 By Gazette Staff
October 5th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
This 3-week workshop will teach participants how to warp, weave, and finish a scarf using the rigid heddle loom.
It is suitable for adults of all skill levels and no prior weaving experience is necessary. The finished project is approximately 12” x 60”. Materials for the warp (100% wool) are included in the registration fee.
 Rrigid heddle loom Participants will be asked to provide weft yarn in their choice of colours – a full material list will be provided in advance.
Amanda Rataj is an artist and weaver living and working in Hamilton, Ontario. She studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design University and has developed her contemporary craft practice through research-based projects, artist residencies, and exhibitions. Amanda is a contract lecturer in Toronto Metropolitan University’s Fashion program and has been an educator at the Art Gallery of Ontario for over a decade. Recent exhibitions include Generation at Craft Ontario as part of the Design TO festival (2023), Crosscurrents: Canada In the Making at the Textile Museum of Canada (2018), and Nothing is Newer Than Tradition (Art Gallery of Burlington, 2017).
 By Gazette Staff
October 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Want to learn about a ceramicist’s unique approach to their craft, while trying your hand at creating your own clay vessel?
 Join us for a night of learning how to use the pottery wheel – absolutely no experience is required for this fun, hands-on night working with clay.
About the Instructor: Neslihan Atay has been a passionate potter and a member of the Art Gallery of Burlington and the Burlington Potters Guild since 2017. Her primary focus is wheel work. She creates a wide range of both contemporary and traditional pieces including a line of Ottoman/Turkish designs that back to the 15th century. She has received her certificate through the Mohawk College Ceramics program and has taken advanced classes from master potter Donn Zver. Nesli’s work has been on exhibit at AGB. She takes part in seasonal sales of Burlington Potters Guild and Hamilton Potters Guild. She loves to teach and transfer her passion and knowledge to people interested in playing with clay.
Schedule:
AGE: Adult
DAY: Friday
START/END: September 12, October 10, November 14, December 12,
TIME: 6:30 to 9:30 PM
MEMBER DISCOUNT: 10% off for Regular Friends & 15% off for Philanthropic Friends
COST: $70
INSTRUCTOR: Nesli Atay
LOCATION: Onsite
 By Pepper Parr
October 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
We sent Ron Foxcroft a short note early this morning:
Ticats Game Day
Hamilton (9-6) at Toronto (5-10)
When Saturday, 3 p.m.
Where BMO Field
WHERE WILL YOU BE?
He came back with
With Beloved and Loving Tiger Cats. Oskee Wee Wee
He’s expecting plays like this:
 This is what the game is all about. And with a play like that, the Tiger Cats could defeat their lifelong rivals, send the Argo to the dressing room and improve Hamilton’s grip on first place in the East Division. A Tiger Cats’ win puts them just one victory or a Montreal loss away from locking up first place in the east and earning a first-round playoff bye.
A Toronto loss means they’re done.
 By Paul Deegan
October 4th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
This National Newspaper Week, as we face the rise of fake news amplified by algorithms that prioritize engagement, it is in everyone’s interest to protect the truth.
 In their 2018 book Truth Decay, Jennifer Kavanagh and Michael D. Rich of the RAND Corporation, wrote about the role news publishers and broadcasters play in mediating information – separating fact from fiction. They differentiate between these businesses and Big Tech platforms, arguing that because the former can be sued for defamation and hold themselves to journalistic standards, they remain accountable.
According to Kavanagh and Rich, “the filters and algorithms embedded in social media platforms and search engines, such as Google, contribute to Truth Decay — and particularly to increasing disagreement and the blurring of the distinction between opinion and fact — by inserting bias into the types of information a person is likely to encounter or engage with.”
 Generative artificial intelligence has compounded the problem. In the seven years since their book was published, generative artificial intelligence has compounded the problem. AI companies are flagrantly scraping and summarizing content directly from published news articles. This is theft on an industrial scale – plain and simple.
Publishers are being harmed because these artificial intelligence overviews are so detailed that the reader often stays within Big Tech’s walled garden, rather than being pointed electronically to news websites via links. No clicks mean no money for publishers to reinvest in fact-based, fact-checked journalism.
Readers are being harmed too. All too often, these artificial intelligence overviews serve up slop: inaccurate, irrelevant, out-of-date, and even harmful information. In today’s attention economy, these companies prioritize engagement. That leaves it up to the user to try to separate fact from fiction.
