 By Pepper Parr
July 3rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The street level reaction is beginning to come in now that people can see the 15 minutes of fame that Andy Warhol promised us. You get to watch a train wreck taking place live. Link to that stunning performance by the Mayor is set out below.
When the Mayor announced she was going to do some agenda management and moved directly to what she referred to as an Integrity Commissioner she was exercising a right that she had. The problem with the decision she made and the position she took is that there was nothing from the Integrity Commissioner. Click HERE and see for yourself. It wont take much more than a minute.
 Top row: Member of Council: Sharman, Galbraith and Nisan watching in stunned silence. Bottom row Councillor preparing to leave the meeting and Clerk Kevin Arjoon struggling to maintain some order. He never did find a way to bring the Mayor to order on the several occasions when he should have. FACT: Also the the Integrity Commissioner did not write a report to Council .
FACT: The Mayor had no right to bring something onto the agenda without a majority vote to waive the procedural by-law.
FACT: The apology was a private matter. Councillor Stolte had chosen to apologize during non-debatable statements by Councillors. That was entirely her right to choose how she wanted to proceed.
Most of the remarks set out below are from Gazette readers. We didn’t make this stuff up. All asked not to be identified.
One writer said it “was not not clear how the Mayor had any ability to make a private matter public”; that didn’t deter the Mayor.
Some readers wondered “just where City Clerk was in all this” – he never did have control of the meeting which is what he was hired to do.
“Ms. Gartside clearly knew the matter was both private and not on the agenda. It is hard to imagine that she was a willing participant in what occurred.
“In the world of politics and drama, some scenes are meant to be watched, especially when you have no lines.”
The Integrity Commissioner can expect to be quite busy for some time yet – assuming he doesn’t drag his heels and then decide that this cannot be investigated or reviewed before the election.
Someone somewhere is going to have to do something to get this Council to the point where they walk their talk about Good Governance.
They all expect to be re-elected.
Related news story:
The event: the Mayor and her train wreck
A small poll on what readers thought the Mayor should do
 By Staff
July 2, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward taking part in a Council Standing Committee meeting.
The first of our polls has been completed.
We asked: Should Mayor Meed Ward be apologizing to the public?
The response for something that was new and different for our readers was more than satisfactory.
The response was slightly above 10% of the people that saw the poll.
Our plan at this point is to publish a poll on the Sunday of each week and report on the results on the Thursday – last thing in the day.
We will set up our polling service so that people can look at the results of previous polls once they are complete.
You won’t be able to see the results of a poll while it is running – unless and until you have voted. We didn’t want people to see the results and then go with the majority.
The poll is set up so that you cannot vote more than once on any one question.
We’d like to get that response rate up to a 25% level.
And, if you have a question that you think should be polled – pass it along.
The results from the first poll are set out below.
Please keep in mind that this poll was taken BEFORE the Gazette published a video of the council meeting that was so disruptive.
By Pepper Parr
July 2nd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Earlier in the month, June 21st, during a city council meeting, the Mayor and a member of Council went at it.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward taking part in a Council meeting on June 21st, virtually from London, Ontario where she was attending the university graduation of her daughter. The Mayor, who has the right to revise a Council meeting agenda, decided that she was going to put an Integrity Commissioner matter at the top of the Agenda during which she expected Councillor Shawna Stole to read out an apology to a city staff member.
Stolte had already advised the Mayor that she would be making her agreed upon apology to Georgie Gartside, staff member with two decades of service, during the Councillor Comments part of the council meeting.
An item on the formal agenda is debatable, which would have permitted Council members to add their views. Councillors Nisan and Galbraith were the pair that took a complaint against Stolte to the Integrity Commissioner earlier in the year and resulted in the Commissioner recommending that she be docked five days pay.
Pay attention to the facial expressions and body language of these two council members.
The facial expressions were revealing. Councillor Sharman didn’t say a word; Galbraith kept this expression on his face throughout most of the meeting, Nisan hid from the camera most of the time. Stolte is shown packing up her stuff and leaving her seat at the council table. Clerk Kevin Arjoon will tell his friends it was the most contentious meeting her was every involved in. Know that Mayor Meed Ward was not in the Council Chamber, she was in London, Ontario attending her daughter’s university graduation.
The irony of all this is that on the 21st of June Councillor Stolte was the Deputy Mayor and filled in for Meed Ward when she had to leave the meeting.
A Council members Comments at the end of the meeting are not debatable.
