 By Staff
December 3rd, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 I offered them a chance to bring forward a confidence vote and they voted it down. Speaking in the House of Commons today Burlington MP Karina Gould, who is the Government House Leader said:
“You just can’t trust anything these Conservative MPs say. We are offering Canadians a tax break for the holidays and the Conservatives voted against it.
“I offered them a chance to bring forward a confidence vote and they voted it down.
“Time and time again we see them talk a big game but when it comes down to it, they can’t deliver. In contrast, we are delivering a tax break for Canadians this holiday and moving forward with important measures to help make your life a little bit easier and a little bit more affordable, even as Conservatives play their ridiculous partisan games.”
 By Staff
December 3rd, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
As the City prepares for more investments in its flood prevention and support efforts, they remind residents of flood program deadlines, and new grant options aimed at helping residents recover from flooding in July 2024.
 Burlington’s Flood Relief Grant are there to help. The deadline to initiate an application for the City of Burlington’s Flood Relief Grant and the Building Permit/Zoning Certificate Fee Flood Relief Program is Dec. 20, 2024 at 5 p.m.
In addition, the Province announced on Nov. 29 that some homeowners in Burlington may be eligible for financial support through the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program. The City is encouraging residents to take advantage of these available resources if they have not done so already. Burlington and Halton Region home flood prevention programs will continue.
With climate change driving increasingly severe weather, Burlington is stepping up efforts to address the growing risks of flooding. In the 2025 budget, the City is dedicating substantial resources to enhance stormwater systems and bolster emergency preparedness. Homeowners are also encouraged to play an active role in reducing flood risks by taking advantage of available City and regional programs. While certain measures aimed at addressing this summer’s flood are nearing their final deadlines, other programs remain in place to help the community better protect homes and properties in the face of future challenges.
City of Burlington Flood Recovery Grant
City of Burlington’s Flood Relief Grant ($1,000) can help residents to either offset the cost of an insurance deductible or help with flooding-related costs that are not otherwise covered under their home insurance policy. For all eligibility criteria, visit: burlington.ca/flood.
The deadline to call 311 to arrange an inspection is 5 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2024.
City of Burlington Building Permit/Zoning Certificate Fee Flood Relief Program
The Building Permit/Zoning Certificate Fee Flood Relief Program is also coming to an end on Dec. 20, 2024. This program covers the cost of building permit and zoning certificate fees for homeowners completing interior renovations following flood damage from the severe weather event on July 15 and 16. For all eligibility criteria, visit: burlington.ca/flood.
Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program
Last week, the Ontario government announced that it would be activating the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program. This will provide much needed support for residents in designated areas of Burlington alongside creeks after flooding in July. The City welcomes this important financial support.
The DRAO program is not funded or run by the City. To find out if you are eligible to apply for assistance and for next steps, individuals should review activation areas and program guidelines available at:
If you have any questions relating to the Disaster Recovery Assistance Program, you can contact the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing as follows:
- call 1-877-822-0116 after speaking with your private insurance provider.
 By Pepper Parr
December 3rd, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Some good news did come out of the daylong session of City Council yesterday.
Six delegations, they weren’t all heard.
The one that will matter to most people is the decision to do whatever can be done to save the Sound of Music.
 Dave Shepherd – working to keep the ship afloat. Dave Shepherd is now the Chair and the guy working to keep the ship afloat.
The issue before Council was to 1: Sunset the event, 2: Pause for a year, 3: Proceed with the 2025 event, forgive the $95,000 that Sound of Music owes the city and renegotiate the rate at which the $125,000 loan is repaid.
Shepherd explained that there is now a new board in place and that other than a 10-month-a-year contract person there is no one on the payroll.
Shepherd took Council through what he was up against – and it is a formidable challenge – which we set out below.
The really good news came from Councillor Galbraith who reported that he had been approached by an individual (he wasn’t prepared to say who the person was or the organization they were with) and that they were prepared to financially support the Sound of Music Festival.
Council then deferred making a decision on what to do with the SoM until Staff meets with the “White Knight”
During his delegation, Shepherd set out just what he is up against.
Many of the bands get paid in US$; his revenue is in Canadian dollars.
Many of the bands he would like to book are committed to Live Nation.
That $95,000 that is still outstanding – they are old, quite old invoices from the city for various services that were provided in the past. “We would like that to, in essence, go away. If we could have that happen, that would be great for our financial structure going forward,
He added that “We’ve made almost 30% reductions in our costs going into 2025 we’ve stabilized our board, we have stabilized our staff, but we do recognize this is still a tough, tough business to be in, and we’re asking for support from the city
Councillor Sharman wanted to know if “… your position is now approved for recovering those grants?
Shepherd: It’s probably stabilized. There’s been some new grants that have been put out by the Feds and the province. Unfortunately, they’re the one we looked at, I would say, is mostly around incremental increase in size. And we are, I would say, stuck with the size of our festival because of the area we use. Having said that, I think going forward into 2020 2026 will be good. 2025 will be tough.
“We won’t get the Heritage grant. There is another grant that we are applying right now –
“The way they work is, typically, it’s paid half up front, once you are approved, and then half up to six months later. And to be quite honest, we are still waiting at the six-month mark for a grant from last year. It is not the fastest process, to say the least.
Sharman: “My second question is with respect to your feelings about 2025 and how viable that’s likely to be and risks that you face, and whether or not taking a pause for 20 25 is something that’s interest or not.
Shepherd: I think it’s very valuable to continue on to make the festival happen. We’ve cut 30% from our budget. We’ve stabilized our staffing, and our board of directors. The problems that we run into, for one, are US dollars. A lot of our bands are US-based. So now we cannot look at the US bands anymore, the cost of fire, police, ambulance, fencing, golf carts, everything has continued to go up. Insurance costs. Just have insurance for a festival alone.
We want to keep this free. We want to keep this Canada’s largest and best free music festival, and I can’t think of any other festival in North America, to be honest, of this size, that’s free, and that’s our mandate to keep it free.
We are projecting a small surplus this year based on this year’s current budget. Weather permitting.
 Councillor Galbraith: Has been approached. Councillor Galbraith: “If we go with option one, forgiving the $95,000 loan, you feel that you could continue with the festival in 2025
Shepherd: Yes, with the forgiveness of the loan and the repayment terms and the annual funding that the city gives every year. I think we could make 2025 happen. I think we’d have a pretty good chance of success.
Councillor Bentivegna: Have you had discussions with any other organizations that are familiar with some of the things that you do, and perhaps some sort of partnership that will help maintain and sustain this event, right?
