 By Pepper Parr
August 14th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
It was his first day taking part in a City Council meeting as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
 Curt Benson: City CAO Other than being introduced, Curt Benson didn’t have a word to say.
Call it a soft start.
There just wasn’t an occasion for Benson to say anything.
The Mayor could have asked Benson for a few words. Nope.
Benson is a superb planner and on planning issues, he will have a lot to say.
On the administration side – we don’t know yet.
 By Gazette Staff
August 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 For a guy many thought didn’t have all that much in the way of campaign experience, he was certainly having a great time. “This year, Canadians showed up like never before to support Mark Carney and our Liberal team’s plan to build a stronger Canada,” said Azam Ishmael, National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada. “When the challenge was greatest, Liberals met the moment – helping achieve our best-ever year for fundraising and earn a historic new mandate. Now, they’re continuing to step up and drive our work to deliver for Canadians.”
This record-breaking support builds on a successful Leadership race and national campaign – an unprecedented feat in Canadian history that saw:
- Nearly 400,000 Canadians signed up as Registered Liberals to take part in a secure and robust Leadership race that elected Mark Carney as Liberal Leader.
- Millions of door knocks and calls in the lead-up to Election Day, and more than 100 rallies and events across the country.
- The largest Liberal vote share in over 40 years to elect 169 strong Liberal MPs and reject Pierre Poilievre’s divisive politics.
This new milestone surpasses Liberal fundraising records set in previous election years — including 2015’s historically long campaign, as well as 2019 and 2021.
As Mark Carney and our new Liberal government deliver on the priorities that matter most to Canadians, the Liberal Party will build on this strong grassroots support ahead of our 2026 National Convention from April 9-11, where thousands of Liberals will come together in Montréal to participate in important policy discussions, hear from guest speakers, and help shape the future of party and our country.
 By Pepper Parr
August 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington invites residents to its fifth annual Food for Feedback event on Saturday, Sept. 13, from noon to 4 p.m. at Central Park (2299 New St.).
This popular community event offers residents a unique opportunity to enjoy a free meal in exchange for sharing their thoughts on City projects and initiatives, while supplies last. It’s a chance to have your voice heard while connecting with neighbours, Council and City staff in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.
 Line-ups at Food Truck Stattions Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, members of Council, City staff, and representatives from advisory committees will be on site to listen, engage, and gather valuable feedback that helps shape the future of Burlington.
 Council members set up their tents at the 2022 event. Not all participated. The free drop-in event features 35 booths and five food trucks. There is a reserved area called the ‘Kidz Zone’ where children can have fun while family members provide feedback on City projects.
Feedback collected at the event is used to help the City continue to improve programs, services and initiatives.
If it rains, the event will move to the Burlington Seniors’ Centre.
I have one question for the Mayor and Councillor Kearns, who laud the event in their comments below:
Will you name one thing that you learned as a result of the surveys you did that was used to change a city program? Just the one thing.
This year, the City will be seeking feedback and sharing information on topics including:
- Burlington Transit
-
 The different colours meant absolutely nothing. If you thought the focus on Heritage issues changed – do let us know. The programs put on during the recent Heritage were not only disappointing but dismal as well. Vision 2050
- Culture Plan
- New Zoning Bylaw Project
- 2026 Budget
- Recreation
- Parks
- Official Plan, and more!
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward: “Food for Feedback is a great way for the City and residents to connect directly in a relaxed and welcoming setting, and to share your perspectives on the City’s priorities. Your input matters—it helps guide the direction of our city, from how we build and move around, to property development, budgeting, and how we engage with the community. I’ll have a booth at the event and invite you to stop by and share what’s on your mind. Come out, grab a bite, and let’s talk about Burlington’s future—together.”
Lisa Kearns, Deputy Mayor of Community Engagement & Partnerships: “Your voice is vital to shaping Burlington’s future. The Food for Feedback event is a cornerstone of our commitment to community engagement, providing a platform for residents to share insights that directly influence our planning, investments, and connections. Join us in this meaningful initiative—your feedback drives impactful results and strengthens our shared vision for the community.”
 By Pepper Parr
August 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Do you get the impression that Sound of Music (SoM) is scrambling?
And can you smell the political interference? Out of the blue, the Mayor issues a statement expressing her complete support for the SoM. A day later there is a statement from SoM setting out the gravity of their financial condition.
 The audience is there. Should they be asked to pick up some of the cost? SoM is a business – it just isn’t being run as a business. While discussing a financial problem at City Council SoM chair Dave Sheppard responded: “I’d just like it to go away”.
On that occasion someone came forward and directed the Community Foundation to send funds to SoM. We don’t know how much that was nor who made the funds available. Everything the Community Foundation does is secret as it should be.
There is a serious problem. SoM continues to look for corporate sponsorship. That model has come to an end, and the people running SoM should have been aware of that.
One of the problems at SoM has been the turnover at the leadership level. Entertainment is a very complex business – it needs people with years of experience at the helm. Sheppard, through no fault on his part, found himself serving as chair
 These are the people who get things set up before the event begins Administratively the SoM has an incredible team of people who make the wheels go around when the event has to be set up.
There are a number of opportunities for the SoM to change the direction and the funding model. Find the help from within the community – it is there.
Burlington has about 15, maybe 20 marketing organizations that are world-class operations.
Sheppard wants to get some help in identifying just who they are and approach them for help. This is something former Mayor Rick Goldring could help out with. He knows these people and is no longer part of the political process in the city.
Pull ten or so of them together – set out the situation and look to them for advice. That means opening their books
 A tired-looking sign, slightly shabby. The SoM has forgotten about its public profile. The graphics are old, tired-looking, and slightly shabby. They should have been upgraded five years ago.
 That graphic defies description. And the logo – what does it say to you? To me it looks like something put together by a ‘stoner’. Upgrade it.
