 By Staff
July 22nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Published with permission from Plan B.
It’s the Wizard of the OLT (Ontario Land Tribunal) that we’re off to see though, and not of OZ.
 It’s the Wizard of the OLT (Ontario Land Tribunal) that we’re off to see though, and not of OZ. Citizens’ PLAN B just recently received notice from the OLT that a Case Management Conference is scheduled for all-day August 26th to review Vrancor’s Appeal of the City’s PL-24-22 decision to Refuse their Application to redevelop the Waterfront Hotel property. The link to the OLT’s webpage is: https://jus-olt-prod.powerappsportals.com/en/e-status/details/?id=f473e8b7-f8dd-ec11-bb3c-000d3af399eb
This meeting effectively provides the OLT with each side’s arguments, so that a determination can be made to resolve the dispute, send it to mediation between the parties or schedule a final hearing. Citizens’ PLAN B plans to participate in this Appeal, but the proceedings are open to you, the public, to audit.
The City and its’ lawyers are confident that they have a compelling case and a winning strategy,
We were all thrown a curveball when Donna Hinde of The Planning Partnership, who facilitated and unreservedly published the Waterfront Hotel Planning Study report on March 26rth, 2022, claimed 9 days later on April 4th (1 day prior to the report being reviewed by the City for approval) that City planners had unduly influenced her to limit height to 22 storeys. She went on to state that The Planning Partnership could not professionally support the report and would not defend it at the OLT. Mark Simeoni, Director, Community Planning refuted her claim & asked for evidence to support it, but to date has received none.
Very peculiar, don’t you think?
We have been quiet of late with our updates to you, but very active in trying to convince anyone who would listen to us at City Hall to compel The Planning Partnership to re-issue the report with whatever measures they require for it to be fully independent. Progress on this front has, unfortunately, been limited to date.
We believe that there may well be a time soon for you, our followers and supporters, to join in and have your voices heard on the Waterfront Hotel redevelopment Appeal at the OLT, and at all levels of government. Please share this article with friends of Burlington, and stay tuned!
 By Staff
July 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Metrolinx is listening to comments about crowding on TFC match days – on platforms, trains and even at the BMO Field gates.
The Lakeshore West schedule will be modified before the TFC game on Saturday, July 23.
 Soccer fans are much more passionate than hockey fans – even basket ball fans. As for baseball fans – do they every get excited. Fans and other travellers on the Lakeshore East and West Lines will see some changes, designed to give everyone more time to board their trains and reduce crowing at the stadium gates for those taking the last trains before kick-off.
These scheduling changes will be in place around the TFC game on Saturday, July 23.
Lakeshore West:
All westbound trips from Union Station from 5:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. will depart five minutes earlier than regularly scheduled.
The 4:13 p.m., 5:13 p.m. and 6:13 p.m. eastbound trips from West Harbour GO will depart ten minutes later, at 4:23 p.m., 5:23 p.m. and 6:23 p.m. and arrive at Exhibition GO and Union Station 15 minutes later than regularly scheduled.
The 4:55 p.m., 5:55 p.m., and 6:55 p.m. trips from Aldershot GO will depart ten minutes later, at 5:05 p.m., 6:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. and arrive at Exhibition GO and Union Station 15 minutes later than regularly scheduled.
During these adjustments, eastbound trains will also make longer than normal scheduled stops at the most popular stations on the Lakeshore West Line to provide customers extra time to board their trains.
The last two trips before TFC’s kickoff will arrive at 6:36 p.m. and 7:06 p.m.
In a small break from routine, most pre-game westbound trains will arrive on the south platform at Exhibition Station. Post-game trains will depart from both platforms as usual, so make sure to check departure boards before you head to the platform.
Fans heading through the tunnel to Liberty Village after the game will no longer have to turn left and up the stairs that lead to the platform. The tunnel has been extended, so people heading to Liberty Village can go straight and up the newly opened stairs, making it easy to get to Atlantic Avenue.
People that don’t have PRESTO cards and want to avoid line-ups at station ticket vending machines can buy GO e-tickets in advance online or take advantage of one of the GO Transit Weekend Pass options. E-tickets should be activated five minutes before boarding.
 By Pepper Parr
July 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
A heat warning has been issued by Halton Region beginning July 22, 2022.
When a heat warning is issued by Halton Region, residents can stay cool at all open Burlington Public Library branches.
Heat warnings are issued by Halton Region when temperatures are expected to be at least 31°C and overnight temperatures are above 20°C for at least three days or humidex is at least 40 for at least two days.
 There are spaces that can be set up for sports that would involve seniors. There are those that would play the game and those that would watch. We are seeing these media notices on a regular basis.
They look like they are going to be part of the new normal.
Where and who is doing the longer term thinking about how the city is going to meet the needs of the seniors?
This current weather is not going to stop – and this city has seniors who are not able to live decent lives – better to say existences.
Everyone is re-thinking their business model.
The city is no different.
