 By Staff
April 12, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
This is what great readers do – they report as well as read.
We published a piece asking why so many people were reading a story more than a year old.
Gareth Williams popped us a note – the place was being robbed.
 Police tactical squad looking for robbery suspects at Solid Gold. Plains Road in Burlington has reopened after being shut down since around six this morning, as police searched for an individual or individuals who broke into Solid Gold strip club. Police surrounded the building for hours, with guns drawn. The Tactical unit showed up and a little after 8:30 they finally went inside the building. Elizabeth Hall was  at the scene, but did not see anyone go in or out of the building all morning.
CHCH had the full story.
 By Staff
April 12, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Why would 170 people want to read a story that was published in March of 2015?
 We have no idea – but when we looked into the stats on the story we found that more than 3500 people have read the piece with the headline Burlington lawyer claims Solid Gold is available by the hour on Plains Road in Aldershot.
One of the reasons they reasd the story of course was because they could – everything the Gazette publishes stays in the archives.
 Is there something going on in Aldershot the rest of us don’t know about?
Check it out – is there something we are missing?
Solid Gold
 By Pepper Parr
April 12, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was more than a year in the making during which it went from the traditional Burlington four year plan that got expanded to a 25 year plan that added $200,000 to the city’s budget, presumably to maintain the plan or do some of the numerous promises in the document.
Council was proud as punch with the achievement.
It was described as the product of public engagement and a plan the city believes captures the priorities of the city’s residents and community leaders. Input was gathered from business groups, community groups, staff and residents. The city held workshops in late 2015 and early 2016 to test the draft with the community, making 176 changes to get to the final version.
 A City that Grows, A City that Moves, A Healthy and Greener City and An Engaging City – call it home – with a plan for the next 25 years. In the media release the city said: The strategic plan includes four strategic directions:
A City that Grows
The City of Burlington attracts talent, good jobs and economic opportunity while having achieved intensification and a balanced, targeted population growth for youth, families, newcomers and seniors.
A City that Moves
People and goods move through the city more efficiently and safely. A variety of convenient, affordable and green forms of transportation that align with regional patterns are the norm. Walkability within new/transitioning neighbourhoods and the downtown are a reality.
A Healthy and Greener City
The City of Burlington is a leader in the stewardship of the environment while encouraging healthy lifestyles.
An Engaging City
Community members are engaged, empowered, welcomed and well-served by their city. Culture and community activities thrive, creating a positive sense of place, inclusivity and community.
 City manager James Ridge – once he got his teeth into it – the Strategic Plan became his baby – now he has to deliver on it. “The new plan is a blueprint for city-building,” said City Manager James Ridge. “This is a bold, ambitious multi-year plan that we will deliver in partnership with the community.”
The media releases are intended to put the city’s spin on an event. What was actually said during the Monday evening council meeting wasn’t quite the same
There was serious concern over the lack of any prioritization and where the money was going to come from to pay for all the plans.
Mayor Rick Goldring said: “With the strategic plan now approved, the city will work with its leadership team to add detail to each strategic direction, including completing the city’s Official Plan and Transportation and Transit Master Plan.
“I look forward to working with council, staff, our residents and businesses to get started on initiatives across Burlington outlined in our strategic plan.”
The city will continue to report back to the community on the progress of the plan, including through issues of City Talk, and through advertising and social media as well as updates to City Council.
The intention is to continually review, refine and update of the Plan quarterly.
And of course the Gazette is going to be there every step of the way. We were the only media organization that attended every one of the Strategic Plan meetings and have an insight that will inform what we write.
During the creation of the Strategic Plan Mayor Goldring made a trip to China – there was never a report on that trip – what it cost and what was achieved.
 In the beginning – when work on the developing of a Strategic Plan started it was going to be a four year plan – it grew. There has not been a report on how much was spent on the creation of the report – going from a four year plan to a 25 year plan certainly added to the cost.
Also, there doesn’t appear to be a recorded vote or any discussion on the decision to move from a four year time frame to a 25 year time frame.
The Strategic Plan will be on the city’s web site – as soon as we know exactly where it is we will advise you.