Shepherd: Yeah, that’s a fair question. We have an excellent working relationship with Street Crawl out of Hamilton. They’re a similar type of organization, not quite the same size as us, but a smaller community-based street fest. They understand the situation that we’re in. They’ve given us some ideas, and they’re going to help us actually, with some programming this year as well, to save some of our costing, some of our pricing will be alleviated, working with them together on certain things. We’ve reached out to Rotary as well, too, and ideally, you know, there can be some cost sharing when it comes to fencing or when it comes to golf carts or things like that. So we’ve worked on a few things that we’re trying to get some areas of expertise together, and maybe we can find some cost savings for both.
Councillor Stolte: I’m just curious about the no US bands, as much as I’d love to support Canadians. Do you know the proportion in the last year or two of the festival, as far as Canadian versus us acts? Last year we were, I’m gonna say 80/20 Canadian us. We really focused on Canadian last year. If you were at the event last year you saw a lot of Kim Mitchell and Chilliwack and Trooper and Canadian rock bands. This year we’re probably looking close to 100% Canadian, which is great, honest, more than happy to have Canadian bands. But we’re also limited on who’s available, who wants to tour, who can play, who’s unavailable due to vacation or surgery or whatever reason. There’s a small list of bands who actually can play. Some bands are tied to Live Nation. They cannot play the sound Music Festival. They’re only allowed to play Budweiser stage or Scotia site. There’s a whole nasty behind-the-scenes music industry that we don’t know about, which allows certain bands only to play our festival, and vice versa. So we’re very limited as to who is available.
Councillor Stolte: I’m anxious about the thought of pausing anything for a year. As soon as you pause something, there’s a much higher likelihood that it never comes back. Is that you’re nodding?
Councillor Kearns: I think this is a really big decision to be making, whether it’s pause, sunset or continue. A community group delivered an informal, very short poll around those three options.
They came back with, a 35.7% favorability. The next two, which would be sunset or pause for a year, came back with 25% and 18% respectively.
Do you feel that some additional engagement would be required before the city makes such a big decision like pausing or canceling this event?
Shepherd: Yes, I would, I would say that’s fair. If we look at positive or canceling – more engagement is necessary. Okay, so just for clarity, as a follow-up, if we were to select option two or three today, how might you feel the community would respond based on those numbers? I don’t think they respond very well.
Where do the people who attend come from?
68% reside within 40 kilometers, which would capture Mississauga to, let’s say Grimsby
Burlington itself, is 20% and 12% or more than 100 kilometers away.
And just a follow up to that, knowing that information, what are the hotels, for example, you communicate with them with respect to the number of visitors, and what are they saying?
Shepherd: Yeah, they’re sold out. The Pearl the Waterfront; Holiday Inn was under renovation last year, but still, we were able to use some of the rooms that were available for our bands. Actually, they love it. It’s their biggest time of year. It is sold out. We have a great working relationship with them.
I’d like to see more of a relationship with hotels, to be quite honest. They’re there, but they’re not a sponsor. I’d love to see them as a sponsor.
 Setting up for Sound of Music Festival traffic. Could you estimate if, if this festival were to sunset, who would be affected? By way of vendors, local businesses, collective arts, beers, nickel Brooks, all of those. But what would be the impact on our community and a ripple effect?
 Dave Shepherd: they’re going to wonder what’s going on, is their festival next year? Shepherd: I couldn’t give a number. I wouldn’t know that number, but I would say there’s every business downtown would be affected. Every restaurant downtown would be affected. Hotels would be affected. Electrical companies that help build the stages, Robertson, for example, the amusement company. It’s a huge number. I would say it would really, it would really be a detriment to the city. I think you know, this is what Burlington is known for. This is the biggest event of the year. People look forward to it. Vendors look forward to it. Vendors are calling us already asking, how do we get ready for next year. We’re planning these events next year, and if we don’t have them tied up very soon, they’re going to wonder what’s going on, is their festival next year?
By Pepper Parr
December 3rd, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
More on how the conversation Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had with president-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida last week. It has become the place everyone has to go to “kiss the ring”.
iPolitics reports that:
 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with President-elect Donald Trump. “U.S. President-elect Trump suggested to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week that if a tariff for failing to address trade and immigration issues would kill the neighbour to the north’s economy, maybe it should become the 51st state, Fox News reports, citing sources.
“Last Friday, Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago unannounced after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products.
“Sources say Trudeau told Trump over dinner that he cannot levy the tariff because it would kill the Canadian economy completely. Trump replied – asking, so your country can’t survive unless it’s ripping off the U.S. to the tune of $100 billion?
“Trump then suggested to Trudeau that Canada become the 51st state, which caused the prime minister and others to laugh nervously.”
Elsewhere it was reported that Trump played music from his cellphone while people were talking.
 By Staff
December 2nd, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 The Halton Region can provide you with waste collection notices via email.
You no longer have to remember when to put the garbage out on holidays.
Click HERE, fill in the email address and you are good to go.
The image below is an EXAMPLE of the place you will be entering YOUR email address
By Drew Allen
December 2nd, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
In a post-pandemic world, more people are making strategic lifestyle choices. It’s a conscious approach to general wellness and includes creative solutions like installing home elevators, studying martial arts, and vacationing in remote places. Modern adults like the idea of improving emotional, physical, and emotional health at the same time. Doing so represents an efficient approach to enhancing not just health, but connections with other people and nature. Individuals who embrace these societal trends can look forward to happier, more fulfilling lives. Consider the following details about the three pivotal choices that have the power to transform anyone’s life.
Installing a Home Elevator
 An in-home elevator: a practical solution for individuals who want an easier way to move between floors As modern cities become more crowded, millions of working adults are buying multi-story homes. It’s not only a wise economic choice, but one that offers a stylish living space. However, not everyone likes the idea of traipsing up and down flights of steps dozens of times each day. That’s just one of the reasons behind the growing popularity of home elevators. The units come in a wide variety of sizes, styles, and price points.
No longer found exclusively in high-priced homes, the energy-efficient forms of vertical transport are showing up in homes all over the nation and Stiltz Home Elevators are in demand as a practical solution for individuals who have mobility challenges or just want an easier way to move between floors. In fact, there’s no better way to simplify daily tasks for families with young kids and for older residents. Plus, adding a personal elevator delivers a large dose of elegance to any room in the house. Today’s units are available in sleek, customized designs that work with any interior style. The decision to install one is a win-win for homeowners of all ages and income levels.
Studying Martial Arts
 Martial arts training teaches focus, resilience, and personal discipline. Making the decision to study martial arts is a wise way to enhance mental, emotional, and physical wellness. As the middle of the decade approaches, more adults are recognizing the multiple benefits, far beyond self-defense, that result from studying techniques like karate, taekwondo, judo, kung fu, and more. Anyone who spends a few months as a beginning martial arts student inevitably discovers that the training teaches focus, resilience, and personal discipline. All three qualities come in handy for working people in the modern world. Practitioners also learn how to set confidence building goals as they gain strength, cardiovascular health, and full-body flexibility.