Look progressive, tell the story about people who have gained the public notice they needed from the SoM stage.
 This stretch of commercial activity is filled during the Sound of Music. Mention is made by the SoM people about the economic impact on the local economy. There is no doubt that the hospitality sector does very very good business during SoM week. Why isn’t that sector putting some of that additional revenue in the SoM coffers?
The city charges the SoM music for at least half a dozen services it provides. They pay for the use of Spencer Smith Park. It would be difficult to reduce the rate for SoM but the city could get creative. They managed to find a way to get funds to Burlington Green when they ran out of sponsorship and Trillium funding.
SoM has to have a conversation with the talent. Lowering just how much is paid to those who take the stage might be due. The public would be surprised as to just how much SoM pays out to the artistic talent. It is extensive.
There are more reasons to keep the SoM as an annual event than there are to let it become something Burlington used to be known for.
The Brant Inn came to an end because of poor management.
This doesn’t have to be the reason for bringing the Sound of Music to an end.
 By Gazette Staff
August 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
What if a simple heartbeat measurement could help predict a person’s risk of dementia?
A Brock-led international research team has found that including an additional metric — resting heart rate — to an established dementia risk prediction model can make its results more accurate across most racial groups, says Professor of Health Sciences Newman Sze.
The Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) international assessment tool uses several physiological and social measurements to evaluate a patient’s vulnerability to developing dementia in the future.
 But the current model doesn’t capture a patient’s full health picture, particularly across diverse racial groups in the U.S., says Sze, the Canada Research Chair in Mechanisms of Health and Disease.
After obesity and hypertension, Sze says resting heart rate is one of the most important risk factors for dementia, a feature not captured in the current model.
“If the resting heart rate is too low or too fast due to heart muscle failure, there’s not enough blood being pumped to the brain,” says Sze. “The brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen and nutrients, which leads to brain degeneration.”
Sze and his eight-member research team tested the impacts of including resting heart rate (RHR) in the CAIDE model to see if adding that measurement would improve the model as a whole and increase equitable access to dementia prediction.
Resting heart rate, or pulse rate, refers to the number of beats per minute when the body is inactive and calm.
 The research team analyzed data from 44,467 U.S. participants aged 18 and older, including those aged 65 and above. The data, collected by the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC), spanned from 2005 to 2023 and included information from interviews, physical examinations and cognitive tests.
The team divided participants in the NACC database into self-reported racial groups: two American Indigenous populations, Asian, Black African, Hispanic and White.
The team ran each group through the current CAIDE model, which is comprised of age, sex, body mass index, hypercholesteremia, level of education and hypertension measurements.
They then repeated the procedure with a CAIDE-RHR model that included resting heart rate.
“This adjustment significantly improved dementia risk prediction across most racial groups, offering a more inclusive and accessible way to identify at-risk individuals,” says Sze.
As resting heart rate is easy to measure, more people can be screened and monitored, which makes the model more inclusive, says the study’s lead author, PhD student Shakiru Alaka.
He says other researchers have previously attempted to improve the CAIDE model’s accuracy by introducing expensive and time-consuming lab analysis to detect dementia biomarkers in blood samples.
But this addition may reduce access for multi-racial, underserved populations, especially in the U.S., says Alaka.
“In contrast, resting heart rate can be measured with a simple blood pressure cuff or by placing fingers on the wrist — methods that are quick, non-invasive and widely available, even in underserved community settings,” he says.
The team found the CAIDE-RHR model significantly improved the accuracy of dementia risk prediction for all racial groups in the study except the American Indigenous populations, although Sze says the low number of participants may have affected the model’s accuracy for that group.
“This finding highlights the important connection between heart health and brain health,” says Sze. “It’s a step toward addressing systemic gaps in how we assess dementia risk across diverse populations.”
 Newman Sze and PhD student Shakiru Alaka checking data at Brock University Although the study was conducted with U.S. participants, the findings have important implications for Canada, where dementia-related mortality has increased by 59 per cent over the past 10 years, says Sze.
“The CAIDE-RHR model offers a low-cost, non-invasive tool that could be integrated into routine care, including in rural and underserved communities, to help identify those at risk earlier and more equitably,” he says.
The study, “Enhancing the Validity of CAIDE Dementia Risk Scores with Heart Rate and Machine Learning: An Analysis from National Alzheimer Coordinating Centre Across All Races/Ethnicity,” was published Friday, Aug. 8 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
In addition to Sze and Alaka, the research team includes Brock University Professor of Health Sciences Brent Faught, Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology Panagiota Klentrou, Associate Professor of Health Sciences Rebecca MacPherson, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences Mostafa Shokoohi, Research Associate So-Fong Cam Ngan and researchers from the U.K.’s Newcastle University and the National University Health System in Singapore.
 By Tom Parkin
August 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
To July 31, Canadians have logged over 830,000 fewer return trips from the United States through Canada’s major airports than last year — and July’s drop is the biggest yet.
Change in Canadians returning from US via Canada’s 10 largest airports, 2024 to 2025
Canadians’ boycott of travel to the United States gained ground in July as return air trips fell 27 per cent from the same month of 2024, the largest monthly drop so far this year, according to Statistics Canada data released August 11.
Among Canada’s largest 10 airports, only Quebec City’s Jean Lesage airport saw a July increase in Canadians returning from the United States compared to the same month in 2024. The largest drop was at Edmonton airport where trips by Canadians returning from the United States was down 40 per cent.
July’s return air traffic from the United States through Canada’s largest 10 airports was down 26.8 per cent, or 133,815 visits, from the same month a year ago.
There were 4,565,183 return air trips to Canada by Canadian residents in 2024 up to July 31, but during the same period of 2025 there have been 3,734,819 trips, an 18.2 per cent drop.
