TELEPHONE Town Hall this evening at 6:30 pm – it will run for an hour.
The purpose of the telephone town hall event is to share information and answer resident questions about the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and recent impacts on city programs and services.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward will be on the telephone this evening – directing questions to a panel that will be with her.
The town hall will be hosted by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, who will be joined by a panel of local leaders, including representatives from Joseph Brant Hospital.
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 noon on Jan. 18, 2022. Please note: if you registered for any of the previous town halls, you are not required to register your phone number a second time. If you wish to have your phone number removed from the call list, please email getinvolved@burlington.ca by noon on Jan. 18, 2022.
2. Join by telephone: Anyone who does not receive a telephone invitation can call 1-800-759-5308 just before 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19 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.
3. Listen to audio: Live audio from the Jan. 19 town hall will be broadcast on YourTV, channel 700 on Cogeco and on the YourTV Halton YouTube page.
Once the call begins, a moderator will provide participants with instructions for how to submit their questions to the leadership panel.
A recording and transcript of the town hall will be posted online after Jan. 19 at burlington.ca/townhall.
After hours of rancorous debate the Halton District Catholic School Board voted 5-3 to allow the flying of a Pride flag outside schools in Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills during the month of June – Pride month.
The inability of many of those taking part in the debate to follow rules of procedure and the attempt to revise the agenda was a sad example of how adults resolve their differences.
Those opposed to the flying of the Pride flag were argumentative, petty, and disruptive but failed in their effort to keep the flag off the flag poles.
The students were very good in making their point.
It was not a debate for the board to be proud of – the beliefs might have been strongly held but that does not excuse the behaviour seen last night. It was most unfortunate.
The 5-3 vote in favour of flying the Pride flag was necessary.
Voting for the motion: Trustees Brenda Agnew, Patrick Murphy, Nancy Guzzo, Peter DeRosa and Janet O’Hearn-Czarnota. Trustees Tim O’Brien, Helena Karabela and Vincent Iantomasi voted against.
Ontario reported 4,183 people were hospitalized with COVID-19; 580 are in ICU units; at least 7,086 new cases have been reported as of Tuesday the 18th at 10:23 am.
82.1 per cent of patients admitted to the ICU were admitted for COVID-19 and 17.9 per cent were admitted for other reasons but have tested positive for COVID-19.
This is a problem that has plagued seniors for some time.
When packed down this is very hard snow to remove
After shoveling for hours yesterday, a Blanchard resident was faced with a four foot bank of snow across the driveway this morning. The other side of the street had nothing. This wall is down the entire South side of the street. The resident cannot remove this hardened wall of compacted snow and is unable to leave the driveway should the need arise.
A disappointing scene after shoveling out the driveway.
This has been an ongoing issue over the years but none as bad as this.
They have sent off emails and pictures to the mayor, and public works.
“I want the city to clean this up! Now!”
The solution might be to turn to your neighbours for the needed help.
Metrolinx has partnered with the Government of Ontario to operate a fleet of mobile COVID vaccine clinics to get more needles into arms at a critical time in the pandemic.
The popular mobile clinics – known as GO-VAXX buses – are retrofitted GO Transit buses and there are now five of them on the road. This is up from the original three buses.
The GO-VAXX buses go all over Ontario loaded with trained medical staff that can deliver about 250 to 300 COVID-19 vaccine doses per day. The mobile clinics make it easier for many people to get their first, second, third or child doses.
The easy-to-spot buses have been so sought after especially once Omicron began to rapidly spread, appointments are now required. This prevents people waiting in long lines during the winter.
One of five GO-VAXX buses ready to hit the road. (Metrolinx photo)
Just how popular have the GO-VAXX buses been?
Since last summer, more than 30,000 doses have been administered. Most importantly, the buses help get into rural areas and other hard to reach communities that might not have nearby clinics. This includes communities outside the Greater Golden Horseshoe, including eastern and western Ontario. They are also fully accessible.
The plan is to expand the GO-VAXX fleet even more in the coming weeks and months.
The COVID-19 outbreak that was declared on Unit 4 North 700 (4N700) on January 12 has extended to an additional unit, 5 North 400 (5N400), as of January 17.
Prior to that there was an outbreak on the 6th floor.
Three additional patients and four healthcare workers have now tested positive for COVID-19. These new infections are associated with the original outbreak on 4N700 that infected five patients.
Joseph Brant Hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control team and Employee Health Services are ensuring all patients on the unit, along with staff and physicians who have been or may have been exposed, are being contacted, monitored, tested as required and self-isolating in keeping with Public Health guidelines.
