By Staff

February 21st, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Halton District School Board values input from parents/guardians, members of the community, staff and students concerning the development of the 2023-2024 budget.

Individuals are encouraged to provide input on the budget priorities for the upcoming school year online through a questionnaire found on the Budget Input page of the HDSB’s website (hdsb.ca). Input must be received by March 6, 2023.

Before providing input, individuals are encouraged to review the Board’s Multi-Year Plan 2020-2024, Special Education Plan and Operational Plan.

A key objective of the annual budget process is to align the Halton District School Board’s financial resources with these important documents.

Community members are also able to delegate to the Board of Trustees. Please follow the HDSB’s Delegation Procedure.

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By Staff

February 20th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Make a note now of the future events you will want to take in

The Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB), home to the world’s largest collection of Canadian contemporary ceramics, releases a new line-up of exhibitions for 2023. Presenting programming across a wide range of artistic mediums and exploring themes such as iconography, Indigenous histories, ancestral knowledge, the act of remembering and belonging, legacies and literacies, each exhibition is intended to provoke critical conversations on the issues of our time. In this special year the AGB also celebrates the 40th anniversary of its permanent collection with The Weight of Clay, an exhibition series highlighting both the history and impact of the collection.

Fausta Facciponte: Little Tragedies and New Beginnings
December 2, 2022 – March 5, 2023

Fausta Facciponte, Story Fragment No. 125, 2021
Photograph, Inkjet print, archival pigment inks. Edition of 10, Courtesy Stephen Bulger Gallery

This tableau style exhibition positions original ceramic pieces and photographs by artist Fausta Facciponte with clay works from the AGB’s permanent collection to create narrative fragments depicting the fragile moments of life and the complexities of repair.

Caroline Monnet: Holding Up the Sky
January 13 – April 23, 2023

Caroline Monnet, Worlds Apart, 2022, Foam, OSB, 116.8 x 116.8 x 21.1 cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Blouin Division Gallery.

In this survey of new and recent works, multidisciplinary artist Caroline Monnet centers geometries, especially the cube, to draw attention to how different spatial relationships condition the way that we live and think. Monnet’s practice moves between textiles, photography, sculpture, and film to address the complexity of Indigenous identities and bilateral legacies, drawing from her Anishinaabe and French heritages.

Spark! From the Collections
January 14 – April 23, 2023

DaNisha Sculpture, Starry Night, 1997. Earthenware, stains, glaze. 1998.054.0.1. Donated by Joan Bennett, 1998. Photo credit: Kat Williams. Lois Wyndham, Night Shades, 2022. Handweaving, rep weave.

This collaborative exhibition between the Burlington Handweavers and Spinners Guild and the Gallery features new textile works inspired by ceramic pieces belonging to the AGB’s permanent collection, creating a catalyst to connect craft and contemporary art mediums.

Living Library
January 2023 – December 2023

Natalie King, a soft place to daydream, 2023. Mural, dimensions variable.
Courtesy of the artist. Photo credit: Chris Blanchenot

Living Library program is a year-long initiative with rotating and overlapping artists and authors’ projects, which provides free and equitable access to events, a maker space, books, and room to sprawl. Like a library, it encourages the exchange of a broad range of human knowledge, experience, traditions, and ideas in a welcoming and supportive environment.

 

 

 

 

 

The Weight of Clay
From Collector to Collection
March 14 – May 28, 2023

Jim Hong Louie, Dodo #1, n.d. Stoneware, glaze.
1984.014.0.1. Donated by Mr. Herbert O. Bunt, 1984

Highlighting the inspirational donation from Herbert O. Bunt that began the AGB’s permanent collection of ceramic art, this exhibition explores both the pieces donated, and the impact the donation had on artists, curators, and the future of the Gallery itself.

All Guilds Show/23
May 6 – June 4, 2023

Opening Reception: May 6, 1 – 3:00 PM
Each year the AGB hosts an annual exhibition celebrating the guilds who make, learn, share, and teach in our spaces, including the Burlington Fine Arts Association, Burlington Handweavers and Spinners Guild, Latow Photographers Guild, Burlington Potters Guild, Burlington Hooking Craft Guild, and Burlington Sculptors and Carvers.

Akash Inbakumar: Era of the Moon: Phases
June 2 – September 17, 2023

Emerging artist Akash Inbakumar focuses on a combination of craft practises, dance, and music to explore the influences of the moon. Through their work, Akash investigates queer and BIPOC narratives intersecting with science fiction, fantasy, and metaphor. Here, they create futures where craft objects play the role of carrying family lineage, storyteller, and genetics, compared to the colonial west’s nuclear family.

