 By Ryan Charles
May 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Lots of people watch and play basketball regularly in their local neighborhoods because it’s more than just a fun game. Its exciting combination of athletics and collaboration has allowed it to grow from an ordinary indoor hobby to one of the most significant and prominent sports in the world. Now, people of every generation perform and watch it, from professional stadiums in the United States to school campuses in Canada.
 Poise and timing, knowing just when to let the ball leave your hands.
The universal appeal of basketball is one of its strongest attributes. Because of its simplicity, the sport has flourished in both developed and poor nations, nurturing talent and improving the stamina of players even in unusual locations. Aspiring athletes can participate in this sport because of its low entry barrier.
This article will examine the main factors that have contributed to basketball’s rise to prominence as one of the most watched sports in the world.
Influence on Culture and Legendary Players
The sport’s capacity to create transformational stars whose charisma and talent go beyond the game itself is essential to its global popularity.
In addition to dominating the courts, sports legends like Bill Walton, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Stephen Curry to name a few, have influenced popular culture around the world. Beyond their athletic ability, they have inspired millions of people and turned basketball into an international cultural icon that is appreciated by an expansive spectrum of communities.
Media and Worldwide Presence
 As the top professional league, the NBA has a huge global fan base. Basketball’s popularity around the world is increased in the digital age by media attention and online channels. As the top professional league, the NBA has a huge global fan base. It uses social media and streaming platforms to interact with its fans and broadcasts games in several languages. With a global engagement of approximately 70% of the NBA’s social media interaction originates from outside the United States (as of mid-2024), highlighting its widespread international appeal.
Hence, NBA betting has also become a major factor in fan interaction in recent years. In addition to watching the games, sports fans from all over the world take part in the thrill by placing smart bets.
Fans’ interest in game results and player accomplishments is increased by NBA betting which gives them an extra feeling of excitement and anticipation. Supporters may now interact with the league in a new way due to this expanding business which has also increased the league’s prominence.
Availability and Involvement
 Not yet – but at any moment, the ball will head for the net. Its simplicity encourages general involvement in contrast to other sports that call for specialized facilities or a lot of equipment. With just a ball and a hoop, anyone can participate.
From neighborhood pickup games to international competitions like the FIBA World Cup, basketball has been significantly helped by its accessibility.
Social Interaction and Community
Basketball’s appeal goes beyond competition; it unites communities by acting as a social anchor.
Pickup games promote connection and friendship, whether in bustling American cities or local communities right here in Canada. The collaborative character of the sport promotes cooperation and communication which create relationships that go well beyond the court. This sense of community is echoed even in Burlington which has seen its own basketball success stories such as Mfiondu Kabengele, the city’s first NBA draftee, and Ron Foxcroft, a renowned international referee and inventor of the widely used Fox 40 whistle – both of whom have strong ties to the local area.
Inclusion and Diversity
 Girls play basketball in schools around the world, and the women’s professional league grows. The sport embraces diversity and advances equality as evidenced by the WNBA’s advocacy of women’s basketball and overseas leagues that include players from a range of backgrounds.
Fans all throughout the world are moved by this dedication to diversity which gives fans as well as players a sense of strength and belonging.
In Summary
Through programs like NBA Cares and Basketball Without Borders which promote civic participation and youth development, it serves as a platform for constructive change and community involvement.
 By Pepper Parr
May 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
When you have someone with this kind of clout saying something about what the federal government is doing – it would be worth your time to listen.
 Jaime Watt specializes in complex public strategy issues, serving both domestic and international clients in the corporate, professional services, not-for-profit, and government sectors. Widely regarded as Canada’s leading high stakes communications strategist. Jaime Watt is the executive chairman of Navigator Ltd. and a Conservative strategist. He is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star.
Jaime Watt is the Executive Chairman of Navigator and a bestselling author. He specializes in complex public strategy issues, serving both domestic and international clients in the corporate, professional services, not-for-profit, and government sectors.
Widely regarded as Canada’s leading high stakes communications strategist, he is a trusted advisor to boards of directors, business and professional leaders as well as political leaders at all three levels of government across Canada. Jaime has led ground-breaking election campaigns that have transformed politics because of their boldness and creativity.
Here is what he had to say about newly appointed Cabinet members in the past few days.
