 By Pepper Parr
April 24th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Call it ore-election campaigning or maybe a chance to get out for some fresh air and sunshine.
Our reporter bumped into Ward 2 councillor Lisa Kearns who was leading a walking tour of the downtown area on Saturday to review and discuss current, significant planning projects in various stages. A total of 10 high-rise projects were discussed. One has been rejected by city council. Two are under construction, one has been approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal, two approved by the OLT subject to conditions, one subject to site plan approval and three under appeal by the City
 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns took some of her constituents on a tour – her fifth tour so far this year, showing her the location of the ten projects that are in various stages of development. In this picture Kearns is steps away from the Waterfront Hotel that is the object of a development application asking for Official Plan changes and zoning bylaw changes to build two structures that will top off at 40 stories.
Kearns said she could live with the 20 and a bit buildings the city planners are talking about.
The developer will undoubtedly take an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal where they are reported to be represented by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP,, a highly regarded law firm that just might get something a bit better than a defeat.
With the sun shining and people getting out for some exercise the Alienated Grandparents Anonymous had a crowd on a walk through the downtown area protesting in front of the office of MPP Jane McKenna, Ontario’s associate minister of children and women’s issues, during their march through the downtown on Saturday.
 Parental alienation needs to go. That’s the message marchers delivered on Saturday. Photo by DENIS GIBBONS Members of the Alienated Parents and Grandparents Peer Support Group, Our Alienated Grandchildren Matter, and Alienated Grandparents Anonymous stopped in front of the office of Burlington MPP Jane McKenna, Ontario’s associate minister of children and women’s issues, during their march through the downtown on Saturday.
 By Pepper Parr
April 26th 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Reports that are going to Council meeting as a Standing Committee are always published about 10 days before the meeting.
The report on the comments from a Closed Meeting Investigation were put on the city web site sometime after 7:00 pm on Friday. Bad optics but optics are no longer a concern for this council or this administration.
The respected law firm, Aird and Berlis were brought in because someone filed a request with the city Clerk asking for an investigation – basically to determine if the city was following the rules about going into a Closes session.
The four dates that were investigated related to those occasions when the Integrity Commissioner was asked by Councillors Nisan and Galbraith to determine of Councillor has breached the Code of Conduct.
Few would argue that she did not – she certainly did and has accepted the consequences of her decision.
What the public wants to know is – did the city tell its citizens enough about why they went into CLosed and what they talked about during the meetings.
The Integrity commented that the could improve on what it tells the public.
The public will get an answer to that question; it may not be as fulsome as they expected and would like to see.
In their report Air & Berlus conclude that on each of the four occasions complaints were based on the city met the rules as set out in the Municipal Act – and they site chapter and verse to back up their conclusions.
It goes before Council on May 4th as a Receive and File Report . All Aird and Berlis were asked to do is advise on whether or not they had the right to go into Closed.
Getting that answer, which we already know has cost the taxpayers $15,000.
 Marianne Meed Ward in September of 2018 asking the public to trust her During the discussion on the Integrity Commissions report Councillor Galbraith made this statement. He said Staff can submit a report and ask that it be discussed in a Closed session of Council. He added that it is Council that determines whether or not they actually go into Closed. They have to vote on that – each time.
Burlington’s city council is beginning to look foolish, incompetent and lacking a clear sense of direction.
Mayor Meed Ward said in a lengthy Statement she released on her tweet account that trust in this council has to be maintained. She could not have been more right.
In the 2014 election Marianne Meed Ward asked citizens not for their vote – but for their trust. And they gave it to her and were impressed enough to make her Mayor.
She has lost that trust – the skills. the integrity and the spunk to win it back do not appear to exist.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Staff
April 22nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Earlier this year, Council approved the temporary patio program for the 2022 patio season to continue to support local businesses.
Sidewalk detours and patio set-up will begin next week in the downtown and will run until Oct. 31, 2022.
Sidewalk Detours
 Maybe the patios will bring warmer weather? Some patios will be installed on City sidewalks. These sections of the sidewalk will be detoured onto the road with traffic barriers. These barriers will help with pedestrian safety.
City of Burlington staff will be installing the sidewalk detours during the week of April 25, 2022.