Patients on the unit are in isolation as of January 17 and will receive instructions on home self-isolation requirements when being discharged from the hospital. 5N400 is closed to new patient admissions. In addition, Essential Care Providers (ECPs) and visitors are not permitted in the unit, with limited exceptions as determined by the nurse manager. ECPs are asked to speak to the care team with questions around access to the unit. Patients can still connect with their loved ones by telephone and video – both telephone and WiFi are available at JBH at no cost.
Joseph Brant Hospital is advising anyone who may have recently visited 5N400 to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. Please consult the Halton Region website for more information if you are experiencing symptoms or had exposure to someone who is COVID-19 positive or experiencing symptoms.
JBH is monitoring the situation closely and will continue to work with Halton Region Public Health to bring a safe end to the outbreak as soon as possible. Patients or loved ones who have questions or concerns can contact a member of the care team or JBH Patient Relations team at 905-632-3737 ext. 4949 or by email patientrelations@josephbranthospital.ca.
The four Members of Parliament who represent the people of Halton wrote an Open Letter to the Trustees of the Halton District Catholic School Board. The contents of that letter are set out below.
Dear Trustees,
On January 18th you will have an opportunity to vote on whether you will allow your schools to raise the Pride Flag this June. From a group of one elected officials to another we understand the seriousness in which you take this vote and the role that your convictions play in determining how you will side.
Next week, you can act to show the 37,000 students that you teach that the Halton Catholic District School Board embraces diversity, celebrates love, and recognizes the community’s desire to officially embrace the 25LGBTQ+ members of your schools.
In 2016, the Pride Flag was flown for the first time on Parliament Hill. Some of us were there that day to celebrate this important milestone for Canada and the 25LGBTQ+ community. The simple act of raising the rainbow flag made an enormous difference in the lives of the advocates who fought for this ceremony to take place. It told them that their country supports them, that their country loves them, and that their country needs their voice at the highest levels of political leadership. You can send the same message to the students, their parents, and your staff, that the HCDSB supports them, loves them and that they are called to shape the future of their community.
To quote your colleague Trustee Agnew, “(you) have a chance to be leaders, champions if you will, of the future, of amazing things to come.”
On January 18th you have a chance to stand up for change. As the federally elected representatives for Halton, we express our unwavering support in favour of raising the flag.
Thank you for taking time to consider our request.
Last Friday, the four members of Parliament who represent the people of Halton sent an open letter to the Trustees of the Halton District Catholic School Board.
Cabinet Ministers Karina Gould (Burlington); Anita Anand, (Oakville) along with Pam Damoff (Oakville North Burlington) and Adam VanKoeverden, MP, (Milton) wrote about a matter that is not something in which the federal government is involved.
Education is a provincial matter with trustees elected at the local level to represent parents with children in the school system.
The Gazette wonders if it is appropriate for Members of Parliament to meddle in a provincial matter that is being fiercely debated at the local level.
Emotions are running high; views are strongly held. What value does the opinion of someone from a senior level of government add?
The concerns of the four Members of Parliament are legitimate enough but one has to wonder what the upside is for the MPs. Have they brought any clarity to the issue?
Do any of them have children in Catholic schools?
Karina Gould has a mandate as Minister of Families, Children and Social Development but that mandate does not reach into issues that are local.
The differences between the Catholic communities are philosophical and political and they will be resolved politically.
The parents who are opposed to the flying of the Pride flag in front of schools support their children; love their country and believe they are serving at their level of political leadership.
If the federal Liberals had anything of value to add perhaps a comment would be appropriate.
They add nothing other than their opinions.
The Gazette feels the letter was inappropriate and that the members of the Catholic community have to work this out on their own.
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.
Council has been holding a number of Closed session meetings – all kinds of litigation taking place.
What perplexes a number of people is the way the City Clerk words the motions that are used to make holding a Closed session legal. That is shown in the agenda as: “Confidential update on a litigation matter”; a polite question would be – which litigation matter? – the public has no idea which matter they are talking about.
Providing the address of the property isn’t giving away any secrets and the public at least knows something is taking place.
All the public learns is that: Pursuant to section 239(2)(e) of the Municipal Act, litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board.
This is what you have now …..
Of current concern are the plans for the redevelopment of the Waterfront Hotel site, 2020 Lakeshore Road. This is a very contentious development – quite why the members of city council go along with the city legal Counsel and the Clerk holding their cards so close to their chest, at the same time telling the world that they have the best community engagement record in the country, is what is referred to as talking out of both sides of your mouth. This of course gets done with the blessing of the city manager who appears to like things that way.
The practice is for Council to come out of Closed session and announce a Staff Direction which goes something like this: the Executive Director of Legal Services is directed to do what was agreed upon in the closed session.
