 By Alex Larsens
May 18th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Online casinos play a big role in online entertainment. They are certainly among the most successful businesses operating in the industry. Gambling platforms on the internet generate billions of dollars every year, and their popularity keeps growing. All of this has made many wonder what the future of online casinos has in store.
Obviously, it is impossible to know what will happen months, years, or even decades from now. However, we can certainly make some guesses based on the popular trends today, and the hopes for the future that many have spoken about. So, in this article, we are imagining how online casinos might look like in the next couple of decades.
Live Gambling Will Grow
 You can be at the table from the comfort of your couch. The success of streaming can be seen in the film, television, music, and even video game world. Many people today prefer to get their content online, then to visit theaters or concerts. The same could be said for gamblers who want to take a moment to explore iGaming. Many would rather relax at home than visit a casino. However, a lot of gamblers miss the face-to-face that online casinos can’t provide…or can they?
The introduction of live gambling has been an incredible phenomenon for the industry. Live casinos are so popular that they’ve become a staple, rather than a feature. It is actually more bizarre to learn that a website does not have a live games option nowadays. Knowing this, it is not strange to think that in the future, live gambling will continue to improve and gain popularity.
VR and AR Will Improve
 Virtual reality is simply not where we need it to be. As things stand right now, virtual reality is simply not where we need it to be. For years, people have dreamed of a virtual casino, where they can go and feel like they are really there. However, even offline virtual reality games are now as developed as many of us would like them to be. For online casinos, VR integration is even tougher. The same is true for augmented reality as well.
But, the dream of a virtual reality casino is simply too powerful to give up on. We, as humans and sci-fi fans, have been dreaming of virtual reality for decades, and it is unlikely that we are going to give up on the dream. While game developers might not be focusing on specifically casino VR, we are certainly going to get something out of the pursuit in the future.
AI Integration is Unavoidable
 The genie has been let out of the proverbial bottle. The tech is here to stay. We say AI integration is unavoidable, but the truth of the matter is that it is already a big part of online gambling. Machine learning software helps to detect fraud, prevent problem gambling, and even to promote the right games to the right people. What we can expect to see in the future is not AI integration, but rather, a superior machine learning program, that will do the job better.
There are many people who are staunchly against the development of AI. However, as understandable as the fear may be, the genie has been let out of the proverbial bottle. The tech is here to stay, and will continue to develop years into the future.
 By Nathan Cole
May 18th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Something’s been happening around Burlington lately. The way people spend money on entertainment has completely shifted in the past year, and I mean really shifted beyond just buying stuff on Amazon.
Last Tuesday my neighbour Mike tells me he’s dropping $87 monthly on streaming services. When I started asking people at that coffee shop on Brant Street about their entertainment budgets, the patterns I noticed were wild. We’re living through a legitimate transformation in how entertainment spending works.
The New Entertainment Economy
People are being way more deliberate now about where entertainment dollars actually go, because you genuinely cannot afford everything anymore with Netflix and Disney+ and sports packages and gaming platforms all competing for the same wallet.
What really grabbed my attention was this buddy mentioning he’d been exploring RexBet Canada for his sports entertainment needs, and then I heard that same platform mentioned by three different people within seven days.
 We’re essentially curating custom entertainment menus at this point. We’re essentially curating custom entertainment menus at this point. Some folks drop $200 monthly on cable without thinking twice. Others pay zero for traditional TV and stream absolutely everything. And plenty of people mix various platforms depending on their mood or what season their favorite show drops.
What I’ve Learned About Digital Entertainment Choices
People around Burlington basically fall into three categories. You’ve got traditional viewers who keep their cable package and add maybe one streaming option. Then the full cord-cutters who went digital years ago and never looked back. And this expanding middle group that experiments constantly with different services.
A guy at my gym walked me through his monthly breakdown. Internet costs him $43. One streaming platform is $19. Sports app runs $25. And he budgets roughly $60 for “variable entertainment spending” that could mean a concert ticket or online gaming or putting money on a Leafs game depending on the month.
Almost everyone I talk to runs some version of this mental calculation now. We’ve all become architects of our own entertainment ecosystems.
Real Numbers From Real People
I did something pretty nerdy recently. Asked 12 people in my circle to track every entertainment dollar for 30 days straight, completely anonymous.
The average landed at $143 monthly. But the spread went from $58 to $287, meaning one person’s entertainment budget was nearly five times another person’s, yet both described feeling satisfied with their value proposition.
Three mentioned betting platforms integrated into their sports viewing habits. Two spent more on video games than streaming subscriptions. One person still maintains an active DVD collection she references weekly.
Zero overlap. Every single entertainment portfolio looked completely different.
Why Burlington Residents Are Changing Habits
You can watch this transformation happening in real time around town. People crave control over their spending. Nobody wants to finance 200 channels when they actively watch maybe 7 programs.