The Weight of Clay
Collecting Contemporary Ceramics
June 16 – October 8, 2023

Ying Yueh Cheung, IT BLOOMS IN THE DAY, 2005,
Hand-built and cast porcelain, glass, plexiglass rods.
Purchased with a generous donation from Maureen Charlton.

 

 

Opening Reception: June 15, 6 – 8:00 PM
40th Anniversary of the Permanent Collection Patron’s Dinner: June 22, 6 – 8:00 PM

Over the last forty years, the Art Gallery of Burlington has amassed over 4,000 unique pieces of clay-based art, culminating in the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of contemporary Canadian ceramics. Spanning spaces throughout the galleries, The Weight of Clay celebrates and chronicles the development of this historically significant collection, and honours the artists, curators, educators, donors, and volunteers who have contributed to both the AGB’s holdings and to the intellectual growth of ceramics in Canada.

Chiedza Pasipanodya
September 26, 2023 – January 7, 2024

Inspired by the architecture of termite mounds found across the Southern hemisphere, artist Chiedza Pasipanodya applies a labour-intensive process of hand building with coils of clay and burnishing with graphite. By focusing on elements related to labour, life, building, and community, the artist seeks to elevate narratives that might otherwise be forgotten or misremembered, especially the cultural productions of people of African descent.

Sybil Atteck: A Legacy Unveiled
October 20, 2023 – January 7, 2024

Sybil Atteck, Girl in Costume, 1948.
Oil On Board, 73.03 x 62.87 x 5.72 cm. Courtesy of Keith Atteck

Opening Reception: October 7, 6 – 8:00 PM

Pioneering Trinidadian artist Sybil Atteck applied her knowledge of natural history, science, craft, and various art techniques to create a body of work across painting, sculpture, and photography. In this stunning retrospective, a broad collection of Attecks’ work is brought together with catalogues, photographs, and critical reviews to reveal a woman and artist of extraordinary accomplishment.

 

ABOUT THE AGB – The Art Gallery of Burlington ommits to delivering programs that engage critically with contemporary art and craft practices, push the boundaries of traditional arts education, and support artists, youth, and the broader community in their personal, professional, and artistic development.

By Staff

February 12, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

We are still here – find out why.

A day created for families – make the best of it.

Your kids are the best thing in your life – they should be.

The province, the level of government that established Family Day as a holiday advised today that:

This Family Day weekend, from February 18-20, Ontario families and friends can enjoy fishing anywhere in the province without having to purchase a licence or carry an Outdoors Card.

On October 12, 2007, the provincial government established Family Day as the third Monday in February. It was a Liberal government that created the holiday – not that that matters,

By Pepper Parr

February 19th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

There are two meetings that will take place in the next 90 days that will, or should, have a significant change on the way Council operates.

Later this week, on the 23rd, there is a workshop on the role of the newly minted Deputy Mayors. They are in place, but it isn’t really clear yet as to just what they are supposed to do.

Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith – Deputy Mayor for Business & Red Tape Reduction
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns – Deputy Mayor for Community Engagement & Partnerships.
Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan – Deputy Mayor for the Environment
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte – Deputy Mayor for Housing
Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman – Deputy Mayor for Strategy & Budgets Sharman
Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna – Deputy Mayor for Recreation and Community Services.

A couple of unknowns:  Did members of Council have new business cards printed with the additional title?  And will the title appear on their election signs next time out ?

Mayor Meed Ward set out what the job meant at a Council meeting during which she elaborated on the strengths each council member brought the assignment she had given them.

Sometime in April Council will take a hard look at the Procedural bylaw that governs how council is to proceed and what as members of Council they can and cannot do.

They tend get tangled up at time with the procedures that are in place.

The April meeting is an opportunity for citizens who are well informed and know quite a bit about procedure to do their thinking and to delegate at the meeting.

By John MacDairmid

February 19th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

We are still here – find out why

On Tuesday, February 14th, Burlington City Council took more steps towards improving the accessibility and attractiveness of our transportation systems in three areas: cycling & walking, transit, and improved use of public space.

