 By Pepper Parr
August 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Liberals loved her the day she attended a party event in Hamilton – the glow is no longer there. The Provincial Liberals will be meeting in London in September. Party Leader Bonnie Crombie will of course be on hand to report on what she has managed to achieve in the short time she has served as Liberty part leader. She defeated three candidates last December.
Many of the party members were convinced that Crombie was just what the part needed to bring Premier Ford to heel. Those same party members were certainly upset when they learned that the party is paying Crombie $185,000 a year, which is more than Ford government Cabinet ministers are paid. Crombie doesn’t have a seat in the legislature – so the party executive decided that she was entitled to an income – which could be seen as reasonable.
What is unreasonable is the number of times the public hears from the woman. Days will go by without a word.
 Bonnie Crombie meeting with her Caucus for the first time Marit Stile, the NDP leader of the Opposition is getting her message out – rather effectively if truth be told.
With the RCMP now interviewing “witnesses” over the Greenbelt scandal there is certainly more than enough for Crombie to comment on. Premier Ford is going to be in Milton on Friday where thousands are predicted to show up for the event.
It would be nice to see Crombie setting out a list of the things she would like to see Ford comment on: Ford will stear clear of the sandals other than saying his government is an Open Book.-
 By Staff
April 15th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Footnotes have expanded their membership opportunities to include all adults who wish to celebrate the art of staying young.
The Footnotes, a widely respected group of dancers, singers, and musicians based in Burlington have up unril now targeting older adults: the redesigned Footnotes now welcome adults of all ages to become part of a lively group dedicated to physical, mental, and social health through participation in the performance arts.
 It’s show stopper every time that lineup appears on stage The Footnotes offer performance dance classes in tap, jazz, clogging, and lyrical dance at a variety of levels in various locations throughout Burlington. The professional teaching staff will guide prospective members to the most appropriate classes based on interest and experience.
 What a performance! Membership offers, in addition to reduced class fees and social events, the opportunity to participate on stage in Gotta SING, Gotta DANCE!, a musical variety extravaganza performed at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. The next performance will be on June 17, 2025 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The production’s fast paced routines, creative costuming and professional lighting coupled with each performer’s commitment to excellence are inspiring.
The Footnotes are 2019 recipients of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre Hall of Fame Award. They celebrated their 20th Anniversary production of Gotta SING, Gotta DANCE! In June, 2023. Entertaining audiences from around the GTHA and beyond, the Footnotes demonstrate that dance is for everyone, with no age barriers.
 Their annual event needed two performances to handle the size of the audience. Information, including class descriptions , schedules, and registration forms, can be found at www.burlingtonfootnotes.com Registration will be held in person at Appleby Ice Centre, Community Room 1, on Monday, August 26 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, or by mail.
The Burlington Footnotes is a not-for-profit corporation (2006) first established in Burlington in 1999 by Rosemarie Maurice. They demonstrate through live theatrical performances the stamina, vitality, and talent of adults of all ages. You can reach the Footnotes by email at: burlingtonfootnotes1@gmail.com
 By Ray Rivers
August 14th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
It wasn’t really a political interview. Elon Musk clearly doesn’t know how to do that. His Tesla Y was the best selling car globally last year. The boy-genius who gave the world the first serious electric car should have stuck to inventing things and left social media and politics to those who know what they are doing.
The chat, scheduled for 8 pm on Monday failed to launch on time. Musk’s X platform, formerly Twitter, may have been cyber-attacked or bogged down or something by the Iranians or Russians, as he has suggested. But more than likely X just crashed for mechanical reasons, and the highly promoted conversation between him and former US president Donald Trump was delayed for at least half an hour as a result. After all, Musk fired a good part of the original staff once he became the new Führer of the social platform.
 The grumpy guy chat eventually ended up being the kind of ‘let them eat cake’ The grumpy guy chat eventually ended up being the kind of ‘let them eat cake’ chat among like-minded billionaires that one could have expected. Trump’s world has been shaken up with the resignation of President Biden and the nomination of his VP, Kamala Harris, as Trump’s opponent. And so he has mostly been laying low because every time he shows up to rant on TV, his approval ratings apparently drop.
Trump appears almost contrite these days. Perhaps he realizes that having helped defeat Joe Biden, with bluster and BS in that first presidential debate, he is now in a new contest. And he has to contend with a fresh face which is drawing more media attention than he usually does, and is stealing his thunder.
 Musk’s X lets almost anyone write almost anything. I joined Twitter back in it’s earlier days, my columns are carried there. But I have not been impressed with its transformation to X under Musk’s domination. Before his time, there had been attempts to restrain mis-information, but no more. Trump had been banned after orchestrating the attempted Jan 6th insurrection, but was reinstated by Musk along with other unsavoury characters like Alex Jones. Today, Musk’s X lets almost anyone write almost anything. It’s unsurprising that mis-information and dis-information abound. Musk calls it free speech, but it’s more like chaos and confusion.
The EU, which takes misinformation seriously, had warned Musk not to violate E.U. laws about amplifying harmful content “that promotes hatred, disorder, incitement to violence, or certain instances of disinformation”. Musk’s response to the EU was to post this constructive meme – ‘Take a big step back and literally, f*** your own face!’
 Musk simply grunted approval as Trump rambled on. The first half hour or so, which seemed more like an eternity, was about the Trump assassination attempt played out in copious gory detail. Musk simply grunted approval as Trump rambled on with all the minutia of that event. Eventually Musk woke up when the discussion came to cutting government spending, regulation and debt, and the grunting turned into unfettered agreement on just about everything Trumpian.
Musk, the once the greatest solar power guru and environmentalist, advocated for more nuclear power at one point, suggesting that the dangers have been overrated. He noted that he had even visited the Japanese Fukushima site where he saw people eating veggies grown in the vicinity of the radioactive leak. Clearly that meant it was safe. To that Trump surprised everyone by saying he now liked the electric car, then politely admonished Musk for not putting solar panels on his Teslas.
As an interviewer, Musk played softball and sucked up to every word the former president uttered. He even joined the attack on VP Harris, noting that he once was a democrat. Clearly he has moved on because the Joe Biden democrats possibly pose a treat to him from making even more money and running his businesses without constraint. Or maybe he just got bored with social democracy and would like to visit the places where autocrats like Putin and wanna-be’s like Trump live.
 The program showed us just how shallow Musk, the introverted genius is. All in all, the best thing that could be said about this grumpy old guys chat was that it was boring. To be fair it had been billed as just a conversation. Though it was more of a monologue by Trump, complemented by errant grunts from his latest disciple who is bringing a bag full of money to the Trump election campaign. It ran for over two hours and revealed nothing that we didn’t already know or hadn’t heard.
But it did show us just how shallow Musk, the introverted genius, has been become. I’m really glad I didn’t end up buying one of his cars, as good as they are. And I’m not the only one either apparently. It seems other folks with a social conscience would rather buy from one of the emerging competitors than give more money, albeit indirectly, to the Trump for president election campaign.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
False Claims – Tesla Buyers – Grump[y Old Men
 By Staff
August 14th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Export Development Canada (EDC) has announced the recipients of its 2024 Youth Education scholarships.
Twenty students received the International Business Scholarship, and for the second year, seven students from equity-seeking communities were awarded the Community Leadership Scholarship.
All scholarships are in the amount of $5,000. In addition to strong academic standing, the Community Leadership recipients demonstrate dedication to the advancement of their communities through extra-curricular and volunteering. Representatives from six of EDC’s Employee Resource Groups (ERG) were part of the scholarship nomination and selection committee. In addition, a seventh scholarship recognizes Ukrainian students for academic excellence.
