 By Pepper Parr
June 24th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The bubble burst yesterday.
The anger and resentment that has been building up for more than a year is finally very very public.
Three members of Council released a Joint statement on Wednesday setting out their displeasure with Mayor Meed Ward. A copy of that document (page 1) is set out below.
Page two of the Joint Statement
While the specific issue was the way the Mayor was over-riding the process and procedure she wanted to use to allow the painting of six Rainbow Cross walks across the city, it was also the straw that broke the camel’s back.
 Has the Mayor made the Rainbow Crosswalks the hill she is prepared to die on? The Mayor chose to send out a tweet early on Wednesday thanking three Councillors for their support and being less than collegial to the other three.
Councillors Bentivegna, Nisan and Galbraith were thanked for their support while Councillors Kearns, Stolte and Sharman were ignored leaving the impression that they were not true supporters of the LGBTQQIP2S+ community.
Support for the LGBTQQIP2S+ community is divided in Burlington.
The Halton District Catholic School Board decided not to permit the flying of the Pride flag outside their schools while the public school board permitted the flying of the flag.
While the issue of support for the LGBTQQIP2S+ is important, very important, the Joint Statement isn’t really about the flags or Rainbow Crosswalks – it is some Councillors saying they have had enough of the mayor’s antics.
On the surface the Mayor is all kissy kissy, nice nice. Referred to as the Red Queen by her detractors Mayor Meed Ward has yet to find a way to build community without body checking the other members of Council.
For the most part she doesn’t treat the five new Council members as equals – they haven’t earned their spurs yet in the Mayor’s eyes; they haven’t gone through the eight hard years Marianne went through as she battled to bring about changes in the kind of growth that was taking place.
Many felt the small village feel that many loved about the downtown core was being lost. Meed Ward positioned herself at the person who could change that; the voters believed her and elected her as Mayor.
The five newer council members see things differently, while Councillor Sharman, who once filed nomination papers to run for Mayor, sits on the sidelines waiting for Meed Ward to slip to take a run for the Chain of Office.
Feelings are running high, ambitions are coming to the surface. There are at least two of the five newcomers who are harbouring and nurturing plans to seek the office of Mayor.
However it is not just political ambition behind the very public squabble. The newcomers have found their footing and no longer want to be treated as people going through a process of on-the-job training.
They resent the way the Mayor feels she can dip into the reserve funds at will; they are troubled with the need the Mayor seems to have to hog all the limelight.
They are fiscally conservative and realize they are staring at a possible 5% tax increase in an election year.
Many of those who follow local politics closely are beginning to realize that the Red Queen is not a team player, that there is a streak of revenge within the woman and a tendency to alienate people for all the wrong reasons.
 Was the way the Mayor treated three members of her council a political misstep? Is there a reckoning awaiting the Mayor? Time will tell; the summer is a lighter period of time for city hall.
Much more to think about on this matter. Stay tuned.
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Staff
June 23, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Robin is with Tiffany Page – owner of the Skyway Diner on Plains Road – who have been operating a nice sunny patio while they wait for the next signs from our government.
 Robin Bailey with Tiffany Page at the Skyway Diner in Aldershot. Great food and excellent service here – and they are also running a promotion to help us out. For the month of June bring a food item to the Skyway Diner and they will donate to the Burlington Food Bank when you pick up take-out or (fingers crossed) dine-in and enter to win one of three $50 gift cards!
Food Drive contest runs June 1 to June 30 and winners will be announced on Canada Day, July 1.
We appreciate that even though Skyway was struggling through the pandemic closures and restrictions, they still managed to add on a thoughtful food drive for families in Burlington. Everything helps us. Check out the Skyway Diner
– Thank you https://www.facebook.com/SkywayDinerBurlington
If you are in need or know of someone who could use our help, PLEASE have them email us at info@burlingtonfoodbank.ca or call 905-637-2273 to make arrangements to have food dropped at their door or make arrangements to pick it up through our curb-side pickup option. If you are a resident in Burlington, we are all here to help. Don’t struggle – give us a call.
 By Staff
June 23, 2021
BURLINGTON,, ON
The provincial government is going to spend $3.7 million to cover the costs of providing transportation to vaccination centres for the disabled.
The program is a partnership with the Ontario Community Support Association to help people with disabilities, including seniors with mobility issues, get to and from vaccination sites so they can get their shot and help stop the spread of COVID-19.
 Transportation can be arranged for disabled and seniors with mobility issues. To date, over three-quarters of all adults in Ontario have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with nearly 26 per cent fully immunized. The Accessible Drive To Vaccines program will ensure that anyone who wants a vaccine is able to by connecting eligible individuals with staff and volunteers who will drive them to and from local vaccination sites across the province.