In a world of misinformation and disinformation, we need fact-based, fact-checked journalism. Crowdsourcing is not journalism. There are no alternative facts: there are just facts. And Canadians need facts to live their lives and to make informed decisions that empower them to participate effectively in democratic processes.
 Federal government advertisement. “Buy Canadian” is part of the solution. According to a recent report from Canadian Media Means Business, 92 per cent of digital ad dollars are now going to non-Canadian platforms, which puts the sustainability of Canadian media in jeopardy. Governments across Canada should not be spending their advertising dollars with foreign search and social media giants. They should walk the talk and “Buy Canadian”. They should follow the Government of Ontario’s lead and set aside a minimum of 25 per cent of their advertising budgets for trusted news brands. And that should be one of the planks in the Government of Canada’s new Buy Canadian Policy, which seeks to ensure our economy is resilient and self-reliant.
Beyond ensuring federal advertising is placed in a brand safe manner and without any additional cost to the taxpayer, a federal set-aside would send an important signal to other orders of government and to the private sector about protecting Canada’s digital sovereignty and sustaining independent, commercially viable public interest journalism.
More than 85 per cent of adults in Canada turn to newspaper content each week, and two-thirds trust that content – ahead of television, radio, magazines, social media, and online search.
Editor’s note: That statement is not completely true. Older people used to getting a newspaper delivered to the doorstep are still reading newspapers. The people under 35 – not so much.
Paul Deegan is president and chief executive officer of News Media Canada
 By Gazette Staff
October 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The City has been informed by the developer that on Wednesday, October 8, crews will be on-site to complete geotechnical investigation work.
Work is expected to take less than a day to complete. During this time, residents may notice drilling, vibration, and noise in the area. These disturbances are temporary and will only occur for the duration of the work.
This is not development-specific work and therefore it does not require City approvals or development agreements. Site investigations can be carried out by any property owner on their private land. They are used to determine site conditions ahead of any future construction.
No – not development work – they are drilling for oil or a shortcut to China!
 What was once seen as a gem of a community is going to undergo significant changes because the city has failed to resolve a problem.
 By Pepper Parr
October 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
An announcement that appeared on the Getting Involved website page said:
We are creating our next long-term vision and strategic plan – Horizon 2050 and we want to hear from you!
The Council in place now is working towards getting a budget in place for 2026.
Why are they starting a process that will outline a plan that takes the city forward to 2050? Will they be re-elected in 2026?
That is a job for the Council that will be elected in 2026
Their job at this point is to get themselves elected and then work with staff and the public to determine how the city should be built going forward.
 What do the citizens of the city want to see for a future Burlington? What’s possible. Horizon 2050 will guide the choices City leadership makes today and over the next 25 years. Help us plan for a Burlington that is future-ready, focused on connected communities and a thriving city for future generations.
What you share with us will help City staff and Council set the priorities that shape policies, programs and investments that impact our community for years to come.
 The 2015 to 2018 Strategic Plan was a real staff and City Councillor initiative. The 2022 to 2026 was driven to a considerable degree by consultants brought in by then City Manager James Ridge. 
How to Get Involved
Take the online survey from Oct. 1 to 31
Join us for a meeting in-person or online
Follow the project page for updates, reports and “What We Heard” summaries during the project.
Share your ideas with your neighbours and community groups and encourage them to share their ideas.
Why Horizon 2050 Matters
The decisions we make today will shape Burlington’s future. Horizon 2050 is about building a community where:
- Everyone feels included and connected,
- We protect and strengthen our natural environment,
- Housing, transportation and services meet the needs of all residents,
- Our city thrives socially, culturally and economically.
No point in protesting at this point. The city has already scheduled meetings for October (could this be to distract people from a budget that is going to have an increase in taxes of 5.8% over last year?)
October 14, 2025
 Every thought, every idea made by anyone during the 2015 – 2018 Strategic Plan sessions got written down. Staff and council put in much more than a full week of work to produce a solid document. When it came to getting opions using dotology – Council and Staff were far apart. Community Public Engagement Session #1
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Haber Recreation Centre, Room 1Tim Dobbie Dr., Burlington, Ont.
October 15, 2025 Community Public Engagement Session #2
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Mountainside Recreation CentreRoom 22205 Mt Forest Dr., Burlington, Ont.
