Announcing the Winners: 235 submissions to library writing contest.

By Gazette Staff

July, 2nd, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Burlington Public Library announced the winners in the three categories: Poetry, Short Stories and Comic Books.

It’s no secret that Burlington has a wealth of writing talent. Our community is brimming with creativity and loves to celebrate it with others. Our annual Write Here Write Now writing contest confirms that writing truly is a lifelong passion in our city.

The contest ran from May 1 to May 31, and was open to everyone ages 10 and up who lives, works, or attends school in Burlington.

Competition was tough again this year, with 235 entries submitted across all categories for judging—a significant increase over the 150 entries in 2024. A panel of BPL staff reviewed all submissions and was amazed by the incredible talent displayed in every category.

Poetry

Ages 10-12: Anxiety by Katherine de Vries

Ages 13-17: Everything Reminds Me of You by Daphne Lindsay

Ages 18+: Now You Can Breathe by Rachel Swiednicki

Short Stories

Ages 10-12: I Hear a Whisper by Ella Carmichael

Ages 13-17: Say Something, Not Nothing by Conor Gross

Ages 18+: Where Whispers Wake Up by Kriti Majumdar

Comics

Ages 10-12: Whisper the Ghost by Star Lucier

Ages 18+: Christine by Tammy Kim

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Nelson Quarry closing arguments at the OLT scheduled: a decision might be made public by the end of the year

By Pepper Parr

July 2nd, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

After 59 days of hearings, the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) reviewing the Nelson Burlington quarry expansion application concluded its evidence phase on June 24, 2025; 58 days were dedicated to evidence presentation.

The main issues addressed included impacts on water resources, the natural environment, cultural heritage, blasting and air quality

Due to the extensive volume of evidence, additional time was required for oral closing arguments, which are now scheduled for September 3-5, 2025, to accommodate the availability of counsel and the Tribunal, as well as the need to receive hearing transcripts.

Nelson’s written closing submissions are due by July 30, 2025, with responses from the City of Burlington, CORE Burlington, and Perl due by August 20, 2025, and Nelson’s written reply by August 27, 2025.

It is likely to be the end of the year before there is a decision from the Land Tribunal.

 

 

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Music from the Rooftop of the Joseph Brant Museum; four performances during the summer

By Gazette Staff

July 2nd, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Music from the Rooftop of the Joseph Brant Museum

The Rooftop series starts July 11 with a performance by Josh Edwards.

Tickets are $20/adults, $15/seniors and students.* Ticket includes 1-hour live musical performance, lawn games, complimentary light refreshments & popcorn, and admission to the museum’s galleries. This is a 12+ event.

Click HERE for tickets:

Spend a summer evening listening to local musicians while enjoying a panoramic view of Lake Ontario!

MUSIC FROM THE ROOFTOP SCHEDULE:

July 11 – Josh Edwards

July 25 – Hayley Verrall          

August 8 – Natalie Reis

August 22 – Warren Jones

* In the case of inclement weather, performances will happen inside Joseph Brant Museum’s Lakefront/Shoreline rooms.

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Repair Cafe has set up shop at St. Christopher's Anglican Church

By Gazette Staff

July 2nd, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Burlington Repair Cafe will be open on Saturdays; July 19 and August 23rd.

People who just like fixing things.

They will work out of St. Christopher’s Church from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. ; which is now their permanent home.

The Repair Café has added textile repairs to the list of items they repair. Most of the repairs are done free.  If special parts are needed, they are handled on a cost recovery basis.

The Bring It – Fix It – For Free motto has served the city for six years.  You can reach the group at  burlingtonrepaircafe@cogeco.ca

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With inflation at less than 2% - city Council is suggesting a tax increase of 5.8% for2026

By Gazette Staff

July 2nd, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Summer is usually an easy time for City Council.

At the meeting scheduled for July 7th,  council will see what the financial people expect the tax increase to be for 2025-26.

 

Add the 2.83 and the 2.98 – you get a total of 5.81 which is what the city wants to set as the tax increase. Enhancing services is where cuts can be made. Has the city explained the new infrastructure well enough?

Hear is how they explain what they feel they will need:-

Based on the investments in current and expanded service delivery included within this report, the City would require a budget increase of 5.80%. Assuming a Region of Halton increase of 4.3% and no change for Education, the overall tax increase is forecasted to be 4.40% equivalent to $42.71 per $100,000 of residential current value assessment (CVA). Burlington’s portion of the overall increase would be 2.98% as outlined below.

Burlington has always shuffled the different financial needs of the Region and the school boards with its own needs.  What the public needs to understand is what the city is spending – this year, that is projected to be close to 6%.

What the other levels of government need is separate – that their spending might reduce the average, is relevant but it is what the city is spending that City Council has to control.  And a close to 6% for 2026 does not look like control

Why the city feels it needs, close to 6%, when inflation is less than 2% is something we find confusing.

Alignment to Corporate Strategy

Burlington’s Strategic Planning Approach, is undergoing an internal strategic realignment. This includes a revised 25-year Strategic Plan as well as a shift from the service-based Vision to Focus to a department-based 5-year Corporate Strategy.

This Corporate Strategy includes:

Strategic Directions for the organization.