Mayor Meed Ward used the lame excuse that Gartside wanted the item at the top of the agenda and not at the end so she would not have to listen to the full meeting to hear the apology that she took part in crafting and had approved.
That kind of behaviour gives the phrase “your pound of flesh” a whole new Better.
During the meeting we heard “point of order” and “point of personal privilege” being tossed around like horse shoes at a fall fair.
The Gazette has reported on this in the paste. We decide to take the time to excerpt the full discussion (it’s just shy of 14 minutes long) and ends with Councillor Stolte leaving her seat at the council table.
We didn’t cut a word.
We do have some comments following the video.
The video CLICK here
 By Pepper Parr
July 2, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
A look at the nominations in place for the seat of Regional Chair, one can’t help but see several layers of political intrigue.
The first out of the gate was an announcement from MP Jane McKenna that she would not run for the Burlington seat in the provincial legislature but would run for the chair of the Region.
That had a lot of the senior people at the Region sucking in air: McKenna as the Chair of the Region?
In the meantime the sitting Chair Gary Carr moved from his rural home in Milton to downtown Burlington leading many to conclude that Carr was hanging up his spurs.
 Gary Carr tasting honey on a Regional farm tour. Carr was seen as a Conservative; her served as the Oakville MPP for period of time and at one point was speaker of the Legislature.
For McKenna to decide to run as Chair of the Region the assumption was that she had cleared it with Carr.
The Gazette has not interviewed Carr – we were preparing to interview him as he exited local politics.
Unless there is a huge change in the way Gary Carr handles himself in the next couple of months, he will be returned to office and Jan McKenna will be looking for another job.
However, the world of politics nothing is certain.
The Regional level of government is often not fully understood. The issues they handle are a little removed from the services people look to each day.
Waste management, water and sewers, social services, maintaining an Official Plan that the municipal sector has to comply with. The work done at the Regional level applies to every municipality.
Besides being a professional hockey player Carr was a Member of Provincial Parliament, Speaker of the Ontario Legislature and later a Member of Parliament.
Gary Carr is tired – he has been at it for a long time and has ensured that the Region is stable, that the budgets are manageable and that the people of the Region feel safe.
 Jane McKenna at a Freeman Station event Is this a job he really wants? My response would be probably not but the thought of having Jane McKenna as Regional Chair was enough to have Carr putting his hockey pads back on.
But then – out of the blue (red actually because she is a Liberal) Andrea Grebenc files her papers to run for the Regional Chair.
 Andrea Grebenc, former Halton District School Board trustee, served as chair and sough the Burlington nomination for the provincial Liberals Andrea who?
Pay attention to this one. She was Chair of the Halton District Board of trustees for two terms and developed a profile that had CBC and the Toronto Star going to her for comments on the state of education in the province at a time wen a public voice was badly needed.
Grebenc was bold in her comments and not afraid to think well outside the box and ask the awkward question. Jumping from trustee to Regional Chair is a leap – but if Carr is tired and McKenna is a non-starter and if the public is prepared to listen to a bright almost 50 year old parent with significant depth in Information Technology – it could happen.
Would it be a good thing for the Region: probably. The Staff at the Regional level is for the most part very good. They would help her ease her way into the job and soon realize that there is depth and the capacity for seeing the bigger picture.
For the record, Grebenc appears on the list of people running, McKenna’s name is there, no address; think she is still in the little blue house.
Gary Carr’s name does not appear but he has sent out a tweet indicating he will be running
More on these three candidates going forward.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Pepper Parr
June 30th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Set out below are the Council Standing Committee meetings that will take place in the week ahead. It is a whack of a work load with some critical items that have to be debated.
It will be the last council meeting at which council members can make decisions that involve the spending of money.
After that they are seen as a lame duck council that is heading for Election Day with every one of them hoping to be elected.
After five solid days of discussion and debate – and who knows what else from a council that has become rancorous, argumentative and an embarrassment to themselves and the city – they hold a council meeting on the 12th to vote on the recommendations made during the Standing Committee meetings.
This is not the way you engage a public.
Honest public engagement is when you state your case and give the public time to review what they have learned, talk to neighbours and decide if they want to delegate.
 How well has this council served the interests of the citizens of the city? They get a D – on the engagement scale. Delegation with this council amounts to making your views known – but not asking questions.
Burlington badly needs a Council that will review their Procedural bylaw and find a way to come up with an approach that has more than lip service.
Jim Thompson recently said what many think. As he was preparing to deliver his delegation he paused and said:
Okay, first thing I want to say is that I find that your opening remarks are patronizing. If I don’t get any questions here, it doesn’t mean that the council understood me perfectly clearly.