 Seniors have become familiar with the technology and they are now using apps with more ease. But there’s a deeper shift happening too. Digital transactions don’t intimidate us anymore the way they did even five years ago. I watched my 68-year-old father navigate three separate streaming platforms independently. If that demographic can adapt, we’re talking about universal comfort levels.
And residents are treating entertainment as a genuinely flexible budget category now instead of a fixed expense.
Younger Burlington residents especially, the 25 to 45 range, move between platforms with zero hesitation or brand loyalty. They’ll subscribe for eight weeks, cancel, trial something completely different the next month. Just pure value calculation.
Businesses haven’t caught up to how fast this is moving. People want options and flexibility and the feeling that they’re directing where their entertainment money flows instead of being locked into packages designed in 2008.
 By Richard Lachman
May 18th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Richard Lachman is a digital media professor at Toronto Metropolitan University. This is republished from The Conversation.
A billboard tries to sell you something. So does a used car salesman. But no matter how smooth the pitch, you’re quite aware of the profit motive, and you can walk away at any time.
What if that pitch is invisible, plays to your unique fears and vanities, and is delivered in a voice that sounds like a trusted friend? Generative AI has changed the equation of persuasion entirely: chatbots can now deliver a personalized, adaptive and targeted message, informed by the most intimate details of your life.
Large language models (LLMs) can hyper-target messages by drawing from your social media posts and photos. They can mine hundreds of previous chatbot conversations in which you asked for relationship advice, discussed your parenting fails and shared your health concerns and financial woes. They can also learn from each interaction, refining their manipulation in real time, targeting your unique and individual tastes, preferences and vulnerabilities.
This makes one feature especially troubling: Each conversation is private. It is not monitored, never audited and doesn’t happen in the public eye.
This isn’t advertising. It’s something we don’t have words for yet, and we’re living inside it.
Convincing arguments
In my book ”Digital Wisdom: Searching for Agency in the Age of AI,” I explore how large language models introduce a new frontier in persuasion — one where AI systems can draw upon a huge amount of data about the world, language and you to tailor a highly personalized pitch.
Consider how this might work: You’re a nurse. Through your employer’s AI platform, you’ve shared your sleep problems, burnout and the financial stress of a recent divorce. Now the hospital is short-staffed and offering shifts at a reduced rate calculated by software they license.
You ask the AI chatbot whether you should take them. It knows you’re exhausted. It knows you’re behind on bills. It knows exactly which argument could convince you one way or the other. Who is it working for in that moment?
Friend or stranger?
Let’s look at another example. Imagine the following messages from your favourite AI chatbot or companion:
 The danger here isn’t just the precision of the targeting. This content is also impossible to police. “I noticed your sleep patterns haven’t been great lately, averaging only 5.4 hours, with lots of restless periods. That’s common when dealing with relationship stress. Your partner just went back to work and 76 per cent of couples experience strain during career transitions.
“A new sleep medication has shown effectiveness for relationship-linked insomnia. Your insurance would cover it with just a $15 contribution. Would you like me to schedule a telehealth appointment for tomorrow at 2 p.m.? I see you have a break in your schedule.”
This might feel great, like advice from a thoughtful friend who knows you well. It might also feel terrifying, as if a manipulative stranger has read your diary.
Given that people are increasingly turning to AI for medical or mental health advice, despite studies showing this advice to be problematic almost 50 per cent of the time, a manipulative stranger could cause real harm.
The danger here isn’t just the precision of the targeting. This content is also impossible to police. What you view can’t be tracked by watchdogs, since you’re the only person who ever sees it.
While governments don’t typically police the content of political ads, beyond transparency about their funding, we often rely on public outcry and the media to expose campaigns that spread falsehoods. If an AI personalizes every message for an individual, there is no trace left behind.
Reshaping our worldview
Perhaps most concerning is that these systems could gradually reshape our worldview over time.
Scholars have long argued that the algorithms used by social networking sites and search engines create filter bubbles, in which we are fed well-crafted text, video and audio content that either reinforces our worldview or exerts influence toward someone else’s.
 Anthropic’s Head of Claude Code, Boris Cherney presents on stage at the Code with Claude developer conference in San Francisco. Are AI chatbots like Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and DeepSeek helping you think, or subtly shaping your thoughts? The Associated Press
By controlling what information we see and how it’s presented, AI systems could slowly shift how we think about and interpret the world around us, and even change our understanding of reality itself.
This capability becomes particularly concerning when combined with emotional manipulation. Vendors suggest their AI systems can gauge a user’s emotional state through text analysis, voice patterns or facial expressions, and adjust their persuasive strategies accordingly.
