 Fintech has played a significant role in the development of the casino gaming market since the early 21st century.  By Norman Coles
February 8th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Fintech has played a significant role in the development of the casino gaming market since the early 21st century. Ingenuity is vital in any industry if it is to thrive and succeed across multiple platforms and countries.
For some in the industry, it is the integration of the blockchain that has helped it achieve a new status, a stream of new customers, and ingenuity that has kept traditional casino gaming concepts fresh.
Blockchain and cryptocurrency have opened the doors to a new market in casino gaming, and by channelling the overlapping markets of crypto and casino gaming, they create an environment where companies that innovate in both fields can try their hand at creating ideas that break the mould, which is why collaboration is so important.
The Ingenuity Of The Blockchain
 Each transaction on the blockchain is recorded and cannot be amended. Of all the innovative features of the blockchain, its DIY security has been one of the biggest talking points for burgeoning casinos looking to stand out in the market. Although blockchain and cryptocurrency are still in the early stages in Canada, the success they have had in other parts of the world bodes well for those companies looking to break into the market.
Given that each transaction on the blockchain is recorded and cannot be amended, this helps immensely from a security perspective, allowing casinos to monitor transactions and wallets and ensure that users do so without compromising the integrity of the integrated systems.
Anyone with a cryptocurrency wallet is able to set one up free of charge, and you can send crypto to another wallet without having to worry about any cross-border fees or hidden charges that have been a significant issuefor people who use their centralized bank accounts to send currency overseas, but this is just one element of why it is gaining so much traction.
We’ve seen this at Ozoon casino Canada, and it is a framework that has been successfully rolled out across multiple Bitcoin casinos worldwide. They don’t need to seek information from a centralized oversight body; everything is stored on the blockchain, and that’s all they need to raise queries or find out more about their withdrawals and deposits.
Taking Inspiration From Other Fields
Blockchain companies have often looked to other markets to expand their reach. We’ve seen them do it in healthcare, and we have seen them break into other broader areas of the gaming industry, too. They’re not the first industry to try this model. In fact, many casino gaming companies adopted this approach in the earliest days of the online betting market.
Those innovators who believed the future would be online invested heavily in partnering with industry leaders in website design, SEO marketing (despite the rise of AI), and security, ensuring websites remained safe and the information on servers remained secure and out of prying eyes.
Online casinos have replicated the traditional model, which has been a huge success in conventional gaming. This collaboration took place across a number of sectors, bringing in the sharpest minds and ultimately ensuring that the end product was innovative, engaging, and offered a high-class alternative and experience to those used to land-based versions of casino classics.
Why Transparency Matters
In a market that deals with so many different withdrawals and deposits, it’s important that customers and casino gaming platforms are able to have easy access when it comes to their transactions.
 Surveillance technology in online casinos has moved well beyond just sifting through event logs. Gaming ingenuity needs to push the market forward across all sectors. If you have a foundation built on security and openness, it will attract the right ethos and ideals into the business. Customers will be more inclined to check out a service if they know that companies operating within it are both fair and transparent. While no industry is without its detractors, any industry with a high level of consumer trust certainly helps put it on firmer ground.
It isn’t just that the blockchain ensures all information is publicly available and can’t be amended; the cryptography, which guarantees security and removes the need for third-party oversight, is a crucial element here. Blockchain is entirely digital, and as the gaming industry collectively moves toward a market aiming to achieve a similar level of digital dominance, Bitcoin’s growing significance was almost inevitable.
Blockchain’s Future In Casino Gaming
 Many companies are looking to implement blockchain technology and crypto payment systems into their design. We’ve seen how many companies are looking to implement blockchain technology and crypto payment systems into their design. With countries like the US ploughing ahead and looking to create a foundation for blockchain to become the fabric of many new systems, it’s bound to continue influencing the world of casino gaming.
Bitcoin casinos were among the first companies to integrate digital assets when mass adoption was low in the early 2010s. Therefore, as more people invest in and trade digital assets and more companies look to incorporate them into their business models, it’s highly likely we’ll see collaboration between blockchain, cryptocurrency, and casino gaming companies continue.
 By Maria Pakozdi
February 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The ongoing Southwest Burlington boundary review is creating significant uncertainty and anxiety for families, particularly those with children in French Immersion, at a critical point in the school year when parents are being asked to make important program decisions for September. While boundary reviews are an important planning tool, the way this consultation is unfolding is raising serious concerns about governance, transparency, and fiscal responsibility.
As part of the review, the Halton District School Board has invited public input on proposed options intended to address enrolment pressures and support long-term planning in the area. At the first public meeting, three options were presented: relocating the French Immersion program to Central Public School, or moving it to Tecumseh Public School either as a Grades 2–6 program or a Grades 2–8 program.
At the second public meeting, it became clear that the two Tecumseh options received little to no support from parents. Families expressed strong concerns about children attending a JK–8 school and losing the important developmental experience of graduating elementary school, including leadership opportunities that come with being the oldest students in a school community.
The Grades 2–8 Tecumseh option also raised serious alarm because it would eliminate French Immersion at Central Middle School, weakening enrolment, reducing funding, and most importantly undermining the long-term viability of French Immersion at the middle- and high-school levels. It would also create split cohorts, with students transitioning from Tecumseh to different high schools, directly contradicting the Board’s stated boundary review goals of minimizing cohort splits and supporting smooth transitions.
In contrast, the option of relocating French Immersion to Central Public School aligned with those stated goals by maintaining program continuity, supporting stronger pathways into middle and high school, and reducing unnecessary cohort fragmentation.