It just means you don’t want to ask questions or engage. So with that, can I have the next slide please?
A link to the complete story on that comeuppance this council deserved is set out below.
The schedule:
July 4 2022, 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM
Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee
July 5 2022, 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee
July 6 2022, 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Audit Committee
July 7 2022, 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM
Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee
(The 11:30 pm is an error – Clerk’s office mistake)
July 11 2022, 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee
July 12th, 2022 1:00 pm
City Council
Jim Thompson smack council on the side of the head.
 By Staff
June 30th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Holiday weekends in Burlington means hundreds of people head for the Beachway – one of the best beaches in the province.
Sunny weather increases the traffic – and the traffic looks for parking spaces.
Prior to the pandemic the situation got out of hand and the city had to come up with a way to control the parking.
There was a point where with no rules in place vehicles, often pick up trucks parked wherever they could find a spot.
The city came up with a set of rules that resulted in paid parking and they found a way to protect people in the Region from having to pay.
 One of the best stretches of beach in the province The Beachway is a Regional park managed by the city.
 The Beachway is a play place. Now you have to pay for parking in the Beachway.
Fees will be charged from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends – until the last weekend in September: Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022.
Parking fees can be paid through the HONK mobile app. Users do not have to download the app – they scan the QR code on parking lot signage to pay for parking.
 A camera does it all for you. The hourly rate of $2.50 or a daily flat rate of $20. Users can scan the QR Code or download the HonkMobile app. There is a transaction fee of $0.35 for each payment. Dashboard tickets are not needed as every payment is linked to a license plate number. Parking ambassadors are onsite to assist visitors with this process.
 You get ticketed when you do this – some of them got towed. Illegally parked vehicles will be issued tickets and/or towed. Drivers are reminded not to park illegally, especially on Lakeshore Road shoulders and the grass boulevard over the pipeline as they will be towed.
Parking is free in Downtown Burlington on weekends and holidays. Beachway visitors are encouraged to extend their walk or use the drop-off zone, park for free in the downtown and meet their household members at the beach. For parking downtown, visit burlington.ca/downtownparking.
Visitors are also encouraged to consider taking Burlington Transit, cycling, walking or rolling to the beach and leaving their cars at home.
 Premier comes through – cuts the gas tax Also starting May 21, Halton residents can take advantage of 10 free days of parking per year at Beachway Park. It is recommended that residents wait to fill out the parking exemption form once they’ve arrived at the beach and parked in a legal parking spot. The exemption doesn’t guarantee a spot, but it does give residents free parking for the day.
There is a bit of a bright spot – the Premier lifted some of the gas tax – you’ll save 5.7 cents per litre. If you tank is big enough the savings just might cover the cost of parking.
 By Pepper Parr
June 30th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
We are beginning to see a more active phase of the October municipal election.
 Gary Carr has been Regional Chair for some time – was expected by many to retire.. Did the McKenna decision to run for Regional Chair change his mind? Gary Carr has decided he will run for re-election. Was that decision influenced by Jane McKenna’s decision to run for the Regional Chair.
 Andrea Grebenc did a top notch job as the Halton District School Board where she served as chair for two terms. Then along comes Andrea Grebenc, former chair of the Haltom District School Board of Trustees – a surprise entrant who might go on to surprise everyone.
Expect to see a statement from Shawna Stolte who has filed her papers to run for the ward 4 seat that she won in 2018.
 Shawna Stolte, after a turbulent couple of months has filed her nomination papers. Will her ward see it the way she saw things? The decisions made by these three deserves some analyses – why and what can the public expect.
Enjoy Canada Day and come back on the weekend for an update.
 By James Snow
June 30th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Summer can mean travel to relaxing locations – take your hobbies with you Summer is finally here and that means time off to enjoy the sun with our friends and family. But while it’s great to be on holiday, most of us miss having a sense of routine while we are away. In this article we are going to go a little deeper on this, talking about some ways you can optimize your summer and make the most of your time off, so that you don’t need a vacation from your vacation when you get back.
1: Take your hobbies with you
When we are on vacation, we want to be present and engaged with whatever is going on where we are, but what we don’t really plan for is all the time between our activities. Waiting for people to get ready in the morning, the afternoon rest before going back out and enjoying yourself, all those little moments in between all the fun. And this is where your hobbies come in. If you love playing casino games, finding a new online casino to enjoy while you are away can be the perfect way to relax and unwind – and not get annoyed at waiting for other people. Pick some fun games ahead of time so that you know what you want to play and can enjoy it, effortlessly, while on vacation.