Vacationing in Remote Places
 No WiFi here; disconnect from technology and rejuvenate your mind and your body. In the fast-paced digital world, there’s a growing demand for remote vacations. Traveling to secluded spots like the South Pacific Islands and the Australian Outback, gives people the chance to completely disconnect from technology and rejuvenate their minds and bodies. Even travel agencies are designing special packages for those who want to get away from it all for a few days, weeks, or months.
The adventure delivers huge benefits even when stays are short. Whether travelers choose a remote island, a cabin in the mountains, or a beach-side hut, it gets them away from all the distractions of modern society. That means more opportunities for self-reflection and deep relaxation. Some individuals decide to travel alone to make the experience even more isolated, while others prefer to travel in pairs or larger groups to snag discounts.
By Staff
December 2nd, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
You had to watch the comment made in the House of Commons to fully appreciate the humour.
Spend 120 seconds – and chuckle.
Link is HERE
The remark was withdrawn but it is still on the record.
 By Staff
December 2nd, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
What will Burlington MP Karina Gould be doing this week?
 Burlington MP Karina Gould Government House Leader Karina Gould has put the legislation that will result in a two-month tax break and a payment of $250.00 on a fast track by preemptively limiting debate to just ten minutes per party — plus an additional five minutes for questions and comments — before putting it to a make-or-break second reading vote, after which — presuming, that is, that it gets the green light to proceed — it would be deemed to have been considered at all stages, read a third time and passed.
It’s worth noting that, while the motion could be called for debate as early as tomorrow, not only would it require the support of at least one other party to succeed, but as it stands, there’s no clear path for it to make it to the floor as long as the months-long standoff over a Conservative-initiated privilege debate is still preempting regular House programming.
By Staff
December 1st, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
 Councillor Rory Nisan “A lot of frankly unacceptable comments were made today by a delegation, disrespecting our excellent City of Burlington staff. Not only were they unfair but also misinformed. At the time I was focussed on the written submission and should have spoken up.
“These comments were totally unreflective of the experiences the mayor and I had with two budget meetings in my ward where residents were engaged and thoughtful. In my meeting we worked together to look for savings to fund local road resurfacing, which I was able to add to the budget after the meeting.
“Bottom line: I will work with any of the 99.9% of residents who follows the golden rule and treats everyone respectfully.”
 Just the facts BRAG – Burlington Residents’ Action Group:
Facts are facts.
– Burlington is increasing revenue from property taxes by 8.3% (as shown on page 17 of the budget book as the “Net City Tax Levy”).
We specifically compared tax increases, not tax rates.
 By Staff
December 1st, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The following is from the Toronto Stars’ National Columnist Susan Delacourt:
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Pierre Poilievre are very different conservative leaders. Their response to a 25% tariff threat to Canada this week is laying bare those differences in a stark way.
Ford is doing a lot of things right; Poilievre, perhaps not so much.
 Poilievre, perhaps not so much. In the wake of Wednesday’s emergency meeting of Canada’s first ministers, Ford told reporters on Thursday that he was focused on taking a “positive” tone. Poilievre, wrapping himself in Canada-is-broken rhetoric, has been sounding relentlessly negative.
For the federal Conservative leader, a potential economic disaster for Canada is another chance to cast Justin Trudeau as a bad prime minister.
“With the threats coming from the United States, with our border and chaos, our economy collapsing and everything broken, we need real, responsible leadership from a strong, smart prime minister who has the brains and backbone to put Canada first,” Poilievre told reporters on Thursday.
Dispositionally, Ford and Poilievre are different types of populists. Ford is more of a happy warrior, who likes to be liked. The premier has frequently shown himself willing to admit when he makes a mistake and reverse himself.
Poilievre, on the other hand, is more of an angry populist, who tends to double down when he goes too far, whether that’s in name calling or personal attacks on his detractors.
The two leaders also have very different interests at risk. Ford heads up a government that has huge stakes in any tariff war with the U.S. He is very aware that any attack on Trudeau and Canada will hurt Ontario in a big way.
That’s why the province is rolling out a multimillion-dollar advertising blitz in the United States next Monday, to directly tell Americans how much their economy relies on trade with Canada’s most populous province.
Poilievre has obviously decided he doesn’t benefit from helping Trudeau to the point of agreeing with Trump’s allegations that Canada is doing a bad job with the border and illicit drug traffic.
By Pepper Parr
November 30th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Does anyone know where the Burlington New Democrats are?
Not a sound from the locals.
 Marit Stiles: New Democratic Leader of the Opposition. However, their leader Marit Stiles is doing a superb job. As Leader of the Opposition, she is there to replace the government when it can no longer do the job – which is just about now.
We get a lot of information from the NDP headquarters – but no word on what the local New Democrats are doing.
 Drummond was the candidate in the past two elections – the public wasn’t interested even when Horwath looked as if she was going to win the xxx election.
The local party has not been very active in the past few years. Stiles has convinced former Toronto Mayor David Miller to put together a document that would set out the kind of relationship the municipal sector should have with the province.
Stiles behaves as if she will be the Premier – and you never know. To be realistic the best that can be hoped for is a minority Progressive Conservative government with the New Democrats holding the balance of power.
The Liberals are struggling to capture some of the public imagination. They are still facing what the public thought of Kathleen Wynne when she was soundly defeated by Doug Ford. The Liberals were left with less than ten seats.
Drummond
By Staff
November 29, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The Liberals’ GST holiday bill is one step closer to becoming law after it was passed by a majority of the House of Commons late Thursday night.
The two-month tax break covers dozens of items, including children’s clothes and toys, video games and consoles, Christmas trees, restaurant and catered meals, wine, beer, candy and snacks.
 It would take effect on December 14 and run until February 15, 2025, once it has been given Royal Ascent.
The government announced the plan as a way to ease affordability concerns during the holiday period. At the time, they also pledged to send $250 rebates to working Canadians in the spring, but that particular measure was not included in the bill.
The legislation to enact the tax break was the first bill passed through the House of Commons since late September, and required some procedural wrangling from the Liberals and the NDP to curtail the usual debate.
For more than two months, government business in the House has been on pause as the Conservatives filibuster a privilege motion related to misspending at a now-defunct green technology fund.
That debate, which has taken precedence over nearly all other House business, was paused in order to proceed with voting on the GST bill on Thursday.
Ontario to follow suit.
Ontario says Ottawa’s tax holiday will cost the province $1 billion, but it will support the GST break for consumers.
In provinces like Ontario, where the provincial and federal sales taxes are blended together into a harmonized sales tax, the entire HST would be removed from such items.
The office of Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy confirms it will remove the provincial sales tax on items not already covered under provincial rebate.
This amounts to a 13% reduction on what you would pay at the cash register.