This includes individuals who have not yet received their first shot, or anyone who may require additional support to access their second.
“Our government understands that some Ontario residents may face barriers in traveling to a vaccination site,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “This program will ensure that transportation is not a barrier to vaccination. It will help many Ontarians with mobility issues get vaccinated.”
This initiative will focus on helping people who do not have access to accessible transportation through family, neighbours or community organizations.
“In many communities across Ontario, the dedicated staff and volunteers who work in the community support sector have been providing safe rides to vaccination sites for several months,” said Deborah Simon, OCSA’s Chief Executive Officer. “As demand continues to grow, we’re pleased to be involved in coordinating this project, which recognizes, supports, and extends the capacity of these hard-working organizations to help vulnerable people protect themselves against COVID-19.”
Getting as many Ontarians as possible vaccinated is a critical part of the government’s strategy to fight COVID-19.
 By Tom Muir
June 22nd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 A graphic representation of what a single virus particle looks like. The COVID19 virus emerging in the human species globally is what is known scientifically as an “extinction level event”.
It emerged in one place and spread around the world in three months hitching a ride in traveling humans.
The virus then shut down the world more or less.
The virus is microscopic in size: 5um. One um is equal to 0.001 mm, or about 0.000039 inch.
Tom Muir is a resident of Aldershot and a retired federal civil servant who has worked at scientific analysis most of his career.
 By Pepper Parr
June 22nd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The plan to rename Ryerson public school started when the Halton District School Board trustees were looking at the progress they had made in their Multi-Year Strategic Plan (2020-2024) , in which they committed to champion supportive and inclusive practices, and to promote knowledge and understanding of Indigenous perspectives and realities.
 Halton District school Board Chair Andrea Grebenc wants to name of the school changed and would like to see the evidence based approach to making decisions continued. Problem is some of the evidence is more emotional than factual. One of the first steps was to “to assess how we as a school board can raise awareness”. The trustees wanted to build their understanding of the truth and take action, which included addressing common misperceptions about Canadian history. “We must start this critical and necessary conversation and truth.”
 The statue of Egerton Ryerson was vandalized, then toppled with the head of the man mounted on a pole on the reservation in Western Ontario “Ryerson Public School was named for Egerton Ryerson’s contributions to the education system. E. Ryerson was pivotal in the design of Canada’s residential school system arguing that “Indians should be schooled in separate, denominational, boarding, English-only and agriculturally-oriented (industrial) institutions.
“In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded that this assimilation amounted to the genocide of Indigenous people.
“People and organizations are being challenged to confront all forms of bias, discrimination and harm, including in the colonial context which is still very real today. We have also heard from the local school community which includes Indigenous voices.”
 Fallon Melander, an Indigenous mother with children attending the school formally asked that the name of the school be changed. Fallon Melander, an Indigenous parent, formally requested an examination of the use of the Ryerson name.
As Trustees, they felt there was a “need to lead by example and have the courage to approach these difficult conversations.
“We recognize that when we know better, we do better.
“As years have gone by and truths have been uncovered, we have a responsibility, in collaboration with our staff and communities, to re-evaluate past decisions and address accordingly. The perspectives of the diverse communities of Halton must be valued and honoured. Indigenous students, staff and the broader community should be able to enter a school without being harmed by the HDSB upholding the name of a person that has contributed to genocide.
 Trustee Margo Shuttleworth – believes the sign has to be replaced. “Today, many institutions are re-evaluating their use of the name Ryerson — we must do the same.”
The original motion was to be immediately remove the name “Ryerson” from the school located at 565 Woodview Road, Burlington, Ontario and to initiate the renaming process for a public school.
It turned out to be quite a bit more complex than that.
The renaming process must take place, including public consultation, before a new name can be decided upon.
It is going to cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to remove the signs – there are three of them. The Staff recommendation was that two be removed immediately and that the third be covered until the school has been renamed.
Report cards for the school year that is ending will state that the student graduated from Ryerson Public School.
The school that students report to in September will still be known as Ryerson Public school. Athletic wear and forms will still have the word Ryerson on them.
The Board of Education has a procedure for renaming a school. In order to ensure full public consultation the Board decided to have the committee that will be handling any re-naming report back no later than November 3oth, 2021.
 The trustees want the school name sigh to be replaced with a new name. Not much public input on that decision. The research that was done to support the decision to re-name the school was done by Trustee Shuttleworth. The Gazette has asked for access to the source documents. We have yet to receive that research.