 2: Make sure you listen to your body
With a hot summer ahead of us and temperatures throughout Europe reaching record heights in the early summer, libraries will be open so that people can cool off. Getting a heat stroke is not exactly a fun part of vacation, so stay cool by finding air-conditioning, staying in the shade and drinking enough water and eating enough snacks between meals. Listening to your body is one of the best ways to ensure you’ll end up having a great time.
3: Plan ahead of time
While summer and fun should be spontaneous, lack of planning can lead to less optimal situations – like overbooked restaurants, long lines at attractions and not knowing what you want to spend your time on. Planning ahead of time is not the same as having an agenda, it’s just a really good way to make sure that you have great options to choose from, instead of having to think of things at the last minute. It increases the chance of having a really good time!
By Staff
June 29th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The inaugural Lynx Air flight into Hamilton airport from Halifax took place yesterday afternoon.
This adds to the commercial destinations that depart from Hamilton to include Halifax, Edmonton, and Calgary.
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Smaller airlines are finding that Hamilton International is cheaper to work out of and quite easy to get to for many people.
 The inaugural Lynx Air flight from Halifax is greeted by an arch of water from welcoming fore trucks. Quite impressive Photo by Cayla Awalt As of July 30, 2022, Lynx will service Calgary to Halifax five times per week and increase flights from the Greater Toronto Area to seven times per week. Starting July 14, Lynx will service Edmonton to Halifax twice per week.
Vijay Bathija, Chief Commercial Officer for the company told the reception that: “We know there are a lot of personal connections between Atlantic Canada, Western Canada and the Greater Toronto region; they want to build on those connections
Lynx define themselves as a new ultra-affordable airline, on a mission to make air travel accessible to all Canadians, and in keeping with that mission, Lynx is offering fares to Halifax from as low as $59* one-way.
Lynx’s network spans 10 destinations across Canada, including Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto Pearson, Hamilton, Halifax and St. John’s. The airline operates a fleet of brand-new, fuel-efficient Boeing 737 aircraft and plans to grow its fleet to more than 46 aircraft over the next five to seven years.
When they say “ultra affordable they weren’t kidding. For that $59 you get a one way ticket that includes a seat and one piece of luggage.
You pay for everything after that.
Bathija, speaking during the ceremonies said no one ever raved about the food on an airplane, suggesting that passengers might think about eating at an airport restaurant.
The better suggesting was to bring your food with you – instead of packing a lunch bucket to take to the construction site – pack a lunch to eat on the place.
When you book your ticket in Lynxair.com you get a list of the choices. They send you an email 72 hours before the flight reminding you what is offered and you just enter your choices and it will be there when you board.
This is an important event for the Hamilton airport and an improvement in the destinations available for people in the western GTA.
More later on the growth of the airport – it is no longer just a cargo operation.
The close to packed passenger lounges attested to that.
By Staff
June 29th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Natalie Pierre, has been named as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges and Universities.
That was no mean feat. Somebody in the Premier’s Office saw something in Ms Pierre that er have not been able to see.
 Natalie Pierre went from a person most people had never heard of to a Parliamentary Assistant in the second Doug Ford government. Good on her for getting the appointment.
It took her predecessor years to be made a Parliamentary assistant.
 By Staff
June 29th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
It was an event many were waiting for – especially those organizations that were nominated.
  And it was an event that Terry Caddo had been looking forward to – Terry wants to be with his membership and running events that were drawing small groups was not what he had in mind.
Last night the Burlington Chamber of Commerce hosted their 2022 Business Excellence Awards!
Two hundred and fifty people took part with mc Joseph Tassoni, the Burlington fashion designer and entrepreneur, to celebrate the finalists and winners.
This year, the Business Awards Task Force was tasked with the challenge of presenting eight Awards of Excellence. The Chamber named 21 local organizations as finalists of awards in a variety of categories. Award nominations were based on overall business excellence and the criteria include excellence in business leadership, community contributions, entrepreneurship, environment, employee welfare, innovation and market growth.