Sometimes, rarely, Council will then go into Open session and there will be discussion about what took place in the Closed session.
…this is what the developer has in mind. They have submitted their development application – city planners say it isn’t complete.
As a reporter, I’ve always wondered why the Chairs of the Standing Committees don’t have the courage to stand up and report to the public what took place.
Last week, after lengthy Closed session (it started at 1:00 pm and ended at 6:35 pm) Council reverted to an Open session and for a moment it looked as if they were going to say something publicly about what had taken place. Mayor Meed Ward certainly expected something would be made public and something to the effect that the motion was written to allow something to be said.
Councillor Galbraith and the Committee Clerk didn’t have the same understanding – the Mayor said she would let it go to the Council meeting later in the month.
So we will hear what is happening to the development application for 2020 Lakeshore Road, the Waterfront Hotel Development site, that has been sent to the Planning department, at the next council meeting.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on the amount of time the city has to respond to the development application. If they don’t do so within the required time-frame the matter goes to the Ontario Land Tribunal – and we all know what happens there.
There was an agenda for a Council Workshop scheduled for this afternoon. That it was cancelled is just short of a small mercy.
It was to be about Indigenous Education – at city council, no less – not Board of Education meeting!
We appreciate fully how badly we white people have treated Indigenous people. We took their land, we took their children and did everything we could to drive the spirit out of them. Our debt to them is one that cannot be cleared in a generation.
These are First Nations people who, despite what we have done to them, have held their ground and are in the process of regaining what was theirs all along.
In the political hierarchy they are superior to a city council. It is certainly an interesting agenda and one that should have been put before everyone in the city.
There was next to nothing in the way of promotion about the meeting. Perhaps the members of Council will now earn the reputation they have for being leaders in community engagement.
The Agenda had Angela Morgan, Strategic Lead – Customer Experience doing the introductions.
Land Acknowledgement Angela Bellegarde, Indigenous Lead Reconciliation at Halton OurKids Network
Mississauga of the Credit First Nation – We are Still Here Darin Wybenga, Acting Director and Traditional Knowledge andLand Use Coordinator, Mississauga of the Credit First Nation
The land was taken from them little by little – now they are squeezed into small reserves with not much more than a proud heritage to sustain them.
The legislation is something to be ashamed of – it should have been rescinded decades ago. It is no longer necessary – if it ever was.
Indian Act – What Can We Do? Bryant Peters, College Instructor at Fleming College and ExecutiveConsultant from the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation
All great items – what can a city do?
Did municipalities even exist when the Indian Act was first declared ?
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.
To allow snow removal equipment room to clear roads safely and quickly, all on-street parking has been suspended.
During a Snow Event when accumulation is more than 7.5 cm, road clearing updates can be found by visiting Burlington.ca/snow.
It is important for people to know that a declared Snow Event does not automatically mean all City facilities are closed or programs are cancelled.
On occasion a program may be cancelled when facilities remain open. For instance, if staff are unable to travel safety to the program location. When this occurs, all efforts will be made to contact the participants in advance when possible.
Snow Clearing Service Levels
Snow Event declared
Primary and Secondary roads are addressed as soon as snow starts to accumulate.
Residential roads are cleared after snow reaches 7.5 cm of accumulation. Residential roads are not maintained to bare pavement but are sanded as required at intersections, hills and sharp curves to enhance traction.
All sidewalks are plowed after 5 cm of accumulation and salted or sanded as required.
Heavy snowfalls or successive storms can sometimes extend road clearing to longer than 24 hours. Please be patient as our crews work to clear the busiest streets first.
The City is not responsible for clearing windrows left on driveways when the plow passes. If you think you will need help clearing the windrow, please make arrangements such as speaking with your neighbours, family members or hire a contractor.
Parking During the Winter
When a Snow Event is declared, there is no parking on any city streets until the Snow Event has been declared over. The City thanks residents for their cooperation to move their vehicles off city streets to help with snow clearing operations. Residents who park their cars on streets blocking snow removal could be faced with a $120 parking ticket or be towed.
All existing parking exemptions are also invalid during Snow Events.
Snow Events and parking restrictions are announced through the City’s social media.
The debate on flying the Pride flag at Catholic schools in the Halton Region will be heard by the Halton District Catholic \school Board on Tuesday.
The Gazette has chosen two delegations that reflect strongly held position on the issues.
Both should be heard.
The Rainer Noack and Veronica Touhey delegations follow.
