fox 5k run. Many his age did a second go around to make it a 10k run.

 

The runners working the back stretch of the 5k run. You name it and that kind of runner was out doing their part.

He was an enthusiastic athlete, playing soccer, rugby and baseball as a child.  His passion was for basketball and though he stood only five feet tall and was a poor player at the time, Fox sought to make his school team in grade eight.

That finishing line looks good to everyone that sees it. Some used it as an opportunity to make a final dash.

His physical education teacher and basketball coach at Mary Hill Junior High School felt he was better suited to be a distance runner and encouraged him to take up the sport. Fox had no desire for cross-country running, but took it up because he respected and wanted to please his coach.[6] He was determined to continue playing basketball, even if he was the last substitute on the team. Fox played only one minute in his grade eight season but dedicated his summers to improving his play. He became a regular player in grade nine and earned a starting position in grade ten.  In grade 12, he won his high school’s athlete of the year award jointly with his best friend Doug Alward.

Though he was initially unsure if he wanted to go to university, Fox’s mother convinced him to enrol at Simon Fraser University, where he studied kinesiology as a stepping stone to becoming a physical education teacher.  He tried out for the junior varsity basketball team, earning a spot ahead of more talented players due to his determination.

Part 1 of a four part photo essay on the Terry Fox Run

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Brilliant sunny day with more than 1000 doing the Terry Fox walk. Great community stuff – loads of pictures.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  September 12, 2012  The first run was in 1980 when the city raised $4000 for the Terry Fox Research Foundation and a cure for cancer.

More than 1000 people were out on the pathways at Beachway Park and running through Spencer Smith Park.More than 100 volunteers helped people with massages, warm up exercises, giving directions and handing out glasses of water.

These are the ladies that collected the funds raised. One family came in with more than $1600 raised in their community. We will have the final count later in the week.

We will know later in the week how much was raised in 2012.  The total raised since 1980 in Burlington is now over $1.4 million.

Who would have thought that 32 years after Terry Fox had to abandon his run across the country using an artificial leg, that we would have hundreds of people coming out every year to run for a cause.

Don Carmichael, chair of the Terry Fox run in 2012, meets with part of his team to go over the final check ins before the event gets serious and the crowds begin to show up.

Many, perhaps even most of the people who ran today were not alive when Terry Fox did his run.  I heard about a one legged man declaring that he was going to run across the country when he dipped his artificial leg into the Atlantic ocean and headed west.  It seemed like a bit of a stunt to me – I knew nothing about the man.

It was a little nippy in the morning, the kind of weather that helps the leaves turn colour and keeps people shivering just a bit. That changes when they begin their run.

I was sitting in an office window watching Terry Fox run with that half limp,  half trot of his as he headed south and into Nathan Phillips Square where more than 100,000 people were on hand to greet him.  This was no stunt.

The fund raising drive, which hadn’t done all that well when it worked its way through the Maritimes and Quebec, picked up momentum as the national media picked up the story in Ontario and from that point it just took off.  There were close to nightly news reports with a summary at the end of each week.  The country was mesmerized by what this man was doing.

Eight years earlier Canada came together as a country when a Canadian Team beat the Russians in a closely fought hockey series.  We had a sense of who we were after that and when Terry Fox caught our imaginations we had no trouble getting behind to help.

The country almost automatically  made the project theirs and we’ve been doing that ever since we lost Terry Fox in 1981

He was born Terrance Stanley “Terry” Fox, on July 28, 1958 and was made a Member of the Order of Canada.  There is much more to the Terry Fox story than this.  Follow the Burlington event and the young man`s story.

Part 2 of the Terry Fox story and the Terry Fox run; a photo feature.

Deb Tymstra MC’d the event – her second year doing that job. Here she goes over her notes to prepare for an event that almost got out of hand when the Casey Cosgrove supporters were gathered to have pictures taken. That crowd was so large that it held up the Bikers and the Walkers who Tymstra wanted to get started. She managed the chaos.

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Chef’s to duel it out at the organic only Farmer’s Market in the downtown core.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  September 13, 2012  Two Spencer’s Restaurant Chef’s will duel it out at the Farmer’s Market on Friday.  Chris Hayworth and Andrew McLeod will shop from the different vendors at the market and then cook up a meal, using what they bought at the market – all organic, that visitors to the market can sample at the tables Barry Imber, the driving force behind the idea of an organic market in downtown Burlington,  plans to set out for people to use.

