Burlington issued charges under its Private and Public Tree By-laws in relation to tree cutting on Millcroft development property at 2155 Country Club Drive that occurred earlier this spring.
This is what the city is now saying was illegal and has laid charges in Provincial Court. A proactive municipal would have sent a bylaw officer in with an order to cease cutting..
Five parties, including the developer, landowner, and contractor, are facing charges under the Private Tree By-law (40-2022) for allegedly causing or permitting the injury or destruction of trees without the required permits between April and June 2025. Additional charges have been laid against the contractor for removing and damaging trees under the Public Tree By-law (68-2013).
As this matter is currently before the courts, no further comment will be provided at this time.
The City understands how deeply people care about this neighbourhood, and we are committed to ongoing monitoring and transparency throughout the construction process.
Isn’t this a case of the horse being already out of the barn? Whatever the fine – it will be written off as the cost of doing business. Maybe an apology will make the city happy.
Will the city advise the public when the matter will be heard in Court so people can hear the arguments?
The people doing the work needed to keep some of the trees safe have put fencing around many areas of the site.
There was some confusion over the application dates for the Appeals Committeee jobs. These are paid positions: Chair earns $100 per meeting, mebers earn $80 per meeting.
Communications thought the method they used to announce the need for members of an important committee was one that would “resonate” best with the people they wanted to attract.
The information we came across on social media (have you any idea how much information the city and the mayor dump into social media channels?) said the closing date was September 2nd.
But the information on the city website said the closing date was September 24th.
A number of Gazette readers pointed this out to us, so I revised the story and asked the City Communications people why the information related to an important Advisory group was not sent out as a media release?
The issue about the amount of swimming pool time Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) has been given and just how many members they have and how many hours of pool time Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC) has been given needs to be set out in bold letters.
This issue is about people who live in Burlington and belong to a swimming club (BAD) and want to use Burlington swimming pools. The driving force here is Burlington – not Hamilton. And the ultimate responsibility belongs with Council.
Prior to the current contract BAD had 40 hours of pool time each week. In the new contract, they have 17 hours and GHAC has 36 hours of pool time.
What many are upset about is: Why does a Tier 1 community swimming club not have the hours it needs to run a solid swimming program?
The contract the City Procurement department prepared required a swimming club to have 85% of it members living in Burlington.
BAD reported that 79% of its members lived in Burlington; GHAC reported that 28% of its members lived in Burlington. Both Clubs were expected to provide the Procurment department with their true numbers by the end of September.
When a person wants to be a member of a swimming club they have to be registered with Swim Ontario (as well as Swim Canada) That registration is done by the swimming club a swimmer is joining
The reason for this approach is that Swim Ontario collects all the data on each swimmer, including how they placed in any competitions they took part in.
Recall that the Procurement people who were given the task of determining which swimming club would be given pool time in 2026 Burlington was expected to have 85% of its members as residents of Burlington.
There have been modest fluctuations in the numbers over time, with Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) having approximately 79% residency, while GHAC was observed at only 28%.
Sources have suggested that the procurement department has, or is considering, a change in the way the 85% Burlington residency requirement is calculated.
Current Rule (original intent)
The requirement is currently calculated as the percentage of a club’s Burlington-resident swimmers compared to its total membership across all communities.
GHAC: 150 Burlington residents ÷ 540 total members = 28%
BAD: 316 Burlington residents ÷ 400 total members = 79%
This approach aligns with common practice in most swim communities and serves to ensure that the rule protects Burlington-rooted clubs from being displaced by larger regional organizations with multiple sources of recruitment and revenue.
Proposed Change
The suggested revision would calculate the residency percentage only among swimmers who both reside in Burlington and swim in Burlington, rather than against the club’s total membership across all communities. GHAC has a reported 540 members (give or take) spread among several communities, including Hamilton, Dundas, Stoney Creek and Ancaster.
Under this approach:
GHAC: 150 ÷ 150 = 100%
BAD: 316 ÷ 316 = 100%
This effectively places any club that uses Burlington pools into automatic compliance, regardless of how much of its overall membership comes from outside Burlington.
Why This Undermines the Original Requirement
The original intent of the 85% rule was to prioritize Burlington-based clubs and ensure that city pool allocations primarily benefit Burlington residents.
The proposed rule would strip the requirement of meaning: large regional clubs could claim full compliance despite most of their membership living elsewhere.
In contrast, most swim communities maintain the broader calculation (total membership basis) and serves to ensure that community clubs remain protected from regional competition.
Lisa Kearns wants the City Auditor to look into just what has happened.
A closer look at what the Procurement people are trying to do suggests at the least some sleight of hand.
This situation is being very poorly handed at the department level. It belongs on the desks of the City Council where all the facts are put on the table.
Lisa Kearns, ward 2 Councillor, who is currently in Africa representing the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, is expected back later this week. Her expressed intention is to move a motion that has the matter being sent to the City Auditor who can ask the questions needed to get a full picture as to how this mess was created.
Live demonstrations in the historic house Ireland House
This event will feature live demonstrations in the historic house and a market offering a variety of fibre art-related products. There will also be a children’s activity station Admission is pay-what-you-may.