Canadians returning from United States via major airports, change July 2024 to July 2025
By Pepper Parr
August 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
After 45 years of music, memories, and community–building, the Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival is facing a crisis. As Canada’s largest free outdoor music festival, we have brought together more than 400,000 visitors annually, offered a stage to 50+ Canadian artists each year and contributed an estimated $25 million in economic impact to Burlington and the surrounding area. Now, with sharp declines in public arts funding and sponsorship, our future is now uncertain.
What was once a thriving example of free and accessible live music is now grappling with the hard truth: We can no longer sustain this festival without urgent financial support!
 Funding Cuts Are Undermining a Legacy
The federal Heritage Fund, which traditionally supported with $200,000 annually, now only offers grants up to $50,000. Other funding programs have been similarly reduced in material amounts. These losses, compounded by shrinking sponsorship dollars, have created a critical gap that threatens the very heart of the festival.
“We’ve done everything possible to run lean without sacrificing safety or the quality of the experience,” says the Festival’s Board of Directors Chair, Dave Shepherd. “We’ve trimmed costs – over $500k has been removed in the last 2 years, streamlined operations, and maximized efficiencies. But we are now at the edge—without new partners stepping in, we don’t know if we can keep going.” Shepherd goes on to add that “the festival is run and managed professionally, but the real magic happens with our dedicated volunteers who clock an impressive 6000 hours, over the festival weekend. We provide a great opportunity for summer youth employment each year as well, for some of the students in our community. “
A Proven Economic Engine and Cultural Beacon
A recent survey conducted with Burlington Economic Development and Tourism underscores what we’ve long known:
42% of attendees come from outside the city, with many staying 4+ nights, boosting revenue for hotels, restaurants, and retailers.
90% of out–of–town visitors plan to return to Burlington after attending
Over 40 local businesses were showcased as community partners
The festival provided contracts in over$ 500k in value to Southern Ontario based businesses
 Is everyone benefitting? This is more than a festival. It’s an economic and cultural anchor that helps define Burlington’s identity, attracts tourism, and promotes small business success across the city and region.
Call to Action for Community Champions – The time to act is now!
We’re calling on community leaders, philanthropists, corporate partners, and anyone who believes in the power of music and arts to help. We urgently need a major sponsor or group of sponsors to join us in protecting this treasured event and ensuring that future generations can continue to experience the joy, connection, and inclusivity that live music offers.
Why It Matters
In a time where connection and community are more important than ever, free and open access cultural experiences matter. The Sound of Music Festival is a safe space, a mental health booster, and a platform that breaks down barriers. It is one of the last of its kind—a rare event that remains completely free to attend, offering world–class performances to everyone, regardless of income or background. There is no barrier to entry!
This is more than a funding shortfall—it’s a community crossroads. Without immediate support, we risk losing a 45–year tradition that unites thousands in celebration every summer.
 A tired, well past its “best before” date sign. Close to shabby. Let’s Keep the Music Playing
If you are a business leader, a brand that values impact, or a citizen who wants to make a difference, we urge you to reach out. Sponsorship opportunities, legacy partnerships, and creative collaborations are all on the table.
Its time for change! Together, we can and must keep the music alive!
For more information or to schedule a conversation about sponsorship opportunities, please contact:
Brent Kinnaird – VP Festival Operations
Dave Shepherd – Chairperson, Board of Directors
Julie Cole – Vice Chairperson, Board of Directors
By Jim Thomson
August 11th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Editor’s note: Jim Thomson is not an easy man to work with. While the City banned him from attending Council meetings. Thomson often makes serious points when he writes. The following is a notice he sent to Mayor Meed Ward and City Solicitor Blake Hurley.
Please remove these posts from your personal website.
You do not speak for the city or as mayor on your personal site.
You should not be using official logo’s of the City to imply that you do.
Official communication should be from the CoB or maybe even the Mayor’s office.
I am told that your Tweets, Facebook and Instagram also use an official logo of the city in your private accounts.
Please take down any and all posts where this is the case.
You appear to have trouble separating the Mayor from Marianne.
Thomson is absolutely right. The City Solicitor should have brought this to her attention.
 This is a tweet that relates to Marianne Meed Ward’s personal life. She should not be attaching her job as Mayor of the City to this kind of email.
 Another tweet from Meed Ward’s personal x account.
Shown below are the two accounts the Meed Ward has: One which should be used when she is addressing people as Mayor, the other when she is addressing people as Marianne Meed Ward, private citizen.
It is a fine point, but an important one.
By Gazette Staff
August 12th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Fire Department has issued a city-wide burn ban, prohibiting all open-air burning effective immediately.
This city-wide ban includes properties with approved burn permits.
 A fire like this is not permitted The decision to issue a burn ban comes after particularly dry weather conditions in the Burlington area and limited rainfall along with air quality warnings for the region due to smoke from wildfires in areas of Canada.
People failing to comply with open-air burning regulations in the Ontario Fire Code and Burlington’s Open-air Burning Bylaw may be fined or invoiced in relation to response incidents.
Burlington residents are encouraged to help local fire prevention efforts by keeping overgrown vegetation cut, grass watered and moving brush, wood and yard waste away from structures and heat sources. Fire officials are also asking people to use extreme caution when cooking on barbecues during this time.
For more information, please visit burlington.ca/openairburning
“This burn ban applies to the entire city, including properties with approved burn permits. The ban will remain in effect until further notice. This measure is consistent with burn bans currently in place in many municipalities across Ontario, due to ongoing dry conditions and increased fire risk.”
Quick Facts
- You are allowed to use fire tables or bowls, and other outdoor burning devices that use propane or natural gas as fuel and that are designed/approved for this use. These don’t produce smoke or odours that can irritate neighbours. They are not permitted on apartment building balconies or where prohibited by condominium corporation rules.
- The burn ban does not apply to small, confined fire used to cook food on a grill, barbeque or pit; however, residents should exercise extreme caution and ensure fires are fully extinguished after use of cooking equipment.
