GO improves transit option for those in the Dundas - Alton area

News 100 blueBy Staff

July 14th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

With construction recently wrapping up on the Park & Ride lot at Highway 407 and Dundas Street, transit users now have access to new bus platforms that will provide access to GO, Oakville and Burlington transit services.

For instance, customers looking to connect to the Lakeshore West GO Train line could grab a GO bus at the new Park & Ride that will take them to Burlington GO Station and onto downtown Toronto.

Day trips to Niagara Falls have also become easier, with the Route 12 GO bus making all stops from Union Station to Niagara Falls GO, including a stop at Confederation GO Station in Hamilton.

Dundas GO parklot 1Eight bus platform bays will allow for even more options to get you to your destination. (Metrolinx photo)

The good news doesn’t stop there either, the existing Route 40 GO bus to Toronto Pearson International Airport added a stop at this lot back in January, providing an option to park, ride and fly for up to five days without the expense of airport parking.

Highway 407 and Dundas Park & Ride Facts

Features more than 300 additional parking spots
Eight bus platform bays
Two bus layover bays
Improved lighting throughout the lot and pedestrian stair access directly to Dundas Street.

Dundas GO parklot 2

The new lot includes an additional 300 parking spaces, for a total of 403 spots (Metrolinx photo)

Access to and from the stop has also been made easier with three new kiss and ride lanes, pedestrian connections, two new enclosed bus shelters with heating and lighting and a bike shelter.

The City of Burlington is also working to improve commuter experience. Work to finalize installation of new sidewalks along the nearby Palladium Way is expected to wrap up later this month.

Return to the Front page

Terry Fox this day in 1980 - stopped in Aldershot at the RBG

News 100 yellowBy Brenda Glass

July 13th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It was on this day back on July 13, 1980, that I had the privilege to see and listen to Terry Fox.

Terry somehwere in Aldershot

Terry Fox at the RBG in Aldershot July 13, 1980

I was able to just go down the street from my family home in Aldershot to the Royal Botanical Gardens Headquarters, Plains Rd W., where Terry made a stop.

It was a small gathering but it was there nice and close. I was there with my Kodak Instamatic camera. The attached photos are a photo of my original photos.

I believe the man in the light suit with white hair was Peter Pomeroy, Chair of Halton Region.

PS. I used to deliver the Burlington Gazette in Aldershot

Return to the Front page

Halton gets left off the Stage 3 list - another week at least of small groups and limits on things you can do

News 100 blueBy Staff

July 13th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Large parts of the province are being moved to Stage 3 of the Emergency Control measures in place – but the Burlington and the other Halton Region municipalities are not on the list.

This afternoon the Ontario government announced nearly all businesses and public spaces will reopen in Stage 3 of the province’s reopening framework with public health and workplace safety measures and restrictions in place.

As Ontario continues down the path to economic recovery, decisions were made on which regions will enter Stage 3 in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts and based on trends of key public health indicators.

“Our success in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and getting Ontario to a place where we are ready to reopen most of the province is a testament to the hard work of business owners, individuals and families right across the province,” said Premier Ford. “So many have stepped up and played by the rules, demonstrating that we can restart our economy safely and responsibly. Small actions can make a big difference. Now more than ever, we must continue to follow the public health advice to preserve the progress we have made together.”

As part of the Stage 3 reopening, Ontario will be increasing gathering limits for those regions entering the next stage to the following:

• Indoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 50 people;
• Outdoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 100 people;
• Gathering limits are subject to physical distancing requirements.

Public gathering limits apply to indoor and outdoor events, such as community events or gatherings, concerts, live shows, festivals, conferences, sports and recreational fitness activities, fundraisers, fairs, festivals or open houses. A two metre distance must still be maintained at such events.

Regions remaining in Stage 2 will maintain the existing gathering limit of 10. Social circles in all stages at this point will also be kept to a maximum of 10 people province-wide, regardless of stage.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health, public health experts and other officials have advised the following, high-risk places and activities are not yet safe to open, even if a region has entered Stage 3, due to the likelihood of large crowds congregating, difficulties with physical distancing, or challenges maintaining the proper cleaning and sanitation required to prevent the spread of COVID 19:

• Amusement parks and water parks;
• Buffet-style food services;
• Dancing at restaurants and bars, other than by performers hired by the establishment following specific requirements;
• Overnight stays at camps for children;
• Private karaoke rooms;
• Prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports;
• Saunas, steam rooms, bath houses and oxygen bars;
• Table games at casinos and gaming establishments.

The province is committed to working closely and collaboratively with businesses and sectors not yet able to reopen or who are experiencing significant challenges for reopening due to Stage 3 restrictions.

These businesses can visit Ontario.ca/reopen to work with the government on a reopening proposal that will enable them to safely resume or increase operations. Government and public health officials will review proposals and contact businesses for feedback or clarifications.

Expect Regional Chair Gary Carr to be all over that opportunity. Halton has had very low infection growth

The following public health unit regions will be allowed to move into Stage 3 first, on Friday, July 17, 2020:

Algoma Public Health
• Brant County Health Unit
• Chatham-Kent Public Health
• Eastern Ontario Health Unit
• Grey Bruce Health Unit
• Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
• Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
• Huron Perth Public Health
• Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
• Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
• Middlesex-London Health Unit
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
• Northwestern Health Unit
• Ottawa Public Health
• Peterborough Public Health
• Porcupine Health Unit
• Public Health Sudbury & Districts
• Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services
• Renfrew County and District Health Unit
• Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
• Southwestern Public Health
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit
• Timiskaming Health Unit
• Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health

Businesses and municipalities will be permitted to enter Stage 3 based on their region and, as in the previous stages, may choose to take more time before reopening. The list of regions that will remain in Stage 2, visit Ontario.ca/reopen. FIX HERE

At the beginning of each week, the province will continue to reassess local trends in public health indicators, including rates of transmission, hospital capacity, progress on testing and contact tracing, to determine if additional public health unit regions can progress to Stage 3.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health and other public health experts will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation to advise when public health restrictions can be further loosened or if they need to be tightened or reapplied.

As the province safely and gradually enters Stage 3, child care centres and home child care providers across Ontario will be able to continue to operate with strict safety and operational requirements in place. Beginning on July 27, 2020, child care centres will be permitted to operate with cohorts of 15 children, which is an increase from the current cohort cap of 10. This change will allow parents to return to work, and bring the child care sector to approximately 90 per cent of its operating capacity before the COVID-19 outbreak.