 Frank McKeough, on the left, talks with Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman during the Strategic Plan sessions. The discussions were wide open and boisterous. October 15, 2025
Community Public Engagement Session #3
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Mountainside Recreation Centre Room 22205 Mt Forest Dr., Burlington, Ont.
October 21, 2025
By Gazette Staff
October 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The good news is that
No lane closures are currently planned for this weekend.
Background:
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has retained Alliance Verdi Civil Inc. (contractor) to undertake the rehabilitation of the 2.2 km QEW Burlington Bay Skyway Niagara bound bridge, and illumination upgrades in both directions of the QEW, from north of Northshore Boulevard to south of the Burlington Bay Skyway bridge, in the City of Burlington and City of Hamilton.
This project will extend the service life of the QEW Niagara bound lanes.
AECOM Canada ULC has been retained by MTO to provide construction administration and oversight of this project.
Construction started in May 2024 and is anticipated to be completed December 2026.
The Ministry of Transportation has advised media that a website has been set up to keep us aware of what they are doing that will impact travellers and when they are doing it.
Took far too long to get to this point – but at least we are there.
By Gazette Staff
October 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Experts ‘don’t think it will be a short crop year, just some reduced yields when comparing to other years.’
With harvest underway in Niagara, experts from Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) say the region is headed for a good crop despite the summer’s extreme heat and lack of rain.
“It looks like it is going to be an example of quality over quantity,” says CCOVI Researcher and Associate Professor Jim Willwerth (PhD ’11, OEVC ’04).
A damp spring combined with current moderate daytime highs and cooler evenings are helping to mitigate worries caused by the hot and dry summer conditions, says Willwerth, whose expertise includes soil, water and plant interactions.
 Jim Willwerth: “I don’t think it will be a short crop year, just some reduced yields when comparing to other years,” “I don’t think it will be a short crop year, just some reduced yields when comparing to other years, especially for those growers without irrigation,” he says, adding that a smaller yield due to smaller berries on the vine traditionally means more concentrated and desirable flavours in the grapes.
“We will see how the fall weather goes but right now the quality is looking excellent,” he says.
Last year, Ontario’s three major producing regions — Niagara, Prince Edward Country and the Lake Erie North Shore — produced 65,000 tonnes of grapes, according to the Grape Growers of Ontario (GGO).
GGO Chair Matthias Oppenlaender shares Willwerth’s optimistic outlook on this year’s harvest while also acknowledging the likelihood of a lower yield.
“The heat and drought in the summer were a challenge,” he says. “But even with a lower crop, the quality is excellent. We hope the cool nights and sunny days continue to carry us through to the end of harvest.”
Temperatures reached extreme highs over the summer, with several extended heat waves consistently measuring over 35 C.
Worries of a short crop were compounded by limited summer rainfall, with many areas of Niagara getting a third of their normal precipitation, Willwerth says.
“Most rain, if it did arrive, came in brief thunderstorms that did not allow the soils to absorb much water,” he says.
While wet weather in the spring helped grapevines avoid summer water stress, Willwerth says conditions in June and July impacted “fruit set” and helped create the lower yield estimate.
“Fruit set is the time when flowers develop into berries, and the excessive heat appeared to impact that process leading to fewer berries and smaller clusters,” he says.
Willwerth is hopeful October will see continued moderate temperatures and precipitation.
Too much heat now, he says, will have a poor impact on acidity and flavours in the grapes, and drier conditions can help reduce diseases that can be caused by moisture and humidity.
“We want to retain acidity to give the grapes that cool climate freshness that we are known for,” he says. “If temperatures get too high now, acids will start to break down faster.”
He says growers and winemakers are looking for a balance.
“Hopefully we will have a gradual ripening period where we have good flavour, good sugar levels and optimal acidity,” he says.
CCOVI Senior Oenology Scientist Jennifer Kelly runs the institute’s Pre-Harvest Monitoring program that serves as a free resource for industry to monitor ripeness of five varieties across the region from multiple vineyard sites, soil types and crop levels. From her perspective, the outlook is positive for local grape growers.
“The weather we are having now is really helping with a favourably slow progression of ripening,” she says, adding that the ripening rate could mean harvest 2025 will be extended by a couple weeks into early November.
“We are finding that sugar accumulation and acid degradation is happening a bit slower than it did last year,” she says. “More time on the vine is always a good thing.”