 Ellie Moroz, Ellie Moroz, a Carleton University, 4th year Sprott School of Business students from Burlington said: “Receiving EDC’s scholarship not only alleviates the financial burden of my final undergraduate year but also empowers me to contribute more actively to my school’s community through my involvement in student leadership”.
By Pepper Parr
August 13th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
This is part 2 of a 4 part series
The discussion at the Council meeting has been edited for clarity and length.
While gathering data City Hall, staff have realized that changes are going to have to be made and that is going to cost.
Just how much, is a task that is now underway –” the budget cycle is coming up very quickly and there are some obvious areas that we would like to invest in” said Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Hassaan Basit.
 Enrico (Rico) Scalera, Director of Roads, Parks and Forestry Department Enrico (Rico) Scalera, Director of Roads, Parks and Forestry Department touched on a few of the new tasks yjat are going to have to be added to the budget, including enhanced Creek monitoring, maybe looking at our respond time capabilities to looking at where there may have been gaps, or maybe expanding out the areas that we thought were at risk that are currently being inspected.
Basit continued: “Maybe there’s more that needs to be put onto that list. Maybe the frequency needs to change, but we want to make sure before we present lots of solutions that they actually are solutions. We have some work to do on data and analysis; there has been some discussions internally which we will be presenting as one of our priorities around emergency preparedness. We have one Emergency Coordinator in Burlington: Toronto has 24. I think we could do with some additional resources there.”
There was a lot of discussion earlier during the Council meeting about being proactive. Not a lot of that was around funding; being proactive means preparing for something. Basit explained: “Having emergency preparedness plans in place, maybe a plan that’s specific to flooding might be the direction we have to go in. What we have right now are sort of generic, you know, EOCs and so that’s one area I can kind of give you a little bit of insight – that’s emerging as an early favorite as an area we may want to invest in that may actually inform where the gaps are.”
“We do need to take our time to conduct the analysis and also understand the nature of the storm that that occurred.”
 Councillor Paul Sharman: “I certainly echo all the great work that’s been done so far.” Councillor Paul Sharman: “I certainly echo all the great work that’s been done so far The coordination is so dramatically different to 2014, it’s palpably different. I totally agree – we have much work to do, but it leads to questions that arise in the southern part of the ward five in particular, where, of course, most of the flooding has occurred, and that’s got to do with legal non-conforming.
Rico gave an example: We’ve got water flowing from an older commercial property down a ramp onto the road, increasing the water flow in the road. We don’t know if its from the road or from the property across the road. Perhaps the commercial property caused the residential property to flood. Any insight on the adequacy of our understanding as to whose problem it is?
That question got passed to Scott Hamilton, Director of Engineering. We are aware of the non-performance issue as it relates to grading and drainage bylaws.
We do have bylaws in place that allow us to deal with those issues as they as they come up. The problem we have is that a lot of them are complaint based or resident driven.
The developments are separate. Our site plan process allows us to control or regulate those. But whenever a homeowner widens their driveways or hardscapes their backyard or paves their front yard, that’s a that’s a trickier situation for us to be aware of.
We do have a mechanism in place to deal with that – a lot of the calls come in to our engineering department have been around that exact thing – grading surface drainage from our neighbour’s property or commercial properties on our property. We get about four or five of these reviewed on site per day. We have about 155 of those, those type of complaints coming into the city now.
Sharman: I know this particular property – it’s been around there for a long, long time, and there’s lots of lots of catch basins and the there’s grading of the parking lot and all the rest of it that presumably was as required back in when the parking lot was built. Do we have a requirement for them to update that relative to potential massive rainfall and storms?
 Scott Hamilton: Director of Engineering Scott Hilton: If it was compliant when they built it, then no. But if they were not compliant, or they changed what was applied, was approved previously, then yes, we do have mechanisms to go and correct that.
Sharman: That was the answer to the first question. I have a second question. With respect to new development on old properties where somebody built a house, and have gone through all the site plan.
Scott Hamilton: We don’t do site plan for single family homes, I gather, as I recall, but where we’ve done all the work and approving it, and presumably with the grading as well relative to the house there is a question. Did we also define the grading for the rest of the yard that would cause it to not flood in the event we get 50 to 80 millimeters of rain. Yes, we regulate the entire lot.
What was becoming clear that the handling of floods was going to require a much different look at how these occasions get managed.It would be unfair to say the city doesn’t know what it’s doing – more to the point is for the city to figure out what they are likely to be up against – and with the rate of climate change an unknown.
By Staff
August 13th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Last week, federal Minister Minister Jenna Sudds said that parents are not concerned with whether a childcare centre is for-profit or non-profit, as long as it is affordable, convenient, and they feel comfortable leaving their children there – a significant departure from the federal government’s previous stance and policies related to the Association of Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement CWELCC agreement .
 That federal agreement with the provinces was negotiated by Burlington MP Karina Gould who was the Minister at the time.
AACE – Alberta Child Care Entrepreneurs calls on the Government of Canada to end its ideological approach to childcare across Canada.
While AACE is encouraged by the Minister’s policies, the association is concerned that the Minister’s motivations are politically driven and that the Government of Canada continues to take a divide an conquer approach to childcare in Canada – all provinces should receive envelope funding from the Government of Canada and should be given the freedom to develop childcare systems that fit the unique needs of each province.
Wondering if parents with children in Day Care feel the same way?
 By Pepper Parr
August 13th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Run Day is September 15th.
Registration at 8:00 am
Runners start at 9:00 am
Walkers start at 10:00 am
It all begins behind the Waterfront Hotel – the path is from the Waterfront Hotel to the canal and back.
Another Annual – the 44th Terry Fox Run for a Cancer Cure.
Burlington has something of Terry Fox in its DNA. There are two memorials about Terry and his run: one is in Thunder Bay where the Run had to be ended. Terry just wasn’t able to continue.
 The other is in Spencer Smith Park, west of Spencers’. The creation and set up of the monument was a citizen driven event. Casey Cosgrove, who was lost to cancer, was a part of getting the monument made and placed where it is.
Make a note of the date – we will be talking about it frequently.
 By Pepper Parr
August 13th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
There are a lot of very good people working for the City of Burlington.
There are some exceptional people working for the city.
The problem is that there are not enough of either group on the payroll.
 Where did being a friend get former City Manager Tim Commisso? This situation has existed for more than a decade – part of the reason is that City Council does not hold staff accountable. And former City managers have not done the job that had to be done to change the culture at city hall.
It is not the role of council to involve itself in how well staff members do. That is a given – but council members can set the tone when they discuss what comes from staff.
Literally every member of council, some more so than others, goes out of their way to thank staff for the”awesome” or “wonderful” or “great work” that was presented – and that just isn’t the case. It is something every council member does before they even get to the question they want to ask
By doing what they are doing they are enabling those who aren’t doing a fine job to continue to be mediocre.
The Gazette is not going to make any friends with this comment. We are not supposed to be your friends. We would like to be in a position to respect what you do. We would like to be able to work with media people that understand the difference between public relations and journalism.
 Burlington Chief Administrative Officer Hassaan Basit. The current Chief Executive Officer (CAO) Hassaan Bait will do his best – he did a great job at Conservation Halton. He is not a pushy kind of guy – his approach is to appoint people to positions and then work with them and support them while they learn and grow into their new responsibilities – we are talking about senior level people here.
Hassaan hasn’t been in the CAO chair for six months yet. People are still getting used to him and he is learning what he actually has in the way of talent.
If you listen carefully to what he has to say and how he says it – you should have come to the conclusion that he is there to make things better.
He can’t do that alone.
By Pepper Parr
August 13th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario has reached a tentative agreement with the associations representing school boards and the associations representing principals and vice-principals on the employment terms and conditions for principals and vice-principals in publicly funded schools.