The government, in partnership with health and safety associations, has released over 170 guidance resources at Ontario.ca/COVIDsafety to help employers in multiple sectors ― including fitness, restaurant and food services, and the performing arts ― keep spaces safe for workers and customers. Guidance will be available for all spaces permitted to open in Stage 3. As they prepare to reopen, employers are strongly advised to review and implement appropriate measures to help protect their communities.

Based on community needs, some municipalities and local medical officers of health have implemented more restrictions or requirements, such as mandatory face coverings in commercial establishments and all indoor public places. Check your local public health unit’s or local municipality’s website.

 

Return to the Front page

Adult Summer Programming will be on again at Burlington Seniors’ Centre and Central Park on July 27.

News 100 yellowBy Staff

July 13th,2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Burlington residents will have another chance to connect, socialize and be active as redesigned Adult 19+ and Adult 55+ recreational activities are now set to safely resume with a small selection of activities on July 27, 2020 at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre and Central Park.

Residents can view program offerings online at burlington.ca/summer.

Registrations will be accepted starting July 20 at 9 a.m. and can be done online at liveandplay.burlington.ca. Residents who do not have access to technology and are unable to register online can call 905-335-7738. Please note those you may experience longer than usual wait times in the phone queue; limited spots will be reserved initially for phone registrations.

Due to program size restrictions and precautions, summer programs have a limited number of spots available. From July 20 to July 22, participants can only register for two programs. On July 23, participants can register for additional programs. This temporary restriction is to allow for phone registrations. Only residents of Burlington will be able to register for the summer session.

Programs
Five-day program sessions for Adults 55+ will start each Monday and run for five consecutive weekdays in one of three rooms in the Burlington Seniors’ Centre. Programs include learning and discussion series, bridge strategy classes, group music lessons and jam sessions, arts and wellness programs.

Fitness programs for Adults 19+ or 55+ will move to outdoor open spaces behind Central Arena and to locations close to Rotary Youth Centre at 560 Guelph Line. Fitness programs include toning, stretching and wellness classes will be held during cooler morning and evening times each weekday. Outdoor Fitness Programs will run rain or shine and will only be cancelled and refunded due to extreme weather including high winds, thunder or lightning. Dress for conditions required.

Carrying equipmentParticipants must bring their own equipment. There will be no sharing equipment between participants or using BSC materials.

New Procedures at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre
The health and safety of Burlington residents is of the utmost importance. In compliance with the Provincial Guidelines for opening facilities and for the health and safety of all guests, the following standards will be in effect:

• Stay home if you are feeling ill or have been in contact with someone who is ill
• Participants must complete a health screening questionnaire each day, one hour before the start of the program. To complete it online, go to burlington.ca/screening. Assistance will be available for those who need help completing it.
• Masks will be required by all staff and participants at all times in indoor programs and highly recommended in outdoor programs. Individual consideration will be given to participants requiring alternate but similarly effective personal protection, provided staff have approved the alternate PPE prior to program session start dates
• Physical distancing will be maintained in all programs
• Group sizes will remain within regulations
• Program offerings reflect those that best fit within permitted activities, timeframes and cleaning requirements
• Equipment sharing or lending will be eliminated in lieu of Bring Your Own supplies
• Pedestrian traffic flow will be designated and distance markers will be in place in all locations
• All personal belongings will be required to be kept with participants at all times
• Planning ahead is encouraged to reduce the need for washroom use. Washrooms will be available to one guest at a time
• Change rooms will not be available and use of washrooms for changing is not permitted
• Bistro Express will only offer curbside pickup with cashless payment. Pre-order by 10 a.m. for same-day packaging and curbside pickup available between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. For menu options or to place an order, call 905-335-7888, ext. 6346
• The BSC will open 15 mins before class start times when staff will assist registered participants with entry to program rooms. Access to the Centre will not be available to non-participants. The facility will be closed following each program period to allow for deep cleaning

Virtual Festivals and events ahead
Based on the Province’s restrictions on group sizes and social gatherings due to COVID-19, the City will continue to investigate and implement virtual celebrations where possible. Given the recent success of the City’s virtual Canada Day event, City staff are exploring virtual Remembrance Day and Santa Claus Parade options. All in-person festivals and events will be cancelled until the provincial group size is increased to 1,000 people.

As residents continue to rediscover many of their favourite spaces and activities in the city, City services may look different as we work to stop the spread of COVID-19. The City’s commitment to providing the community with essential services remains a priority. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at Burlington.ca/Enews and download the free City of Burlington app.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward: “Given the huge success of the TelePALS program, virtual programming will also continue – allowing residents the choice of what services they feel most comfortable participating in. I know our residents are looking forward to gradually being able to meet in person, and staff has introduced measures to keep participants safe.   ”

Beard studious

Denise Beard, Acting Director of Recreation Services

Denise Beard, Acting Director of Recreation Services explains that:  “Being able to connect and socialize can be a challenge during a pandemic so we hope that our redesigned programs will offer a much-needed boost to those looking to be active and social while staying safe. Online registration will offer the quickest way of registering but we will also hold some spaces specifically for telephone registrations for those who cannot access or are not comfortable online.”

Return to the Front page

Pat Burgess will do his 40th Terry Fox run this year - Covid19 will not deter him - third in a series

News 100 redBy Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee

July 13th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

terry-fox-running-across-from-monumentThe Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research, an annual event in Burlington since 1981, won’t take place this year in its usual form. The physical distancing rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t permit large gatherings. And Terry Fox events are very large gatherings

This isn’t just in Burlington, but runs across the country. Volunteers from this outstanding community have worked hard for 39 years to grow the event to the point where it has raised $2.2 million for cancer research.

They were not prepared to just let the event dribble away – it was going to take more than a pandemic to close them down.

After the Foundation announced that the 40th Terry Fox Run would be a virtual event, the Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee decided to take a creative approach to informing the community and telling parts of the unknown story.

Profiles of the people who got the event to where it is today appear on the Terry Fox Lives in Burlington blog and are being republished by the Gazette with permission.

In 1980, Pat Burgess was 25 years old and newly married. That year was also the year that he was inspired by Terry Fox’s daily running to raise money for cancer research. 1980 was the year Pat Burgess started running for Terry, to keep the Terry’s dream alive.

He hasn’t stopped.

Turning 65 in October, Pat plans to keep running, with “no end in sight,” he says. His knees are good, so he will just keep going. He has run in marathons and runs nearly every day.
Pat grew up in Niagara Falls, and was living in Toronto during Terry’s run. He didn’t see Terry run in person, but Pat was so inspired by

Terry’s challenge to others to carry on, that he incorporated Terry into his motivation for his running.