Are you feeling vulnerable? Lonely? Angry? The system could modify its approach to exploit those emotional states. Even more troubling, it could deliberately cultivate certain emotional states to make its persuasion more effective.
Design matters
Persuasion is not a side effect of technology — it’s often the point. Every interface, every notification, every design decision carries with it an intent to influence behaviour.
Sometimes that influence is welcome: reminders to take medication, encouragement to exercise or nudges to donate blood that reinforce values we already hold. But sometimes persuasion serves someone else’s agenda — nudging us to buy, to scroll, to work harder or to give up privacy.
 We don’t just need innovation — we need wisdom. The same persuasive techniques can empower or exploit, depending on who controls the system, what goals they pursue and whether they have meaningful consent.
Design matters. Whether in public health, the workplace or daily life. We must ask hard questions about intent, agency and power. Who benefits from a design? Who is being persuaded and do they know it?
The technologies we build should support reflective choice, not undermine it. As AI continues to shape how we think, feel and act, our ethical obligations grow sharper: to create systems that are transparent, that prioritize user dignity and that reinforce our capacity for independent judgment. We don’t just need innovation — we need wisdom.
 By Alan Harrington
May 18th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
There are probably hundreds, if not thousands of people who don’t fully understand what the holiday we are celebrating this weekend is all about. Alan Harrington tells you why it matters
Victoria Day is the time when we remember the birthday of a Queen who ruled the most powerful country in the world about 200 years ago. Is there anything in town that relates to her?
There is actually: an old green fountain at the City Hall on the corner of Brant and Ontario Streets honours her son, who went on to succeed her as King Edward VII.
Edward VII became King when his mother Queen Victoria died in 1901, and King Edward VII ruled from 1901 to 1910.
 The fountain was manufactured in Hamilton and originally had a horse trough. And the glass ball on top was larger than the one today. The fountain, likely the oldest piece of public art in the city is highlighted in the Burlington Historical Society digital collection and is an important stop on the annual Downtown Heritage Walks conducted during Burlington Heritage Month in February.
The King Edward VII fountain was dedicated 108 years ago, on 2 May 1912 by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Sir John Gibson.
 In the left background is the south elevation of the Trader’s Bank, Brant Street. The carriage on the left conveyed his honour Lieut.-Governor Sir John Gibson, who unveiled the fountain, and Reeve M. C. Smith. The Sons of England float, on the right, carried, clockwise from the centre front: John Bull (represented by Sam Oakes); British soldier (Alf Matthews); Canadian soldier (Charles Rump); Britannia (Jennie Dearing); Miss Canada (Ida Ladle); and Sons of England representative (W. Metcalfe). The parade and dedication ceremony drew people from far and wide.
Those parades were major events in those days.
The fountain was originally located at the foot of Brant Street and Water Street (now Lakeshore) next to what today is the Lakeshore Coffee House.
The Hamilton Spectator reported 4,000 people witnessing the unveiling on the 2nd anniversary of Edward VII’s death.
 The fountain was tucked in between what was then a Royal Bank and the Roxy movie Theatre where there were often long line ups to watch a movie. The fountain was later moved to Spencer Smith park.
The fountain, manufactured in Hamilton, originally had a water trough for horses. The glass ball on top was larger than the one today.
 The fountain after its first restoration with the water troughs in place. The fountain spent a considerable amount of time in storage until it was restored by the Optimist Club of Burlington and relocated to City Hall for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977
Time once again eroded the features of the fountain. After some encouragement from local concerned citizens, the city agreed the fountain needed work.
 And so, it has been carefully removed and taken to the repair shop.
The four Lion Heads at each corner (for the corners of the earth) match the four lion heads under the City Hall clock. Great Britain was once the most powerful country on earth – it stretched to the four corners of the earth.
As for the man the fountain was created to honour: Edward (Prince Albert) known as Bertie, was in the Golden Horseshoe in 1860 when he visited Toronto and Niagara Falls. He never did get to Burlington.
 Taken away to be restored. The fountain may be small but it stands its ground. It is the oldest public object still on display in the City of Burlington and has been there as our small town has grown to a great city.
But time and weather are hard on such treasures.
  By Sadie Smith
May 18th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Modern online casino games increasingly focus on progression based mechanics that create a stronger sense of development during gameplay, and Casoola reflects how these systems are becoming more popular among digital players.
Online casino gaming has evolved far beyond traditional spinning reels and static game structures. While classic casino games still remain popular, modern players increasingly expect gameplay experiences that feel more active, layered, and rewarding over time. As a result, developers now build many casino games around visible progression systems that continuously give players new objectives and gameplay phases to reach.
These systems create the feeling that sessions are developing rather than simply repeating the same actions over and over. Unlockable features, collection meters, expanding bonus stages, and evolving mechanics all contribute to this growing trend.