These are the high-level, overarching priorities to achieve the vision and mission:

Deliver Positive Community Impact

Build Transparency and Public Trust

Unlock Innovation and Partnerships

Enable Sustainable Growth

Transparency and Public Trust will be a challenge for this council

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Students did some superb work, especially at the STEM level, in what was a tough year for teachers

By Pepper Parr

July, 2nd, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Graduations have taken 0place – students are off to whatever they are going to do this summer.

This is an opportunity to both celebrate those students who have excelled during the school year and take a look ahead and see what will happen in September when they return from the summer holiday..

Aldershot High School student Keerthana Srinivasan

Aldershot High School student Keerthana Srinivasan went quite a bit further than most graduates did in her final year of high school..

Mentioned in media in the city media and named during a comments by Burlington MP Karina Gould, in the House of Commons,  Keerthana was on a media whirlwind for a few days.

With school over she has headed to MIT – the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and work as an intern for the summer and then register as an undergraduate at Princeton University.

What is of particular interest is what got this remarkable young lady to this point in her life.

Her mother, who writes computer code for a living, was certainly a big help.

The computer program she wrote was named SARAH: System Analysis and Reporting for Advanced Hardware (SARAH) an algorithm capable of detecting, classifying, and locating faults on photovoltaic systems as large as 20 MW (120 acres). The best part? It is capable of doing this in 11-40 seconds with minimal hardware setup. SARAH can be used on PV systems in both Space and on Earth.  What follows is very technical and will be difficult to follow for most people.  We include some of her description and the rationale for what she set out to do.

I was inspired to develop SARAH through my experience on the Mission Support Team at The Mars Society, where I acted as Mission Control during a simulated Mars mission in the Arctic on Devon Island. During this time, there was a significant fault due to electrostatic discharge. As part of protocol, the crew was supposed to communicate with me in order to solve this issue. With the high-simulated-communication delays, I realized the inefficiency behind the current protocol, and how detrimental it could be for astronauts living on Mars. Imagine if astronauts on Mars didn’t have electricity-wouldn’t that be crazy!?

In order to alleviate the communication inefficiency, I realized a more automated approach is crucial, especially in emergency situations.

Software Considerations

Keerthana  is very deliberate in the work she does

All code for this project will be run in either Python or C++. Code for the bifurcation model, EKF, and QMCMC will be in Python, while code for the Arduino Pro Micro will be in C++ through the Arduino IDE. Code representing the governing equations for the photovoltaic emulator will be in both Python and C++. As aforementioned, all Python programs will be able to command the Arduino Pro Micro through the serial library.

At this point, the only way for me to actually run the program in a few seconds would be to use a quantum computer or processor. Since I am very committed to making sure my algorithm can be run on a classical computer, it was important to find another ( cheaper) way around this.

Postsecondary Education and Lifelong Learning

This is remarkable work – done at the high school level.

The mathematical proof of convergence for SARAH i s something I submitted to Princeton, Columbia, and other universities I applied to. Therefore, doing the research I did with SARAH and other projects in high school were one of the reasons I got into university. Moreover, working on SARAH opened doors at the University of Waterloo, the Cubes In Space program, and many mentors f rom accredited institutions ( l i ke the White House) that came my way. I have been given the opportunity to receive so much mentorship and assistance through working on SARAH. In terms of  lifelong learning, I had the opportunity to improve my skills in circuitry and PCB design. I also got to learn more about quantum computing.

Science Fair winners

Students from the Halton District School Board (HDSB) achieved outstanding success at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF), held from June 1–6 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The CWSF is Canada’s largest annual youth science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) event. For more than 60 years, the CWSF has united young thinkers from across Canada to present their research and innovations, compete for prestigious awards and engage with like-minded peers who are passionate about discovery and innovation.

This year, 11 students from HDSB elementary and secondary schools earned 40 awards across a range of categories, recognizing excellence in innovation and research. Highlights of HDSB student achievements include:

Those from Burlington include:

Evan Budz, Grade 9 student at Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School for Development of an Autonomous Bionic Sea Turtle Robot for Ecological Monitoring using AI

  • Best Project Award – Innovation
  • The Beaty Centre for Species Discovery Award
  • Excellence Award – Gold
  • Challenge Award – Environment and Climate Change
  • Youth Can Innovate Award
  • European Union Contest for Young Scientists
  • Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
  • Western University Entrance Scholarship

 

Anish Rathod, Grade 12 student at Burlington Central High School for PIONEER: Pipe Inspection and Observation for Non-Destructive Evaluation and Environmental Review

  • Engineering Innovation Award
  • Excellence Award – Silver
  • Dalhousie University Faculty of Science Entrance Scholarship
  • Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
  • University of New Brunswick Canada-Wide Science Fair Scholarship
  • University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship
  • Western University Entrance Scholarship
  • Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
  • Western University Entrance Scholarship

 

Claire Marsh, Grade 11 student at M.M. Robinson High School for Autism Identification Tool: An AI Approach to Reducing Diagnostic Barriers

  • Excellence Award – Bronze
  • Mount Allison University Entrance Scholarship
  • University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship
  • Western University Entrance Scholarship

The impressive results at the Canada-Wide Science Fair reflect the strength of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning across the HDSB. With students from a variety of schools represented, these achievements highlight how the HDSB fosters curiosity, encourages innovation and provides meaningful opportunities that help students develop their passions and deepen their learning.