Following the lack of community support for the Tecumseh options, the Board introduced additional ideas, including leaving French Immersion at Tom Thomson Public School as a single-track school. This option is problematic for multiple reasons and appears to conflict with the Board’s own policies, which do not permit single-track French Immersion schools that end at Grade 6. The Board has also continued to entertain the idea of keeping Tom Thomson as a dual-track school, despite clear capacity constraints that make this unworkable. Tom Thomson has a total capacity of approximately 219 students, and French Immersion enrolment alone is around 150, leaving fewer than 70 spaces for the English program—an amount that cannot sustain a viable JK–6 English stream and runs counter to the very purpose of conducting a boundary review.
Taken together, these developments are contributing to a growing lack of trust in the process. At a time when the Board is facing a significant and increasing deficit, it is troubling to see options being advanced that are not policy-compliant, operationally realistic, or fiscally prudent. Floating scenarios that would require inefficient use of space, increased transportation costs, or unsustainable staffing models raises legitimate concerns about whether the Board is fully applying its own policies and financial constraints.
The uncertainty created by this process is not theoretical. Parents are currently being asked to decide whether to enroll their children in French Immersion for Grade 2 next year. Prolonged ambiguity undermines confidence in the program, creates stress for families, and risks real harm to enrolment and program stability. Meaningful consultation is essential, but it must focus on realistic, policy-aligned options that genuinely meet the stated objectives of the review. Continuing to present implausible alternatives alongside the one option that clearly aligns with those goals risks wasting valuable time and eroding public trust when clarity and leadership are most needed.
Maria Pakozdi can be reached at mpakozdi@descartes.com
By Pepper Parr
February 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette started the story about the 475 housing units that were taken off the market when the developer realized that the market wasn’t taking up what he had to offer.
Eric Stern expands on what we had to say with his piece in Focus Burlington. See the link below.
With the recent cancellation of a 475-unit condo project on Appleby Line, a correction in the condo market may already be happening.
What are some of the reasons behind this market correction?
The transformation of GTHA’s condo market from housing to an investment vehicle for “mom and pop” investors didn’t happen overnight. The roots lie in policy changes, economic shifts, and the emergence of “pre-construction” condos as an asset people invest in.
You can read the complete artilce by clicking HERE
 By Gazette Staff
February 6th, 2026,
BURLINGTON, ON
The rot is spreading.
Seven Toronto police officer charged with criminal offenses; three from Peel Region are now being investigated.
 A very hard day for senior police officers who have to explain how the level of corruption that is now evident was able to grow within the police forces they manage. Serve and Protect sounds a little limp right now. On Thursday the York Regionbal Police held a press conference giving details of an investigations, code named Project South during which they announced that seven Tornto police officers were being charged.
None were residents of Burlington.
Barnhardt, 56, of Mississauga, is facing a total of 17 charges, the most of all officers accused.
Among the offences he has been charged with are peace officer accepting a bribe, breach of trust by public officer, unauthorized use of a computer and conspiracy to obstruct justice, as well as drug-trafficking-related and firearm-related charges.
Police launched their investigation on June 20, after an incident at the corrections officer’s home in York Region.
Barnhardt is one of four officers who were involved in an operation allegedly helmed by Brian Da Costa—a suspect police identified as a “key” player in a “sophisticated” drug-trafficking operation responsible for the exportation of cannabis and fentanyl. The other officers allegedly part of the operation have been identified as Sgt. Robert Black, Const. Saurabjit Bedi and Sgt. Carl Grellete.
Sgt. Robert Black
Black, 42, of Vaughan, is facing a total of four charges. He has been charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, counsel an uncommitted indictable offence: fraud exceeding $5,000, and possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and Adderall.
Retired constable John Madeley Sr.
Madeley Sr., 55, of Barrie, is facing a total of 11 charges, including two counts of breach of trust by public officer and five counts of unauthorized use of computer.
He retired on April 1, 2025, after 29 years of service. When he retired, he was a constable with TPS’ 12 Division.
Sgt. Carl Grellete
Grellete, 49, of Vaughan, is facing a total of four charges, including conspiracy to obstruct justice, breach of trust by a public officer, mischief not exceeding $5,000 and harassment by repeated following of another person.
He has served the Toronto Police Service for 19 years and was assigned to 12 Division, police confirmed.
Const. Saurabjit Bedi
Police laid six charges against Bedi, 38, of Caledon, including peace officer conspiracy to accept a bribe, traffic in substance, conspiracy to commit public mischief – falsely accuse person, and two counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Bedi was assigned to 12 Division, and has served Toronto Police for 12 years.
Const. Derek McCormick
McCormick, 57, of Toronto, has been charged with six offences: breach of trust by public officer, obstruction of justice and four counts of theft under $5,000.
In January, McCormick was accused of stealing bank cards, passports and government-issued IDs, some of which were reported stolen to Toronto police. Police said the thefts repeatedly occurred throughout October last year.
He was charged with four counts of theft under $5,000, breach of trust and obstruction of justice in January.
McCormick has served TPS for 28 years and was assigned to TPS’ 52 Division. He has been suspended with pay since his arrest last month. It is unclear if he remains suspended with pay following Thursday’s news conference.
Const. Elias Mouawad
Mouawad, 24, of Mississauga, is facing two charges, including breach of trust by public officer and unauthorized use of computer.
Toronto police confirmed Mouawad has been an active member for a year-and-a-half, and was assigned to the 11 Division.
 John Madeley Sr. (left) and John Madeley Jr. (right), the father and son accused in Project South, a seven-month-long investigation into organized crime and corruption. The charges have not been tested in court.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw confirmed Thursday that four of the seven officers charged have been suspended without pay but did not specify which.
The Police Association of Ontario called suspension without pay “the most serious interim measure available,” saying it results in financial, professional and reputational consequences for those officers.
In a post on X, the Toronto Police Association said legal support is not guaranteed for its members charged in criminal cases, as that is provided on a caseby case basis.
Three Peel police officers have been suspended in relation to Project South, a wide-ranging investigation revealed Thursday that saw seven Toronto police officers and one retired officer charged criminally.