When the boss promotes you, trusts you with a new, important file, it’s a good idea to stay on message. Reinforce the mandate. Show people why you deserved the nod.
Earlier this week, Gregor Robertson, the newly minted Housing Minister, told reporters he didn’t believe housing prices should go down. Not to be outdone, Steven Guilbeault explained to Western Canada that the country doesn’t need more pipelines right now. Both, predictably, drew media attention and public ire.
 Steven Guilbeault is a cabinet veteran with strong roots in Quebec – something Carney does not have. While he needs Guilbeault, not at any price. But the real and enduring problem for Prime Minister Mark Carney is not just that these statements directly contradict promises he made on the campaign trail — to bring down home prices and build greater energy infrastructure. Robertson was Mayor of Vancouver for a decade. Guilbeault is a cabinet veteran, and no stranger to statements that inflame Western Canada and its energy sector.
The real, more insidious issue for the Prime Minister is what these statements represent: the temptation to be distracted from the very mission that got them elected in the first place.
The weeks and months that follow an election are when governments are most prone to scoring on their own net. These are the kind of self-inflicted mistakes that drain a government’s credibility. The kind that comes back to bite you the next time voters head to the polls.
But crucially, these missteps almost always stem from the same source: a fundamental misreading of why you were elected — and what voters expected you to deliver.
It’s a strange and dangerous irony of politics that just when your mandate should be at its sharpest — fresh off a campaign — the temptation to misinterpret it is at its peak. The tunnel vision of the election clears and suddenly ministers begin seeing their new roles not as extensions of the public will, but as blank canvases for their personal agendas.
 Champaigne announced that there would not be a budget this year. The Prime Minister announced a day later that there would be a budget this year.  Prime Minister Mark Carney: He will continually need to direct and discipline his Cabinet. It is the leader’s job — above all — to arrest that drift. To enforce clarity. To instill message discipline. And to continually remind every member of their cabinet and caucus why they’re sitting on the government side of the House of Commons — and not wandering in the political wilderness.
In this election, Canadian voters were exceptionally clear on what they wanted: Mark Carney to take on Donald Trump. A decisive turn from the Trudeau years. Real answers on productivity, competitiveness, and growth.
For the new Prime Minister, the assignment couldn’t be clearer — or less forgiving. Because Canadian voters have left no margin for error. This is a relatively thin mandate. And to preserve it, Carney must not only stick to the plan — but communicate an unrelenting focus on delivering it.
So, here’s the bottom line. The biggest risk to Carney isn’t the opposition benches — it’s the risk of losing the plot. It’s misunderstanding the very assignment he was elected to complete. Of forgetting, too soon, what voters actually asked for.
That’s the test in the short term and that’s the test that will define him the next time Canadians cast their votes.
Add to that the task that voters have: keep the feet of the elected close to the flames. Don’t let them get too full of themselves.
  By Staff
May 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Conservation Halton advises that Environment Canada and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Surface Water Monitoring Centre (SWMC) are currently forecasting 30-50 mm of rain over the next few days, beginning late Wednesday morning and continuing through Friday.
 Don’t expect to see waves quite this high – unless those easterly wins pick up Elevated water levels in rivers and streams within our jurisdiction can be expected. In addition, although the current Lake Ontario water level is near the long-term average for this time of year, strong easterly winds with gusts up to 50 km/h may produce waves up to 1.5 m along shoreline areas that could exceed established flood thresholds.
Widespread flooding is not anticipated, however, fast flowing water and flooding of low-lying areas, natural floodplains, and areas with poor drainage may be expected.
Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to keep a safe distance from all watercourses, Lake Ontario shoreline areas, and structures such as bridges, culverts, breakwalls, and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and cold water temperatures combined with slippery conditions along stream banks and the potential for waves to overtop breakwalls continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream, lake, and weather conditions and will issue an update to this Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook & Lake Ontario Shoreline message as conditions warrant.
This Watershed Conditions Statement – Flood Outlook & Lake Ontario Shoreline will be in effect through Saturday May 24, 2025.
 By Staff
May 20th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Council approved a six-month, interest-free property tax deferral program for local industrial properties affected by ongoing U.S. tariffs.
The application-based program allows for qualified industrial property owners to request additional time to pay their property taxes without incurring late payment penalties or interest charges.