The hope is that the agreement will provide stability needed to support student achievement.
 The principal sets the tone and the cultural of a school. The good ones are great and they make a big difference. But they are not all great. The memorandum of settlement is between the Ontario government, the associations representing principals and vice-principals (Ontario Principals’ Council, Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario and Association des directions et directions adjointes des écoles franco-ontariennes) and the four associations representing school boards (Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, Association franco-ontarienne des conseils scolaires catholiques and Association des conseils scolaires des écoles publiques de l’Ontario).
The term of the agreement is four years, applying to 2023 to 2027.
Ontario’s commitment to stability in the classroom ensures that students benefit from the government’s back-to-basics agenda, which is focused on what matters most: boosting reading, writing and math skills in Ontario schools to prepare students for the careers of tomorrow.
Principals and vice-principals in Ontario are not unionized. Over the next several weeks, all parties will be undergoing their separate approval processes with respect to the tentative settlement. Ontario has successfully reached central agreements with all 9 of its education labour partners, namely teacher federations and education workers.
 By Julieta Belen Correa
August 13th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 Artificial Intelligence (AI) will heralded a new era for the casino industry. A more exciting game as well. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has heralded a new era for the casino industry, especially in Burlington. Enhanced gaming experiences and personalized services are just a few of the benefits that AI brings to the table. This article explores how AI is transforming casinos and what it means for you as a player.
In recent years, artificial intelligence has significantly impacted various industries, and now it’s making waves in the world of casinos. Burlington, known for its vibrant gaming scene, is experiencing this transformation firsthand. As a local player, understanding these changes can help you make the most out of your gaming experiences.
Enhanced gaming experiences
One of the most noticeable impacts of AI in Burlington’s casinos is the enhanced gaming experience. AI technologies are used to analyze player behaviour and preferences, allowing for more personalized gaming options. For instance, Amunra has integrated AI to tailor game recommendations based on individual player habits, making each session more engaging.
 AI-driven systems can offer real-time game adjustments to maintain optimal player engagement. Moreover, AI-driven systems can offer real-time game adjustments to maintain optimal player engagement. These systems analyze data such as playing style and frequency to provide dynamic challenges that keep games interesting. This means that whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, AI ensures that your gaming experience remains fresh and exciting.
Improved customer service
Another significant advantage of AI in Burlington’s casinos is the improvement in customer service. Advanced AI chatbots and virtual assistants are available 24/7 to address any queries or issues you may have. These AI-driven tools can provide instant support, ensuring that your gaming experience is as smooth as possible.
Additionally, AI helps in identifying and resolving potential issues before they escalate. Predictive analytics can foresee problems based on historical data and take preventive measures to enhance customer satisfaction. This proactive approach not only improves service quality but also builds trust between players and casinos.
Security enhancements
Security is a top priority for any casino, and AI has significantly bolstered this aspect in Burlington’s gaming establishments. AI-powered surveillance systems can detect unusual activities and potential threats with high accuracy. These systems use machine learning algorithms to identify patterns that may indicate fraudulent behavior or security breaches.
Furthermore, AI enhances cybersecurity by protecting sensitive player information from cyber threats. Advanced encryption methods powered by AI ensure that your personal and financial data remains secure while you enjoy your favourite games. With these measures in place, you can focus on having fun without worrying about security concerns.
 As technology continues to evolve, staying informed about these developments is crucial for any avid gamer. The future of AI in casinos
The integration of AI into Burlington’s casino industry is just the beginning. Future advancements are expected to bring even more innovative features that will further elevate player experiences. From augmented reality games to more sophisticated predictive analytics, the possibilities are endless.As technology continues to evolve, staying informed about these developments is crucial for any avid gamer. Embracing these changes will not only enhance your current gaming sessions but also prepare you for an exciting future in casinos.
 By Pepper Parr
August 12th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
If you are a woman who is considered low income, you may be eligible for pre-employment, pre-apprenticeship and entrepreneurship training through the Women’s Economic Security Program (WESP).
The training will help equip you with the skills, knowledge and experience to improve your economic security. If you are interested in applying to a WESP training program, please contact one of the organizations listed below to determine your eligibility.
This is an excellent program – well worth at least looking into. If it isn’t for you – pass it along to someone you think might fit.
There is training in four streams:
skilled trades
entrepreneurship for self-employment
information technology
general employment training
All programs include additional supports so you can focus on participating in the training programs. Supports may include:
food throughout the training day, and/or access to a food bank
transportation to and from the training program
support in finding child care
referral to mental health and wellbeing supports, counselling, housing and legal support
If this is something you want to follow up on here is the link to the people that can help.
Some projects also provide specialized programming and supports if you’ve experienced intimate partner violence or are at risk gender-based violence. Learn about intimate partner violence and how to get help.
 Women in skilled trades
There is a great need for workers in the skilled trades and many jobs in the trades are high-paying and can offer long-term economic opportunities.
If you’re interested in exploring a career in the skilled trades, you can find women in skilled trades training programs at:
Canadore College – General Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship
Centre for Skills Development and Training – Enhanced General Carpentry
Collège Boréal – Programme de préapprentissage en Charpenterie
The Conestoga College Institute of Technology – Women in Skilled Trades: Enhanced General Carpentry Program
CWB Welding Foundation – Women of Steel: Pre-employment Program
George Brown College – Women Transitioning to Trades and Employment (WTTE)
Humber College – Plumbing Pre-Apprenticeship for Women
Six Nations Polytechnic – We Are Welders Women’s Program
Women’s Enterprise Skills Training (WEST) of Windsor – Industrial Mechanic Millwright CNC Pre-Apprenticeship Program
WoodGreen Community Services – CNC/Precision Machining Skills Training Program
 Entrepreneurship for women’s self-employment
You can find entrepreneurship training programs for women’s self-employment at:
10 Carden Shared Space – Opening Opportunities
Connecture Canada – Hairstyling Entrepreneurship Training
Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto – My Start-Up Program
Heritage Skills Development Centre – GTA Women Jumpstart to Success
Kingston Employment Youth Services – Creating Enterprise Opportunities
OASIS centre des femmes – Entrepreneurship Launchpad
PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise – ParoBiz – Women’s Business Development and Microloan Program
Scadding Court Community Centre – WE Hub
 Women in information technology
You can find a Women in Information Technology training program at:
The Redwood Shelter – Women in Technology: IT Help Desk Technician
Seven Generations Education Institute – Azemiinagoziwin Telecommunications Program
YWCA of Greater Toronto – Mobile Application Development
General employment training for women
If you are interested in employment training, you can find courses and programs at the following institutions and organizations:
George Brown College – Fashion Exchange (FX) Women in Fashion TECH
YWCA Greater Toronto – Moving On To Success (MOTS)
La Cité Collegiale – Programme de préparation à l’emploi pour femmes francophones à faible revenu
Minwaashin Lodge – Courage to Soar Program
Again – if you’re interested here’s the link
By Pepper Parr
August 12th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The city put it better than I could when they said “Once again” which suggests to me that there are few people taking up the opportunity host free, interactive, in-person or online events and activities during the 15th annual Culture Days.
 This year, Culture Days is Sept. 20 to Oct. 13, 2024.
The City is seeking out local artists, cultural professionals and creative organizations to participate.
Those interested in hosting a Culture Days event should register their event online with Culture Days at culturedays.ca. For more information about participating in Culture Days in Burlington, contact Adam Belovari at 905-335-7600, ext. 7335 or adam.belovari@burlington.ca by Tuesday, Sept. 3.
About Culture Days
Culture Days has become the largest cultural event in Canada, attracting an estimated 2.5 million annual attendees to thousands of free activities and performances hosted by artists, cultural organizations and municipalities in hundreds of communities across Canada. Visit culturedays.ca for more information.