Many of the smaller retail organizations are going to have to scramble to update the software on their cash registers
By Natalie Buriy
November 29th
BURLINGTON, ON
Nowadays, a fairly large number of homeowners understand the impact of their living space on the environment. Because of this understanding, there is a certain ecological trend that is to create environmentally friendly outdoor spaces. Energy-saving exteriors, and active use of various environmentally friendly materials that help preserve the natural environment, these key things that are quite popular for outdoor design among numerous homeowners.
Eco-conscious homeowners are increasingly focusing on the successful implementation of various projects that reduce their carbon footprint while enhancing the beauty and functionality of their outdoor spaces. For example, permeable pavers provide groundwater recharge and prevent flooding and water pollution. It is important to know about the most interesting, modern outdoor design trends combined with environmental sustainability.
 Ecologically friendly homes reduce their carbon footprint while enhancing the beauty and functionality of their outdoor spaces.
Trend #1. Incorporating Native Plants into Landscape Design
One of the most impressive changes that homeowners can make to their outdoor spaces is to incorporate native plants into their landscape. Native plants are better adapted to local climates and require less water, fewer pesticides, and less maintenance than non-native species.
Trend #2. Using Sustainable Materials
Landscape design, which involves the active use of non-plant elements such as walkways, fences, and walls, is an important part of exterior design. When choosing materials for their landscaping, eco-conscious homeowners are increasingly choosing options that have the least impact on the environment. Recycled materials such as wood, crushed stone, and recycled concrete are becoming increasingly popular as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional (non-eco-friendly) materials.
 A rather interesting option for creating an environmentally sustainable outdoor environment is the use of permeable paving. Unlike traditional concrete or asphalt, permeable paving allows water to flow over the surface, reducing runoff and contributing to groundwater recharge. This is especially important in urban areas where impermeable surfaces can cause flooding and water pollution. Permeable paving helps reduce the urban heat island effect, a phenomenon that occurs due to the concentration of heat-absorbing materials such as concrete and asphalt.
Trend #3. Rainwater Harvesting and Irrigation Systems
Conserving water is a critical environmental consideration for homeowners looking to create sustainable outdoor spaces. One of the biggest trends in sustainable exterior design is the introduction of rainwater harvesting systems. These systems collect rainwater from your roof and store it in barrels or special tanks for later use for irrigation, reducing the need for municipal water systems. By using rainwater for gardening and landscaping, eco-conscious homeowners can significantly reduce their water use.
In addition to rainwater harvesting systems, smart irrigation systems are becoming an increasingly popular eco-friendly solution. These systems use special sensors to monitor soil moisture levels and adjust watering schedules accordingly. This ensures efficient water use, reduces losses, and prevents soil waterlogging.
Trend #4. Integrate Solar Panels into Your Exterior Design
Eco-conscious homeowners are incorporating solar panels into their exterior design to power their garden lights and other electrical systems. Modern solar lights are an environmentally conscious choice for lighting walkways, patios, and garden features. These lights are easy to install, require no wiring, and use less electricity, making them an energy-efficient alternative to traditional outdoor lighting. Solar energy can be used to power other objects, and solar panels are an effective, environmentally friendly, and affordable modern solution that makes it easy for homeowners to harness the sun’s energy to reduce their energy bills and reduce their impact on the environment.
Trend #5. Green roofs and vertical gardens
What are green roofs? They are a special type of roof covering that is planted with plants. They can be implemented on both flat and pitched roofs. They add a lot of beauty to the modern urban landscape and have many positive impacts on the environment. What are vertical gardens? They are special vertical plantings of plants on the walls of buildings. They have become very popular in recent years and create unique green spaces in modern cities:
- Green roofs covered with vegetation provide excellent thermal insulation for a house, reducing the need for heating and cooling;
- They help absorb rainwater, reducing runoff and providing an ecological habitat for birds and insects. Green roofs can be installed on both residential and commercial buildings, and they can be designed to support a wide range of plants, from herbs and shrubs to vegetables and flowers;
- In turn, vertical gardens can improve air quality, provide better thermal insulation, and help mitigate the effects of urban heat islands.
Trend #6. Edible Landscaping
 Another growing trend in outdoor design is edible landscaping, which involves incorporating fruits, vegetables, and herbs into your landscaping. This trend aligns with the desire to create self-sufficient and productive outdoor spaces that promote both environmental and personal well-being. Edible landscaping reduces the need for store-bought produce, which can have a large carbon footprint due to transportation and packaging.
Trend #7. Outdoor Living Spaces with Eco-Friendly Furniture
Eco-conscious homeowners are embracing sustainable options for the materials used in their furniture. Recycled plastic, bamboo, and reclaimed wood are all popular choices for outdoor furniture and decor. They are environmentally friendly, durable, and weather-resistant.
Trend #8. Wildlife-Friendly Landscaping
As biodiversity becomes more important, many homeowners are taking proactive steps to create wildlife-friendly landscapes. This includes choosing plants that provide food and shelter for local wildlife, such as birds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Other design elements that promote wildlife conservation include birdhouses, bat boxes, and water features like bird ponds. These elements not only enhance the beauty of the outdoor space but also contribute to the health of local ecosystems.
Trend #9. Energy-efficient outdoor heating and cooling
Energy-efficient outdoor heating and cooling systems, such as solar heaters or geothermal heating systems, are gaining popularity as sustainable alternatives to traditional outdoor heating methods. By integrating energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions into their outdoor spaces, homeowners can reduce their overall energy consumption and create a comfortable, sustainable environment year-round.
Trend #10. Eco-Friendly Soil Stabilization
 Stabilizing the soil around a property. Eco-friendly soil stabilization methods, such as the use of geogrids or natural materials like gravel, are becoming increasingly popular solutions due to their ability to increase soil stability while allowing natural water flow.
Summary
Eco-friendly exterior design is the realization of environmentally sustainable, functional spaces that are in harmony with their surroundings. By choosing environmentally sustainable materials, utilizing water-saving practices, and supporting local wildlife, homeowners can create outdoor spaces that reduce their negative impact on the environment. For example, a solution for ground stabilization prevents erosion, provides overall improvement of soil structure, prevents damage from heavy rainfall and foot traffic, and supports healthy plant growth by allowing water and nutrients to reach the soil more efficiently. All of the above trends in sustainable exterior design reflect a growing commitment to environmental protection and the desire to build a more sustainable, ecological future.
 By Pepper Parr
November 29th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON.
OPINION
There is a solution to the Sound of Music financial mess.
It is found within the record-breaking 43, 700 people who attended in June.
 One loonie  437,000 loonies in this barrel – solve the Sound of Music funding problem. Require every person that passes through the security set up to drop a loonie into a barrel.
The security people will put a stamp mark on your hand.
That will produce $43,700 in revenue,
The trademark statement that the Sound of Music is Canada’s biggest free musical invent to Sound of Music raising the funds it needs “One loonie at a time”
Related news stories:
City suggests a possible postponement of the 2025 Sound of Music event.