39 Years of Running for Terry

Every September since 1981, he has put on a Terry t-shirt and completed the 10 km course, dedicating his effort to Terry’s memory. Pat added to his personal memories when he visited the Terry Fox Monument outside Thunder Bay.

pat burgee - skyline background

Pat Burgess wearing a T shirt that has seen him through 39 Terry Fox runs.

His favourite shirt, one of his first among many bought over the years, bears the message, “We Can Do It,” and features Terry in front of a crowd. Pat likes the inclusiveness of all ages in the image. That’s something he has noticed over the years: that participation is ramping up, that there are more children and families involved. He likes that.

Pat likes the current route, along the Waterfront Trail, and is glad that runners can make the earlier start. But he adds that “most people are very courteous” to make room for the walkers and the slower participants. He also singled out the “very nice volunteers, the apples and fruit” that are part of each event.

So, 2020 is a big year for Pat Burgess: the 40th anniversary of Terry’s run, and his own 40th wedding anniversary.

Photographs provided by Pat Burgess from his personal collection

Return to the Front page

Get some answers on the Thursday Telephone Town Hall on school opening in September

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

July 13th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Premier is expected to announce today that he will move to Stage 3 and open things up in some parts of the province. Halton is expected to be part of what gets opened wider – people may be able to return to work and the commercial world might be able to open up more of their space.

Telephone-town-hall-logo-2-690x386While returning to work is important to getting our economy working closer to its potential – the issue for many is – what happens in September when the kids are normally returning to school.

Will the schools be open?

For how long each day?

What measures are being taken to ensure that those students are as safe as they can be?

There is a lot that is unknown about the COVID17 virus and the way it impacts younger people.

Stuart Miller

Halton District School Board Director of Education Stuart Miller.

Thursday evening the Mayor is hold another of her Telephone Town Halls – this time the Halton District School Board Director of Education will be on the line.

This will be the first opportunity for parents to put questions to someone who can tell you as much as anyone about how schools will be operated come September.

How to Participate
Residents who would like to participate in the town hall can do so in the following ways:

1. Register in advance: Burlington residential phone numbers will be randomly selected to be part of the telephone town hall. Residents who would like to be added to the telephone call list can email getinvolved@burlington.ca by the end of the day on July 14.
Please note: if you registered for any of the previous town halls (held on March 26, April 14 or June 4), you are not required to register your phone number a second time. To remove a name from the call list, email getinvolved@burlington.ca by the end of the day on July 14.

2. Join by telephone: Anyone who does not receive a telephone invitation can call 1-800-410-5909 just before 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 16 to join the town hall. For those individuals calling in, please be advised more than one attempt may be required due to the high volume of traffic on the phone lines. If the first call does not connect, please hang up and dial the 1-800 number again.

Once the call begins, a moderator will provide participants with instructions for how to submit their questions to the leadership panel.

Return to the Front page

City does have a serious financial shortfall due to COVID19 - treasurer believes it is manageable

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

July 13, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Tax due dates are be made a little longer, there are deferrals, and there is tax money that is just not coming in

On the other side of the ledger the expenses are not as high. All the part time people were laid off, there was no transit money coming in nor was there much revenue on the Parks and Recreation side

The books were pretty messy.

Treasurer Joan Ford prepared a presentation for a Standing Committee lat week and put two critical numbers forward. $18,091,423.00 and $4,017,732.00

 

Updated year end proj

The eighteen million is the total revenue losses and COVID related costs.

The four million is what the Treasurer expects to see as the shortfall – money the city will not have to to pay its bills.

Somehow Mayor Marianne Meed Ward convinced herself that the city was $18 million in the hole. She called it the “delta”.

There was also an Expenditure Restraint amount of $6,572,127 and Other operational savings of $3,330,272.

When these two are added to the withdrawals from Program Specific Reserve funds the shortfall of $4,017,732 which the Finance people are confident can be made up by withdrawing from other reserve funds.

Rev loss COVIID

This graph sets out where the revenue didn’t come from.

Miitigation measuresTreasurer Joan Ford did point out that treasurers are usually comfortable with total reserves of 15% – those total reserves are now at the 9% level. They are going to have to be built back up at some point.

The general message was that while things are tight – the city feels that they will come though the COVID pandemic with some change in their pockets.

Property tax collection did take a hit – some of the larger properties were either not able to pay their taxes the way they had in the past, several took advantage of the deferral program.

Many of the smaller businesses just didn’t have the cash flow.  Burlington has always followed a lenient approach to the collection of taxes – they bend over backwards to help a property owner get their taxes paid.  Treasurer Joan Ford told Council that in al her years wit the city they have only had to force the sale of a piece of property because the taxes were not paid.

Tax data 1

Data on the property tax collection level.

That assumes that things do not get worse – and with the current COVID situation – they just don’t know where things will be in 60 days.

The Treasury people have worked both long and hard and very creatively to keep the financial situation quite stable.

Return to the Front page

Joan Gibb 'I got the first hug. It was smelly, mind you'. She convinced Terry to change the route of his Run: Joan Gibb

terry-fox-running-across-from-monument

Terry Fox running along LAkeshore Road in Burlington, July 13th, 1981

The Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research, an annual event in Burlington since 1981, won’t take place this year in its usual form. The physical distancing rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t permit large gatherings. And Terry Fox events are very large gatherings

This isn’t just in Burlington, but runs across the country. Volunteers from this outstanding community have worked hard for 39 years to grow the event to the point where it has raised $2.2 million for cancer research.

They were not prepared to just let the event dribble away – it was going to take more than a pandemic to close them down.

After the Foundation announced that the 40th Terry Fox Run would be a virtual event, the Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee decided to take a creative approach to informing the community and telling parts of the unknown story.

Profiles of the people who got the event to where it is today appear on the Terry Fox Lives in Burlington blog and are being republished by the Gazette with permission.

By Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee

July 11th, 2020,

BURLINGTON, ON
Joan Gibb
While Joan’s story focuses on Oakville, Ontario, she was part of the bigger picture. Before there was a Terry Fox Foundation, Terry Fox was collecting donations through the Canadian Cancer Society, due to the fact that they represented all types of cancer. In 1980, the beginning of Terry’s run was rocky. Not everyone understood the magnitude of what this young man from British Columbia was trying to accomplish, and his donation numbers reflected that.

Gibbs front page Beaver

Joan Gibb with a front age from the Oakville Beaver and a photograph of Terry Fox in the background.