 

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Regional Police Service report: responded to 139,119 calls in 2024, slight increase of 0.16 %

By Gazette Staff

July 1st, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Halton Regional Police Service released their 2024 report.  This year it was an online report only.

The story this year is set out in a number of graphics:

 

Auto theft occurrences.

Break and Enter Occurrences

 

Regional Statistics:

 

Social media:

As the social media landscape continued to evolve through 2024, so too did the Halton Regional Police Service’s (HRPS’) online presence. To ensure followers have quick and easy access to the information they want and need, the HRPS reimagined its X (formerly Twitter) accounts in July @HaltonPolice became the official channel for HRPS news, and existing District accounts were rebranded to provide tailored content on priority safety and well-being issues: traffic (@HRPS_Traffic) and community (@HRPS_Comm).

As of December 31, 2024, the three X accounts had a combined following of 181,256. Metrics for all HRPS social media accounts in 2024 are as follows:

Crime Stoppers:

Now in its 36th year, Crime Stoppers of Halton is an independent, non-profit, registered charity that helps solve crimes by taking tips from anonymous sources. A tip is any information that a member of the public is aware of that may help law enforcement prevent or solve a crime.

Countless criminals are brought to justice every year as a direct result of anonymous tips. A tip can be about anything – drugs, theft, child abuse, human trafficking, terrorism, escaped criminals, and more. As a resident of Halton, you are encouraged to keep a watchful eye on your community and to report suspicious activity when seen.

Your call or text is anonymous and the appropriate officials will investigate all tips received.

 

 

 

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Canada Day! Tough one this year. If we stand firm we will prevail

By Pepper Parr

July 1st, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Canada Day!

Is it going to be different this year?

There was a time when Bobby Gimby sang his C a n a d a  while children marched behind him.

That was our Centennial year. We were noisy then – we had a lot to celebrate.

As a nation, we are a quiet people.  The Americans are the noisy ones.

Things are quite a bit different this year.  We face an existential threat from a President who is ignorant, psychologically unbalanced and a convicted felon who awaits sentencing from a Judge as soon as his presidency ends.  He could well find himself in jail at some point.

Many of the elected officials in the American Senate have forgotten why they were elected.  Defending the American Constitution is what they swore to do.

The threat from the United States will be with us at least until the 2026 American midterm elections.

In the meantime, we do what we can to manage a very difficult economy; tariffs are wreaking havoc on how business with the Americans is going to take place.

Be resolute and continue to stand firm.

Prime Minister Carney has the experience and, so far, the capacity to make the decisions that are necessary.  Some of them are going to be painful.

In the recent past, Canadians have found themselves standing and singing the National anthem before events.  Not something we have done for some time.

This country has so much going for it – the level of services delivered by the different levels of government is incredible.

We complain about how long it takes to get hip surgery procedures done, how long it takes to get appointments for small surgeries that, for the most part, cost citizens very little.

Americans often go bankrupt as a result of medical bills they cannot pay.

We are the envy of the world for many.

In his Canada Day message, Prime Minister Carney said: We are a “strong, bilingual, multicultural, ambitious country, a country built on the values of freedom, democracy, justice, generosity and humility, because we know that we can always be better.

We have to be resolute and continue to stand firm.

We will prevail.

 

 

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What Sets Legal Ontario Casinos Apart From Offshore Sites?

By Olivia Molcho

July 1st, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

As in many other regions, online gambling in Canada has grown increasingly popular, with an estimated 75% of the country’s adults gambling in some form. Online casinos, in particular, have seen incredible growth, which can be partly attributed to the establishment of an online gambling legal framework in some provinces.

Ontario has become a hub of online gambling.

Since the launch of its legal gambling framework, Ontario has become a hub of online gambling activity. However, with offshore casinos still targeting players with enticing deals, many don’t realize they may be playing at a casino that isn’t licensed in the province.

While this may seem like an unimportant oversight, there are significant differences between legally licensed casinos in Ontario and offshore alternatives. These differences can have a material impact on gameplay, your gambling experience, and even your winnings.

So that you won’t get caught unaware, we’ve highlighted these differences and their impacts below.

The Legal Framework Behind Ontario’s iGaming Market

Before looking at these differences, it is important to note that Ontario is the only province within Canada with a fully regulated online gambling and casino market. While others may permit specific types of gambling online, they lack a regulator that oversees all aspects of gambling activity within the province.

The primary governing body within the province is:

  •  The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)
  •  Established in 1998
  • The body was initially incorporated to control substances like alcohol
  • Also responsible for ensuring that gambling was restricted where necessary and permitted where deemed fit

The turning point for online gambling in the region occurred in 2022 when a subsidiary of the AGCO, iGaming Ontario (iGO), was founded. Despite the AGCO retaining the responsibility of setting regulations and issuing licenses to local operators, the iGO is the body that enters into operating agreements with these operators.