It’s not a crowded market but it does have a consistent flow of traffic during the two hours it is open. Great produce, pork offerings are very good and each week someone else shows up with a new product. We got great sour-dough there last week.

Fresh bread – straight from the ovens – but you had to get there while the basket still had something in it.

The Farmer’s Market, located off John Street just north of James back in behind Centro Gardens, focuses on local organically grown produce, meat and dairy.

It started up during the early summer and while traffic has not been overwhelming, it is consistent with people drifting in and out during the noon to 2:00 pm window they are open.

Chef Chris Hayworth shows how he will use his knife at the Chef’s Duel scheduled for Friday just after noon at the Farmer’s All Organic market on John Street.

Imber decided to give the location a bit of a promotional boost and challenged the two Spencer’s chef’s to duel it out over their stoves using just the produce available at the market.

Candace Ivezich, sales agent with LeavoyRowe, purveyors of fine meats just might be Chef Hayworth’s secret weapon.

Hayworth plans to play it by ear and see what is on sale- and then use his creative imagination to pull together a meal he is sure will win the day for him.

Hayworth is a full range chef but he tends to like to focus on the appetizer part of the menu – and where he can he goes local.

Could be fun – certainly will be tasty.

Chef Hayworth has a bit of an advantage – he has a supplier that wants him to win; that might tip the scales.

At press time we had not heard from Chef McLeod – maybe he has decided to concede and won’t show.

You be the judge – and see what they serve up.

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Suicide is a community problem – the solutions and the healing have to come from the community.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  September 8, 2012  –  This is a dodgy subject; what do you say when you learn that someone you know took their own life or that a member of a family you know well committed suicide.  You’re stunned and you wonder if there was something you should have done, could have done.  And what do you do now?

Society is at least talking about suicide. The Region of Halton is partnering with the Talking about Addictions and Mental Illness (TAMI) program to offer two community forums to help break the stigma associated with suicide, help people to talk openly about suicide, and show how everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention

Personally I’ve never understood the stigma sometimes attached to suicide – these are family tragedies that need the help, compassion, understanding and support of the community to be part of the healing.

There is a point where utter desolation becomes more than a person can handle.

An understanding of what depression is; what it does and how best to cope with it is part of the process.  Ignoring it or even worse stigmatizing it socially just drives this very real problem underground where we can’t deal with it .

Monday, September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, and the Halton Suicide Prevention Coalition (HSPC) is partnering with the Talking about Addictions and Mental Illness (TAMI) program to offer two community forums.

Both events will be running from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

September 10: Holy Trinity High School – Theatre, 2420 Sixth Line, Oakville

September 13: Craig Kielburger Secondary School – Auditorium, 1151 Ferguson Drive, Milton

Suicide can be a difficult subject to talk about and that often stops individuals and families from reaching out for support. Regional chair Gary Carr adds: “That’s why I think it’s wonderful that both the Coalition and the TAMI program are coming together to help reduce the stigma and use World Suicide Prevention Day as an opportunity to open the dialogue.”

“I am sure the event will be powerful as those who attend will hear from both a professional from the HSPC and a speaker sharing his personal experience with suicide. I’m also looking forward to attending the Coalition’s annual general meeting (AGM) on November 9 where Mr. Bob Rae, Member of Parliament, Toronto-Centre will be the keynote speaker detailing Canada’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy. I hope Halton residents will take the time to attend either the community forums or the coming AGM.”

Halton Region plays a key role in both the Coalition and TAMI. Funding is provided by Halton Regional Council. Professional staff from the Health Department work directly with community partners sharing their expertise and experience. Those partners include: Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Halton Branch, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), The Schizophrenia Society of Ontario (SSO), the Phoenix Program, ADAPT (Halton Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Assessment, Prevention and Treatment Services), the Halton District School Board, the hospital sector and individuals affected by suicide.

Mental health needs the same attention and resources as physical health.  One is no less important than the other.

For anyone who is suffering from depression, having suicidal thoughts, or is a survivor of suicide, help is available in Halton. Visit HSPC’s website for more information about suicide prevention and resources.

For information about services available to those struggling with mental health issues, visit Halton Region’s website, or call the Family Health Information Line and speak directly with a public health nurse.

Chairman Carr puts this perfectly when he says: “Together, we can break the silence and reduce the stigma to help save someone’s life.”  The key word is ‘together’.