Terry’s original plan was to take the Transcanada highway the entire time – from Newfoundland to BC. This would have meant that his run through Ontario would have mainly been in the sparsely populated northern regions. Through my conversation with Joan Gibb, I learned that the Canadian Cancer Society knew that skipping Southern Ontario would be a missed opportunity to raise some serious dollars for the cause.

Joan, having been a longtime grassroots organizer with local Canadian Cancer Society offices (first in Montreal, and later in Oakville) and an employee with Bell Canada, was asked to join the national board. Her involvement with Terry began when she was one of only six national board members who stepped up to help out with the GTA grassroots volunteers should Terry make it to Ontario.

During our chat, Joan made sure she mentioned the name Harry Rowlands, Executive Director and Ontario Chair of the Canadian Cancer Society in relation to Terry’s Marathon of Hope, along with Barbara Kilbert. He was instrumental in getting Terry to change his mind and go off course to include parts of Southern Ontario in the run. He flew to the Maritimes to connect with Terry, and brought with him a young man – Bill Vigars. Bill joined Terry in the van and was not only a liaison between the Cancer Society and Terry, but became a good friend and confidant.

“We showed him [Terry] how much we make in Ontario,” recalls Joan, “…he changed his mind. That’s a huge part of the story.”

It is a huge part of the story, because without Harry Rowlands, Barbara Kilbert, Bill Vigars and board members like Joan Gibb, Terry might not have come to the GTA.

Our Chair, Craig Gardner, reached out to Bill Vigars to let him know about our conversation with Joan and Bill was delighted to hear her name.

“We spent so much time working together,” explained Vigars. “She played a major role in influencing the Society to get behind Terry. She was amazing.”

For Burlingtonians, July 13, 1980, was the day Terry ran through our city. It was also the day he ran through neighbouring Oakville. Joan filled me in on what it was like leading up to this day and what happened on the day.

Oakville cancer cheque

Note how the amount of the cheque climbed – $113,000 an impressive number for 1980.

For starters, the Canadian Cancer Society had trouble securing volunteers. Terry’s run through the area happened during the height of summer, when many people were away on holiday. Joan knew there were going to be gaps along the route. None the less, she took on the task of organizing something in her hometown of Oakville.

In 1980, no one had cellphones. This made it harder to coordinate meet-ups, photo ops and accommodations. With a big novelty cheque ready to go, Joan set out to find a place for Terry to greet the community.

Joan ran around trying to gather the media and get a crowd to one spot to greet Terry. The only way she could communicate with the van was through a radio, which is how she learned how far along Terry was in his run. And after all that work, she was rewarded with a memorable greeting.

“I got the first hug. It was smelly, mind you,” recalled Joan.

To remedy the situation Joan had arranged for a cold hotel room where he could shower, and dinner was arranged for that evening. Joan, Terry, the team from the van, some Cancer Society members and a young woman who had given Terry a rose earlier that week dined together.

Gibbs presenting cheque

Terry Fox accepting a cheque from Joan Gibb

The next morning, Terry woke up early to leave Oakville. It was here that a photographer for an Oakville newspaper snapped an iconic image of Terry running at dawn, back-lit by his police escort’s headlights. That photograph went on to win national awards. Joan Gibb is fortunate enough to have an original copy of it.

Message of Hope
To conclude our conversation, we asked Joan to share some words of inspiration for those of us struggling with how we will raise funds this year under such strange circumstances. Her message was simple…think of Terry.

Joan expressed that she’s never been one to say she can’t do something – but since Terry has become such an integral part of her life, she acknowledged that his message has been a guiding force.

If Joan could organize a Terry Fox event in 1980 with little technology and few volunteers, surely we can succeed with all the tools we have available to us today. When it feels hard, think of Terry.

Thank you, Joan for sharing your story with us.
Photographs provided by Joan Gibb from her private collection

Return to the Front page

Rivers and creeks water levels higher - caution with children

News 100 greenBy Staff

July 11th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

CH Rivers and streamsConservation Halton advises that some areas of the watershed received over 25 mm of rain generated from the weather system that passed through our jurisdiction last night. Environment Canada continues to have a Special Weather Statement in effect for our area and advises that the development of thunderstorms is possible this afternoon producing local rainfall rates of 25 mm to 50 mm per hour before the system tapers off later tonight.

Soil conditions within the watershed are saturated from recent rainfall and any additional rainfall will runoff into our rivers and streams. The combination of increased flows and water levels and slippery and unstable banks will create hazardous conditions close to any rivers, streams, or other water bodies.

Widespread flooding is not anticipated. Our reservoirs are still in range of our seasonal holding levels and have storage capacity available. However, fast flowing water and flooding of low-lying areas and natural floodplains may be expected. Further, heavy downpours associated with thunderstorms could result in flooding of highly urbanized areas. Municipalities, emergency services and individual landowners in flood-prone areas should be on alert.

Water levels in watershed creeks will rise significantly during the weekend. Caution around the edges of creeks - especially with children.

Water levels in watershed creeks will rise significantly during the weekend. Caution around the edges of creeks – especially with children.

Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to keep a safe distance from all watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.

Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream flow and weather conditions and will issue further messages as necessary. This Flood Outlook Statement will be in effect through Sunday July 12, 2020.

 

Return to the Front page

Double shooting on Plains Road East: 1 dead

Crime 100By Staff

July 10th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

HRPS crestWas it the hot hot weather? Did tempers get lost?

It has been some time since Burlington saw this level of violence with weapons.

The Regional police report a double shooting on Plans Road East at 1:00 pm this afternoon.

Shortly after 1:00 pm the police received reports of a shooting at 484 Plains Road East in Burlington. When officers arrived on scene, two victims with gunshot wounds were located outside of an establishment.

Information from witnesses indicates that one male suspect fled the scene westbound on Plains Road East in a grey sedan.

One of the shooting victims succumbed to their injuries at the scene. A second victim was transported to hospital for treatment for gunshot wounds.

At this time, no suspect(s) have been identified, and the investigation is ongoing. Area residents and businesses should expect a heavy police presence throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

There is no immediate ongoing, related, known threat to public safety.

Plains Road East is closed in both directions between King Road and Waterdown Road. Please avoid the area until further notice.

Investigators are appealing for dash cam and/or commercial or residential surveillance footage from the area between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm on July 10, and to any witnesses or anyone who may have information related to this incident to contact the Halton Regional Police Service at 905-825-4777 or via the Homicide Tip Line at 905-825-4776.

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.

Related news:

Police chief makes the news.

Return to the Front page

Halton Chief of Police gets sucked into a twitter debate with a politician.

opinionred 100x100By Pepper Parr

July 10th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Dear Chief – you got sucked into the undertow when all you wanted was a short dip. Now you stand the chance of drowning.