Links and Resources
 By Gazette Staff
August 12th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Ireland House, one of the few early 18th-century homes still standing in the City. The folks at Ireland House invite you to step back in time and explore the grounds of Ireland House Museum during the Classic Cars & Carnival event!
Enjoy a nostalgic array of classic cars, try your hand at ring toss, and treat yourself to timeless treats like popcorn and cotton candy.
 His great-grandparents may have driven a vehicle like this. There will be family friendly entertainment and activities throughout the day, and the Burlington Teen Tour Boosters will be onsite with a barbecue. Guided tours of the historic house will be available for booking (regular tour rates apply).
Admission to the event is by donation, suggested donation of $5/person. All proceeds from the event support the development of our education programs and management of collections at Ireland House Museum.
Saturday, August 23 | 10:00am – 2:00 pm
Ireland House Museum
Ireland House is a historical house and property and the original homestead of the Ireland family. With guided tours, visitors step back in time to understand the life of early settlers.
By Sidsel Norgaard
August 12th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Bingo is a legendary game with paper cards and numbered balls. With the development of digital technologies, it has found a new life on the Internet. Today, Bingo occupies an honorable place in the game catalogs of the largest online casinos. It attracts players with simple rules, dynamic gameplay, and an exciting atmosphere.
 The main advantage of the online version of Bingo is that gamblers can play it anywhere. Modern gambling platforms offer a variety of Bingo formats with unique visual themes, different levels of difficulty, and generous bonuses. For example, in the game catalog of VegasHero online casino, you can see Bingo in dozens of different formats: from classics to creative versions. That is why Bingo remains one of the most popular games in the online gambling industry.
How to play Bingo in leading online casinos?
The online version of Bingo retains the classic rules. At the same time, it is adapted for the digital format. In top online casinos, such as VegasHero, the game process looks like this:
- Buying cards. The player selects one or more cards, each of which contains a grid of random numbers. The most common format is 5×5.
- Automatic drawing. The system instantly generates random numbers, simulating the falling of balls.
- Match mark. Matched numbers are highlighted automatically.
- Winning combinations. A win is counted when a certain pattern matches — horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or a full ticket. In some versions, multiple wins are available in one round.
- Bonus features. Many formats include additional options: jackpots, mini-games, prize draws, and other elements.
VegasHero online casino offers both classic Bingo options and original versions with unique plots and bonuses. Thanks to this, each game is fast and exciting.
Benefits of the Bingo game
 Here are the main advantages of the Bingo game in an online casino:
- Simplicity of rules. Beginners can master the mechanics of Bingo in a couple of minutes.
- Low entry threshold. The game does not require large bets. This makes it accessible to a broad audience.
- Automation of the process. The system tracks winning combinations, eliminating errors and speeding up the gameplay.
- Variety of themes. Many versions of Bingo are designed in a bright style with interesting plots and animations.
- Bonuses and jackpots. Some versions of Bingo offer progressive jackpots and bonus rounds.
All these factors make Bingo an ideal choice for those who value simplicity, excitement, and the opportunity to win online.
Varieties of the Bingo game in VegasHero
 One of the factors in the popularity of Bingo in VegasHero is a wide selection of game variations. Each of them has a unique theme, design, and bonus features. Here are some of the most interesting versions available on the platform:
- Battale Funk Bingo. A vibrant music game with dynamic animation. This version is perfect for those who love a fun atmosphere.
- Bingo Valhalla. A game based on Scandinavian mythology. Gamblers can activate the Saga mode, which allows them to win a jackpot when the entire card is filled.
- Golden Dragon Bingo. An oriental setting with golden dragons and flaming lanterns. The additional Dragon Breath feature doubles prizes.
- Jingle Bell Bingo. A Christmas atmosphere with garlands, gifts, and the sounds of bells. During the festive season, the Snow Flurry bonus is activated, increasing the winning odds.
In addition, VegasHero online casino offers to play the following versions of Bingo: Halloween Bingo, Bingo Tesoro Maya, Bingo Tornado, Tomatina Bingo, Candy Bingo 3D, etc. Each game has a different level of volatility, number of bonus features, and visual aesthetics.
By Pepper Parr
August 12th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Alan Harrington likes to travel.
On his most recent trip he went west and crossed the mighty Mississippi River.
 The 1996 Studebaker and Harrington in a selfie  The last Studebaker manufactured in Hamilton He visited the Studebaker Museum in South Bend Indiana and saw the last vehicle Abraham Lincoln ever rode in. A Studebaker carriage to the Ford Theatre.
And Harrington got to see the LAST Studebaker ever manufactured.
It was a 1966 teal blue Studebaker Cruiser that rolled off the Hamilton Ontario assembly line on March 17 1966, ending 114 years of car making
 By Tom Parkin
August 112, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Net migration between Ontario and other provinces, Q1 2015 to Q1 2025
Ontario’s population declined in the first quarter of 2025 for only the second time on record as the number of people moving from Ontario to another province exceeded the number moving in from other provinces, according to Statistics Canada’s data released in July.
Statistics Canada’s Population Estimates tracks Ontario’s population each quarter going back to 1951. The only other population decline was in Q4 2020, when international immigration was temporarily closed and many jobs started to be done remotely.
In Q1 2025, 23,777 people moved from Ontario to a different province but only 18,540 moved from another province to Ontario.
Ontario’s interprovincial migration went unreported
The Toronto Star and Global News reported on the most recent Statistics Canada data and mentioned Ontario’s population decline, but neither media platform noted Ontario’s net negative interprovincial migration. The Toronto Sun and CTV News ran a Canadian Press story with no information on Ontario’s population decline or its net negative interprovincial migration. CBC does not appear to have reported on the June data release.