Pre-registration is not required, 10am to 2pm at Ireland House Museum.
Celebrate Culture Days and visit Ireland House Museum for our Heritage Fibre Fest.
Explore the rich world of fibre arts, showcasing techniques and traditions that would have been popular among the Ireland family—and still are today!
The Provincial Liberals will be holding a convention to select a new leader.
With Bonnie Crombie no longer leading the provincial Liberal party there is public interest in who the next leader will be.
A number of names have been mentioned, including Jeff Lehman, former Mayor of Barrie, who announced this week that he would not be in the race.
Lehman was a centrist who had been organizing a bid to replace Crombie, but instead, he’s focusing on his daughter’s health.
Gould was a political junkie at the age of 14 and went on to win her first election in 2015. An astute politician, her leadership aspirations have always been part of the plan.
Lehman’s exit leaves a gap in the already-crowded leadership race, which includes names like NATE ERSKINE-SMITH, YVAN BAKER, NAVDEEP BAINS, KARINA GOULD, MARCO MENDOCINO, JOSH MATLOW, ANDREW BOOZARY, ROB CERJANEC, TED HSU, STEPHANIE BOWMAN and more.
Word on the street is that some high-profile organizers wasted no time in looking for another candidate to support, while some potential contenders are hoping to scoop them up.
There has been no word from Karina Gould, who is the MP for Burlington. Once a federal Cabinet Minister and also once a leadership candidate for the federal Liberals (Mark Carney won that race), there is room for a move.
Gould has made it clear she sees leadership as part of her future. Would running for the Burlington seat in the Legislature – (defeating Natalie Pierre wouldn’t be a problem) be a first step?.
Gould defeated Mike Wallace in 2015 and has held the seat ever since.
Could she defeat Doug Ford and become the Premier?
Both would be pluses for the province.
Does Gould take the risk – serve as the Premier for two terms and then take a run for the federal Liberal leadership?
She is still a very young woman. Could she do it? Will she do it?
All we know at this point is – Gould, unlike Lehman, hasn’t said she would not.
University life is often romanticized as a period of independence, exploration, and academic achievement. Yet, for many students, it also comes with overwhelming challenges that can affect academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being. The transition from high school to university requires students to adapt to new environments, academic rigor, and personal responsibilities, often all at once. Understanding these challenges – and more importantly, how to overcome them – can help students make the most of their university experience.
This article explores the top challenges university students face today and provides practical strategies to overcome them.
1. Academic Pressure and Workload
The Challenge
One of the most significant struggles students encounter is adjusting to the intense academic demands of university. Unlike high school, where assignments are spread out and teachers often provide reminders, university coursework is more self-directed. Students juggle multiple subjects, extensive reading lists, research papers, projects, and exams – all while meeting strict deadlines. This pressure to succeed can be overwhelming for many, leading them to seek support. It’s not uncommon for students to turn to services when they need to get quality paper writing help to ensure their work meets academic standards.
Many students feel overwhelmed by the volume of work and the high expectations placed on them. This pressure can lead to stress, burnout, or even academic failure if not managed effectively.
How to Overcome It
Time Management: Use planners, digital calendars, or task management apps to prioritize tasks and avoid last-minute cramming.
Break Work Into Smaller Tasks: Dividing big projects into smaller steps reduces anxiety and makes progress more visible.
Seek Academic Support: Most universities offer writing centers, tutoring, and study workshops. Taking advantage of these resources can ease the burden.
Study Smart, Not Just Hard: Techniques like active recall, spaced repetition, and summarizing notes can improve retention and reduce study hours.
2. Financial Stress
The Challenge
For many students, university represents their first real encounter with financial independence. Tuition fees, textbooks, housing, food, and transportation can add up quickly, leaving students stressed about money. Many resort to part-time jobs, which, while helpful financially, can interfere with academic focus. International students, in particular, face additional expenses like higher tuition and visa costs.
How to Overcome It
Budget Wisely: Track expenses and set spending limits for non-essential items. Free budgeting apps can simplify this process.
Apply for Scholarships and Grants: Universities, governments, and private organizations often provide financial aid opportunities.
Work Strategically: If part-time work is necessary, choose flexible jobs on or near campus that won’t heavily interfere with studies.
Learn Basic Financial Literacy: Understanding credit, debt, and savings can help students avoid common financial pitfalls.
3. Mental Health and Stress
The Challenge
University students often face high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Pressure to succeed academically, maintain social relationships, and plan for the future can feel overwhelming. According to numerous studies, mental healthissues among students have increased in recent years, partly due to academic pressures and the lingering effects of the pandemic.
How to Overcome It
Prioritize Self-Care: Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and balanced nutrition are essential for mental well-being.
Seek Counseling Services: Most universities provide free or low-cost counseling. Talking to a professional can help students navigate stress and anxiety.
Build a Support Network: Having friends, mentors, or family members to talk to reduces feelings of isolation.
Practice Mindfulness: Techniques like meditation, journaling, or deep breathing exercises can help regulate stress.