Trustee Shuttleworth is not an historian nor is she known to be highly versed in this publicly contentious issue.
 Trustee Amy Collard – remove the sign immediately. The vote on the motion was unanimous. Trustee Oliver said there was an “urgent nature” to this decision. Trustee Danielli said she felt this was the right thing to do and Trustee Collard wanted the sign taken down immediately.
Director Miller explained that there had to be a sign on the building for safety purposes. He didn’t comment on the purpose a sign would serve if it was to be covered up. There will apparently be signage explain the cover-up.
There is another chapter to this story. Stay tuned.
By Staff
June 21st, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Provincial Liberal Association announces two candidates seeking the nomination for the next provincial election scheduled for June 2022
There are two candidates.
Vying for the nomination as the official candidate of the Ontario Liberal Party in the electoral district of Burlington are:
 Andréa Grebenc https://trustandrea.com  Mariam Manaa https://www.mariammanaa.ca A live webcast will be held allowing the public to hear speeches/presentations by the candidates for the nomination.
Everyone can register to view these presentations.
A video of the webcast will be posted and available for viewing later.
Date: June 23, 2021
Time: 7 to 8 PM
Click to register HERE.
Voting will take place on Saturday June 26, 2021 between 11am to 8pm.
Members that are registered to vote in the nomination contest will receive an email with instructions on how to vote, and your personal PIN number that authenticates you for voting. Voting can be done online or by phone.
If you are a Member of the Burlington Provincial Liberal Association and you do not receive an email with instruction by Thursday, June 24 at 5PM, please contact vote@ontarioliberal.ca
 By Staff
June 21st, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 Friends of Freeman Station, the not-for-profit charity in Burlington (Ontario) run by volunteers working together to preserve a 1906 Grand Trunk Railway Station, have added a caboose and a box car to their rolling stock.
The boxcar is believed to have been in service when Burlington farmers would take their produce down to the station to be loaded on to trains and delivered to Toronto and Montreal.
First to arrive was the Boxcar – Canadian Pacific #404109. Weighing in at LT WT 43,000, it is green in colour with white lettering.
 Boxcar – Canadian Pacific # 404109. The wooden walls are in excellent shape as is the steel roof.
Then CN caboose #78188 arrived. Built in October 1929, records indicate it is AAR class NE Caboose type M930 built of wood by CN Transcona.
Until recently both railcars were on display at Memory Junction in Brighton Ontario, a railway park for visitors at the site of the old Brighton Railway Station.
 CN caboose # 78188 Brighton is located between Cobourg and Trenton and sits on the CN and CP lines originally laid in the 1850s and are still used daily.
Memory Junction had to close in 2020 due to various reasons and all the displays were removed at auction in October 2020.
Prior to Brighton – these cars were on display in Trenton Ontario. Before that, the caboose was displayed at Doon Pioneer Village in Kitchener in the 1990s.
The cars will be placed on the new track that has been laid immediately to the north/west side of the Freeman Station building.
 Brought into the Freeman Station by a team of horses pulling a wagon to be loaded onto boxcars for delivery to Toronto and Montreal. Some of the better produce was transported to Europe. After some work is done inside and out the cars will be open to the public to visit. These cars give the charity more much needed room to display the artifacts and stories they have accumulated.
Once the COVID restrictions are lifted visitors can see the city’s newest tourist attraction joining the Joseph Brant Museum, Ireland House and the Pier – must see Burlington locations.
Funding for the acquisition, transport and set up of the cars was provided by member donations as well as a large donation from one of their sponsors.
 By Pepper Parr
June 21st, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
For a period of time Covid19 had us all staying indoors. Then we were allowed to go out and boy did we ever go out.
In some locations it looked as if we took all our garbage with us. As a result popular destinations along the Bruce Trail have become trail use “hotspots” which is not quite what the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) had in mind when it came to promoting responsible use of the trails.
The more well-known conservation areas tend to be hotspots because of the facilities and parking . At Mount Nemo and Crawford Lake are now being managed via reservation systems to control visitation.
 The BTC is responsible for a continuous footpath (~900 km) that travels through private and public lands. With over 300 access points the BTC cannot issue day use permits, create reservation systems, regulate timed entries, or other visitor management techniques being done by other land-management agencies.
However, as a conservation organization facilitating public access to natural spaces in a UNESCO World Biosphere, the Bruce Trail Conservancy has an important role to play in addressing hotspot issues and minimizing their impacts.