Last year during the heat waves the Aldershot Seniors Group pressed the city to provide cool places where people could meet. There was some space made available at Central but for just a few hours.
A flood of emails to city councillors brought about the decision to open up the libraries as cooling centers. That was a good start – but a start is not enough.
There is space that can be used.
The city will say that there is no staff – and there is no staff – but if the city is ready to hire ten additional bylaw enforcement officers – then it had better get ready to hire just as many staff to provide what are really essential’s of life to people who deserve at least that much.
 What can the Parks and Recreation people come up with in the way of program ideas?
The public meeting room at the Mainway centre is large enough to set up at least two – maybe three pickle ball courts.
There are a number of groups that would help with putting on some program for younger kids – and for parents.
It is going to take some ingenuity, some creativity and a willingness to look for ways to make it possible for people to have ways to cope with this heat.
This is something we will come back to in the weeks and months ahead.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Pepper Parr
July 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
No one knew anything about Eden Wood.
There was nothing on social media; some thought she was a stand in candidate in place to pull votes away from Shawna Stolte the incumbent candidate for the ward 4 seat.
 Eden Wood, candidate for the ward 4 council seat Turns out Eden Wood is very real, a mother of a daughter and a son who play soccer.
Mom has that clean cut Ivy League look to her. She is involved in police volunteer groups: doing victim support and public safety committee work.
She Has worked in the private sector with Fisher & Ludlow, a Nucor company that makes industrial grating. She has taken community college level courses at Sheridan focused on accounting and business administration.
Wood was the President of the Burlington Crime Prevention Committee that “tackled issues on vandalism and crime prevention by recognizing the importance of homeowners landscape and design. We also worked with the Victim Assistance Volunteer Program, assisted by the Burlington O.P.P.
She has been the Apprentice Supervisor with the Hamilton S.P.C.A., building the empathy of youth. She has volunteered with Burlington Rotary at Canada’s Largest Ribfest. She worked for Average Joe Sports as a volleyball convener, as well as played volleyball through B.A.S.L and A.C.R.A.
She also played Softball and Ultimate Frisbee. Her children are members of the Burlington Soccer Club, and use many of the wonderful amenities Burlington has to offer.
While President of the Burlington Crime Prevention Committee she became a member of the Citizen Police Academy through Halton Regional Police Service, where good governance and transparency are front and centre.
She received the award for Active Citizenship from Mohawk College, where she attended the Police Foundations program.
Her web site is up and running.
Don’t know much about her views on the significant issues city council faces nor what her core values are – she does place a lot of emphasis on family and neighbourhood.
 By Kimberly Calderbank
July 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Lifted from the Kimberly Calderbank LinkedIn page
Everyone has an opinion.
BUT, why let the opinions of others deny you a life that will make history?
What are YOU holding back on because you are afraid of what other people will think, say, react?
Do you know how often I hear people say, “But what about…?” WHO CARES!
I am 100 percent guilty of always wanting to people please, always wanting to be sure I have taken everyone’s opinions and thoughts into consideration.
The other day, a gentleman said to me “…it’s been a while… what are you doing with your life…?”
 WHOA… at that moment I felt small… I felt I had been playing small… he had expected a BIG answer, and I didn’t have one. His opinion of me shifted, and that mattered…all those other opinions had held me back, but this one pushed me forward.
For the past 4 years, I have been building quietly a plan, working on my purpose, and pulling together what I feel will be my legacy.
TODAY I acted on it. I brought in my first investor. My first believer in my plan if you will.
Mark it down, TODAY is the day that I stopped letting the opinions of others stop me, I let the positive in, and I put my first step forward in a life that WILL MAKE HISTORY (big and lofty, but just watch me).
 By Staff
July 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
With inflation at an 8.1 % increase over last month and a high that has not been seen since 1983, we thought you would be interested in what is happening to the price of housing.
 The housing market was blazing for a period of time. Is there a correction taking place? ReMax Canada released its 2022 Housing Affordability Report – a nationwide analysis of local market activity and housing affordability trends for the first half of 2022 – including Ontario, Western Canada and Atlantic Canada.
The report revealed that 68 per cent of Canadians are willing to make at least one sacrifice to buy a home they can afford, with the most common concession being relocation (64 per cent)– a trend that continues to reign as a primary influence in local housing markets across the country, say RE/MAX brokers.
Some of the smaller regions outside of Toronto/GTA have experienced some of the highest year-over-year price increases in the first half of 2022, due to rising demand and limited supply –
Windsor, ON (+24.42%),
Barrie, ON (+24.40%),
Sudbury, ON (+23.85% ),
London, ON (+23.26%),
Hamilton, ON (+22.35%),
Thunder Bay, ON (+17.58%),
Kingston, ON (+20.83%),
Ottawa, ON (+11.46%).
In Kitchener/Waterloo, ON, the increase was more modest at +4.29% year-over-year from $759,115 in 2021 to $791,674 in 2022.