Chairperson of the board, board members, delegates, families – it is an honour to have been asked to
support this evening’s delegation. My name is Rainer Noack and I worked for the Halton Catholic District School Board from 1989 to 2006 where I taught both Dramatic Arts for Grades 10 to OAC, and English for Grades 9 and 10. I was a passionate, popular, and distinctive educator in my field. I spearheaded the entry of the Halton Catholic District school Board into the Ontario Drama Festival (formerly known as the Sears Drama Festival).
Rainer Noack
I am here to support Lauren MacDonald and her team in their efforts to ensure that the Halton Catholic District School Board will raise the Pride Flag in the future, as a demonstration of equality and solidarity for all human beings. The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected by a healing community and can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met.
Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life, and to those things required for our human
dignity. I believe that in order to set students up for success and to become healthy contributing members of society, they need to have models. As educators, we are on the front line of helping children every day, and it is indeed some of those teachers and forward thinking leaders that have allowed many Catholic schools to become safe spaces, and recognize that there are many forms of diversity that need respect.Refusal to raise the flag is a blatant signal to further marginalized people demonstrating fear and xenophobia. The parliament of Canada on July 20, 2005 enacted the Civil Marriage Act, which legalized same-sex marriage in Canada; fourth country to do so. 2005 was the year I married my husband, thus for the first time, acknowledging my sexuality societally. In June 2006, my husband and I, along with many others, including members of the Toronto police force, carried the Pride Flag down Yonge street. A portion of this flag is now displayed in the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa.
During my tenure with the school board, I was there for students who were struggling to accept their
identity. I was there to witness students driven to suicide through a lack of acceptance. Statistics have shown that those attending a Catholic school have a substantial increase in the odds of attempting suicide or suicide risk by the age of 15 and self-harm by the age of 19.
The Supreme Court does not try to hide the fact that it will shed no tears if Catholic schools vanish from the scene while they continue to receive public funding and continue to enforce outdated rules of the Bible and continue to believe in supremacy of the Papacy. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees a set of human rights enforced by judicial review of legislation. Many Catholic school boards have begun to reconsider the conflict between Catholic beliefs and Human Rights.
Trying to change attitudes is brave and progressive, and I am grateful to be able to share my views here today. As teachers, we promote healthy lifestyles and attitudes and our daily business is prevention intervention. Our experience has taught us that it takes a lesson repeated over and over to truly change an attitude. The best way to teach is by example, and therefore it is the responsibility of adults to model the kind of beliefs, behaviours, and attitudes that will make a better world.
The world needs to examine its conscience. Now, more than ever, is the time to give hope to disenchanted youth. The media advertises that research funding is being designated for youth to reduce violence and mental health issues. This work is as well as wasted if a definite message is not sent by our school boards.
We must be more progressive.
Today’s children will become tomorrow’s patrons, employees, and entrepreneurs. We owe it to them to
help them to feel that we each have a fundamental right to freedom.
Thank you
LIFT HIGH THE CROSS, RAISE NOT THE ‘PRIDE’ FLAG
My name is Veronica Touhey and I address this board as a parent who sends my children to
Catholic schools with the good faith and understanding that they will be taught the magisterial
teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
I know that flying the “pride” flag over Catholic schools and administrative buildings violates
these teachings.
It would deeply sadden me to see that flag raised by schools of the HCDSB.
Some believe that the raising of the “pride” flag is necessary to stop bullying and discrimination,
and while these are always good intentions in themselves, the act of raising that flag over
Catholic schools will undermine the mission of Catholic education and the mission of the Halton
Catholic District School Board.
The mission statement of the HCDSB states that the Board is “…dedicated to providing
excellence in Catholic education by developing Christ-centred individuals enabled to transform
society.”
Flying the “pride” flag will not help the board to achieve these crucial objectives. It will, in fact, betray this mission.
Many who advocate for the raising of the flag assert that it will make the schools it flies over
more welcoming, inclusive, and supportive of people.
That only proves that our hearts, and our wishful thinking, can deceive us.
The “pride” flag is a lie.
The flag isn’t about inclusion, diversity, and acceptance, but about conformity, exclusion and
intolerance. The “pride” flag is in fact a giant red flag of warning for anyone concerned about
traditional values and the freedom to live by them.
The “pride” flag is a symbol of mortal sin. It’s no coincidence that “pride” is both the name of
that flag, and the name of one of the seven deadly sins. In fact, pride was the cause of the
Original Sin committed by Adam and Eve, and it is considered the source of all the other deadly
sins.
The Catholic Church can never condone mortal sin, and the “pride” flag is a symbol of mortal
sin.
There are those who will say that secular institutions fly that flag, and so our Catholic schools
should follow along and do the same. But it has never been the mandate of the Catholic Church
to follow the fashions of the world.
Quite the opposite is true.
The Catholic Church is charged to lead the world to Christ.
