 By Pepper Parr
September 4th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton District School Board Elementary students will get to do a dry run on returning to school next week – the “letting students experience” a return to classroom takes place on Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th.
Those students with family names that begin with A through to those whose family name begins with L will go to their school on Thursday the 10th.
 The Halton District School Board has a secure supply of PPE They will be met at the school door, have their hands sanitized and get a face mask test to ensure the thing is being worn correctly.
Then they are taken to their class and given instruction on how school will operate for the foreseeable future.
Parents will not be allowed to enter the school.
On Friday, those students with family names that begin with M through to the end of the alphabet, will go through the same routine.
There will be no curriculum taught on those days.
Nor will there be school bus service to the schools.
Director of Education Stuart Miller asked parents to be patient and careful as they approach the school entrance.
 Classroom spacing will be different. No passing notes from desk to desk. The focus will be to teach them the importance of staying within their cohort and “exposing them to the new reality”.
The Board is working at making video material available to parents so they can prep their children for these introductory sessions.
 Teachers are encouraged to get students outside as much as possible and to ensure that they stay within their cohort. There will be washroom rules, recess rules, lunch rules and exercise outdoors rules.
Walking around the school will not be what it was when they left school in March. There will be direction markers along the hallways.
Intent to Return Survey
Parents/guardians (and students 18+) were asked to complete the Intent to Return survey by Aug. 23. If you have not completed the survey, or if you have completed the survey and would like to change your response(s), please contact the main office at your child’s school. The last day to switch between in-person and virtual learning is Tuesday, Sept. 8.
 By Staff
September 1st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
They are referred to as service organizations. Lions, Optimists, Rotary – and several others.
They are clubs whose membership gets together to do things for the community they live in. Some are international organizations.
Burlington has four different Rotary clubs.
Twenty five years ago John Thorpe and Bob Penning came up with the idea of bringing a Rib Fest to Burlington. The two had seen several in the United States and thought it might work in Burlington.
The growth of the Rib Fest was phenomenal – there are now Rib Fests across the country – but there is only one CLR – that stands for Canada’s Largest Rib Fest – and large it is.
When Covid-19 knocked everything off the calendar – Thorpe and Pennington kept hoping that the province would open things up in time for them to hold their 25th annual event.
“When we learned that CNE was cancelled we were toast – we had to put away all the hopes” said Thorpe.
These two don’t give up very easily. They came up with the idea of holding a smaller event – made it a Drive-Thru and convinced the people at Burlington Centre to let them use the parking lot for Canada Day.
 If you looked around there was still some sitting room. The weather was close to perfect and the music was good – great way to bring a summer to a close – that was in 2017 Close to 3,000 cars later and a lot of cash in hand – they didn’t rest on their laurels – they wondered – could they do it again on Labour Day.
They can and they are going to.
The Rotary promotional people got into gear and everyone had something to say.
The public is invited to stop by the Burlington Centre parking lot, at 777 Guelph Line from 10am to 7pm to experience the fun and flavour of Canada’s Largest Ribfest in a safe, socially-distant way.
 Looks like an obstacle course – it’s the only way to get great ribs on Labour Day. “We are excited to keep our Labour Day tradition of delivering delicious ribs & fantastic entertainment live during these challenging times” says Brent Paszt, a Past President of Rotary Burlington Lakeshore, and Co-Chair of Canada’s Largest Ribfest. “While the event may look different from what we are all used to seeing, you can still expect award-winning BBQ Teams to be on hand serving the ribs, pulled pork, and chicken that guests have come to expect from Ribfest” added Jay Bridle, Canada’s Largest Ribfest Co-Chair.
“Canceling our annual long weekend event that attracts upwards of 175,000 guests was a huge disappointment and really impacted our ability to support those charities and individuals who need it most, now more than ever” says Rotary Burlington Lakeshore President, Jay Thomblison; “Proceeds from this event, along with those generated from our successful inaugural Canada Day Drive-Thru, will enable us to continue that support”.
 John Thorpe and Bob Penning – brought the Rib Fest to Burlington 24 years ago – this was to be the 25th anniversary. Guests are asked to enter Burlington Centre from the Fairview Street entrance and to remain in their vehicles for the duration of their visit. Food vendors will take orders and payment (cards preferred) and will deliver each completed order to your vehicle. Gloves and masks will be worn by all staff, vendors, and volunteers.
The four award-winning rib teams in attendance will include Camp 31 BBQ, Billy Bones BBQ, Pistol Pete’s Smokehouse, and Silver Bullet BBQ. There will also be food offerings from East Side Mario’s and Blaze Pizza, Twisted Tomato, Tiny Tom Donuts, and Ontario Corn Roasters, ensuring that there’s something for the entire family. The event will also include live music for guests to enjoy while they wait in the comfort and safety of their vehicles.
Over the course of 24 years, Canada’s Largest Ribfest, a fundraising initiative of Rotary Burlington Lakeshore, has raised over $4.5 million for local, national, and international charities.
Where does all that money go? Rotary has a scholarship program that really helps a lot of graduating high school students get to college or university.
And the community sees a lot of that money work its way into the small organizations that makes Burlington the city it is.
 Some of the organizations in Burlington that have received financial support from the Lakeshore Rotary.
By Pepper Parr
September 3rd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Wednesday evening the Halton District School Board met – it was another long meeting.