 By Staff
July 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
City of Burlington’s website and some web applications temporarily unavailable for scheduled maintenance July 21 from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
During the temporary shutdown, the following websites and applications will not be available:
- burlington.ca
- burlingtontransit.ca
- burlington.ca/calendar
- haltoncourtservices.ca
- Online forms for:
- Service Requests
- Parking ticket payment
- Parking permit renewal
- Parking exemption request
- New dog licenses
- Renew dog licenses
- Tax assessment lookup
- Business license renewal
- Senior property tax rebates application
- Property information requests
- Marriage licenses
- My festival and events applications
The following City of Burlington web applications will not be impacted:
The shutdown of a system as large as that of a municipality is always tricky business. Particularly at a time when the Information Technology people are working on the introduction of a new look and a new layout of much of the city web site.
That’s what Rogers was doing when its business fell apart a week or so ago.
Wish our people well.
By Staff
July 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Arkells – that band from that city on the other side of the lake has gone and gotten themselves into the Canadian Walk of Fame.
Not enough that they have scooped up five Junos and now this.
This time they are being recognized and given the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour in recognition of their positive impact on others and contributions to the community.
 In no specific order: Max Kerman, Mike DeAngelis, Nick Dika, Tim Oxford and Anthony Carone Not too shabby for the likes of Max Kerman, Mike DeAngelis, Nick Dika, Tim Oxford and Anthony Carone who have had a banner year since last August’s three once-in-a-return-from-a-pandemic history making nights that reopened the live music business at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage.
Between the release of their latest chart-topping album, Blink Once and their forthcoming album, Blink Twice, Arkells headlined the 108th Grey Cup Halftime Show in December 2021, performed at the 2022 JUNO Awards (while winning Group of the Year for the 5th time), and made their mark in Hamilton with the return of their hometown summer festival event “The Rally,” of one of the biggest headline shows in the country.
 Boys in a box car – The 2022 edition of “The Rally” concert at Tim Hortons Field broke attendance records at the stadium, with $1 from every ticket sold benefiting Indwell, a local organization that builds and maintains affordable and geared-to-income housing in Hamilton.
“The Rally” has become a highly anticipated and celebrated community event, known to be more than just a concert. This year’s event included a special addition – the opening of the city’s brand new “The Rally Court” – a dazzling refurbished basketball court in Hamilton’s Ward 3 neighbourhood. Replete with brand new vibrant surfacing, glass backboards, bleachers and updated lighting, the court was spearheaded by the band, The City of Hamilton, and funded by Arkells’ friends in the basketball community: The Nick Nurse Foundation, The Foxcroft Family, Superfan Nav Bhatia, and Canada Basketball.
Throughout the pandemic, many became familiar with Arkells’ “Flatten The Curve” music class, a headline grabbing, free daily music lesson that acted as a reliable outlet for fans all over the world, and helped raise $50,000 for the Food Band of Canada. The FTC Music Class simultaneously bolstered support, both financial and in kind for music programs in Southern Ontario. Their covid relief efforts raised over $15,000 to contribute to virtual programming updates for Hamilton’s YMCA, and their song “All Roads,” served as the soundtrack to #TogetherAgain, a national vaccine awareness PSA to combat vaccine hesitancy during the height of the pandemic.
Randy Lennox speaking for the Canada’s Walk of Fame board of directors said the “Arkells have become one of Canada’s most successful and beloved rock groups.
“When I think of Arkells, I think of unity, community, heart and sheer talent,” said Gary Slaight, President and CEO, The Slaight Family Foundation. ”
They lead with compassion and integrity and epitomize the values that my late father Allan had in mind for this special honour. They are an inspiration and deserving of this recognition.”
Hailed by The Globe and Mail as “the right kind of band for this decade,” Arkells are widely considered one of the most passionate, exuberant and in-demand live bands on the scene today. As radio mainstays, sports-sync shoe-ins and curious students of culture, Arkells have remained ever present – building awareness and personal community experiences around their live shows and new music at every turn. Arkells continue to release and tease new music in support of their chart-topping BLINK ONCE & hotly anticipated BLINK TWICE companion albums, while touring internationally.
Links:
@arkellsmusic
@CWOFame
web site: http://www.arkellsmusic.com/
By Pepper Parr
July 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
When Anita Cassidy, Executive Director, is presenting to Council, she finds herself speaking very quickly on issues that are important.
The agenda for any one day is often full and she seems to feel that she isn’t going to be given the time she needs.
Unfortunate because the picture she paints isn’t always rosy.
 Anita Cassidy, Executive Director, Economic Development Corporation She said earlier this month that “…we had a significant shift in our economic environment. In that time that we had it on pause, we had to reflect the realities of COVID-19 and look at the potential impacts. We also had the shift of the UGC to Burlington GO MTSA.”
The Economic Development Corporation, in its report to Council set out the background that they expdct the city’s economy to build upon.