The Bruce Trail people recently hired six Trail Ambassadors to perform visitor outreach and litter clean-ups and to patrol and chat with people asking them to respect the trail and take their garbage with them.
The people you will bump into will have badges on their shirt or jacket.
Related news story:
Ambassadors take up station on Bruce Trail
 By Staff
June 19th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 Burlington MPP Jane McKenna gets a shuffle – she is now the Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues.
Previously McKenna was the Associate Minister for Labour.
By Staff
June 19th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
As of Friday, June 18, 2021, 453,614 doses have been administered in Halton, which includes 376,399 first doses and 77,215 second doses.
 This represents 75 per cent of Halton’s population aged 12 and up who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 15 per cent who have received both doses.
Yesterday, the MoH announced that individuals who received their first dose on or before May 30 can reschedule their second dose appointment at a shortened interval through Halton’s online booking system starting today.
By Staff
June 18th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
I recently received correspondence from the Chair of the Board of the Halton District School Board (HDSB) notifying me that the Trustees, at their June 16, 2021 meeting, approved a motion to rename Ryerson Public School on Woodview Road in Burlington in accordance with the Board’s Naming and Renaming Schools Policy and Governance Procedure.
A city-owned park adjacent to the school also bears the Ryerson name.
 The Mayor is now ashamed of the man who created the public education system that has served everyone very well. The statue to commemorate the man who created the public school system in Ontario was first defaced and then toppled Ryerson Public School and adjacent Ryerson Park are named after Egerton Ryerson for his contributions to the Ontario education system, however, Ryerson was also instrumental in the design of Canada’s Residential School system. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada concluded this assimilation amounted to the genocide of Indigenous peoples.
The City of Burlington is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and the names we choose for our municipal properties must reflect that commitment – both going forward, and in retrospect. As part of that commitment, Burlington City Council recently unanimously endorsed the Halton Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Charter produced by the Halton Equity and Diversity Roundtable. We have also recently updated our naming policies to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion is integrated in all our asset naming.
There have been growing calls to remove Ryerson’s name from public buildings and institutions, including Ryerson University in Toronto, where a report on the matter is expected to come before their president and board of directors this fall.
I support the change the HDSB is making and the reasons behind it.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward As part of our continued commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, I am working with City of Burlington staff to bring forward a report to Committee and City Council in July 2021 recommending removing the Ryerson name from our park and embarking on the council-approved naming process. We expect this process to be complete by November 2021. We will keep you updated on this process and opportunities for members of the public, including the HDSB, to provide input.
Our Indigenous community needs to enjoy our parks and public spaces without a reminder of one of the architects of the Residential School system and the legacy of harm it created for their people. Renaming our city park is one step we can take toward reconciliation with our Indigenous residents.
 By Nicholas Jerome
June 18th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The worldwide sports betting industry is huge, to say the least. To countries such as the UK, it is worth an estimated £14 billion a year to their economy. The explosion of online betting, as well as gambling in online casinos over the last decade or so, has only led to an increase in the popularity of sports betting. That is unless you are a resident in Canada.
 Betting on individual games is not possible at this point in time. Where sports betting is concerned, Canada seemed to be left in somewhat of a time warp: lawmakers refusing to allow the country to follow where the rest of the world was heading. The criminal code of Canada meant that it was illegal to bet on single events in the country.
This left Canadians unable to bet on their favorite sports unless they turned to unregulated markets. As we are half way through 2021, is this something that is about to change?
It’s been a long road
Those in Canada have long sought changes to the law surrounding sports betting. For sports fans, the appeal was obvious, but for politicians and those in power, there were also clear indications of how such a change could benefit the economy. The last major change to betting laws in Canada came way back in 1985 and have long needed an overhaul.
 The federal government level changes the Criminal Code. There have been regular attempts to have gambling laws reviewed and to open the world of sports betting to residents in Canada with some already on the lookout for a bet365 bonus code. Each time there has been an insurmountable hurdle. With no specific laws against match-fixing, betting on single events remained a concern for lawmakers and posed issues when reviewing the current betting laws.
Where Canada is now
November 2020 saw the introduction of Bill C-13 by the Liberal government. This bill sought to bring Canada into the present and open the future of sports betting. With the bill having had its first reading back in December 2020, Canada had hoped that the law would have seen a change before Christmas was upon us all.
The hope is that the bill will be revisited and passed, early in the new year. This would see new laws surrounding sports betting coming into effect in the spring of 2021.
Sports betting in Canada, 2021 and beyond
For sports and betting enthusiasts, the upcoming law change can only be a positive. The opportunity to participate in betting in a regulated market has long been sought by those in Canada.