 Director of Recreation, Community and Culture, Emilie Cote Director of Recreation, Community and Culture, Emilie Cote has put the right spin on this when she said: “Burlington must continue to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of residents in arts and culture. I invite our local artists, cultural professionals and creative organizations to this year and consider participating in Burlington’s Culture Days and offer free events, exhibits or activities.”
By Harry Wilson
August 11, 2024
Burlington, ON
Yazan al Homsi Provides Insights Into Investment Trends in ESG and Technological Innovations: A Venture Capital Perspective.
 Environmental, Social, and Governance: It is the way business is now being done. In recent years, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investments have become a significant focus for venture capitalists. ESG investing refers to the practice of incorporating these three crucial factors into investment decisions, aiming to generate sustainable and ethical returns. This shift reflects a broader societal move towards more responsible and impactful business practices. The growing awareness of climate change, social equity, and corporate governance has spurred investors to look beyond mere financial returns, considering the broader impact of their investments.
The venture capital landscape has seen a notable rise in ESG investments. This is driven by a combination of regulatory changes, increasing consumer demand for sustainable products, and a genuine concern for the planet’s future. Governments worldwide are implementing stricter environmental regulations, and companies are under pressure to comply with these standards. At the same time, consumers are becoming more conscious of their purchasing choices, favouring brands that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and ethical practices.
Yazan al Homsi, a renowned expert in the venture capital space, highlights the topicality of ESG investments, stating, “Everyone wants something that’s topical. So whether it’s the plastic upscaling or plastic pollution, green hydrogen, or AI for health tech, these are very topical topics.” This reflects the market’s appetite for innovations that address pressing global issues. Investors are not just looking for profitable ventures; they are seeking opportunities that align with their values and can make a significant positive impact.
The integration of ESG factors into investment strategies is not just a trend but a strategic imperative. Companies that prioritize ESG are often better positioned to manage risks and capitalize on opportunities in the evolving market landscape. This holistic approach to investing helps mitigate potential risks associated with environmental regulations, social unrest, or governance failures. Moreover, ESG-focused companies tend to attract a loyal customer base, enhancing their long-term profitability and resilience.
 ESG is a growing trend – bears keeping an eye on. In conclusion, the rise of ESG investments in venture capital signifies a profound shift towards more responsible and sustainable investing. This trend is expected to continue as regulatory pressures increase, consumer preferences evolve, and the global community becomes more attuned to the urgent need for sustainable practices. Investors like Yazan al Homsi are at the forefront of this movement, recognizing the dual potential for financial returns and positive societal impact.
Technological Innovations Driving Green Energy and Plastic Recycling
The push towards sustainability has spurred remarkable technological innovations in green energy and plastic recycling. These sectors are witnessing a surge in venture capital investments, driven by the urgent need to address environmental challenges and the potential for substantial returns. Innovations in these areas are transforming the landscape, offering solutions that are not only eco-friendly but also economically viable.
Green energy, encompassing renewable sources like solar, wind, and green hydrogen, is at the forefront of this technological revolution. Startups in the green energy sector are developing cutting-edge technologies to harness these renewable sources more efficiently. For instance, advancements in solar panel efficiency, wind turbine designs, and energy storage systems are making renewable energy more accessible and affordable. These innovations are crucial for reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
 Recycling plastic is one of the most challenging environmental issues. The venture capital community is interested. Plastic recycling is another area where technological advancements are making a significant impact. Traditional recycling methods have often been criticized for their inefficiency and limited scope. However, new technologies are emerging that can recycle a broader range of plastics and do so more effectively. Techniques such as chemical recycling break down plastics into their molecular components, allowing for infinite recycling without degradation of quality. This not only addresses the issue of plastic waste but also reduces the demand for virgin plastic production.
Despite the promise of these technologies, ventures in green energy and plastic recycling face several challenges. Scalability remains a significant hurdle. Many innovative solutions work well on a small scale but encounter difficulties when scaled up to meet global demands. Financial viability is another critical issue. While these technologies are advancing, they often require substantial initial investments, and the path to profitability can be uncertain.
Yazan al Homsi provides a nuanced view of the financial aspects of these sectors, noting, “People want things that are a bit more mature in the sense that they have revenue and are closer to profitability. My argument to that would be, well, there are not many companies in these spaces that are actually in revenue and profitable.” This highlights the balance that investors must strike between supporting groundbreaking innovations and ensuring financial returns.
Success stories in green energy and plastic recycling serve as inspirations and proof of concept for these sectors. Startups that have managed to scale their operations and achieve profitability demonstrate the potential of these technologies. For example, companies developing advanced recycling methods are securing partnerships with major corporations, showcasing the commercial viability of their innovations. Similarly, green energy startups are entering into large-scale projects and receiving government support, further validating their business models.
In summary, technological innovations in green energy and plastic recycling are driving significant changes in the venture capital landscape. These sectors offer immense potential for environmental impact and financial returns. However, investors must navigate the challenges of scalability and profitability to realize these benefits. As Yazan al Homsi suggests, the maturity of these ventures plays a crucial role in attracting investment and achieving sustainable growth.
The Health Tech Boom: Balancing Innovation with Financial Viability
The health tech sector is experiencing an unprecedented boom, driven by technological advancements and the growing demand for innovative healthcare solutions. From artificial intelligence (AI) to remote patient monitoring, health tech startups are transforming the healthcare landscape, offering improved patient outcomes and operational efficiencies. Venture capitalists are keenly investing in this sector, recognizing its potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery.
AI in health tech is one of the most promising areas, with applications ranging from diagnostic tools to personalized treatment plans. Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of medical data, providing insights that were previously unattainable. This not only enhances diagnostic accuracy but also allows for more tailored treatments. Startups focusing on AI-driven health solutions are attracting significant venture capital funding, reflecting the sector’s potential.
Remote patient monitoring is another rapidly growing area within health tech. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth and remote monitoring solutions, enabling patients to receive care from the comfort of their homes. These technologies reduce the burden on healthcare facilities and offer continuous monitoring, which is particularly beneficial for managing chronic conditions. Investors are supporting startups that develop wearable devices and telehealth platforms, anticipating long-term growth in this space.
 Generating revenue and achieving profitability are two different things. However, the financial viability of health tech startups remains a critical consideration for venture capitalists. While the potential for innovation is high, these ventures often face challenges in generating revenue and achieving profitability. The development and deployment of advanced technologies require substantial capital, and the path to financial sustainability can be fraught with obstacles.
Yazan al Homsi emphasizes the importance of robust management in navigating these challenges: “The key in my career has always been management. You always have to check management has to be on top of the ball. The three companies I’d say that all of them share that in them.” Effective management teams are crucial for steering health tech startups through the complexities of the market, ensuring that innovative solutions are translated into viable business models.
Moreover, the early-stage nature of many health tech ventures means that they often lack immediate revenue streams. This can be a deterrent for investors seeking quicker returns. Al Homsi points out, “The issue is like a lot of plastic recycling or healthcare for AI, there has not been real… There’s been a lot of talk and actual companies that execute on talk are far and few.” This highlights the need for thorough due diligence and a focus on companies with strong execution capabilities.
In conclusion, the health tech sector offers immense potential for transformative innovations and significant returns on investment. However, achieving financial viability remains a challenge. Investors must prioritize effective management and be prepared for a longer-term commitment to realize the benefits of their investments.
The Future Outlook: Security, Management, and Market Opportunities
As venture capital continues to flow into ESG and technological innovations, the future outlook for these sectors appears promising. However, several factors will influence the trajectory of investments, including security, effective management, and market opportunities. Understanding these dynamics is essential for investors seeking to capitalize on emerging trends.