 By Staff
April 12, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Susan Kilburn has been appointed by City Council to the Board of Directors of Burlington Hydro Electric Inc.(BHEI)
The appointment is for three terms of two years each.
BHEI is the city owned provider of electricity and electrical services to the people of the city.
Ms Kilburn is a consultant to BMO Capital Markets & Enterprise Risk where she leads the execution of a high-profile and highly aggressive regulatory initiative in market risk.
 Burlington Hydro has kept ahead of the technology curve with its innovations – above, the opening of a micro-generation station that provides heat and air conditioning to the Brant Street offices. She has worked with Rogers Communications where she established a new horizontal department across the Technology organization. This department was tasked with two primary functions: improving business/IT alignment, and optimizing program execution for enterprise-level initiatives.
Clearly an executive with the customer in mind.
Mayor Goldring is also a member of the BHEI board.
By Staff
April 12, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
At about 4:40 AM on Saturday April 9th, police responded to a break-in to a fenced compound at Duke Equipment located at 1184 Plains Road East in Burlington.
The police officers located a male hiding in the bed of a pickup truck within the compound. They found a universal Caterpillar equipment key, a multi-tool and a headband with a light attached to it in the suspects possession.
The male fled on foot when first discovered by the police but was located a short distance away where he was arrested without incident.
A further investigation at the scene revealed that the pickup truck where the male was originally found had the rear window pried open.
The male identified as Cody Winston PRICE (26-yrs) of Sarnia was held for bail charged with break & enter, possession of break-in instruments, possession of property obtained by crime and fail to comply with probation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 ext. 2316 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Pepper Parr
April 11th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
We launched our crowd funding initiative late this afternoon telling our readers that we needed to raise some operating capital to hire a strong advertising sales person and additional editorial help.
I put in a paltry $20 to ensure that the site was working and went out to do a short interview and returned to find a few others had contributed, More importantly there was an email from a person who thinks he would like tow work for us – here is what he had to say:
“The Gazette gives a voice to, and tells the stories of, its community; plus, is in the position to capitalize on the four critical drivers of the online experience – video, content, mobile, results. That’s why the company can enjoy a competitive advantage on which Bell Media, Corus, Durham Communications and Channel Zero have yet to capitalize as effectively in the Burlington-Hamilton market.
“I’m prioritizing selling and/or managing for a local and digitally-focused media company with critical mass in the market; as that enables me to build things faster for the employer, clients, and myself – more so than I can on my own. I’ve targeted Burlington-Hamilton (next to our home in the Niagara Region), as it’s a far bigger market with larger dollars to harvest. The Gazette is prioritized ahead of broadcast because you’re in a position to take thought leadership position in this sector.”
Sounds good doesn’t it? As we get into the week we will begin telling everyone we know about the help we need – for the moment – we are off to a good start and I am off to cover a city council meeting. Let’s see what those rascals have been up to.
By Staff
April 10, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They need help with scraping and painting, window cleaning, cleanup of the grounds, moving and cleaning Whinstones, installing safety material on the windows, relocating
the TH&B car, and moving the security fence.
 The outside of the Freeman station is looking pretty good – lots more to be done on the inside. Does any of this appeal to you?
How about being a part of the team that has contributed over 3,000 hours of effort to get the Freeman Station to the point where they are thinking seriously in terms of setting a date for the place to open.
 The was the end of stage 1 – getting the station off blocks and to he location where it would rest on a foundation. That was phase two. The volunteers who are making this happen have put in more than 3000 hours of work – so far. The Freeman Station has a proud history, not because of what the majority of city council did to keep it from being sold for kindling – but proud because of the tiring efforts and hard work to first find a site for the structure and then to raise the funds to get it moved and then to get started on the work that will make it a destination for many visitors to the city.
The Friends of Freeman Station want you to dig out your work gloves and wear old clothes and then show up on one of the two (both if you are so inclined) volunteer dates: April 16th and April 30th.
 With the hardest part of winter behind them – the team will be out in full force. There is a lot to be done yet
The team would like to know what kind of talent is going to show up: alert them about your skills by emailing them at – info@freemanstation.ca and let them know what you can do.
By Staff
April 10th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
On April 8th, 2016 a victim attended 30 Division in Burlington to report a male had threatened to shoot him.