Sound of Music Chair tells their side of the financial mess.
 One loonie from each of them
By Staff
November 29th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Inaria Burlington Inc. – 2030 Caroline Street
This should come as no surprise.
 Originally the understanding was that this would be a six to eight storey structure with medical offices. The city decided on November 4th, 2024 to not approve the planned development applications submitted for an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment for a 28-storey mixed use building with 302 residential units and a 6-storey above grade parking structure with a green roof adjacent to an existing 17-storey residential building bounded by Caroline Street, Elizabeth Street, Maria Street, and John Street.
The city advises that the developer has filed an Appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal.
No details yet on the specifics.
The Committee of the Whole, in accordance with the Planning Act, held Public Meeting No. 14-24 on November 5, 2024, regarding the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for 2030 Caroline Street. Having considered the oral and written comments received from staff and the public, the Committee of the Whole approved the recommendation contained in the community planning department report which was to not approve tehe application
Councillor Kearns moved that the City:
Refuse the applications for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment submitted by Inaria Burlington Inc. proposing a 28-storey mixed use building and 6-storey above grade parking structure with a green roof at 2030 Caroline Street.
IN FAVOUR: (6) Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Stolte, and Councillor Bentivegna
OPPOSED: (1) Councillor Sharman
This decision was made at the Standing Committee level. It then went to council the following day where the Standing Committee recommendation was voted on by Council.
By Pepper Parr
November 29th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
David Shepard sent a note along to Emilie Cote, Director of Recreation xxx reporting on what had taken place during the 2024 Sound of Music Festival.
Dave Shepherd is the Chairperson, Sound of Music Festival
2024 marked an extraordinary milestone for the Sound of Music Festival (SOM) as we welcomed a record-breaking 437,000 attendees to Burlington’s downtown core and Spencer Smith Park. This remarkable turnout surpassed our previous high of 417,000, demonstrating the festival’s continued growing appeal.
This surge in attendance translated into a monumental $32 million in community impact, almost 3X from $12 million achieved in 2019.
But the influence of SOM extends far beyond these numbers. Rooted in core pillars, SOM’s impact continues to resonate across the community:
Boosting the Economy
- Drives local tax revenue and employment
- Draws tourists from across the
- Supports 136 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in
- Provides summer student opportunities
Fostering Mental Health, Well-Being, and Inclusivity
- Provides barrier-free access to live music
- Creates opportunities for performers with special needs
- Offers low-sensory activities for
Bolstering Community Pride
Who are we?
Sound of Music Inc. (SOM) has been uniting millions of residents, visitors, and tourists through live music at Burlington’s iconic waterfront for over four decades. As Burlington’s premier non- profit live music organization, SOM proudly hosts the last ‘free’ live music festival event in Canada. Powered by the passion of sponsors and volunteers, SOM not only delivers unparalleled cultural and community value but also drives a significant economic impact for the region.
What We Do
Each June, SOM transforms downtown Burlington into a vibrant hub of music and celebration. With performances by local and internationally acclaimed artists, there’s something for everyone.
Festival highlights include:
- Three Mainstages showcasing diverse musical
- A lively parade winding through local
- A family zone, midway, and the bustling StreetFest.
- A vibrant club series and a platform for emerging local artists – ending with the Battle of the Bands at BPAC for a chance to play the big stage at SOM!
This dynamic lineup ensures that audiences of all ages and tastes can celebrate the joy of live music together.
Why We Do It
Music has an unparalleled ability to connect people from all walks of life, inspiring unity, compassion, and a sense of community. It strengthens mental health, transcends barriers, and brings joy—regardless of race, creed, color, gender, orientation, ability or socio-economic background.
For over 45 years, SOM has been dedicated to ensuring that music remains a barrier-free and inclusive experience, allowing everyone in our community to come together and celebrate the transformative power of music.
Volunteer Engagement at New Heights:
- Over 1,600 volunteer opportunities, with more than 600 new volunteers
joining. Volunteers contributed 6,000+ hours to the festival’s
Social Media and Media Reach:
- A stunning 18,500,000+ social media engagements,
- More than 20 million traditional media impressions, extending SOM’s visibility far beyond Burlington.
A Cornerstone of Summer in Burlington
These achievements highlight SOM’s undeniable role as a catalyst for economic growth, cultural enrichment, and community pride. While it’s difficult to measure the deep emotional connection so many feel toward this iconic event, 2024 underscored SOM’s status as a cornerstone of Burlington summers—a celebration of music, community, and the city we love.
Financial Challenges and Strategic Adjustments at the 2024 Festival
The 2024 Sound of Music Festival achieved remarkable success in terms of attendance and economic impact. However, it also faced significant financial challenges due to unprecedented cost increases, which hindered the ability to reinvest in the festival’s future. The Board of Directors in May of 2024 took over operational control of the festival to ensure the event continued.
Governance:
The Board has made extensive changes, went from governance to operational, and prepared a skills matrix to ensure new directors were brought on with the correct skills and acumen needed to be successful. Sub-committees are effective, and the Board have made relationships work with all volunteers.
The mandate is transparency and fiscal responsibility.
We are stable, and all directors are engaged with the future and current state.
Impact of Rising Costs
Supply chain and supplier cost increases resulted in inflation for many expenditures. These rising costs posed significant obstacles to maintaining the festival’s operational and financial stability.
Strategic Budget Adjustments
In response to these challenges, careful budgetary decisions were made to mitigate costs for 2025 while preserving SOM’s core values and community impact. Adjustments include:
- Budget Reductions of over $0.35M from 2024: Focused on cost savings for key components including Parade and StreetFest
- Operational Cost Reductions: Streamlining infrastructure by reducing the number of summer students and reducing to zero full time employee’s year round.
- Maximizing Internal Resources: Leveraging more of the contributions of year-round volunteers, and more capital donations from local business
Financial Outcome and Next Steps
Our financial shortfall underscores the need for immediate action to safeguard the festival’s momentum for 2025. SOM is committed to being a stand-alone organization. We do not want to be a financial burden on the city or the community.
We plan to continue to run the festival in a surplus cash position for the next 2 years, with 2026 becoming financially sound with no legacy debt. With a mandate to explore a stronger partnership with Burlington Performing Arts Centre. (BPAC)
The need/ the ask:
- Carry on with continued support financially, from the City and BPAC each January 1. This is needed for the festival to continue to operate.
- We are asking that the current loan from the COB to SOM of $125K, have new repayment terms, of $7500 per month, from Jan 2025 to July Our intent will be a full repayment completed by September 1, 2025.
- We are asking for relief on the $92k in City Payables from 2022 and 2023/24. This accounts for almost 25% of our legacy debt in total.
Thanks for your time and thank you for your continued support each year. This truly is a community-run event!
Dave Shepherd, CHRE, CDC
Chairperson, Sound of Music Festival Encl.