Eligible property owners/applicants would have until Nov. 30, 2025 to pay remaining property taxes in full.
 During debate on the issue, Councillor Galbraith, who was serving as the Chair of the Council while the Mayor was absent said: “I do support this. I think the Chamber has asked for it, and we definitely heard from several businesses that were struggling in the tariff Task Force. And I think it just sends the right message, whether there’s an uptick or not. I think the message sent is that we are a business-friendly city.
“We have Economic Development out there trying to sell us as a business city.
Information regarding eligibility criteria and the application process is available on the City’s Rebates and Deferrals web page.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said she has “… spoken directly with business owners who are feeling the real strain of U.S. tariffs—many of them are major employers right here in our community. This targeted relief program sends a strong message: we’re standing with our local businesses. It offers them critical breathing room to adapt, stay competitive, and keep jobs and investment here in Burlington.”
 Craig Millar, Chief Financial Officer Craig Millar, Chief Financial Officer explained that: “While broader relief options for commercial and residential property owners were considered, the City is limited in its scope. This targeted program will help support businesses that have been hit hard by the U.S. tariffs and reflects the City’s commitment to supporting our local economy.”
The city issues approximately 70,000 tax bills annually. Industrial properties currently make up around one per cent of properties in Burlington, while four per cent are commercial and 95 per cent are residential.
This application-based program is available to eligible owners of industrial properties classified as I-T and L-T, as outlined on the City of Burlington’s property tax webpage.
Links and Resources
Buy Canadian
 By Pepper Parr
May 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
I have no idea who Anne Wilcox is.
The pictures below came to us from her; it is a collection of photographs that show us how she has seen Burlington in the past year.
Is this the way you see Burlington?
 People in Burlington Garden. There used to be a number of prizes that were given out each year for the best hardens in the city – private home hardens. That practice was brought to an end when then Mayor Rick Goldring decided he didn’t want to take part in the prize process- and it all sort of came to an end. There will come a point when the Gazette will try to reinvigorate that prize program.
 A scene that we can all remember – the only thing missing is a bird feeder with a squirrel dropping by for lunch.  We don’t often see a picture of the escapement covered in a blanket of snow.  This might well be the picture that tugs at the heartstrings of most of the people who wonder what all the high-rise towers are going to do to their city. Good question – does anyone know what Burlington will be in a decade?
 Sunrise – May 20th, 2025  By Staff
May 20th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
For those who get up early and out for a walk – this is what they had going for them.
The rest of us get to look at the picture.
 By Staff
May 20th , 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Just what is affordable rental housing and how does it get created?
The level at which those decisions are made is municipal. Link to some useful background is HERE
The federal government is pumping millions into getting rental housing built.
 This is what the market seems to need. The provincial governments are doing what they can to make the process more efficient (faster)
Despite all the chatter, Ontario has not been anywhere near the target it set.
Burlington is doing its best, and its numbers are decent.
Understanding how the process is managed is what the public has to do – it is all set out in the link provided above.
By Staff
May 19th,. 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Sarah Phillips, Manager of Housing Strategy, City of Burlington is asking, via LinkedIn –
Do you build ️or sell ARU/ADU, secondary or garden suites?
Her department is hosting virtual industry training sessions from 4:00 -5:0 pm:
June 4 – modular/prefab manufacturers
June 9 – general contractor/builders/architect or designers
We want to set you up for success to participate in our BIG affordable rental housing (ARU) Community Improvement Program (CIP) program launching soon!
We will discuss available incentives, eligible costs, the application and approval process.
Message me for further details.
Phillips did not provide a link that would reach her. Call City Hall – they should be able to put you through. 905-335-7777
Link to more on the Community Improvement Program:
 By Pepper Parr
May 19th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Are photo ops the bread and butter of political life in Burlington?
 Sometimes, there is a genuine public benefit.
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns has made the photo op both an art and a science. She frequently outdoes the Mayor and THAT is saying something
One that caught our attention recently was Kearns and a bingo card – a huge bingo card.
What was all that we wondered – so we asked.
The Bingo games that take place at the Polish Hall donate a portion of their revenue to local charities.
Excited? Lisa Kearns was – did any of her cards win?
She didn’t say
 These are the organizations that benefit from the Bingo Games played regularly at the Polish Hall.