“No officers from Peel Regional Police (PRP) have been charged in connection to Project South. The scope of the York Regional Police investigation is wide-reaching and ongoing,” said Const. Tyler Bell-Morena, Peel Regional Police.
“PRP has administratively suspended three officers, pending further investigation by YRP (York Regional Police). To protect the integrity of their investigation, we will not be providing additional comment.”
The investigation stemmed, authorities explained, from an alleged conspiracy to kill a senior corrections officer from the Toronto South Detention Centre at his home in Markham last year.
Two Toronto officers have also been suspended due to the ongoing investigation but not criminally charged.
The Chief of Police for Toronto and the Chief of Police for York Region both say they have never seen anything like this in their careers.
What isn’t being said publicly is – how deep is this corruption? How many police officers are involved?.
Both Chiefs said there was no word at any level as to what was taking place until they picked up a tip that police officers intended to kill a senior corrections officer from the Toronto South Detention Centre . The link there isn’t hard to see. Some criminals who were being held at the Detention Centre didn’t like the way they were treated and were taking revenge.
Things are wildly out of control for behavior to get to this level.
If what we are hearing is true, some very good detective work is being done to get to the bottom of this.
This is going to drag out for a number of years, and at some point there will be a full public hearing on what brought this about.
The public has every right to be concerned.
 By Gazette Staff
February 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
On February 9, 2026 at approximately 12:30 pm there will be 3 volleys of gunfire at the Woodland Cemetery, Burlington Ont. The cemetery is located at 700 SPRING GARDEN ROAD, BURLINGTON
Seven rifles will be fired 3 times in unison as part of the internment ceremony for Gunner Sebastion Halmagean who passed away while deployed on Operation REASSURANCE.
 Gunner Sebastian Halmagean, a Canadian Armed Forces member deployed on Operation REASSURANCE in Latvia Gunner Sebastian Halmagean, a Canadian Armed Forces member deployed on Operation REASSURANCE in Latvia and who was employed by the Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia, died near Riga, Latvia, on January 29, 2026.
The circumstances surrounding Gunner Halmagean’s death is currently under investigation by the Canadian Forces Military Police with support from Latvian State Police, and no further information will be provided. At this time, there is no indication this incident poses an increased threat to the safety and security of our deployed members.
Gunner Halmagean was originally from Hamilton, Ontario, and was posted to the 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), Royal Canadian Artillery, part of 6 Canadian Combat Support Brigade, which is based at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick.
Gunner Halmagean was deployed on Operation REASSURANCE as part of the Air Defence Battery within the Multinational Artillery Battalion Group at NATO Multinational Brigade Latvia. He had served in the Canadian Armed Forces for nearly three years. This was his first overseas deployment.
 By Gazette Staff
February 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Civic Chorale will be holding its Winter Cabaret at St. Christophers Church on Guelph Line. A selection of Jazz, Broadway tunes and folk songs in a cabaret setting with desserts and silent auction.
They do it up well each year. Worth going – take friends with you.
Available at Eventbrite and Different Drummer Bookstore 513 Locust St. and at the door
 By Alan Harrington
February 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
It was supposed to happen last Friday – four astronauts blasting off to the Moon!
But for safety reasons, the lift-off has been postponed until March 6, 2026.
 He wishes. Alan would love to fly in a spacecraft. Best he could do was get a guest pass. I have tried to talk to many people about this exciting new adventure and have been met with blank stares.
Very few younger people seem to know about it.
Others who remember the last trips to the Moon are indifferent to it.
 The last guy to walk on the Moon was Eugene Cernan and that was 1972. Yes we went to the Moon six times and returned. The last guy to walk on the Moon was Eugene Cernan and that was 1972.
Twelve Men (and twelve men only) have the distinction of doing something no one else in the history of the Universe has done.
Soon enough those Apollo trips became more dangerous – and expensive.
The lunar adventures barely made the news unless Walter Cronkite needed another 60 seconds to fill air time.
TRIVIA QUESTION: What is the most popular first name of people to walk on the Moon?
Fast forward 54 years to today and “Artemis” is the new program with a plan to put people on the Moon by 2028.
Not just men – but (perhaps) a woman .
As anyone looking at real estate knows – you have to check out the neighbourhood first and four astronauts were to leave this Friday to do just that.
 Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian pilot on the Artemis II spacecraft One of them – (the tallest of the four?) is Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen
Jeremy hails from London Ontario.
A Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces
One reason the trip isn’t making any headlines is that (sshhhh) we don’t want that guy in the White House to know there’s a Canuck on board – or he may blow a fuse. Please keep this on the down low.
Jeremy Hansen and the crew will travel the fastest and furthest any human has travelled – as they swing out past the Moon.
The trip is four days out, two days there, and four days back.
They do not land – only fly past – seeing parts of the far side of the Moon no one has ever seen.
Fun fact – the space capsule is like a 4 passenger camper van.
The point of this story is – why is going back important?
Because – back in the 1960s, when the Space Race was on… it created urgency.
It created a demand for scientists, computers, technology, better electronic communication.
Better metals and plastics. Etc Etc Etc
Canada benefited from all of this as we looked to the future and prepared for it.
 When it opened in 1989, the SkyDome was the first of its kind: a stadium with a fully retractable roof, imagined almost without precedent. As those who helped build it would probably agree, it was far from perfect – but that’s hardly the point. Ontario built stuff. CN Tower, SkyDome, Toronto Zoo, Ontario Place & Cinesphere, Science Centre, Subways
Universities and Community Colleges, airports,
Montreal had Expo 67. We got new baseball teams, hockey teams and Olympics.
The Sky was the Limit.
Since then – we stopped building cool stuff and we let the “formerly new” stuff get old, rot and decay. And even closed.