The Burlington Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Business Excellence Awards Winners are:
• Hospitality & Tourism: QB Sports Bar Grill Games. Accepted by Stephanie Morden, Manager
• Manufacturing: B.S.B. Manufacturing Limited. Accepted by Narinder (Nindi) Bhogal, President
• Not-For-Profit: Food For Life. Accepted by Graham Hill, Executive Director
• Retail: Joelle’s and Jeff’s Guyshop. Accepted by Joelle Goddard-Cooling, Owner
• Service, Business-to-Business: Stratus Building Solutions. Accepted by Shafiq Mohamed,
President
• Service, Business -to-Consumer: Burlington Denture Clinic. Peter Iapichino, Owner/Denturist
• Service, Large: TipTapPay Micropayments Limited. Accepted by Chris Greenfield, CEO
• Young Entrepreneur: Joe Apps Technology Support. Accepted by Joseph Apps, Head Joe
The Gazette will follow up with a closer look at these organizations and the people that keep the doors open.
 By Amy Hogan
June 30th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
With nearly 10 million square kilometers, Canada offers a lot of amazing places that you should see. We frequently attempt to go overseas, go swimming in the ocean, or experience a different culture on our holidays or long weekends. Our nation, however, has a wider range of experience.
 Travel starts when you are behind the wheel of your car with cell phone camera in your hands to record every kilometre It is a fantastic time to hop in your car, travel outside of Burlington, and explore new sights. When going on a road trip, many people prefer to rent a car rather than take their vehicle. Thus, you get a fully serviceable vehicle, and also do not increase the mileage of your car. Additionally, this is a fantastic opportunity to hire the automobile you’ve always wanted.
Burlington offers a ton of fantastic vehicle rental options. Among them are Enterprise, Thrifty, Hertz, and Sixt. Local car rental services can be compared to the best car rentals in Dubai such as Evolve which offers a huge variety of cars to rent from economical to exotic. Car rentals offer affordable prices and first-class service.
We’ll discuss the out-of-Burlington road trips you should take to learn more about our country.
Georgian Bay Coastal Route, Ontario
Prepare yourself for one of the most amazing and lengthy road adventures of your life. The two thousand kilometers coastline road offers a terrific opportunity to take in some of the most stunning sights. Most make some stops for:
- Hiking through dense forests and winding paths on Manitoulin Island;
- Well-liked summer vacation spot – Wasaga Beach;
- Cultural education and a relaxing holiday in the friendly town of Midland;
- Family camping on the craggy shorelines of the Awenda Provincial Park;
- Swimming in the clear waters of Killbear Provincial Park;
- Communication with the small but hospitable community in the village of Killarney.
- The village of Killarney.
 Niagara Falls – one of the greatest sights in the world. Don’t miss this one when you travel – half an hour away from Burlington. You should include the Chatham-Kent Corridor in your schedule in addition to the main tourist attractions because you will have to go via more than 20 towns there. You will be able to photograph some of the most stunning lakes in the nation along the journey, including Lake Erie, and the Thames River. Your route is much condensed after leaving Burlington, but you will ultimately reach Amherstburg.
The greatest time to travel this road is right now since nature and its vistas are just hard to resist. Make sure to see Niagara Falls, which is the most important location in the entire country.
Icefields Parkway, Alberta
This is the finest road trip in the entire globe, not just in the country. Every year, tens of thousands of people from across the globe go to Canada for this thrilling four-wheel experience.
There are more than 230 kilometers throughout the trip. The two national parks of Banff and Jasper will be significant destinations along the itinerary. After seeing them, you will truly enjoy the imposing mountains, tall waterfalls, glistening lakes and rivers, and, most significantly, the powerful glaciers. It will take around three to four hours to get from one national park to another, but it’s important to note that you could wish to stop at the Columbia Glacier for the entire day along the route. It’s the ideal location for adding to your Instagram photo library and a fantastic option to go hiking.
 Those mountains create ice fields that are slowly receding – but you can walk on them when you visit, The most popular stops are:
- Bow Lake;
- Peyto Lake & Bow Summit;
- Big Hill & Big Bend;
- Glacier Sky Walk.
This road trip is often taken by most individuals in the early summer or early fall. However, if you want to choose a less crowded season to go, you might think about doing the road trip in October, but be aware that it will rain frequently.
Montreal to Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec
If you choose to begin your journey from Montreal and travel down one of the most picturesque highways to the Gaspé Peninsula, an intriguing adventure is in store for you. Typically, the journey might take up to 10 hours. For those who enjoy viewing overhanging cliffs and pine trees, this path is perfect.
 The Gaspe coast miles of incredible views The main stops you can make are:
The town of Rimouski, which is a great place to stay for the night;
Capture the spectacular scenery in Percé;
Drop by Old Quebec, the most French-speaking area;
Set out on this road journey from early June to mid-September.