They maintain the MTSAs provide the potential to create complete communities, expand the tax base, and provide a destination for employment growth for future generations. The MTSA developments will increase transit usage and help to make Burlington a destination while lowering carbon emissions. Burlington Economic Development has been working with the City of Burlington to develop an employment vision for the MTSAs and an implementation plan that positions us to expand our tax base through employment attraction and branding opportunities, as well as ensuring we continue to retain key industrial employers and other employment uses associated with the MTSAs.
This economic vision for the three MTSAs has been undertaken through the GO Investment Corridor Project.
“So what did that mean for unemployment attraction and retention perspective? Cassidy added: “We also wanted to make sure that we addressed any market and policy changes; as I mentioned, there were a number of policy changes in the background, ROPA 48 and 49 is coming down, we had the provincially significant employment zones for the province: a lot of policy changes to take into effect here.
“One of the key pieces of research we did was on taking into account the impacts of COVID on the office and retail environment, and what could that look like? The industrial environment for COVID, as I mentioned to counsel before, largely hasn’t shifted, as that is an in person activity. We’ve seen our industrial getting stronger through COVID. So we focused in on office and the retail.
“We had stakeholder workshops to validate those findings and hear from our developers and our businesses and our real estate, commercial brokers, what has changed over the last two years.
“Our assumptions were right here what we need to integrate in here.
“We had a subcommittee of our board reinstated with external experts to provide their expertise and then we integrated those back into the six guiding principles and the overall vision that we developed.
“There was nothing surprising from the SWOT analysis perspective. It’s everything that we’re seeing in the market already.
“We’re seeing that not unexpected displacement of existing businesses. And what we want to see is that the right kinds of businesses are retained There were examples of business displacement that have happened already over the last couple of years. We had one shop go to Mexico. They were a great employer – 150 high tech industrial jobs that ended moving operations to Mexico; part of that was they couldn’t secure a long term lease, and we don’t have sufficient employment lands to replace employers like that.
“We’ve gone from 27 hectares of shovel ready land back in 2015 to down to 14 now; that’s less than half. So this is a really a key focus area. We need to make sure that we can integrate these existing businesses as well as attracting new businesses to the MTSA developments – that is really going to be critical to achieving both job growth and that great split of tax base where we have commercial and industrial taxes to help keep our residential costs low as well.
“Our Go investment corridor vision has six guiding principles.
 “To effectively develop each MTSA into a complete community that has a mix of residential employment, institutional and recreational uses a clear mission statement and understood and agreed upon objectives are in place.
 “When we started this project, back in 2017, we took a pretty narrow economic development lens. And as we sat down with stakeholders, and we did workshops with people, we realized that the future of work at these GO stations is going to be very different from the type of employment development we’ve had in the past.
“Workers of the future do not want to work at isolated employer locations where they have to get in their car to do everything and they don’t have those communities around them. That’s what’s going to be the attractors to those MTSA locations – it’s going to be like a mini downtime environment where they’re going to be able to have all of those facilities in one spot while also being able to get on the go train and access those communities and to attend meetings in downtown as well.
“Our second guiding principle is to focus on planning for future services and infrastructure and secure sustainable development which means looking at integrating the right kind of infrastructure but also understanding in advance what the infrastructure needs are and planning not just for yourselves as a city, but with our regional partners as well.
“We’ve already heard the region is a huge part of this from a policy approval perspective, but also from an infrastructure and servicing perspective. If we don’t have the right infrastructure planned and in place then we can’t support the levels of development that we’re going to see.”
 There is a significant amount of work to be done to ensure that all the players understand and buy into what is proposed. Work done in 2017 – 2019  Work done during 2021 and 2022 – it is an ongoing process. The planners are now creating Area Specific Plans for each of the MTSA – which set out a clear path as to where the development can take place.
The Vision has been clear since the current Council took office. The moving of the Urban Growth Centre north of the downtown area has made it possible for the city to undergo the growth the province has imposed. That growth will create the tax base need to cover the cost of making the city a place where seniors and those raising a family can live in comfort.
The challenge at this point is to get through the Ontario Land Tribunals and have an Official Plan that makes the vision possible
By Vlad Mudrova
July 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Organizing medical treatment abroad
Every year, millions of people travel outside their native country to receive medical services. Now it has become really simple: just visit the Booking Health website, choose a disease and a treatment method, see the list of the best clinics in the world, compare prices and make an appointment with the chosen specialist. The company’s employees will help you to make the right choice and fully organize your trip.
 Dr Marion Derasse at the Pneumology Department at . The Europe Hospitals Medical services abroad
In developed countries, medicine is developing very rapidly. It receives generous funding, so clinics buy state-of-the-art equipment, poach the best doctors from around the world, conduct many research projects, develop increasingly effective drugs, procedures and operations.
In countries with weak economies, however, medicine is stuck at the level of the twentieth century. Doctors still perform traumatic operations and use unsafe drugs and outdated techniques. As a result, the diseases that modern medicine has learned to cope with still claim the lives of millions of people.