 Artemis II is scheduled to lift off on March 6 2026 Although the flight has been postponed for a month – we have Olympics and Super Bowl LX to keep us occupied.
On March 6 2026 however – let’s hope all goes well – and Canada returns to Space (where the Sky is NOT the Limit) and we get our country back to feeling good about itself.
Godspeed Artemis II
 By Pepper Parr
February 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
There are times when you need a scorecard to understand who is going to run for office – the why is rarely explained.
 Doly decided Ottawa was nicer than Toronto. House of Commons appealed to her. Doly Begum, who was Deputy Leader of the provincial New Democratic Party.
She had a very close working relationship with Leader of the Opposition Maris Stiles.
Begum was the member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) representing Scarborough Southwest for the Ontario New Democratic Party from 2018 to 2026, serving as a deputy leader of the Ontario NDP from 2022 to 2026, until she resigned her seat to run as a Liberal in the federal seat in that constituency.
 Bill Blair will become a High Commissioner. Doly saw a better offer and decided to run for the federal seat Scarborough West) that was going to be vacant when Bill Blair, a former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair is made High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is the title used for what is essentially an Ambassador.
A by-election would have to be called to replace Dolly in the Scarborough West federal seat.
 Becoming Premier of Ontario appeals to Nate. Nathan Erskine Smith, (Nate) is currently the MP for Beaches East York had run for the leadership of the provincial Liberal Party. He was beaten by Bonnie Crombie. While leader of the provincial Liberals Bonnie couldn’t get herself elected and turned out to be less than what the Liberals wanted as a leader. She resigned. The provincial Liberals now needed a new leader.
Nate had run for the job before and was keen on running again; he wasn’t doing all that well as a federal Liberal.
Nate, was in the first federal Cabinet formed by Mark Carney when he was made Liberal Leader. When Carney called the federal election in 2025 and won, he dropped Nate from Cabinet.
The Nate nose was very much out of joint. He thought he had a very strong relationship with Carney.
By running for the Scarborough West provincial seat, that would make him a member of the provincial party (assuming he wins) and lining him up for another run at the provincial party leadership which would make Nate Premier of the province – should he win.
Nate isn’t the only person looking for a different arrangement of the seats in the House of Commons.
 Prime Minister Mark Carney is betting that he can pull of getting a majority government. Mark Carney is just one seat short of having a majority. A majority would mean the federal Liberals would not have to constantly worry about a federal election being called.
 Chrystia Feeeland: It is what it is. Chrystia Freeland resigned (had to) making her University Rosedale seat due for a by election.
These by-elections are expensive – but that isn’t a concern to the politicians looking for the most comfortable seat in the House of Commons or at Queen’s Park.
Am I being cynical here? I’m a journalist – we are supposed to be cynical.
And the public should rise up on its hind legs and start biting some bums.
There are likely going to be a few other by-elections. There are people Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to move out of his government and bring in people a little younger and more in tune with what he is setting out to do with the country.
With a majority government, he rids himself of Pierre Poilievre who by now should realize that his political future is stalled for at least the next seven years
 By Gazette Staff
February 5th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns has advised her residents that the plans to refresh the area surrounding City Hall, including Civic Square, the City Hall front entrance and façade, and nearby streetscapes along Brant Street and Elgin Street have a new completion date. No ward on what that date is.
 This is what we have. Federal and provincial funding is covering the bulk of the upgrade. The project schedule has been revised to allow permits to be secured before tendering and to avoid a winter construction shutdown.
That’s a better reason than the dog ate my homework.
Community input helped guide the creation of a vibrant, accessible, and welcoming civic space in the downtown core. Truth be told, very few people showed up to talk to the consultants who were keen on hearing what people thought.
 Different angle of the redesign of the front of City Hall and Civic Square This development has that feeling that it is going to be plagued with problems; there are some very good Staff on the project – one gets the impression that Council may be where the problems is – even though it has been approved at that level.
The structure no longer meets the needs of the city – there isn’t enough room for the number of staff that have been hired in the past five years.
.
By Roger Edwards
February 5th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Paying online through the Mastercard platform.
Your next Apple credit card will come from JPMorgan Chase.
Earlier this week, Apple made a press release stating that Chase will take over the issuing of Apple Cards from Goldman Sachs, which has been behind the tech giant’s credit cards since their 2019 launch. The two US banking behemoths said that the takeover of the $20 billion-strong card loan deal will close within 24 months.
Current Apple Card holders here in Burlington and elsewhere will continue to reap the credit card’s existing benefits and perks. Mastercard will remain the payment network of the card, according to Apple and the two issuers.
The talks between the two lenders, Mastercard, and Apple in the middle reportedly stretched well over a year. Once closed, the deal will see Goldman transfer over $20 billion in Apple Card loans to Chase’s books. On their end, Goldman Sachs will take a $2.2-billion hit in credit card losses and add roughly $0.46 per share, both of which will be reflected in their Q4 earnings.
24 months to seal the deal
The transition won’t happen overnight. Both banks have confirmed that the handover will take about two years to complete, pending regulatory approvals and other procedural requirements.
 The Apple logo appears in the office window of JP Morgan Chase. During this period, Apple Card customers can breathe easy. Nothing changes for now. Your card works exactly as it did before, your rewards stay the same, and your Apple Savings account remains accessible. You’ll still get daily cashback on purchases, and Mastercard continues as the payment network backing your transactions.
Jennifer Bailey, the VP of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said: “Chase shares our commitment to innovation and delivering products and services that enhance consumers’ lives.”
Bad bet for Goldman since day one
Goldman Sachs entered the credit card business with plenty of headlines back in 2019, beating out other banks to partner with Apple.
We won’t sugarcoat it; Apple Pay didn’t click well with Goldman Sachs from the beginning. The problems started almost immediately. The US bank reportedly coughed up about $350 to onboard every new Apple Pay customer, and that’s a little shy of threefold the industry average.