 The number of students in the elementary classes is low – not the 15 many parents would like but nowhere near the 30 that was feared. The fear that the school board would be jamming as many as 30 children into the elementary classes is unfounded
There are 244 kindergarten classes in the Halton Region. The regular class size in the past has been as many as 29 students. The average for the kindergarten classes starting September 14th will be 20 students.
In the primary grades 1 to 3 there are 450 classes in the Region. 90% of those classes must be capped at 20. There are 16 classesthat have more than 20 students.. The average is 18 ½ in each class.
The Junior Intermediate level there are 809 classes in the Region. The Board is funded for 24 ½ students. The average for the Junior Intermediate is 22.6
 By Pepper Parr
September 2nd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
There is still a lot of confusion on the part of parents as well as many of the teachers.
But come Tuesday of next week you will be taking your young ones to school – assuming you didn’t opt out for a virtual classroom.
Your job as a parent begins today: students – especially younger ones will need help in coping with the really big change that will take place at every school.
 Explain to your child what will be different when they return to school – and why things are going to be different. The Halton Board of Education will be meeting this evening; we will report on what we learn – expect updates on a number of issues.
Let’s stick with the bricks and mortar structure. There will be one door to enter and a different door to leave the building.
Don’t have the child take very much to school the first day – the rules on what elementary students can bring to school will be set out for them by a teacher who will be dressed in full PPE – which might be a little startling for the student.
There will be a lot of rules and as a parent you can do a lot of the prep work in the next handful of days.
Take your younger children to places where there are markers on the floor and explain what they mean and why they are in place.
Explain why they have to wear a mask and why they can only play with the friends in their class.
And that they can’t get too close to those friends.
 Explain what social circles are and how that might limit who your child can actually play with. The job for parents of early elementary children:
• Tighten up social circles
• Practice physical distancing
• Follow good hand hygiene and respiratory
etiquette
• Wear face coverings in indoor public places and when physical distancing cannot be maintained
• Explain to the child that at some point what that means.
 Director of Education Stuart Miller sees himself as personally responsible for every student in the HDSB Schools are doing their best to keep parents fully informed – the difficulty is that the rules change – sometimes by the hour.
The Board of Education has to listen to what the Halton Region Public Health Units requires and follow the dictates of the province.
Halton District School Board Director of Education sets out just what he has to deal with – “everything is fluid and dynamic”. “We have to be smart, be focused and realize these students are our responsibility – my responsibility when they are on school property.”
 By Staff
September 2, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
 Closes for the season on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. LaSalle Pool and Mountainside Pool will close until next spring as of Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020.
Weather permitting, Nelson Outdoor Pool will remain open until Oct. 11 and spray pads will remain open until Oct. 12, 2020.
Angela Coughlan Pool’s renovation is nearly complete. An announcement on its re-opening and program offering will be coming soon.
Recreation Fee Assistance
Recreation is for all, regardless of financial situation. Recreation Fee Assistance is funding made available to resident individuals or families who need help to pay for City of Burlington recreation programs.
For more information or to apply, visit burlington.ca/feeassistance. You can also leave a confidential voicemail message at 905-335-7738, ext. 8501 and our staff will return your call to assist you.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward exulted in saying: ““The extended dates for Nelson Outdoor Pool is great news for our community as we continue to spend more time outside to stay active and healthy while mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
“I am thrilled our teams here at the City of Burlington have been so responsive and flexible in making these changes and I know residents will appreciate this great news.”
 Chris Glenn, now Director of Recreation Services was once a life guard Chris Glenn, now Director of Recreation Services was once a life guard at a swimming pool. He said: “Following the plans laid out in our Council-approved Recreation re-design plan, we’re offering more and more programs for people to join, re-connect socially and get back into the activities they enjoy with confidence in our safety precautions.
Extending Nelson Outdoor Pool to Oct. 11 will give people more opportunities to take advantage of outdoor swimming. As always, we have great instructors, great lifeguards and we’re very thorough with our COVID-19 prevention practices.”
 By Staff
September 1, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Mark your calendar and get ready for a fine feed of not only finger ‘lickin’ good Ribs but you can pick up a bag of donuts and some fresh corn at the Burlington Lakeshore Rotary annual Rib Fest that takes place Monday September 7th, (Labour Day) at the Burlington Centre parking lot.
Couple of differences this time –
The entrance will be off Fairview – west of Guelph Line. There will be all kinds of signage,
The map set out below shows the route you will be taking once you are on the property.
Looks a little daunting – fear not the rate at which the traffic moves will ensure that you are not sitting in your car very long and there will be all kind of ushers to guide you.
Opens at 10 – runs until 7.
Last years just shy of 3,000 cars came through the parking lot.
You’re not allowed to get out of your vehicle – you won’t have to – everyone will come to you.
Just have your credit card at hand and you will find yourself on the way home with the sweet smell of those ribs with a side order of corn and some of those tiny donuts to leave you ‘feelin’ fine. They accept cash, debit, and credit, but payment by card is preferred.
What’s on the menu? Four ribbers to choose from.
By Pepper Parr
September 1st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Dr. Hamidah K. Meghani told the several thousand people who logged into the Virtual Town Hall last week: “We’re here for you!”
Dr Meghani is a Commissioner with the Region of Halton and the Medical Office of Health.
She is a parent with children; has called Oakville home for more than seven years.
 Dr. Hamidah K. Meghani is a Commissioner with the Region of Halton and the Medical Office of Health. Born in India, Meghani’s family immigrated to Canada when she was a child. She said she remembers seeing the impact of poverty on people in India and learning from her parents the importance of helping those in need. She credits these early experiences with helping to guide her to a career in public health.
