 By Gazette Staff
July 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has once again been recognized as a tree city by the World Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
 Director of Roads, Parks and Forestry, Enrico Scalera This marks the third consecutive year that the city has received this honor, highlighting Burlington continued leadership in urban forestry and our commitment to protecting and enhancing tree canopy. I’ll talk a little bit about what this means, and then invite our Director of Roads, Parks and Forestry, Enrico Scalera, to say a few words, and then we will once again gather for a photo.
We have been recognized with this honor again, and to qualify, the city met rigorous international standards in urban forestry. Our forestry team has excelled in these five areas to meet the criteria to be a tree city of the world: the five are creating a plan that ensures the city is responsible for tree care. Secondly, managing our Urban trees. Third, assessing and maintaining an inventory of Burlington trees and resources. Fourth, resource our tree management plan and finally, celebrating trees with at least one annual event.
These standards demonstrate a commitment to urban forestry and sustainable practices, which our forestry group exemplifies each and every day for our city. We also invest in our urban forestry and tree canopy: this year’s total forestry budget is $5.48 million of that the city devotes 3.48 4 million for tree maintenance, 1.3 million for tree planting and forest health initiatives, and $670,000 for forest protection. And this honors our city’s deep and growing commitment to protecting and growing our tree canopy and building climate resilience. Council’s approval of the Urban Forest Master Plan and the success of our community driven free tree giveaways, planting efforts, we’re not just planting trees, we’re helping to grow a sustainable community for generations to come.
 One of the most magnificent tree canopies in the city. Rico Scaleri: “Joining us today are Steve Robinson, Manager of Urban Forestry, and supervisors, Melissa Torque, Kyle McLaughlin, Drew Detner and Josh Reed. Their expertise, passion and dedication are the driving force behind this achievement, whether you’re planting, pruning, enforcing bylaws, responding to storm events or engaging with the community, your work is truly the backbone of our success. Last year, council approved the Urban Forest Master Plan and the woodland management strategy. Building on that momentum, this year, we’ve continued to make real strides in advancing our forestry goals. We launched a significant tree maintenance rebate pilot program, supported numerous community planting events that, in addition to our own programs, have already added almost 4000 trees to our landscape, and that’s to date with more to come.”
 Just as many Councillors as there are forestry staff in this photograph. These should be just the Mayor and perhaps the Deputy Mayor overseeing Forestry. Scaleri added: “We’ve embraced innovation such as the Middle Way conversion project along the Crosstown trail, and have a partnership with the University of Toronto to monitor forest health using drone technology. These are just a few examples of the forward thinking projects our staff are delivering on top of the essential day to day maintenance work that keeps our urban forestry health healthy and resilient. This recognition is a great achievement for the city and our forestry team, and through these efforts, we’re creating lasting environmental benefits for many years to come. Thank you again for this opportunity to speak before you this morning, – over to you, Mayor.”
 By Gazette Staff
July 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
During the last Council meeting the city will have until the middle of August, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward used the occasion to recognize a number of people who were involved in an incident at one of the city’s swimming pools.
Mayor Meed Ward said:
I am super honored to recognize, on behalf of Council, remarkable individuals whose quick thinking and heroic actions resulted in the successful rescue of two people in distress at our local pools in times of emergency.
It is the courage and compassion of everyday heroes that stand out most, and I am deeply grateful and incredibly proud of the outstanding dedication shown by our staff and community members who acted with such determination and heart to our dedicated pool staff, your professionalism and quick response unquestionably saved lives. Your commitment to ensuring the safety and well being of all patrons is commendable and deeply appreciated, and your decisive activation and administration of life saving protocols are a testament to your unwavering commitment to safety and to the team members who extended their support to the pool staff following the rescues, your assistance in ensuring the well being of our staff is deeply appreciated.