We should be leading the world by doing what the HCDSB mission statement claims it is here to
do, by “developing Christ-centred individuals enabled to transform society”.
To transform society away from sinful ways and toward Jesus Christ.
Secular institutions that fly the “pride” flag have no mandate to defend the teachings of the
Catholic, or of any other Faith. But this board does!
The Faith we express is that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus
Christ, not to condemn the world, but to save it. We know that God is love, and that He
demonstrated this love by dying on the Cross.
The “pride” flag is a mere worldly symbol. The Cross represents the very heart of the Church
and its values, which transcend all symbols.
We do not need any flag, for we have the Cross!
The Cross demonstrates and reminds us of the love God has for all people, no matter who they
are. It tells us that God desires to gather us all to Himself as one family in Christ.
The Cross is our sign of true love and of mercy, of eternal life. It is a bold declaration of hope in
a world full of sorrows. That is the hope we must nurture, a hope in the Lord as our strength.
Symbols such as that “pride” flag will come and go, but as St. Paul tells us, “Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday today and forever.”
We teach our children the marks of the Church, which we recite each time we say the Creed.
The marks of the Church remind us that the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church must
speak with a single voice and reject all that is not in keeping with it.
That “pride” flag is not in keeping with our Faith.
Our children are watching us. What will we teach them now?
Thank you for your time and for allowing me to address the Board.
Tuesday of this week the Halton District Catholic School (HDCSB) Board will hear delegations related to raising a Pride flag and a Student Senate survey.
The Catholic school board has consistently resisted requests for a Pride flag outside any of their schools whereas the public school boar raises the Pride flag outside every school. City Hall also raises the Pride flag outside city hall on appropriate occasions.
Burlington city council has allocated up to $10,000 per instantiation for Rainbow Crosswalks in every ward of the city.
The Catholic Student Senate is made up of three or four students from each high school plus the three student Trustees.
In their delegation the student senate asks that:
Our vision has been particularly informed by a desire to fight for equity and inclusion ofall students in our schools. In times of increasing isolation, we recognize the importanceof ensuring that all students feel welcome in our schools.
Our vision is toensure that through the affirmation of the human dignity that our schoolsbecome a place whereallstudents feel like they can achieve, believe, and belong.
We wish to not only highlight the voices of students that have historically been marginalized in our communities but ensure thatwe model Christ–like leadership in ourefforts to create an environment of compassion, kindness, humility, and faith at theHCDSB.
In a survey done by the Student Senate 70% of students responding want the Pride flag to be raised;
How strongly do you support the flying of pride flag in schools?(1 beingstrongly opposed, 5 being strongly infavour) Approx. 6% of students responded strongly opposed Approx. 8% of students responded opposed Approx.4% of students responded neither opposed nor infavour Approx. 15% of students responded infavour Approx. 70% of students responded strongly infavour
As for the motion to raise the Pride flag – 11 delegations – 9 in favour.
This is an issue that is not going to go away.
Adding to what is a school board issue is the releasing of an Open Letter on Friday from the four area Members of Parliament (all Liberals) asking the Trustees to consider supporting the motion from the students.
In part, the four Members of Parliament wrote:
Next week, you can act to show the 37,000 students that you teach that the Halton Catholic District School Board embraces diversity, celebrates love, and recognizes the community’s desire to officially embrace the 2SLGBTQ+ members of your schools.
In the next week or so you will begin to see some subtle changes to the look and feel of what we deliver.
We have developed a more efficient way to get the news in front of you.
There are going to be different editions of the paper:
A Morning Edition, an Afternoon Edition and a Breaking News Edition.
You can take just one edition or all three.
And of course you can always go to the web site and look at everything including the archives which holds everything we ever published in the last ten years.
In countries and cities where winter is in all its glory, it is impossible to deny yourself the pleasure of having fun, enjoying a huge amount of entertainment, and the beauty of nature. Burlington is one such place.
Well, a huge number of people strive to go on vacation to warm regions to bask in the sun, lie on the white beaches and rent Ferrari Dubaito ride at full speed to the main attractions. Especially considering that rental services are in demand today more than ever and everyone can rent even a dream sports car for a reasonable price.
However, many locals are in no hurry to buy air tickets. Here you can find a lot of entertainment that will appeal to every person, both young and old. The only condition is to dress warmly so that, standing in the cold, you do not hasten to return home as soon as possible.
In this article, we’ll show you how to have fun in this wonderful city.
Many people often cannot stay at home for a long time, even though it is always warm and cozy there. Many people crave adventure andactive pastimes.
Pack warm clothes and go towards new achievements. Before visiting the chosen place, make sure that entertainment will be available for visiting during the pandemic.