Security is a paramount concern in the venture capital landscape. The volatility of financial markets and the unpredictability of technological advancements necessitate a focus on risk management. Yazan al Homsi underscores the importance of security, stating, “The benefit that we have is that in our industry people want more security. But the benefit that we have is you don’t know when interest rates are going to get cut, but the minute they get cut, all these growth stock names are going to get a lot of attention.” This highlights the need for investors to balance the potential for high returns with the inherent risks of innovative ventures.
Effective management remains a cornerstone of successful investments. Startups with strong leadership are better equipped to navigate the challenges of scaling operations and achieving profitability. Al Homsi’s experience demonstrates that companies with robust management teams are more likely to succeed: “A lot of people got cleaned out during the last two years because a lot of people could not sustain. They already had investments in other spaces e-gaming and growth companies just can’t turn from a growth phase to ‘We want to focus on revenue and profitability.'” This insight underscores the importance of selecting ventures with capable and adaptable leadership.
Market opportunities in ESG and technological innovations continue to expand, driven by ongoing advancements and increasing societal awareness. Investors are particularly interested in companies that can either be acquired by larger firms or transition to major stock exchanges. Al Homsi explains, “The ultimate game is you want to be involved in companies that ultimately are going to be either bought out by a major or they’re going to be moving to major exchanges. Those are the two ways to make meaningful alpha.” This strategic approach highlights the importance of identifying companies with clear exit strategies and significant growth potential.
 Additionally, the perception and reception of recycling and other green technologies play a crucial role in their market success. Al Homsi notes, “People still look at the, especially when there’s been so much negative media about recycling, people think that the only thing… I think there was a segment by CBS that said the only thing that got recycled is them recycling the lie of recycling.” Overcoming such skepticism requires transparent communication and demonstrable results from green tech companies.
In summary, the future of venture capital investments in ESG and technological innovations is shaped by security, effective management, and strategic market opportunities. Investors must remain vigilant and adaptable, focusing on companies with strong leadership and clear paths to profitability. By doing so, they can navigate the complexities of these sectors and achieve substantial returns while contributing to sustainable and impactful innovations.
By Pepper Parr
April 12th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Part 1 of a 4 part series.
Council was to hear from Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Hassaan Bait on what the city now knew about the July 15th and 16th flooding that seriously damaged a number of homes in the city – most of which were in the ward 3 area.
Hassaan Basit started with explaining how the Burlington $1000 Ex Gratia grant has been rolling out noting that as of that date there were 218 applications.
Briefing notes show that the majority of the grants are being paid out by Halton Region. I think the count of homes was at 14to 15 thousand homes that had some level of flooding.
Basit described the payments process as extremely efficient; many in the community would differ with him on that.
 Hassaan Basit: Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) He pointed out that a significant number of staff were deployed from their other tasks, from legal, finance and communications. It was certainly not an ideal situation. I’m quite pleased at how quickly and efficiently things have been rolling out.
The funnelling of information from Council members who were out in the community. You were sometimes the first point of contact for a lot of residents, because they know your names out there.
We were able to operationalize them, prioritize them; it was a triage function.
Basit answered the question he felt was out in the community: How come you’re not bringing up specific properties and locations at this meeting? It’s because you’re bringing them up with us the minute you receive them and we’re responding to all of those and we’ll continue to do that adding that “there’s been great collaboration, and we appreciate all of that.”
We have staff on line, if there are any other questions about this matter. But without further ado, I’d like turn to turn it over to Enrico (Rico) Scalera, Director of Roads, Parks and Forestry Department
 Enrico (Rico) Scalera, Director of Roads, Parks and Forestry Department Rico: I want to give you an update on our storm response activities to date. At our last update from July 19, just a few days after the events of July 15 and 16th. Since then we have been focused on incident response; clearing of storm infrastructure to ensure conveyance of impacted services and facilities. We have also started the damage assessment process today – most facilities and services have been restored. We do continue to inspect storm infrastructure, remove debris, flush sewers, review creeks and channels. We continue to respond to drainage related inquiries, including meeting with residents in reviewing their concerns, explaining how the storm system works and functions. We look for opportunities for future improvements as we move forward. In addition to all that our Community Management Coordinator has been working relentlessly in following up with both internal and external parties to ensure effective coordination and reporting of responses. Multiple departments involved in this incident response.
I do want to provide some context. We have had, to date, 24 emergency response calls by the fire department, mostly on that first day; we responded to 2025, road related closures that were necessary. We’ve had five traffic signal outages, all of which that were rectified within a within a couple days. We’ve had multiple locations of road shoulder washouts with the repairs ongoing, two construction projects were impacted with one separate road segment that still requires major repairs. We responded to 70 forestry storm requests. Ten of our park facilities have been impacted with temporary amenity closures. Most of these have been reinstated. 11 recreation facilities were impacted including the Tyandaga golf course.
Debris Removal is ongoing at major culvert, inlet and outlet. . We’ve visited over 100 locations. We’ve collected over 10 large dump trucks of debris to date. Street sweeping is ongoing. We’ve installed temporary local traffic only signage in one of the high impact areas to limit unwanted traffic. Creek inspections are underway, and we’re identifying locations for follow up, both on debris collection as well as infrastructure related repairs.
With respect to that, we are also continuing to coordinate with our Region and Conservation Halton staff, as well as other stakeholder agencies and over of private storm system linkages, in order to determine how we can work together on response activities, and also ensure that they are aware of our expectations for more proactive storm maintenance activities moving forward.
We continue to work with highway 407, ETR and the Ministry of Transportation as wellas reaching out to railway authorities. Dealing with elevated anxiety levels calls for different responses; we are doing what we can to mitigate their concerns. That’s the end of my update, and happy to answer any questions.
 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna Councillor Bentivegna : First of all, I want to say thank you to you and your staff. I know everyone’s been hard at work trying to get everything done. If you look at the graph of the floodings in in the city – ward 6 had 22. Some would say – you guys did okay. I want to get into the communication aspect of it. How do we make sure that the communication within the region so people who called 311 for help.
I have talked to many of the the residents who say they the city as well. How do we make sure that the communication is open
?. What happened in the Headon and Forest Drive area where there was three feet of water that only affected 12 of the homes in that area. Good Samaritans came out with shovels and rakes to clear a creek that overflowed to 14 feet, and they didn’t see a city worker that day. The communication somehow fell through the cracks and I want to make sure we’re all aware of it so that we can move forward and deal with that communication aspect of it.
I don’t have all the answers. I know we’re going to meet with residents and go through it. There was a person who was going to delegate today but is so stressed out they did not delegate. I have a 21 page document that includes photographs of what was happening at about every half hour to a home.
The damage is unbelievable.
Mayor Meed Ward responds saying that exactly what the report back in the fall is going to do.
Rico responds saying we are still reviewing that incident. We did not get any cases in our inner system. It appears that there is a bit of an uncertainty with respect to jurisdictional boundaries
Our service people are in ongoing discussions with Halton 311 staff in order to improve how calls get routed and handled. Interesting enough, even though we didn’t formally register any calls through Service Burlington on the Monday, we did have staff show up somehow to that location later on in the day. Unfortunately it wasn’t as timely as we would have liked. We are reviewing how that occurred.
S the Mayor has pointed out it is important totake all this data, all these incidents, and better understand them and work with our Regional partners, to see how we can mitigate this going forward.
 Councillor Paul Sharman Councillor Sharman: With respect to the creek that overflowed, it is in an area that is somewhat hidden. There are homes in front of this creek that face Headon and Forest drive, but there are no homes in behind is only a church, and there is a street that would be considered to be a crescent, and I’m not sure in terms of the maintenance schedule and so on. But how do we ensure that it’s on our radar and that we’re moving forward? It gets dealt with, probably sooner rather than later, because of its location that is somewhat hidden?