She completed a Masters of Public Health in Family and Reproductive Health at Columbia University in New York City. She is a certified family physician, has completed training in public health and preventative medicine and is a Fellow with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.
During much of 2011, Meghani interned at Halton Region under former MOH Dr. Bob Nosal, who she succeeded after his 25 years in the role.
She was previously an Associate Medical Officer of Health in Hamilton,
The incoming MOH earned her medical degree from McMaster University in 2007 and did her residency at the University of Toronto, spending two years at St. Michael’s Hospital.
The pandemic we are dealing with is what she spends every waking hour of every day focused on.
It is not the job she thought she had when she was hired from the city of Hamilton a number of years ago – but it is the job she has learned to do and at this point is doing as well as anyone can expect.
The Regional Councillors can’t lay enough praise at the woman’s feet.
The public, especially parents with children in school, aren’t quite as positive. They are anxious and at some levels confused.
Meghani doesn’t make the rules. Her job is to interpret the rules to the best of her ability and do her level best to ensure that the public is safe.
When the province imposed a lock down on everyone and the public health units began to get reports of people infected with the Covid-19 virus the Public Health Unit had to find or create resources to meet the challenge.
On balance the Region of Halton has been spared when looked at on a per capita basis.
The geography helps – we don’t have any pockets of dense population and few people were going to their offices.
That is expected to change when students are back in school and parents begin to go back to their offices.
There was a tragic outburst at a long term care home in Halton Hills where 11 lives were lost. That location was a private operation with a solid reputation.
 One of the first public briefings Dr. Meghani took part in was a learning experience. She grew into that part of the job – but prefers to work at a distance (this was her mode of operation well before Covid-19) Here she supports Hamilton Health Sciences physician-in-chief Dr. Barry Lumb provides details after an oncologist at Juravinski Cancer Centre has tested positive for coronavirus. | Halton has four long term care homes run by the Region – there has not been one reported infection at any of the four locations – someone was doing something right.
The major early challenge for the Public Health units was learning how to quickly identify those thought to be infected and have them tested. In the early stages that at times took days and then a few more days to get the results back.
At that point any attempt to trace where the infection may have come from was close to wasted time.
It was several months before the Public Health Unit could get its hands on software that would allow almost instant tracking.
Today when a person is identified as infected the Public Health Unit is able to reach out and be in touch with every person the infected individual might have been with or near.
There is now a team in place that is on top of the tracking that has to be done.
Meghani’s current challenge is to assuage the concerns of parents and convince them that the safest place for their children is in a classroom.
While the numbers are decent – said to be at the 80% level – there are communities in the province where the response is above the 90% level.
The Board has yet to – and probably won’t – release accurate numbers. Their job is to get every child who is normally healthy into a classroom.
Meghani’s job is to help convince those parents that their children will be safe. And that if there is an outbreak in a school there are protocols and procedures in place to ensure that any hot spot is quickly and effectively isolated.
Meghani told the Virtual Town Hall that she and her team have “ been working together with the board at every step of the way through this planning process and we’re confident that we will be able to provide a safe and productive learning environment for students and staff.”
 Explaining Covid and its implications to your children is a lot easier than the sex ed conversation you had. She asked parents to: “Think about your child’s needs”
Does your child have:
• Special learning needs?
• Any medical conditions that may make them prone to severe disease if they get COVID-19?
Talk with your child’s doctor to discuss the risks.
So far, she explained, most children infected with the virus experience mild symptoms.
• Fever
• Cough
• Runny Nose
• Sore Throat
• Headache
• Body Ache
• Diarrhea
Many children have mild or no symptoms. Additionally, children account for a small number of COVID-19 cases overall.
Think about the people with whom you live
Most people will develop minor symptoms and recover on their own.
The risk of severe illness and outcomes is higher for those who are over 70, or who have chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or cancer.
Every family is unique
Decisions around heading back to school will be different for every family depending on:
• their child’s academic needs
• whether their child or household members are at increased risk of severe illness
• the family’s unique situation
The role of Public Health
Setting out what the role of Public Health is during a pandemic should really be: we do what has to be done when it needs to be done and prepare as well as we can for something that is new to everyone.
Work with the school board to ensure measures are in place to protect our students:
• active daily screening
• no mixing of cohorts (or classes) in the elementary years
• ensuring children understand how to properly wear face coverings or masks
• enhanced hand hygiene and cleaning
 An illustration of what the covid19 virus is believed to look like Support development of safe school reopening plans
Provide recommendations and resources to help school boards and private schools develop policies and procedures, adhere to infection prevention and control practices and plan measures to ensure the health and safety of staff, students, parents/guardians and visitors.
• Support training and educational opportunities
• Develop processes and protocols for managing sick students and staff
• Develop guidance around managing a confirmed case and an outbreak
• Ensure schools have child-friendly resources that support healthy behaviours.
The biggest tool we have working for us is our own individual behaviour. Wear a mask, wash your hands frequently and maintain a safe social distance. That little bugger of a virus wants to jump all over you.
If you want to know more about just how the virus does what it does – check out the link below. If your high school student child has an interest in science – pass it on.
How the virus gets inside you.