Chief of Police Steve Tanner explains that Social Media is not the same as a 911 call

Chief of Police Steve Tanner once said: Social Media is not the same as a 911 call. He was absolutely right. The 911 world is his domain.

There are things you can do and can’t do.

You can’t be seen at the race track too often.

If you fancy a fun game of poker – make sure it is with Judges and Crown Prosecutors.

You live in a rarefied world – we put you there because we expect you to be sold, upright and always setting that next to perfect example.

But then you responded to a tweet on a political issue and they dumped on you from every angle.

It was described to me as an “interesting fight on twitter between Jagmeet Singh and Chief Tanner.

Chief Tanner’s original comments.  The back and forth is lengthy – interesting stuff though.

Sources are telling us that “Chief Tanner has used his office for partisan attacks before.”  I don’t believe that for a second.

But having that kind of comment being made does nothing for you even though you are a big boy with broad shoulders.  The thing that has to be defended is the integrity of the office you hold.

Politics can be a slimy world; nothing there for you.

Pepper Parr is the publisher of the Burlington Gazette. He has observed Chief Stephen Tanner since the day he was sworn in.  He earned a degree in psychology from the University of Guelph.

 

Return to the Front page

The Beachway will be the place to be - but it can only accommodate so many people

News 100 yellowBy Staff

July 10th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

In her newsletter A Better Burlington, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward praises that jewel of a beach iin the Bechway part of the city – and then warns people of the traffic and parking problems.

Pay attention – she is trying to help.

“As the hot summer temperatures continue, the City of Burlington is reminding residents and visitors of some of the ways they can stay cool while continuing to protect the health and safety of the community and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Beach aerial

It is an incredible stretch of sandy beach – it will be busy and there isn’t enough parking.

“Burlington’s beautiful waterfront at Beachway Park is a popular destination when temperatures are high, however, visitors to the beach are reminded:

“ The City of Burlington continues to be in a state of emergency due to COVID-19. Please continue to respect physical distancing measures at all times

“ Keep two metres away from others (e.g. the length of a hockey stick) sitting on the beach and in the water

Gather in groups of no more than 10 people who are part of your social circle

Move to the right on the Waterfront trail to make room for others to pass safely.

“The City will be taking some additional measures to educate residents and control parking around the Beachway. City of Burlington Park Ambassadors and Parking Enforcement Staff will also be in the vicinity to assist with these measures.

Additional signs will be placed informing visitors of:

Parking - municipal cash grab

He’s doing his job – probably grateful you gave it to him.

No parking zones, tow away zones
Cost of parking tickets on signs (where possible)
“Parking lot full” signs at street entrances
Physical distancing signs at more locations.

“Parking spaces at Beachway Park are limited and the lot fills quickly. Visitors are reminded to:

“Consider coming back another time if the parking lot is full, or parking their vehicle in an alternative location where parking is permitted and space exists on the beach to ensure physical distancing

Avoid parking illegally – City bylaw officers will be enforcing ticketing and towing to discourage overcrowding at the beach.

Outdoor Pools and Spray Pads

Splash pad LaSalle - swimming

Wading pool at LaSalle Park will be packed. Don’t hog the available time in the water

Beginning Saturday, July 11, the outdoor pools at Mountainside Park and Nelson Park will be open for lap and leisure swims. Spray pads throughout the city and the LaSalle wading pool are also open, since July 4.

In following provincial guidelines on the safe reopening of pools, online registration and pre-payment is required and available for Burlington residents only. No walk-ins are accepted at this time. To create an account and/or register, go to liveandplay.burlington.ca.

In addition to pre-registration, the number of swimmers allowed in each pool will be restricted to ensure physical distancing. Time-limits will also be in place to allow more people to enjoy the pools and for staff to disinfect the area for the next group of swimmers.

Important note for parking at Nelson Pool: Visitors registered to swim at Nelson Pool should note the parking lot is closed for paving and will reopen upon completion. Pool patrons are asked to park at the Pauline Johnson Public School parking lot at 4350 Longmoor Dr., access off Longmoor Drive.

Cooling Centre

Extended heat warnings are issued by Halton Region when forecast temperatures are expected to be at least 31°C and overnight temperatures are above 20°C for at least three days, or the humidex is at least 40°C for a minimum of three days.

During COVID-19, when an extended heat warning is issued, the City will open a cooling centre in the auditorium in Central Arena, located at 519 Drury Lane, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community members can use the facility for one-hour increments and will be screened for COVID-19 when they arrive. Measures will be in place to ensure physical distancing and visitors are encouraged to wear a non-medical face covering. Please stay home if you are ill and always practice physical distancing (2m).

Meed Ward - tight head shot

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward

“Our Beachway Park is a gem in Burlington and a destination not just for our community but others across the GTHA. While we look for ways to cool down during these hot summer days, we need to remember we are still in a pandemic and COVID-19 is still very much a part of our lives.

I’m grateful to our City staff for putting together so quickly a strategy to mitigate overcrowding at our beach and illegal parking, while encouraging everyone heading down there to follow safety and health guidelines. Our beach can be a great escape during these tough times – let’s ensure everyone who uses it has a positive experience.

Return to the Front page

Region holds onto its bond/credit rating - a successful track record of more than 30 years

News 100 yellowBy Pepper Parr

July 10th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Region - Carr

Regional Chair Gary Carr – as proud as a new father over the credit/bond rating

There is one duty Regional Chair Gary Carr carries out every year – and that is announcing how good the Region’s credit rating is.

He used to brag that Halton had a better bond rating than the United States of America.

The Gazette used to find that annual bond rating level amusing – who cares?

We all care – especially at this time of huge declines in revenue and expenses that were not even thought about.

The municipalities are going to need money. The rules say that funds cannot be borrowed for operating costs. That may change – for these are changing times.

When a municipality has to borrow they send their needs to the Region – it is the Region that goes to the market with a bond offering thus the Region’s credit rating is what matters.

Regional offices

The Region is the banker on the bond side for the municipalities.

Halton Region’s AAA credit rating affirmed by S&P Global Ratings

Last month S&P Global Ratings affirmed its top credit rating for Halton Region. Their research summary praises the Region’s strong fiscal policies and budgetary performance while confirming its confidence in Halton’s ability to uphold this standing into the future despite impacts from COVID-19.

“Receiving this AAA Credit Rating from S&P Global Ratings confirms our strong financial position—the result of diligent planning and transparent reporting—which helps us support a high quality of life in Halton,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr.