 

 

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Two Chef’s from Spencer’s on the Waterfront to duke it out at Centro Gardens in a Chef’s Street fight.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  September 6, 2012   Next Friday September 14, Centro Market is hosting special guest chefs Chris Haworth and Andrew McLeod with their mobile demonstration kitchen – aka “the pen”.

The Dueling Chef’s from Spencer’s on the Waterfront will choose produce from a stand like this and whip up a meal on the spot at the Farmer’s Market on John Street – behind Centro Gardens. Stick around and you could get to taste the results.

The match-up — these two local chefs will pick from the Centro Farm Market’s fresh ingredients to create an amazing dish — live, in gritty real time. They’ll have 1 hour to select ingredients and then duke it out to prepare their dish ready to serve to the lucky visitors of the market.

Market goers will sample their amazing food and judge who’s the victor of the Chef Street Fight. That simple but oh so fun.

The market will be set up with theatre seating and tables to enjoy the food. So come down to shop the market, support your local farmers and stay for the entertainment and a bite for lunch.

So –  are we seeing some raza mataz in the downtown core?   Barry Imber the driving force behind the idea of a Farmer’s Market in the downtown core is hoping that the “duel” will attract people that didn’t even know the market existed.

The market runs from noon to 2:00 pm on Friday.   A not  to be  missed event.


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A “sharrow” on your street? Should you be worried ? Not if you drive a bicycle.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  Sept. 5, 2012— Watch for painted signs along the side of more than two dozen roadways in Burlington.  The city is installing 285 new sharrows throughout the city on streets identified in the city’s Cycling Master Plan as proposed bicycle priority streets.

At $95 a pop – tax included – the city is putting in a couple of dozen of these. They are called sharrows and they tell drivers to share the road with cyclists.

Sharrows are bicycle use road markings that are painted on the road where a complete bike lane barrier cannot be installed.  The markings are meant to attract cyclists who prefer to ride on less busy streets and help increase driver awareness.

“The city’s efforts in improving our cycling infrastructure demonstrate our long-term commitment to promoting and encouraging active transportation in Burlington,” said Scott Stewart, general manager of development and infrastructure.

Burlington received the Bicycle Friendly Community bronze medal award from the Share the Road Cycling Coalition last August. Share the Road is an Ontario-based non-profit organization that promotes bicycling as a mode of transportation, recreation and fitness through provincial advocacy.

Work crews are installing 285 sharrows on the following streets:

•         Millcroft Park Drive from Dundas Street to Walkers Line

•         William O’Connell Boulevard from Millcroft Park Drive to Upper Middle Road

•         Jordan Avenue from Walkers Line to Headon Road

•         Headon Road from Palmer Drive to Headon Forest Drive

•         Forest Run Avenue from Walker’s Line to Bianca Forest Drive

•         Bianca Forest Drive from Forest Run Avenue to Pincay Oaks Lane

•         Headon Forest Drive from Headon Road to Northampton Boulevard

•         Northampton Boulevard from Headon Forest Drive to Dundas Street

•         Duncaster Drive from Upper Middle Road to Cavendish Drive

•         Coventry Way from Cavendish Drive to Guelph Line

•         Tyandaga Park Drive from Brant Street to Kern’s Road

•         Kerns Road from North Service Road to Canterbury Drive

•         Mount Forest Drive from Brant to Fisher Avenue

•         Fisher Avenue from Mountain Forest Drive to Mountainside Drive

•         Mountainside Drive from Fisher Avenue to Guelph Line

•         Mountain Grove Avenue from Mountain Forest Drive to Dead End

•         Martha Street from Centennial Bikeway to Lakeshore Road

•         Pine Street from Brant Street to Martha Street

•         Northshore Road from Belhaven Crescent to LaSalle Park Road

•         Pearl Street from Pine Street to Lakeshore Road

•         Spruce Avenue from Kenwood Avenue to Hampton Heath Road

•         Spruce Avenue from Goodram Drive to Appleby Line

Motorists may experience some delay while pavement markings are put in place.  The work is underway and will be completed this week.

Each sharrow costs $95 to put in place.  The city expects to spend approximately $31,000 this year on sharrows.

$55,000 is budgeted for cycling each year. It is used on minor cycling improvement projects……this includes installation of new bike lanes (grinding of vehicle lane pavement markings and applying new bike lanes)…..curb cuts, sharrows and signage.