 By Staff
September 1st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Our Mayor reports that: “As work continues to create an engaging and pedestrian-friendly link between Martha Street and Brant Street, building a walkable and vibrant connection between the multi-use path (Centennial Bikeway) and our downtown core, the vote is in for the concept that will be used between Martha and Pearl Street.
“Our community took the time to vote and make their voices heard between July 27 and August 17 – and Concept 2 was the winner!
Construction on this section is slated to begin in the Spring of 2021.
There was no mention on how the vote worked – not any mention as to just how many people actually took part in the vote.
No mention either as to what the cost will be.
We can tell you that when completed the Promenade will allow a person to walk or cycle from the Oakville border to the border with Hamilton. And lots to see along the way.
 How many people voted for this and what is it going to cost ?
By Staff
September 1st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Grandparents are suddenly in demand. They are going to have the grandchildren closer to them that they have for some time.
Many parents have turned to their parents for support.
However, there are some grandparents, for a whole host of reasons, don’t get to see the grandchildren for that precious “face time”. The Canadian Association of Retired People has put together a list that can help grandparents establish a stronger relationship with children they aren’t able to see as much as they would like to.
 Is that boy teaching his grandfather to use that big tablet? Learn to use Facetime or Skype on your phone or computer so you can watch a show or movie on one while video chatting on the other simultaneously.
Set up specific times to visit online so your grandchildren have those to look forward to—kids like and need structure in these “covid-irregular” times.
Do simple fitness activities like chair yoga, stretches, walking on the spot etc. together, electronically.
Schedule shows, movies and other programs you will watch together and chat about, e.g. start watching a TV show or movie at the same time and chat on another device while watching, or after, so it’s a shared experience. If you only have phone access, watch the movie or TV ahead of time and then discuss.
Help your grandchildren write fun letters and take photos to send to other relatives.
Read a book to them over the phone or online.
 Who is wearing the biggest smile – and who made the bslloon set up? Ask them to make collections (such as similar toys, or old photos or other household handy items) as a sort of a Treasure Hunt.
Download books for a virtual age-appropriate book club discussion.
Listen to music with them and have them explain their music preferences to you.
If they are older, ask them to do errands like shopping for you (if they are nearby). Make them feel wanted and useful.
Show an interest and help with their school work.
Ask about and discuss their world of sports, e.g. what they are missing and how they think their favourite sports will rebound when the pandemic is under control.
Send your grandchildren a parcel every other week. You could include a craft to be done together with a parent, some ‘homework ‘ fun pages, homemade cookies, etc. Never send them the same day; keep them wondering when it will arrive and don’t tell when or what is in it.
Share recipes by texting pictures back and forth of what you have created. Make it a fun contest on baking/cooking a variety of different things.
Write down a favourite made-up story and share it as you would a book. Works for both kids and grandparents who have been in the habit of making up stories.
Watch the online kitchen parties that are full of singing and dancing together and showing support for front-line workers and support staff.
Watch them together by telephone or online.
 A scene that was repeated several million times when the lock in came to an end. A close colleague with strong views on social distancing has decided that he and his wife will home school their two grandchildren. They live in a rural setting where there are all kinds of things that can be done outside.
Both have experience teaching – something they acquired when they travelled the world and were able to spend some time with children in different countries. He taught younger people how to play a guitar and then left the one he brought with them as a gift.
She is an artist and worked with the younger people helping them write a short book and then illustrate it. It was a chance to teach English and Art at the same time.
We will look in on these two once classes actually start.
By Staff
September 1st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
By Pepper Parr
September 1st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
 No mention of what will happen to the school house. It does need an upgrade – perhaps the next time the park is being given some attention. Lowville Park will be closed to all vehicles starting September 8th, which is when Phase 2 of the Master Plan for the park will see construction begin.
Visiting the park will no longer require a reservation.
 Rob Peachey, on the left, Manager Parks and Open Spaces for the city, talks through some solutions to managing the very large weekend crowds. The park will remain open but visitors are strongly encouraged to walk or bike to the park as there will only be limited on-street parking at the east end of Lowville Park Drive. There is no other on-street parking in the area; please park according to the parking signage. Vehicles parked in other areas of the road will be ticketed.
Areas of the park under construction will be closed. For your safety, please stay out of the areas marked as closed.
 An advertisement that ran in the Milton Champion August 20th. Construction doesn’t talk to communications. The project will include:
• Picnic areas – renewal of two existing picnic areas with improved accessibility
• Parking lot renewal with new asphalt surface with improved drainage, improved entrance area, additional trees and plants. The number of parking spaces will be kept the same
• New information signage center to highlight trails and park facilities, including picnic areas
 A river runs through the park where the salmon spawn and children get to play. Construction is expected to be completed in December 2020, weather permitting.
Rob Peachey, Manager of Parks and Open Spaces explains that the “.. biggest change people will notice is the improved parking lot with improved drainage including bio-swales, trees and new asphalt. Once this is finished in December, Phase 2 of the Lowville Park Master plan will be complete. It is a great park that has a lot to offer families, nature lovers and anyone who wants to enjoy this beautiful, natural setting. Realize that there is very little parking available on Lowville Park Road.”
By Staff
August 31st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
A joint two day operation involving the Ministry of Transportation and Halton Regional Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspectors occurred on August 25 and 26, 2020, in Burlington.
 The results of the 2020 two day venture is as follows:
• 111 Inspections (heavy and light commercial motor vehicles)
• 40 vehicles placed out of service for either mechanical or driver related issues
• 110 Provincial Offence Notices issued
• 1 arrest for blood alcohol concentration 80mgs or more
The results of previous commercial vehicle inspects in 2018 and 2019 are set out below.