“This top credit rating will allow us to support ongoing investments in infrastructure while ensuring top value for taxpayer dollars, and we are proud to have earned this distinction for another year.”

Maintaining a top credit rating provides Halton and its Local Municipalities with continued access to the best capital financing rates available, which minimizes long-term infrastructure capital financing costs. As a result, public funds go further when invested in Regional works that help improve essential services in the community, such as road, water and wastewater projects.

S&P’s rating analysis included the following rationale in support of the AAA rating:

Region community housing graph

Consistent growth in the community housing sector of the Region keeps bond/credit rating agencies happy.

• steady population growth, high income levels, and a broad economy foster stability in the Region’s property tax base despite the negative impact from COVID-19;
• prudent financial management practices and solid economic base;
• excellent budget performance and limiting debt issuance; and
• exceptional liquidity position and satisfactory access to external liquidity for financing needs.

The Region has maintained top credit ratings from S&P Global Ratings (AAA) since 2002 and Moody’s Investors Service (Aaa) since 1989—a successful track record of more than 30 years. Earning this distinction from both agencies each year is a key objective of Halton’s annual Budget and Business Plan.

Return to the Front page

Senior Liberal Party officials should begin planning for a leadership convention - Justin's time is up

SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

July 10th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Margaret Trudeau

Margaret Trudeau at a WE Charity event.

The Prime Minister’s mother, Margaret Trudeau, gets paid $250,000 to speak at WE Charity; his brother is also paid, much less, to speak at WE events.

The federal government awarded a contract to the WE Charity to distribute federal funds to students who perform volunteer work during the current pandemic crisis.

They were to distribute $900 million of federal money and earn a fee of $19.5 million to manage the program.

The organization had no experience in distributing funds nor did they have the staff in place to administer a program of that size.
And the Prime Minister does not recuse himself from the Cabinet meeting that approved the contract and votes for it as well.

And a day later the Globe and Mail cannot get any comment from a single Cabinet Minister or their spokes people?

And this is Ok?

Trudeau Sophie and K brothers

Brothers Marc and Craig Kielburger on the extreme left and right with Sophie Gregoire and Prime Minister Trudeau at a WE event.

This is not the time to dump the current Prime Minister but this is the time for leaders within the Liberal Party to begin thinking when a leadership convention can take place to find someone who know what a conflict of interest is.

Karina Gould - fingers apart

Is the Prime Minister just this much offside on the WE Charity mess? Karina Gould, Burlington MP and member of the Cabinet.

The Prime Minister said that he did not recuse himself and he voted for the contract to WE.   Traditionally Cabinet votes are secret – but the Prime Minister did break that rule.  Perhaps Burlington MP Karina Gould will reveal how she voted at Cabinet.

We fully expect Burlington MP and member of the Trudeau Cabinet Karina Gould to be wearing a face mask when she is out and about the city. She should see it as a mask to cover the shame she should be experiencing.

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.

Return to the Front page

Now that we are really politically correct do we take the Joseph Brant name off the hospital and never erect a statute in his name?

opinionred 100x100By Joseph A Gaetan

July 10th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Christopher Columbus, Abraham Lincoln, Sir Winston Churchill, Sir John A MacDonald, Henry Dundas-1st Viscount, Peter Russell, Hector Louis Langevin, Joseph Brant and Samuel Hatt, all have something in common, all were honoured in some way, some with statues, some by having cities, museums, hospitals, streets, or schools named after them.

2_Joseph_Brant_Painting_George_Romney-1200x500

Joseph Brant portrait by George Romney

What these people, all men, also have in common is their names are being removed from their statues, either defaced or torn down. The reason, something in their past is so abhorrent today that ancestors of the recipients of their misdeeds feel the mere presence of them and their acts in history are now toxic beyond repair or forgiveness. As decades and centuries passed, the memory of their names lived on, while their deeds – both good and bad – were mostly forgotten today and they are being erased from history.

Years ago, I visited the Arizona Memorial and had no idea what to expect. Today, I still consider it amongst the most moving experiences in my life and no words can do justice to the experience and deep feelings that arose while standing over the Arizona and the 1102 sailors and marines entombed beneath.

auschwitz

Women in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp

The Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial also stands today as a reminder of the atrocities that occurred between 1940 and 1945. About 1.1 million innocent men, women and children were gassed and then cremated at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The death toll from Auschwitz alone includes 960,000 Jews (865,000 of whom were gassed on arrival), 74,000 non-Jewish Poles, 21,000 Roma, 15,000 Soviet prisoners of war, and up to 15,000 other Europeans. Hitlers “Final Solution” resulted in millions more being exterminated in his death camps, while many politicians across the world ignored what was happening.

According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, a local hero, Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea) was born in 1742, on the banks of the Ohio River. Brant was a Mohawk Indian chief who served as a spokesman for his people, as a Christian missionary, and a British military officer during the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) and the American Revolution (1775-1783). He was an influential military captain and a powerful diplomat who encouraged Indigenous tribes to share his political loyalties. During the American Revolution, “Brant fought throughout the war with an Indigenous-Loyalist band”, he also, “worked to form the Western Confederacy, a united group of Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and western Indigenous peoples, created to block American expansion westward”.

Brant was always pretty good at getting grants from the British, but this Council probably isn’t going to hear his argument.

Joseph Brant often wore colourful costume, especially when he was at the Royal Courts in England.

From 1776 to his death in 1807, “Brant fought in vain with the British and Upper Canada governments for the rights of his people to obtain title to the lands of the Grand River Valley”. The African American Registry also claims “[the] slaves he captured during the American Revolution built the Brant House at Burlington Beach and a second home near Brantford. In all, Brant owned about forty African slaves”.
A 2009 Star article and a 2017 Spec article both identify Brant as a slave owner. In his article, Andrew Dreschel posed the question, “Is slave owner Joseph Brant next?” His article also asks, “why stop there if we’re reassessing the past by today’s ethical standards?”. Dreschel also queries whether other effigies are being torn down, “to help expunge the sins of the past”? According to Dreschel, “one can find a Joseph Brant statue in the city of Brantford, and a life sized one in Ottawa, part of the Valiants Memorial commemorating important Canadian military figures”.

Dreschel goes on to state, “Brant was not the only slave owner in early Upper Canada … Historian Alan Taylor estimates the colony had about 300 slaves at that time, mostly taken from rebel settlements during the American Revolution by Indians and loyalist Raiders”, adding, “we would certainly need to change the names of countless schools including Earl Kitchener Elementary School in West Hamilton named after [the] Imperial British general whose ruthlessness included using concentration camps during the Boer War in South Africa”.