Thanks to our advocacy, council approved a $500,000 dedicated fund for active transportation. We noted in our deputation that the council-approved cycling master plan was underfunded by tens of millions of dollars. We pointed out the existence of funds that would provide a higher impact per dollar via improved cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, which council had previously identified as a priority. We would like to thank Councillor Rory Nisan for making the motion to create this fund. This investment is a good first step towards properly funding cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, and creating a healthy and safe city.

In the near future, those aged 13-19 will be able to ride on Burlington Transit for free on evenings and weekends. This improvement, brought forward by Councillor Rory Nisan, will make transit a more attractive option for youth, increase ridership, and help to create transportation habits that the younger generation can carry into the future. We as an organization will continue to push for improvements in our transit system. One of the improvements we will continue to push for is a partnership that we have proposed between council and our local school boards. This proposed partnership would educate students on how to use transit, proper transit etiquette, and the social/environmental/economic positives of using the system.

Lastly, council has approved $100k in funding for open streets initiatives. This program will help local community groups to open their streets for programs and events, making them more accessible to people. Examples include the Appleby Line

Street Festival and the pedestrianization of Brant Street during events such as The Sound of Music. This reimagining of our public spaces will encourage passive physical activity, and increase social cohesion in our communities. We would like to thank Councillors Rory Nisan and Lisa Kearns for bringing this program forward.

We thank council for its commitment to active transportation and transit, and for showing everyone that this is a council that “puts their money where their mouth is”.

John MacDairmid is a resident of ward 4

By Pepper Parr

February 18th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

 

The report of the Commission of Inquiry into last year’s imposition of Canada’s Emergencies Act was tabled this past Thursday. As most people expected Justin Trudeau was vindicated for invoking the legislation. His government had met the high bar required to trigger the Act.

Moreover as the Commissioner noted…”I determined that the measures taken by the federal government were, for the most part, appropriate and effective, and contributed to bringing a return to order without loss of life or serious injury to people or property.”

Most Canadians supported the government action so they will be relieved that this chapter is now all over and relegated to history. That is except for the 122 people who had a total of 393 charges laid against them for assault and other criminal offences. And then there are those stuck with the clean-up bill. Still, most of the occupiers escaped without so much as a parking ticket. Most of them who had been blocking traffic and jeopardizing public safety with their illegal gas cans and barbecues, just went home.

The Conservative ‘PM in-waiting’, Pierre Poilievre blamed the occupation in Ottawa on Justin Trudeau. He claimed that Trudeau had inflamed the occupiers by referring to them as a ‘fringe’ group. Trudeau sort of apologized for his undiplomatic use of language, though this was indeed a fringe group. If anything it was Poilievre himself who kept the flames of occupation burning by encouraging the occupiers, taking selfies and defending the occupation.

This was never a peaceful protest, unless blocking streets, terrorizing neighbourhoods, polluting the air with diesel exhaust, blaring their horns, and urinating on people’s lawns and war monuments could be considered peaceful. It was an unruly mob hoping to overthrow a sitting government. It was an insurrection in the making, which failed from lack of leadership and purpose, despite the assistance of some skilled ex-military and police sympathizers.

This was never about vaccine mandates for truckers at border crossings. Even if Canada had dropped its mandate the truckers would have faced the same requirement by the Americans. This was an angry mob taking out their personal frustration with two years of COVID, and for some their unfulfilled dreams of more oil pipelines, on the federal government.

It was the kind of vendetta one might expect of spoilt children being denied their regular playtime. Though they lacked a unified leadership, several occupiers presented themselves as spokespeople. And while the leadership may have included some hard core right-wingers, there were, no doubt, others just along for the ride and the excitement of it all.

It is unlikely that any of these folks supported the Liberals, judging from the number of elegant ‘Fuck Trudeau’ signs stuck on the side of so many trucks. Clearly these occupiers supported the other team, the other tribe. And their love was reciprocated when Tory House leader Candice Bergen advocated against asking them to leave. Make no mistake, this was a partisan mob with a partisan mission.

The Emergencies Act might not have had to be used, the Inquiry concluded, had Ontario’s Premier done his job. While the truckers were building their barricades opposite the nation’s parliament building, Doug Ford was off snowmobiling somewhere hundreds of kilometres away. It was as if he was in denial, refusing to attend the meetings in Ottawa and even later refusing to testify at the Inquiry.

In Ontario, municipalities are children of the province, Ford had no problem arbitrarily overriding his municipalities whenever he wanted to. He trashed and slashed the size of Toronto’s elected council only days before an election. He barred municipalities from using ranked balloting; banned them adding development charges to new development, and so on.