4. Adapting to Independence and Responsibility
The Challenge
For many students, university is the first time they live away from home. Suddenly, they must manage their own meals, laundry, finances, and schedules – on top of academic obligations. The sudden independence can feel liberating but also daunting, especially when poor organization leads to missed deadlines or unhealthy routines.
How to Overcome It
Create Routines: Establishing consistent habits around studying, eating, and sleeping helps maintain balance.
Set Realistic Goals: Break large responsibilities into smaller, manageable ones. For example, start with meal prepping one or two times per week.
Ask for Guidance: Universities often provide workshops on adulting skills like budgeting, cooking, and time management.
Learn from Mistakes: Struggles are part of growing into independence – view them as lessons rather than failures.
5. Social Adjustment and Loneliness
The Challenge
Moving to a new environment often means leaving behind established social circles. For many students, especially those studying abroad, building new friendships can be intimidating. Cultural differences, language barriers, andsocial anxiety can make it harder to connect, and students may feel isolated or lonely as a result.
How to Overcome It
Join Clubs and Societies: Universities offer a wide range of student organizations, from sports teams to cultural groups, which provide opportunities to meet like-minded people.
Attend Social Events: Freshers’ week, campus fairs, and academic seminars are excellent ways to build connections.
Use Peer Support Programs: Some universities assign mentors or peer buddies to help new students adapt.
Stay Connected With Home: Maintaining communication with family and old friends can provide comfort during tough times.
6. Balancing Work, Study, and Personal Life
The Challenge
Many students take on part-time jobs to support themselves financially. Others engage in extracurricular activities, internships, or volunteer work to boost their resumes. While these commitments are valuable, they can lead to exhaustion when combined with coursework and personal obligations.
How to Overcome It
Set Priorities: Decide what’s most important at any given time – sometimes academics may need to come first, while other times personal well-being takes priority.
Use Scheduling Tools: Color-coded calendars can visually separate work, study, and personal activities.
Learn to Say No: Overcommitting can lead to burnout. Choose activities that align with your goals and values.
Build Downtime Into Your Schedule: Rest and leisure are just as important as productivity.
7. Career Uncertainty and Pressure About the Future
The Challenge
University is not just about academics – it’s also about preparing for the future. Many students feel anxious about career prospects, especially with competitive job markets and rising expectations for internships and experience. Uncertainty about whether their chosen field will lead to stable employment can add extra stress.
How to Overcome It
Use Career Services: Universities often provide resume reviews, career counseling, and networking events.
Pursue Internships: Practical experience not only builds resumes but also gives students insights into potential careers.
Stay Flexible: Career paths are rarely linear. Keeping an open mind helps students adapt to changing opportunities.
Network Early: Building professional connections through alumni, professors, and LinkedIn can open doors to opportunities later.
8. Cultural and Language Barriers (For International Students)
The Challenge
International students often face additional hurdles, including adapting to new cultures, learning in a second language, and managing homesickness. These challenges can impact both academic performance and social integration.
How to Overcome It
Participate in Orientation Programs: These are designed to help international students adapt to local customs and campus life.
Improve Language Skills: Enroll in language workshops or use language-learning apps.
Seek Community: Joining cultural clubs or international student groups can create a sense of belonging.
Stay Connected Globally: Regular calls with family and friends can ease homesickness while fostering cross-cultural resilience.
Conclusion
University is a transformative stage of life, filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and self-discovery. However, it also presents real challenges – academic pressure, financial stress, mental health struggles, independence, social adjustment, and career uncertainty. By acknowledging these obstacles and adopting proactive strategies, students can not only survive but thrive during their time at university.
The key lies in balance: balancing work with rest, independence with support, and ambition with self-compassion. University is not just about achieving a degree – it’s about building resilience, acquiring life skills, and preparing for a fulfilling future.
Jan McCormick is the minister at East Plains United Church in Burlington. She sent us an unusual story she wanted us to share.
Clergy live interesting lives; they have an ear close to the ground and know just about everything about their congregation
East Plains United Church has been an integral part of the Aldershot community for 182 years. It has a cemetery on the property, which has been there as long as there has been a church building, perhaps longer.
Reverend Jan McCormick is the minister at East Plains United Church.
McCormick explains: “This spring, the Building and Property Committee of the church decided that it was time to replace a walkway leading from the parking lot on the east side of the church property to an entry door which is used most frequently by the Aldershot Child Care Centre, which is located within the building. Over time, the walkway had heaved and cracked. Last winter, there were times when ice formation rendered the walkway quite dangerous for parents and children to navigate. It was a safety issue that needed to be rectified.
“The church contracted with Burlington Paving to do the repair. It was to be a one-day job. As the staff dug down to lay new crushed stone in preparation for paving, they hit something. Upon investigation, it was discovered that there is a decommissioned oil tank buried between the church building and the cemetery. Paving work stopped.
Getting a sling around the 3000 gallon tank and lifting it out onto a flatbed truck led to a skull buried in the soil.