Oppenlaender agrees and says he expects this year’s conditions will result in a vintage that local growers and connoisseurs will happily remember.
“It will make for outstanding 100 per cent Ontario grown VQA wine,” he says. “I am looking forward to tasting them.”
 By Pepper Parr
October 2, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
We are not naming sources in this article. Gag orders appear to have been slapped on everyone involved in the process.
The date was set as September 29th – the two swimming clubs that are battling over the amount of time swimming pool time they will be given, were to have submitted their clubs’ membership by that date,.
In order to determine who is going to get what in terms of pool time – the Procurement people (it may be people from some other department) asked each club to provide verifiable membership numbers.
 BAD: Burlington Aquatic Devilrays The most recent information request from the city was for a list of the postal code for each member of the club.
 Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club One of the clubs, we have yet to determine which club, had a problem with just a postal code to determine if a swimmer was a resident of the City. They could give a Burlington postal code for a relative or a friend – there would be no way to follow up and verify.
The source of verifiable information on swimming club membership rests with Swimming Ontario. One of the swimming clubs suggested that the city get the information from that source.
No response yet from the city.
 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns The intention Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns expressed to have the City Auditor look into just how the decision to award swimming pool time was made isn’t clear – someone with the authority to acquire information was needed.
At this point, the matter does not appear to be on the Council agenda for next week.
Additions can be made to the Agenda before the meetings on October 6th and October 7th. Or Kearns can bring a Motion to have an item added.
Prior to this year, BAD had 40 hours of pool time each week. They now have 17 hours, while GHAC is believed to have 37.
The reduction in pool time is hammering the BAD club – their membership was once at 400; it is now less than 175. Swimmers join a club that has pool time.
The wheels at City Hall do not move quickly – they are as bad as they are in the provincial Court system.
But this will get resolved.
And if it is done fairly Burlington will have a hometown swimming club.
If it is unfair, the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays will become part of the city’s history.
By Gazette Staff
October 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Bowling lanes at Splitsville no longer have that hardwood floor look – they glow blue. Not sure that results in better bowling scores – but it sure is different. Splitsville Bowl has been an integral part of Burlington’s community for over 20 years, providing non-stop fun for family, friends, and businesses throughout the area.
After months of anticipation, changes, and renovations, Splitsville Bowl Burlington’s glow-up is complete.
Brands new lanes and pinsetters – guests can enjoy seamless bowling and our state-of-the-art scoring systems.
The have upgraded the arcade area, with new games and new prizes for everyone to enjoy!
Reserve your fun time online – click HERE
By Gazette Staff
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Chick-fil-A restaurants across Ontario will be offering a complimentary Original Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich or Spicy Chicken Sandwich to guests, while supplies last.
 The Burlington location is at 2331 Appleby Line
This offer is a way for Chick-fil-A to express gratitude to the citizens of Burlington and connect with both long-time fans and new customers. It’s the perfect opportunity for Canadians to enjoy a taste of Chick-fil-A’s signature offerings completely free of charge.
How Guests can Claim Offer
- Guests can claim their complimentary sandwich by visiting any participating Chick-fil-A restaurant in Ontario or Alberta, either inside the restaurant or via the drive-thru.
- This offer is limited to one per person, per day, while supplies last, and no purchase is necessary.
- The offer is not available through the App, personal web ordering or third-party delivery.
The fine print? While suppliers last.
 By Ray Rivers
October 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The timing couldn’t be worse. Canada’s economy is struggling, showing signs of stagnation, rising unemployment and a decline in per-capita GDP (productivity). This was Mr. Trump’s plan after all – destroy Canada’s economy and we will beg to become the 51st state. The last thing we needed was another postal strike.
 Postal workers – waving goodbye to the decent jobs they had? We shouldn’t be blaming Mr. Trump for the mess in our postal service. Mr. Trudeau won his 2018 election promising to preserve the money-losing door-to-door delivery service. And then, perhaps because of all the strike threats, the post office corporate management lost much of their lucrative parcel business. They went from holding over 60% to less than 25% of the parcel market in just the last five years. That’s no way to run a business unless you want to bankrupt it.
Email has made snail mail delivery something of an anachronism. I had been hired by the post office in the mid-1970s as their senior economist and stayed long enough to help ease in the new crown corporation of the 80’s. That allowed enough political leverage to end the stream of deficits back then by jacking up the price of postage – something which wouldn’t work today.