Those costs added up fast, and the losses kept piling on year after year. By 2022, Goldman started backing away from consumer finance. The Apple Card losses became too much to ignore, and the bank began looking for an exit.
CEO David Solomon made it clear in this week’s release, saying: “This transaction substantially completes the narrowing of our focus in our consumer business.”
The numbers tell the story. Goldman will book a $2.26-billion hit to revenue from marking down the loan portfolio and covering contract termination costs. However, the bank will also release $2.48 billion in loan-loss reserves.
Chase beat out the ranks of Barclays and American Express
 Barclays Bank was one of the big hitters that got beaten out by JP Morgan Chase JPMorgan Chase wasn’t the only bank interested in taking over the Apple Card business. Several major lenders and banks threw their hats in the ring, including American Express, Synchrony, and Barclays. But one by one, these banks walked away from the negotiating table.
The Apple Card portfolio came with challenges that made other issuers uncomfortable. The customer base includes more subprime and lower-credit borrowers than what most major banks typically serve, and the delinquency rate has run higher than the industry average.
JPMorgan stood firm through the negotiations, but the bank didn’t agree to take on the portfolio without getting something in return. According to sources familiar with the deal, Chase is acquiring the Apple Card business at a discount of more than $1 billion.
Allison Beer, Chase’s CEO of Card & Connected Commerce, said: “[The bank is] proud to deepen our relationship by welcoming them as the newest partner in our industry-leading co-brand credit card program.”
JPMorgan will book a $2.2-billion provision for credit losses in its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings, which the bank reports on a little shy of mid this month.
Investors bullish on Apple stocks
Wall Street’s response to the JPMorgan deal has been mostly positive, particularly when it comes to Apple’s stock. Analysts see the partnership as a natural fit for both companies and a smart move for Apple’s long-term services strategy.
 An Apple retail outlet. The deal matters more for how Apple’s services business develops than for any immediate impact on earnings. Apple has been working to grow its services revenue, which now brings in more than $28 billion per quarter, up from $11 billion just a few years ago.
Investors like that Chase brings real expertise in consumer banking and credit cards. JPMorgan is already the largest credit card issuer in the US by purchase volume. They plan to launch a new Apple-branded savings account program, and current Goldman account holders will have the option to switch over or stay put.
Why Chase takeover of Apple Card is a win-win for everyone
Bringing JPMorgan Chase as the new credit card issuer boards well with pretty much everyone. Jamie Dimon has built Chase to become the no.1 retail bank and by miles. On the back of that, the deal is so good for Dimon that he will be the US first bank to make their Q4 earnings call this month.
 The Apple Card: Form over function. As far as Apple goes, putting Chase at the helm of the Apple Card program is a huge step forward, especially because their AI strategy goes in tandem with JPMorgan’s. At the very least, they can now roll out their savings accounts on the shoulders of a partnership with a sea of expertise in consumer banking.
The biggest win, of course, goes to Apple Card customers. They will continue getting 3% daily cashback, savings accounts, and other perks. More importantly, they continue to be able to spend using their iPhones at online marketplaces like Amazon, retail shops, and wherever other Canadian casino payment methods like Apple Pay and Mastercard are accepted.
 BY Tom Parkin
February 5th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Air travel to USA hits new low in December: 161,000 fewer air passengers to the USA in December 2025 than the same month a year before.
December is always a strong month for Canadian travel to international destinations as the snow starts to fly and the holiday season unites families across boarders.
But for those with family in the United States, it may have been a year for them to come north, as Trump’s domestic chaos and violence, his new and invasive border rules and his threats against Canada each month get worse.
And while Canadians escaping the cold may have enjoyed temperatures in Florida or Arizona in the past, Mexico and the Caribbean have the quaint charm of not being ruled by madman.
In December 2025, just 41 per cent of passengers screened for international travel were heading to the United States, the lowest percentage since at least 2019.
Screenings for USA travel was down 161,000 passengers from December 2024. For trips to other international locations, screenings were up 133,000. And screenings for travel inside Canada was also stronger, up 57,000 from December 2024.
Compared to December 2023, domestic screenings were up 267,000 and other international passengers were up 195,000. But passengers to the USA were down by 74,000.
Previous GDP data has shown strength in the Canadian tourism industry. But that strength is happening despite a decline in incoming travelers, a sign that Canadians discovering their own country is helping offset Trump’s tariffs and threats. Canadians spending their money in Canada on Canadian products made by Canadian workers appears to be making a difference.
The latest data on travel to Canada by residents of other countries, from November, shows about 92,000 fewer people travelling into Canada than November 2024. Travel from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas excluding the USA were all up. Travel from the USA was down 131,000.
In the peak July tourism month, 102,000 fewer US residents visited Canada in 2025 than 2024, but 93,000 more residents of other states visited.
Visits from European states were up by 46,000 people, with visits from UK, France, Italy and Belgium up about 10 per cent from July 2024. Visits from residents of Asian states increased by 26,000 with 19 per cent more visitors from Japan, 28 per cent more from South Korea, and 31 per cent more from China.
By Leslie Sturgeon
February 5th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
There was a time when a line stretching out the door of a local bakery or a packed waiting room at a clinic was viewed as a sign of quality. It signaled that the product or service inside was worth the wait, and standing in a queue was simply the price of admission for something good. That era is over. In today’s hyper-connected world, a long wait is no longer a badge of honour for a business; it is viewed as a failure of logistics and a sign of disrespect for the customer’s time.
The modern consumer has been trained by algorithms and optimized supply chains to expect near-instant results. When a webpage takes more than three seconds to load, we assume it is broken. When a package takes more than two days to arrive, we wonder what went wrong at the warehouse. This shift in perspective has fundamentally altered the relationship between businesses and patrons. Patience is no longer a virtue required of the customer; speed is now a mandatory virtue of the provider.