By Staff
November 28th 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
What is Public Medicare? ‘you don’t know what you got till its gone’
Public Medicare is the public health care system in Canada which is funded through our taxes. When you see a doctor or visit the hospital for medically necessary services using your OHIP card, you are using Public Medicare. Under Public Medicare, all Canadian residents can receive medically necessary hospital and physician services based on their medical need without user fees or charges. Health care is provided without cost based on our medical need, paid in our taxes, rather than based on our ability to pay or our wealth. Public Medicare enjoys a high level of support from Canadians. It is a source of pride for many, but years of relentless cuts and governments pushing privatization have contributed to problems in Medicare. The solution is not to privatize but to plan well, reorganize care in the public system, and restore and rebuild services that have been cut and downsized too far.
What is it like to not have Medicare?
- Before Public Medicare, Canadians had no choice but to forego medical treatment because they did not have the money to pay for care, leading to suffering and death. Helen Heeney’s book Life Before Medicare tells the story of a young woman with cancer who refused pain medication because it would bankrupt her family. For two months, she had her husband lock her in their home when he left for work so that no one could enter to help her when they heard her screaming in pain. She did not want to bankrupt her family as she was dying.
- In the United States where private insurance and for-profit delivery of health care services are widespread, health care costs are almost double per person those in Canada.
- More than 26 million Americans did not have health insurance in 2023 and 38% of residents in the United States delayed getting medical treatment because they could not afford it.
Achieving Public Medicare & the Canada Health Act
1947: The first public hospital insurance plan in Canada was introduced by the Saskatchewan government led by Tommy Douglas.
1957: The federal government, with Paul Martin Sr. as Health & Welfare Minister, introduced the Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act (1957) that brought in public hospital insurance across the country. The funding arrangement was that the federal govt shared half the cost of provincial/territorial hospital insurance plans. It faced strong opposition from pro-privatization forces wanting to bill patients directly (doctors, insurance companies, and large corporations).
1959: Ontario created a public provincial hospital insurance plan in 1959.
1961:
-
 All provinces and territories had implemented a public hospital insurance plan by 1961.- In 1961, Saskatchewan passed legislation to expand their Medicare program to cover physician care outside of hospitals(e.g. doctors’ offices), prompting a three-week strike by doctors who wanted control and wanted to be able to extra-bill patients. The government held strong and brought in Public Medicare but with amendments allowing doctors to opt out of the plan. By 1965, once it was in operation, the majority of doctors supported the plan.
1964: The federal Diefenbaker government’s Royal Commission on Health Services led by Justice Emmett Hall called for national Public Medicare.
1966: The Medical Care Act (1966) was passed so that doctors and medical care would be covered for all Canadians (not just in hospital). The federal govt would share half of the cost with the provinces/territories.
1972:Each province and territory had implemented Public Medicare plans for hospital and physician services by 1972.
1984: In response to doctors extra-billing patients (charging patients extra user fees on top of OHIP/the provincial public health plan), the Canada Health Act was passed in 1984, establishing five principles for our health care system and banning extra-billing and user fees.
 Tommy Douglas – the Saskatchewan politician who fought for public health care. 5 Principles of the Canada Health Act
-
-
- Portability: Health coverage must not end or stop when a person travels or moves between provinces/territories in Canada.
- Accessibility: All insured individuals must have reasonable access to health care without barriers, such as financial or physical limitations.
- Universality: All Canadians must be covered by Public Medicare on equal terms and conditions.
- Comprehensiveness: All medically necessary hospital and physician services must be covered, even when the services are provided by another designed health professional.
- Public Administration: Provinces and territories must operate their health insurance plans on a non-profit basis. They must also be administered and operated by a public authority.
1995: The federal Chrétien government with Paul Martin (Jr.) as Finance Minister, brought in major cuts in the federal budget. The Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) combined funding for health, education and social services into one block fund and they cut federal health transfers by 40%. These cuts, combined with provincial cuts, led to the expansion of private clinics.
2001: The federal government created a National Commission (known as the Romanow Commission) on the future of Medicare, in part because of the crisis caused by the cuts.
2002: The 2002 Romanow Report called for the creation of the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) that would separate out health funding from other federal transfers and an escalator clause in the CHT to match inflation.
2004:
-
- Ontario’s Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act was passed to uphold the Canada Health Act. It bans extra-billing, user fees, queue jumping, and restricting access to insured services through block or annual fees. It sets out fines and jail terms for offenders who accept payment for an OHIP-covered service and requires the Ministry of Health to reimburse patients for unlawful extra-billing and user fees.
- The 2004 Health Accord introduced a 6% escalator for the CHT to offset the huge cuts made in the 1990s – although privatization had already gained a foothold. It also increased the federal share of health funding, not back to the historic 50-50 split with the provinces, but back to the 20% range (varying among provinces).
2006: The 2006 election of the Harper government halted progress as they sought to remove themselves from health care policy and refused to attend First Ministers’ meetings.
2011: The Harper government announced cuts to the funding formula that governed CHT increases by tying them to changes in GDP with a floor of 3% starting in 2017, eliminating the 6% escalator agreed upon in the 2004 Accord. The impact was estimated by the provinces to be a reduction in federal public health care funding by $36 billion over ten years compared to what provinces would have received under the 6% escalator.
2016-2017: During the 2016-17 Health Accord negotiations, the Trudeau govt only minimally modified Harper’s cut to the funding formula. After the provinces and territories rejected their proposal, the Trudeau govt left the negotiating table. They then went province-by-province pushing through 10-year bilateral deals (that means different deals between the federal government and each province) to pressure all the provinces and territories into adopting their proposal.
2022: Legislation to implement a national dental care insurance plan was passed in 2022. However, the federal govt contracted a private insurance corporation (Sun Life) to administer the plan.
2024: The Pharmacare Act was passed in October 2024 to create a national pharmaceutical insurance plan, starting with coverage for contraceptives and diabetes medications.
There are governments that want to privatize public health. You want to think really hard about that. Joni Mitchell made it clear: ‘you don’t know what you got till its gone’
By Pepper Parr
November 28th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
We knew the Sound of Music (SoM) was in trouble – now we know just how much.
Is this event about to come to an end? When we last asked the City Communications people when the $125k that was loaned was due to be repaid – we were told we would have to get that answer from the SoM people – And they ain’t talking.
In a report that will go to a Council Standing Committee next week Staff layout several options.
 Careers have started on this stage. Option 1: This option supports the SOM board proposal, as outlined in Appendix B where the city would forgive the arrears amount of approximately $95K and proceed with the mutually agreed upon re-payment terms for the $125K loan. In this option, staff would provide Sound of Music with its 2025 $150K grant in January and request a comprehensive business plan for the 2026 Festival to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Community Services, Commissioner of Legal Services and Chief Financial Officer. This status quo approach would include a detailed service level agreement, incorporating elements from the recently endorsed Accountability Framework, to guide future collaboration and ensure clear expectations moving forward.