Ontario’s net migration with other provinces moved neutral in 2020 then turned sharply negative in 2021 as housing costs skyrocketed and unemployment began to climb.
Between March 2020 and February 2022, the average benchmark house purchase price in the Greater Toronto Area increased 53 per cent. Ontario’s unemployment rate pushed above the national average in mid-2020. In July, Ontario’s unemployment rate was a full point higher than the national rate, with 700,000 workers unemployed.
Difference in unemployment rate performance, Canada and Ontario
Alberta, B.C. top destination for “Ex-tarians”
Half of those exiting Ontario relocated to either Alberta (31 per cent) or British Columbia (19 per cent).
Percentage of Ontario out-migrants resettling in each other province, Q1 2025
It would appear that Ontario is no longer a place to grow.
 By David Perez
August 12th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Online casino withdrawals are expected to be quick and efficient, especially with today’s fast digital payment solutions like e-wallets. Still, delays happen more often than players expect. These interruptions can turn what should be a smooth process into a frustrating waiting game.
Understanding why payouts are delayed, and what you can do to avoid it, can help you make better choices and get your winnings faster. This article explores the common causes of withdrawal delays, the fastest payment options available in Canada, and the best practices for a smoother payout experience.
Why Withdrawals Get Delayed
 You won, big time – now you want fast, efficient payout. Although many casinos promote instant withdrawals, there are situations where delays can still occur. One common reason is incomplete verification. Canadian casinos must follow KYC rules, so if your documents are missing or unclear, your payout may be temporarily paused.
Internal processing times also vary. Some casinos process withdrawals manually or primarily during business hours, which may lead to minor delays, particularly over weekends or holidays.
Security checks are another factor. If there is unusual activity on your account, such as a large withdrawal or a change in payment method, the casino may perform a manual review before releasing the funds.
The Fastest Payment Methods for Canadian Players
The choice of withdrawal method has a big impact on how quickly funds reach your account. In Canada, some of the most efficient options include Interac, which is widely used and generally processed within a few hours to one business day. iDebit and InstaDebit are also popular choices, allowing direct bank transfers that are typically completed in one to two business days.
E-wallets such as Skrill, MuchBetter, and Neteller stand out for their speed. Once a casino approves the transaction, funds often appear in your wallet within minutes to a few hours. Cryptocurrencies, offered by a growing number of online casinos, can also be exceptionally fast. The timing depends on how quickly the casino processes the request and the current state of the blockchain network.
Bank transfers remain one of the slower options. These often take three to five business days, although some players prefer them for larger amounts or the extra sense of security they provide.
How to Speed Up Your Withdrawals
 Reliable, efficient and only in Canada The most effective way to receive your winnings quickly is to choose a payment method known for fast processing. E-wallets, Interac, and certain cryptocurrencies often deliver the quickest results once the casino approves the withdrawal.
Being consistent with how you manage your account can also help in some cases. Sudden changes in payment methods or unusual account activity may occasionally trigger additional checks.
While most modern casinos process payments efficiently, requesting a withdrawal during business hours might still help ensure quicker approval, especially at sites that handle requests manually.
Why Comparison Sites Can Make a Difference
With so many casinos claiming fast payouts, it can be hard to know which ones follow through. Comparison platforms like Bojoko, AskGamblers, and bookies.com help players see how casinos actually handle withdrawals, including how fast they pay out and what banking methods are practical.
Among them, Bojoko has a comprehensive overview of Canadian casinos with instant withdrawals and is known for focusing on real withdrawal cases, offering players a clearer picture of what to expect before signing up. These platforms often include verified user reviews and up-to-date payment data, helping players make more confident decisions based on actual experiences rather than marketing claims.
 Make sure your full documentation has been provided – payouts can’t be processed quickly without the KNC rule being followed. Putting It All Together
While fast payouts are important, they are only one part of a good online casino experience. A casino might offer quick withdrawals, but if its support team is difficult to reach or its rules are unclear, the process can still be frustrating.
The best approach is to play at well-rated, licensed casinos that combine efficient customer service, transparent policies, and secure payment systems. Completing verification early and using trusted payment methods, especially those known for speed in Canada, will help make sure that your withdrawals are handled quickly and with minimal hassle.
By Pepper Parr
August 12th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
For people who are not part of the swimming community, understanding how the different clubs operate can be confusing.
We had to turn to the Devilrays again to make sure we had it right.
 To clarify, BAD’s current registration deadline is set by our club to help us finalize rosters and scheduling for the upcoming season.
While we do accept tryouts throughout the year, squad placements and guaranteed spots are based on this registration cycle.
After our deadline, we will open any remaining spaces to waitlisted swimmers.
Each club operates on its own timelines, which is why you may see different dates for GHAC, OAK, or others. I can assure you that any information I share is correct and the most up to date available from BAD.
By Pepper Parr
August 11th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Clerk Samantha Yew is reported to have resigned.
 Samantha Yew is reported to have resigned as the City Clerk. Another good one getting away. A usually reliable source said: “She was expected to be back to work today, I tried to reach her at her extension and the voice mail prompts made no mention of a name.
“I got back to the operator and asked for the second in command (that’s Lisa Palermo)
“I just got off the phone with Kelvin Galbraith and he confirmed that she has tendered her resignation.
“He did expect to see her at the special council meeting this week.”
Yew did very creditable work; correcting a lot of the mistakes made by her predecessors.
The City communications group are observing what has become ‘radio silence’.
Related news story:
There comes a time when the constant changes at the CAO level impacts on the career municipal civil servants
By Gazette Staff
August 11th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
With return-to-office mandates ramping up across Canada, new data from ADP Canada’s July Happiness@Work Index and what it reveals about what today’s workers really want.
Despite mounting pressure to be physically present, Canadians across regions and generations are doubling down on work-life balance and they’re not budging.
The message from the July Index is clear: flexibility isn’t a perk—it’s the foundation of workplace happiness.