The sidewalk detours for patios are being installed in downtown Burlington on:
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- The north side of Pine Street between Elizabeth Street and Pearl Street
- The north side of Lakeshore Road between Brant Street and John Street
- The north side of Lakeshore Road between Locust Street and Brant Street
- The west side of Brant Street between Elgin Street and Lakeshore Road
- The east side of Brant Street between Maria Street and James Street
- The north side of Elgin Street between Locust Street and Brant Street
 By Pepper Parr
April 22, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
For those of you who missed us for about twenty minutes this morning – something went wrong with Facebook – as we were trying to solve the problem – everything blew up.
We are back on line – now we need to figure out what went wrong and how much damage was done.
Thanks for your patience and you interest.
More good news – you will never guess what the Mayor said this time
We are told that of the 12,000 Twitter follow the Mayor has, there was 1 Like and no re-tweets on the Statement she made over the sanctioning of a member of Council.
Side walk patios are being built next week – get used to some walking detours out into the street Barriers will be in place.
 By Staff
April 22nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The world must stop increasing its greenhouse gas emissions within the next three years — and then rapidly slash them — to prevent the more extreme consequences of climate change, according to the latest United Nations report that highlights the need for stronger action to address the global climate crisis.
 This really sobering news comes to us on Earth Day – an event that began in 1970.
In January 1969, Americans witnessed the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, an American wanted to infuse the energy of student anti-war protests with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution.
We have known about the problem for decades.
And we haven’t done very much about it.
And time is running out.
 By Staff
April 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Developer wants to work well into the night to construct a tower that no one wanted in the first place. Residents in the immediate area of the ADI Group development – Nautique; a 26 storey development that was controversial when it was just an idea.
ADI is asking for a noise exemption to allow construction until 11PM – Monday to Friday from May-September.
Resident have said this is totally unacceptable. In this area there are three senior complexes. Martha’s Landing, Pearl & Pine and also Martha’s Terrace.
The City of Burlington was unable to stop the height and intensification of this development but surely the city can prevent this noise extension from taking place. Those of us living in this area have a right not to have to listen to constant construction noises until 11PM.
 By Staff
April 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
What a thrill this is going to be. And what an experience as well
And if the Raptors can hang in and give the 76ers a good run for their money and pull off a miracle as well – the kids who listen to the virtual broadcast will never forget the day.
The Halton District School Board has Toronto Raptors Superfan Nav Bhatia talking to students in a HDSB-partnered learning resources launch nationally.
 Nav Bhatia has attended almost every Raptors home game since the teams first season in 1995. Nav Bhatia will join classrooms virtually on Wednesday, April 27
The Halton District School Board is welcoming Toronto Raptors Superfan Nav Bhatia to classrooms as part of a virtual learning engagement next week.
Bhatia will join Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes virtually on Wednesday, April 27 to empower and uplift students through his messages of “strength in diversity” and “uniting the world through basketball”. This visit comes after HDSB students have been engaging in learning about Bhatia’s journey through educational resources and activities developed by HDSB staff.
The Superfan Nav Bhatia Foundation plans to make this “Superfan Workshop” available to schools across Canada.
Bhatia will speak to:
- Kindergarten – Grade 6 classes from 9 – 9:30 a.m.
- Grade 7 – 12 classes from 9:40 – 10:20 a.m.
Nav Bhatia is the legendary Toronto Raptors fan who has attended almost every home game since the team’s first season in 1995. His journey as a beloved fan, successful business owner and inspirational community builder is told through the recently released CBC documentary Superfan: The Nav Bhatia Story.
“After watching the documentary, the HDSB’s Human Rights & Equity Team knew this was a story meant to live in classrooms and with youth,” says Rob Eatough, Superintendent of Education with responsibility for Equity, Inclusion and Indigenous education. “Aligned with core principles of Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy, such as affirming identity, representation and critical consciousness, Nav’s story provides rich entry points for student learning and connects with the Equity & Inclusion area of focus in the HDSB’s 2020-2024 Multi-Year Strategic Plan”.
With multiple connections to curriculum areas such as Language, History, Health, Civics and Careers, Equity Studies and more, the HDSB developed Superfan learning resources and activities for staff to engage students. In partnership with the Superfan team, these learning resources will now inspire youth across the country as the Superfan Workshop launches nationally.
At Chris Hadfield Public School in Milton, teacher-librarian Lisa Turbitt arranged for several classes to watch the Superfan documentary and collaborate on responses to questions such as, “How has Nav helped to create a sense of community?” and “What messages can you take from Nav into your own life?” The school shared their thoughts on social media with the hashtag #HDSBeSuperFan. Turbitt says this expression of student voice captured Bhatia’s attention and now HDSB students and Superfan Nav Bhatia will have a chance to meet.