In 2019, despite very poor weather conditions they inspected more than 300 commercial motor vehicles.
The two-day enforcement blitz, that involved officers and inspectors from the Halton Regional Police Service, along with assistance from neighbouring police services, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Finance/ Environment yielded the following results:
• Total commercial motor vehicles inspected: 308
• Total commercial motor vehicles taken out of service: 99 (33 percent failure rate)
• Total charges laid: 239
• Sets of licence plates seized by police: 11
 Close inspections – it keeps the highways safer 2018 Results:
• Total commercial motor vehicles inspected: 443
• Total commercial motor vehicles taken out of service: 143 (32 percent failure rate)
• Total charges laid: 268
• Sets of licence plates seized by police: 13
Michele Bogle
August 31st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
In this segment of an ongoing series the article addresses continuing concerns as well as new ones. All of the staff and parents in this series have signed the “Intent to Return” Survey. The group participating is mixed with regard to whether their child is ‘distance learning’ or returning to school.
The participants in this series are real. Their names have been changed to preserve their identity.
 Dr. Hamida Meghani, – Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Halton – in the most stressful job of her career. We’ve learned from Halton Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Meghani, that the Health Protection and Promotion Act, requires a member of a household who tests test positive for the virus must self-isolate for 14 days.
Last Wednesday, at a virtual Town Hall, we learned that 16,000 have chosen distance learning over classroom attendance.
The Board is now scrambling to create three elementary and one secondary, virtual schools which calls for a significant deployment of teaching staff. The virtual schools will follow the traditional curriculum for both elementary and secondary students.
There were no specifics in the outline during last Wednesday’s town meeting with regard to Special Education classes. Details that were needed earlier than the August 23 deadline, in order for parents to decide whether their child returns or not. Grace Penny and her husband adopted two elementary aged children who require additional attention. Because of the lack of planning to make an informed choice she and her husband have opted to keep their children home. Grace added that there is a great financial burden associated with keeping their special needs children home. A decision, not made lightly. She continues that there is separate funding but that their combined income excludes them from qualifying.
Special Education Teacher Paul Pratt had questions about the use of shields instead of masks. Are there funds being allocated for these ‘in person’ students who are no longer sharing materials? Will the teachers be asked to use the materials that they have already purchased for their students and will they be reimbursed?
What will the ratio of EA’s be in these classes to meet needs in the new scenario? Superintendent Podrebarac spoke of “a host of choices” for protective gear but didn’t specify.
 Superintendent Terri Blackwell with Director of Education Stuart Miller at the original registration for the iStem program at Aldershot high school. Superintendent Blackwell addressed the subject of transportation in last Wednesday’s meeting. Each school bus would now be loaded to capacity, potentially three to a seat. While windows can be opened until the onset of colder weather, without the spacing earlier suggested, would the wind from the open windows blowing air directly into faces not much more than two feet behind in each row pose a health risk?
In this same meeting ventilation was addressed within the schools. For some older schools the standard code was for a class window to only open four inches for the safety of the children, when built. For some, like the classroom Sandra Parker taught in, there were no windows. This poses great concern for many of her colleagues and for those of Maria Vanelli’s.
Some teachers like Maria have a ‘high risk’ family member at home and have opted for virtual teaching. An answer to which would give her and her family great comfort in knowing if the Board will accommodate her.
Mila Sanchez and her husband, parents of two elementary aged girls, grades two and four works outside of the home. They are unable to find after school care for their children, a problem shared by many of their friends.
 The carpets will not be on the floors in Halton schools – those toys would be sanitized after every class, Elementary school teacher Maria Vanelli discussed that she was pleased about the new decision to have students in grades 1-3 wear masks. She suggested that parents might want to practice with their kids before the start date, 10 minutes a day gradually increasing the time. It would be of great help to the teachers. Her final thoughts, “Goes to show how COVID is affecting all aspects of life , from education to shortage of caregivers to added stress on all of us.”
Library Information Technician Carmen White would like everyone to keep in mind that, “It’s going to be scary for everyone and we need to realize that people deal with all of this differently and we need to be KIND to each other. Reality is, there isn’t the space, teachers or money for smaller classes, so we need to do the best we can.”
I hear an unyielding sense of frustration from parents and teachers. The Board has no easy task and no perfect plan, and not enough money to make it all right.
 Michele Bogle is a Burlington resident who writes for the Gazette on community issues. She has written several children’s books for ages 4-12, which can be found under the pseudonym, ‘Cameron S. Matthews’. Michele studied journalism from the University of Pennsylvania.
Related news stories in the series:
Part 1:
Part 2:
By Pepper Parr
August 31st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
How Burlington’s Lakeshore Rotary pivoted when it became obvious that they would not be able to hold their annual Rib Fest event at Spencer Smith Park. is an interesting story.
That pivot was succesfull enough for the very small team that made it happen on Canada Day decide to do it again – a bit differently but the same finger lickin ribs along with the sauce of your choice.
In June it was begining to look like summer was bound to become the summer of no fun with the cancellation of Canada’s Largest Ribfest, the Sound of Music festival, the City of Burlington’s Canada Day celebrations in Spencer Smith Park, as well as countless events, festivals and concerts in nearby cities.