Note: The Appendix B mentioned will be part of another article,
Option 2: This option suggests that the city pause the 2025 grant, forgive the arrears amount totaling approximately $95K and the $125K loan. This option also recommends that SOM take a one-year hiatus from the festival to allow time for strategic planning and the exploration of potential long-term partnership opportunities. This option allows the BOD dedicated time to focus on the evolution of the festival with the goals of meeting Burlington’s community needs while remaining fiscally responsible. Going forward, all future grants would be contingent upon the establishment of a detailed service level agreement, incorporating principles from the recently endorsed Accountability Framework, to ensure clear expectations and accountability moving forward.
 She is having a great time – biggest free musical festival in the country – and it is in trouble. Option 3: This option proposes that the city forgive the outstanding arrears, which total approximately $95,000. Under this plan, the city would follow the repayment schedule outlined in Appendix B, recouping $45,000 from the upcoming payments due from January to June 2025. This amount would be deducted from the 2025 grant, reducing it to $105,000. The remaining $80,000 of the loan repayment would be due by September 1, 2025, as outlined in SOM’s proposal. Additionally, the city would encourage SOM’s Board of Directors to consider scaling down the 2025 event as part of a strategy to rebuild and plan for future sustainability. Going forward, all future grants would be contingent upon the establishment of a detailed service level agreement that incorporates the principles from the newly endorsed Accountability Framework, ensuring clear expectations and accountability
Sound of Music will have problems with expectations and accountability –it’s never been something they ever managed to get a firm grip on.
For those of you who want to get your two cents worth in on this issue: BRAG Burlington Residents’ Action Group is running a survey. Here is the link to that.
Related news stories:
What happened to the idea that Performing Arts would take over SoM?
Is anyone going to talk about the $4000 that was reported to have moved from SoM to unnamed people at BPAC?
 By James Porthouse
November 28th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
This information is not professional investment advice. Investors are advised to do their own research into individual stocks before making an investment decision.
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider acquisitions in the public market are:
|
| SNDL Inc. (formerly Sundial Growers Inc.) —–Buy Quantity: 200,000 Average cost: $2.82 Total: $564,247.20 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Cannell, James Carlo |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-25-24 |
100,000 |
$2.86 |
$286,334.40 |
| Cannell, James Carlo |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-22-24 |
100,000 |
$2.78 |
$277,912.80 |
|
| Stantec Inc —–Buy Quantity: 4,000 Average cost: $121.49 Total: $485,960.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Culmone, Vito |
7 – Director or Senior Officer of Insider or Subsidiary of Issuer (other than in 4,5,6), 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-27-24 |
4,000 |
$121.49 |
$485,960.00 |
|
| MDA Space Ltd —–Buy Quantity: 3,800 Average cost: $28.49 Total: $108,262.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Wu, Yung Cheng |
4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-22-24 |
3,800 |
$28.49 |
$108,262.00 |
|
| Anaergia Inc —–Buy Quantity: 135,400 Average cost: $0.65 Total: $88,010.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Wolf, Greg |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-22-24 |
135,400 |
$0.65 |
$88,010.00 |
|
| Vecima Networks Inc —–Buy Quantity: 4,000 Average cost: $17.22 Total: $68,860.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| 684739 B.C. Ltd. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-26-24 |
500 |
$17.17 |
$8,585.00 |
| Kumar, Saket |
8 – Deemed Insider – 6 Months before becoming Insider, 6 – Director or Senior Officer of 10% Security Holder, 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-26-24 |
500 |
$17.17 |
$8,585.00 |
| Kumar, Sumit |
8 – Deemed Insider – 6 Months before becoming Insider, 4 – Director of Issuer, 6 – Director or Senior Officer of 10% Security Holder, 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-26-24 |
500 |
$17.17 |
$8,585.00 |
| Kumar, Surinder Ghai |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer, 4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-26-24 |
500 |
$17.17 |
$8,585.00 |
| 684739 B.C. Ltd. |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-22-24 |
500 |
$17.26 |
$8,630.00 |
| Kumar, Saket |
8 – Deemed Insider – 6 Months before becoming Insider, 6 – Director or Senior Officer of 10% Security Holder, 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-22-24 |
500 |
$17.26 |
$8,630.00 |
| Kumar, Sumit |
8 – Deemed Insider – 6 Months before becoming Insider, 4 – Director of Issuer, 6 – Director or Senior Officer of 10% Security Holder, 5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-22-24 |
500 |
$17.26 |
$8,630.00 |
| Kumar, Surinder Ghai |
3 – 10% Security Holder of Issuer, 4 – Director of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-22-24 |
500 |
$17.26 |
$8,630.00 |
The five stocks with the largest dollar value of insider dispositions in the public market are:
|
| Manulife Financial Corporation —–Sell Quantity: -257,592 Average cost: $44.92 Total: -$11,570,368.62 Options Issued: 256,592 Average cost: $19.86 Total: $5,096,562.56 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Finch, Steve |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
11-26-24 |
91,445 |
$19.59 |
$1,791,037.55 |
| Finch, Steve |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-26-24 |
-91,445 |
$45.34 |
-$4,146,152.34 |
| Gallagher, James D. |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
11-26-24 |
107,239 |
$21.33 |
$2,286,923.29 |
| Gallagher, James D. |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-26-24 |
-107,239 |
$44.83 |
-$4,807,624.36 |
| Lorentz, Paul |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
11-27-24 |
57,908 |
$17.59 |
$1,018,601.72 |
| Lorentz, Paul |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-27-24 |
-57,908 |
$44.41 |
-$2,571,578.46 |
| Silva, Anthony Alex |
7 – Director or Senior Officer of Insider or Subsidiary of Issuer (other than in 4,5,6) |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-27-24 |
-1,000 |
$45.01 |
-$45,013.45 |
|
| CGI Inc —–Sell Quantity: -31,301 Average cost: $156.74 Total: -$4,906,106.78 Options Issued: 27,152 Average cost: $73.11 Total: $1,984,955.95 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Henderson, Dave |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
11-25-24 |
10,000 |
$55.70 |
$556,950.00 |
| Henderson, Dave |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-25-24 |
-14,149 |
$156.79 |
-$2,218,400.78 |
| Strass, Torsten |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
11-22-24 |
5,800 |
$78.63 |
$456,047.71 |
| Strass, Torsten |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-22-24 |
-5,800 |
$156.60 |
-$908,280.00 |
| Strass, Torsten |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
11-25-24 |
11,352 |
$85.62 |
$971,958.24 |
| Strass, Torsten |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-25-24 |
-11,352 |
$156.75 |
-$1,779,426.00 |
| Strass, Torsten |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
90 – Change in the nature of ownership |
11-26-24 |
200 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
|
| Ivanhoe Mines Ltd —–Sell Quantity: -100,000 Average cost: $18.97 Total: -$1,897,223.00 Options Issued: 100,000 Average cost: $2.51 Total: $251,410.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Zhou, Chao (Peter) |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
11-25-24 |
100,000 |
$2.51 |
$251,410.00 |
| Zhou, Chao (Peter) |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-25-24 |
-100,000 |
$18.97 |
-$1,897,223.00 |
|
| Cameco Corporation —–Sell Quantity: -6,729 Average cost: $81.60 Total: -$549,111.81 Options Issued: 6,729 Average cost: $14.16 Total: $95,270.53 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Mooney, Ronald Liam |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
11-25-24 |
6,729 |
$14.16 |
$95,270.53 |
| Mooney, Ronald Liam |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-25-24 |
-6,729 |
$81.60 |
-$549,111.81 |
|
| Kinaxis Inc —–Sell Quantity: -3,000 Average cost: $174.50 Total: -$523,500.00 Options Issued: 3,000 Average cost: $112.17 Total: $336,510.00 |
| Insider |
Relationship |
Transaction |
Date |
Quantity |
Price |
Total |
| Surana, Kushan Krishna |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
00 – Opening Balance-Initial SEDI Report |
11-25-24 |
0 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
| Ticala, Vasile Gelu |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
51 – Exercise of options |
11-26-24 |
3,000 |
$112.17 |
$336,510.00 |
| Ticala, Vasile Gelu |
5 – Senior Officer of Issuer |
10 – Acquisition or disposition in the public market |
11-26-24 |
-3,000 |
$174.50 |
-$523,500.00 |
What is Insider Trading?