Snowboarding in the winter is a challenge.
If you enjoy spending time actively with your friends or family, then you should go to Glen Eden. Here you can experience the drive and extreme as much as possible, as well as enjoy the winter beauty of the surrounding area.
Don’t know how to ski or snowboard? No problem. Here you will easily learn everything you need to know about winter sports. If you go here with children, then you have a great opportunity to instill in them a love of active sports. Qualified professionals will take you under their wing and teach you everything you need to know.
People who have already snowboarded or skied more than once will be able to truly enjoy the number of slopes of an increased level of difficulty.
If sport is not for you, then you have a great opportunity to just come here and ride tubing on safe slopes, where nothing will threaten your health. Happy smiles and laughter are guaranteed to you!
Walks in the winter snow – something that is basic in Burlington on the Escarpment
In such a great city, it is not necessary to take part in energetic activities. Many people can truly enjoy a stroll through the breathtaking scenic spots. Lovers of a quiet pastime can go for a walk along the huge number of hiking trails that are laid throughout the city.
You get the opportunity to explore the most untrodden places that you might not have seen, even if you have lived here your whole life. Surprisingly, there are so many striking places where you can spend weeks exploring your city and the surrounding area.
You can choose trails for a stroll or those that go up steep slopes and hills, trails that are considered difficult for beginner hikers. Many go for these bike rides, but you will find that you will stop every few minutes to enjoy and admire the charming view.
Put out a bird feeder and spend hours watching dozens of different types of bird dive down to feed. Watch the Blue Jays push the Cardinals away,
Burlington is renowned for being home to a large number of rare birds. Near Lake Ontario, where a large concentration of birds has been recorded, you will get the opportunity to see them with your own eyes.
Sometimes it even happens that the rarest species of birds catch the eye of the most ordinary inhabitants who explore this area. While professional bird watchers can research for many hours in anticipation of a desired species of bird, you may become an unwitting participant in such an event.
This is a great way to instill in your children a love for nature and all amazing species of animals.
Located in a mountainous area, you cannot deny yourself the pleasure of climbing a cliff in this city. This activity can be done throughout the year at any time. However, in the winter, you can see the beauty that you will not see in the summer. Snow-capped mountain cliffs, a beautiful view of the city, as well as a lot of positive emotions and adrenaline await you.
Those for whom easy tasks seem boring can truly enjoy climbing in winter. Since in the cold there are special difficulties that must be overcome with the help of your professionalism, skills, and ingenuity.
You don’t necessarily need to travel to other countries to find entertainment. Burlington has a ton of fun activities ranging from active to restful. Head to the slopes for skiing or snowboarding or opt for a relaxing time enjoying and exploring nature. In any case, you will be satisfied.
Is this the beginning of the downfall of a provincial government?
In a major pre-election setback for Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives, Long-Term Care Minister Rod Phillips is retiring from politics.
Phillips, a key cabinet minister who has represented Ajax since 2018, announced Friday he would not be running in the June 2 election.
“I have spoken with Premier Ford and with Brian Patterson, president of the Ontario PC Party, to inform them of my decision not to seek re-election and to step down next month as the MPP for Ajax,” Phillips, 56, said in a written statement.
Phillips was a big hitter who many thought would return to a more senior Ministry after his trip to the wood shed after returning from that trip to the sunny south.
Some will conclude that Phillips became fed up with a Premier that doesn’t appear to be able to lead.
Starting Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, the Downtown Terminal opening hours will be
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and
10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the last Saturday of the month
Customer service can be reached in person at the Downtown Terminal, 430 John St., by phone at 905-639-0550 or by email at contactbt@burlington.ca.
This service level follow policies and protocols in place to prioritize the health and safety of our staff and our residents. We ask for your patience and understanding.
The following response to residents of Burlington who have emailed City Council members regarding the potential increase in urban boundaries in Milton and Halton Hills.
Thank you for your email regarding release of land for housing in the new Region Official Plan leading to 2051. I respect and understand your concerns. I and my Burlington Council colleagues have received hundreds of emails from Halton residents in response to the campaign initiated concerned residents. I am only addressing this subject from the perspective of Burlington in this response.
Nothing in the Region will be able to open up – maybe next week.
Both Region and City members of Council are committed to maintain rural Burlington as it is. There are no plans to allow housing in our rural lands other than as is currently permitted. Release of land is proposed by the Region in Milton and the Halton Hills only, not Burlington.
This is a challenging issue for us all. There are a number of factors that have to be considered:
The first is that the Region of Halton is obliged to craft a plan that satisfies the province’s 1.1m population requirement by 2051.