Casoola Casino reflects how modern online casino platforms continue embracing progression driven gameplay to create more engaging and dynamic entertainment experiences.
Progression systems make gameplay feel more rewarding
 This creates stronger engagement during longer sessions because players feel they are working toward something larger. One of the main reasons progression mechanics have become so popular is because they give players a visible sense of advancement during gameplay. Traditional casino games often reset completely after every round, but modern progression systems allow sessions to feel more connected and continuously evolving.
Many online slots now include collection features where symbols gradually fill meters that unlock bonus rounds or additional mechanics. Players often enjoy these systems because they provide ongoing goals beyond individual wins.
This creates stronger engagement during longer sessions because players feel they are working toward something larger. Even smaller gameplay moments contribute to visible progression, which helps maintain attention and momentum.
Casoola Casino highlights how modern casino developers increasingly focus on creating layered gameplay experiences where progression itself becomes part of the entertainment value.
Some games also use expanding stages that unlock new reel structures, additional paylines, or enhanced bonus features as gameplay continues. These systems help make sessions feel less repetitive and more dynamic over time.
Visual design plays a major role in these mechanics as well. Progress bars, glowing meters, animations, and unlock sequences all reinforce the feeling that the game is actively developing throughout the session.
Modern players expect evolving gameplay experiences
Digital entertainment habits have heavily influenced how online casino games are designed today. Players are now accustomed to progression systems in mobile apps, video games, and streaming platforms where constant development and rewards are central to user engagement.
Casino developers increasingly apply these same principles to online gaming. Instead of relying entirely on isolated spin results, many games now focus on longer gameplay arcs filled with unlockable content and changing mechanics.
This evolution helps casino games feel more interactive and modern. Players often remain engaged because every round contributes to a larger gameplay structure rather than existing as a completely separate event.
Platforms like Casoola Casino reflect how online casinos continue adapting to entertainment habits shaped by progression driven digital experiences.
 You can now eat noodles and game at the same time. Mobile gaming has accelerated this trend even further. Smartphone users frequently prefer games that create visible development during shorter sessions because progression systems provide a stronger sense of accomplishment and continuity.
Developers therefore continue experimenting with new ways to integrate progression mechanics into slots, instant win games, and other casino formats.
Progression mechanics are reshaping modern casino game design
The growing popularity of progression systems demonstrates how much online casino design now focuses on sustained engagement rather than simple repetition. Developers understand that players increasingly expect games to feel dynamic, responsive, and constantly evolving.
Many modern casino games now combine progression systems with bonus rounds, symbol collection mechanics, multipliers, and feature unlocks to create highly layered experiences.
Casoola Casino represents how online casino platforms continue supporting games that blend traditional casino mechanics with progression based gameplay structures inspired by broader digital entertainment trends.
These systems also help differentiate modern games from older casino formats. Instead of relying solely on chance and repetitive spinning, developers create experiences that feel more personalized and continuously active.
As online casino gaming continues evolving, progression based mechanics will likely become even more important because they successfully combine visual engagement, gameplay variety, and long term player involvement within a single system.
 By Gazette Staff
May 17th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Lakeshore Road has been closed due to a fire in a high-rise tower.
Awaiting further details.
Update: The tower is on Lakeshore just west of the Esso Station
 Upper unit in what appears to be the west side of Brant Street.  Damage to the unit is extensive  Tower in which the fire took place is to the immediate West of the Esso station on Lakeshore Road.
 By Gazette Staff
May 17th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Grow Native Halton has put together a guided Tree Identification Walk at Mountainside Park in Burlington.
Have you ever wondered how to tell one tree from another? On this casual guided walk, we’ll explore common native trees found in our local woodlots, learn simple identification tips, and talk about the important role trees play in supporting birds, pollinators, and biodiversity.
Some of the trees we may encounter include Serviceberry, Northern Red Oak, Basswood, Eastern White Pine, American Elm, and the uniquely textured Musclewood.
Pat will guide participants through the park while sharing identification tips, ecological relationships, and interesting stories about the trees that shape our local forests.
Location: Mountainside Park
2205 Mount Forest Drive, Burlington
Date: Saturday, May 23
Time: 2 pm
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Pre-registration would be appreciated. Click HERE please.
By Gazette Staff
May 17th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Centre Lions Farmers Market will be open on
 Wed, May 20, 2026, 8:00am-2:00pm
Fri, May 22, 2026, 8:00am-2:00pm
Sat, May 23, 2026 , 8:00am-2:00pm
Location
777 Guelph Line
Burlington, ON
Your Burlington Centre Lions Farmers Market in its 68th year.
New this year June to September 3 to 7pm twilight market.
 By Gazette Staff
May 17th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 In-person registration support is also available at the start of the registration launch at Customer Service desks at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre (Thursday, May 21) and Tansley Woods Community Centre, on registration launch days. Please note, staff have the same access to programs as on the City’s website; in-person registration does not provide priority access.