Here’s a national snapshot of what’s driving workplace sentiment:
 Many think that this is a true picture of work-life balance. Balance Comes First: Work-life balance and flexibility are the top contributors to workplace happiness, scoring 6.9/10—beating out recognition, compensation and career growth.
Boomers Are Leading the Way: At 7.4/10, Boomers place the highest value on balance, reinforcing its role in retention as many delay retirement.Time Off Matters: With 69% of Canadian workers planning to take vacation this summer—and 41% staying local—it’s clear that disconnecting to recharge is a priority, even amid economic pressures.
Happiness Holds Steady: The national Work Happiness Score remains unchanged at 6.8/10, suggesting Canadians are holding the line on what matters most at work.
National Work Happiness Score: Generational Snapshot
- Boomers (61+): 7.1/10 (-0.2) *
- Gen-Z (18-28): 7.0/10 (+0.3) *
- Millennials (29-44): 6.8/10 (NC) *
- Gen-X (45-60): 6.6/10 (NC) *
Regional Work Happiness Score Snapshot
- Sask./Manitoba: 7.1/10 (+0.1) *
- Atlantic Canada: 7.1/10 (+0.4) *
- Québec: 7.0/10 (+0.2) *
- British Columbia: 6.8/10 (NC) *
- Ontario: 6.8/10 (+0.1) *
- Alberta: 6.4/10 (-0.5) *
The Boomers have made huge changes during every decade they were the biggest part of the demographic. It hasn’t always been for the better.
ADP offers the following services: Fast, easy, accurate payroll and tax, so you save time and money. Track hours worked, manage time-off requests and seamlessly integrate with payroll. From recruitment to retirement, getting the very best out of your people.
By Pepper Parr
August 11th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Does anybody know how many people attended the Sound of Music (SoM) last June?
Not a word from the SoM folks. Nothing from the city either
We now know a little bit more on what takes place on their financing.
The Mayor issued the following earlier today.
 No idea why the Mayor issued the statement. No mention of whether the loan has been repaid or when repayment is due. There is a lot more than the above when it comes to what the SoM people bring in in terms of sponsorships and revenue and what it spends for the talent that appears on the stages.
The not-for-profit sector is not required to produce financial statements.
A large part of their operational costs are things they have to pay the city to provide – they also have to pay the Police service a considerable amount.
Dealing with artistic talent is not easy – SoM has not always had the kind of talent needed to mange artists.
 The graphic said more than it was supposed to. Their relationship with Burlington Performing Arts held some promise; the Executive Director who got the two (BPAC and SoM) together had dep rooted experience she could draw on.
Her abrupt departure as Executive Director brought that to an end – nevertheless, BPAC still describes itself as the sponsor of SoM without defining just what that sponship entails.
The Performing Arts Chair is a former band player who has always been close to SoM. He has yet to make himself available for an interview.
No idea what possessed the Mayor to issue the statement.
By Gazette Staff
August 11th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
First the data was about jobs – 700,000, yes 700,000 people were looking for work.
Now it’s about the housing situation – the problem is said to be “nowhere near their target of 1.5 million new homes by 2031” according to the NDP opposition at Queen’s Park.
The data comes from Central Mortgage and Housing (CMHC); a federal government agency that collects information from across the country. It is exceedingly difficult to wade through the data – which isn’t always that timely. The data shown above is from the 4Q of 2022
In a statement released today, the Opposition NDP said:
 NDP Opposition leader Marit Stiles After months of sitting on the province’s most up-to-date housing numbers, the government has finally updated the housing supply progress tracker, showing that the province is nowhere near meeting their target to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.
“The Premier and this government have no one to blame but themselves,” said NDP Leader of the Official Opposition Marit Stiles. “Ontario is falling behind other provinces because they are refusing to act. We need ambitious policies – like our Homes Ontario plan – to bring back hope to our province.
“The status quo is not working. We need a plan that boosts housing supply and gets the government back in the business of building homes, and protects tenants from sky-high rent hikes. The private sector alone cannot get us out of this mess, this is an all-hands-on-deck moment. It’s about time the Ford government started taking Ontario’s housing crisis seriously.”
The Ontario NDP has also written to the Financial Accountability Office to conduct a comprehensive review of Ontario’s housing progress.
Global news has reported that:
A final tally of which Ontario municipalities hit their housing targets and how many fell short last year has been finished since mid-February, according to government documents obtained by Global News, despite the province refusing to release the data for months.
 For the past two years, the Ford government has set targets for new homes in towns and cities around Ontario, promising them extra cash if they meet those goals.
The numbers Ontario uses to assess whether or not cities have hit their goals are made up of new homes, long-term care beds and additional units like basements or garden suites.
The government set up a website to show which cities had hit their goals, which were on track and which had failed.
Around October 2024, however, with housing starts across the province stuttering, the government stopped updating the tracker. By the spring, the tracker had been removed altogether, with the web page telling users to “try again later.”
The information was first posted by the government to show how close Ontario was to its self-imposed target of 1.5 million homes and the annual goals that came with it.
While the tracker has appeared abandoned for close to half a year, the government has had “finalized” data for months.
A briefing document prepared for Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack in March states the information has been ready since Feb. 15, waiting for his direction on when and how to release it.
“This decision point includes official allocation notice letters to municipalities and data by municipality to publish on the Ontario.ca housing tracker,” one line from the document, obtained by Global News using freedom of information laws, states.
At a recent news conference, Flack conceded the number of incentive cheques he will hand out to municipalities will be lower this year as housing numbers drop. He promised to release the data soon.
“I can tell you, housing starts are down, we know that,” Flack said at a news conference in Toronto. “We’re going to hand out some nice building faster cheques — not as many and not for as much this year as we did last year,” Flack said.
Elsewhere in the same briefing document, civil servants said overall Ontario housing starts in 2024 were down 17 per cent year over year.