If your native country does not offer the highest level of medicine, there is no necessity to be treated at your place of residence. You can get on a plane and go to another country. Just a couple of hours, and you will be in one of the best clinics in the world! You don’t even have to solve organizational issues on your own because this will be done by Booking Health, a certified medical tourism provider.
How to make your treatment appointment through the Booking Health website?
 Among the clinics recommended in the past is the Academic Hospital Garmisch-Partenkirchen where Ekaterina K., Georgia, Prof. Dr. med. Hans-Dieter Allescher practice. You better start by choosing a clinic. You can do this on the Booking Health website. The service is very convenient: enter a disease in the search bar, select a treatment method, and you will receive a list of clinics where it is used. You can also select the desired country and city, and specify the patient’s age (adult or child), if necessary. The list of hospitals can be sorted by price, rating, reviews, and the nearest free admission date.
The service itself will select the recommended clinics with the optimal ratio of cost and quality of medical services for you. If you want to be treated in the best hospital only, and prices are not of particular importance to you, select the option “TOP clinics” in the drop-down list.
Can’t make a choice? Please leave your request on our website. The Booking Health specialists will contact you and advise you on treatment abroad.
We have all the statistics on clinics, so we know exactly where and what disease is best treated.
How to travel abroad?
Previously, the organization of treatment abroad presented serious difficulties: the choice of a clinic, communication with the administration, medical documents, translation, visa, hotel, air tickets, language barrier, the search for an interpreter abroad and many other problems snowballed on a person who, moreover, is not in the best state of health.
Everything is much easier today. If you make your treatment appointment through the Booking Health service, the company’s employees will fully organize your trip. As a result, you can focus on your health, not worry about anything, and save a lot of nerves, effort, time and money.
 The original price will definitely not increase for you, even if additional medical procedures are required. When you make an appointment through Booking Health, the diagnosis of diseases and treatment abroad become cheaper. Prices are reduced due to the lack of additional fees for international patients. In addition, you will receive an insurance that will cover unexpected expenses up to 200,000 EUR.
This means that the original price will definitely not increase for you, even if additional medical procedures are required.
Take full advantage of medical tourism with Booking Health, and your treatment abroad will become easier, faster and cheaper.
By Pepper Parr
July 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Nominations close on August 19th.
Here is the list of the people running for Council and Regional Chair. Data on school elections will follow.
Mayor
 Marianne Meed Ward  Anne Marsden Anne Marsden
Phone: 905-467-2860
Email: anneandave@gmail.com
Website: marsdens.ca
Marianne Meed Ward
Phone: 905-335-1899
Email: marianne4mayor@gmail.com
Website: https://votemarianne.ca/
It will be very difficult for Marsden to pull in more votes than Meed Ward. Both have strong profiles and we can expect Marsden to do well – which will put a dent in the mandate Meed Ward will want to take away from the election.
There is significant expectation that a third candidate will enter the race. A number of people approached Regional Chair Gary Carr to run for Mayor – he recently moved his residence to Burlington.
Ward 1
 Kelvin Galbraith Kelvin Galbraith
Phone: 905-928-4513
Email: kelvingalbraith@gmail.com
Website: kelvingalbraith-ward1.com
Robert Radway
Phone: 289-208-6474
Email: robertradway07@gmail.com
Website: robertradway.com
Radway, a high school teacher didn’t appear to fully understand what it means to be a city Councillor. I think his name is there because he has already paid for his nomination. Any votes he does get will be seen as protest votes against Galbraith – who has some explaining to do over his contribution to the life of the city during his time at city hall.
Ward 2
 Lisa Kearns Keith Demoe
Phone: 289-259-0488
Email: kd@kobaltek.com
Lisa Kearns
Email: LisaKearnsWard2@gmail.com
Website: lisakearnsward2.com
Kearns has earned her paycheck. Very difficult to comment on Demoe – he has said very little about himself and his qualifications.
Lots to say about Kearns. On the positive side she has the best mind on this council; is consistently on top of issues other council members don’t understand.
Ward 3
 Rory Nisan Jennifer Hounslow
Email: jenniferhounslow.ward3@gmail.com
Rory Nisan
Phone: 905-464-7195
Email: info@rorynisan.ca
Website: rorynisan.ca
Hounslow is new to the game. Ward 3 residents will want to hear what she has to say before deciding if it is time for a change.
Nisan has to be given credit for a very good web site. That he has yet to put up a platform is surprising but what he has in place is very good.
 Olivia Duke  Tony Brecknock  Shawna Stolte Ward 4
Tony Brecknock
Phone: 905-334-8118
Email: tony@brecknock.com
Website: brecknock.com
Olivia Duke
Phone: 416-320-8843
Email: olivia@oliviaduke.ca
Website: oliviaduke.ca
Shawna Stolte
Eden Wood
Phone: 905-630-4949
Email: vote.edenwood@gmail.com
Ward 4 is where the action will take place. Stolte has a fight on her hands, not because of what she hasn’t done – she has a solid following – the concern is over what she has done. Her integrity issues are being blown out of proportion – she took a principled stand and paid the price. She has the Mayor on the ropes. Some of the candidates see an opportunity to replace Stolte; they will find it will not be easy – she has brought about more positive changes than any other member of Council and has served her community very well.