Police commenced an investigation and learned the victim and accused are known to each other. The accused had been trying to contact the victim through a series of
phone calls and text messages.
The victim advised the accused threatened to cause physical harm and ultimately shoot the victim. Fearing for his safety, the victim attended 30 Division and filed
a report.
 As a result of the investigation it was believed the accused was in possession of a firearms. Police attended the residence of the accused. He was observed exiting his
apartment building after a brief struggle the accused was arrested.
Once in custody, police executed a Criminal Code search warrant on his residence and located the following:
– A Russian SKS semi-automatic rifle
– 12 stripper clips which contained 10 bullets each (120 bullets total) caliber 7.62 mm
– Quantities of powder cocaine, crack cocaine and marihuana
The accused was identified as Tyler TATAREN, a 20 year old male from Toronto.
Charges:
– Utter threats to cause death
– Resist arrest
– Carry concealed weapon
– Weapons dangerous
– Unauthorized possession of a firearm
– Possession of firearm knowing possession is unauthorized
– Careless storage (firearm-careless storage (ammunition)
– Contravention of storage regulations (firearm)
– Contravention of storage regulations (ammunition)
– Possession of controlled substance – schedule I cocaine
– Possession of controlled substance – schedule II marihuana
The accused was held for bail.
 By Staff
April 10th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A group of Burlington-area performers have joined together to present a benefit concert in aid of Syrian refugees. Burlington impresario and artists manager Robert Missen put the call out to all of his Facebook friends when the tragic circumstances in Eastern Europe came to a head. He wondered if they would be interested in participating in a special concert to provide financial support to the cause. The reaction was swift and decisive.
Missen put the word out to his colleague, Stillman Matheson, Director of Music at Port Nelson United Church, who then took the idea to the church’s Syrian Refugee Sponsorship Group . Their response was equally positive. The church will provide the use of the sanctuary for the concert, and will support the presentation of the event from marketing and logistical perspectives. Mr. Matheson and the church choir will participate in the concert.
 Stuart Laughton Musicians from all genres- classical, jazz, folk, blues, musical theatre- will come together at 3:30 pm on Sunday April 17th. All of the artists will be donating their services. They include singer-songwriter Jude Johnson, trumpeter , sopranos Carol Ann Thomson, Elise Naccarato and Alix Kingston, KooGle Theatre’s Leslie and Chris Gray, pianist Charles Cozens, flutist Claire Sweeny, mime artist and singer-songwriter Andy Griffiths. Robert Missen will serve as Host.
All of the proceeds will be shared equally between The United Church of Canada’s Emergency Response – Syria Relief campaign for those in refugee camps overseas and the Port Nelson Refugee Sponsorship Group.
 Trevor Copp 5000 Miles Burlington is but one of several similar benefits that are being held across southern Ontario: Rosedale United Church in Toronto on Sunday November 8th ; Knox Presbyterian Church in Elora on Saturday November 28th ; and St. John’s Anglican in Ancaster on February 28th.
Tickets are $25 and are available through the Office of Port Nelson United Church, at Different Drummer Books, through Eventbrite and at the door. Children under 12 are admitted for free.
5000 MILES: A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES
SUNDAY APRIL 17TH, 3:30 PM
PORT NELSON UNITED CHURCH
3132 SOUTH DRIVE, BURLINGTON
905-637-5631
TICKETS $25, CHILDREN UNDER 12 FREE
 By Staff
April 9, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
“ Yes we know you’ve heard it all already”, said David Low, president of Latow, the Burlington photography Guild, “but a week from now Latow will be holding its Annual Photography Weekend with David duChemin, who is regarded as one of the top photography educators anywhere.”
 David duChemin David duChemin is a world and humanitarian assignment photographer, best-selling author, digital publisher, and international workshop leader whose nomadic and adventurous life fuels his fire to create and share. When on assignment du Chemin creates powerful images that convey the hope and dignity of children, the vulnerable and oppressed for the international NGO community. Drawing on a previous career in comedy, du Chemin is a dynamic and engaging presenter and educator. A driven artist, creative professional, entrepreneur and life-long adventurer, du Chemin educates and inspires through stunning visuals and hilarious travel stories.