By Staff
May 19th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a great idea – and it looks as if it is actually going to get off the ground.
 St. Luke’s Anglican church, built on land that the British gave to Joseph Brant for his service. If you stand on Elgin Avenue and look to the north you will see St. Luke’s Anglican church.
Turn around and look south to the lake – and there is a clear path (well almost clear) pathway to the lake.
The church and the land were part of the Brant land grant that was deeded by the Brant family.
Over time, developments took place and the strip of land to the lake got crowded by residential development.
The people at St. Likes decided that it was time to make that pathway more accessible to the public and they took their thought to ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns.
She loved the idea, took it to the planning department – they quickly pointed out that there was a problem with clear public access – there was a roadway cutting across the possible path that led to a city-owned parking lot.
 Done properly it will be a really nice addition to a strip of land that has never been used. Kudos to St. Luke’s for the initiative. They came up with a solution that City Council agreed with – approved it – and it goes to Council later this week
Authorize the Executive Director of Environment, Infrastructure and Community
Services to collaborate with St. Luke’s Church on the feasibility of a new publicly accessible walkway from Elgin Street to Lakeshore.
St. Luke’s Anglican Church is located on the north side of Elgin Street between Nelson Avenue and Burlington Street in downtown Burlington. Directly across from the church, is a long narrow stretch of land that is owned in part by the City and the Church.
Since the original construction of the church in 1834, this long stretch of land that extends from the south side of Elgin Street to Lakeshore Road has provided an uninterrupted view to Lake Ontario
The Church has approached the ward Councillor and City staff to see if there is an interest in working together to build an accessible public walkway from Elgin to Lakeshore, which would span across lands owned by both the City and the Church. The lands owned by the Church are referred to as “Church Avenue”.
The concept was sound; however, one of the biggest challenges with this idea is that the city-owned lands to the north currently support the parking lot driveway entrance into Lot #10. The driveway is a physical barrier to safe pedestrian movement through Church Avenue.
 Joseph Brant will be very pleased. Since the City owns the lands in the former Hydro/Rail Corridor between Church Avenue and Nelson Avenue, it is possible to relocate the parking lot #10 driveway entrance to Nelson Avenue and eliminate all vehicular traffic on Church Avenue. This would free up the landscape for pedestrian-only movement and use of the space.
After some initial meetings, staff feel that this is a great opportunity to explore and would like Council’s support and direction to proceed further with the proposal.
Council did just that last week. Later this week, we can expect Council to approve it – and in the fullness of time, there will be a pleasant pathway from Elgin to the lake.
Joseph Brant will be pleased.
 By Staff
May 19th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington, the Region of Halton Public Health Department and the University of Waterloo – Faculty of Recreation and Leisure Studies have been selected as one of four Canadian municipalities to join the conversation about healthy cities in Helsinki, Finland.
This opportunity is part of the Healthy Cities Research Initiative and has been made possible thanks to support from 8-80 Cities and funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR).
 Helsinki Workshop
The grant to the participants includes all costs for a small group to travel to and stay in Helsinki, Finland from May 16-24, 2025. The group will participate in a workshop to learn about Helsinki’s smart growth strategies, including mixed-use developments and efficient public transportation, healthy urban policy, protecting green spaces, and sustainable growth.
The group includes Mayor Meed Ward, two staff members from the City of Burlington, one staff from Region of Halton Public Health and one faculty member from the University of Waterloo.
Helsinki is considered a global leader in complete communities. The workshop provides an opportunity for staff to see new perspectives and potentially broaden their approach to better serve our community through new ideas, strategies and proven concepts.
Burlington Workshops
The city will benefit from the Helsinki learning through two future workshops to inspire new ideas and foster collaboration to implement healthy urban policy in Burlington by adapting Helsinki’s strategies for improving/managing infrastructure, promoting health, and improving Burlington residents’ quality of life.
One workshop will be held with community partners and elected officials and the other will be held with residents. Dates and times of the workshops will be shared once details are finalized.
The end goal is to move towards the creation of more complete communities that meet people’s needs for daily living throughout an entire lifetime by providing convenient access to an appropriate mix of jobs, local services, a full range of housing, transportation options, inclusive spaces and public service facilities including affordable housing, schools, recreation and open space for their residents.