For assistance leading up to registration launch day visit our Service Burlington page for regular recreation customer service hours.
New! Online virtual waiting room
On the upcoming registration launch day for summer for adult programs and swimming lessons, you’ll see something different when registering online – a virtual waiting room! Learn more about how the virtual waiting room works.
 By Pepper Parr
May 17th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
In 2023 Kyle Hutton went after the provincial seat for Burlington. He ran as a Green
 In 2025 he went after the federal seat for Burlington, again running as a Green.
2026 and Kyle Hutton has filed nomination papers for the Ward 3 council seat.
The man is determined to hold some form of public office.
His nomination now guarantees there will be a race for every Council seat.
With the exception of Mayor Meed Ward and Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte, every member of the current Council looks to be re-elected, not always for the seat they currently hold.
By Gazette Staff
May 16th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Mapleview will be open Monday while the Burlington Centre will be closed
The move, made by the provincial government earlier this year, allows retail businesses to stay open on both the May long weekend and the Family Day long weekend in February.
By Pepper Parr
May 15th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Things will be very quiet around city hall today.
A Friday before a long weekend is an occasion when some stuff use the hours of overtime they have booked to get away early. This being the weekend when cottages get opened up expect a lot of your phone calls to become an opportunity to leave a message.
 Jamie Teller, Director of Community Planning, at an evening community event. When Senior staff attend public evening events, they are allowed to recover the lost personal time.
It’s a fair trade off. Whatever it was you wanted to know – they will all be back at their desks on Tuesday.
The weather shows some promise; that early morning chill that is still in the air will get pushed aside.
And by the time we get back to our desks, the Canadiens should be on their way to the Eastern NHL Finals – and then, at least for the true beleivers, the Stanley Cup.
Better Montreal than some American city – you all know it is going to be a decade – maybe more, before the Cup ever sees the streets of Toronto!
By Gazette Staff
May 15th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather this weekend sounds promising.
Burlington Green is holding an Eco Action day that will include:
🐦 Guided Bird Walk
🌍 The Four Sisters of Mother Indigenous Teaching
🌊 Beach Litter Clean-Up (or invasive plant removal workshops!)
*ADDED* Invasive garlic mustard and burdock removal workshops!
 BurlingtonGreen keeps the city’s beaches clean and free of rubbish. You can help keep it this way. All at the Beach on Saturday, May 16th, 8:30 am to noon. (1094 Lakeshore Road)
You can also drop in for climate resources and family-friendly eco-fun, including pollinator-friendly seed ball making, sharing your eco-actions, and nurdle discovery.
Beach clean up and invasive plant workshops are eligible for volunteer hours!
Click HERE to register
By Gazette Staff
May 14th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Burlington Business Excellence Award More than 500 people attended.
The Award winners are:
Charity / Not-for-Profit Award: Food for Life Inc.
Sponsored by Enbridge Gas
Environmental Impact Award: Anaergia Inc.
Sponsored by CN Rail
Heritage Award: The Burlington Historical Society
Sponsored by SOL Recycling
Large Business Award: Mohawk College
Sponsored by RBC
New Business of the Year Award: ERS Burlington
Sponsored by MNP LLP
Small Business Award: Gem Limousine Service
Sponsored by Cogeco
Women Business Leader Award: Kelly Hoey — HIEC
Sponsored by Scotiabank and Scotia Wealth Management
Young Entrepreneur Award: Keyon Silva — FP Fitness
Sponsored by HIEC
Burlington Economic Development + Tourism Award for Excellence in Global Business: Paybilt Inc.
Sponsored by Burlington Economic Development + Tourism
Burlington Economic Development + Tourism Award for Excellence in Innovation & Technology: DentalAssist.ai
Sponsored by Burlington Economic Development + Tourism
Burlington Economic Development + Tourism Award for Excellence in Retail Innovation: Backed by Bees
Sponsored by Burlington Economic Development + Tourism
Burlington Economic Development + Tourism Award for Excellence in Tourism Leadership: Dan Lawrie International — Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Tour
Sponsored by Burlington Economic Development + Tourism
2026 Mayor’s Resiliency Award: Laurel Steel, A Nucor Company
Sponsored by City of Burlington
 Dan Lawrie with one of the hundreds of art pieces displayed along the Naval Promenade and sprinkled through the city. Each of the awards was earned trough dedication and improvement in the way the city works. Dan Lawrie, both personally and corporately, deserves kudos from the tens of thousand of people who have enjoyed the sculpture and the art work seen and appreciated on the Naval Promenade at Spencer Smith Park.
By Pepper Parr
May 13th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Amazing what competition will do.