 From the David duChemin collection. Saturday’s full-day seminar, Photographically Speaking, – a day of inspiration and
instruction.
Sunday mini-seminars: three 2-hour sessions: A Stronger Approach to Travel
Photography, Stronger Landscape Photography, and The Visual Imagination.
Saturday evening Latow AV Festival – 10 presentations combining images and music in
innovative ways.
Latow is the photography guild associated with the Art Gallery of Burlington.
By Staff
April 9, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario is challenging high school students to “change the world” by volunteering for at least three hours in their communities.
The challenge runs from April 10 to May 23, coinciding with National Volunteer Week.
 This year’s goal is to have 39,000 students aged 14 to 18 participate in volunteering. The ChangeTheWorld challenge, which is delivered in partnership with the Ontario Volunteer Centre Network encourages young people to get involved in their communities and helps them develop important skills like teamwork and leadership.
Ontario high school student are required to put in 40 hours of volunteer time in order to graduate.
By Staff
April 9, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police are asking for some help in identifying a male associated to a stolen vehicle taken from a residential break and enter in Burlington.
 Regional police provided a photograph of a driver at a gas station – the driver left without paying for the gas in a car that had been stolen earlier. At 3:00 am on March 23rd the garage of a Burlington home was entered while the homeowners were asleep in their residence. Two vehicles were stolen.
The vehicles drove along the 407, a toll road where license plate numbers are captured, going eastbound from Burlington.
 A second photograph of a person driving a car that had been stolen from a Burlington residence. One of the stolen vehicles was recovered in Toronto on March 24th. The other stolen vehicle, a 2006 grey Infiniti G35 was involved in a gas drive off in Toronto in the early morning hours on March 30th.
If you are able to ID the male, have information with regards to the whereabouts of the stolen vehicle or have information that would assist investigators, please contact Det Bale of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau, 905-825-4747 ext 2312 or D/Cst Freeman ext 2363.
Alternatively through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 There was some very detailed police work done on this case. Capturing data from the numerous cameras in the area and working with data from the Toronto police and getting the photographs from the gas station was all a part of putting the pieces together.
Detective Bale and D/Cst Freeman of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau
were part of that team.
By Pepper Parr
April 8th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Parents and community members are invited to review and give feedback on the Halton District School Board’s 2015-2016 Long-Term Accommodation Plan
(LTAP).
This plan addresses the existing and projected accommodation needs of students in elementary and secondary schools and identifies new capital
project initiatives, such as the need for new schools.
The Long-Term Accommodation Plan along with Powerpoint presentations, which we have set out below, outlining key points for Burlington, Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville.
  The information is available on the school boards web site at www.hdsb.ca. Follow the link from the homepage under ‘Program and Accommodation’ to access the plan and presentations.
The Board wants any input before Wednesday, April 27, 2016.
You can communicate using either of the following:
The online feedback form here <https://checkbox.hdsb.ca/ltap.aspx>
or visit https://checkbox.hdsb.ca/ltap.aspx
By mail: Planning Department, PO Box 5005 STN LCD 1, Burlington, ON L7R 3Z2
Staff will report back to Trustees at the May 4, 2016 Board meeting and recommend any changes to the LTAP.
There isn’t much in the way of opportunity to comment on the web site. You might find it more useful to be in touch with your trustee if you have concerns. Responders are given a number of boxes that can be ticked off. The questions asked are:
Check all that apply
Timing and Status of Capital Projects
Condition of Physical structure, facility issues (e.g. equity between new and old schools)
Future elementary and secondary boundary reviews and Program and Accommodation Review
School utilization rates and capacities
School program offerings and/or relation to school utilizations
Transportation issues and walkability of schools.
 By James Smith
April 8, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Ted McMeekin, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, has come up with five changes to the Municipal election act:
1 – Shortening the campaign calendar by opening nominations for candidates on May 1 instead of January 1
2 – Creating a framework to regulate third party advertising, including contribution and spending limits
3 – Removing barriers that could affect electors and candidates with disabilities
4 – Making it easier to add or change information on the voters’ list
5 – By far the most significant proposed change is giving municipalities the option of using ranked ballots in future elections, which would allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference. The option to use ranked ballots would begin for the 2018 municipal elections.