As part of these operating agreements, the iGO manages the relationship between operators and regulators, encourages economic growth in the industry, and ensures continuous compliance with all existing and new gambling laws.

These duties include ensuring proper licensing has been obtained, all relevant background and financial checks conducted, and regular audits of games and security carried out. This ensures operators are transparent with players regarding odds, rules, and other pertinent items and holds operators accountable to provincial authorities.

Despite possibly having a license from alternative governing bodies, offshore operators are not subject to these rigorous standards within Ontario and, therefore, could operate within legal grey areas.

Payout Reliability and Financial Protections

iGO ensures that each operator segregates player funds from the platform’s operational funds.

Among the most significant differences between offshore operators and those licensed within Ontario is the assurance of payouts and protection of your finances. Because the prospect of winning a life-changing amount of money is one of the key attractions of gambling, this is a vital consideration for any player.

Online casinos licensed in Ontario are subject to regulations regarding how they store player funds, perform payouts, and communicate and process withdrawals. iGO enforces each of these regulations, which must be met in order for operators to stay licensed.

One of the most significant methods iGO uses to protect player funds is to ensure that each operator segregates player funds from the platform’s operational funds. This simple act ensures that, should a casino begin facing financial difficulties, your deposited funds are safe and cannot be used by the casino to cover its operational expenses.

More than this:

  • iGO actively enforces that all licensed online casinos use trusted and reputable payment gateways that encrypt all transaction data and minimize the risk of data theft.
  • Strict financial fairness standards also dictate that operators pay out winnings using these methods in a timely manner, consistently when required, and transparently in all withdrawal terms.

In contrast to the above strict regulation to protect your funds and winnings, offshore casinos may not be subject to similar rules and enforcement. Due to this, many complaints can be found online about operators who withhold payouts or endlessly prolong withdrawals, often with no valid reason given.

Game Fairness and Software Audits

Many question the fairness of the games an online casino offers, most often when they are losing. However, numerous third-party agencies, such as eCORGA, perform extensive independent testing and audits to ensure that casino games are fair.

While offshore casinos may or may not provide proof that their games have been proven fair through external audits, operators within Ontario have no choice in the matter. This is because the AGCO provides a strict mandate regarding game fairness and independent auditing.

This mandate states that only games from software providers vetted and approved by the AGCO may be offered on any licensed casino. As such, only titles developed by reputable companies within the iGaming industry are available to players.

In addition, all Ontario-based operators must provide independent certification for the random number generators (RNGs) used in their games. This step ensures that the core of each game, which decides if you win or lose, is justifiably fair and doesn’t grant the house an unreasonable edge.

Dispute Resolution and Consumer Recourse

Another significant advantage of playing at a licensed Ontario casino is that both iGO and AGCO provide resolution services for players who have exhausted all direct avenues when encountering problems with an operator. This recourse, not available with offshore providers, ensures that there is a governing body to which queries can be escalated when needed.

As part of their process of providing players with an avenue of recourse, the iGO and AGCO have the legal authority to launch investigations into complaints and provide mediation for disputes between players and operators.

Where the player is found to be correct, both bodies also have the authority to impose sanctions on operators, including enforcing payouts or fining operators who breach regulatory requirements.

Responsible Gambling Tools and Support Access

The final key difference between offshore operators and casinos operating legally in Ontario is that those within the province must actively promote responsible gambling. While many offshore operators also do this, there have been cases where international gambling brands have failed to provide adequate support or have taken advantage of at-risk players.

To combat this:

  • Ontario casinos are subject to strict rules regarding how they encourage responsible gambling
  • These include the requirement to provide players with the tools to set deposit, loss, and wager limits.
  • Enable time-outs and session reminders if they’re playing for too long, and to join a self-exclusion program that will bar them from playing entirely.

In addition to these tools, all online casinos are also required to provide easily accessible, direct links to organizations like ConnexOntario, which provide free counselling for those seeking support for problem gambling.

The AGCO also regulates how online casinos within the province advertise their services to potential players. While the gambling advertising landscape is relatively open at present, worldwide clampdowns on gambling advertising may result in stricter regulations in the future.

Conclusion

With so many offshore operators catering to Canadian players, choosing one based in Ontario might seem unnecessary at first. However, considering the many advantages offered by the province’s regulatory framework, playing at an offshore operator is not recommended.

Accessing only the best and tested titles, ensuring that payments are timely and conducted using trusted providers, getting access to mediation services and routes of recourse, and receiving addiction help when needed are only some of the perks of gambling with a licensed Ontario online casino.

These advantages easily outweigh any perks of using an offshore operator. They are helping the iGaming industry in Ontario flourish while providing local players with protection that cannot be found elsewhere.

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BAD states the City is using data that is not true; provides evidence to support their claim. Adds that the fight is not over

By Pepper Parr

June 30th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

A very sad and disappointed President of the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) Kimberly Calderbank said that she has evidence that the number of Burlington residents who belong to the  Golden Horseshoe Swimming Club is just 28% – not the 85% the city required.

Kimberly Calderbank, Volunteer President of the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays.

Calderbank said BAD registration for people who live in Burlington is 79%

The data comes from Swim Ontario, the provincial governing body for competitive swimming in Ontario, operating under the national body, Swimming Canada.