The cultural shift away from patience in service delivery
The psychology behind waiting has shifted dramatically over the last decade. Previously, a wait was an expected pause in the day, perhaps a moment to people-watch or simply decompress. Today, waiting is perceived as an active annoyance, a barrier preventing us from moving on to the next task. This is particularly true in retail and service environments where the transaction itself is routine. When the act of paying takes longer than the act of selecting the item, the customer experience sours instantly.
 The physical act of queuing feels archaic in a world where digital queues are managed silently in the background. Consequently, businesses that rely on physical presence without optimizing for speed are seeing a sharp decline in customer loyalty. This intolerance is driven by a heightened awareness of opportunity cost. Modern consumers are acutely aware that they could be doing something else—answering emails, consuming content, or managing their household—rather than staring at the back of a stranger’s head in a checkout lane. The physical act of queuing feels archaic in a world where digital queues are managed silently in the background. Consequently, businesses that rely on physical presence without optimizing for speed are seeing a sharp decline in customer loyalty.
How technology creates an expectation of immediate gratification
Smartphones have effectively become the remote controls for our lives, granting us the ability to summon cars, food, and entertainment with a single tap. This “on-demand” economy has rewired our neural pathways to anticipate a dopamine hit the moment we express a desire. If we want to watch a movie, we stream it instantly; we don’t drive to a rental store. If we need a specific ingredient, we order it for same-day delivery. When we game online, we choose the fastest payout casinos so we can get our winnings cashed out that day, not next week. This technological baseline has made the very concept of “business hours” or “processing time” feel obsolete.
The data supports this massive behavioral migration toward digital efficiency. As people reclaim hours previously lost to commuting or errands, they are fiercely protective of that time. Interestingly, while consumers technically have more free time now than in previous years, the way they allocate it has changed. They are choosing to spend that surplus on solo, high-efficiency digital activities rather than low-efficiency physical ones. The preference is clear: we would rather spend an hour browsing online from the comfort of our couch than twenty minutes standing in a crowded store.
 As one sector masters speed—like ride-sharing or food delivery—it resets the clock for everyone else. This shift creates a compounding effect. As one sector masters speed—like ride-sharing or food delivery—it resets the clock for everyone else. A consumer who just ordered dinner in thirty seconds is going to be incredibly impatient when they have to wait twenty minutes to file an insurance claim or book a haircut. The technology that liberated us from waiting has also imprisoned us in a cycle of constant expectation, where “now” is the only acceptable timeline.
Adapting local business models to meet the demand for now
For local businesses in Burlington and beyond, the challenge is how to compete with the instant gratification provided by global tech giants. The answer often lies in hybrid solutions that blend physical quality with digital efficiency. It is no longer enough to just have a great product; the logistics of getting that product into the customer’s hands must be frictionless. This is why we are seeing a surge in “buy online, pick up in-store” (BOPIS) models, which effectively remove the browsing and queuing time while preserving the instant possession of the item.
The statistics paint a stark picture of the consequences for those who fail to adapt. Recent research indicates that time spent waiting in retail lines increased by 61% since 2022, a trend that directly correlates with rising consumer dissatisfaction. Shoppers are voting with their feet—or rather, their thumbs. When faced with the prospect of a physical queue, many are simply opting out entirely.
This avoidance behavior is reshaping the retail calendar. During major sales events, the romanticized idea of the “doorbuster” crowd is fading. Nearly three-quarters of consumers planned to shop online during the last major holiday season, largely to avoid the chaos and delays of in-person shopping. For local businesses, this means that if you cannot offer a virtual queue or a pre-order system, you are likely losing a significant portion of your potential market to competitors who can.
The future of customer loyalty implies speed
 If value is being added to the client, it is a worthwhile use of time. If not the client is not likely to return. The trajectory is clear: the businesses that will thrive in the coming years are those that treat time as a currency as valuable as cash. We are moving toward a “zero-wait” economy where predictive analytics and automation will likely eliminate the concept of queuing entirely. In this future, walking into a store and waiting to pay will feel as antiquated as using a rotary phone.
However, this doesn’t mean the human element is dead. It means the human element must be decoupled from the administrative burden. If a customer is spending time with a business, it should be for value-added interactions—consultation, customization, or experience—not for the administrative drudgery of processing a transaction. The businesses that understand this distinction will not only survive the shift; they will define the new standard of service.
 By Gazette Staff
February 5th
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington MP KarinaGould wnt to bat for a Burlington company involved in the television broadcasting industry.
Standing in the House of Commons yesterday Gould said:
 Gould in the House of Commons. Photo credit Gazette photo library. Mr. Speaker, did members watch an NHL game last night or the House of Commons this past week? If so, they did so thanks to technology developed and built in Burlington, Ontario.
For decades, Evertz has helped shape how the world sees and understands major moments. The company has enabled news and live events to reach audiences in real time, and behind that success are about 1,800 Canadian workers whose expertise is in driving change across the industry. In January, I had the chance to tour its Burlington manufacturing facility and global headquarters to see first-hand how Canadian ingenuity, technology and skill are shaping the global media landscape. Evertz is Canadian first, a fully sovereign company, at a time when that matters more than ever.
To my colleagues in this place, every time they look into one of these cameras to speak to their constituents, they can know that they are doing so with technology developed and built in Burlington, Ontario.
 Work station at an Evertz location. Evertz Technologies Limited (TSX:ET), conducts business through various subsidiaries including the Canadian based Evertz Microsystems Limited, is a leading global manufacturer of broadcast equipment and solutions that deliver content to television sets, on-demand services, WebTV, IPTV, and mobile devices (like phones and tablets). Evertz has expertise in delivering complete end-to-end broadcast solutions for all aspects of broadcast production including content creation, content distribution and content delivery.