The second is that the Region must provide substantiation that the plan will satisfy market demand. Scenarios 3a and 3b, which have been considered, provided for significantly greater % of apartment units and very few ground oriented homes than other scenarios and could not satisfy the market test. Indeed, the recent preferred scenario is barely representative of anticipated demand. Keep in mind that Canadian dream is to live in a house with a garage and a yard, as you will understand. The preferred solution is a compromise.
Hwy 407 and Dundas Street are the northern boundaries for development in Burlington. The Alton community would never have come into being were it not for the building of the 407 highway. That decision opened up land that was part of rural Burlington. Alton Village is bounded by the 407, Walkers Line on the west and Appleby Line on the east with Dundas making up the southern boundary.
The third is that because Burlington is essentially built out, we receive all residual population growth that cannot be accommodated in Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills in what ever scenario is selected. In scenario 3a and 3b, that would mean in excess of 80,000 new residents moving into Burlington by 2051, like it or not.
Because Burlington is essentially already built out, under scenario 3b, Burlington will have no other choice but to to accommodate about 90% of new residents in 200/300 mid to high rise apartment buildings.
That would happen in 5 strategic growth areas of Appleby GO, Burlington GO, Aldershot GO, Up Town (Upper Middle Road and Appleby Line) and Downtown Burlington. We do not know what the distribution of those apartment buildings will be yet, but it certainly means significant densification of all five locations. It creates a tenuous outlook for all five, including downtown, by the standards of most Burlington residents.
The preferred scenario; 1) satisfies Provincial tests to accommodate foreseeable market demand, providing homes for a small number of families who wish to live in a home with a backyard and a garage. That means the Province will likely approve the plan, but not 3a or 3b; 2) increases the number of people who will live in newly constructed apartments representing about 60% across the Region, but more like 90% in the City of Burlington, which is essentially what you are advocating for. Reducing the Burlington allocation to 70,200 population lowers the number of apartment buildings by 25 to 37.5 buildings, providing a bit of a breather to the community. Please take a moment to visualize what the Burlington skyline, living conditions and congestion is likely to become, even under the preferred scenario.
Keep in mind, this plan follows the 2018 election when the people of Burlington spoke out clearly that they do not wish to see “over intensification” of their hometown. It is not what anyone wanted.
In any event, the City will experience increasing numbers of apartments not only between now and 2051 but even more for years too come. The same will be true for the other Halton municipalities. The preferred scenario simply delays inevitable further densification of Halton.
I will be pleased to discuss this with you if that will help.
The GWD Foundation for Kids announced a $3.42 million major gift that will continue the legacy established by supporting the education, health, development and betterment of challenged children, youth, and their families.
After 21 years of supporting philanthropic work through The GWD Foundation for Kids, Gary W. DeGroote and his fellow trustees, are deepening their relationship with Burlington Foundation entrusting the respected organization to serve as good stewards ensuring that this generous donation endures in the community for generations to come.
Since 2001, The GWD Foundation for Kids has provided over $1.945 million in gifts to several charitable organizations effecting positive change on the lives of thousands of young people in our communities.
“The GWD Foundation for Kids is focused on breaking down financial barriers and nurturing the dreams of our children and youth, empowering them to be all that they can be,” says Gary W. DeGroote. “I am incredibly grateful to my fellow trustees, Joseph C. Monaco, Keith Strong, Rob MacIsaac, Devin DeGroote, and our financial advisor from RBC, Kevin Walker, for their passion and commitment over the past two decades and look forward to Burlington Foundation now guiding and stewarding the legacy that we began.”
Since its inception in 1999, Burlington Foundation has been dedicated to supporting the health and wellness of vulnerable children and youth, helping to establish pathways to success for our young people.
“With the unified goal of ensuring a better, brighter future for all children and youth, we are honoured to receive this significant gift of $3.42 million from The GWD Foundation for Kids,’ says Colleen Mulholland, President and CEO, Burlington Foundation. “We are privileged to draw on our expertise, knowledge and community relationships to ensure that positive outcomes are realized, forever.”
Egerton Ryerson was no longer in fashion and the Mayor saw merit in renaming the park, which was adjacent to the elementary school of the same name.
Based on a Motion brought to the Standing committee, the recommendation was to approve Sweetgrass Park as the new name for the park formally called Ryerson.
In July of 2021 council supported a Motion Memorandum from the Mayor which included the following staff direction:
Direct the Director of Recreation, Community and Culture to initiate the renaming process for Ryerson Park in keeping with our naming policies, ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion is reflected in the new name, and report back to committee with a recommendation for a new name by November 2021.