 There were four ribbers at the Canada Day Drive Thru – all winners Canada’s Largest Ribfest held annually on Labour Day weekend is more than just an event the residents of Burlington look forward to, it is the major fundraiser of Burlington Lakeshore Rotary. The funds raised at CLR (short for Canada’s Largest Ribfest) goes to support so many great causes in Burlington and beyond, the team knew we had to come up with alternative ways to raise money in this COVID world.
Canada’s Largest Ribfest was born 25 years ago out of an idea that Rotarians Bob Peeling and John Thorpe brought to club after visiting a Ribfest in the USA.
 They came from the north –  They came from the south – They brought the idea of a Drive-Thru event to the club leadership – in the typical Rotary way the answer was – why not. Peeling and Thorpe then started working the telephones to make it happen.
They called in every favour they could think of. Burlington Mall came on side quite quickly – all they wanted was an opportunity for their tenants to be able to stay open.
The team was small. Thorpe describes it this way: – Key people on the committee were – no order other than the old guys are at the start – Bob, Paul, and Bill have all been involved from Day 1.
 At a glance it could have been mistaken for a downtown New York City traffic jam – there wasn’t a single bump report from the close to 3000 cars that flowed through. Bob Peeling, John Thorpe, Paul Kadlick, Bill Pittman, Jay Thomblison, Margaret Hayes, Eva Quijano, Karen Matthews and Dean Williams.
Peeling and Thorpe have an almost family relationship with the ribbers. The only unknown was – will people show up?
People showed up and while the cool breezes off the lake and the smell of ribs being cooked wasn’t in the air the event worked. It worked so well that the Rotarians are going to do it all over again.
September 7th – small changes in the way traffic will feed into the location – there wasn’t really anything wrong with the way they did things on Canada Day.
John Thorpe on the left and Bob Penning on the right. They were the two that brought the idea of a Rib Fest to Burlington at a time when they were not known by many. Decades later it is the event that closes the summer season. These two determined that there would be an event this September as well. Thorpe explained that ” While it will help replace some of the funds that we would have raised at Canada’s Largest Ribfest, the idea was to also help bring some fun back into summer after months of lockdown, and to help others affected by the shutdowns.
As much as Canada’s Largest Ribfest is an important part of the social fabric of the community, it also has numerous suppliers that have been affected.
By holding a Drive-Thru, we were able to help the Rib Teams and their employees, we were able to help some musicians that haven’t played in a live venue for months, the sound, electric and special event contractors, the sign makers and many others were helped.
Most importantly, we will be able to help local groups that we support from the funds we raised, and we helped create smiles and enjoyment in the 2,688 cars that came through.
By Staff
August 30th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Beth Martin Snook, the mother of two who Created Burlington Caremongers – renamed it Burlington Together and went on to attract 8000 people who became part of a group that worked well together.
She decided to share some group stats. By working together, donating, and connecting this group has been able to do amazing things! Cannot wait to see what we can do together in the future.
 Impressive stats – no matter how you look at them. The people who took part in what started out as a Gazette initiative and soon grew to the point where a team of about 30 people got involved in the cutting of cloth to be made into masks, then making the masks , then preparing them for delivery to various community groups including two city Councillors.
 Connie Price, right and Penny Hersh, left with Lisa Lunski do the handover of the last batch of the more than 3,000 masks that were made.
What was particularly interesting was the way in which the design and fabrication of the masks changed as new people got involved and added their skill sets and experience.
 Jan Mowbray at her bias binding-making machine stitching together the ties used in early versions of the face masks. City Councillor Shawna Stolte with her daughter wearing masks from the Gazette initiative. 
By Pepper Parr
August 30th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The province announced that 500 +/- nurses would be hired to assist the return of students to school.
 Every retired nurse in the province is going to want to take a closer look at this opportunity. What wasn’t at all clear at the time was who would actually do the hiring: the schools – they didn’t think so. The Regions – probably but they were still working their way through the document they got from the province and working out terms and conditions.
Meanwhile every retired nurse in the province who can find their little white cap with the black stripe would be lining up for what looked like an easy assignment.
 Not enough to put a nurse in every school but there should be enough to create a core of nurses at each Public Health Unit who can respond quickly. In its statement Halton Region set out what they expected – subject to a firm agreement in place of course.
Expected roles for School Health Nurses
Support existing school health and communicable disease control programs in public health by:
• Providing support to school boards and schools in the development and implementation of COVID-19 health and safety plans
• Providing sector specific support for:
• Infection prevention and control
• Surveillance, screening and testing
• Outbreak management; and
• Case and contact management
• Supporting communication and engagement with parents and local communities, as well as the broader health care sector.
With schools actually re-opening on the 14th – there will be enough time to get the nurses hired and train them for the task that will last until the end of the year.
The question in the air is – will there be a second wave and will Halton see very much in the way of infections?.
A school board just outside Montreal where schools opened last week reported a teacher who was found to be infected on the first day back in classrooms. Isolation for all the children she was teaching along with her own social circle.
 The provincial announcement was made late in July.
 By Burlington Terry Fox Run Committee
August 29th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
One thing that’s been a staple of the Terry Fox Run through the years is the commemorative t-shirt. For some, it’s a collector’s item, for others it’s a donation to the cause. Regardless, there’s always plenty of talk when the new t-shirt design is released by the Foundation.
I was fortunate to have “tuned in” to the Foundation’s monthly Zoom meeting when Fred Fox, Terry Fox’s brother, unveiled this year’s shirt design. For the 40th Anniversary, the Terry Fox Foundation held a design contest and this year’s shirt was created by Nick Jones of Saskatchewan. Congratulations, Nick!