The post office has played a crucial role in this country’s development since its beginning. It is vital for remote communities where alternate means of communication are limited. Perhaps that is where the post office’s real future lies? After all, it’s been really lousy competing with the private sector. Still there are all those group mail boxes, the street mail drop-off boxes and all those postal stations.
Canada Post currently delivers mail over the largest geographic area in the world, including Russia. So it is not going to disappear. It’s not the pony express – where riders relayed, swapping horses along the way, as they carried mail between Missouri and California to honour their 10 day delivery guarantee. That early private sector mail experiment lasted fewer than two years.
 Every country road has scenes like this. They could all be gone in less than three years. There are about 70,000 full and part time employees in the corporation which serves over 3 million rural customers with residential mail delivery. Regardless of the current strike’s outcome, thousands of existing employees will end up on the jobless rolls.
Even if those lay-offs are phased-in, the pain of finding oneself jobless in a growing jobless market today is problematic. We should have seen this coming.
Mr. Carney has his work cut out for him.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
 By Gazette Staff
October 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Fall is the season of change, the perfect time to share some of the new and exciting initiatives we’ve been working on in response to community feedback. Earlier this year, we received valuable input from more than 4,600 people through our Customer Satisfaction Survey—thank you again to everyone who took the time to share their input to help shape the future of the library!
Responding to Your Needs
 In the survey, we heard feedback on three key areas: in-person spaces, demand for books in all formats, and programs and events. Here are some highlights of your feedback and how we’re responding:
More private space for collaboration and quiet work
In our surveys from last year and this year, we heard from many customers that they wanted more private space for quiet work or group collaborations. In response, we recently introduced online booking for BPL’s free meeting rooms and workspaces!
With the opening of our relocated New Appleby Branch earlier this month, we’re also able to offer expanded seating and three additional free bookable meeting rooms.
More to borrow
Burlington loves to read! Similar to last year, your survey comments show a demand for print, digital, and audiobooks, as well as concerns about longer wait times. We hear you and are refining our processes and borrowing parameters to manage demand for popular items. We’re continually adding more titles to borrow—last year, we added 700,000 eBooks on Hoopla and this year, Milton Public Library was added to our More to Borrow partnership, meaning customers can now access over 350,000 digital titles through OverDrive/Libby.
Over the past year, the cost of licensing eBooks and eAudiobooks and purchasing print material has continued to increase due to global economic factors, and we have to spend more to get the same amount. This is a long-term challenge that we will continue to address through advocacy, partnerships, and promotion strategies.
More programs and maker spaces
We heard that customers are seeking more frequent and diverse programs for a variety of ages and interests. This year, we expanded our maker offerings to include a MakerStation at Alton Branch and MakerStudio focused on video and audio at New Appleby Branch. We’ve also added new programs such as Tech Connect for older adults, family board game drop-ins, and a new drop-in program for teens.
Looking Ahead
We were thrilled to see that 96% of survey respondents believe the library improves the well-being of the community as a whole. Connecting the community with one another and the information and resources they need is at the core of what we do, and the foundation for our work ahead on our upcoming 2026-27 Strategic Plan. Thank you again to everyone who provided their input. We look forward to sharing our plan with you later this fall!
By Gazette Staff
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery of Burlington has partnered with Chartwell Retirement Residences to offer free Seniors to deliver Seniors’ Programming at the AGB this October.
October 1 is National Seniors Day an occasion for all Canadians to join in celebrating older adults across Canada—whether a parent, a co-worker, a neighbour, or a friend.
 Exploring creativity at the AGB clay studio through a new series of hands-on workshops. The AGB is inviting seniors in the community to explore their creativity in the AGB clay studio through a new series of hands-on workshops. Each two-part session invites you to hand-build a clay vessel with guidance from AGB artist educators Dawn Hackett Burns and Heather Kuzyk, then return the following week to personalize your creation with glazes inspired by the freedom of expression found in Russna Kaur’s exhibition
Chartwell Retirement Residences’ sponsorship of this program supports free registration for participants 55+ years old, all materials and kiln firings, and a tour of the AGB’s fall exhibitions. The program will conclude with a special reception for participants of both sessions in the Gallery’s lounge Thursday, October 30, 2–4 pm. Coffee and tea will be served.
Registration is free for participants ages 55+.
Participants can register on a first come, first served basis– space is limited to 12 participants per session.