“We hope this is just the beginning of a long and ‘super’ relationship,” says Eatough.
By Pepper Parr
April 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Chamber of Commerce held its Breakfast before 9 event – at the QB Sports Bar – the place was packed.
 Terry Caddo , President and CEO, chatting up a Chamber of Commerce member Was that because it was the first opportunity for people to get out and mix and get back to the networking that is such a big part of the Chamber world – or was it because Ron Foxcroft was the speaker?
Foxcroft never fails to deliver. Much of his story has been told man, many times – but it is always entertaining and each time you come away knowing more than you knew when you walked into the room.
 He was promoting his recent book: The 40 Ways of the Fox – all the proceeds go to City Kids.
Terry Caddo, the newish President of the Chamber was meeting the membership and telling them what was planned – he will release the revised Strategic Plan at the end of the month.
Paul Sharman was on hand – his networking amounted to his giving people his nomination papers to sign. While I didn’t actually see the document I was told that they were nomination papers for the ward 5 council seat which he currently holds.
Wait Parr, you might ask. Haven’t you been saying that Sharman is going to run for the Office of Mayor? Indeed I have – and I still believe that Sharman will eventually file new nomination papers.
He did something similar in 2010. He had filed papers to run as Mayor against Cam Jackson. When Rick Goldring also filed nomination papers running for Mayor, Sharman pulled his Mayor nomination and filed for the ward 5 seat which Goldring was giving up.
 Cheryl Goldring signing the Sharman nomination papers. We all know how that worked out. Sharman won in ward 5, Goldring was made Mayor. Four years later, Sharman wins again in ward 5 – Rick Goldring losses to Marianne Meed Ward.
And the person signing the Sharman nomination papers? Cheryl Goldring – Rick’s wife.
Only in Burlington.
By Pepper Parr
April 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns held her sixth – it may been her seventh Ward meeting. This one was another hybrid. She made comments about the Integrity Commission process that she took part in yesterday that are worth publishing.
Here is what she had to say.
“We also had a report in Council yesterday that we dealt with in regards to the Integrity Commissioner, and one of the Councillors, Councillor Stolte who had made a misstep and was cited for an infraction against the Code of Good Governance. There were two counts that they had identified had been breaches and she was penalized accordingly in the recommendation report from our third-party Integrity Commissioner.
 Councillor Kearns has always supported positions taken by Councillor Stolte. “There has been some media coverage. There is a lot of weight to what is ethical is not always legal, and what is legal is not always ethical. I want to acknowledge that the Councillor was working very hard in the pursuit of opening up greater transparency and communication to the community.
“Many of you are no stranger in knowing that there are matters that I would like to be brought a little bit more into the open. One thing that you will start seeing is a definite improvement in listing the locations on why we are going into closed – especially if it’s for litigation matters. There are some conversation out there around having an increased number of times of this Council going into closed versus the last Council so I do want to be really upfront with that.
“There is significant litigation, especially for matters in and around the downtown. Many of you will know that because we have posted all of the individual locations or files that have been submitted Ontario Land Tribunal as appeals against the new Official Plan in the downtown alone. I believe there are 26 of those, in addition to any other site specific concerns that we are working through the tribunal with, so that to me, does make up the bulk of those close sessions; whether they are proposals for settlement or updates on litigation strategy those are considered in closed under Section 239 of the Municipal Act.
“The other piece that is significantly discussed in closed session is matters surrounding Robert Bateman. It’s a very large acquisition where some proprietary pieces of information are discussed. My council colleagues know there are parts that I will be looking for their support and making more public. But we are not always alone in our decision making, our decisions do affect other parties. I do continue to applaud Councillor Stolte’s pursuit of working to bring about more change.
“But at the same time, I always respect the process and process was duly carried out by our third party Integrity Commissioner and I do respect the findings of that report. Although it was a very uncomfortable situation to move through as a council. I am hopeful that we will come out on the other side as more knowledgeable and continue to shine for our city constituents in the very best light that we possibly can.”
 By Pepper Parr
April 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Part 1 of a series
Media has always had a role to play in the way a public is informed.
Like any commercial sector, and media is a commercial sector, it has had it low points and its high points.
Media brought about the downfall of US President Richard Nixon when the Watergate story was told.
Media failed terribly, and to some degree is still failing, in the United States with the way it reported on and failed to report on Donald Trump.
Media has excelled with its reporting on the war in Ukraine and how different countries around the world have responded. That the South Africans have gone mute is more than disappointing.