An architects rendering of the new entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital whch will now face the lake. The entrance will be off LAkeshore Road with the new parking lot just to the west of the hospital.

A rendering of the entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital.  Do we take the Brant off the building?

 

In addition to the above the City of Burlington is home to a street named Brant, the Joseph Brant Museum, and the Joseph Brant Hospital.

In an article entitled, “The life of Sophia Pooley and the Queen’s Bush Settlement”, Carly Holmstead, Kayla Hefford, and Jennifer Williams write, “At the age of five, Sophia and her sister were taken to Niagara Falls, where they were sold to Mohawk chieftain Joseph Brant”. After several years on the reserve, Brant sold Sophia to Samuel Hatt: “at twelve years old, I was sold by Brant to an Englishman in Ancaster, for one hundred dollars, – his name was Samuel Hatt, and I lived with him seven year”. To add insult to injury the article also states, “During the time Sophia was enslaved by Samuel Hatt, legislations had passed marking the end of slavery; unbeknownst to Sophia, she continued to live under the confines of slavery”.

Brant Museum transformed

The name can’t be taken off the museum – or could it be called a home from a particular period of time?

Sadly, slavery is alive, well and flourishing. According to the 2018 Global Slavery Index, approximately 45.8 million people worldwide are in some form of modern slavery. About 17 percent of the total number of people in modern slavery live where there is limited, if any, government action. These countries are characterised by government complicity (North Korea and Eritrea), low levels of political will (Iran), high levels of corruption (Equatorial Guinea), or widespread conflict (Libya). Few victims are being identified and there are even fewer prosecutions. According to the GSI, Canada is amongst the 12 G20 countries not taking action to stop the importation of goods and services that are at risk from being produced by forced labour.

Golda Meir

Golda Meir: she was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969.

Golda Meir once said, “One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present”. The Arizona Memorial, Auschwitz and locally Joe Brant are still here to remind us and the world of the “day of infamy”, the “Holocaust”, and of a Mohawk Indian chief who served not only as a spokesman for his people but also as a Christian missionary and a British military officer during two major 18th century conflicts. Applying the “cancel culture” to Joe Brant’s honours would serve little while leaving the remnants of his legacy intact could serve as a model for recollection and reconciliation.

Joseph A Gaetan B.G.S, the author, was born during a time when Italo-Canadians were not treated kindly by some citizens and the government of Canada.

Return to the Front page

Mayor goes public with her mask.

News 100 red By Pepper Parr

July 9th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Mayor wasn’t all that keen on the idea of wearing a face mask.

She published her views in her A Better Burlington Newsletter.

She got trashed by well over 100 people.

The Mayor took another look at the issues and days later published a longer piece in the same Newsletter – this time setting out more reasons than you could imagine as to who was requiring masks and who wasn’t

Dr Meghani at news conference Hamilton

Medical Officer of Health tells the Mayor that masks won’t hurt.

The Mayor then turned to the Medical Officer of Health for guidance.

Nothing wrong with wearing cloth masks, said the MOH

The Mayor then decided she would put a motion before Council – see what happens.

Problem was, Councillor Stolte had a motion of her own in the works; one she had developed with the help of the City Manager, the City Solicitor and dozens of other people.

The Mayor and the Councillor had a sit down – the Councillor won but to make nice they put out a motion sponsored by the two of them

That motion got debated today and passed at a Standing Committee meeting that heard some really weird delegations.

Every member of Council voted to put a temporary bylaw in place requiring people to wear a mask in public places.  And kicked in $10,000 to pay for masks for people who were short on the cash side.

What next?

Mator in a mask

The Mayor wearing a mask outside city hall, either early today or yesterday.

A photo op for the Mayor wearing a bright red mask with people from Burlington Together.

The Mayor finally sniffed the scent of change.

Is the picture a one off? Only time will tell.

The bylaw gets voted at Council on Monday.

Return to the Front page

Beachway parking problem has resulted in much stronger enforcement and some pretty stiff fines.

News 100 greenBy Pepper Parr

July 9th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It was a full day’s work for members of city council today – they began at 9:30 and were at it up until just before six pm with a break for some lunch.

They met as a Standing Committee then got serious and met as a council.

We got a look at what the pandemic is costing us – on paper it comes to $18 million – in reality the city finance department has to find $4 million, give or take some change.

The Mayor seemed wedded to that $18 million number.  The full finance picture is a seperate story.

The stinker is the situation at the Beachway where fines of $250 are going to be handed out for those who park where cars aren’t supposed to park.

There is going to be additional signage; there will be additional staff on hand.  A motion was passed at the City Council meeting – held at the close of the Standing Committee meeting making it all legal.

The problems is – few will know what took place – the city might get some media out and while the Gazette has a large, very large readership – all of the Burlington market area isn’t a regular reader – yet.

During the debate on the Beachway parking problem we learned that the Parks and Recreation department doesn’t know how many parking spots there are – nor does it appear to know just how many people the Beach can accommodate – COVID or pre-COVID.  No one has done any counting or measuring.

Council came close to forgetting to make the plans for managing parking illegal. City Manager Tim Commisso spotted the error, brought it to the attention of the Chair who went through some procedural issues and resolved that issue.

Park your car in the wrong place and you will be giving the city a lot of your money.

The city has come to realize that the Beachway is getting to be as popular as it was several decades ago.

Beach with canal bride

Recent crowds at the western end of the Beachway.

Recently the crowds near the western end were very thick. Compare our news photography with the way it was 30 years ago when a railway line ran along the edge of the lake.

Parks and Recreation decided to take a long term look and decided that some way had to be found to manage the vehicle traffoic and approved the following Staff Direction.

Chris 7

Not certain how Burlingtonians will take to making reservations and then paying to park.

During the debate it was suggested that Burlingtonians would pay a lesser fee.

A lot of people are going to show up and be told that there is no room for them to park and be turned away.

The initiative for finding a way to limit parking in public parks came from Conservation Halton where the problem was not just the number of people visiting the Conservation parks but the need for more in the way of income.

The City doesn’t seem to go after more revenue – at least not yet.

 

Return to the Front page

Home values are rising again, and they are selling quickly - condo market not as healthy

News 100 redBy Staff

July 9th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

According to the Rocca Sisters -a real estate agency, the pandemic that has turned our world upside down has not had a negative impact on the real estate market in our trading area, to date.

In fact, the markets have increased momentum to a level not last seen since the spring of 2017.

Inventory levels were down over 45%, prices were up over 10% and sales increased by over 20% when compared to June of 2019.