To get into the issue let me first cover the motherhood issues.
2- Creating a framework to regulate third party advertising, including contribution and spending limits. Remains to be seen how this will work, but a step in the right direction. Any time we can remove the influence of vested interests from politics, the more reflective and better is our democracy.
3- Making campaigns Barrier Free by requiring city clerks to prepare accessibility plans to identify, remove and prevent barriers that could affect electors and candidates with disabilities, and make the plan available to the public prior to voting day. Welcome change. It will make Ontario’s municipal elections conform more closely to the Province’s AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act).
4- Making it easier to add or change information on the voters’ list. I can’t argue with this as I have an issue using the voter data bases. These lists are full on extraneous and wrong information. Anything that can be done to get clean information is long overdue.
All steps in the right direction, as is the big issue of ranked ballots and I’ll have more to say about ranked ballots in a future piece. But the first issue of reducing municipal campaigns should be withdrawn as this is a step backwards.
What? you say, shortening the campaign calendar by four months sounds like a good idea! Who wants a politician around for nine or ten months prior to a municipal election? I get not everyone wants to see a politician for that long. But this hands a hugely significant advantage to incumbent municipal councillors and Mayors. With few ratepayer groups or service clubs organizing town halls or debates, there are few, if any events where voters can go and listen to a debate between candidates or ask them questions.
Most sitting municipal politicians have a significant advantage as an incumbent over any challenger in addition to name recognition for several reasons. Take the present Mayor of Burlington for example, he will have leftover signs, voter identification, volunteer and fundraising lists already sitting in storage waiting for the next election. If a newcomer is looking to challenge the Mayor, that person will have four months less time to build these resources. No small task.
Other elections can and do crowd municipal elections off the stage. Take the 2014 Municipal election for example. The 2014 Provincial Election took up a good portion of the spring. Many municipal candidates essentially put their campaigns on hold while the provincial campaign rolled along. The fixed election date hasn’t been altered so there is a very good likelihood the next provincial election will be held at the same time as the next municipal campaign.
In a move that’s frankly more in keeping with Putin’s Russia The city of Burlington forbids any campaigning on city property by mere candidates, what ever happened to speakers corner? If one is an incumbent city councillor or Mayor you may run a so called information meeting on a topic of your choice and citizens pay for this re-election gimmickry. All sitting councillors engage in city run promotions walking around an event like Senior’s Information seminars or Joe Brant Days or Car free Sunday with city issued name tags proclaiming their august position.
In these days of disappearing news outlets, shrinking coverage of municipal politics is a very real problem. For example in the 2014 municipal election, after sending several press releases to the Burlington Post I was finally informed that the Burlington Post had decided not to publish press releases for the 2014 municipal campaign. Speaking as a former candidate, and past manager of political campaigns it’s tough enough to get one’s message out to voters in the past, it’s almost impossible now. The issue in many cities, including Burlington is much of the remaining space that’s left for civic politics in the media that has become the GTHA media is often taken up by Toronto City Hall coverage at the expense of local issues. Unless there is a major scandal, local council races are not being covered.
By reducing the time one has to speak to citizens in the context of a Municipal campaign by limiting election campaigns by four months is frankly anti-democratic move and should be withdrawn.
 James Smith has run as a candidate in numerous elections – he has managed numerous elections. He has not yet served the public as an elected official. He was on the driving forces in the rescue of the Freeman Station and has delegated to city council on numerous occasions. He has close to the world’s worst collection of limericks.
By Pepper Parr
April 8, 2016
BURLINGTON,ON
It was to be the Chief’s fifteen minutes of fame – all he got was 13 minutes and a bit – and it was a bumpy ride.
The media Officer for the Regional Police Chantal Connor had sent out a media release that read as if we were going to get to see the chief talk to an audience that was out there in the on the world wide web.
 Halton Region’s Chief of Police – Stev Tanner. The media release wasn’t all that clear – which resulted in two confused reporters arriving at police headquarters expecting to see the chief in front of a camera – but we didn’t get to see the chief in front of a camera.
The two reporters were sitting in the lobby watching the chief chatting away on a cell phone. We looked at each other and wondered – aren’t we supposed to be up there watching this all happen?