The way in which media reported on the tragic death of Princess Diana and the response from the Royal Family changed the way the British public reacts to their monarchy – that institution is undergoing a tectonic level shift and may not exist at all a few decades from now.
The advent of the internet stripped away the revenue base of print media, many have just sold their presses and disappeared.
Online newspapers began to appear.
The Gazette came into being when a group was trying to establish a radio station for Burlington, not being fully aware of how complicated it is to get a license to broadcast over the public air waves.
I was asked to help with the writing of a business plan and convinced those involved that a radio license was not possible but there was an opportunity for an online newspaper.
 At about that time, ten years ago, John Boich and Walter Mulkewich co-authored Shape Burlington which took serious exception at the way city hall handed out information and advocated for public support for a new newspaper.
Shape Burlington cracked the ice that was blocking so much information but it didn’t open the flood gates.
The Gazette grew organically – take that to mean slowly. We covered the building of the Pier and covered the attempt on the part of the owners of the Air Park who were secretly dumping tonnes of fill on land without the proper licenses with the intention of creating more runway.
It took several years of court cases, a libel suit against the Gazette and two citizens before the Air Park owners threw in the towel
Eventually the courts cases ended and the Air Park owners decided they had had enough and walked away from the libel suit as well.
 The Gazette was the first online newspaper to be accepted as member of the Ontario Press Council – an organization that became the National Newsmedia Council
Media matters.
Fully understanding just what it is and how the different players are expected to play the game is a different story in Burlington.
The Gazette has worked with five different city managers. The relationship with three of the five worked well.
It was my practice to reach out to a new city manager, do an interview and help where I could as they settled into the city. Jeff Fielding was a dinner guest at my home; I took him to the top of Mt Nemo – he was amazed.
The other guy from the Region
 James Ridge: Ten years in the Canadian Army in the Discipline side of the service where he attained the rank of Major were not the ideal background for a job that calls for collaboration and an ability to accept different points of view. James Ridge was different. That first call to him in Vancouver went well enough; he talked about his dogs and the plans he had for he and his wife to drive across the country while their furniture followed in a moving van – for which the city paid. That is a common practice.
Before Ridge left Burlington he banned me from attending at City Hall on two occasions – one was a life time ban.
The reasons for the banning was set out in documents that I have yet to see. There is litigation. More on that at another time.
When Tim Commisso was hired, first as an interim City Manager and then hired as THE City Manager the relationship was iffy but reasonable.
 Tim Commisso had years of experience on the administrative side of the city before he went to Thunder Bay – then returned to Burlington to become the city manager.. I have never met Tim Commisso.
Traditionally media and administration meet personally to exchange greetings, get the measure of each other and set out the rules each intends to follow. Being the senior level Commisso was the one to do the inviting.
My approach has always been to make sure that those I deal with, elected or appointed, understand that I am not there to be there friend. I am there to hold them accountable and do what I can to ensure that everything is transparent.
Given the current mess where a member of Council is the subject of an Integrity Commissioner report that recommends she be docked five days’ pay I am not sure I can say that we are doing just fine with the matter of transparency and accountability.
One perseveres.
 By Pepper Parr
April 21st, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The stories we published on the Integrity hearing shot readership through the roof. Not as high as the story on the closing of Emmas but very good nevertheless.
It isn’t possible to publish a single story that tells the whole tale – the meeting ran for 3.5 hours.
So we are going to excerpt sections from the transcript we have and run those over the next few days.
The penalty is what seems to interest most people. Why five days and how much money will Councillor Stolte lose.
On the money side her income from the city is what is at risk – the income from the Region couldn’t be touched.
The city portion of the total salary is about $60,000 – assume 260 work days a year – divide the 60,000 by 260 and you get what she has to give up. It won’t put Stolte in a lower tax bracket.
Earlier in the meeting Commissioner Abrams commented on the matter of contrition saying in conversation with Stolte he came away with the impression that she was contrite but when he reads the opinion piece Stolte gave the Spectator he felt that she was not truly contrite and seemed to hint that he would have recommended a 30 day penalty.
 Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan, one of the two Council members who filed a complaint with the Integrity Commissioner Councillor Nisan said: “…you mentioned since the report that you’ve not heard the contrition that you heard privately. Does that mean you have an updated recommendation for a penalty for us at this time or are you able to provide some colour as to what you would have recommended had you not received that contrition.”