“The current environmental laws require that, if an oil tank is discovered buried on a property, it must be removed. The Building and Property Committee set about finding a contractor to remove the oil tank. After receiving estimates and doing their due diligence, a contractor was hired.
“On Friday, June 20th, the crew arrived to remove the oil tank, The tank was opened. It was found to have some residual oil in it and some sand. Both substances were removed separately and taken to the appropriate disposal site. Once the tank was empty, the crew began to remove soil from the front and sides of the tank in order to put a sling around the 3000 gallon tank and lift it out onto a flatbed truck. As the second bucket load was being deposited on the ground, a crew member shouted that he saw something unusual in the soil pile. Work stopped and the pile was examined. There was what appeared to be a partial skull and some other pieces of bone amongst the soil and stones. Work was halted. The police were called. The Forensics Unit arrived. Suddenly, we had a scene from a crime drama unfolding on the church property.
“It was determined that the bones were not from a recent burial. no crime had been committed. The case was transferred to the coroner. When the coroner examined the artifacts, we were told that these were, indeed human remains and that they were very old. The case was then transferred to the Bereavement Authority of Ontario. Within a few days, a representative of the church’s Board of Trustees was informed that a Burial Site Assessment must be completed by a registered Archaeological Research Company.
“That process began this past week and more bones have been uncovered.
“That process began this past week and more bones have been uncovered.
“There will come a point in the process when the oil tank will be removed, so that the researchers can investigate below and around the tank “nest”. At this point, the soil around the tank “nest” will also be tested for contamination.through any oil leakage. If any contamination is found, excavation will need to continue until no further contamination is found.”
“Eventually, the hole will be refilled, the remains will be re-buried and the “one day” walkway repair will be completed. We are hopeful that that might happen before winter is upon us.”
There just might be more to this story. All Clergy know that the first conversation about an issue or a problem – is only the beginning.
The findings do give meaning to the Land Acknowledgements that are read in many churches.
Take a photo of your favourite tree located in Burlington.
Write a short blurb about your photo and be sure to include where your photo was taken.
Send your picture and blurb to us at bg@burlingtongreen.orgby midnight, October 19th, 2025Please use your last name for your photo file title AND in the subject line of your submission
Please note that one tree photo per person may be submitted.
After all submissions have been received, the photos will be posted here on our website and the community voting will begin!
The HRCIF is one of the Region’s most important tools for helping local organizations make a positive impact. It supports non-profit human service programs and initiatives that enhance the health, safety and well-being of Halton residents and is part of Halton’s approach to Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) planning.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include non-profit human service organizations serving Halton residents. Funding is available in two categories:
The Region encourages proposals that demonstrate collaborative approaches to address community needs.
Key Deadline
Applications will be accepted from Monday, September 22, 2025 until Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 2 p.m.
How to Apply
Visit the HRCIF web page to access application forms, eligibility details, and funding guidelines.
Information Sessions
Ask questions and learn more at one of our upcoming virtual information sessions:
Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 9:30 – 11 a.m. (virtual)
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 | from 1:30 – 3 p.m. (virtual)
Sara Palmieri has been the Executive Director of the Performing Arts Centre for eight months. She replaced Tammy Fox who left BPAC on very short notice.
The Board then set out to find a new Executive Director and chose a woman who has been working within the performing arts community for more than 23 years starting out at the Centre for the Arts, Brock University in the fall of 2003 first as a media and communications Assistant.
She moved into sales and marketing and became the Manager. In that position, Palmieri did a lot of work in programming, audience development, community outreach and in the Arts Education series.
Brock University Centre for the Arts closed its doors in May of 2015.
Sara Palmieri: Executive Director of the Performing Arts Centre.
Palmieri was the inaugural Director of Programming & Marketing at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (FOPAC) in downtown St. Catharines, which opened in the Fall of 2015. She held that position until the end of January of 2025.
The City of St. Catharines oversaw the operations of FOPAC until December 31, 2019 and in Jan 2020, FOPAC moved to oversight from a Municipal Service Board with the City of St. Catharines.
Palmieri, who started her new job on February 18, 2025, takes a cautious approach to most of what she does. When she arrived at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) much of the program for the year was already in place. Her immediate focus was to begin to think about what she would look for in terms of programming and, at the same time, get to know people in the community; build the relationships and get an understanding of what people want.
“Much of what we put on the stages is determined by what is available” explained Palmieri. “There might be a group that is on tour and performing at locations close to us – it makes sense to put them on our stages.”
The Burlington Teen Tour Band marches into the Performing Arts Centre, making it home for them.
Palmieri has two stages: The Main Theatre that will hold a bit more than 725 people; the Community theatre that can hold 100, depending on how the room is set up.
Then there is the large open space with a cash bar that doesn’t have a name but can hold up to 250 people.
There will be an emphasis on local talent that will include having citizens on the stage. You will see them taking part in the Nutcracker Suite performance.
2025-2026 is the 15th anniversary of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, an event Palmieri will focus on.
Sara Palmieri: “Many of those students who watch their first live performance on our stages are future patrons.”