Apparently not.
This newest communications gadget is known as Periscope which you access via your twitter account.
What exactly then it Periscope?
It is a live video streaming app for iOS and Android.
Twitter lets you read about something that is going on in real time – Periscope lets you see what is going on in real time.
This afternoon the chief sat down with a cup of coffee in hand and talked to whoever was tuned in. People “tune in” via their tweet account.
The Regional police are still trying to get a tight grip on the technology which could prove to be a very useful tool with all kinds of communication potential.
Care to put a number on that potential?
Periscope was acquired January 2015 by Twitter before the product had been publicly launched. One investor source says the acquisition amount was “sizeable”, above $50 million. Another says it fell between $75 and $100 million.
 Milla Pickfield interviewing the Chief of Police for the Gazette. She aced it. The Chief gets out into the community for much more than photo ops.
Once the technology types at police headquarters has a deeper understanding of what can and can’t be done with Periscope Sgt Chantal Connor said there would be officers in each detachment with experience using the app.
It could become a very powerful tool – police could not only tweet those 140 characters but use Periscope to send a live video feed.
Stay tuned for this on.
We accepted Sgt Connor’s apology for the communications screw up.
Final note – the Chief should wear a white dress shirt when he goes on camera.
Check out the show for yourself – scroll down to get the part with the Chief.
https://twitter.com/search?q=halton%20police&src=tyah
By Staff
April 8, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
On April 6th 2016, the Halton Regional Police, Burlington Street Crime Unit (SCU), concluded a drug trafficking investigation that resulted in four arrests and the execution of Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a Burlington residence.
Seized as a result of the Investigation:
• 40 grams of cocaine
• 9 grams of marihuana
• 7 grams of psilocybin
• 7 grams of liquid THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
• 99 THC pills (tetrahydrocannabinol)
• 10.2 milligrams of Fentanyl
• 1 prohibited knife
• 2 martial art swords
• $1230.00 in cash.
The drugs have an estimated street value of $ 6,880
The following persons have been charged:
Christopher HANCOCK (29 yrs) of Burlington (Held for Bail)
Trafficking a controlled substance (cocaine),
Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) for the purpose of trafficking (X2),
Possession of a controlled substance (marihuana) – under 30 grams (X2)
Possession of a controlled substance (psilocybin)
Possession of a controlled substance (THC) X2
Possession of a controlled substance (Fentanyl)
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
Breach of recognizance
Fail to comply with probation
Jeremy RODNEY (27 yrs) of Dundalk, Ontario (Held for Bail)
Possession of a controlled substance, (cocaine) for the purpose of trafficking,
Possession of a controlled substance (marihuana) – under 30 grams,
Possession of a prohibited weapon
Possession of a weapon contrary to a prohibition order
Rachel HYLTON (22 yrs) of Oakville (Released on
Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 15th 2015)
Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).
Oliver OAKES (23 yrs) of Oakville (Released on
Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 15th 2015)
Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).
Investigators remind the public to utilize Crime Stoppers to report any illegal drug, gun or gang activity at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes)
By Staff
April 7, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Each year, the Halton District School Board hosts public speaking competitions in Canada’s two official languages.
The English public speaking competition involving approximately 20 students in Grade 9-12 on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. It
starts at 6:30 p.m. at White Oaks Secondary School (1330 Montclair Dr., Oakville). The public can attend this free event.
The event provides separate competitions for Junior (Grade 9-10) and senior (Grade 11-12). Students speak on any subject they choose for 5-6 minutes
without a microphone and be judged on organization, effectiveness originality, grammar, delivery, voice, body language, eye contact, grammatical correctness, enthusiasm and pronunciation. The judging panel will include Associate Director of Education David Boag, Board trustees Kim Graves and Kelly Amos, and a member of the Oakville Toast Masters.
Kyle Stewart, White Oaks Secondary School teacher and co-organizer of the April 12 event, said public speaking is a skill that can benefit students in their education pursuits as well as in the workforce.
“This event is an opportunity for students to showcase their strengths in public speaking,” Stewart said. “We are expecting a tough competition and
fantastic speeches from these exceptional students.”
Prizes will be awarded to the winners in the Junior and Senior categories.