The government indicated it was still validating parts of the housing start data, which the internal documents state is ready.
“As of February 15, 2025, all housing data has been received and finalized by MMAH staff,” the internal document said. “Municipalities and AMO are waiting to hear whether they qualify for BFF funding, and if so, how much.”
The extra calculations are necessary because, in order to help hit its own housing targets, the Ford government elected to add long-term care beds, basement units and other secondary suites to its housing starts.
At the time, Premier Doug Ford and his cabinet passionately defended the idea that a long-term care bed counted as home and said the change wasn’t just to boost their starts.
Municipalities meet later this month in Ottawa for the annual Association of Municipalities in Ontario (AMO). Expect the provincial Ministers who will be attending to face a very upset, disappointed and angry municipal sector.
Related news story:
The thousands who are looking for work.
 By Mark Gillies
January 15, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington is using the month of August to celebrate local history. Sometime ago the Gazette published a series of articles by Mark Gillies, a lifelong Burlingtonian. It is appropriate to re-publish the stories about the people who built this city. This is part two of the Spencer Smith story.
Spencer Smith got to Canada as part of the immigration of British children into Canada and Australia. The children were shipped from England by well meaning people but there were some horrific abuses and I believe it is necessary to expand the Spencer Smith story and learn more about how these boys who, without their consent became indentured servants. They were referred to as “Home Children”.
The poem Spencer Smith wrote, it was included in part 1, aches with the longings of a man who missed so much of a natural childhood.
 Home children on a dock in St. John NB – waiting for trains to take them east. The concept of Home Children started with honourable intentions; with good people trying to salvage young children from a parent-less home, or incredible poverty. Relocate them to a better life in Canada or Australia, that’s all they had to do. What’s the problem with that?
What made the idea work, was that farmers in Canada and Australia faced a severe labour shortage. They had recently immigrated themselves from Europe, cleared their fields, and grew their crops. Only problem was, who was going to do the harvesting, tend to the fields, feed the animals, and everything else that farmers do in this difficult labour intensive profession?
They didn’t have anybody to help. Governments were perplexed as well; those in Canada and Australia were more than happy to bring in immigrants to open up land and create farms. Sometimes they even gave them free land and supplies, but governments overlooked one part of the equation. Who is going work these large farms? They desperately needed a solution, and quickly.
 No doubt about it, everyone at the time believed this was a “WIN-WIN” situation. Spencer Smith’s story was a perfect example of one that seemed to have a happy ending.
Featherstone Martindale & Spencer Smith.
Spencer Smith’s sponsor was Featherstone Martindale from Caledonia. If you have ever been to Caledonia, it seems that about every third person you meet has the last name Martindale. They are a fantastic local family and they show up everywhere in Caledonia. Featherstone was born in 1848 in Haldimand County. Featherstone must not have been impressed by his first name, because he always went by the name Fred. He was a good honest man and a hardworking farmer who desperately needed help on his farm. Fred over the years became a father of 8 children and had married 3 times.
The Farmer’s Wife in Spencer’s Poem
In Spencer’s poem, he speaks of the farmer’s wife who influenced him. Spencer was referring to Eliza Mary Shult, who was Fred’s second wife. His first wife Eliza Jane Anderson died in 1881 after giving birth to a daughter named Ann. Fred married Eliza Mary Shult on January 8, 1883, and the new couple proceeded to have 7 children, the first born was Frederick who died in early 1884. Then another son named Featherstone was born in late 1884, and another 5 children were born between 1886 and 1895. In 2 quick years from 1883 to 1885 Eliza had married, and brought along her own small son named Wilfred McBride who was 5 years old from her previous marriage, when her first husband John McBride died from tuberculosis in 1879.
Spencer arrived on the farm May 21st, 1885 when Eliza Mary was just 28 years old. She was quite a busy young lady herself by the time he stepped down from the carriage. This young lady seems quite remarkable to me, since she still had some extra maternal time to still dote on young Spencer, something that helped shape his life.
 Eliza Mary Shult, the second wife of Featherstone Martindale had a huge influence on Spencer Smith, and he fondly recalls about her in his poem written in 1911. I’m sure old Fred would be quite crusty at times, and probably scared the lads half to death many more times, but Spencer’s poem has a softer edge to it, especially towards Eliza Mary. Eliza Mary died in 1895 from complications of the birth with her last child George Martindale. By this time, young Spencer had already left the Martindale farm. If Spencer actually stayed the full 3 years until he was 18, his servitude would come to an end in January 1888. After the death of Eliza Mary, Fred married a spinster named Margaret Anna Peart in 1907.
The Peart family in Caledonia, which is very large in number, just like the Martindale’s is somehow linked to the Peart family in Burlington, my guess is they are probably cousins. It’s only speculation, but the Jacob Peart farm in Burlington is on the land now occupied by Fortinos, Sears and Ikea, so maybe there was a connection for Spencer Smith to come to Burlington, especially if it was initiated through the Peart families in Caledonia and Burlington. The Peart farm was located directly across Plains Road from the Bell homestead. We’ll never know for sure, but we can at least think about it.
Spencer Smith was quite fortunate and did not face some of the severe hardships that other Home Children experienced. Far too many faced a certain hell of an existence.
The Truth about the British Home Children in Canada
Here’s what really happened to most of the British Home Children.
 This became an economic issue more than anything else. It was strictly a case of supply and demand. Most of these organizations were faced with a huge demand. They had great difficulty in meeting the demand by farmers and governments in Canada and Australia. It was stated at one time that there were 10 applications for every child. So what were they going to do? The answer was simple. Start rounding up any child who potentially was wayward and lived in the area that was to be scoured for recruits. Overly simplified, absolutely, but not by much.