YTD, prices increased by 12.8% and sales were down 12.7% as compared to the same period in 2019.

Days on market for June were at 18, down 24% from June 2019. Properties sold for 100.11% of the asking price on average in June 2020.

The absorption rate at the end of June 2020 was .89 which indicates there is not enough inventory to support one month’s worth of sales going into July.

Home values are rising again, and they are selling quickly.

Rocca June for residential

Data comes from real estate agents – Rocca Sisters

On the condominium side of the market

At the end of June, inventory levels were up over 48% at the end of June – the complete opposite result to the freehold market.

Sale prices were down slightly, by 2.1%, price per square foot was up 5.3% and sales were up 20..4% as compared to June 2019.

Condos were selling for 98.96% of the asking price and in 23 days, on average during the month of June.

The absorption rate at the end of June was 1.79 which is still extremely low (a healthy absorption rate would be somewhere around 4 months worth of inventory)

Rocca June condo numbers

Data comes from real estate agents – Rocca Sisters

 

Return to the Front page

A Council committee voted for a bylaw that would make face masks mandatory - with a long list of exceptions - it goes to Council on Monday.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

July 9th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Well – they passed it at Standing Committee.

After three solid hours of debate during which one delegation suggested that the views of the average citizen should take precedence over the views of the Medical Officer of Health (MOH).

The same delegation asked where the MOH was getting her information.

Jim Young did a solid delegation for a bylaw that would make face masks mandatory with a long list of exceptions.

The intention is to pass the bylaw at city council on the 13th – it will include an allotment of $10,000 to cover the cost of masks for those who can’t afford one.

mask envelope

The community produced 3000 cloth masks – cost free to anyone who needed one – that was two months ago.

The Gazette lead an initiative that provided 3,000 cloth face masks to the community months ago. That initiative involved hundreds of volunteer hours put in before each mask was quarantined for 72 hours and given to anyone who wanted one.

Councillors Stolte and Galbraith handed out masks to people in their wards.

What struck us as we listened to the debate that really did go on and on – and on, was that we have yet to see a photograph with the Mayor wearing a mask.

We always thought that one led by example.

Rory chair July 9

Chair Rory Nisan hands his hands full keeping the debate on topic.

Rory Nisan serving as chair did a solid job of trying to keep the discussion on topic – he didn’t always succeed – the cats just were not going to be herded.Come Monday we will have a bylaw – what it will say isn’t clear yet.

The one point made during the debate was that the anything COVID19 related was very fluid – changes by the hour.

The vote was 7-0

Return to the Front page

The story behind how Burlington welcomed Terry Fox in 1980 - First in a series.

terry-fox-running-across-from-monument

Terry Fox as he passed through Burlington on July 13th, 1980.

The Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research, an annual event in Burlington since 1981, won’t take place this year in its usual form. The physical distancing rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t permit large gatherings. And Terry Fox events are very large gatherings

This isn’t just in Burlington, but runs across the country. Volunteers from this outstanding community have worked hard for 39 years to grow the event to the point where it has raised $2.2 million for cancer research.

They were not prepared to just let the event dribble away – it was going to take more than a pandemic to close them down.

After the Foundation announced that the 40th Terry Fox Run would be a virtual event, the Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee decided to take a creative approach to informing the community and telling parts of the unknown story.

Profiles of the people who got the event to where it is today appear on the Terry Fox Lives in Burlington blog and are being republished by the Gazette with permission.

By Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee

July 9th, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

Greg Pace
While we all know that the first Terry Fox Run was the Marathon of Hope – Terry Fox’s heroic, but shortened run across Canada for Cancer Research in 1980, but the first run as we know it today actually happened in 1981.

Terry Fox sadly passed away from cancer on June 28, 1981. Canadians were heartbroken. At this time communities across the country were organizing smaller runs for September of that year. Greg Pace, an athletic 20-something Burlingtonian, approached the Canadian Cancer Society (the Terry Fox Foundation was not yet established) about being the race director for Burlington’s first community run.

Greg running

Greg Pace – that surname is on the right man.

Greg, who has plenty of race director credits under his belt today, had little experience in 1981, but had a love for running and was inspired by the cause.

While our run has happened on the waterfront for many years now (Beachway Park and Spencer Smith Park), the 1981 run was a 10 km route in and around Sherwood Forest Park. Today’s Sherwood Forest Park is dotted with ball diamonds, soccer fields and groomed grounds, however, it wasn’t that well-developed in the early 80s.

Greg recalls one participant completing the course in her wheelchair.

“I remember seeing her do that little ravine through the mud in her wheelchair…it was one of those huge motivating things…I saw her try to back her wheelchair up a hill. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place, because obviously she was the last finisher.”

We continue to see people of all ages and abilities participate in the Terry Fox Run to this day.
Beyond 1981

Greg stayed on as Race Director/Chair for several more years. The first three years were held at Sherwood park with the 10k route. It then moved to Downtown Burlington near City Hall. Greg recalls that this was a 5k loop.

flyer

This is what flyers used to look like – Adobe software didn’t exist then. Mimeograph machines were what we used.

The first year, in 1981, the run was organized by Greg Pace and a few of his friends. It eventually evolved into a committee, which is how the runs are organized today. Greg was lucky to get to work with some very interesting people during his time as chair. From a local phys. ed teacher to local fundraising gurus – Greg had a diverse and experienced team behind him. His core committee included Chris Dooley, Fran Agnew and Margaret MacVinnie.

As the team got stronger, Greg was ready to let go of the reins.

“After the fourth or fifth year we gave it up and actually tried to recruit some people to take it over. The person that we recruited…about a month prior to it [the run] just said, ‘yeah, I’m not interested in doing it,’ so we had to scramble.”  Greg Pace and his committee organized a couple more runs after that before handing it over to Burt McGrath.

Message of Hope
“Keep him in mind.”
– Greg Pace

I asked Greg for words of inspiration to help our community stay motivated for the cause during these difficult times. His message was simple. Keep Terry in mind.

He also said that if everyone whose life has been touched by cancer did something – raised a dollar or more – it would make a difference.

gregpace with someone

Greg Pace out on a regular run with a colleague.

It’s important to keep all those spirits alive. So, whatever you do, whether it’s a 5k walk or run, writing an inspiring message in chalk on your driveway or hosting a virtual party, do it with Terry Fox in mind.

Though Greg stays behind the scenes these days, he’s still a big supporter of the foundation and our local Burlington run. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us and sharing your stories and experiences.

Photographs and clippings provided by Greg Pace from his private collection, donated to the Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee

Return to the Front page