Hopefully drivers will see the markings on the roadway and recognize they are expected to share the road they are using with those who choose to cycle.

Once the sharrows are in place we can perhaps see more people using side streets and locations where they can fel safe and be safe.  The REAL challenge for Burlington is coming up with ways to make it safe to use a bicycle on Guelph, Walkers and Appleby Lines.

 

 

 

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West Nile virus appearing in the Region; first human case for 2012 found in Oakville.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON  September 5, 2012  A female in her thirties is Oakville’s first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) illness in 2012. Human WNV infections in Halton now total eleven.

Full human and mosquito surveillance s shown below.

While the numbers aren’t huge, they do indicate that we are seeing increased instances of the West Nile virus.  Follow the advice the Regional Health department puts out and you should be fine.  If you feel any differences in your health – head for a Walk in Clinic.

 

Map indicates where Larvicide has been applied to standing water sites.  If there are places on your property where water is standing – clear it out – the mosquitoes love places where the water is still.

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, as well as at any time in shady, wooded areas.

Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.

Use an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET.

Make sure your window and door screens are tight and in good repair.

This is a relatively easy virus to manage – but it does have to be managed.

 


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Lake Ontario water conditions for swimming at Beachway Park not as good as they were last week.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON  August 31st, 2012  The beach water monitoring results done by the Regional Health Department revealed the following beaches are safe for swimming:

Halton Hills – Prospect Park Old Beach

Oakville – Bronte Park Beach, Coronation Park East

The following beaches are unsafe for swimming:

Oakville –Coronation Park West

Burlington – Beachway Park

Milton – Kelso Conservation Area

The Beachway Park has been safe for swimming for the past six weeks – this report is a change in the condition of the water.

Unfortunately, other than media posting, the public that uses the Beachway Park in Burlington has no way of knowing if the water is safe or unsafe.  There are no signs to indicate the condition of the water.  Unfortunate indeed.

 

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West Nile virus infection risk remains high in Halton; 9 Burlington cases reported.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  August 30, 2012   The West Nile virus is still very much with us. The Halton Region Health Department reminds residents to continue to cover up, use insect repellent with DEET, and keep mosquitoes out of homes.

Standing Water Sites Larvicided
August 19 – 25, 2012

The mosquito trapping done by the Regional health staff has found mosquitoes positive for West Nile virus (WNV) for five consecutive weeks.  Laboratory test results over the last three weeks bring the total of human infections with WNV in Halton to nine: seven in Burlington and two in Milton.

Two of the Burlington cases were persons who did not have symptoms but were identified during routine testing as part of the blood donation process.

“The risk of infection will be present until temperatures cool significantly, so it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites and remove areas of standing water where mosquitoes breed,” said Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region.

This is how the virus gets to human beings. Take the common sense precautions.

Mosquitoes can transmit WNV to humans after becoming infected by feeding on the blood of birds carrying the virus. About 80% of people who become infected with WNV do not experience any illness, while about 20% will develop West Nile fever.

Less than 1% will develop inflammation of the brain or its lining, or a type of paralysis.  That’s a nice number – until you realize that you’re one of the one percent.

Older adults and people with underlying illnesses should be particularly cautious as they are more likely to develop the illness. The following are steps that residents can take to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes:

Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly-woven fabric.

Avoid being outdoors from early evening to morning when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, as well as at any time in shady, wooded areas.

Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.

Use an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET.

Make sure your window and door screens are tight and without holes, cuts or other openings where mosquitoes could enter your home.

 

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City awarded a bronze medal for being friendly to bicycles. Now we need ways to make cars and bicycles friends as well.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON   Aug. 26.  2012-   Last week Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster was in Ottawa as a city delegate to the Association of Municipalities annual convention and while there accepted the Bicycle Friendly Community bronze medal award on behalf of the city.

Burlington was awarded the bronze rating by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, an Ontario-based non-profit organization that promotes bicycling as a mode of transportation, recreation and fitness through provincial advocacy.

The Regional Police use bicycles on a regular basis as part of the way they do their work. Are there any other civic employees using bicycles?

Burlington has gone some distance in making the city a more cycle friendly place – in this instance the city is ahead of its citizens.  In June and July the city held two Car Free Sundays at which the turnout was less than expected.  To the surprise of many the event on Appleby Line had a considerably better turn out than the event held on Brant Street.   It was clear to many that the idea needed a re-think.

The Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) Program, an initiative of the Washington-based League of American Bicyclists, was launched in Canada in August 2010 by Share the Road. The program provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and award recognition for communities that actively support bicycling.  Municipalities are judged in five categories often referred to as the Five “E’s” engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation and planning.  A community must demonstrate achievements in each of the five categories in order to be considered for an award.

The city did a photo op in May to promote the idea of cycling to work – threw in a free breakfast for those that showed up. It wasn’t a large crowd. Councillor Dennison is the only serious and sincere cyclist on Council. Bike rack at city hall is seldom full – parking spaces at city hall are well used however – they’re free. Beats a free breakfast.

“We have a lot to be proud of,” said Mayor Rick Goldring. “Over the last number of years the City of Burlington has committed to adding to our cycling-friendly infrastructure throughout the city. We have increased the number of kilometres of bike lanes and paths and made on-road cycling safer with the installation of signage, buffered and coloured lanes and sharrows. This award also recognizes the work we have done in education and awareness.”

“This award is a reflection of the hard work of city staff and our community leaders,” said Scott Stewart, general manager of development and infrastructure. “I encourage more residents to make the safe and healthy choice of cycling.”

A key focus of the city’s strategic plan, Burlington, Our Future, is increasing the number of people who cycle in the city for both recreation and transportation.

Burlington approved a Cycling Master Plan in 2009.  This plan guides the city’s efforts in creating a network of on-road bikeways and multi-use pathways as well as providing policies, practices and programs to encourage more people to cycle.

Burlington has 49 km of bike lanes, 22.5 km of bike boulevards, 19 km of shared use paths and 20.7 km of multi-use paths.  Bicycle racks are available at all city facilities and public art bike racks have been installed in the downtown. Bike racks are also mounted on the front of all Burlington Transit buses.

Increasing its cycling infrastructure is just part of the task: work in the areas of education and awareness continue.

The Burlington Sustainable Development Committee and Burlington Central Library are hosting an active transportation seminar; Get it in Gear, on Oct. 18th,from  7 to 9 p.m.  The city has a Green Transportation Map –  outlining transit routes, trails and tourism destinations in Burlington, available at the Tourism office on Brant Street.

Burlington was up for a pre-Olympic cycling competition but the opportunity got away from us. Maybe in the future?

Burlington got a sense of what was possible when it took a hard look at the idea of holding pre-Olympic elite level races that would have resulted in a jam packed Canada Day.  That idea didn`t fly due to problems with the promoter – but we got a clear sense of what was possible.  At some point the city will meet up with the right promoter and we will perhaps see elite cycle racing in the community.

In the meantime the cycling infrastructure keeps being added to and more and more roadways are truly bicycle accessible.  Hopefully sooner rather than later the city will devote some time and money figuring out how to make the stretch of roadway from Mainway to Fairview bicycle friendly – that for Burlington is the real challenge at Walkers Line and Appleby Line as well.  It is what creates that big divide between the Burlington north of the QEW and the Burlington south of the QEW – and until we resolve that one we won`t be united as a city.  When that problem is solved – we could win gold!


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Downtown farmer`s market is adding more vendors than people. It`s a struggle – but then anything worthwhile is never easy.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  August 17, 2012   The small market that has been operating every Friday in a parking lot on John Street – back behind Centro Gardens reminded me of the Joni Mitchell song Big Yellow Taxi.

The line `put up a parking lot`sort of speaks to the farmers market – it`s held in a parking lot.

An even more telling line is:

Don’t it always seem to go

That you don’t know what you’ve got

Till it’s gone

Barry Imber, the driving force behind the idea, had thought there would be a little more in the way of traffic.  “It is growing” he said “but not quickly enough for the farmers who spend the four hours at the market each Friday.”

There is a small collection of fresh from the farm products available at the Farmer’s Market on John Street. More traffic is needed if the market is to continue.

Last week Russell Gibbs was back with his honey – he sold out the first time he offered his product – so there is a market.  Featherstone Farms has been in since the beginning with their pork and soaps and then added bread.

Farm to Table Meats and Cheese Gypsy as well as Tree & Twig were there.  But Imber wants something a little more robust.  While he isn’t a vendor he nevertheless wants to promote organic and get some activity into the downtown core – where things can get desperately quiet far too often.