BPAC is the Presenting Sponsor for the Sound of Music – which at this point doesn’t mean much more than a statement. The Sound of Music is working on how it can survive. Once that has been worked out there might be some cross-pollination or shared events. All in the future, assuming the Sound of Music has one.
Will there be a locally produced boffo event showcasing some of the past winners? Nothing yet.
What Palmieri is fixed on is continuing and improving the educational work BPAC has done in the past. “Many of those students who watch their first live performance on our stages are future patrons.”
Open to localresidents, students, groups, business employees, while space remains, this popular tree-ific event is fun, rewarding, and educational too!
Hosted by BurlingtonGreen and City of Burlington Forestry Staff, this year’s TLC (Tree Loving Care) eventwill bring community members together to carry out some hands-on stewardship activities at a former tree planting location at Pathfinder Park, in Burlington. The event will take place on Saturday, September 27th from 9 am to 11:30 am. Space is limited for this opportunity. Advance registration is required – below.
Together we will plant some trees, do a tree inventory, care for previously planted trees by doing some weeding and adding mulch, and we will create and scatter some native seed balls too!
BONUS: participants will have a chance to win a beautiful native tree to take home to plant in Burlington!
The TLC event requires advance registration and will take place rain or shine.
This project is also supported by the Reconnect Project. Click here to learn more!
REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT BY COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING THE FOLLOWING FORM:
The city is seeking individuals with experience in bylaws, bylaw enforcement, and/or public service to join an Appeals Committee, which hears appeals from decisions made by the City related to licensing.
The Appeals Committee is a quasi-judicial body appointed by Burlington City Council to:
Hear appeals against decisions issued by the City under the City’s Licensing Bylaws. This includes decisions to refuse, revoke, suspend, or add terms and conditions of a business license. The Appeals Committee will decide whether to uphold the decision and/or apply conditions; and
Hear appeals against orders issued by the City under the City’s Property Standards Bylaw, as amended and under subsection 15.2(2) of the Building Code Act. The Appeals Committee will decide whether to confirm, modify or rescind an order to demolish or repair, or extend the time for complying with the order.
We are seeking individuals with experience in bylaws, bylaw enforcement, and/or public service to join Appeals Committee, which hears appeals from decisions issued by the City related to licensing. Apply by Sept. 24th.
Meeting Frequency
Appeals Committee meetings will be scheduled once a month. Additional meetings may be added to the regularly scheduled meeting calendar if required.
Committee Composition
The Appeals Committee consists of three (3) to five (5) members of the public.
Appointed member terms will be four years from the date of appointment to coincide with the term of Council. Members hold office until their successors are appointed.
Key Qualifications
In addition to the general eligibility requirements outlined in the Public Appointment Policy, preference will be given to members of the public with experience in business by-laws, by-law enforcement, public service, community engagement, or governance. Candidates should demonstrate proficiency in legislative interpretation and sound judgment and preferably have prior experience on a committee or task force, with a sustained commitment to community well-being.
Remuneration
Members receive $80 per meeting
Chair receives $100 per meeting
The Mayor and her Council took part in the opening of the Skyway Community Centre on Saturday. It is an impressive addition to the sports and community services in the city.
It wasn’t cheap – the city chose to borrow most of the money when the federal and provincial funding that was expected didn’t arrive.
The argument for borrowing was that this was needed for the population growth the city is going to go through.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward looking over the NHL size rink at the Skyway Community Centre.
One a near-perfect late summer day, the Burlington Teen Tour Band takes part in the opening of the Skyway Community Centre.
Earlier this summer, Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) approached the University of Ottawa’s Missing Middle Initiative to conduct an analysis of the state of new housing in Ontario. Our assessment, based on data obtained from the CMHC and the Altus Group, is bleak.
They examined 34 separate municipalities across nine separate metro areas in the Greater Toronto Area and Greater Golden Horseshoe region, and assess the state of housing sales and construction over the first six months of the year, relative to the first six months of the previous four years 202125.
Burlington doesn’t have much more land for this type of development. It will be high rise – at the 25 + storey level in the future.
In the first six months of the year, housing starts are down 40% in those 34 municipalities. Condo apartment starts over the past six months are down 54% relative to 202124 January-June averages, and purpose-built rental starts are up 8%. Ground-oriented housing (everything other than apartments) starts are down 42%, showing that the region’s housing weakness is not just a condo-market story.
The reduction in housing starts has economic ramifications. On average, it takes 3.8 years of employment to build a ground-oriented home, and 1.5 years to build an apartment unit. The reduction in housing starts, over the first six months of the year, relative to 202124 averages, translates into 24,195 fewer person-years of employment.
Unfortunately, things are going to get worse before they get better. Housing starts are a lagging indicator, as the CMHC only considers a unit to be “started” when a building’s foundation is 100% complete, so it often reflects the market decisions of several years prior, when the decision to build was made. Pre-construction housing sales are a better indicator of the market’s current health and
are indicative of future housing starts.
Across our 34 municipalities, pre-construction sales of condo apartments are down 89%, and pre-construction ground-oriented sales are down 70%. This is a clear indication that Ontario’s housing situation will get worse before it gets better, and that market weakness is not isolated to the condo market.