 The data shows the impact gambling has on an economy. The legalization of sports betting is also sure to draw a new crowd: rather than those who had risked a grey market for years, others are now sure to enter the world of betting. Preparing for, and harnessing, the growth in demand can only lead to a positive ripple effect through the Canadian economy.
With the deal being already done, 2021 will be a year that defines change and one that will be looked back on as truly groundbreaking.
By Pepper Parr
June 18th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
It was a solid exchange of views between the Chief Executive Officer of the West End Home Builders Association and members of Burlington’s city council.
 Mayor Meed Ward  Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns Mike Collins–Williams was opposed to the shifting of the Urban Growth Centre boundaries to well north of the downtown core up to the Burlington GO station where there are plans for significant development.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward had gotten what she wanted and took exception to Collins–Williams suggesting that downtown had been sterilized when the boundary was moved.
Councillor Nisan termed the use of the word sterilize as disgusting, inappropriate and “inflammatory”.
 The construction cranes are in place – the building will rise floor by floor in the months ahead.  Construction is underway. It didn’t get any better for Collins-Williams when Councillor Kearns asked him to explain what it was that the home builders association wanted that city policies were not giving them. She followed this up by asking: “What might we be missing that the policies in place do not address?”
The debate was part of a Statutory meeting taking place at Regional Council last Wednesday.
The debate at the Region was never the kind of debate that took place at Burlington city hall between 2010 and 2018. The stark differences between the interests of the developers and the intentions of the current council was laid bare. It was the driving issue in the 2018 election and the voters liked what Meed Ward was offering better than what either Rick Goldring or Mike Wallace had put on the table.
Someone paid a third party advertiser to do what they could to influence the views of the voters – it didn’t work.
The debate heard on Wednesday was never heard in Burlington’s Council chambers in previous Statutory meeting occasions.
When the then Golding council approved the Carriage Gate development that would put a 26 storey tower opposite city hall the then city manager is reported to have gotten up to shake hands with the developer.
 If the developers get their way there won’t be much park space for the public in that football shaped property. There are three developments working their way through the planning process. The development opportunities on Brant Street south of Caroline are exceptional, as are those in the football between Lakeshore and Old Lakeshore Road where there are a number of developments working their way through the planning process (clogged up at LPAT hearings at the moment) that will result in a significantly different Burlington if they get built.
Development in Burlington is focused on profit, not on the creation of community. The building of high rise condominiums changes the scale, scope and streetscape, which determines how people relate to the community.
There is little in the way of input from the people who are going to live with the buildings. The condominium going up opposite city hall is built right out to the property line and soars straight up for 26 floors.
Some developers do create designs that embrace the street. The Molinaro group has a development that puts two towers on either side of Brant Street at Ghent, that have slight curves, which leave the impression the buildings are communicating with each other. If built they will become the gateway out of the downtown core to a different Burlington that will rise beside the Go station.
Appreciation for architecture rests in the eye of the beholder and what the public is seeing now is quite different than what was built along Lakeshore decades ago.
During the required Statutory meetings the developers set out what they want to do and explain that they are meeting all the required rules.
 Mike Collins-Williams represented the interests of the developers during the required Statutory meeting on the changes being made to the Regional Official Plan. What doesn’t take place is a dialogue between the architect and the public on what the public would like to see built on the streets they will live, work and play on.
Usually the first time a citizen sees a building is when they look at a glossy brochure.
Architects are hired by developers to create a pleasing looking building that meets the aspirations (and at times the egos) of the developer and doesn’t cost a fortune to build.
Developers are not in the housing business, they are in the profit-making business – and in a capitalistic society that is the way the game is played and accepted.
Selling housing isn’t the same as selling soap.
The homes that are built determine to a large degree the kind of society we have. Human beings need space; the developers refer to that space as amenities.
This isn’t a Burlington problem – it is one that plagues the country. However there is no reason a change cannot at least begin in Ontario. And if Mayor Meed Ward can pull that off – good on her.
Related news story
Lobbyist states the case for sticking with old Urban Growth plan
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
By Pepper Parr
June 17th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Regional Council met Wednesday morning and on their agenda was a Statutory meeting required under the Municipal Act to permit the public to respond to changes in the Regional Official Plan.
There were a number of delegations. The one from the West End Home Builders Association (WEHBA) formerly the Hamilton Halton Home Builders’ Association) which represents approximately 300 member companies across Hamilton and Halton Region with the industry employing over 22,700 people, paying $1.4 billion in wages, and contributed over $2.6 billion in investment value within the local economy in 2019, was delivered by Michael Collin-Williams.