The CIHR stresses citizen engagement with this comment:
Citizen engagement is the meaningful involvement of individual citizens in policy or program development. To put it simply, citizens are “engaged” when they play an active role in defining issues, considering solutions, and identifying resources or priorities for action. This “meaningful involvement” can take place at a variety of stages in the research, planning, or implementation phases of a project.
The sustainable culture that has worked so well for the Scandinavian countries has yet to work itself into the way we do things in North America.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward is on the road again. This time it is to Finland for a series of workshops that Burlington doesn’t have to pay for. Mayor Meed Ward did say: “Helsinki is a leading example of a healthy, walkable, green city that provides inclusive housing and social services to all community members. With similar challenges and goals in Burlington, we can learn from their example. Along with other city participants in this conference, generously paid for by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research through the Healthy Cities Research Initiative, I look forward to learning and bringing home invaluable insights and ideas to support our community’s growth and well-being.”
The intentions are there.
 By James Portside
May 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The provincial government released its budget last Thursday. Burlington’s City Council has begun the process of setting out the budget for 2026
Let’s take a step back from the trees and look at the forest. What makes Ontario and Canada one of the best places to live? Some obvious answers are freedom from oppression, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.
Our standard of living is also in the mix. A vibrant private sector economy, competitively producing goods and services on a global scale, funds social services such as affordable housing, medical care, long-term care, etc.
Ontario’s economy is a complex organism. Roads and highways are the veins and arteries, family units and businesses are the cells, and governments regulate much like a thyroid gland. Our cells, our family units and businesses, are incredibly intelligent on their own. Governments need to administer medications carefully and watch for unexpected side effects.
Two policy changes at the federal level have led to a housing crisis seriously affecting the standard of living for Ontarians of all ages. We now have two classes in our society: established homeowners and everyone else.
1: Historically, the federal government built and maintained social housing. This practice ended in the 1990s. The beginning of the end was during Prime Minister Mulroney’s term, and the end of the end was during Prime Minister Chretien’s term. The National Housing Strategy Act (2019) changed this leaving society with the policies of the 1990s that created a 30-year deficit in social housing.
2: There are huge benefits to immigration; the federal government has been conducting an experiment to determine the most sustainable level of immigration. Mounting pressures on housing, transit, roads, hospitals, and schools are showing us we may have surpassed the sustainable level.
The Federal government’s prescription of higher immigration levels has had many side effects.
How does Ontario’s budget help with the housing crisis?
Housing is more than a solid roof over your head, people need water, sewers, roads, transit, health care, jobs, and child-care/schools. Ontario’s budget addresses these needs.
 The province has failed to meet the housing targets it set Housing:
| Spur new construction by simplifying and standardizing development charges. |
| Help Canadian manufacturers introduce innovative materials, systems to reduce construction costs. |
| Implement consistent building construction standards across Ontario. |
Transit:
| Deliver transit-oriented communities creating more jobs and housing near transit. |
| Speed up the development of transit by extending the Building Transit Faster Act to all provincial transit projects. |
| Invest $61 billion in public transit over the next 10 years. |
| Advance GO 2.0, a long-range plan for the GO Transit system. |
 Sewage treatment plant – Burlington Water and Sewer:
| Investing an additional $400 million into the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to help build local infrastructure to make way for new homes. This additional $400 million brings the value of this program to $2.3 billion, to be spent over 4 years.
The shortfall in Halton Region alone, for water and wastewater, is approximately $940 million. |
Health Care:
| $56 billion over the next 10 years in health infrastructure. |
| $280 million over two years for the expansion of Integrated Community Health Service Centres. |
| $235 million in 2025–26 to establish and expand up to 80 additional primary care teams across the province. |
Child Care:
| $30 billion over the next 10 years to support new and redeveloped school and child care projects |
Roads:
| $30 billion over 10 years for highway expansion and rehabilitation projects. |
| Permanently, at least for now, removing tolls from Highway 407 East. |
| Reducing the gas and fuel tax is expected to save households, on average, $115 a year. |
 What the new Credit River crossing is expected to look like. Jobs:
| A new tax credit for businesses that manufacture or process in Ontario. |
| Establish a new $5 billion strategic fund named the “Protecting Ontario Account” to help with tariff-related business disruptions. |
| A six-month deferral on provincial business taxes and WSIB rebates and premium reductions to help businesses weather tariff-related turmoil. |
| A tax credit to support Ontario’s shortline railway industry. |
| $500 million to create the new Critical Minerals Processing Fund |
| Up to $3 billion in loans through the Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program. |
| An additional $600 million to the Invest Ontario Fund. The fund’s mandate is job creation and investment attraction. |
| An additional $90 million to Venture Ontario. |
| $200 Million to the Ontario Shipbuilding Grant Program to provide grants to provincial shipbuilders. |
One Additional Item:
 The Airbus H135 Helicopter. Assembled in China and Germany. In response to Donald Trump Ontario is spending $57 million on two new H-135 helicopters for security and enforcement along the Canada / U.S. border.