Each of our 34 municipalities were assessed across five categories, three reflecting starts (ground-oriented, condo apartments, rental apartments) and two reflecting sales (ground-oriented, condo apartments), and given a grade.
For our 34 municipalities, 22 received an F, and another 5 received a D. While the other seven 7 municipalities received a C or higher, much of that was based on unusually strong housing starts, rather than robust pre-construction sales. Because starts are a lagging indicator, we expect average grades to fall before they rise.
The state of housing construction in the GTA and GGH should alarm policymakers across all three orders of government.
The report on Burlington is set out below:
The City’s Pipeline to Permit report a real time document that shows the status of every development in the city, even those before the Ontario Land Tribunal.
It was about eight years ago when then Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven told hos constituents that the way to get a supermarket built in the Aldershot community was for youn couples to have more babies – that suggestion didn’ get much in the way of traction.
What has happened in Aldershot is development growth.
One of the first major developments in Aldershot, thousands of people with nothing more than a postage stamp-sized park that is not yet in place.
Plains Road is dotted with six to eight mid-rise buildings.
Starting in the west and working east, you have the huge Adi development referred to as Station West with a population of close to 2000 residents (with next to nothing in the way of playground space – that another story. Then there is
Drive along Plans Road and you see half a dozen five to eight storey structures in place and plans for even bigger developments.
Former Treasure Hunt is scheduled to open as a No Frills in late November.
A former discount store at 1035 Plains is being readied to become a No Frills store; a building permit has been issued. It is close in terms of proximity to an existing Fortinos – the two brands serve different markets; both are owned by Loblaws. The No Frills store is expected to open late in November.
The King Road development that is the early planning stages, will reshape Aldershot and pull the center focal point of Burlington to the West.
The site runs from King Road in the East all the way to the Aldershot GO station in the West
After Dalton McGuinty was elected in 2003, one of the first things his government did was to develop Canadian/Ontario-made renewable energy. Solar systems were as much as 80% Canadian made. Canadian Solar, a private company established in 2001 became a global leader in renewable energy, and still is today.
There are thousands of small solar panel installations like this across the province – they work very well and in many cases provide revenue for the owners.
The solar panels for Ontario’s systems were manufactured largely by Canadian Solar in Guelph Ontario and the steel frames were locally sourced. Unfortunately McGuinty was accused of breaking international trade rules by demanding in-province manufacturing. The Harper government, who never supported renewable energy, presumably pressured McGuinty to discard his buy Ontario policies as violating GATT international trading rules (General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs).
Some twenty years later, GATT and it’s successor WTO (World Trade Organization) have become a sad joke. The so-called leader of the free world imposed tariffs and other trade restrictions willy-nilly to suit his mood of the day. He imposed 50% tariffs on everything Brazilian because his buddy there had been convicted for trying to stage a coup – ironically what Trump is alleged to have attempted on January 6th 2001.
Canadian steel mills are among the best in the world. Keeping them alive is a critical part of realigning the Canadian economy.
So Canada’s new prime minister is pushing ahead with a broad-based buy Canada policy. The steel industry hopes that this could move Canadian content of their products to 80% from its current 30% and help offset Trump’s whacking big steel tariffs. Carney is hoping for the buy Canadian policies to be in place by next year at the latest.
The true story behind this photograph is yet to become public. Prime Minister Mark Carney with Chrystia Freeland as she ends her political career. Her memoirs should be fascinating.
But a good place to start would be cancelling the loan the federal infrastructure bank is giving the BC government to purchase four Chinese built ferries. Shame on Premier Eby for not getting the message. He was one of the loudest critics of Trump’s tariffs yet allowed BC ferries to develop an acquisition tender which effectively excluded Canadian ship builders. There is an email trail indicating that Chrystia had almost gone almost postal with rage about the Chinese aspect of this project. Perhaps that why she thought it a good time to leave.
No premier made more noise about against the tariffs than Ontario’s Doug Ford. But his highest priority has long been to build an American led mini-nuclear facility. And once built it will require a steady diet of imported American enriched nuclear fuel for its twenty or thirty year life cycle. That is if it even lasts that long. It is first off the block with untested technology and expected to generate more nuclear waste than the current Candu reactors. No other nation is interested in this kind of reactor- why is Ford?
Doug Ford’s highest priority has long been to build an American-led mini-nuclear facility.
And this experiment will take longer to get into production and will cost an estimated two to eight times more per kWh than the renewable wind and solar Ford killed in his first term. So one has to wonder why Mark Carney would even allow this pig of a project to make into the first five major projects for consideration under Bill C5.
Perhaps Carney is catering to these premiers just in the interests of keeping them onside. I mean they talk a good story about buying Canadian but are full of it when it comes to walking the talk, Still, sucking up to these hypocrites may keep Carney in their favour for the short run but risks destroying his credibility and our national unity in the longer term. Just tell them no!
Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
There was an item in the news feed we get from BurlingtonGreen that was much different than what we usually get.