How Insider Trading works.
By Staff
November 28th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Foundation announced the distribution of $300,000 in local grant funding, the largest single round of granting made from its Burlington Community Fund in the organization’s 25-year history.
 This amount is a significant boost from the last cycle of funding from the Burlington Community Fund, thanks to the generosity of community donors who continue to entrust the Foundation with their giving.
These grants will benefit 33 charitable organizations to address important needs in our community. This year’s areas of focus included mental health, food security, the needs of children and youth, and safe housing, to name a few. Collectively, these grants will provide vital resources to community organizations working to advance the well-being of Burlington.
“Burlington is a deeply generous community, and we are grateful to partner with people and businesses that care about the well-being of everyone in Burlington,” says Burlington Foundation CEO Megan Tregunno. “As Burlington’s trusted partner in philanthropy, we have a unique ability to evolve with the needs of our city and bring research, insights and learning to residents who want to join us as donors and be part of addressing our community’s most vital needs.”
 Those baking trays are a clue to how local Megan Tregunno is – her grandmother, Norma Bidwell, was the longtime Recipe Editor at the Hamilton Spectator. “She was one of the first mentors in my life — growing up with her was a pretty special experience,.” The Burlington Foundation’s annual granting program provides grants through its Burlington Community Fund – a dedicated unrestricted endowment Fund established to support the greatest needs of our community. This represents one cycle of funding provided by the Burlington Foundation on an annual basis. The Foundation stewards more than 100 donor advised funds, which are permanently invested and provide annual returns that are then granted back to the community year over year.
The Burlington Community Fund is made up of donations from the community and named donor-advised funds from generous individuals and businesses. These grants will support programs aimed at mental health (Capillary Wave Community for Men, Canadian Mental Health Association Halton), food security (Food4Kids Halton, Burlington Food Bank), and children and youth (The Lighthouse for Grieving Children, Centre for Diverse Learners), and more.
The need for these essential services is immediate and growing. A recent report from the Canadian Mental Health Association found that youth across Canada, especially girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, are more likely to struggle with their mental health and a lack of services. In 2019, 12% of youth-rated their mental health as “poor” or “fair.” In 2023, that number more than doubled to 26%.
Food security also continues to be a concern in many communities, including Burlington. According to
Statistics Canada, nearly 23% of Canadians – about 8.7 million people – lived in households experiencing food insecurity in 2022. This was an increase of nearly 1.8 million people from the previous year and was the second consecutive year of increases since the pandemic began.
The Burlington Foundation is proud to support these community organizations in the important work they undertake for the benefit of community well-being. Together, we are creating an informed, engaged and generous community.
About the Burlington Foundation
Since 1999, the Burlington Foundation has been our city’s trusted partner in philanthropy. Thanks to the generosity and vision of its donors and fundholders, the Burlington Foundation has provided $11.4 million in charitable grants to community organizations since its inception. Last year, the Foundation granted over $1.2M in funding to more than 120 organizations across Burlington and surrounding communities. The Burlington Foundation is part of a network of more than 200 community foundations across Canada, working to create communities where everyone belongs.
The 33 organizations receiving grants from the Burlington Foundation are listed below. While these organizations may represent a primary category, the intersectional nature of the social determinants of health means these organizations are addressing many important outcomes, such as improved mental health and inclusion.
- Art Gallery of Burlington– in support of the Youth Art Bursary Program
- ArtHouse for Children and Youth – in support of the CREATE 0 program, part of offering free arts-based programs for children and youth ages 7-17.
- Burlington Symphony Orchestra – in support of BSO Operation Youth
- Centre for Diverse Learners – in support of the Mastering Mathematics Program
- Community Development Halton – in support of the creation of a youth leadership team
- Community Living Burlington – in support of the Sibshops Workshop Initiative, which will expand the existing sibling support program for children and teens who have siblings with disabilities.
- Dare To Be Youth (DTBY) Charity – in support of the Building Bridges Program, which will help youth who are ineligible for programs after age 18.
- ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development – in support of the respite program
- Food4Kids Halton – in support of the Weekends Without Hunger Program, providing food to children in need for the weekend, when there are no school programs.
- Halton Food for Thought – in support of continued programming to provide student nutrition programs in Halton schools
- Halton Women’s Place – to support the creation of a dedicated Teen Zone, as there has been a rising number of youth ages 12-16 arriving with their mothers fleeing domestic violence.
- Re-Imagine Ontario – in support of the G.A.M.E. Program, which provides sports and mentoring initiatives aimed at male youths 10-17 years The organization has a particular focus on Black youth.
- STEM Camp Foundation – in support of STEM camp bursaries, awards, and scholarships (summer 2025)
- STRIDE-Supported Training and Rehabilitation in Diverse Environments – in support of the continuation of STRIDE’s existing initiatives to help youth employment outcomes.
- The Cedarbrook Society O/A The Darling Home for Kids – in support of the Opportunities Fund, which will help with the existing purpose of providing respite, residential and hospice palliative care to children.
- The Lighthouse for Grieving Children – in support of grief support programs
- YMCA Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford – in support of the Rise Up! & Elevate BIPOC Youth Program
Related news story:
Burlington Foundation gets new President
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