No one can find Eden Wood, Tony Brecknock needs to do more at the community level before looking for a seat on Council. Olivia Duke looks interesting – need some time listening to her.
Ward 5
 Paul Sharman Paul Sharman
Phone: 905-320-7467
Email: paul@paulsharman.ca
Website: paulsharman.ca
He could be acclaimed. He could have been Mayor but wasn’t prepared to put in the effort.
Ward 6
 Angelo Bentivegna Angelo Bentivegna
Phone: 905-973-6923
Email: angelo.bentivegna@gmail.com
Rick Greenspoon
Phone: 905-466-4449
Email: greenspoonrick@gmail.com
Angelo Bentivegna had a steep learning curve that he has yet to get all that far along. But he is a tireless advocate for the small business community and more than any other Councillor asks the obvious question: Why?
 Jane McKenna  Andrea Grebenc Regional Chair
Andrea Grebenc
Address: Burlington, ON
Phone: 905-510-4847
Email: contact@andrea4halton.ca
Website: andrea4halton.ca
Jane McKenna
Website: votejanemckenna.ca
Both current Regional Chair Gary Carr and former Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale are being talked about as possible candidates – neither have filed nomination papers. They have until August 19th to do that. Carr has said he would enter the race. Friends of his pitched him on the idea of running for Mayor of Burlington now that he lives in the city.
Pictures and detail on some of the candidates was not available.
 By Staff
July 19th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
On July 9, 2022 at approximately 1:50 am, Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) officers responded to the Port House Social Bar and Kitchen located at 2020 Lakeshore Road in Burlington, for reports of gun shots being fired.
Location was basically the Waterfront Hotel
 Gun was fired into the air in the parking lot on the eastern side of the Waterfront Hotel. An altercation had occurred between a group of people in the parking lot of the bar. At some point during the altercation the suspect produced a handgun from his waistband and fired five to six shots into the air. Fortunately no one was struck by the rounds and no physical injuries were reported. The suspect fled the area in a vehicle.
Investigators from the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau were able to identify the suspect and on July 15, 2022, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Hamilton.
Bashdar Kader (23) of Hamilton was arrested and has been charged with:
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
• Careless Use of a Firearm
• Carry Concealed Weapon
• Unauthorized Possession of Firearm
Kader was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
The firearm utilized by the accused has not been recovered.
 Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective Constable Lanaya Greco of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2334 or 2316.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca
 By Staff
July 19th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
UPDATE July 20: Readers report that the city has since taken down the link.
Coming Soon! Our redesigned website burlington.ca
That was the announcement.
Find what you need. Easier. Faster. Better. Learn more about the website redesign project on Get Involved Burlington…
The problem was the link provided didn’t work.
If you slip over to the current web site where the announcement also appears you will get to a link with a lot of outdated information.
This project is not ready for the main stage, – pathetic – an augur of what is to come ?
By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is on a bit of a tear.
Terry Caddo, the recently hired President is rebuilding an organization that had fallen out of favour with many in the private sector.
 There is more than a single page to the Strategic Plan – they just weren’t prepared to share it at this point in time. One of the people close to the man set out what he has done and what he will get done, described him this way:
“Terry started his working career in the sports department of a newspaper.
“He is very competitive and is going to make the Chamber relevant once again.
“He is a goal setter, and is working on goals that are achievable.”
We don’t know all that much about what those goals are other than the first page of the latest Strategic Plan that was put together by an independent consultant.
We know that major changes are planned for the Advisory Committees that Chamber has had in place for years.
 Changes are coming in the Committee structure.  Chamber President Terry Caddo working the audience at a recent event. The Burlington Chamber proudly boasts that it is a proactive, not reactive organization. “We help draft policy rather than simply criticize it.”; to that end Caddo has been meeting with anyone that will take his call – including the Mayor, the Regional Chair, the City Manager, leading developers and those stakeholders that Caddo thinks he wants to listen to – if the City had a Chaplain Caddo would probably want to talk to the man.
As a member-based business association, “our Chamber has three main goals: to act as an advocate for local business, to create opportunities for member businesses to promote themselves and do business with one another, and to provide business education opportunities for our members.”
We had hoped to have a chance to look at the Strategic Plan in detail with the hope that it might become a template that others in the community could use.
Everyone is experiencing the same environment. Are we still in a pandemic? While we are out of lock-downs are we going to find ourselves in the same situation come the fall when people will be working more closely and not outside as much.
Are we anywhere near resolving the supply chain problems? Are we even beginning to get a handle on the labour issues – far too many organizations still can’t attract the people they need.
Is Tourism a sector in Burlington? The collection of pamphlets in the Team Burlington building is an embarrassment.