Debts and Deficits
Ontario is forecast to pay $15.2 billion in interest costs in 2024–25, and $16.2 billion in 2025–26.
In total, the budget calls for $232.5 billion in spending, with almost 7% of our budget, 7 cents on every dollar, going to interest payments on the accumulated debt. This budget includes $14.6 billion in additional debt. Collectively, we need to outlast Donald Trump, sadly, additional debt may be the only way to do this.
No government can be all things to all people. This budget addresses a wide variety of issues facing the people of Ontario while considering the potential of a weakening economy and the need to continue to pay interest for the money borrowed in the past.
 By Staff
May 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Gotta SING, Gotta DANCE! is an exciting tribute to the art of staying young, showcasing music, comedy and dance.
It’s a lavish production featuring a brand new lineup of upbeat and fast-paced entertainment presented by the inspiring talents of the Burlington Footnotes.
Tue Jun 17, 2025 at 2pm & 7pm
Tickets HERE
 By Pepper Parr
May 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
 It is time to take a hard look at how Elections Canada ran the last federal election.
Elections Canada is an agency of the Parliament of Canada, and reports directly to Parliament rather than to the Government of Canada.
Founded: July 1, 1920
Agency executive: Stéphane Perrault, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada
Annual budget: $628,864,260 (2021–22)
Employees: 500 (Permanent) up to 235,000 (election period.
The number of people who went to polling stations on Good Friday set a new record. Line-ups in many locations had people waiting more than an hour to vote
Vote counting took a long time – more than a day in many situations.
The number of recounts that were done was exceptionally high.
And – the voting was done with paper ballots.
Is it perhaps time for the federal government to direct Elections Canada to give people the opportunity to cast their ballot electronically?
There has been significant concern over possible foreign intrusion into the election process we have. The GET NAME xxx – Surely this country has people with the expertise to create a system that cannot be violated.
The vote count is Terrebonne ( a constituency just north of Montreal) gave that riding, eventually to the Liberals, by a single vote that raised more than one eyebrow.
Elections Canada admitted this week that a misprint on an envelope used to mail a special ballot from Terrebonne led to one Bloc voter’s mail-in ballot being returned to her. The misprint contained an error in the last three digits of the postal code for where the ballot should have been sent.
 BLOC party leader Yves Francois Blanchett.  Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. Despite the error, Elections Canada said Wednesday the result of the judicial recount in the riding was final. BLOC party leader Yves Francois Blanchett said the party will contest the result in Quebec’s Superior Court. And well they should.
The recounts, there are still several underway, could well determine which political party governs the country. That is what democracy is all about.
That Elections Canada was overwhelmed is unfortunate. Get the job done and then have a hard look at the way we run our federal elections and come up with solutions.
The Prime Minister did appoint Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation – one of the first things he might want to consider is to direct Elections Canada to research and produce an electronic system for the casting of ballots and provide them with the funds to do the job.
 By Staff
May 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
ATTENTION Parents! Guardians! Grandparents! Caregivers! Aunts! Uncles! Elders! Teachers! Principals! Students! Mentors! Youth Workers! Educational Support Staff! School Trustees! Lifelong Learners and Allies in Education!
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre has announced its BPAC ONSTAGE offering, their new season of exceptional performances for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Their team has selected 16 performances and workshops designed to inspire a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts while bringing the Ontario Arts Curriculum to life.
You are invited to share news of our 25/26 BPAC ONSTAGE Season with the educators and learners in your life!