Photo Credit: Jing Marchant and Mina Dragojevic from Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Photography.
Expressive Clay for Seniors
Session One
Tuesdays, October 14 & 21, 2025: 1:30–4 pm with Dawn Hackett Burns
Session Two
Thursdays, October 16 & 23, 2025 10 am–12:30 pm with Heather Kuzyk
REGISTER HERE
Chartwell Reception: Thursday, October 30, 2025 – 2–4 pm. AGB Lounge
About the Instructors
Dawn Hackett Burns is an acclaimed ceramic artist and Sheridan graduate who lives in Greensville, Ontario and has been teaching clay classes for over ten years. Her own clay practice often references place and culture and utilizes pattern and repetition. Nature is also a recurring subject. She has a gift for designing lessons and projects that fuel imagination and get artists of all ages excited about building with clay.
Heather Kuzyk is a versatile and creative visual artist. She is a graduate of Sheridan College in both the Craft and Design and Art Fundamentals Programs.
She is the recipient of the Gardiner Museum Award for Ceramic Excellence. Following graduation, Heather has built a passionate career spanning 24 years as a dedicated arts educator. Her varied skill set includes ceramics, sculpture, mixed media, drawing, and design. When she is not sharing her love of the arts, she can be found dabbling with new media and looking for unique and interesting ways to express herself creatively.
By Gazette Staff
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Public Library is excited to be part of the Telling Tales Festival in October— they can’t wait to see you there.
Telling Tales is a huge children’s literary event held every year in Hamilton. This year, Hendrie Park in Royal Botanical Gardens is where all the action happens on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5.
The weekend festival features over 70 presentations by Canadian authors, illustrators, and storytellers, offering storytimes, music, theatrical performances, and workshops for book lovers of all ages, from babies to teens.
Now in its 17th year, Telling Tales always draws a big crowd, so be sure to register in advance to attend this FREE event to be part of the magic.
BPL’s Tales Under the Tent Puppet Shows
Step right up and join the fun at BPL’s Big Tent in The Creativity Zone at Telling Tales. Our talented troupe of tale spinners is ready to whisk you away with puppet shows that’ll tickle your funny bone and send shivers down your spine. Join us for parachute play and silly songs—and try your skills playing one of the big games under the tent. Fun for the whole family awaits!
With puppet shows happening all weekend, there’s always a reason to stop by and say “hi”!
Our Puppet Shows run for 25 minutes:
- Saturday, October 4: Show starts at 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm
- Sunday, October 5: Show starts at 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm
And More Puppet Time Ahead!
Fun with puppets lives on at Burlington Public Library even after Telling Tales 2025 wraps up! Join them at 2pm for an hour of puppetry fun for the whole family. Create a puppet craft, explore the library’s puppet family, and put on your own mini puppet show. Kids also have a chance to win a puppet! Children ages 5 and under must have an adult with them. No need to register. Please note: this is a hands-on discovery session, not a puppet performance.
Puppet Time @Central Branch – Saturday, October 18, 2-3pm
Puppet Time @New Appleby Branch – Saturday, October 25, 2-3pm
Telling Tales Books to Read
Check out books from our collection by some of the authors and illustrators you can meet in person at Telling Tales this year.
By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
September 17th, 2012 was a boffo week for the BurlingtonGreen crowd.
Dr. Jane Goodall was in Canada and the BG’s were thrilled to have her first event presentation taking place right here in Burlington.
 Jane Goodall Goodall shared fascinating stories from the field, her reflections on global conservation and hope for the future of the planet to both a daytime audience of 700 Halton youth attending our annual “Imprints” Youth event followed by a sold out evening event also taking place at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
Dr Goodall passed away at the age of 91.
The students hung on every word she said when she spoke. During a short interview after her presentation, I was asked by her media assistant to wait a few minutes: “Dr. Goodall wants to refresh herself”. The aid took a medium-sized flask from her purse and slipped into the room Dr. Goodall was relaxing in.
She was a charm to interview; the world is a lesser place with her passing.
Related news story:
Goodall in Burlington
By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Raising funds for a community initiative is never easy. It takes an innovative approach and then some hard work to make the idea effective.
Eagles Nest is an organization that provides affordable mental health services in the community. The tag line for them is: HOPE RESTORED, LIVES CHANGED.
They recently held a raffle that is one of the best I’ve seen in some time.