As a key partner to Halton Region in the delivery of new housing supply and the building of complete communities, WE HBA wishes to ensure we can effectively work together towards a range of housing choices at prices and rents people can afford in Halton Region.
ROPA 48 and the Future of Halton Region’s Growth
Our region is growing rapidly – The Greater Golden Horseshoe is anticipated to grow from approximately 10 million people today to just under 15 million by 2051 – to put this into context, that is the equivalent of the entire population of Greater Montreal moving here over the next 30 years.
Halton Region is forecast to take on its fair share and to grow by 485,000 residents and 220,000 jobs by 2051.
In its current form, ROPA 48 presents risks to Halton Region’s ability to effectively and efficiently promote housing development and construction in accordance with the Housing Supply Action Plan.
Through consultation on Halton’s IGMS, City of Burlington staff recommended Growth Concept 3A/B as being most closely aligned to the City’s goals.
 Development lobby wants to squash the permitted change to the Urban Growth Centre. Therefore, Halton Region should not approve ROPA 48 without modification to the proposed relocation of Burlington’s Urban Growth Centre given the change to the Downtown Burlington UGC runs contrary to this very ambitious growth scenario through higher levels of intensification.
Downtown Burlington & ROPA 48:
The Burlington Downtown UGC was established as one of 25 UGCs in the initial growth plan in 2006 to direct both growth and investment to downtown Burlington.
Each review of the Growth Plan through both Liberal and Conservative governments maintained the Downtown Burlington UGC to establish long-term planning certainty.
Currently, ROPA 48 proposes to change the boundary of the Downtown Urban Growth Centre to exclude almost all of Downtown Burlington, including the existing regional public service facilities, commercial, recreational, cultural and entertainment facilities.
 The first downtown condo to have shovels in the ground is opposite City Hall. The WE HBA is disappointed by the announcement yesterday that the provincial government will permit the removal and relocation of the Downtown Urban Growth Centre.
While we absolutely support intensification and growth of the Burlington GO Lands that are designated as MTSAs – we believe that the downtown and the GO station areas represent different markets and should both have planning frameworks that support growth and intensification.
Complete Communities and the Flip of the Downtown Urban Growth Centre
WE HBA maintains that directing growth away from Downtown Burlington—an emerging complete community—does a disservice to the City and Halton Region.
With Halton Region proposing aggressive intensification targets, WE HBA believes the Region should be capitalizing on significant investments that have been made in Downtown Burlington by both the public and private sectors.
The WE HBA believes that redirecting growth away from downtown Burlington loses sight of the progress that has been made in revitalizing downtown Burlington.
Further to this, WE HBA notes that the land by the Burlington GO Station serves a different purpose in the City than downtown Burlington.
The WE HBA recognizes BOTH populations and locations are important components of the Burlington community, and supports a greater focus on planning towards creating a complete community for residents surrounding the GO Station.
For this reason, WE HBA recommends ROPA 48 be amended to either:
not relocate the Downtown Burlington Urban Growth Centre OR as a compromise to expand the boundary of the existing Downtown Urban Growth Centre to include BOTH Downtown Burlington and the Burlington GO Station lands.
Our association respects that this is a long and multi-layered process and is strongly supportive of the Region of Halton continuing to work with stakeholders to advance ROPA 48 through the process to achieve conformity with the Growth Plan by July 1, 2022.
Lastly – we support the conformity deadline of July 1, 2022.
There were questions of the delegate – you can just imagine how his comments went over with Burlington Mayor Meed Ward who pointed out that there would still be growth in the downtown core but that it would not be the kind of over development the city has seen in the past five years.
Meed Ward added that there is never any affordable housing in the developments in the downtown core and that the provincial policy focuses on new growth at the MTSA’s.
The Mayor pointed out that the relocation of the UGC was community inspired and that its focus is on where development should take place in each of the precincts.
 Mayor Meed Ward in front of city hall Meed Ward said the existing UGC was misused to justify over development; going forward downtown growth will be managed more reasonably in keeping with the vision determined by the public.
It was back and forth between Collins-Williams who countered that “long term plans should not sterilize opportunities on where people want to live, work and play”.
Meed Ward had pointed out that Burlington is very close now to reaching the required 200 home/jobs target for 2031 (which is the minimum target) and that development beyond that point will be determined by good planning principles, adding that Provincial Policy calls for development to be directed toward the MTSA’s.
Collins-Williams said the city should not be jamming development growth into a couple of areas and that political changes which have impacted how some of the changes have been brought about.