Last week, the Board held its French public speaking competition for more than two-dozen elementary and secondary students. The winning students will represent the Board at the Canadian Parents for French French Public Speaking Regionals at the Glendon campus of York University on *Saturday
May 14, 2016*.
The winners were in the following categories: Core French Junior – Manahil Sabrini W.H. Morden Public School; Intermediate – Urmi Sheth, W.H. Morden Public School; Extended French – Junior Alish Ahmed, W.H. Morden Public School, Intermediate – Sara Zia, W.H. Morden Public School; Francophone Plus (FSL+) Junior – Jose Milan, Forest Trail Public School, Intermediate – Julia Mistele, Sunningdale Public School, French Immersion – Junior Vanditha Widyalankar, Tiger Jeet Singh Public School; Intermediate – Abigayle Burnette, Rolling Meadows Public School.
Grade 11-12 student Nicolas Génier, White Oaks Secondary School (WOSS) – French as a mother tongue; Grade 11-12 student Abdulrahman Al Bochi, WOSS – French Immersion; Grade 11-12 student Afif Bhimani, WOSS – Extended French; Grade 9-10 student Danyaal Irfan, Iroquois Ridge – French Immersion; Grade 9-10 student Abi Sudharsham, WOSS – Core French.
 By Pepper Parr
April 7, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Rick Goldring has released the names of his Millennial Advisory Committee.
 Mayor Rick Goldring with his rarely worn outside the Council Chamber Chain of Office. The committee will develop initiatives focused on how to keep and attract residents aged 18 to 35 in Burlington. It will also concentrate on creating opportunities to engage millennials with their community.
The members of Mayor Rick Goldring’s Millennial Advisory Committee are:
Elizabeth Blanchard
Jessica Bowes
Kimberly Calderbank
Tyler Freeman
Rebecca Hinchcliffe
Maude Leger
Beth Martin
Mark McGuire
Phuong Nguyen
Darcy Oberding
Christopher Reuse
Julia Ricottone
Chris Ritsma
Brad Smith
Sasha Theron
Kayla van Zon
Ashley Venables
Karl Wulf
Interested applicants were asked to submit their name, age, contact information, profession/student status and a 500-word essay on their ideas for the committee that would help meet its mandate of helping Burlington foster and retain millennial-age residents. Applicants could live or work in Burlington.
Committee members will serve a term of one year starting April 2016. The committee will meet the second Thursday of each month from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at rotating city facilities across Burlington. Meeting details and committee updates will be posted at burlingtonmayor.com.
“I look forward to the ideas, insight and initiatives from this committee,” said Mayor Rick Goldring. “If we want to be successful in attracting and keeping young people in Burlington, we need them to help us create that city. This is another example of how we are working with the community on great city-building. Everyone’s voice matters and we have the opportunity to learn a lot from each other.”
Is this committee part of the election team Mayor Goldring is now putting together? There is at least one person related to one of the Mayor’s leading advisors.
 By Ray Rivers
April 8, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Please don’t think that because I criticized Ontario’s Premier for holding special access fundraising events – that I’m responsible for her changing her mind on this delicate matter.
 A live in between the politicians and the business interests. We know that Premier Wynne had been thinking about this for some time. But I am pleased to see she is finally reacting: cancelling all ministerial fundraising events, phasing out corporate and union donations, limiting individual donations, and putting rules around third party advertising during elections.
The Premier has promised to consult with the other provincial leaders on these election finance reforms, so the ink is far from dry on the changes. But the Conservatives, under their new leader Mr. Brown, seem supportive of her proposed changes, though they are reluctant to give up their own fundraising events. And the NDP can hardly say no, though they must be a little concerned about losing their union financial support.
And to complete the picture, the Province has also announced changes to the way municipal elections are to be run. New rules will enable municipalities to use ranked ballots and to ban corporate and union contributions to municipal electoral campaigns, as the City of Toronto had done years ago. This enthusiasm for improving local democracy does, however, begs a question. If these changes are such a good idea, why not just mandate them rather than leaving it up to municipal councils to voluntarily implement?