The fact remains, that the original concept was for orphaned children. The reality was that only 2% were orphans. The rest were children in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s true that during these times some parents had great economic problems, perhaps they were unemployed or seriously ill, and they had no choice but to hand over their children to a workhouse, or some other care facility until they could get back on their feet and then bring their children home. The truth is, these organizations to help meet the demand, decided to ship them overseas without their parents’ consent. Most of these children had no idea what was happening to them. The parents did not know either. The children never realized that they would never see their family again.
 Dr. Thomas Barnardo was a very controversial character, and was responsible for exporting thousands and thousands of British children out of England and relocating them mainly in Australia and Canada. Here he is in 1905 leading the Founder’s Day Parade shortly before his death that same year. The largest organization was run under the management of its controversial founder Dr. Thomas Barnardo. He somehow convinced the Canadian and Australian Governments to take these children. Once that was established, then other organizations like the Shaftesbury Homes, the Salvation Army, churches, and others also jumped on the bandwagon. Probably, none of these add on organizations realized that down the road, this program was going to spiral way out of control, and thousands and thousands of small children were going to be totally exploited in this moneymaking scheme to supply cheap child labour to Canadian and Australian farmers. You can dress it up any way you want, citing testimonial cases that turned out good, reminding people that they were paid a small amount, some orphans were adopted by loving families, but in my opinion, the bare bones reality was: Canada, Australia and England were totally involved in a repulsive child slavery program.
Whatever happened to the other 32 boys who made the trip to Hamilton?
When I researched for information on the other 32 boys that made the trip to Canada with Spencer Smith, only about 2 boys continued to surface on available records. The Flamborough Historical Society has documented one of these Home Children. That boy went on to marriage, become a father and worked as a market garden farmer in Aldershot. He turned out okay.
Spencer Smith turned out okay. The others, they completely disappeared. We know some could have been adopted and had their surnames changed. As an outsider, it is basically impossible to track them. We already know that conditions for some children were so severe that they continually ran away from the farms they were working on, and many were beaten to a pulp when they were caught and returned. We know with documentation as proof that over two thirds of all the British Home children were beaten severely. We know that many of these children were not allowed to become part of the family that was caring for them.  They were forced to live in exclusion on the farmer’s property, and not interact with the farmer’s own children or have any friends of their own. They were not loved or nurtured in any way. We know that they were constantly tormented and bullied by other children at local schools, and even adults participated in this human degradation of these children. We know that many just eventually disappeared. Where you ask?
My guess is some were probably murdered when they were beaten so severely by the farmers, and when authorities came around they just claimed that they ran away. Some children because of horrific living conditions probably became so ill, that they died on the farm, and were quietly buried on the property so as not to draw any suspicion. Others may have committed suicide, and became nothing more than John or Jane Does stashed away in a local morgue, waiting for no one to identify them. Whatever the reason, they’re gone, and we don’t know have explanations. Have a look at this story that appeared in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix newspaper on April 23, 1930 about a young British Home Child boy named Arthur Godsall who was savagely beaten on a farm in Campbellford by farmer William Albert Hay, age 37.
 Albert had just arrived from England with many other British Home children and they all disembarked at Halifax from the ship Albertic on March 17, 1930.
Albert made his way to the Hay’s farm in Campbellford, and less than a month after he arrived he endured this beating and was finally rescued. That’s just one tragic story, there were thousands of stories just like this. One boy was forced to live outside in the dog house with the farm dog. The farmer fed the dog table scraps, and if the dog was full and if by chance there was any dog food left over, it was for the boy to scavenge. Not to mention that this same farmer viciously beat the boy almost daily. Eventually, he was removed from the farm, and as far as I know this farmer did not face any charges. This is unbelievable, but true. This happened in Canada. If you do some basic internet research, you will find these stories and many more.
What’s really disturbing is just how low profile this tragic event in human history was, and just how little we know of it now. But, it is becoming more widely known, and just recently as victims have finally come forward. In Australia for example, the Australian Government were finally brought to their knees by a public outcry after the public learned the truth from these victims, and the government brought forth an apology for their involvement in this hair-brained scheme. Also, the British Government were totally embarrassed by previous governments’ involvement in this tragic situation also came forth with an apology offered by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown. And what about the Canadian Government?
 Where do we stand? Sadly, and unfortunately, the Canadian Government has essentially taken the position that this isn’t really a big deal, and no apology is warranted or forthcoming, even though they backed and encouraged this form of child slavery and abuse under the guise of helping disadvantaged children. Personally, I think that Jason Kenney the Cabinet Minister responsible for these remarks was not that well informed on the situation when confronted with the apology question, and consequently brushed it off as unimportant. I encourage you to contact Burlington’s local Federal Member of Parliament, Mr. Mike Wallace, who is a very decent man, and please voice your concern. I would like to think that Mike can champion this cause and help us get this apology from the Canadian Government. It’s long overdue, and it’s the right thing to do.
Here’s how to reach Mike Wallace, Member of Parliament: Burlington Mall Office, 777 Guelph Line, Suite 209, Burlington, Ont. L7R 3N2. T: 905-639-5757 or F: 905-639-6031
House of Commons, East Block, Suite: 115, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
T: (613) 995-0881; F: (613) 995-1091 or email, mike.wallace@parl.gc.ca
There is an incredible website on the British Home Children. https://canadianbritishhomechildren.weebly.com/
It tells the whole story of the plight of these exploited children. It will break your heart to read and watch some of the videos made by former Home Children, these men and women who are now elderly, who have finally broken their silence to tell the real story of what happened to them. The website also has a form that can be signed. It is a petition to persuade the Canadian Government to offer an apology to these unfortunate people, many still alive in Canada, and still suffering mental anguish.
Add the website to your “Favourites”. It is quite large and takes a fair bit of time to go through it properly, so you will likely have to go back several times. The website also is constantly updated with more unbelievable stories about this shameful part of our Canadian past.
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