Abrams: “Let me answer the question this way. It’s in Council’s hands to deal with our recommendation in any way of wishes. And it’s quite reasonably simple to ask if the circumstances warrant something other than what we recommended in the report and I spoke to that so it’s acceptable for Council to take into account the counselors opinion pieces as published in the Spec for example.
“And so in the context of this matter, a sanction anywhere in the range of five to 30 days could be reasonably supported by the contents of the report and the circumstances directly tied to the report after it was finished and provided to the council and to the respondent. So that the counsellor public comments are relevant. “… relevant to councils consideration of the recommendations that appear in our report, simply because contrition did that play a role in our assessment.”
Councillor Bentevegnia said he wanted to “follow up a little bit on that question that Councillor Nisan mentioned in the report he thought was very, very explicit and very detailed.
 Angelo Bentivegnia serving as the Chair of a Council Workshop “The recommendation that you have put forward or I’ll say your office has put forward the circumstances were anything from a reprimand up to as the 90 days you mentioned. I know you’ve given us the situation where we have to make a decision but how does commission decide what is appropriate I know you have that range, but why didn’t you say a reprimand or why didn’t you say 90 days?
Sorry if I’m getting too direct. I’m just curious.”
Jeffrey Abrams responded: “Well, that’s that’s quite a fair question. And in fact that recommending a sanction is more art than science. There’s an important issue, breach of closed session confidentiality is an exceedingly important issue.
A reprimand is not another thing. It’s a statement by counsel that a member of council has fallen short of their ethical responsibilities. We do from time to time, I recommend a reprimand and it’s a meaningful sanction. A monetary penalty is a more significant sanction. And therein lies the question of what is the appropriate sanction. In our view and looking at other Integrity Commissioner reports and considering what we have done elsewhere.
 Jeffrey Abrams: a partner in the firm Principles Integrity who serve as the Integrity Commissions for the city of Burlington. And given what’s happened recently, with respect to this report, it’s not extraneous to the reporters relates to this particular matter. We think that somewhere in the range of five to 30 days is appropriate.
Now, that puts you a bit on the spot and we recognize that it’s very difficult for councils to meet in a disciplinary mode. We recognize that we do have some thoughts on how to do it better, but that is what the legislation requires it at present.
And so as we have indicated this is more art than science and it is now in your hands.
Council voted to accept the recommendation – 5 days with no pay.
 By Staff
April 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton District School Board families, staff and community members are invited to the Director’s Panel Series on Identity, Inclusion & Human Rights to raise awareness on historical and contemporary issues of identity, inclusion and human rights. The next session in the panel series will be:
Self-Determination and Anti-Colonial Practices:
Indigenous Rights, Education and Food Sovereignty
Tuesday, April 26 at 6 – 7:30 p.m.
This will be a virtual event, with the livestream linked on the HDSB website (www.hdsb.ca).
Registration is not required.
This session will not be recorded.
Panel speakers include:
• Marie Battiste, Mi’kmaw Educator, Author and Special Advisor at Cape Breton University, Professor Emerita, University of Saskatchewan
• Sheri Longboat, Associate Professor and Researcher, University of Guelph
• Tabitha Robin Martens, Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia
• Nancy Rowe, Education Consultant & Treaty Partner, Michizaagiig, Ojibwe, Anishinaabe Kwe
Those interested in attending the event can submit a question to the panel before or during the panel discussion through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/L5AxQvpErhR9wpkG9
“Each session in the series will explore how issues of identity and inclusion intersect with education,” says Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board.
 Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “This provides an opportunity to create awareness of multiple perspectives of insight and analysis on how individual identities can be reflected and engaged in the broader HDSB community. This panel series aligns with the Board’s commitment to raise awareness of diverse community perspectives and the need to broaden resources to support inclusion and student achievement, as reflected in the HDSB’s Multi-Year Plan 2020-2024 and the Human Rights Equity Action & Accountability Plan – The Way Forward.”
Future sessions in the series include:
• Perspectives on Islam and Islamophobia (Tuesday, May 31 at 6 – 7:30 p.m.).
Previous panel sessions include Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred (Feb. 7), Black Excellence: Today and Every Day (Feb. 28) and Two Spirit & Transgender Awareness: Beyond Bathrooms (March 29). Full recordings of these panel discussions are available to view on the Director’s Panel Series on Identity, Inclusion and Human Rights webpage.
 By Staff
April 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has arrested a male in relation to a human trafficking investigation in Burlington.