 Is the public ready for ranked ballot elections and will they press their councils in the municipalities to implement them? Incumbents in municipal councils are typically the default winners at election time. So don’t expect them to be in a hurry to revamp a system that keeps them in power. Without political parties, many voters see local elections as a crap shoot, since they typically aren’t aware of what each candidates actually stands for – so vote for the incumbent. A ranked ballot may not change that, nor change the frequency of incumbent re-elections. But those who do get elected will have broader public support as a first, second or third choice.
And, if ranked ballots will enhance local democracy, why not implement ranked ballots for Ontario’s provincial elections as well? And why isn’t the Premier joining fellow Liberal Justin Trudeau in his search for an electoral process to better serve Canadians? Harmonizing Ontario’s electoral process with Canada’s can only make voters more comfortable with the voting process, and perhaps encourage more voters to come out on election day.
Jean Chretien has a place in Canada’s history books for at least two reasons. First, he kept Canada out of the disastrous invasion of Iraq. And second, he revolutionized federal election finance rules. Those rules were so well-founded that his arch foe, Mr. Harper, largely continued them, in fact strengthening the prohibition on corporate and union contributions. And we know Chretien got it right because even the Globe and Mail, in a recent editorial, has called on the provinces to adopt the federal election financing rules as their own.
Of course Mr. Harper couldn’t leave well enough alone. The very notion that government would actually fund the operation of political parties is anathema to neo-conservatives. So no sooner had he obtained his majority, than he ripped the heart out of Chretien’s package by killing public financing as a partial alternative to financing with private donations. And then he once again increased contribution limits. It didn’t matter that political deductions cost the government more in lost revenue than it would have to pay for the public financing alternative.
 How many donations are paid in cash that is stuffed in large brown envelopes? Not only is public financing a more equitable and efficient way of allowing political parties to continue to serve Canadians, it is the only way to effectively put a stop to the political gravy train. That is right, big donors give money because they believe that buys them influence, and if you’re not a big donor…?
The system will always be tilted in favour of those with fat cheques going to the party war chest which best reflects their needs, unless we put a stop to it. And as to fairness – as one reader noted, political contributions receive higher income tax deductibility than do charitable donations.
Even before the recent Liberal sponsorship scandal, politics in Quebec was often associated with corruption. Whether perception or reality, the provincial government has reacted to that issue by limiting annual political party donations to $100 – a model for the rest of the country I believe.
Rivers will be away for a few weeks travelling in the Ukraine doing research for his next novel. His first book, “The End of September” , is available on Amazin. Ray Rivers will return to his weekly column on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province. Rivers is no longer active with any political party.
Background links:
Corruption – Evils of Fundraising – End of Fundraising – Third Parties – Selling Access to Decision Makers –
Wynne Cancels Fundraisers – Political Financing in Canada – Quebec Contribtion Rules – Municipal Elections –
Ranked Ballots – How Ranked Works –
By Staff
April 7, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
If you have at some point felt your financial planner was not really delivering the level of service you thought you deserved for the fees you are paying – the province wouldlike to hear from you.
 This isn’t the experience for everyone who engages a financial advisor – the province wants to hear about your experience. Ontario is seeking public feedback on recommendations to help consumers access quality, professional financial planning and advice.
The Expert Committee to consider Financial Advisory and Financial Planning Policy Alternatives has issued a report outlining preliminary recommendations, including:
Regulating individuals who serve as financial planners and advisors
Harmonizing industry education, credentialing, licensing and titling standards
Establishing clear rules to protect consumers and mitigate the risk of conflict of interest
Starting today, Ontarians can provide feedback on the expert committee’s recommendations by:
Submitting comments online to
Fin.Adv.Pln@ontario.ca
by June 17
 Or attending one of the public town hall meetings being held across the province
The committee will use the feedback to finalize its recommendations to government, which are expected this fall.
The financial services sector, including financial planning and advising, is critical to Ontario’s economic prosperity. In 2015, the sector accounted for 390,000 jobs across the province, generating almost 10 per cent of Ontario’s GDP.
The Expert Committee to Consider Financial Advisory and Financial Planning Policy Alternatives was established in 2015. The final report by an expert advisory panel reviewing the mandates of the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, the Financial Services Tribunal and the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario with the goal of modernizing the regulation of financial services and pension plans and increasing agency accountability, is due to be released this spring.
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