A Day or so ago, Dunkin’ Donuts announced it was returning to Canada and opening xxx locations across the country.
Today, Second Cup Café announced it will offer medium brewed coffee for $2 at participating locations across Canada, from May 13 until June 9. The four-week offer, the promotion is available all day and reflects growing demand for added value in the daily routines of Canadians and their everyday purchases.
The limited-time offer gives guests a simple way to enjoy Second Cup’s signature brewed coffee at a reduced price, whether they are starting their morning, taking an afternoon coffee break, or stopping in for a quick coffee and snack during the day.
“Coffee is part of the daily rituals of so many Canadians,” says Roxane Desjardins, Marketing Director at Second Cup Café. “With this offer, we are giving guests an accessible way to enjoy a premium coffee experience at Second Cup, at a time when value continues to matter.”
About Second Cup Café
A Canadian staple since 1975, Second Cup Café offers premium-quality coffee and specialty beverages. Focusing on sustainability and ethical sourcing, Second Cup provides customers with a refined and inviting café experience that celebrates coffee culture while supporting local communities.
About Foodtastic
Foodtastic is one of Canada’s largest restaurant franchisors, operating more than 1,200 locations across the country. Its diverse portfolio includes Freshii, Quesada, Pita Pit, Second Cup, Milestones, and over 22 other banners. Committed to quality, innovation, and growth, Foodtastic continues to expand its presence across North America.
This level of consolidation is never a good thing medium and long term for consumers.
By Pepper Parr
May 14th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Are we about to see the end of the Strong Mayor Powers that Dog Ford gave municipal Mayors?
 City CAO Curt Benson is in place until the day before a new Council is sworn in in December of 2026. He was hurriedly put in place when Hassaan Basit left on pretty short notice to join the provincial government after serving the city for a mere 16 months. At a Council Standing Committee earlier this week, City CAO Curt Benson said that changes were being made by the provincial government and that details were yet to arrive.
He undertook to brief Council at its formal meeting on May 19
The Staff report under discussion said:
This is a non-binding policy meant to guide the Mayor of the City of Burlington when exercising their powers under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2002, commonly referred to as Strong Mayor Powers.
The use of Strong Mayor Powers are at the sole discretion of the Mayor except with respect to the adoption of the City’s annual budget. This policy aims to support and guide the Mayor when making decisions using Strong Mayor Powers, however compliance with its provisions is not necessary for a Strong Mayor Power decision to be of full force and effect.
Principles:
When considering the use of Strong Mayor Powers, the Mayor should have regard to the following;
-
-
- Any previous decisions made by Council on the matter in question.
- Advice from City Staff on the matter in question.
- If the timelines or situation allow for Council to form a position on the matter.
- Whether there are other, more inclusive, avenues for decision-making available.
References:
Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, received Royal Assent on Sept. 8, 2022, and came into force on Nov. 23, 2022. This bill created what is commonly referred to as Strong Mayor Powers in the province of Ontario.
There was considerable concern amongst members of Council on just what the Mayor could do – four of the six members of Council wanted major changes (the exceptions were Sharman and Bentivegna) to what Mayor Meed Ward could do. Selecting the City CAO was one that Council members wanted in on.
 By Pepper Parr
May 14th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Those who pay attention to what Council and City staff do day in and day out will have been interested in the Staff report that outlined how the role of Advisory Committees will be created and how they will operate.
The plan is solid, and the role out has merit.
 Burlingtonians will show up for public meetings and take an active part in any discussion – but they have to be given background briefings and decent opportunity to study and prepare. This meeting was one of those one way events: City Treasurer telling an audience what she was going to do. What isn’t clear, and what needs to be clear is: Will the public be at the table when staff is working on the specifics?
The report isn’t due back until Q1 2027 by which time we will know what the city is going to have in the way of a City Council. Will there be a new Mayor and a Council with some new faces and a different approach to citizen involvement?
 Roland Tanner worked hard to bring about changes to the way Advisory Committees are created and what they are permitted to do.  Jim Young, along with Roland Tanner, prepared a detailed proposal on Advisory Committee changes – they didn’t even get a hearing. There were a number of people who put in a lot of time on pushing for changes: Roland Tanner and Jim Young will tell you that on that occasion they got less then even lip service.
Could it be different this time?
It could be (dare I say should be) different this time?
Reach out to each other. Form ad hoc committees. Don’t wait for the city to invite you – just show up.
One of the issues is always – who chooses the members of the Advisory Committees?
There are those in Burlington who would very much like to see a change and let community groups have the right to determine who holds at least a couple of the seats on any Advisory Committee.
The Indigenous community are said to meet regularly with city staff on developing policy papers: why couldn’t community organizations do the same thing?
One reason is that there really isn’t very much in the way of community organizations in Burlington. Oakville is reported to have more than a handful.