Enrico (Rico) Scalera, Director of Roads, Parks and Forestry Department: We know and are now well aware of the service gaps Rico: We will, we continue to look at our services. We know and are now well aware of the service gaps – how they occurred and how to mitigate them. These are things that we need to look at and learn to understand.
Councilor Nissan: I just wanted to get a little more detail from you. You mentioned 100 locations that you are reviewing. What are you reviewing for, and what would be the next steps? I mean, how long will it take to get to 100 locations? So we are we reviewing? Creek stretches that are primarily in the areas that that were affected or are we also responding to service requests? Are we responding to maybe merchant needs that come up through our engineering division that are that are involved in these creek inspections.
Rico: We inspecting creeks through our forestry department in order to sort of help out. The 100 locations that I’ve identified is only part of the of the necessary response that’s available. It does include debris removal, and it also includes restoration of some of the infrastructure that’s been damaged.
There are retaining walls within our creek systems that have experienced some erosion. We still need to do all the high priority emergent areas that are identified.
Once we have the data and have a planned unstructured approach we know how to do this effectively; some of that will be done internally and some of the work is actually contracted out.
 Councillor Nisan: “I want to know how quickly your staff have actually come out to evaluate, to see what went on, to see if there were blockages.” Nisan: So beyond the creek ways there’s numerous sort of pinch points, and in ward three, where you begin to see the pattern where residents are reaching out and I want to know how quickly in several cases, your staff have actually come out to evaluate, to see what went on, to see if there were blockages. In one case it was evident that there was no blockage, but that the capacity of the of the sewer wasn’t enough to carry the water. Could, could you, or Hassaan me up to date on this before the budget cycle? How we’re going to address those cases? Because I think there may be a lot of them in my ward.
Rico: I’ll start first, and then the City Manager can add in. We’re in the gathering of the information process. We already have a comprehensive inspection and maintenance support program for our storm sewer infrastructure in place. There certainly are opportunities that we can enhance that. The fall report will determine, from a priority perspective, what we feel we would like to address as part of the budget process.
Hassaan Bait: So just to build on what Rico said, I think we need to wait for our analysis, and that analysis needs to occur in partnership with the Region of Halton because the systems are combined.
I am not saying it is an issue – but the intake system is owned and managed by the Region. The response on the street level is the responsibility of the local municipality. Can that work? Yes, it can, you know, we demonstrated that. Was it ideal? No. So, you know, there’s so many areas of debrief that need to occur.
They’re not just the the engineering related ones. They’re not just the infrastructure related ones. In other words, they’re communication ones, how the structure is set up between intake, you know, during an event, dispatch, all of those things. We need to wait for the analysis to tease apart the issues. Flooding was caused by two or three different reasons across the city, it wasn’t one. Even when you see a creek overflow – in many cases it did because the culvert it was crossing had gotten clogged up.
It’s not a riverine system that’s built over. It’s where a riverine system is intersecting with a storm water system. We have to look at these. That’s why Rico’s team right now going site by site, analyzing that synopsis or summary that you referenced councillor, that you sent to me as well. And that’s invaluable. It’s minute by minute. It’s with photographs that residents took; that’s the kind of analysis that needs to occur. It’s extremely helpful. We need to wait for until there is more of that kind of information is available.
Part 2 of this 4 part series:
“Our Emergency Preparedness – it isn’t good enough.”
 By Staff
August 11th 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery has an impressive list of event taking place; some are current – others taking place in the future – you might want to note the dates
Exhibitions
 Alize Zorlutuna We Who Have Known Many Shores by Alize Zorlutuna
May 10 – September 1, 2024
Lee-Chin Family Gallery
Alize Zorlutuna will be visiting the gallery throughout the summer to host visitors for an exhibition tour, tea and gathering in the space for conversation. Visit the gallery on August 10, 11 or 31 at 2pm to meet the artist.
 Magdolene Dykstra Exchanging Presence by Magdolene Dykstra
June 29 – October 6
Perry Gallery
Gain a profound sense of connection and self-expression through the collaborative clay works in Magdolene Dykstra’s exhibition. This interactive show explores themes of visibility, individuality, and community, all central to the AGB’s values. You can even add your thumbprint in clay to the shared pile.
The place as an object and the object as a place, by José Luis Torres
February 2 – January 12, 2025
Located in the Incite Gallery
With José Luis Torres’ exhibition, visitors will have a unique experience that blends community participation with the dynamic exploration of art, creating a shared space of creativity and stories. Bring an item that means something to you to add to the room – just make sure you’re okay with leaving it behind!
Become an exhibition sponsor!
Whether you’re a business or an individual, you have the option to sponsor an upcoming exhibition in our Lee-Chin Family Gallery or Perry Gallery. Contact Alex Tindale to learn more.
 Summer camps at the gallery, with about 50 kids AGB Summer Camps
Summer camps are in full swing here at the gallery, with about 50 kids coming in each week to make exciting artworks inspired by our exhibitions, play outside and make new friends. We have a number of spots available for 4-6-year-old campers during the week of August 19-23, so sign up on our website or reach out to Annie at annie@agb.life if you’re interested!
AGB Shop
Discover one-of-a-kind treasures at the AGB Shop. Featuring handcrafted ceramics, paintings, glassware, and more by Canadian and local artists.
 Eye catching leather purse – the kind of quality and imaginative products on sale at the Art Shop  Decorated wine glasses – in the Art Shop
Artist Feature: Tamara Kwapitch
 Tamara Kwapich “Much of my inspiration is drawn from fables and ancient myth, these stories are rich in imagery and speak across time about our collective human experience. This wondering and wandering has led me down some curious rabbit holes which is always a great place to find stories!”
Tamara Kwapich is a professional artist working in the Hamilton, Burlington, region for the past 25 years. She has B.A. in both Fine Art and Landscape Architecture from the University of Guelph.
Art Sales
Art Sales features over 100 artists and a collection of over 300 pieces, featuring our newest artist, Marvin Terry.
We’re Hiring
Director of Development & Communications
Are you a hardworking, adaptable, and organized fundraiser ready to make a real impact? Here’s your chance to help grow an arts organization. Join our supportive team, where your voice matters. With your extensive fund development experience, you’ll lead the charge in creating and implementing fundraising strategies and engaging donors. Collaborate with the Executive Director and staff to foster meaningful donor and community relationships and develop a capital campaign strategy. You’ll also play a key role in planning and hosting events to raise awareness and support. Your efforts will shape the future of the Gallery and our community’s arts and culture scene.
Click Here to learn more.
Development in the News
Recently a significant contribution from the incite Foundation for the Arts was in the news, sharing the impact of their support on our Living Lab. To learn more about our Living Lab, read on.
 By Pepper Parr
August 11th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Interesting how different Members of Parliament interact with their constituents.
Several MP’s in other communities are running advertisements asking for people to suggest names for people who could become recipients of the King’s Medal.
Every Member of Parliament is allocated a number of medals to hand out.
The Gazette isn’t seeing anything from the three MP’s that serve the community. Karina Gould, Pam Damoff and Mark van K make a big deal out of the handing out of the medals – but not much, so far on who the recipients are chosen.
By Bryan Zarpentine
August 11th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
As much as Ontario can be a sportsman’s paradise for all of the fun it offers adventurers and outdoorsmen, the province offers so much more. On days when the weather is a little too cold or you don’t quite have the energy to be outside, there are countless ways to have fun indoors throughout Ontario. Naturally, the province’s biggest cities are filled with amazing museums. Let’s take a look at some of the top museums, as well as the other activities that residents and visitors of Ontario can do if they’d prefer to stay inside.