He added the need to lower political temperature and build complete communities.
Mike Collins-Williams, Chief Executive Officer, West End Home Builders Association. Meed Ward responded that if Collins-Williams meant by being political meant listening to community input in a democratic fashion then democracy is alive and well in Burlington.
The Mayor is scheduled to meet with the builders association in a few weeks where this conversation will no doubt be continued.
In responding to the Burlington Mayor Colin Williams said moving the Urban Growth centre would “limit and sterilize” grow in the downtown core.
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns asked Collins-Williams to help her to understand his definition of the downtown core. “What might we be missing that the policies in place do not address?”
Collins-Williams remarked that the province had never before changed an UGC boundary to which Kearns responded “we have had the history lesson before – my question to you was more forward looking and asked again “what did we miss that your association members are looking for in the way of complete communities”.
Collins-Williams said seniors wanted to be able to downsize and still remain in the community – the downtown condo market met that need but if the UGC was moved north there would be an imbalance.
 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns puts Chief Executive of Builder Association through an impressive jujitsu exercise. More back and forth before Kearns said “I don’t see anything compelling in your responses – the supply and demand claim being out of balance does not hold water.”
And with that Kearns dismissed Collins – Williams bringing to a close the Kearns Collins -Williams verbal jujitsu exercise.
He wasn’t out of the hit set yet. His sterilized downtown remark had Councillor Nisan speak on a Point of Order saying the words were “disgusting”, “inappropriate” and “inflammatory”
By Staff
June 17th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
On the Bruce Trail this summer, you’ll see a few new faces helping with onsite education.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy has hired six Trail Ambassadors to perform visitor outreach and litter clean-ups at popular places in three regions: Hamilton/Halton, Beaver Valley, and the Bruce Peninsula.
 As more people seek the physical and mental benefits of walking in nature, some areas of the Niagara Escarpment have become hot spots, seeing more human-caused impact than the environment can handle. The high volumes of trail users include those who may not be familiar with trail etiquette.
Litter, trespassing, and other poor behaviours are impacting the trail, the environment, other trail users, and landowners whose property the Bruce Trail crosses.
 So together with Bruce Trail Club volunteers, these summer staff will visit busy trail destinations to promote leave-no-trace practices and safe trail use. They’ll even be distributing “Hike it. Love it. Keep it Clean” badges to those who join them in picking up litter or who are demonstrating low impact hiking.
 The wear and tear on the Bruce Trail is becoming noticeable. Some TLC from the people who use the trail would be nice right about now. “More people using the Bruce Trail is not a bad thing in itself. It is wonderful that people have discovered the Bruce Trail as a way to connect with nature,” explains Adam Brylowski, Manager of Conservation and Trail. “For these trails and protected areas to continue to thrive, the Bruce Trail Conservancy, its partners, and all its supporters must work together to ensure that the cumulative impact of all our visits is minimized”.
By Staff
June 17th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
At the June 16, 2021 meeting of the Halton District School Board, Trustees unanimously approved a motion to rename Ryerson Public School on Woodview Road in Burlington in accordance with the Board’s Naming and Renaming Schools Policy and Governance Procedure.
Egerton Ryerson statue The renaming process will begin in September 2021 to ensure the parent/guardian, student and broader community has the opportunity to provide their input. The process to rename the school will be completed by the end of November 2021. The current exterior school sign will be covered until a new name is chosen. Information and signage will also be posted to indicate a renaming process will take place in Fall 2021.
As part of the Board motion, the Chair of the Board will also send a letter to the Mayor of Burlington to inform her of the initiation of the HDSB process to rename the school, as the community park adjacent to the school bears the same name.
Ryerson Public School was named after Egerton Ryerson for his contributions to the Ontario education system, however, Ryerson was also instrumental to the design of Canada’s residential school system. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada concluded this assimilation amounted to the genocide of Indigenous people.
There have been growing calls to remove Ryerson’s name from public buildings and institutions and the HDSB has received formal requests to remove Ryerson’s name from the school. At their June 16, 2021 meeting, Trustees also heard a delegation from a Ryerson Public School parent in support of renaming the school.
As part of the HDSB’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan 2020-2024, the Board has committed to champion supportive and inclusive practices, and to promote knowledge and understanding of Indigenous perspectives and realities. One of the first steps taken is to assess how the HDSB can raise awareness.
“As Trustees, we need to lead by example and have the courage to approach these difficult conversations,” says Chair Andréa Grebenc. “As years have gone by and truths have been uncovered, we have a responsibility, in collaboration with our staff and communities, to reevaluate past decisions and address accordingly.