Calderbank said, “our legal counsel will now seek an injunction to prevent the city from awarding a contract and ask for a judicial review.

Given the facts that are known, which the city appears to agree with, the document – a certificate of incorporation as a Non-Profit or Not-for-Profit organization. xxxx

Given that the city awarded the contract to the Devilrays in 2020 – would the document the city requires not have been included in that application?

There is some disagreement over whether or not the document,  a certificate of incorporation as a Non-Profit or Not-for-Profit organization.   actually exists?

Kalderbank fears that the Devilrays may have to cease operations.  Members will move from the club they now belong to and join the Hamilton Club to ensure that they get pool time.

Coach Serge Soloukhin

BAD coach Serge Soloukhin said that he believes “someone wants to see us gone”

In a statement released minutes ago Calderbank starts with: “They Lied” referring the the Hamilton club. Adding – “ The Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) are deeply concerned and disappointed by a press release issued today by the City of Burlington, which states that Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) has been awarded youth pool time based on having “85% of their registrants live in Burlington.”

“In the documentation received by BAD Swim Ontario it confirmed that only 28% of GHAC swimmers are Burlington residents — a far cry from the 85% figure publicly stated by the City.

“The Swim Canada registration system shows the following numbers for the Golden Horse Aquatics

REGISTRATION 2024-25                       

Golden Horseshoe Aquatics     

Membership:  525    

Burlington residents: 147     28%   

Will this group of winners get pool time in Burlington?

“Additionally, the City’s press release claims that a certificate of incorporation was required as part of the RFP. That is incorrect. The City’s RFP documentation requested a current and valid certificate of incorporation, which, as confirmed with Service Ontario on Friday, June 6, does not exist. There is no way to obtain a “current” certificate of incorporation.  This is a technicality that the City itself was aware of during the RFP process.

“This is a gross lie and devastating to our club. Our families, our swimmers, and our community deserve honesty, transparency, and fair treatment.

“Instead, this process has been riddled with misstatements and mistruths from the beginning. The fight is not over. Now that it is clear how unfair and unjust this process has been, our determination is only strengthened.”

“BAD has proudly served Burlington youth for decades and will continue to fight for fair, consistent access to City facilities on behalf of its athletes, coaches, and parents.”

Kimberly Calderbank, Volunteer President of the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays

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Use of city pools contract finalized: Burlington Aquatic Devilray loses access to swimming pools

By Gazette Staff

June 30th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

 

The City is aware of recent media stories and public comments about the outcome of our competitive bid process for youth aquatics services. There has been some confusion and misinformation shared, and now that the contract is finalized, we can provide more clarity.

Since 2020, the City has allocated pool time for competitive swim programs through a formal procurement process. This approach follows our procurement by-law and the Municipal Act. It helps ensure we get the best value for residents and that all qualified swim clubs have an equal opportunity to apply.

Procurement processes are used by the City to purchase a wide range of services and supplies – from playground equipment to transit vehicles to aquatics programming. The process is designed to be fair, competitive, and accountable to the public. Rules are in place to make sure everyone is treated equally, including restrictions on political involvement, lobbying, and sharing bid details while the process is underway.

Now that the process is complete, we can confirm submissions from the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) and Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) were received for the 2025 – 2030 youth competitive aquatics contract. Both organizations also submitted bids for the 2020 – 2025 contract, with the same rules in place, including the submission of a certificate of incorporation as a Non-Profit or Not-for-Profit organization. In 2020, the contract was awarded to BAD. This year, the fact that BAD was the current provider did not play a role in the evaluation of new proposals.

As part of the evaluation criteria, the RFP required all applicants to demonstrate that at least 85% of their registrants live in Burlington. This is to make sure that Burlington residents benefit directly from the pool time the City provides. GHAC met all the requirements of the proposal, including this residency threshold, and has been awarded the contract.

As BAD has shared publicly, their bid was disqualified because it was missing some of the required information – in particular, a certificate of incorporation as a Non-Profit or Not-for-Profit organization. Under the bid process rules, City staff are not allowed to overlook missing mandatory requirements or allow submission after the RFP closing date. This protects the fairness of the process.

We understand this outcome is disappointing for BAD and its members. BAD submitted a formal request for review, and that process confirmed the decision was made according to our policies and procedures.

We value the role that all local swim clubs play in our community and will continue working with BAD to explore options for accessing pool time through our regular allocation process.

Our focus remains on making sure Burlington residents have access to high-quality programs and fair use of City facilities. We appreciate everyone’s contributions to building a strong aquatics community here in Burlington.

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Metrolinx will run on the Saturday schedule on Canada

By Gazette Staff

June 30th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Metrolinx is reminding everyone to plan ahead and take the GO to festivities safely and seamlessly as communities across the region get ready to celebrate Canada’s 158th birthday,

Customers can take advantage of the $10 online holiday/weekend day passes that allow you to GO wherever you want. Riders can also transfer for free with One Fare between GO Transit and most local transit systems, including the TTC.

To commemorate Canada’s birthday, Metrolinx is rolling out a special custom wrapped Canada Day themed double decker GO Bus and GO Train.