But when it came to the security of the people of Ottawa, his government hardly raised a finger, leaving the dysfunctional Ottawa police service to fail all on their own, and leaving the job of restoring civil order to the federal government. The Emergencies Act should never have had to be invoked but for inaction by the province.

Was Ford just being partisan, under pressure from his federal party cousins to let the occupation run its course? According to interim Tory leader Bergen that would put the issue on the PM’s plate – and possibly embarrass him as an impotent figure head if he did nothing. Ford did, to his credit, eventually come out to support the federal government and the Emergencies Act. But the question is why, after he had declared a provincial emergency, he didn’t use his powers to get the OPP tactical squad to end the blockade and occupation?

This occupation in Ottawa had clearly been inspired by the insurrection in Washington only a few months earlier. And it had been partially funded by some of the same folks involved in that mischief. While the Ottawa mob didn’t actually get into the Parliament buildings, they had come with a manifesto to overthrow the government and set up one under their control.

The parallels to what happened south of the border are too obvious to ignore. It’s a sad comment on our democracy when groups of people who can’t win at the ballot box choose instead the path of violence and terrorism. Partisan politics should never get in the way of overriding respect for our democratic values.

This occupation may have eventually concluded on its own and everyone gone home with just their mess left behind them. Or it may have ended up much worse with scenes like we saw at the US Capitol. We should all take a moment to consider how close we really came.

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:

Emergency Act Inquiry

Gazette Article on Ottawa Occupation

Candice Bergen Against Asking Occupiers to Leave

By Pepper Parr

February 17th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The pandemic hurt everyone – and the province realized that relief was needed everywhere it was possible to provide some relief.

In 2020, the province-wide property assessment update was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The assessed value of your property was kept at the 2020 value – bit of a break on your tax bill

As part of the Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review on November 4, 2021, the Province announced its decision to again postpone the assessment update. Property assessments for the 2023 property tax year continue to be based on January 1, 2016 assessed values.

No announcement has been made about when the next property assessment update will take place.
MPAC – Municipal Property Assessment Corporation continues to maintain an inventory of all properties and account for changes that happen each year in every property sector, across the province.

The ongoing postponement does not change the work we do to maintain the extensive property database and annual assessment rolls.

By Pepper Parr

February 17th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The tax increase is 7.52

It is made up of:
• City 6.34%
• Region of Halton 1.18%
• Boards of Education 0.0%

Included is an Infrastructure levy.  The City’s approved an Asset Management Financing Plan, that continues to include a dedicated infrastructure levy to address the renewal of the city’s $5.2 billion of assets. The 2023 Budget includes $3,065,000 equivalent to 0.79% of the total tax increase.

As for the 2022 surplus – we are going to have to wait for that number.  Traditionally the figure is made public during the budget debates and usually included as motion as to where the surplus would be placed.  Some time ago there was a surplus in access of $9 million – the result of staff gapping. The city manager who let that happen ‘vacated’ his office.

During the budget debate we did learn that the Tax Stabilization Reserve was very low – again no number was made public – other than to hear Budget Chair Lisa Kearns say that that reserve had been raided too often and needed to be replenished.

Staff will be reporting to the March 29th CSSRA meeting with the 2022 Operating Budget Performance including the year-end financial position.

There were two consistent features in the way city council decided how they wanted to spend the taxes they expect to collect in the 2023 fiscal year.

(1) During the budget debates they couldn’t find a way to reduce the 7.08% tax increase that Staff said was necessary to continue delivering the services people expected. Council went in the other direction and added – pushing the tax increases to 7.52% – and said publicly that the same level of increase could be expected in the 2024 fiscal year.

(2) The debates part of the budget decision was a sloppy meeting that was rushed.  Three days were set aside for the budget debate.  This Council pushed and pushed to get it all done in a single day.  They got a little “punch drunk” in the final hours and managed to vote on motions that had yet to be put before the public.  The information normally appears on a screen after which the Chair asks the Clerk to call a vote.

Council was in the process of voting when the information appeared on the screen.  It didn’t stay there very long.

The council vote to accept the committee recommendation said very little about the numbers they were presented with. They all focused on a “patting of the back” exercise.  Staff that put the budget together deserved to be congratulated as did the City Manager and the Treasurer who are now going to have to make it all work

Translating the budget number into the tax a resident would have to pay based on the assessed value of the property was not made public during the Council meeting either.

Rough shod is an apt description of the performance.