Barry Imber, the driving force behind the Farmer’s Market on John Street talks with Michelle Macdonald, operator of Featherstone Farms, the providers of soaps, bread and pork products.

Imber is working on some food trucks and visiting chefs for the coming weeks to spice it up.` He isn’t seeing a good adoption here. Likewise the vendors aren’t totally comfortable with the traffic either so the whole thing may dissolve sooner than later if people don’t come to the conclusion that they have something special here — their own market in their downtown — the start to something cultural and rich.  A real community hub.

If people don’t make an effort to support it soon, it will be gone unfortunately and giving it another try will be that much harder.

And that gets us back to the line:

Don’t it always seem to go

That you don’t know what you’ve got

Till it’s gone

The only reason there will be an outdoor market in the downtown core is if people come out and at least try the products.  Part of the problem may be that people just don`t know.   Our Burlington is certainly doing its part to tell the story.

There will be additional promotional effort put into the project early in September – and then we will see if Imber`s idea was a true addition to the city or just a bit of folly.


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Great weather – great water conditions – Burlington Beachway just fine reports regional Health department.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON  August 17, 2012   Beach water monitoring by the Regional Health staff on August 14 revealed the following beaches are safe for swimming:

Beachway water is safe – jump in

Burlington – Beachway Park

Halton Hills – Prospect Park Old Beach

Milton – Kelso Conservation Area

Oakville – Coronation Park East

The following beaches are unsafe for swimming:

•       Oakville – Coronation Park West, Bronte Park Beach.

Remember to take sun screen and to park legally along the Beachway.

Have fun

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Are we giving people who use Beachway Park the information they need and are entitled to in terms of water safety?

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.


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Regional Health Service reports more positive West Nile virus results. Be aware of the signs and cover up.

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.


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West Nile virus has worked its way to human beings – extra-precautions necessary.

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.

 

 

 

 

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You can swim anywhere you want on the Burlington waterfront – can’t do that in Oakville.

By Staff

The Halton Region Health Department monitors the water quality at public beaches throughout Halton and they are saying that based on July 31st monitoring.

If you live in Burlington – the Beaches are all safe. Oakville isn’t as lucky.

For the most recent information, the Health Department recommends that residents visit Halton Region’s website halton.ca/beaches before visiting Halton beaches. The following beaches are safe for swimming:

•       Burlington – Beachway Park

•       Halton Hills – Prospect Park Old Beach

•       Milton – Kelso Conservation Area

•       Oakville – Coronation Park East, Bronte Park Beach

The following beaches are unsafe for swimming:

•       Oakville – Coronation Park West

Now you know why Burlington is the second safest city in Canada.

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Doctors have learned how to spin the facts and manipulating public opinion from the politicians. Truth is they just want more of your money.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  August 1, 2012  According to a press release from the Ontario Medical Association – a lobby  that “represents the political, clinical and economic interests of the province’s medical profession.” , the provincial governments plan to unilaterally cut $1.1 billion in health programs and fees will force wait times for medical procedures to go up and patient access to care to go down. That is the clear message a panel of local doctors will deliver to concerned Burlington citizens tonight at a town hall meeting.

They don’t tell you where the Town Hall meeting is taking place nor do they tell you who the concerned doctors are.  The do provide quotes from a surgeon and a family physician.  No Burlington contacts for either doctor were provided.

“In its most recent annual report, the Burlington area local health integration network missed 12 of 14 performance benchmarks for patient care, including longer wait times for cataract surgery, hip and knee replacements, and MRI exams. Wait times for all four of these procedures increased from the previous year and, as a result of these cuts, could continue to increase. More than 21,000 physicians are being negatively affected by just the first round of the McGuinty government cuts, including the physicians who perform these tests and procedures.

By “negatively affected” the doctors mean they will not earn as much as they would like to earn.

What our doctors are paid is determined through honest, transparent negotiations between the provincial government and the Ontario Medical Association that represent the doctors. The OMA has begun using scare tactics to mislead the public – they can do better than that.

“In addition to longer waits and reduced access to care, the planned cuts will also mean patients who still don’t have a family doctor will either wait longer to find one or won’t be able to find one at all. Information recently released by the Ontario Medical Association reveals that more than 927,000 patients in Ontario, including 132,000 children, still do not have a family doctor, and the province is short more than 1,000 doctors. A recent Nanos Research survey shows 41 percent of Ontario’s doctors would consider moving to a more welcoming jurisdiction and 33 percent would consider retiring early if the government cuts continue.