 

On Tuesday, July 1, GO Transit will run on a Saturday schedule. Customers are encouraged to check schedules before travelling.

 

 

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Rivers: If you think civic administration in Burlington is wonky - try Hamilton and it's Town Hall Politics

By Ray Rivers

June 30th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It was a meeting that never needed to be called.  A team of Hamilton traffic civil servants came to deliver a lecture to more than a hundred Carlisle local residents assembled last Thursday evening in Carlisle arena.  Apparently somebody had to talk-down those noisy locals objecting to a traffic light being rammed down their throats.  At best, it was a top-down consultation after the fact – at worst another example of why the amalgamated city of Hamilton was a bad idea.

All-way stop sign at Centre and Carlisle Roads

City officials claimed that traffic at the village’s existing four way stop was something like 480 cars per hour – which might have made it eligible for a stop light had it been a city intersection in Toronto.  That sent the 100 plus local folks attending the meeting into a fit of laughter.  Someone in the crowd suggested that number might be over a week, not an hour.   Carlisle, with a population numbering fewer than 2000, is a small quaint place which has mercifully been mostly saved from the kind of urban sprawl we see elsewhere in Hamilton.

Ted McMeekin: Hamilton City Councillor for the Carlisle community.

The people were clear – they don’t want this solution to a problem which doesn’t exist.  After it became painfully clear that the bureaucrats weren’t listening, let alone getting the message, Ted McMeekin, the local Councillor commandeered the microphone.  He then invited comments and about 20 or so people politely explained how the stop light would ruin their peaceful village.  They wanted to keep the status quo and rejected the City staff’s stop light pet project.

McMeekin’s introductory comments bemoaned that the city faces a $5 billion dollar capital deficit and was planning an almost 9% tax increase planned for 2026.  And yet property taxes in Hamilton continue to be significantly higher than those our neighbours pay.  And, the price for this stop light project is tagged at over $400,000.

As the member of the local government responsible for that financial mess, you’d think McMeekin would be pleased to listen to the people, save taxpayers half a million dollars, cancel the ill-conceived stop light project, and take a victory bow.  McMeekin, who had lived in Carlisle for a number of years, just needed to listen to his electors, and former neighbours, and say…. no.

A pot hole like this could cost you a hub cap.

But the councillor didn’t do that.  Instead, he created just another local committee most likely intent on wearing down the locals until they’d accept the stop light.  This whole stop light project has been a waste of time and money, and is symptomatic of what’s wrong with the government of this poorly conceived City of Hamilton.  And, it’s not that there aren’t all kinds of much needed opportunities to spend that kind of tax payer money rather than somebody’s pet project.

Hamilton has the worst roads in Ontario, bar none.  And, duh, it’s not that lonely intersection in Carlisle but all the pot holed roads surrounding the village that pose the greatest safety threat for residents.  Some pot holes are so large enough they’d destroy a car’s suspension and blow its tires, forcing drivers to dangerously straddle the centre line to dodge them.  I’d heard about a motorcyclist recently getting thrown off his bike when he inadvertently hit one of those mini-craters.

But city hall would rather spend staff time and our money installing just another unneeded stop light.

Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking.  Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington.  He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject.   Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa.  Tweet @rayzrivers

Background links:

Highway Traffic guide Carlisle Meeting –   Worst Roads –  Tax Competitiveness –   Tax Spending –   Frustrated Residents

 

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Pool time for a swimming club: Lots of egg on a lot of faces on this one

By Pepper Parr

June 30th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Where do things stand on the Devilrays use of city swimming pools?

Kimberly Calderbank: President of the swimming club ensured that they had a reserve fund to cover the costs of situations like this.

The lawyer representing the swimming Club has written the City Solicitor advising him that he will seek an injunction to prevent the city from doing anything until the matter has gone through a judicial review and invited the City Solicitor to meet with him and see if the problem cannot be resolved before any legal steps are taken.

That should bring that matter to a close, assuming this is just a clerical error or, more disturbingly, an employee failing to seek direction from a superior.

Expect the city to realize the error and reverse the decision made at the staff level.

Lots of egg on a lot of faces on this one.

 

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Around the Bay Race route will be different in 2026

By Staff

June 29th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The start point and the finishing point of the 2026 Around the Bay will be different.

When the gun goes off on April 12, runners will start on Guise Street West (take James Street as far north as you can and it’s the last street you hit before going into the water) and they’ll cross the finish line on Discovery Drive, near HMCS Haida.

The exact spots have yet to be determined, but they’ll be locked down by September.

Why the change?

If the race was going to be run on its traditional weekend, it would’ve been scheduled for March 29. However, that’s Juno Award weekend here in Hamilton, which not only draws a ton of resources, closes roads and fills hotels, but also eliminates the newly renamed TD Coliseum as a venue. For this year, anyway.

The week before would put it on the final Sunday of March break. Lewis says they’ve tried that before and it has a huge effect on registrations.

The week after is Easter, which is obviously a problem. That leaves April 12.  Liuna is booked that day

The route will be generally similar to the one this year. The Discovery Centre, the Waterfront Banquet and Conference Centre and the Leander Boat Club will provide facilities. And with a slightly later date, the temperatures might even be a little more favourable.