Police initiated the investigation in January 2022, after a suspect was identified at a Burlington hotel. On Tuesday, April 19, 2022, investigators from the HRPS Human Trafficking Unit arrested 29-year-old Tyrelle Campbell of Etobicoke.
He has been charged with:
 Tyrelle Campbell – arrested on trafficking charges – held in custody pending a bail hearing.
• Trafficking of a Person Under 18
• Material Benefit from Sexual Services Provided by Person Under 18
• Advertise Sexual Services
• Exercising Control, Direction or Influence Over the Movement of a Person
• Procuring Person Under 18
• Material Benefit Resulting from Trafficking in Persons
• Householder Permitting Sexual Activity to Person Under 18
• Non-consensual Distribution of Intimate Images
• Make, Print or Publish Child Pornography
• Import or Distribute Child Pornography
• Possession of Child Pornography
• Fail to Comply with Release Order
• Fail to Attend Court
Campbell was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Police believe there are additional victims in regards to this investigation and are asking anyone who has come into contact with Tyrelle Campbell or has information to contact the Human Trafficking Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 4674.
Campbell is known to go by the alias “Skoobz” and a photo of him has been attached to this media release.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
The Halton Regional Police Service firmly believes that every person has the right to feel safe in our community.
Victims of violence and/or sexual assault and witnesses are encouraged to contact the Halton Regional Police Service. The following is a list of valuable support services and resources in our region for victims of violence and/or sexual assault:
• Halton Regional Police Service Victim Services Unit 905-825-4777 ext. 5239 or by email at VictimServices@haltonpolice.ca
• Nina’s Place Sexual Assault and Domestic Assault Care Centre 905-336-4116 or 905-681-4880
• Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS) 905-875-1555 (24-hour crisis line)
• Radius Child & Youth Services 905-825-3242 (Oakville) or 1-855-744-9001
• Kid’s Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 (24-hour crisis line)
• THRIVE Counselling 905-845-3811 or 905-637-5256
Signs / Indicators of Human Trafficking
• Not being allowed to speak for themselves;
• Not having control of their own money or cellphone;
• Suddenly having a new or second cell phone with a secret number;
• Being controlled by others and escorted at all times;
• Not being allowed to contact family or friends;
• Withdrawing from family and friends;
• Providing rehearsed answers to casual questions;
• Being secretive about their activities;
• Showing signs of abuse, such as bruising, cigarette burns, fractures, etc.
• Having a new boyfriend, girlfriend or friend who they won’t introduce to friends/family; and
• Having new items (clothing, jewelry etc.) outside their financial means.
 What Should I Do if I Think Someone is a Victim of Trafficking?
If there is immediate danger or if you suspect someone is being trafficked, call 9-1-1.
You may also call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010.
By Pepper Parr
April 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
After three and a half hours of debate, Burlington city council voted last night to accept the recommendation set out in the Integrity Commissioners report that said ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte had breached the Council Code of Conduct on two occasions.
The penalty was to not pay Stolte for five work days.
Integrity Commissioner Jeffrey Abrams Jeffrey xxx, the Commissioner who did all the talking related to the report, said had he been aware that Stolte had written an Opinion piece in the Hamilton Spectator he would have recommended a 30 day without pay penalty.
 Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte He said that in arriving at what the penalty should be he had taken into account that he felt Stolte was contrite. When he learned that Stolte had written the Opinion piece (the same opinion piece appeared in the Gazette five days earlier) he said he would have recommended a 30 day period of time without pay.
The decision by Council to accept the recommendation was unanimous.
In closing the meeting Mayor Marianne Meed Ward began the process of trying to heal the differences and urged her colleagues to look at how much they had achieved this term of office.
The meeting was a hybrid event that had Councillors Nisan and Galbraith taking part from their homes while the rest of Council was in chambers. The complaint to the Integrity was filed by Nisan and Galbraith.
City Manager took part in the meeting and commented on several occasions.
The Gazette reported last night that Councillor Stolte had said she had begun to realize she “was not cut out for this kind of work” and said she would not be running for office in October.
Stolte set out the numerous occasions when she said she had tried to have her council members look for ways to ensure that the public had more information on just what takes place in a Closed sessions of Council.
Of the two breaches that the Integrity Commissioner identified the Bateman High school property purchase was the one that drew the most attention and concern.
Councillor Stolte told her colleagues that she was not going to apologize for what she had done.
A separate report from the Closed Session Investigator is due early in May. It will report on the review it has done of the Closed Session practices of the administration.