For only $10 per student ticket, the 25/26 BPAC ONSTAGE Education Series is exclusive to schools and offers students a window into the dynamic world of dance, theatre and music.
 An in-depth backstage tour and hands-on demonstration led by BPAC’s talented technical team New for the 25/26 Season, BPAC Backstage is an in-depth backstage tour and hands-on demonstration led by BPAC’s talented technical team, designed for high school-aged students considering a career in the technical performing arts!
 Golden Ticket Program provides FREE tickets to performances from our Education Series BPAC’s Golden Ticket Program provides FREE tickets to performances from the Education Series to students who would otherwise not be able to access these events. This program would not be possible without the generous support and donations from our community members like you!
Help us continue to enrich the lives of Burlington youth by donating to our Golden Ticket Program. You will receive a full tax receipt for donations of $25 or more.
For more information and how to donate, please visit: burlingtonpac.ca/golden-ticket
 By Staff
May 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board (HDSB) and Halton Region Public Health will host information sessions to raise awareness about the impact of vaping on youth and how parents/guardians can support their children.
 An unfortunate pathway to nicotine addiction and other negative health effects. Vaping is a fast-evolving trend that has attracted youth and created an unfortunate pathway to nicotine addiction and other negative health effects. These information sessions will discuss what vaping is, the health risks to youth, youth experience and how parents/guardians can support their children.
The sessions, hosted by Public Health Nurses from Halton Region Public Health and school principals/vice-principals, will be held at four secondary schools across Halton. Public Health Nurses work to enhance the health of school communities by working collaboratively on policies, programs and building environments that prevent substance use/misuse and promote mental health.
At the information sessions, parents/guardians will gain a better understanding of vaping, including how to spot the risks, recognize the signs, talk to children about vaping and discover tools, strategies and resources to support their child.
Milton: Craig Kielburger Secondary School – Tuesday, May 27
Halton Hills: Georgetown District High School – Thursday, May 29
Oakville: Garth Webb Secondary School – Monday, June 2
Burlington: Nelson High School – Tuesday, June 3
 Those interested in attending are asked to register online by Thursday, May 22. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and the sessions will be held from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. For those unable to attend in-person, there will be a virtual session held on Thursday, May 22 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Learn more on the Vaping webpage on the HDSB website.
HDSB 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan
The 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan sets direction and prioritizes the collective actions of all students, staff, families and community members. This plan ensures our efforts as an organization are aligned and coordinated to support more than 67,000 students, 11,000 staff and the broader HDSB community. The six commitments identified in this four-year plan intersect and overlap to ensure that we take a cohesive approach to fulfilling its objectives.
 By Julia Borg
May 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation) revealed in April that it made a whopping CA$27 million in the fourth and final quarter of the 24/25 financial year. This came from gaming revenue and will be paid out in installments to 29 different Ontario communities that host gaming facilities. The most came from Casino Woodbines municipality in Q4 as they returned just over CA$4 million back to the community.
These payments are paid back into community programmes and support local programs and infrastructure as part of the Canadian government’s scheme for returning money into the communities that it earns from land-based casinos. Winnings from online and offshore betting companies are not part of this scheme yet, but it could be worth checking out the best crypto casinos Canada list to see where’s best for your next online wager, regardless. These sites accept cryptocurrency as a payment method, which holds such benefits as anonymity, fast transaction speeds, and security.
For land-based casinos in Canada, however, the boom continues to be very much present for them. Whilst the return in Q4 is smaller than Q3’s massive CA$33.5 million return, there continues to be strong returns made to the community through the casino’s scheme. Indeed, since 1994, host communities have received more than CA$2.5 billion in non-tax gaming revenue. It seems Canada have found a good model that allows the casinos to work in tandem with the local communities to provide a source of entertainment and prizepots yet still allow for their chance to give back through this scheme and help out locals in the community with the total payouts to municipalities during the 24/25 financial year returning around CA$142 million.
The OLG advised that the host gaming communities are made a lot stronger through these payments and seems to be a good model of symbioticism in the community. Stan Cho, the Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming advised that ‘Gaming sites continue to provide good local jobs and other positive impacts across the province’ and was pleased to see the revenue being invested.
The revenue is based on a set percentile return of revenue made on slot machines, table games and sportsbooks and puts a positive spin on an often stigmatised section of society.