In a corporate statement, Evertz reports that it delivers cutting edge solutions that are unmatched in the industry in both hardware and software. Evertz delivers products and solutions that can be found in major broadcast facilities on every continent. Evertz’ customer base also includes telcos, satellite, cable TV, and IPTV providers.
 By Gazette Staff
February 5th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
February is filled with a little extra love at the library! You’ll find playful programs, reading inspiration, and plenty of sweet surprises. Drop in on your own or bring someone you love—everyone is welcome.
Be sure to pop into your local branch, February 1 to 14, and check out our Blind Date with a Book displays at all locations. You’ll find a display of books in brown paper bags. Instead of a cover, each surprise book comes with a short description—maybe a genre, a vibe, or a hint about the story inside—but no title and no author. It’s like a literary blind date!
Don’t forget to pick up a sweet little Valentine’s Day Card you can personalize and give to someone special—free, while they last! And kids will love the drop-in-anytime Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt and colouring activities.
Come see what else is waiting to steal your heart at BPL!
Some of the events planned through to the 14th!
By Gazette Staff
February 4th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
New Date, New Routes and a New Face Running the Full 30K While Raising Funds for St. Joe’s.
The Around the Bay Road Race has undergone many changes over the past few years, and the 132nd iteration of the oldest road race in North America will continue this trend. Here’s a summary of what runners, walkers, volunteers and spectators can expect from the iconic Hamilton event in 2026.
New Race Date, Routes and Start Line Location:
For decades, the Around the Bay Road Race has traditionally been held on the last Sunday in March. This year, race organizers have shifted the date back by two weeks to occur on Sunday, April 12, 2026. It’s a change that could bring more favourable spring temperatures to participants, but the new start and finish line location near the Hamilton Harbour is likely to keep temperatures brisk.
The classic 30K course will start in front of Pier 4 Park on Leander Dr., near the Hamilton waterfront. Long-distance runners will then head east into the city to catch Burlington Street, where the course follows its traditional route around the bay.
The 15K distance will start on the Burlington side of the lift bridge on Eastport Drive, while the 10K runners will be lined up to start on Northshore Boulevard in Burlington.
The 5K event will start near Pier 8 by the Harbour, follow Guise Street into Pier 4 Park, out Bayfront Park, then head out to Strachan before catching James St. N., up to the universal finish line that will be located on the Waterfront Trail near Pier 7.
Further details on race locations and routes can be found at BayRace.com.
 PJ Mercanti: “I’m excited to take on the 30K route.” St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation will return as the official charity partner of the Around the Bay Road Race as well-known Hamiltonian, PJ Mercanti, takes on the role of Community Champion. Mercanti serves as the CEO of Carmens Group, one of Southern Ontario’s most dynamic hospitality, entertainment, food service and development companies and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation. Mercanti is training for the full 30K event while bringing together a team of family, friends and colleagues to help him raise $100,000 to support vital equipment needs at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.
“The Bay Race is a point of community pride, just like St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and the care the hospital has provided to our community for more than a century,” says Mercanti. “I entered the world at St. Joe’s, and now I have the privilege of giving back to it. Serving as Community Champion while running Around the Bay is a true full circle moment. I’m excited to take on the 30K route and bring Carmens Group, my family, and my friends together to support a hospital that has shaped so many lives — including mine.”
Race Registration:
The 30K and 15K race categories are currently sold out, but there is still space available to register for the 10K and 5K races. The deadline to register online is March 22. To register your spot in the Bay Race, please visit BayRace.com
Raising Funds for General Equipment at St. Joe’s:
This year, funds raised through the Bay Race will support much needed healthcare equipment at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. While the province provides operational funding for hospitals, the fact is, many pieces of equipment used at St. Joe’s are funded by donations and monies raised through events like the Bay Race. To learn more or donate to the Bay Race, visit stjoesfoundation.ca.
“We’re thrilled to be celebrating another year as the Around the Bay Road Race’s charity of choice,” says Sera Filice, President and CEO, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation. “With the support of PJ Mercanti and a host of other fundraising teams and individuals, we hope to raise $450,000 to help our hospital purchase equipment that’s essential to our ability to care for this community. The Bay Race really is Hamilton’s race for Hamilton’s hospital.”
By Gazette Staff
February 4th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Wine for Friends, a signature fundraising event hosted by Rotary Burlington Lakeshore took place this evening.
The occasion was used by the Rotary Burlington Lakeshore to formally announce a $200,000 pledge to the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation in support of the For All Minds Mental Health & Addictions Campaign.
Why This Matters
Mental health and addictions services continue to see rising demand across Burlington and Halton Region. This $200,000 pledge represents one of Rotary Burlington Lakeshore’s most significant investments in local healthcare and underscores the power of community-led philanthropy.
By Gazette Staff
February 5th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Toronto Star reports that seven Toronto police officers have been arrested in large-scale investigation into organized crime and corruption.
The officers, several from the city’s northwest 12 Division, were swept up in a York police investigation, according to a source with knowledge of the arrests who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case.
Those arrested include several senior officers with more than 10 years on the force, the source said. At least one was expected to be held pending a bail hearing.
Amongst the most serious charges is a conspiracy to commit murder charge, according to the source.
 By Gazette Staff
February 5th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 The City has released its updated Burlington Climate Plan – a guide to help the community use less carbon-heavy fuels like natural gas and gasoline. This will cut the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. The plan focuses on buildings and transportation because they create most of our local emissions.
Check out this important Plan and its proposed 17 action items. Consider sending your feedback about the plan to the Mayor and Members of Council and/or register to speak directly about the urgent need to accelerate action on climate.
Read the staff report on the City’s Feb 9th Committee meeting agenda here.