Councillor Galbraith made a strong point when he said Staff bring a recommendation to go into a Closed Session of Council but it is Council who make the decision to do so.
 By Pepper Parr
April 19th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte announced she would not be running for the Council seat in October. Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte announced during the Integrity Commissioners report that she had come to the conclusion that she was not cut out for this kind of work and said that she would not be running for Council in October.
Council has yet to determine what the penalty would be for the two breaches of the Code of Good Governance.
Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman asks her to reconsider the decision.
 By Staff
April 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Green has two important things they could use your help with this month – they hope you can lend a hand.
 Burlington Green is looking for people like this to help give away trees on the weekend.
- They are in need of volunteers to help with the Tree Giveaway this Saturday, April 23rd. Can you help?
It’s quick and easy to sign up to help. Great opportunity for high school volunteer hours too!
And to spread the word, we’d love shares on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIN.
We’re also looking for folks to join our amazing Board and help with other fun and rewarding activities. See our current volunteer opportunities.
By Corinne Galvan
April 20th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
How often do you enjoy a relaxing online game after a long day at work? Not only are there clever bundles seemingly ubiquitous throughout our daily lives, but the associated technology truly boggles the mind. This industry is expanding at an incredible pace and such momentum is showing no signs of slowing down.
So, what are a handful of the latest trends and how will these serve to offer even more amazing levels of entertainment? Let’s take a quick look at some insightful observations to better appreciate where we may be headed.
The Rise of 5G Connectivity
 5G connectivity and the speed that comes with it changes almost everything about playing online. Some of us may already own phones which are capable of handling 5G streaming speeds. This is arguably one of the most important advancements in terms of the Internet as a whole. 5G offers incredibly fast connectivity and as a result, the games themselves have already become more streamlined. Issues such as buffering and slow loading times could therefore soon become things of the past.
While this is convenient for players, we need to remember that the ability to send and receive more data will enable the games to become complex and in many cases, highly realistic. Developers are already scrambling to create new software packages that will able to take full advantage of 5G wireless. While it may be some time before all regions are provided access, the trend itself is here to stay.
Such opportunities are likewise appreciated by major online casinos such as LeoVegas Not only will the games be more exciting, but other recent trends such as the ability to personalize the overall player experience should attract even more fans in the near future. Indeed, it now seems a long time has passed since consumers had no other choice but then to employ dial-up Internet connections.
The Use of Artificial Intelligence and Similar Technologies
 What role will AI and AR play in the online sports industry. Players can expect a much richer experience. Another facet of the online gaming sector is more concerned with what takes place “behind the scenes”. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a perfect example of what is hovering just over the digital horizon. There are several benefits which can be directly attributed to the world of online games. These include:
Characters and elements can be customized based on personal preferences.
Other features such as backgrounds and audio soundtracks will become richer and more immersive.
The games themselves are likely to become more challenging as a result of machine learning.
We also need to mention the notion of augmented reality (AR). The basic definition of this concept involves the ability for players to interact with a digital environment. This opens up a world of possibilities. From creating entirely new digital “worlds” to speaking with avatars of other players who may be located thousands of miles away, AR is set to further advance this sector.
Of course, it will still require a bit of time to transform these observations into an accessible reality. The good news is that we are generally talking about a handful of years as opposed to a decade or longer. The only other potential hurdle involves the fact that some devices are simply not equipped to handle 5G speeds due to memory limitations and issues with processing power. Thus, avid gamers may very well be required to upgrade their currently devices in order to accommodate the demands of 5G technology.
Still, there is no doubt that we are now living on the cusp of a brave new world. Considering how far the Internet has advanced in the past 20 years, it is nearly impossible to fully appreciate what the future has in store for gamers.
By Staff
April 18th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Roland regrets:
“I posted a comment on Friday on my personal Facebook account about the current controversy between Burlington councillors.
“Nobody can claim that ‘private’ Facebook accounts are really private any more, and I can’t complain, given the circumstances in which I made the post, about anybody breaking the ‘confidentiality’ of a personal account.
“Within about two hours I thought better of the comment and deleted it. However, while it was online the comment was copied and sent to the Burlington Gazette, which posted it in an article today.
I’m not reposting the comment here, because it doesn’t need any further publicity, but it is linked to above.
“I have long been guilty of sudden rushes of blood to the head, and it frequently gets me in trouble. “Good Roland” tries to be fairly even-keeled and temperate. “Bad Roland” can’t keep his mouth shut.