Terry makes a point ensuring that you know who he is responsible to: the member and the Board of Directors – they hired him and they will review his performance. That Board is made up of:
Randall Smallbone, Vice Chair
Holly Simmons, Second Vice Chair
Jordan Davis, Director of Finance
Jennifer Smith, Past Chair
Daniela Fonseca, Director
 By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Gazette will keep going back to that 14 minutes of self-destruction when Mayor Marianne Meed Ward let people see a side of her that is not all that pretty.
Check it out yourself click HERE
Not the smartest thing to do during the months before an election takes place.
The Gazette ran a poll asking our readers if they thought the Mayor should apologize to Stolte for the way she attempted to manipulate a fellow member of Council.
Of the 247 responses 86% said Yes
To recap – the Mayor attempted to force Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte to read out an apology at the beginning of a council meeting when Stolte had already advised the Mayor that she would reading the apology at the end of the Council meeting when comments are made – those comments are not debatable.
Anything said during a Council meeting can be debated by any Council member who chooses to do so. And in the past two council members have filed complaints with the Integrity Commissioner
The relationship between the Mayor, ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith and ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan and the rest of Council have reached a level of toxicity that is dangerous.
During the June Council meeting Mayor Meed Ward used the request made by Georgie Gartside that the apology Councillor Stolte was more than willing to make be made at the beginning of the meeting as the reason for revising the agenda.
Has the Mayor produced any of the communication between herself and Gartside in which the request was made?
That evidence has never been produced – Could the Mayor produce it at this time and put this matter to rest?
Related news stories;
The interview with Stolte about the staffing problem.
By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Heard anything lately about the plans for the Waterfront Hotel site?
Pretty quiet – and that is not a good sign.
 Architecturally stunning – just not appropriate for the waterfront. At 35 and 40 storeys atop a three storey podium – the towers would loom over everything. The Spencer Smith Park experience would never be the same. Two things have occurred.
The Ontario Land Tribunal, that is the body developers (and sometimes the city) appeal to over planning and development issues, has issued a case number which means that organization begins pulling documents together to first determine just what the issue is and then determine when proceedings will begin.
The other “occurrence” is a letter from The Planning Partnership (TPP) – they are the people who represented the city when there was an extensive series of engagement sessions with all kinds of ideas coming to the surface.
In a letter to the city TPP Partner, Donna Hinde, told the Planning department that they “cannot provide professional planning and /or urban design support for any specific building height through the remaining approval process, including at any potential appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal.”
When your independent planning consultant quits – you know you’re in trouble.
 The first plan put forward was for a six storey podium on which the towers would sit. Access to the site would be through a passage way that would align with John Street. Given the grade level there would be quite a steep set of steps needed to get people into Spencer Smith Park Earlier in the letter Ms Hinds said “we were directed by city staff to implement a building height of 22 storeys”.
Wow if that is true – and the Director of the Community Planning department said it didn’t happen, there is a serious problem.
Add to those problems the issues around park land dedication and the people of Burlington and the developer are looking at a development that may no longer be viable.
Which the Plan B people would not complain about.
You might want to ask your Council member what they can tell you about this mess.
They are out looking for your vote – this is time to stand on their toes so they can’t walk away.
By Pepper Parr
July 17th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
With more than $1 million in city hall talent on site to officially open the new pavilion at City View Park, the ribbon was cut officially unveiling the new public art piece titled, ‘SOAR’. Mayor Meed Ward, Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith, project partners and City staff helped cut the ribbon to the building and unveil the public art.
The pavilion is open for community use and all are welcome.
The entrance to the park is off Kerns Road
 It was a Friday afternoon, lovely weather and a chance to get out of the office. Just how many actually work in city hall is an unasked question. Not a mask in sight. L-R Angela Paparizo, Rich Trella, Scott Virgin, Chris Glenn, City Manager Tim Commisso, Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith, Graham McNally, Patrick Tucker, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Paula Hamilton, Jennifer Johnson, Paul Swioklo, Wynn McDonald, Allan Magi. City View Park Pavilion
The pavilion is designed to be environmentally friendly and features public washrooms, community space, covered terrace, a water refill station and seating.
It is a key feature for Bruce Trail hikers to meet or continue their adventure and a significant milestone towards the completion of the City View Park Master Plan.
 The City View Park Pavilion is exceptionally well fitted out. This should become a much sought venue for events. • The design of the building features sustainability, water and energy efficiencies and is a symbolic connection between new construction and the unique natural setting of the escarpment.
• Green building measures have been incorporated using a wood structure, an onsite well filtered for drinking water and onsite sewerage disposal system.
• The building does not use any fossil fuels in its operation. By using solar power, the building will achieve net-carbon neutrality: the roof-top solar panels produce the electricity the building uses.
It also has:
• Public washrooms;
• A community room open for casual use and organized sport tournaments;
• Indoor public gathering area that can be used by all park users;
• Exterior space with an outdoor, covered terrace;
• Accessible parking and drop-off area;
• Interpretive displays highlighting the unique park setting on a large display screen and two smaller information screens;
• Public art, SOAR, by artist Hooman Mehdizadehjafari.