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Swimming pool mess will become a court case: can the city win this one

By Pepper Parr

June 29th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

We are beginning to get a tighter look at that mess with the allocation of swimming time in city pools

To recap the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) submitted the documents required to prove that they were a not-for-profit organization and that 85% of their membership lived in Burlington

The swimming club was told that the documents did not meet the requirements.

The Devilrays asked for a review of the decision.

The review took place.

Same decision – they didn’t qualify.

The paperwork and what appears to be the level at which the decisions were made was handled by Melissa Mordue, CPPO, CPPB – Manager, Procurement Services for the city.

The CPPB certification is designed for non-supervisory procurement professionals who handle essential functions within the procurement cycle.

CPPO – Certified Public Procurement Officer

The designations at least suggest the person doing the work was qualified.

Then why were there so many mistakes made?

Our understanding is that lawyers have been brought in who are asking for a Judicial Review and an Injunction that puts a halt on everything until a Judge has reviewed all the documents, listened to all the testimony and rendered a decision.

Everyone is asking – who at City Hall dropped the ball on this one?  Or was the ball even handed over to someone higher up the food chain?

We don’t think Hassaan Basit had told the Mayor about his plan to leave the city and begin working at Queen’s Park when this became an issue.  We are trying to put together a timeline to get a fix on who did what when.

The Burlington communications have this nasty habit of releasing bad news late on Friday afternoons – on a holiday weekend if that’s possible.

Last Friday was one of those days from hell for Mayor Meed Ward – she had the swimming pool space allocation issue blow up and the CAO handing in the keys to his office on the same day.

The Mayor has taken the position that she is not permitted to involve herself in procurement matters, which seems to include not asking the CAO to look into the concerns citizens have.

With a municipal election  less than 15 months away one wonders if the next city council is going to look any different.

 

 

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Flights to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, as well as Nassau in the Bahamas will begin out of Hamilton airport in December

By Staff

June 29th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Porter Airlines has added  several sunny south routes to its list of destinations.

Porter Airlines expanding its flight offerings out of the Hamilton Airport.

In December they will be offering flights out of  John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport to destinations such as Cancun and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, as well as Nassau in the Bahamas.

At their peak, some of the routes will operate up to four times weekly. An end date for the flight routes has yet to be determined.

The multimillion-dollar renovation of the departure spaces was a much needed improvement.

Porter now offers daily, non-stop service to Halifax, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton out of the Hamilton airport. A second daily flight to Vancouver will soon be added to the roster.

Porter Airlines CEO Michael Deluce previously told The Spectator that the airline was “very dedicated” to the expansion at the Hamilton airport, noting the company had seen “high demand” for flights out of the city.

Jet bridges will mean passengers will no longer have to walk across the tarmac to board a flight.

The announcement comes just weeks after the airport debuted its multimillion-dollar revamp, which saw the exterior facade transformed and parts of the terminal inside refreshed.

Jet bridges are also expected to arrive at the airport by next winter, meaning travellers will no longer have to walk across the tarmac to their flight — a first for the airport.

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To the mayor specifically: you wanted the spotlight—now try leading like someone who’s earned it.

By Wayne Sloan

June 28th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The quiet departure of Hassaan Basit, the now -“former” CEO of the City of Burlington – might go unnoticed by some—but for those of us paying attention, it signals something far deeper and far more troubling: a city administration mired in mediocrity, marinated in apathy, and completely out of touch with the people it was elected or appointed to serve.

Let’s be clear—Basit’s legacy is not one of innovation or impact, but of glossy presentations and hollow words. His exit does not close a chapter; it simply reveals the stagnation that continues to fester within City Hall. The problem isn’t one individual—it’s the pervasive culture of weak leadership, bureaucratic indifference, and a stunning lack of accountability that infects the entire senior administration.

Planning that has spiraled out of control.

Residents see what’s happening—out-of-control spending, decaying infrastructure, gridlocked traffic that worsens by the week, irresponsible, relentless high-rise development everywhere in the city that threatens the very character and livability of our municipality …. the growing disconnect between residents and their so-called representatives. We see it because we live with it every single day.

Meanwhile, Council and the mayor seem oblivious or simply uninterested, locked in their echo chambers while the city’s planning spirals out of control.

They don’t listen. They don’t act. And when they do, it’s often with arrogance and ineptitude.

Hassaan Basit,

Basit’s exit is not a solution—it’s a symptom. And until there is a complete reckoning inside Burlington City Hall, we will continue to suffer the consequences of a government that is, at its core, unresponsive, unaware, and unfit for the responsibilities it carries.

Replacing Basit might be a starting point for “doing better” — “do better” because the people of Burlington deserve leadership that’s grounded in action, not optics.

And to the mayor specifically: you wanted the spotlight—now try leading like someone who’s earned it.

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Major screw up with paperwork in City Hall - Devilrays taking their case to court - should never have happened

By Pepper Parr

June 28th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The swimming club, Burlington Aquatic Devilrays(BAD)  has been around for more than 40 years and now find themselves facing the prospect of losing their pool time – the problem seems to be the requirement that a document that does not exist be made available to the city.