 The news of these returns comes in tandem with the reports made in February that the iGaming industry in Ontario had seen continued year-on-year growth once again. February 2025 saw around CA$7 billion worth of bets made, which marks a 26.9% increase on the previous year. The market performance report seems to show that it is traditional online casino games that are thrusting the majority of this increase, generating around CA$6 billion of the reported increase and marking a 30% increase in this section of the industry from Februrary 2024, whilst sports betting markets were not reflecting quite as large a boom. It is believed that the implementation of Gigadat online transactions has really helped with this boost.
One thing is for sure, and clear to see. Ontario remains one of the most lucrative markets in North America for betting both with land-based casinos and in the iGaming industry. Competitive markets and strict regulations do not seem to have hampered the industry which continues to see huge growth.
By Eric Stern
May 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Ottawa’s tulip festival can trace its roots back to World War II. After the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands, Princess Juliana took refuge in Ottawa along with her two young daughters. While in Ottawa, a third daughter, Princess Margriet, was born. For the birth, the Ottawa Civic Hospital was declared Dutch soil.
Along with Princess Margriet, the “Tulip Legacy” was born. After returning to the Netherlands, the Dutch Royal Family began sending tulip bulbs to Ottawa and has been doing so ever since.
This gift has inspired the Canadian Tulip Festival, now the largest of its kind in the world.
Providing a safe haven for the Dutch Royal Family is one small part of the friendship between the two countries. Canada played a crucial role in the liberation of the Netherlands during World War II.
The Parliament Buildings, visible in the background, are undergoing a massive renovation and restoration project.
By Staff
May 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Burlington’s very first coffee party—Private Coffee Sessions Vol. 1—happening this Sunday, May 18 at Hola Café & Market.
The event drops May 18th, at Hola Café & Market: Latin beats, specialty brews, and the city’s best vibes, turning your Sunday plans into something unforgettable. —one Sunday only.
In collaboration with Montañeros Coffee Corp and DJ collective MXJ, the first-ever coffee party in Burlington taking place Sunday, May 18th from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Hola Café, 2156 Mountain Grove Ave, this RSVP-only event is free to the public (with limited capacity) and promises an afternoon full of soul, sabor, and seriously good coffee.
Here’s the brew:
- Burlington’s first-ever coffee party
- Official Listening Party for MXJ’s latest project
- Live DJ sets by MXJ and 2 special guest DJs
- Specialty coffee by Montañeros Coffee Corp
- Latin snacks like empanadas and tequeños available for purchase
- Giveaways for the fastest guests:
First 15 – unlimited coffee
Next 15 – one free cup
PLUS – we’ll be announcing the winner of our online giveaway live at the party.
To enter, follow us on Instagram and join the celebration: @holacafemarket, @musicbymxj, @montaneroscoffee
 Food and drink will be available throughout the party, and if you’re craving a full meal, head over to the restaurant side patio (open 10 AM – 5 PM) to enjoy full service and our special weekend dish: lechona, a traditional slow-roasted pork feast from Latin America. “At Hola, we believe food and music are the two most powerful ways to bring people together. Private Coffee Sessions is our way of inviting the community into that magic—natural flavors, Latin rhythms, and a space that feels like home,” says the Hola Café team.
This promises to be a new tradition for Burlington—an intimate, music-infused coffee party that blends community, culture, and curated vibes. It’s free, but once we hit capacity, doors close. Be early, be ready, be part of the story.
Location: Hola Café & Market, 2156 Mountain Grove Ave, Burlington, ON Date & Time: Sunday, May 18th, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM
By Pepper Parr
May 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Provincial budget was read into the record at Queen’s Park this afternoon. The last item in the 232-page budget read into the record earlier today is a new bill that will allow cabinet ministers to continue to use and be referred to as “Honourable,” even after they leave office.
Currently, in Canada, provincial ministers typically use the term while in office, while prime ministers, senators and chief justices can be referred to as “Right Honourable” for life.
This is clearly a government that wants to be seen for being serious and focused on the needs of the people who will find themselves struggling financially when the proposed tariffs begin to bite.
Did a pay increase come with the title enhancement?
Given that housing is a huge driver of the Ontario economy, the following will be of interest.
Link – Ontario budget makes little mention of housing
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By Ryan Charles 