 Cindy May in her red T-shirt. Running the mechanize tent has a very special meaning for her. Cindy May
To talk about the significance of the Terry shirts, merchandise and Terry’s Team, I talked to the Burlington Terry Fox Committee’s merch expert, Cindy May. While she’s stepping back for 2020 due to the fact that there will be no event to sell shirts at, she did reflect back on her role in selling the shirts over the years.
Before we get into that, Cindy’s story is an important one.
“I first joined [the committee] when I moved to Burlington 10 years ago” said May.
She was looking for a way to get involved in her new community and had personal reasons for choosing Terry Fox.
“I actually had the same cancer as Terry Fox, osteogenic sarcoma,” said May, “I had it in my right arm. I had that when I was 17.”
She credits Terry Fox and the Foundation for all the advances that have been made since Terry’s diagnosis in 1977.
Thirty-two years ago, Cindy had a life-saving surgery that allowed her to keep her arm, something that was less possible when Terry was diagnosed a decade prior. She received several follow-up treatments after her procedure to prevent the cancer from spreading to her lungs.
 Cindy May, centre, in one of the merchandise tents with a couple of her volunteers. As a cancer survivor, Cindy gets to wear probably the most significant type of Terry Fox shirt one can get and that’s the red shirt for Terry’s Team.
Terry’s Team
Over the years that Cindy has been selling the shirts on run day, people have commented on her red shirt asking if they can buy one. And while the red shirts are attractive, it’s not a shirt anyone should wish to wear.
The red shirts are not for sale, but rather are given to cancer survivors and fighters upon registration. When you register you are asked if you are a member of Terry’s Team (aka you have or have had cancer). The red shirts are a quiet reminder of how much cancer has touched our lives – a nod to survivors acknowledging the prevalence of this disease in our communities.
While survivors like Cindy are proud to be part of Terry’s Team, our ultimate goal is to reduce the number of red shirts we see.
Our hope is that the more money we raise, the fewer red shirts we will see in the future.
Tales from the Merch Tent
Cindy didn’t start in the merch tent during her first year on the committee. Prior to running the t-shirt tent on run day, Cindy and her graphic designer husband Agostino, worked on the “Dedication” and “Thank You” boards.
After three years of working on the dedications boards, she took over shirt sales on run day. One year, the tent was decorated with all the shirts from past runs – showing how the designs had changed over the years.
When I asked for her thoughts and memories of run day she said, “it’s a great day. It’s always a great day. We raise a lot of money. I enjoy doing it. It’s my small part.”
Roles big or small, the Burlington Terry Fox Committee is full of incredible, selfless people, like Cindy May, who do their part to continue this proud Canadian tradition.
Shirts for Cancer Research
 The 40th anniversary T shirt – available now. By purchasing the new Terry Fox t-shirt or other merchandise each year you are supporting cancer research. Because Cindy won’t be able to set up shop on September 20th to sell shirts this year, we encourage participants to purchase shirts when registering for this year’s run. You can also reach out to the Burlington committee to see what we have available.
If you are a member of Terry’s Team, be sure to indicate that when you register to get your red shirt.
Hopefully we will all see Cindy’s smiling face at the Merch Tent in 2021!
Craig Gardner is co-ordinating shirt sales from his home. People are either picking them up or he delivers locally. We accept cash/cheque or e-transfer.
We started with about 120 shirts in various sizes (Unisex 6X and YM(size 10) for kids at $15 each and s/m/l/xld xxl for adults at $20 each) and have sold almost half in the past 3 days.
Gardner is going to try to order more; he isn’t sure if he will be successful as the foundation ordered fewer in general as they thought it would be a slower year. Not in Burlington. You can reach Craig at: scraiggardner@sympatico.ca
By Staff
August 28th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has received an application for a 14th cannabis retail store in Burlington called Meta Cannabis Co. Walker Place. The proposed location at 3505 Upper Middle Rd., Unit D003 is now up for public comment.
 Written comments about the proposed location will be received by the AGCO until Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 and may be submitted online at www.agco.ca/iAGCO. The AGCO will accept submissions from:
• A resident of the municipality in which the proposed store is located
• The municipality representing the area in which the proposed store is located and/or its upper-tier municipality.
Comments submitted to the AGCO should relate to the following matters of public interest:
• Protecting public health and safety
• Protecting youth and restricting their access to cannabis
• Preventing illicit activities in relation to cannabis
After Sept. 10, the AGCO will consider all written comments and available information to decide whether the application for the proposed store location will be approved.
 Line up at a Burlington cannabis location on their opening day. Currently there are eight licensed cannabis retail stores in Burlington, including three approved since the ACGO moved to an open licensing system for cannabis retail store applications earlier this year. The eight stores include:
• Relm Cannabis Co. 4031 Fairview St. Suite 103
• Corner Cannabis 3007 New St.
• The Hunny Pot Cannabis Co. 1505 Guelph Line, Unit 3-4
• Friendly Stranger Plains Road 1025 and 1059 Plains Rd. E., Unit 3
• Pioneer Cannabis Co. 1200 Brant St., Unit B-004
• mihi 3500 Dundas St., Unit A1B
• Canna Cabana Burlington 2400 Guelph Line, Unit 2
• Welcome Cannabis 1401 Plains Rd., Unit 5
Four additional cannabis retail stores are under review by the AGCO and two are out for comment, including the current application.