 Sheltered area – public washrooms are part of the structure. When first opened the Park was exclusive to soccer players taking part in the Pan Am Games. Two of the soccer fields had artificial turf – which was controversial at the time and probably would not have been installed if the decision were to be made today.
It is a very large park – closer to Hamiltonian’s than most Burlingtonians
 The 17-foot-tall metal sculpture, created by artist Hooman Mehdizadehjafari, reflects the rich natural heritage of the region, in particular the Niagara Escarpment. About the public art, SOAR
The 17-foot-tall metal sculpture, created by artist Hooman Mehdizadehjafari, reflects the rich natural heritage of the region, in particular the Niagara Escarpment. From the life-giving and mighty Niagara Falls, the iconic flora and fauna that gives special identity to the ecosystem of the region such as the Calypso Orchid, Southern Flying Squirrel, and Spotted Turtle, to the cedar forests and their immense, interconnected, underground root system.
The diversity of materials used creates a beautiful play of colours that can often be seen in nature and alludes to the diverse and united community of Burlington.
 Somehow the people got in the way of the sculpture – hard to tell just what it looks like Mayor took up most of the photo op space. L – R Allan Magi, Chris Glenn, Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Angela Paparizo, Jennifer Johnson ‘SOAR’ is a reflective mirror of the rich natural heritage of the site and celebrates the gracious and honourable ambition of appreciating and protecting the environment and ensuring its passing on to future generations.
The applied words THROUGH – NATURE – WITH – LOVE – WE – THRIVE in ‘SOAR’, create an infinite circulation that reflects the ultimate message of the artwork: by loving our nature, valuing and protecting it, we may grow and thrive within it peacefully.
By Pepper Parr
July 17th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
We had a small follow up on a media release from the city – the attachment didn’t appear to be attached.
Sent a note – nothing came back – we found a way too dig out the information we needed and published the story.
 Two days later we got the following from one of the Communications advisors:
Our working hours may be different. Please do not feel the need to reply outside of your typical working hours.
Lackadaisical was the word that came to mind.
There should be one Communications Advisor on duty at all times – a common cell number would be made available to media who needed information.
This is your Burlington!
 By Staff
July 17th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
A reader popped us a note asking if we were aware of what people are saying about the traffic light situation in Burlington.
Under the question:
 Former Halton Regional Police Chief Gary Crowly, Regional Chair Gary Carr and former Mayor Rick Goldring stand at the intersection of Brant and Dundas with signs telling the public that red light runners will be photographed and fined. What’s your least favourite thing about Burlington?
They got the following on
Lol. When we left the city in the family van, we played a game that we could make it to the QEW without stopping. I think we have 6 red lights in the 3 km distance. IIRC we made it….once.
i think i hit 6 just crossing the highway
walkers line and
fairview
harvester
toronto bound off ramp
hamilton bound off ramp
south service road
mainway
It takes me longer to get to work from Burlington -> Burlington than it takes my coworkers who live in Hamilton when there’s no traffic in the morning. They just have a straight shot down the highway, I spent 10 minutes sitting at red lights as no traffic passes in front of me.
Seriously what the **** is up with that. It’s like it’s designed to be as annoying as possible on purpose.
Stop the survey…this is the correct answer.
Yup. Traffic lights has to be the top answer.
Burlington, home of the red light.
Come for the simple life, stay because of the red lights
I was just saying to my dad that I would pay $10 to a fundraiser that is raising funds that will go to implementing the software like Hamilton. I can’t imagine it’s very expensive anymore it was in the early 2000s but Burlington didn’t go for it and Hamilton did! I would pay out of pocket outside taxes for this.
By Pepper Parr
July 17th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
It is going to take more than a photograph of a woman in a wheel chair facing the Cenotaph to become the Mayor of Burlington.f
 Anne Marsden spending a quiet moment in front of the Cenotaph in Veteran Square. The 17,000 votes that were cast in the 2018 election will not translate into votes for Anne Marsden to be given the Chain of Office in October.
Those votes were for a different position and were more of a protest against Gary Carr, the Regional Chair Marsden wanted to replace.
Anne, along with her husband Dave have delegated before city council frequently, some say too frequently, but that was and is her right.
What the public wants to hear is what Anne stands for.
Where is she on municipal taxes; where does she stand on park land dedication and the development charges that are part of buying a home.
Anne is a strong advocate for affordable housing – how does she think this can be done in Burlington when housing is burdened with participation from every government of level in the country.
 Anne Marsden with her husband Dave It is time for Anne to begin to tell the public she wants to serve how she will do the job – in some detail.
The disabled sympathy card has been taken as far as it will get her. Access for those who are disabled has to be cast in stone and never messed with – and on that score Anne Marsden will be there.
It is the other issues that people want to hear her views on as well as how she would lead – hopefully it will be more than a settling of old scores.
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