Conclusion
The number of road adventures available in the country is much more than what is represented above. They are the most thrilling, though. They are magnificent because they offer a wonderful opportunity to enjoy both urban and country activities.
By Staff
June 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Totally focused
C.H. Norton PS in Burlington will be open for registration during the summer for in-person registration on specific dates
Although schools are closed in July and the first three weeks of August, the Halton District School Board is offering families of elementary students the opportunity to register their child(ren) for school this summer for the start of school in September.
Registering at this time helps the Board prepare for the upcoming school year and provides students more time to become familiar with their new school.
The following elementary schools are open to families to register their Kindergarten – Grade 8 child(ren) in Halton:
• In-person registration for all elementary schools in Oakville is available at Oodenawi Public School (385 Sixteen Mile Dr, Oakville) July 11, 12, 18 and 19 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• In-person registration for all elementary schools in Milton is available at Viola Desmond Public School (1450 Leger Way, Milton) July 14, 15, 18 and 19 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• In-person registration for all elementary schools in Burlington is available at C.H. Norton Public School (2120 Cleaver Ave, Burlington) July 11, 12, 18 and 19 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Families can find their local school by visiting the HDSB’s Find My Local School webpage.
 High school students taking part in a cooking class Secondary students (Grade 9-12) new to the HDSB can register for school when all secondary school offices reopen on Monday, Aug. 22. All HDSB school offices will reopen the week of Aug. 22.
Families are asked to bring the following original documents when registering:
• Proof of age: birth certificate, passport, or baptismal/faith record for your child.
• Proof of address (any two of the following documents): lease or deed, car registration, utility bill, residential telephone bill, moving bill, property tax bill, bank statement, credit card statement, correspondence with a government agency. Note: A driver’s license will not be accepted as documentation for “proof of address”.
• Proof of citizenship: birth certificate, passport, Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Permanent Resident Card.
• If you are not the parent and your child is under 18 you must provide proof of custody (court order).
For more information, call 905-335-3665, ext. 3324 or Toll free: 1-877-618-3456.
Welcome Newcomer Families
Newcomer families ready to begin the school registration process must complete the Welcome Centre Intake Form for Registration. Families new to Ontario and who speak another language other than English are asked to complete the Where Do I Register My Child? Form to determine where the registration process begins.
The Welcome Centre will follow regular office hours (8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday to Friday) for the week of July 4. From July 11 to Aug. 18 inclusive, the operating hours will be 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday to Thursday, with the centre closed on Fridays.
The Welcome Centre is open to visitors and can offer in-person or virtual assessments on an appointment basis. Beginning Aug. 22, 2022, the Welcome Centre will return to regular office hours: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. To book an appointment, email welcomecentre@hdsb.ca or call 905-335-3665, ext. 3440.
 By Staff
June 29th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Museums of Burlington announces the outdoor music evenings on select Friday nights in July and August.
 Experience the beauty of summer nights on the grounds at Ireland House Museum with live acoustic music. The garden stage will feature local musicians. Each night will feature a different genre. Light refreshments will be available for purchase. Bring the whole family and don’t forget your own blankets and/or lawn chairs.
Admission is “pay what you can”, the suggested donation is $5/person (cash, debit or credit accepted). Donations will be collected at the front and back gates of Ireland House Museum. Your donation provides support to the exhibitions, collections management, special events and education programs that bring our mission to life. The Museums strive to make our facilities accessible to diverse audiences across our community.
Advance sign-up is recommended. Walk-in guests are welcome space permitting.
Performers and dates:
Friday, July 15 | Country Night | Haley Verrall
Friday, July 29 | Top 40s | Rosewood Acoustic Duo
Friday, August 12 | Family Night |Music with Miss Michelle
Friday, August 26| Millennial Mix | Dan Taylor
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 pm each evening
By Pepper Parr
June 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Nice to see the Mayor out on the hustings with her colleagues.
Yesterday she told the people of Aldershot that they could meet with Ward 1 council member Kelvin Galbraith at a Pop Up at the LaSalle Park Marina.
Today it was ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan who was blessed when he met with the Mayor and the owners of DesiMando, a new grocery store catering to the needs of the South Asian community. Months before an election is photo op time.
Wonder when she will appear with the other members of Council?
Word out there is that Roman Talkowski is a co-campaign manager for the Meed Ward campaign.
 By Staff
June 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Martha Street will be closed between Pine Street and Lakeshore Road between Tuesday, June 28 – Sunday, July 5, 2022 for sanitary and water services installation.