There are three items for which funds were sought and approved that need a closer look. The Gazette will work at getting that information to its readers.

By Pepper Parr

February 17^th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The city has all kind of establishments spread throughout the city – there is certainly enough to do.

The Port House, tucked inside the Waterfront Hotel, has taken a different approach to attracting people who may not have been around for a while.

Erin Sauder, a graphic artist who uses the human body as her canvas will be at the Port House this evening along with an assistant.

Erin’s body painting is several steps beyond what gets done at the traditional childrens’ birthday party.

Have a look!

The Port House event is the first of this type of event for Erin. She got her start when she was helping her Mother at an event where she was responsible for handling the Bouncy Castle at a childrens’ event.  The person who was going to do the Face Painting didn’t show up – so there was Erin with a small paint brush.

Things grew from there.

A graduate of Niagara College Erin uses black lights and glow stick to make what is seen by most as a kids party event an adult event. She has earned a living as a body painting artist for the past 12 years.

Some people are going to go home looking a lot different than they did when they arrived at the Port House.

 

By Staff

February 16, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

We are still here – find out why

Conservation Halton welcomes the sweetest time of the year with the return of Maple Season programs at Mountsberg and Crawford Lake.

Starting March 4^th, guests can visit the 150-year-old sugarbush at Mountsberg’s Maple Town and see how sap tapped from the maple trees is transformed into maple syrup or explore  Crawford Lake to learn more about the Indigenous origins of maple sugaring. Maple Season programs are offered on weekends, holidays, and March Break until April 9^th.

Mountsberg will be home to two programs as part of Conservation Halton’s Maple Season: Maple Town and the Sugarmaker’s Breakfast.

The Sugarmaker’s Breakfast is a truly unique, and exclusive event, offered only on February 25^th and 26^th, where you can help kick off the start of Maple Season. The two-hour experience includes a wagon ride, a maple syrup-tasting flight, maple taffy on snow, a guided tour, and, of course, a delicious pancake breakfast by the wood stove. Guests of the Sugarmaker’s breakfast will also have the rare opportunity to tap one of the park’s 150-year-old sugar maples and hang their own pails to begin collecting crystal-clear sap.

The second program offered at Mountsberg, Maple Town, is a family favourite tradition. Through independent exploration and guided exhibits throughout the sugarbush, visitors can witness maple sap transformed into syrup in the evaporator, warm up by a fireside lounge, or let the kids run wild on the natural playground. Satisfy sweet cravings with maple sugar candy samples, maple syrup drizzled pancakes at the Pancake Pavilion, and other maple products available to try throughout the day or take home from the Country Store retail shop.

Visitors can add a horse-drawn wagon ride to their visit for a truly unforgettable experience. Maple Town visitors are welcome to explore Mountsberg’s trails, historical sites, and the animal barn and Raptor Centre. Those who want to get up close and personal with the Mountsberg resident birds of prey can add the Talons and Tailfeathers experience to their visit.

Maple Season also includes a third program called Sweetwater Season, hosted at Crawford Lake. This experience focuses on the Indigenous heritage of maple sugaring and features the First Harvest: Celebrating Sweetwater exhibit. Visitors can take a step back in time to the 15th-century site when maple sugaring was the first harvest of the year. Sweetwater demonstrations will run throughout the day where guests can gather by the fire and learn all about the history of maple sugar making. There will also be guided maple syrup-tasting flights offered where you can try different grades of maple syrup, similar to a wine tasting.

“We always get excited about Maple Season at Conservation Halton, and we are even more pleased to offer the programs in their original format this year,” said Brenna Bartley, Education Manager at Conservation Halton “With over 600 maple trees, Mountsberg’s sugarbush has been producing maple syrup for over 150 years and educating the public for over 40 years. We see people come back to this event year after year and we’re proud to have become a part of so many families’ annual traditions. We love offering multiple programs for our visitors to enjoy a fun and educational experience whether they participate in Maple Season at Maple Town or Sweetwater Season.”

For tickets, pricing, and details about Maple Season, visit conservationhalton.ca/MapleSeason

Conservation Halton is the community based environmental agency that protects, restores, and manages the natural resources in its watershed. The organization has staff that includes ecologists, land use planners, engineers, foresters and educators, along with a network of volunteers, who are guided by a Board of Directors comprised of municipally elected and appointed citizens. Conservation Halton is recognized for its stewardship of creeks, forests and Niagara Escarpment lands through science-based programs and services.