Staff completed a three-phase engagement process with the Community and worked with a small group comprised of the Chair of the Inclusivity Committee,
Stephen Paquette
Stephen Paquette, resident and Indigenous elder, ward Councillor Shawna Stolte, and Denise Beard, Manager of Community Development were named to the committee to review community suggestions. The Trustee for the ward also attended the meeting to observe the process.
Using the Naming of Corporate Assets Policy, the small group reviewed the policy to determine which criteria would be weighted higher than other items. For example, the group felt that a name that reflected a sense of place and supports diversity and inclusivity, was more significant than honoring a person, persons, a family group living or deceased who have made a significant contribution to the community.
A field of sweetgrass
After coming to consensus of the evaluation matrix, and streamlining the list of names to remove duplications, or names that violated the policy, each member of the small team completed an individual rating and ranking of the suggested names.
At a consensus meeting the small group supported the following themes
Head of the Lake Park
Unity Park
Truth and Reconciliation Park
It was through that discussion that Stephen suggested a pause to consult with an Indigenous linguist to see if there was an appropriate Indigenous word that might best reflect the theme. Also, during the same discussion, Paquette educated the group on “Sweetgrass”, one of the sacred medicines to many First Nations. It is used as a purification medicine in ceremony to purify ourselves and to heal.
Single strands are not very strong but when woven together the grass is very strong.
Many indigenous communities weave baskets out of sweetgrass
The planting and use of sweetgrass is widespread by most Indigenous cultures in this area. This transcendence and the use of sweetgrass resonated with the group.
After the meeting Stephen sought the advice of an Indigenous linguist to find the right word. Sweetgrass was added to the list of names.
Community voting took place through the Get Involved page on the city web site. Over 1,600 votes were cast by Burlington residents.
The results are:
Heat map showing where the cotes for the new park name came from.
Name Percentage of Votes
Head of the Lake Park 16.1%
Unity Park 39%
Truth and Reconciliation Park 5%
Sweetgrass Park 40%
Committee had many options to consider:
Use the most voted name by the community which supports the community engagement process.
Combine the most popular names for example – Sweetgrass Unity Park.
Give the park the same as the recently announced re-named school
Ryerson Public school has been renamed Makwendam Public School.
Makwendam Public School. Pronounced muck-kwen-dum, the Indigenous word for “to remember” in the Anishinaabemowin language.” This would provide consistency between the two properties but did not honour the public engagement process.
Replacement signage reflective of the truth and reconciliation – speaking about the past and why the name change and the City’s aspirations for Truth and Reconciliation by re-naming the park – would cost about $5,000.
Despite creating the system of publication education in Ontario Egerton Ryerson has been set aside to make room for a much needed change in the public acceptance to the damage done at residential schools operated for the most part by Christian churches
Staff are also looking at the installation of a medicine wheel or healing circle in the park as well as sweetgrass plantings. Staff have had some preliminary discussions with a potential donor to support the capital investment for the medicine wheel or healing circle. The donor would look for their donation to be matched by the City.
More than 500 suggestions were submitted; once whittled down to four names, the community cast over 1,600 votes
By Staff
By Pepper Parr
The inability of many of those taking part in the debate to follow rules of procedure and the attempt to revise the agenda was a sad example of how adults resolve their differences.
Ontario reported 4,183 people were hospitalized with COVID-19; 580 are in ICU units; at least 7,086 new cases have been reported as of Tuesday the 18th at 10:23 am.
By Staff
By Staff
By Staff
Joseph Brant Hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control team and Employee Health Services are ensuring all patients on the unit, along with staff and physicians who have been or may have been exposed, are being contacted, monitored, tested as required and self-isolating in keeping with Public Health guidelines.
By Pepper Parr
By Pepper Parr
The “pride” flag is a lie.
The Catholic school board has consistently resisted requests for a Pride flag outside any of their schools whereas the public school boar raises the Pride flag outside every school. City Hall also raises the Pride flag outside city hall on appropriate occasions.
We have developed a more efficient way to get the news in front of you.
You can take just one edition or all three.
By Amy Hogan
By Pepper Parr
“I have spoken with Premier Ford and with Brian Patterson, president of the Ontario PC Party, to inform them of my decision not to seek re-election and to step down next month as the MPP for Ajax,” Phillips, 56, said in a written statement.
By Staff
Starting Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, the Downtown Terminal opening hours will be
Keep in mind, this plan follows the 2018 election when the people of Burlington spoke out clearly that they do not wish to see “over intensification” of their hometown. It is not what anyone wanted.
After 21 years of supporting philanthropic work through The GWD Foundation for Kids, Gary W. DeGroote and his fellow trustees, are deepening their relationship with Burlington Foundation entrusting the respected organization to serve as good stewards ensuring that this generous donation endures in the community for generations to come.