“While I stand by the essence of the points made in the second paragraph (and made them in a more articulate way here), I have no evidence for the guess made in the first paragraph, and therefore should not have made it. I also crossed the line into an ‘ad hominem‘ attack in the words I chose to use on Facebook. I sincerely regret those words and apologise to the mayor and the two councillors concerned.
“We started the 905er Podcast because we wanted to contribute to a more balanced level of debate, based on a sound understanding of events and a willingness to see both sides of an argument. While we are not going to shy away from being critical when we believe it is warranted, it should always be within a context of fairness, balance and a basis on established facts. Even when critical, our writing and the comments we make on our podcast should never cross the line into personal attacks. I fell short of the standard we have set ourselves, and the standard expected of any responsible entity that claims to cover current affairs with journalistic standards.”
There are some very strong views being voiced by well-informed people on the release of the Integrity Commissioner’s report released last week.
Roland Tanner, who produces the 905er, a podcast aimed at the 905 market.
Set out below is what can only be called a rant.
Good on him. There are many others holding the same views
Interestingly Councillor Shawna Stolte declared a Conflict of Interest on the discussion that will take place on the Integrity report.
Councillor Shawna Stolte She cannot speak to the report or vote on any resolution that comes out of it. She is attending in person in council chambers which would mean she would have to leave the room
If this comes to a vote – that could be a problem for Ms Stolte.
The Council meeting is a hybrid event with some Councillors virtual and others in Chambers
Councillors Nisan and Galbraith are taking part virtually.
- By June Rouse
May 2nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Are you a big basketball fan?
Burlington, Ontario, has a strong basketball pedigree – read more about some of the best players from the region in Canada.
Burlington Basketball is a non-profit venture that was originally started in 1973. Offering the community a program for youngsters to get involved with, Burlington Basketball has produced some top players over the years.
The Ontario city as a strong track record of producing outstanding sportsmen and women across various sports, but basketball really stands out.
Here’s a look at some Burlingtonians and their achievements on the basketball court.
Mfiondu Kabengele
 Mfiondu Kabengele first Burlington resident to be drafted, by the Brooklyn Nets then traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Attending Corpus Christi High School, Mfiondu Kabengele played for Burlington Basketball from 2011 to 2015 under the expert eye of Zelemir Stevanovic. For his collegiate basketball career, Kabengele was recruited to the Florida State Seminoles.
In 2019, Mfiondu Kabengele became the first Burlington resident to be drafted, being picked 27th overall. He was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets but traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Between 2019 and 2021, he played 25 games for the Clippers before moving to Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021 and playing 16 games for them between April and October.
The basketball court was very familiar to Mfiondu from a young age as his uncle is Dikembe Mutombo, a pro player who was inducted into the Hall of Fame after an 18-year career.
 Ron Foxcroft eyeing the basket in a small court installed at the Fox40 whistle warehouse. Ron Foxcroft
Not everyone who’s from Burlington and famous in basketball is a player, as Ron Foxcroft perfectly demonstrates.
Foxcroft became well-known for his prowess as a basketball referee and for inventing a new type of pea-less whistle, the Fox 40. The whistle is now sold in 140 countries and is not used in just the sports community, but also in search and rescue. With armfuls of accolades, Foxcroft was named as one of the top Canadian entrepreneurs of the decade and, in 2015, travelled to Buckingham Palace for a private audience with Queen Elizabeth II.
On the court, he refereed at both National and International levels, including the Olympics. He spent 14 seasons evaluating the performances of NBA referees, and in 2016 he was awarded the coveted NASO Gold Whistle Award. This is considered to be the highest award that can be bestowed on a referee anywhere in the world.
Throughout his whole career, Ron Foxcroft has remained a permanent resident of Burlington.
Kevin Kangu
 Kevin Kangu: a name to watch. If you’re looking for a preview of the NBA season Kevin Kangu is a name to watch. Hailing from Burlington, he’s eligible for the draft in 2022.
In 2017-2018 Kangu was in his freshman year and played in 28 games, with 27 starts at Midland College in Texas. At Vincennes in his sophomore year, Kangu built on his previous performance, starting 19 games and appearing in 36 games in total. His performance in the Vincennes National Championship was so memorable that he was named in the all-tournament team.
At Oakland University, Kangu played for both the juniors and the seniors, appearing in the maximum 33 and 30 games, respectively. His performance across both years was impressive, with a number of achievements including the most total assists and the most assists per game.
Now in college, Kangu is playing guard for Lenoir Rhyne Bears.
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