The nice thing is that these doctors can afford to retire early.

The government is being fiscally prudent with both the teachers and the doctors in Ontario. They would of course like to earn more; teachers would like to be able to bank those sick days, doctors would like to see increases to their fee schedules.  But every dollar that a doctor or a teacher gets is a dollar that comes out of your pocket.

Dr. Ved Tandan, a surgeon says “Ontario doctors want to provide the best patient care possible. For my patients, wait times are already too long, but they are bound to get even longer if the cuts to health programs and fees are allowed to continue.”

Is Dr. Tandan saying he will not continue to manage the workload he has if he is not paid more?  Then we will bring in more doctors from other jurisdictions and have then take up the work load Dr. Tandan doesn’t want to handle

What he is saying is the family doctors will not be paid as much as they want to be paid.  What they are paid is something the doctors have to negotiate with the government.  Using scare tactics to sway  public opinion has been used by the medical profession  before, hopefully the public will see their comments for what they are.  They have little to do with your health and more to do with how big a piece of the pie the doctors get.

 

 

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Your summer cukes“ and tomatoes could get the “treatment” from an organic cook.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON  July 26, 2012  Have you got baskets of fresh produce on your kitchen counter because their was a produce stand on a country road you were not able to take a pass on?   Maybe you were one of the lucky ones to get a plot in the Community Garden behind the Library ?

Michelle Gatien, who is the Market Cook for the Harbourside Organic Farmer’s Market in Oakville is going to put on a cooking class at St. Christophers Church next week.

While I don’t personally think there is any limit on how much fresh asparagus one can eat – there are those who wonder at times what to do with all the fresh food.

Michelle Gatien, who is the Market Cook for the Harbourside Organic Farmer’s Market in Oakville is going to put on a cooking class at St. Christophers Church next week.

Michelle asks: Need to know what to do with all those” cukes” and tomatoes? Join us in the kitchen to explore seasonal recipes and preserves with ingredients straight out of your garden.`

$5 fee. St. Christopher’s Church, 662 Guelph Line, Tuesday, July 31 at 7 pm. Register to attend and you are entered into a draw to win a prize!

The event is being promoted by BurlingtonGreen and is one of those community things that tends to pull together people with similar passionate interests.

Gatien takes gardening and cooking very seriously.  Her blog has almost daily entries on what has popped up and what the heat is doing to her vegetable garden.

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Farmer’s Market: List of vendors grows; some products sell out very quickly. Preserves and espresso coffee will be available.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  June 25, 2012  Well the price of cherries went through the roof and the peaches aren’t exactly being given away – pears are going to be a bit on the pricey side as well – all due to the nasty little trick nature played on the fruit crops with warm weather and then a dash of cold air thrown around.

Fresh produce, fresh meats, new customers. Every Friday new faces show up, asking questions, buying fresh from the farm products. Friday 11- 2 on John Street north of James – back in behind Centro Gardens

But the Farmer’s Market on John Street – back in behind Centro Garden – adds new offerings each week.

Tree and Twig Heirloom farm that is doing preserves this Friday at the market which is open from 11-2.  The Heirloom Vegetable Farm focuses on foods linked to our past which is an exciting way to try new and unusual tastes, shapes and colours.  In the last century, we have lost 90 per cent of our vegetable varieties — a tragic loss of diversity and a threat to our food security. It is important to stop this trend and, as growers and consumers, look for alternatives.  These vegetables are grown for taste.  Sounds interesting

Casteleyn, the Belgian Chocolatier located on Brant will be serving espresso coffee at the market.  If you’re not wide awake by the middle of the day – a double espresso will do it for you.  Nine year old Andres, son of  the  Casteleyn proprietor will be doing the serving.  Barry Imber, one of the organizing forces behind the market is “ very excited about having these young people be involved – they are the future of our entrepreneurial town.”

Damian Wills, he runs the Farm to Table Meats, will be at the Market again and is offering game sausage on top of his regular fare.

The current offerings from Featherstone Farms does not include foul or eggs but the pork and bacon they have is superb.

Featherstone Farms will also be at the market again – they are regulars,  with their pork offerings.