 Penny Hersh showed what could be done when EcOb was formed. (Yes, we know Penny didn’t create ECoB but she did use the organization to hold council member debates in every ward of the city.)
All that Burlington has is the (RCO) Roseland Community Organization that holds speaker series events and hosts debates during elections, both provincial and municipal.
There appears to be a change in the electoral wind – too early to tell if it will anything more than a little gust.
Related news article:
Council approves the creation of changes to the Advisory Committee process
 By Tom Parkin
May 14th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Alberta also hit with high insolvencies, now 23% above the number in BC, which has 20% more population.
Ontario insolvencies double
Ontario insolvencies, monthly, Jan 2021 to Mar 2026
Perhaps “Insolvent Ontario” doesn’t have quite the same ring.
Doug Ford’s government is spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on the formerly illegal practice of using public money to pay for partisan advertising. That big ad buy tells voters he’s protecting Ontario jobs and businesses.
But despite his expensive PR push that you pay for, data shows that increasingly it is insolvency protection that is required in Doug Ford’s Ontario, according to data from the federal Office of the Supervisor of Bankruptcy.
The OSB’s latest monthly tracking of insolvencies — bankruptcies and proposals — was released Monday. In March there were 1,129 bankruptcies and 4,125 creditor proposals in Ontario.
That’s up from the precious month. It’s up from the same month last year. It’s double the number from about four years ago.
Trend to more insolvencies long pre-dates Trump 2.0
As a political slogan, Ford’s “protect Ontario” is designed to implicitly deflect blame for Ontario’s economic malaise onto external forces, presumably U.S. President Donald Trump.
But the insolvency numbers are part of a growing collection of data — including on employment, retail sales and GDP — showing Ontario’s economic weakness set in well before Trump. And that weakness deepened our vulnerability to his tariff attacks.
The number of consumer and business insolvencies in Ontario hit a peak in March, continuing a multi-year trend. In July 2022, when Ford’s PCs were first re-elected, there were 2,762 insolvencies. Since then the number of Ontario insolvencies has almost doubled to 5,254 in March.
Between March 2025 and March 2026 the number of insolvencies in Canada increased 10.2 per cent. But they increased nearly twice as fast — 19.1 per cent — in Ontario, the biggest increase in the country.
Alberta hit with 23% more insolvencies than BC in March
Several provinces are being hit by new peaks in insolvency, but on a per capita basis, Alberta stands out. In March, Alberta had about 23 per cent more insolvencies than neighbouring B.C. even though its population is about 20 per cent smaller.
Insolvencies, March 2026
By Tim Jones
May 14th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
If you’ve ever been to a Las Vegas casino or, indeed, any large casino resort, you’ll probably have noticed the jackpot tickers above the machines, notably slot machines.
They’ll show massive prizes, sometimes worth millions of dollars. It is quite alluring, and it’s conceivable that it attracts a lot of people to casinos, hoping for that lucky spin.
 Do you know how these prizes are won? The same experience occurs with online progressive jackpot slots, though there are certain differences. The main similarity, though, is that the headline prizes can be just as big, reaching several million dollars with some games. But do you know how these prizes are won? It’s actually quite simple, but it’s interesting when you break down the mechanics.
A prize funded by players
To start with, let’s explain what a progressive jackpot is. Every game technically has a jackpot, i.e., a top prize, but progressive jackpots are somewhat different. It is, in effect, a prize funded by players. Usually, it starts with a seed amount provided by the casino, let’s say $100K, and then a small amount is taken from each wager – small enough that you won’t notice, like 1 cent for every dollar – and that grows the jackpot.
As you can gather, it takes a lot of playing to grow the jackpot to several million. For instance, let’s say that the average wager was $1 and the jackpot contribution was 1%, then it would take 100 million spins to add a million to the prize, or a billion spins to add 10 million. There is an economies-of-scale principle applied by casinos, so people will be playing the same game, growing the jackpot across different casinos. Sometimes multiple games are connected to a jackpot network, allowing the prize to grow more quickly.
 Everyone wants to see this show up on the screen. It does happen. So, how is the prize won? It’s not based on a specific set of results, nor some combination of symbols. It’s random. The developer behind the game will use a random number generator to decide the exact amount that will be paid as the jackpot. For example, it might be $3,743,164.54. Nobody will know that figure – not even the casino operators.
The tipping point
Can you guess how it is awarded? Well, the player whose jackpot contribution tips the balance by reaching the previously determined amount will be awarded the jackpot. For instance, if we use the figure above: imagine that the jackpot currently stood at $3,743,164.53, and your $1 bet added the final penny to the jackpot; you would be awarded the prize. As we said, it’s quite simple.