 Portrait of Egerton Ryerson “The perspectives of the diverse communities of Halton must be valued and honoured. Indigenous students, staff and the broader community should be able to enter a school without being harmed by the HDSB upholding the name of a person that has contributed to genocide.”
Egerton Ryerson did more than contribute, he created the public school system we have today. Erasing history doesn’t mean it disappears – all we have done is hide it.
Ryerson was reported to have “done more than any other man of his day for the cause of public instruction in Ontario.”
By Pepper Parr
June 17th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
It will be sometime before the complete story is known about how the scientists and the pharmaceutical companies that created and manufactured the vaccine that is in the process of putting a stop to the Covid19 infections.
It is an amazing story.
The picture below is just a part of how that vaccine gets to you.
A piece in the Washington Post can be found HERE for those who are interested.
Fascinating reading.
 By Staff
June 17, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Green has announced that the city-wide Clean Up is back on.
 Sign up to participate in this popular and rewarding city-wide opportunity to safely collect litter from our communities.
You can also register to participate in various at-home green up activities to help grow the local tree canopy and strengthen local biodiversity.
Since BurlingtonGreen began hosting this inclusive event back in 2011, a whopping 109,000+ people have participated in these collective efforts, resulting in cleaner and greener parks, streams, schoolyards and neighbourhoods. Join in the fun and be part of the change!
You can find all the details, benefits, tips and perks when you register your activities by Registering HERE
By Staff
June 17th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Canada’s Largest Ribfest is “Popping” back up this Canada Day!
 Canada’s Largest Ribfest, a fundraising initiative of Rotary Burlington Lakeshore, is thrilled to be returning to Burlington Centre for a “Pop-Up” drive-thru event, this Canada Day, July 1st, 2021.
The public is invited to the Burlington Centre parking lot, at 777 Guelph Line from 10am to 7pm to experience the fun and flavour of Rotary Lakeshore’s Drive-Thru Ribfest in a safe, socially-distant way. “The safety of our guests, rib teams & volunteers is top priority, while also supporting the charities who need us most right now.”, said Jay Bridle, Co-Chair of Canada’s Largest Ribfest.
Over the course of 25 years, through Canada’s Largest Ribfest, Rotary Burlington Lakeshore has raised over $4.5 million for local, national, and international charities.
 It worked just fine last year. It will be even better this year. “Canceling our Labour Day weekend event that attracts upwards of 175,000 guests for a second year
in a row is a huge disappointment and really impacts our ability to support those charities and
individuals who need it most, now more than ever.” remarked Canada’s Largest Ribfest Co-Chair,
Brent Paszt. “Our Drive-Thru Rib Events enable us to continue that support”; he added.
Rotary Burlington Lakeshore President Jay Thomblison stated that, “after the success of last year’s
Rotary Drive-Thru Ribfests, we saw fit to try it again, not just once, but twice this summer! Proceeds
from this event, along with those generated from our upcoming Labour Day Drive-Thru, will enable
us to continue that support that our charitable friends rely on.”
Guests are asked to enter Burlington Centre from the Fairview Street entrance and will 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.
Four award-winning rib teams in attendance will include Camp 31 BBQ, Billy Bones BBQ, Uncle
Sam’s BBQ, and Sticky Fingers BBQ. There will also be food offerings from East Side Mario’s,
Blaze Pizza, 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.
Special thanks to our lead sponsors, Burlington Centre and Cogeco, who are once again supporting
the event, showing that the community is dedicated to helping Rotary Burlington Lakeshore raise
funds for their important work.
By Pepper Parr
June 16th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Regional government is working on an amendment to its Official Plan.
Burlington’s Official Plan has to be approved by the Region – so what the Region approves is what we are permitted to and expected to do.
Planning is about growth.
 A proposed Carriage Gate development at the east end of the football – a stone’s throw from the ADI Nautique that is now under construction. For the people of Burlington growth is what they don’t want to see in the downtown core.
The province has mandated that future growth is to be focused around the three GO stations where some significant growth has taken place.
The Aldershot GO station has a large new community that will be home to some 2500 people when it is complete. It is more than halfway completed at this point with more to come.
 The Paradigm from the east side Burlington has the Molinaro development that is entering into stage 2. Nothing in the Appleby GO – yet.
Longer term – out to 2051 here is what the numbers look like as the planners at the regional and municipal levels work through what the province has mandated.
 About 350,000 + people will pour into the Region between now and 2051 – planners are currently working out what each municipality will have to absorb.
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