They sold 9,630 tickets and raised over $5,000. The funds will be used to cover some of the operating costs.
There were two prizes: the Culinary Experience Bundle, which was won by N. McCarthy of Brantford and the Upscale Flavours Gift Pack, which was won by R. Armstrong of Burlington.
The Culinary Experience bundle included: Quatrefoil Restaurant ($300), The Good Earth Food & Wine Co, ($200), 400 Brant Kitchen & Bar ($400), Rapscallion & Co. ($200), Spencer’s at the Waterfront ($300), Edgewater Manor ($200) and The Standard ($200).
The Upscale Flavours winner got to choose from a hand-picked selection of gift cards from two favourites: Shy’s Place ($200) and Bench Brewing ($200)
Not a bad return for tickets that went at Single Ticket for $10, 3-Ticket Pack for $20 and a 100-Ticket Pack for $50.
Amanda DevriesWeeks before the raffle took place the Eagles Nest staff and many of their supporters met at their location on Dundas to talk about the programs underway.
 Amanda deVries on the left with a staff member working the cell phones.  It was a soft summer evening; people catching up with one another – many wearing T-shirts that spelled out what the organization is about.
By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
There will soon be more older people than young people in the city.
And many of those older people are going to need levels of care that are not normally provided.
 University Professor Tim O’Connell, Chair of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University explains that: “As society increasingly embraces a holistic approach to health, recreation has emerged at the critical intersection of personal wellness and community well-being.
To meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in recreation fields, Brock University and Mohawk College have signed two transfer pathway agreements to deliver flexible options for students to pursue either a Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation or Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies.
The articulation agreements set students on a direct track from Mohawk College’s two-year Recreation Therapy and 16-month Accelerated stream programs to either Brock program. Eligible students will receive a block of seven transfer credits, fast-tracking them toward their 20-credit degree.
By embedding courses such as Leisure Education in Therapeutic Recreation in a broader recreation and leisure studies framework, Brock’s programs equip graduates with in-demand skills, professional experience and industry-recognized credentials. Career paths range from clinical practice in hospitals and long-term care facilities to community-based roles where recreation and leisure contribute to physical, social and emotional well-being.
 The Therapeutic Recreation program also qualifies students to participate in the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. “The pathways are a game-changer for students,” says Connell. “They not only gain advanced standing in their degree but increase their career readiness by graduating with an essential credential employers are looking for in hospitals, long-term care facilities and treatment centres.”
In addition to clinical practice, students complete a 560-hour supervised internship, benefit from access to an extensive alumni network and have options to pursue an honours thesis.
The Therapeutic Recreation program also qualifies students to participate in the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam, a credential increasingly sought by employers across Canada and the United States.
By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Hall was shut down for Truth and Reconciliation Day, but the schools were open.
 Amy Collard: Chair, Board of Trustees, Halton District School Board The Halton District School Board had a solid program that helped create a better understanding of what took place at the hundreds of residential schools that existed across the country.
The Indigenous Rights and Education Department had First Nations, Métis and Inuit students gather and work at build community with their fellow students in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Students were engaged in activities and learning in ways that allow for their gifts and authentic selves to be valued and respected. Students are engaged in learning about the diversity of nations through story and sharing with each other.
 Curtis Enns: Director of Education Halton District School Board HDSB students and staff were invited to wear orange shirts to acknowledge the shared responsibility to learn and understand the history and legacy of Residential Schools. When sourcing orange shirts, HDSB schools have been encouraged to use resource providers who are committing proceeds to the benefit of Residential School Survivors.
 The site was a school that was first built in 1831. It was burned down twice by the students. It was taken over by the federal government and used as a Residential school until 1970, when it was closed.
By Gazette Staff
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
If you don’t get downtown that often, you may not be aware of the change taking place directly across the street from City Hall.
The block that was home to Kelly’s Bakery and Elizabeth Interiors is being demolished. It will become a 17-storey tower that is reported to have 25% of the units marketed as Affordable Units.
 Brant from James south to the mini park on the east side of the street is being demolished The developer intends to have shovels in the ground by the end of the year.
The demolition is underway, and it won’t be long before everything has been flattened.
 Upper floors of City Hall can be seen from the demolition of the block on the east side.
 Back how bites into the roof of what used to be Elizabeth Interiors on the east side of Brant Street, opposite City Hall.
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