An organization that goes under the name: Drawing the Line. It is international in scope. The opening line goes like this:
Most of us can’t make ends meet – wages are low, rent is sky-high, groceries are unaffordable. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Carney has ordered a 15% cut to our public services while billionaires and corporations get richer off our suffering. Corporate elites attack the working class, particularly Black, Indigenous and racialized people, women, migrants, disabled, queer and trans people, and the unemployed. This isn’t an accident – it’s corporate rule designed to extract wealth from working people. We refuse to accept poverty while the wealthy hoard billions. We call on the federal government to tax the ultra-rich, end corporate subsidies, and invest in the affordable housing, food, healthcare, transit, education, arts and culture, public services and good jobs that our communities need to thrive.
Our future is on the line, and people everywhere are rising up to demand climate justice, peace, and real democracy. In Hamilton, we’re drawing the line for a better world: with clean energy for all, protection for people and nature, and accountability. The Hamilton event will take place in Gore Park. There isn’t going to be an event in Burlington
This is more than a single mobilization. It is an invitation to community groups and social movements across the country to unite, to learn from each other, and to form and strengthen coalitions that will continue to build beyond September 20th.
Congratulations to Burlington Green for making this available. It will be some time before Burlington holds events like this – the city sees itself as just too polite to raise its voice.
For those who are interested, you can sign up for updates HERE
Site preparation works and fencing – Sept. 15 – Nov. 30, 2025
The City has been informed that Millcroft Golf Course construction sites near Millcroft Park Drive and Country Club Drive will undergo site preparation work beginning this fall.
Some of the fencing that is already in place.
According to information provided to the City by the developer, the following work is expected between Sept. 15 and Nov. 30, 2025, weather permitting:
Additional fencing will be installed on site. This means all non-essential entrances, including those along Country Club Drive and Millcroft Park Drive, will be closed, with fencing added at select entry points.
Some other site preparation activities are planned and expected in the near future, but still require City permits.
Future updates include:
installation of sediment control measures
stripping and removing surplus topsoil
excavating and hauling material between the parcels
placement of fill material to prepare the lands for site servicing.
There is fencing in place to protect trees all over the site.
As part of this work, residents may expect additional noise, dust and mud in and around the construction area.
The City understands residents’ requests for advance notice about work that may cause impacts to the nearby neighbourhood.
While the City will continue to share updates when information is provided to us, Millcroft Greens, as the lead on this private development, will also provide advance notice of future site activities, including timing and potential impacts such as noise.
Questions about this work should be directed to Millcroft Greens:
Citizens get to see the Blue Print for the City Budget – Actual Budget goes public on the 24th of October
The first of the six budget meetings that will be held in each city ward took place Thursday night at the Haber Community Centre.
Thirteen people were reported to have taken part.
Mayor Meed Ward took the meeting through a 40-page document called the Budget Blue Print..
Mayor Meed Ward and Councillor Paul Sharman explaining the budget to a small audience. When it came to explaining the numbers, Sharman did all the talking.
Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman stood beside Mayor Meed Ward throughout the 90 minute meeting. Sharman pointed out that he is an accountant (not sure that he actually has a designation)and could explain the details for those who needed help. Mayor Meed Ward has never been a strong numbers person.
We will publish an exchange of views between Ward 4 resident Eric Stern and Councillor Sharman on some of the budget numbers in a separate article.
Sharman sees the process the city goes through as a Tax bill versus Budget – different things. It is not more complex than that.
Actually, it is more complex than that.
Set out below are two tables. The first is where the money comes from, where it is going and what the tax increase is in terms of dollars and percentages.
The second table is the timeline the budget process will follow.
Withdrawing money from an online casino shouldn’t feel mysterious or complicated. When properly done, it is safe, transparent, and quick. The following guide shows exactly how to withdraw money from online casino platforms safely. This article covers everything from verifying your account to optimizing for speed, avoiding pitfalls, and choosing the best options based on your goals.
Understanding the Basics
When wondering how to withdraw money from online casino, the first step that you need to take is visiting the websites cashier or banking system. In most cases you’ll need to:
Gambling online – you are the player, and the guy on the screen is the game manager
Log in to your casino account.
Select a payment type (e-wallet, bank transfer, crypto, and so on).
Enter the sum that you desire to withdraw.
Provide verification documentation (where applicable). Mostly this can be a government-issued ID, address, and occasionally a copy of your payment method. It is a Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirement. This is the main mechanism of avoiding any fraud and meet anti-money-laundering rules.
Ensure your casino is registered and controlled in reputable jurisdictions such as Malta, the UK, or Gibraltar. For extra peace of mind, check trusted industry media, where operators are reviewed and unreliable ones are flagged.
How big online gambling has grown: by 2025, almost 1 in 5 adults around the world will have placed Internet bets, almost 882 million people, many of them mainstream and with real-world impacts.
For players starting with small stakes, spending less upfront can still offer full withdrawal flexibility, consider trying a casino 5$ deposit site and platform. These sites usually allow you to deposit with only five dollars, entertain, and test casino websites while spending very little money.