 The public information meetings were years ago – now the construction for sanitary and water services installation. is underway. Traffic will be detoured around the block. Local traffic and access to adjacent properties will be maintained from Pine Street and the road will be restored for traffic during the non-working hours over the weekend .
By Staff
June 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Family (low-hazard) fireworks are permitted to be set off on Canada Day. The City’s bylaw regulates where and when you can set off fireworks if you choose to have a family fireworks display.
The City bylaw allows fireworks to be set off on private property (not in public parks) from sunset until 11 p.m. on Canada Day. No person under the age of eighteen years shall set off any firework(s) and fireworks shall not be discharged within 10 metres of buildings, structures, decks, vehicles, accessory building or other buildings.
Fireworks safety tips
The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display hosted by trained and certified professionals, such as Canada Day celebrations at Spencer Smith Park at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 1.
If you choose to have a family or a home fireworks display, please follow these firework safety tips:
- Only adults should handle and set off fireworks
- Only use safety-certified fireworks sold by a trusted source
- Choose a clear, open space, away from buildings, overhead wires and tree branches
- Wear glasses and gloves when handling fireworks
- Keep a water hose and/or bucket of water close by
- Light only one firework at a time
- Never hold a lit firework in your hand
- Attempting to re-light a “dud” or defective firework is dangerous, it can quickly back-fire and result in severe burns
- After the fireworks display, keep children away from used fireworks in case they are still active.
- Place sparklers and fireworks in a metal bucket of water or sand to cool down.
- Dispose of unused fireworks by completely submerging the fireworks in water and soak overnight and wrap the soaked fireworks in a plastic bag (so that they don’t dry out). Only then can you dispose of in your regular household garbage.
Karen Roche, Burlington Fire Chief asks you to be responsible and respectful if you choose to do your own fireworks. They pose a very real safety risk to anyone lighting them, watching them and surrounding properties. With safety and courtesy top of mind, we can all enjoy the holiday.”
 Canada Day programming:
Morning events
- Yoga in the Park at 9 a.m. (Spencer Smith Park, east lawn)
- Canada Day Run, 1k and 5k at 9.a.m. Register online.
Late afternoon and evening events
- Food and marketplace vendors
- Live entertainment from the stage begins at 4 p.m., featuring:
- The Burlington Teen Tour Band
- Greetings from Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
- Special guests include Dragon Drummers, David Johannesson (rock/blues) and K’Bola Band (Latin music and dancing)
- Fireworks at 10 p.m. presented by Bunzl
Help us keep this event “green”!
- Bring a re-useable bottle to fill at the water station
- Take the shuttle bus from the southside of the Burlington GO station (2101 Fairview St.) to the downtown bus terminal (640 John St.) — a short 5-minute walk to the park. The shuttle operates a continuous loop from 3 to 11 p.m.
- Cycle to the event. Lock your bike in the corral located at the main park entrance (near the hotel)
Note: due to the large crowds, please leave your pets at home.
By Staff
June 28th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Believed to be the last Canadian survivor of the Dieppe Raid during the Second World War, Douglas Ross Rickard. celebrated his 104th birthday recently.
His wife, Jean, celebrates her 100th birthday on July 11. The couple celebrated their 78th wedding anniversary June 24th.
 Douglas Ross Rickard celebrating his 104th birthday at the Legion. These three special dates were recognized recently during a special ceremony at Branch 60 which included the Rickards’ daughter Marie, remarks by Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and a surprise performance by Frank Sinatra tribute artist Dan Lauzon, a Canadian military veteran and a Vice President of Branch 60.
The Dieppe raid was one of the darkest chapter’s in Canada’s military history but it was also marked by great courage and helped lead to important lessons being learned to prepare for the D-Day invasion of 1944.
Mr. Rickard, (pronounced “rih-KARD”) was a member of the Royal Canadian Corp of Signals. He arrived at Dieppe in the early morning of August 19th, 1942 aboard a tank landing craft (TLC) containing three tanks. He was knocked unconscious by a shell blast but was revived by an officer and continued to receive and transmit messages until further damage to the vessel disabled an engine and forced the crew to retreat. With only one propeller working, they slowly tried to return to Britain.
They were set upon by enemy fighters off the coast of England, and to avoid injury Corporal Rickard jumped overboard. He was able to remove his heavy boots and swam over a kilometer back to an English beach and safety.
Corporal Rickard continued to serve the remainder of the war in a variety of roles, returning to Canada in early 1946 with his British war bride, Jean. Already an accomplished artist, he continued his painting and held art director positions with several major publications. Before retirement, he established several Canadian companies which exported Canadian photographic equipment and art supplies around the world.