 Winning is a thrill! The attraction of these games is that they are random. However, there are a couple of caveats. For a start, bigger bets are more likely to win. Why? Well, if you are betting $100 per spin, you are more likely to be the person who tips the balance with the jackpot contribution than the person playing for 20 cents. Secondly, some games, but certainly not all, will have minimum bet requirements to be eligible for the progressive jackpot. But everyone usually has a chance.
As you might expect, a mini internet ecosystem has grown up around online progressive jackpots, with websites tracking the prizes and discussing tactics. It is sometimes worthwhile checking these platforms to see where to find the biggest prizes, but it’s worth bearing in mind that it is impossible to tell when and where the massive prize will be delivered.
 By Gazette Staff
May 13th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Flames Volleyball is raising the standard for off-season development with the launch of its Flames Summer Training Program, a high-performance training environment led by current U SPORTS athletes, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) competitors, and elite-level guest coaches.
The program begins June 2 at multiple locations in Burlington, Ontario, including: Robert Bateman Community Centre, Alton Community Centre, and Tansley Wood Community Centre. The summer training program offers a selection of morning, afternoon and evening sessions.
 At the core of the program is direct access to the next level. Throughout the summer, athletes will train alongside and learn from a rotating roster of university players and experienced coaches, bringing real-time insight, pace, and expectations from the OUA and post-secondary game directly into each session.
Designed for athletes aged 15–18, the program delivers a focused, high-intensity training experience where small-group instruction and game-speed execution drive measurable improvement. With strict capacity limits, every session ensures athletes receive meaningful reps, individualized feedback, and consistent exposure to high-performance coaching.
“This is about bringing the university gym into the summer environment,” said Jimmy Earl, Director, Flames Volleyball Club. “Athletes aren’t just training, they’re learning how the next level actually operates. The speed, the communication, the decision-making – it’s all built into every session.”
The summer-long coaching lineup includes:
- Will Brewer – Outside Hitter for the Windsor Lancers; Team Ontario Elite; OVA Champion, and two-time OUA Silver Medalist
- Matt Powell – Matthew Powell was named the 2026 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year after leading the Seneca Sting. Known for his focus on leadership, accountability, and holistic student-athlete development, Powell has built a culture of excellence both on and off the court. His impact has quickly positioned Seneca as one of the top rising programs in Canadian collegiate volleyball.
- Kai Taylor – Outside Hitter for Toronto Metropolitan University; U-16 indoor national championship, as well as a bronze medal at nationals for beach volleyball.
- Marko Milenkovic – Team Ontario coach and former TMU athlete; Marko Milenkovic is a Team Ontario Coach and former TMU/Ryerson athlete. He is a 3-time U Sports Academic All-Star Canadian, and 3-time OUA Academic Achievement Award. Before Ryerson he spent five years as a key member of the Toronto West VBC (2009-2014). He served four years as captain of the Toronto West VBC and was awarded Jr. Boys MVP (2012-13) and Sr. Boys MVP (2013-14) while playing for Richview Collegiate Institute
Featured guest coaching appearances throughout the summer also include: Matt Powell, CCAA Coach of the Year, who will be leading Tuesday evening sessions in June.
Additional university and high-performance guest coaches to be announced in the coming weeks.
 Good so far – how did the opposing team handle the move? “This program is built to reflect what training looks like at the university level,” added Will Brewer, who will oversee day-to-day training of the summer program. “We’re focused on creating a competitive environment where athletes are getting a high volume of quality reps, immediate feedback, and a clear understanding of the pace and expectations at the next level. With smaller groups, we’re able to coach details that make a real difference.”
Unlike traditional camps, the Flames Summer Training Program is structured as a progressive development system, where athletes build consistency, confidence, and performance through repetition, competition, and direct coaching feedback.
Program highlights:
- U SPORTS and OUA-level training environment
- Small-group sessions with a maximum 5:1 athlete-to-coach ratio
- High-repetition, game-speed skill development
- Tactical gameplay and decision-making training
- Integrated speed, agility, and movement work
- Competitive open gym and live-play environments
Programming runs throughout the summer with evening sessions beginning June 2 (Tuesdays and Thursdays), and daytime training launching June 8 (Monday to Thursday weekly, excluding the first week of August).
Capacity is limited to 15 athletes per session, ensuring a high-performance, high-touch coaching experience. Pricing begins at $40 per session or $60 for a full-day training block.
For more information and registration details, visit https://www.flamesvolleyball.com/
 At the end of the game, it is the bonds created and how well you played. About Flames Volleyball
Flames Volleyball is a Burlington-based, not-for-profit volleyball club focused on athlete development through high-quality coaching, structured training environments, and competitive gameplay opportunities. Operating year-round, Flames Volleyball provides programming for athletes across multiple age groups, with a strong emphasis on skill progression, game understanding, and long-term athlete growth.
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