E-wallets also make it easier to manage your gambling budget, keeping funds separate from daily expenses, a big help for responsible play.
Skill vs. Chance
Slots are purely luck.
Although withdrawing money is a matter of logistics and not a game on its own, by wise game selection you can win. The game Slots relies mostly on luck; playing games such as poker or blackjack leaves the potential to play a strategy. No matter which you choose, it is important to know the terms of bonuses and what is required to be bet; at most casinos, you cannot withdraw money until you roll over the bonuses.
Remember:
There are withdrawal limits that could restrict the maximum cash out that you could have on a day or any amount on a monthly basis.
The charges of processing can consume your earnings; read conditions.
The initial minimum withdrawal monitoring tends to be 20-50 dollars according to method.
Budget and Time Commitment
Establish some restrictions for yourself: set a limit (this could be $100 in winnings) at which you will cause yourself to withdraw in order to mold it into a habit, not something you think about at the end of the day. This helps avoid rashly reinvesting. Players with even tighter budgets often begin on 3$ deposit casino platforms, where they can try out their Lady Luck. You’ll be amazed by the fun you’ll have with only three bucks. These platforms provide Canadian and other gamblers with a great experience.
Long-Term Profitability
Online casinos run on the house edge, and one is not assured to make uninterrupted profit. You can maximize returns, however, by:
Preferring high RTP (Return to Player) slots.
Withdrawing, such as using a method that does not charge a withdrawal fee.
Doing profit extraction rather than reinvesting it.
Choosing What Suits You Best
Which is the best withdrawal procedure to use will depend on your priorities regarding the type of speed you wish, the level of security, convenience, and cost. E-wallets, such as PayPal or Skrill, are usually the most convenient in case you cherish gaining immediate access to your winnings. They are popular with many players, as transactions can be handled in a span of 24 hours and separate casino money and regular living expenses. Keep in mind, bank transfers are the best way to go when the recipient desires the best possible security and is not in a hurry to receive the money. They will typically take 2-7 days of business; however, they are very reliable and universally accepted.
Bear in mind that cryptocurrencies vary in value, so your withdrawal can also gain or be lost before it finds its place in your wallet.
Ensuring that you play with crypto is becoming more popular among tech-friendly players. Transactions can clear within less than an hour at certain platforms, an experience that is unmatched in speed. Nevertheless, it is important to bear in mind that cryptocurrencies vary in value, so your withdrawal can also gain or be lost before it finds its place in your wallet.
Statistics will also reveal that tastes differ: although a significant portion of deposits is still carried out through bank transfer, e-wallet withdrawals are also increasing more and more due to the convenience they offer. It is a shrewd consideration to choose a way that fits your lifestyle; that is, whether it is focusing on instant or minimal fees or just sticking with the time-tested traditional banking. However, eventually, the best choice is the choice that will leave you in control of your wins.
To learn more, you could read regulatory reports by agencies such as the UK Gambling Commission or find out independent media sources like Burlington Gazette, where you can find additional information about your preferred topics.
Final Word
Learning how to withdraw money from online casino safely is just as important as understanding how to play the games themselves. It is a thrill only after the money ends up in your hands and you feel that the victory is all yours. With the right withdrawal technique and the cautious consideration of boundaries and charges, you preserve every penny and every tranquillity of mind.
Various players will instinctively tend to respond to various options. E-wallets are fast, bank transfers are reliable, and crypto is creative and efficient. The most important thing is to match the process of withdrawal to your own choices, whether it is to gain money as fast as possible, have maximum security, or spend less.
It is also important to draw boundaries for yourself. Having a sense of responsible gambling involves more than planning deposits. Now that online gambling has become a worldwide event where hundreds of millions of people take part in it, effective withdrawal strategies can make the process more enjoyable, harmless, and quite easy. In conclusion, the most important ingredients are knowledge and discipline; that is, these two items will make your gaming fun and your income guaranteed.
By Gazette Staff
By Pepper Parr
By Pepper Parr
BAD reported that 79% of its members lived in Burlington; GHAC reported that 28% of its members lived in Burlington. Both Clubs were expected to provide the Procurment department with their true numbers by the end of September.
By Gazette Staff
By Pepper Parr
By Samanthat Serle
By Gazette Staff
The HRCIF is one of the Region’s most important tools for helping local organizations make a positive impact. It supports non-profit human service programs and initiatives that enhance the health, safety and well-being of Halton residents and is part of Halton’s approach to 
By Pepper Parr
2025-2026 is the 15th anniversary of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, an event Palmieri will focus on.
Hosted by BurlingtonGreen and City of Burlington Forestry Staff, this year’s TLC (Tree Loving Care) event will bring community members together to carry out some hands-on stewardship activities at a former tree planting location at 
Together we will plant some trees, do a tree inventory, care for previously planted trees by doing some weeding and adding mulch, and we will create and scatter some native seed balls too!
By Gazette Staff
By Ray Rivers
Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
There was an item in the news feed we get from BurlingtonGreen that was much different than what we usually get.
By Pepper Parr
Mayor Meed Ward took the meeting through a 40-page document called the Budget Blue Print..