A YouTube video of the recent Legion ceremony is available at https://youtu.be/6gN6r732IBA. Plus, a YouTube video of Mr. Rickard recalling his experience at Dieppe is available at https://youtu.be/dp-3_jDXUF4
By Pepper Parr
June 27th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Just about everyone has some kind of a plan for Canada Day. And just about everyone will pause and reflect on how fortunate we are.
But not everyone sees the holiday quite the same way.
My friend Steve Paquette, an Indigenous elder who works for the Halton District School Board and was instrumental in getting Ryerson Public school renamed and for giving the park with the same name something more fitting.
 Steve Paquette would like to see sweet-grass grown and harvested in the park now known as Sweetgrass Park Paquette suggested the name Sweetgrass; it was accepted and the park was renamed. The next thing Paquette wants to see is some Sweetgrass growing on the property.
During our conversation Paquette asked me how I thought the Indigenous community was going to celebrate Canada Day.
I didn’t have an answer for him. Would they not celebrate it the way the rest of us do?
Apparently not. Their take on the day is that it celebrates the land being taken from the Indigenous community. The day celebrates a day when treaties were signed with the British who were concerned about the land as property which is not the way the Indigenous saw the treaties they signed.
 An Indigenous dancer performing at Spencer Smith Park. Photo by Harry Hersh The Indigenous people were thinking in terms of sharing the land. Property was not a concept they knew anything about or understood.
With that background – it is understandable when Paquette says “they are celebrating the day they took our land from us.”
“They committed cultural genocide and to this day we mourn the loss of that part of who we are as a people”, said Paquette.
So what do we, as the people who celebrate Canada Day, do to recognize the feelings of the Indigenous people?
We read land acknowledgements; we speak positively about the Truth and Reconciliation report but tend to put Reconciliation before Truth.
We readily accept the renaming of buildings and streets.
There is a change taking place; the Indigenous people now have the wind behind their sails.
The number of children who were buried while at residential schools is beginning to sink in – something more than 10,000 children is now more than an estimate.
Many do not realize that Burlington was not the result of a treaty being signed. The land that is Burlington today was purchased by the British from the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. When the British had title to the land they gave it to Joseph Brant.
Oakville is made up of land that was named in different treaties.
Will the public hear anything more than a land acknowledgement on Canada Day when they Mayor speaks.
 Is there anything more than can be said?
Paquette would like to see a stronger acknowledgement and looks for more significant changes and for the Indigenous people being at the table making a difference.
I think he would like to see the end of unsafe water advisories.
How we as a people put up with having other people, who were here long before we were, having to boil the water before they use it is something I have never understood.
By Pepper Parr
June 27th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington public art program is presenting a series of temporary public art signs at the Beachway for the annual Culture Days celebration.
Approximately 10 writers and 10 visual artists are needed to create artwork that will be displayed on temporary signs along the Beachway’s multi-use path. This project will give path users a safe, accessible way to enjoy art and to learn more about writers and artists in our community.
This call is open to Burlington-based writers and artists and all art forms that can be presented in a sign format. This includes, but is not limited to: visual art, graphic art, photography, poetry, short story, non-fiction, etc. Submissions are due Aug. 2 and may be from existing or newly created work.
 Part of the Beachway path that leads to the canal and the boundary between Burlington and Hamilton About Culture Days
This year, Culture Days will feature three weeks of arts and culture experiences outdoors, indoors and online from Sept. 23 to Oct. 16, 2022. The theme for the 2022 Culture Days is Re-emergence. Canada is ready for a re-emergence of arts and culture — and so is Culture Days! As the world navigates to past norms and designs new solutions for everyday life, we believe arts, culture, and expression play a vital role in a healthy, thriving society. As we reimagine and re-emerge, Culture Days is an opportunity to champion a life enriched by arts, culture, and creativity.
Artists submitting proposals for the Temporary Public Art Sign project should take inspiration from the re-emergence theme.
About the location
The artwork will be installed along the Beachway’s multi-use path. This 2 km route of lakeside trails runs from Spencer Smith Park to the canal. In addition to the path, the Beachway features a natural sandy beach, an outdoor pavilion, playground and seasonal concessions. The public art signs will primarily be located near the playground, pumphouse and pavilion.
Deadline Activity
Aug. 2 Submissions due
By Aug. 12 Successful artists selected; enter into a contract with the City of Burlington
Sept. 6 Final artwork files due
Sept. 23 – Oct. 16 Culture Days – Artwork on display
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