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is both the largest museum in Canada and arguably Toronto’s most iconic architectural landmark. On the outside, you’ll see a striking facade that’s designed to resemble a giant crystal with glass and aluminum facets. Of course, the real fun is on the inside. That’s where you’ll find an astonishing array of cultural and natural history artifacts. The museum is a journey into the past, including the era of dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt, and Canada’s First Peoples. That just scratches the surface of the Royal Ontario Museum, so there is bound to be something for everyone.
 For the true hockey fan – all the jerseys are there for you to see and purchase if you wish. Hockey Hall of Fame
When in doubt, visitors to Ontario should check out the Hockey Hall of Fame. Even if you’re not the biggest hockey fan, it’s a way to immerse yourself in Canada’s national sport. This iconic venue houses hockey’s ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup. You can view the original trophy in Lord Stanley’s Vault or have your picture taken with the modern version. The Hall of Fame’s museum takes a look at hockey’s origins, the Zamboni, and the NHL’s greatest players. There is also an interactive ice rink for visitors to test their stick skills, which always makes for a fun time.
Bird Kingdom
If you’re interested in birds, needless to say, Bird Kingdom is the place for you. It’s the world’s largest free-flying indoor aviary! Guests can wander through a rainforest and discover hundreds of tropical birds. Bird Kingdom is able to replicate the natural habitats of both common and exotic birds, creating an authentic experience that even some zoos can’t match.
Museum of Illusions
Toronto’s Museum of Illusions might be the perfect place to bring inquisitive children. There are interactive exhibits, each showcasing a unique trick that will challenge anyone’s perception of reality. It’s a truly unique museum that visitors won’t soon forget. The entire visit can be done in as little as 30 minutes, making it the perfect museum for young kids with a short attention span.
 There is nothing like this market anywhere else: two floors of food choices. If you want a snack while touring the place a peameal bacon on a bun is a must. St. Lawrence Market
As far as indoor farmers markets are concerned, the St. Lawrence Market is the pinnacle. When you get there, grab a sandwich or a pastry from Carousel Bakery and then walk around to enjoy over 100 different vendors. You’ll find cuisine from all over the world, giving you the opportunity to expand your taste buds. The market has multiple floors that have artisanal foods, fresh produce, and even souvenirs that will help make the experience memorable.
Online Casino Games
In some cases, you don’t even need to leave home to have a good time. That’s the advantage of online casinos, which are quickly gaining in popularity throughout Ontario and the rest of Canada. From slots to card games, just about every game you’d find in a traditional casino can be found in one of Canada’s online casinos. More importantly, they can be accessed from anywhere if you have a mobile device and a good Internet connection. The trick is to explore various casino bonuses that can give you free bonuses to get new users started the right way.
 Northern Ontario’s top tourist destination. The kids will want to spend the full day. Science North
Science North is Northern Ontario’s top tourist destination. Located in Sudbury, there are four levels of interactive fun, not to mention a digital planetarium, an IMAX theatre, and several special rotating exhibitions. You can enjoy live animals, beautiful tropical butterflies, and countless other science-based experiences. There is so much fun to be had at Science North that you won’t even realize how much you’ve learned by the time you leave.
Acadia Earth
Arcadia Earth is the best way to explore underwater worlds and fantasy lands. It takes visitors on a multi-sensory journey of what a more sustainable future might look like using technology and art installations. The goal is to inspire others to help create a better and more sustainable world. AT the same time, it helps to showcase the overwhelming beauty of our planet. Like any good museum, Acadia Earth helps to educate and entertain at the same time.
By Pepper Parr
August 10th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Meed Ward, like almost everyone in the city, realized there was a need for a fund they could use to help people who were in serious financial difficulty as a result of the flooding.
The approximately 65mm of rain on July 16, 2024 led to the flooding of 1288 homes in Burlington, some of which experienced significant damage, causing unexpected financial hardship for many.
It became clear that Burlington lacked a centralized resource for both the intake of charitable donations and for the distribution of support.
Thus the discussion on how to establish a fund.
The Motion put forward by the Mayor was moved by Councillors Bentivegna, seconded by Councillor Sharman.
The Mayor, who was chairing the Special meeting of Council, asked if there are any questions of myself as the author or of staff.
 Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte had a question for City CAO Hassaan Basit:
“How much time and effort do you think would be required to pull together this report for October 7, and what other priorities would have to be back Bernard in order to make that happen?”
Probing questions tend to come from Councillors Kearns and Stolte. Kearns was away at a Police Services Bard event – she is a member of that Board.
CAO Basit responds:
Looking at the direction, Councillor I think the intent here is to present some high level options:
 CAO Hassaan Basit: There isn’t a lot of effort required to do that. What is the feasibility of this?
What are some high level criteria?
What could be some different models to give Council some option?
Does the city seed some funding?
Is it totally community generated?
Do we hold the funds until an Emergency happens, and then transfer it.
“There isn’t a lot of effort required to do that. If the direction was to come up with a fully baked program with all sorts of criteria, and then then, yes, that would be problematic to deliver by October 7th. To present some options and alternatives to Council where it would be narrowed down we can then discuss how long it’ll take. It would require legal, financial, lots of resources to go into it to fulfill this, to bring some high level options, some things for consideration, we should be able to manage it.”
Stolte then asks the Mayor: Is that your understanding high level? The mayor nods – she agrees.
Councillor Nissan: Yes, similar, similar questions. “So as you and staff go through options and recommendations what are you going to tell us? Will you tell us if it’s a good idea, before you go ahead and tell us how to how you want to do it, or will you potentially provide alternatives that would achieve the objectives of Council?
Is that also going to be in the scope? Or do you interpret this as we’re doing a Burlington Resiliency fund?”
CAO Basit: “Let me focus on the last part of very last part of that sentence, which is to support the community during national disasters and emergencies.
“I would be focusing on options to develop a Burlington Resiliency fund and to say how we could financially support Burlington residents during a disaster,
“I would be looking at a fund as a vehicle to assist during emergencies, for disaster relief and what at are the different ways to structure that fund?
“If we come back finding one is not required I like presenting options. There may be an option to say, you could do all this, or we could simply bolster our reserves that we have, like severe weather reserves or whatever, and focus on developing criteria for various scenarios.
We could still be a little better prepared to have some scenario. So, so it may be that be a range of options, perhaps, to kind of get to what you’re what you’re asking, which is, what if it’s not a fund as such, but, but other ways to, you know, we’ll try and see if we can include that in the analysis, but primarily it’ll focus on the fund as the vehicle.”
 Nisan: “Okay, so I’m quite happy to go ahead and support the analysis to look into the fund and how we would do it, but I certainly will ask in October if you as CAO think this is the right idea and the right way to go forward, before we actually approve the way that we would do it. I’m all for improving our resiliency just based on what we have in front of us. I don’t know if this is the right way to do it, but I’m hoping that through your reporting, we’ll have a clear understanding of that.”
Councillor Bentivegna: “I guess I’m reading this as a report that we’re going to look at the high level information as to how we’re going to support the community, and that support to the community and our residents comes in multiple fashions, and that includes regional help and provincial help.
“How are we going to move forward so that we all are on the same page?”
Councillor Sharman: “I’m just going to make a comment. I recognize that people who got flooded are struggling. There’s a lot of empathy for those folks around the community, and everybody’s asking questions about what’s the city doing about it, and how can we help those people, especially those who are in really difficult position, situations.
“I believe that the analysis and this conversation needs to be had. If we get into it and do a deep dive, I’m going to be asking questions like do we underwrite the entire insurance industry? They are basing all their choices on data, and they’re finding they can’t underwrite the flooding in certain homes, so they are not going to do that.