Some of the detail in the Staff report:
Burlington Climate Plan (2026 – 2031)
The Burlington Climate Plan proposes 17 action items grouped by topic into three themes and five subthemes:
Theme 1: Buildings & Energy
Subtheme: Energy Efficient Retrofits (2 Actions)
This subtheme focuses on how the City of Burlington can help support residents to make existing buildings more energy efficient such as speeding up the rate of home energy retrofits. This will decrease the emissions of the existing buildings, by supporting residents to overcome barriers and connecting them with information, resources, and financial incentives.
Subtheme: Low Carbon New Development (2 Actions)
This subtheme focuses on how the City of Burlington can encourage developers to make new buildings more energy efficient. We need to ensure that we are not only building new homes faster, but that energy efficiency and climate resiliency strategies are used within the development and design process.
Subtheme: Community Energy (3 Actions)
This subtheme focuses on how the City of Burlington can support the adoption of low carbon energy sources to reduce our demand on energy sources like diesel, gasoline and natural gas. As we electrify the buildings and vehicles, we need to ensure that the electricity grid can support this increased demand, while remaining resilient and low carbon.
 The push is going to be to reduce the transportation part of the pie chart. Get people out of their cars and onto public transportation. This is not going to be easy. Burlington was designed as a city where everyone would use a car to get around. Theme 2: Integrated Mobility
Subtheme: Transportation (4 Actions)
In Burlington, more than 71 percent of the trips that start and end in the city are completed by car. Short trips (under 5 km) make up a large share of urban car travel. Switching these trips to forms of active transportation can have a big impact on community emissions.
Subtheme: Transit (4 Actions)
Public transit offers a wide range of benefits that can improve the lives of individuals and communities. It is a cost-effective alternative option to driving, helping to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. Getting more people to use public transit instead of driving alone will help reduce local air pollution.
Theme 3: Local Economy (2 Actions)
Climate change reduction efforts, such as investing in green technologies and infrastructure can stimulate economic growth, innovation, and job creation. Energy efficiency programs and environmentally sustainable business practices can save businesses money and improve their competitiveness. There is an opportunity for the City of Burlington to become a leader in the green economy and support local businesses through their decarbonization transition.
What We Heard: Community Engagement
A community engagement strategy was developed as part of the plan update and included 22 engagement opportunities for residents to share their priorities for climate action and feedback on the proposed action items for the updated plan.
This stuff matters! Did you get to one of the 22 engagement opportunities?
By Gazette Staff
February 6th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
You might want to book your tickets for this March event. It will be one of those SOLD OUT occasions.
An Inspiring Evening with David Suzuki and Tara Cullis!
 We’re excited to share that BurlingtonGreen is partnering with the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) for a very special theatre experience on March 8th featuring David Suzuki and Tara Cullis.
What You Won’t Do For Love is an intimate and thought-provoking theatre experience that explores how love for each other, for community, and for the planet can inspire meaningful action on climate and environmental protection.
To celebrate this partnership, use promo code BPACGREEN for 25% off your tickets. It’s an opportunity to gather, reflect, and feel inspired by voices that have shaped environmental action for decades.
Join us for a night that brings together art, connection, and hope for the future.
Tickets HERE
 By Laura Fuerte
February 5th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Ontario’s regulated online gambling market has become one of the most closely watched developments in North America’s digital gaming landscape. Introduced in 2022, it arrived at a moment when jurisdictions across the region were weighing how to expand online casino offerings without undermining public confidence or long-term stability. Instead of pushing rapid liberalization or placing the market into a strict monopoly, Ontario took a more structured, competitive route. That balance has attracted attention well beyond the province itself.
From the outset, the system was framed as a way to guide players into a clearly organized market without disrupting existing habits overnight. Early public commentary often leaned on familiar digital metaphors, likening the experience to a Swiper motion that favors gradual movement over abrupt shifts. That focus on smooth transition has played a role in how the market is now viewed, both by players and by industry observers.
A framework designed for balance
Ontario’s model has also shaped the way online gambling is talked about in public forums. The messaging has gradually shifted toward transparency, informed participation, and moderation, rather than spectacle. Over time, promotional visibility has become more restrained, falling in line with broader cultural expectations around digital advertising and consumer awareness.
What stands out is the balance between flexibility and consistency. Operators are free to differentiate themselves through product mix and user experience, yet the overall environment remains predictable for consumers. For policymakers elsewhere, this balance has become a point of interest, especially in regions debating whether competition inevitably leads to disorder.
Scale, participation, and market maturity
Ontario’s iGaming market has grown quickly, both in the number of active platforms and in wagering volume and overall revenue. Online casino content has become the main engine of that activity, mirroring global patterns rather than anything uniquely local. Since launch, millions of player accounts have been recorded, pointing to demand that already existed and has now surfaced in a more visible, regulated ecosystem.
More significant than raw growth is how participation has consolidated within the provincial market. A large share of online gambling activity now takes place on platforms available to Ontario residents, reducing reliance on less regulated alternatives. This consolidation has reinforced confidence that a competitive structure can still lead to market order rather than dilution.
Consumer confidence and market perception
At the same time, Ontario’s model has reshaped how online gambling is discussed in public spaces. The tone has moved toward transparency and informed participation, with moderation taking precedence over spectacle. Promotional visibility, meanwhile, has eased into a more restrained style, closer to what audiences now expect from digital advertising.
This evolution has not eliminated debate. Some observers question whether any rapidly expanding online market can fully avoid saturation effects. Others argue that Ontario’s experience shows how adaptability matters as much as initial design. These contrasting views are part of what makes the province’s experience relevant rather than prescriptive.
In closing
Ontario’s iGaming market is often cited not because it claims to have solved every challenge, but because it offers a working reference point. By combining competition with structure and allowing the market to evolve visibly, it provides North American decision-makers with a practical example of how online casino growth can unfold within defined boundaries, while still leaving room for adjustment as expectations change.
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