 

Kimberly Calderbank, volunteer president of the club said: “Someone has made a big mistake – they need to be held accountable.”

The City staff member who handled the paperwork has credentials related to managing procurement issues.

The issue is a document that the swimming club could not provide:

The City rejected BAD’s submission because a requested document: a “current and valid Certificate of Incorporation.”

Club officials explain that the “phrasing was unclear and did not reflect standard terminology or availability in the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations framework.

As verified through communications with Service Ontario on Friday, June 6, 2025, the following was confirmed:

A “current” Certificate of Incorporation does not exist in Ontario’s corporate registry system.

The available and relevant corporate documents are:

o Articles of Incorporation

o Archived Application for Incorporation (1994)

o Articles of Amendment (2024)

o Application for Supplementary Letters Patent (2001)

o Certificate of Status (which BAD submitted)

There is no option to obtain a “current and valid Certificate of Incorporation” under Ontario’s not-for-profit corporate registry. A Certificate of Incorporation, by definition, is a historical document issued at the time of incorporation—it does not have a current or renewable form. As such, it was impossible to fulfill this requirement as worded. In alignment with Service Ontario’s guidance, we submitted a Certificate of Status, which is the only official and up-to-date document available to confirm our active corporate standing. Due to this unclear language, BAD’s application was deemed non-compliant for a technicality that could not have been rectified based on available documentation or processes.

Club president Kimberly Calderbank

Club president Kimberly Calderbank says they applied to renew their pool training time for the fall as usual, but the next thing they got was rejection, no other contact, even after 40 years as pool users, nothing. “We didn’t hear anything the entire time. They say the city told them they needed a current and valid certificate of incorporation as a non profit. The Club says there’s actually no such forum, but it says it submitted documents showing it is a non profit corporation. But then a city councillor told them they were rejected because the city requires that at least 85% of registered participants be Burlington residents. The Devil Rays say more than 85% of their swimmers are from Burlington. Now they say the city appears to be giving the swim time to an out-of-town club from Hamilton.”

“It just doesn’t add up. It doesn’t make sense. This is devastating to our club. We have about 400 swimmers that will need homes if the city of Burlington doesn’t give us our city Pool time.”

Head coach of the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays Sergei Soloukhin.

Devilrays coach Sergei Soloukhin wonders why this is happening.  “I feel like our club is an orphan. You know, feel like, well, something is missing, and I’m not very sure what we did is wrong.”

Mayor Mary Ann Mead Ward’s office said Council is forbidden by law for being involved in any procurement process, and referred questions to the Communications Office, but has added we are aware of the significant disruptions and concerns in the community.

The swimmers say the politicians should be paying attention and that at the end of the day, our mayor and our councillors need to understand what their staff are doing and the decisions they’re making,

The swimmers say it doesn’t end here. They’re preparing to go to court to get a judge to review the city’s decision.

All the information was included and submitted on time, the City deemed the application “non-compliant” and denied the club’s participation in the bid.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward: “Council is forbidden by law from being involved in any procurement process”. Would that include picking up the phone and asking questions?,

“This is more than a technical disqualification — it’s a betrayal of community sport,” says Kimberly Calderbank

The club filed an appeal through the City’s internal dispute resolution process, which was denied. BAD has now retained legal counsel and filed an application for Judicial Review, along with a Motion to Stay, to pause any final pool contract being awarded until the Divisional Court branch of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice reviews the case.

What Families Can Do

The club has launched a public awareness campaign and is calling on Burlington residents to take immediate action:

  • Sign and share the petition: https://chng.it/GM75gpK9ZT
  • Spread the word on social media using hashtags:

#SupportBAD #WeSwimTogether #SaveCommunitySport

One Burlington resident was less diplomatic saying:  “Friday certainly was a bad news day for Mayor My Way…   First, she had to try and put a positive spin on the announced departure of her hand-picked City Manager, oh sorry, CAO.

“Then she had to put on another brave face with the news that Parks and Recreation are royally screwing over the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays swim team/club.   Classic Municipal Goose Stepping.

“This is going to haunt her…   hope she still remembers how to dog paddle!”

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$155 million every two years being made available to private clinics.

By Staff

June 28th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

 

New Democrats issue a statement in response to Premier Ford’s announcement about funding private clinics:

Public money going into private hands instead of our local hospitals.

“The Ford government announced they will funnel $155 million into private clinics every two years. That is public money going into private hands instead of our local hospitals, where help is desperately needed. All of this has been made possible through Bill 60.

“This model of private delivery with public dollars is alarming and unfair. Study after study shows that private clinics benefit the wealthiest, while leaving the rest of us behind.

“Since the Ford government began expanding private cataract surgeries, wait times have only gotten worse. In 2020, 72% of cataract surgeries were performed on time, compared to 66% in 2024. This leaves a significant number of seniors who rely on this procedure for their vision to either pay out of pocket for the health care they need, or much worse, go blind.

“Instead of strengthening our public hospitals and addressing the staffing crisis, this government is handing over our health care system to private companies. Enough is enough. This government received a new mandate to protect Ontario, but what they have been showing Ontarians is that they are willing to choose profits over people, every time.”

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