“Furthermore, we’ve got a lot of people who are financially challenged at the best of times, and they find themselves with a flooded basement, and all of a sudden they can’t live a home anymore, and their credit cards are maxed out, and all the rest of it. The question is, to what degree can we help? We have social services at the region who have to or can participate. So what is the nature of our relationship with all of those circumstances?
“I’m assuming you will be considering that as you come back, you’ll take a look at, you know, the broad perspective and the opportunity to make a make some sort of contribution, some provide benefits to the community and maybe individuals, all of which requires significant administration and data collection.
“I think the work is valid. It needs to be discussed. How will it land, is a whole other matter. I’m ready to go on this.”
Councillor Stolte: “I agree with a lot of the comments made. I appreciate the compassionate perspective on why this is coming forward, and I certainly would like to see what options might be available. It is a bit of a slippery slope, because, as councillor Sharman said, that’s always more complicated than what it appears on the surface, and we could be getting ourselves into quite a difficult situation if we move forward with something that’s too inclusive.
“I’m curious to hear what options might be available, and I’m cautiously optimistic that we might be able to find something that will work.
 Mayor Meed Ward: This is is not a keep people whole, Mayor Meed Ward: “I want to absolutely echo everything that’s been said and the the questions that have been asked and just so you know what’s in my mind. I didn’t want to be too specific. I think the analysis has to be done and the options have to come forward. But it’s not in my mind that we will be rebuilding and restoring basements to their original condition. It’s not in my mind that we will be buying people a vehicle if they lost it because the water increased.
“We simply don’t have that kind of resources, and that’s exactly what the provincial Disaster Relief Fund is there for because they do have the resources.
“This is is not a keep people whole, if they’ve ever experienced an emergency that is simply not something that we have the resources to do. But can we do more? I believe we can, and I just want to, and I believe all of our hearts are in this place. We want to leave no stone left unturned, to see what is what is reasonable, what is possible, very mindful as well.”
Councillor Stolte: “So we want to contain it. We want to have good criteria, but we want to see what our options are, and the option to work with a partner like a community foundation, then we don’t have all the additional administrative costs on the city side.
“Having said that, it may, if we have a really good policy based criteria program that can just, it’s just a check box, and there’s not a lot of administration, maybe we keep it in house, but we don’t know any of that.
“I always believe that before we make a decision one way or the other, to rule something in or out, to fund something or not, that we have better and more information to do that with, and we are the October timeline was right around the time we’ll be discussing budget, so if there is something that we want to seed in the budget, at least we have that window of opportunity. And we may not, but let’s give ourselves some options so we can make a good decision. So I hope that that helps everyone.”
Mayor: I am not seeing any other speakers, so we will turn it to the clerk for the recorded vote on this.
Councillor, Galbraith, support; Councillor, Nissan support; Councillor Stolte support; Councillor Sharman support; Councillor Bentivegna support; Mayor Meed Ward support. That carries. Councillor Kearns was absent.
Where is this idea likely to go? It doesn’t appear to have all that much in the way of breathing room. Councillors didn’t get excited. The CAO now has to make time and determine which staff member will take on the task.
We will know in October. Keep in mind that the Mayor does have those Strong Mayor powers and she can just push it into the budget and rack up the brownie points she is going to need in 2026
By Lucy Roberts.
August 12th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Today, there are plenty of world-class sites to choose from, all of which are fully licensed and regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
 Here is a closer look at what’s new in the gaming scene in Toronto, with details about some of the hottest new computer-generated and live dealer casino games, the biggest online jackpots that are currently up for grabs on these sites, which other games are currently trending, and more.
How old must I be to play online casino games if I live in Ontario?
To register a free account on a legally permitted new online casino in Ontario that’s fully licensed and regulated by the AGCO, such as the official TitanPlay – Online Casino and Sports Betting website, you must be at least 19 years old.
What are some of the hottest new online slots to play in Ontario in 2024?
If you are looking for something new to play in 2024 and think you will enjoy playing online slot machines that are rich in features from award-winning software providers and game development studios, then you may like to try one or more of the following hit titles before playing anything else:
 Online slot: Medusa’s Stone. Company: Pragmatic Play
Online slot: Magic Lab. Company: NetEnt
Online slot: Trigger Happy. Company: Big Time Gaming
Online slot: Cherries Gone…Rich. Company: BRAGOnline slot: Viking’s Legacy Everyway. Company: Red Tiger Gaming
Online slot: Le Bandit. Company: Hacksaw Gaming
Online slot: 3 Coin Cowboy. Company: Atomic Slot Lab
Most are playable (in the real money/free-play mode) from as little as C$0.10 or C$0.20 per spin. They load fast in Firefox, Opera, Safari, Chrome, Explorer, Edge, Vivaldi, and most other decent web browsers, and they all have plenty of in-play features and bonus rounds, immersive storylines, popular game themes/genres, and impressive animated sequences.
Honourable mentions
Some of the other popular new computer-generated online slots with high or above average RTP% (return to player) payout rates that you may also like to try if you enjoy playing any of these other top suggestions are Twisted Lab – RotoGrid, Ze Zeus, Jelly Belly Megaways, The Wild Kiss, Rainforest Gold, and Primate King Megaways.
What are the hottest new live dealer games trending in Ontario in 2024?
 If you fancy taking your online gaming experience to the next level, then you may like to try some of these popular new live dealer games from Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play before trying computer-generated slots.
Pragmatic Play recently launched a new European Roulette live dealer game with up to 888x win multipliers called Lucky 6 Roulette. Other new Pragmatic Play live dealer games are Live Mega Baccarat and Snakes and Ladders Live.
Some of the hottest new live dealer games from Evolution Gaming that are trending right now are Live Video Poker, Live Funky Time, Live Prosperity Tree Baccarat, and Live Fan Tan.
Which online slots currently have the biggest jackpots?
If you are looking for slots with big online jackpots (fixed coin and progressive jackpots), then you need to check out the Dead Man’s Trail, Powerspin, and Templar Tumble from Relax Gaming, Bankers & Cash from BRAGG, any of the Drops & Wins slots from Pragmatic Play, or any of the Daily Jackpot slots from Red Tiger Gaming.
Final thoughts
Don’t forget that trusted sites like TitanPlay also have the latest and most competitive odds for the world’s biggest sporting events, such as the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. They even have a range of markets for some of the most notable upcoming eSports events.
 When signing up to trusted sites like this, don’t forget to head straight to the responsible/safer gambling section when logging into your new account, where you can set deposit limits and session time reminders in just a few seconds.
Setting your limits will help you stay in much better control of your bankroll and ensure you remain within your budget each time you log in to play online casino games or place sports bets, which keeps things safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.
By Staff
August 9th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Rents are said to be “moderating” – not by much.
Developers who are really feeling the pinch like hearing the financial types talk about Bank of Canada rates dropping to 3.5% by next January.
The challenge will be to hang on until then.
Bunch of graphs set out below tell the story.
The data displayed comes from Urbanation Inc – rentals.ca
 As we came out of the pandemic rents soared. When the curve will change is still a major unknown.  Prairie province rents are much lower – the demand isn’t what it is elsewhere in the country. How much of this difference the result of market conditions or government mistakes.  The need, especially in Burlington, is for two and three bedroom units – up until very recently the developers have not focused on those sizes.  Sharing space doesn’t seem to solve the problem – except for Ottawa and Montreal. Quebec has traditionally had more rental properties – being a renter in Quebec doesn’t have the same social difference. In Ontario the objective is to get into the market – whereas in Quebec the objective is to find a good place to live.
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