These fresh meat producers can take custom orders and have them on hand for you to pick up.  From time to time I like to poach really thick pork chops in orange juice and then lay them on a bed of rice with a ginger sauce I make and pour over the food.  That with side dishes of green beans and asparagus and a bottle of chilled Chardonnay – makes a meal for me.

The Cheese Gypsy will be foraging for new and exciting local and regional cheeses and offering tasting notes along with the cheese for folks to take home and share the knowledge with friends.  She will be at the market for the first time on August 3rd.

As we get into the fall, Gibbs Honey will be back with the next batch of his product – it sold out in a flash last time.  The next batch, his second harvest; will be a lighter but more floral flavored local honey. You might want to go on line and reserve a jar.

The Farmer’s Market exists so that people can connect directly with the people who grow and produce some of the food we eat.  Meeting and talking to these vendors gives you an opportunity to create a one-on-one relationship.  Featherstone Farms – (289) 337-3375 and Farm to Table Meats could become your personal butcher.  Something to think about.

 

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Pint sized swimmer with courage galore and a mission to boot, plans to swim Lake Ontario & land at Spencer Smith Park August 18.

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  July 23, 2012  The first thing that occurs to you when you see Michele Benoit is her size – she’s close to tiny, and then the question: wasn’t a long distance swimmer supposed to be quite big enters your mind.

This is what a 42 year old pixie of a long distance swimmer looks like. Look out Lake Ontario – she is coming your way.

And you wonder too – a 42 year old is swimming Lake Ontario – isn’t that a game for younger people.  When you meet Benoit – you are a little stunned – she doesn’t look 42 at all – maybe 32, somewhere in there.

But she is going to swim Lake Ontario starting at night out of Port Dalhousie and swimming the 45 km to Burlington where she expects to land at Spencer Smith Park – ideally in that small “instant Beach” that has been formed on the west side of the under construction Pier.

Why would someone this age decide to swim across Lake Ontario?  We will get to the why in a bit.  The how you get yourself physically and psychologically to the point where you can start and actually finish something like this is an incredible story.

Benoit was born in Montreal and lived a childhood that had her believing anything was possible.  If you really wanted to do it – you just did it. She took ballet. She was always a good swimmer – placed very well in the provincial finals in the province in breast stroke.  Other than that her only really emotional experience related to swimming was when her Mother came close to drowning.

Benoit was one of those children that no one quite knew what to do with.  She was bright, hugely energetic and driven.  But there was no direction in her life.

The family moved to Ontario and Michele studied Landscape Architecture, which in those days wasn’t what it is today.  During her time in the field it was mostly doing the front of commercial buildings or parking lots  – very little art in the architecture she wanted to practice. “I wasn’t happy doing the work I was doing”, explains Benoit.

Like every young person growing into adulthood – there were some rough spots and Benoit has had her share of those.

Were it not for the fact that we know Michele Benoit is going to swim across Lake Ontario August 17-18th – the picture suggests she is a model for wet suit swim wear.

With the landscaping world going nowhere for her, Benoit, who has always been fit, got into personal training and ended up as the Aquatics Director at a Burlington health club where she worked for six years.

Health, physical fitness, good nutrition – there was a sense of direction revealing itself by the time Benoit enrolled as a Natural Sciences student at McMaster. “I thought of dentistry but it didn’t take long for me to realize that wasn’t my calling” says Benoit.

Well then what was her calling – and here is where the Benoit story takes one of those twists you read about but don’t quite understand.  “A friend asked me to go to church with him and because I knew that his faith life was important I went.  I was baptized a Catholic and I went to Mass at Christmas and Easter.  I knew about Jesus but I’d never read the Bible.   I knew about Noah’s Ark but God wasn’t part of my life.”

But then, suddenly, Michele Benoit came out of a very sound sleep and had a very up close and personal relationship with God.  She then knew she was going to swim across Lake Ontario and raise money for people in Africa.  Weird ? – not for Benoit.  Did she have a complete plan in front of her – sort of like a blue print?  Nope, but for her it was as plain as the nose on her face and that is the force that drives her.

There is more to the Michele Benoit story; how she prepares for an arduous 45km swim across one of the hardest lakes in the world; how she exercises and prepares both physically and emotionally.

We will follow this remarkable woman and her quest.  If supporting something like this financially – click into the web sitethat was set up with more of the story.

Meanwhile – we will stay with this story and keep you up to date.

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