The city includes the following statement in every media release they issue:
“Burlington is ranked as Canada’s best community and best place to raise a family. It is a City where people, nature and businesses thrive. As residents continue to rediscover many of their favourite spaces and activities in the city.”
City Council voted to allow the operation of retail cannabis stores in Burlington on January 14th 2019
Oakville does not have any retail cannabis locations. All that business comes to Burlington.
By Pepper Parr
August 28th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
In a statement released by the Halton Region Public Health office we learn that they “continue to work closely with the Ministry of Health, local school boards and community partners to ensure all students return to a safe learning environment this September.
 Dr Meghani, the Regional Medical Officer of Health “This includes providing recommendations to school boards for reopening to be considered in conjunction with directives and guidance provided by the Province. The school boards decide what measures to implement based on their circumstance.”
The key words are that the school boards make the decisions.
 Setting this classroom up so that the students are six feet apart if not going to be an easy. As families prepare for the start of the school year, Halton Region Public Health is communicating directly with parents in several ways, including a video, a letter and webinar events (the HCDSB webinar was Tuesday night and HDSB webinar was Wednesday evening,”
Halton, like the rest of the province is “waiting to hear from the Province about the terms and conditions on funding to hire nurses, however there are many public health nurses and several staff who are already supporting the school administrators and community. We will also be recruiting temporary nurses to help with our efforts in schools.”
The decision by the Halton District School Board to move the opening up of classrooms to the 14th of September with some students being introduced to their classroom the week before, has school principals scrambling to learn which parents have decided to send their children back to the classroom and how many have decided to have their children stay at home and learn on line.
A Milton parent set out the concern many have about sending their child into a classroom; she said: “I’ve decided to keep the kids home for the foreseeable future.
“I’ve had to drop most of my volunteer commitments to focus on work and the kids. It hasn’t been easy but we have settled into a nice routine and are enjoying the time that we have together. This whole COVID thing has forced me to really take a deep look at my priorities and for now it’s my family.”
School principals have to work on a class by class, grade by grade level to learn what the population of the school is going to be. With this data they can determine how many students will be in a class. If sufficient numbers decide to stay home a principal may have to combine classes.
Logistically it is a bit of a nightmare.
 Short trips – full loads. School busing just another potential problem area. Getting students to school is a challenge as well. Those who take the school bus (many really have no choice) will find that the most recent plan was to fill each bus but to make the trips as short as possible.
The Board’s Superintendents have all been assigned to specific problem areas: elementary, secondary, mental health – name the problem and there will be a senior staff person on top of it and tracking the problems.
These people have been working flat out since March when they found that they had to recreate the way students were to be educated amidst an environment where the province took the time they needed to determine what was safest and the most politically expedient.
The virtual Town Hall did give the public a good opportunity to ask questions on Wednesday and Board senior staff were able to provide answers. There wasn’t a lot of good news.
Parents can forget the idea of actually entering a school. The doors will not be open to a parent who wants to meet with and talk to a teacher about problems with their child.
 Teaching the high school students to stay within their cohorts is going to be a challenge – one MMR principal Claire Proteau is up to. Given what we know about covid-19 – and there is a lot that is not known – the focus is now on limiting as much as possible who students interact with.
This virus is spread from person to person – the solution then is to limit the number of people a student interacts with.
Every student will bring with them every person they and members of their family have interacted with and then interact with fellow students who bring the same thing with them.
Situations like this drive the public health people crazy – they wait, poised, to move quickly when there is a sign that there might be an infected student in a school and if there is they move immediately to trace the contacts and inform them that they need to self-isolate.
All it takes is for one high school student to go to a party, pick up an infection and bring it back to their class and spread whatever they might have picked up.
There is a huge bureaucracy in place to deal with the problems – and there will be problems.
The first line of defence is in the homes – explaining to students who see themselves as invincible, that they are both part of the problem and probably the biggest part of the solution.
We are about to find out how good we are at taking care of ourselves as a community.
–
By Pepper Parr
August 27th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
While the Medical Officer of Health is responsible for health matters – that responsibility doesn’t include what happens at your front door as the kids head for school.
 Dr Meghani, Regional Commissioner and Medical Officer of Health For parents – it starts at home.
Dr. Hamidah Meghani told the virtual Town Hall audience that parents are going to have to work with their children to explain what is going to be different when they return to school.
There were several thousand people listening to the presentation and more than 2600 questions were sent in before the meeting began.
A lot of information was passed along during the presentations but there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
The Gazette will beaver away at getting answers for you.
By starting at home Dr Hamidah Meghani meant “talking to your children about what is going to be different” and to refer to the poster the board had made available, which has a check list of the things to watch for.
She made the point that socialization was a huge part of an education and having students in classroom was better than their being at home.
A lot of parents didn’t agree with that statement and have chosen to keep their children at home and have them learn virtually.
There is a lot of follow up to be done. Material that was presented last night has not yet been made available to media.
When it is available we will publish it.
The organization of the elementary classes will be considerably different than those at the secondary level.
The Halton District School Board had its plan in place weeks ago but could not proceed with it until approved by the Ministry.
New rules about personal safety were put out by the Ministry yesterday afternoon – making it extremely difficult for both the Boards of Education and the Regional Public Health unit to properly inform the public.
Expect their analysis and interpretation of the documents they got yesterday to be done by the end of the day – the Gazette will pass those along when we can get access to them
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