Furthermore, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the citizens, including a synchronized swimming coach and a local doctor who demonstrated remarkable courage and compassion in assisting with these rescues. Your willingness to lend a helping hand in a moment of crisis embodies the spirit of our community
Certificates were given to the following people:
Avery Abbott, Cameron Bradshaw, Melissa Brown, Mya Cardy,Connor Crowley, Sarah Cruickshank, Carter Davis, Lila Davis, Katelynn Dienesch, Lauren Hodkinson, Stephanie Jarvis, Trinity Jarvis, Annelisa Jeffery, Hannah Jorritsma, Marina Malty, Lauren Marranca, Hilary McGregor, Ryan Moffat, Wasi Rizvi, Jake Yashar, Dr. Nicole Jedrzejko and Sherry Riley, Ignite Coach.
 There were as many Councillors in the photograph as there were people attending the ceremonial event. Congrats to those who were on to help at the swimming pool.
 By Tom Parkin
July 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The average B.C. family had the largest after-tax income gain while Saskatchewan families took the biggest hit on take-home income.
 Change in composition of average household income, 2022-2023 The average Canadian family’s income from working didn’t keep up with inflation in 2023, but family income from savings and investments did significantly better than inflation, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday.
In 2023, the average family’s income from work fell 0.8 per cent, losing $590. Income from savings or investment rose 13.8 per cent, gaining $820. After-tax income from all sources fell 0.1 per cent in 2023.
The Statistics Canada report was based on tax filer data. The average inflation rate in 2023 was 3.9 per cent, according to the Bank of Canada. Census families include people living together as couples, with or without children, and single parents or guardians with children.
The shift is more class-skewed than average numbers suggest. Nearly 75 per cent of families received income from working. But only 42 per cent received any income from interest or dividends, meaning the after-inflation income gain from savings and investments was concentrated among a smaller number of families and 58 per cent got no benefit from the inflation-beating income hike for savers and investors.
About 22 per cent of families received income from a private pension or RRSP, which are recorded separately from saving and investment income.
The report also found the average family paid $350 less income tax in 2023 than the year before.
BC families’ after-tax income gained most, passes Ontario
The average family gained against inflation in five provinces and fell behind in the other five.
The average B.C. family enjoyed a $1,160 after-tax income gain over inflation, the largest in Canada and enough to push average family income in B.C. above that of the average Ontario family, for whom real after-tax income fell $110.
The average family in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba also kept ahead of inflation in 2023.
After-tax average family income fell furthest behind inflation in Saskatchewan, declining $970. Quebec was close behind with a loss of $960. The average Alberta family took a hit of $360 but continued to enjoy the highest after-tax average family income in Canada at $93,500.
Average after-tax family income, 2022, 2023 and change, by province
 Average after-tax family income, 2022, 2023 and change, by province
 By Pepper Parr
July 20th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 This is what the eight-year-old organization is all about.
Rescued & Restored – it’s located on the west side of Hwy 6 in Freelton – close to the Antique market.
It is part of the Eagles Nest operation that works out of a church on Dundas close to the border of Burlington and Hamilton.
Eagles Nest provides counselling services to both communities. Rescued and Restored provides a significant part of the Eagle’s Nest annual revenue. Rescued & Restored supports other community organizations by donating furniture, clothing or household items to their beneficiaries as needs arise.
Sandy, who is the general manager, started as a volunteer in 2019 and was later appointed manager, runs a 6,000 sq. ft. site with two levels and a small staff of 15 to 20 volunteers.
They receive on average 10 new items each day that need some help before they can go on the sales floor with a price tag.
“One of the things we don’t appreciate” said Sandy “are the people who dump piles of junk outside our receiving door. We spend hours moving it into bins that go to waste dumps.”
In the 23-24 audited statement, the organization reports approximately 29% of their total income and are forecasting more than a 10% increase in store income by the end of the fiscal year.
 The rescued clothing is extensive with a staff member who knows every item on those hangers.  Dozens of lamps and scores of glassware and more place settings than we could count.  It would be easy to spend an hour walking through the rows of items that have been rescued and restored. Prices that are exceptional.
 By Pepper Parr
July 20th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
If you don’t live in Burlington, your chances of getting through to Burlington MP Karina Gould by email are pretty slim.
The following was sent to an individual we thought lived in Burlington. He may have failed to give his address; nevertheless, this is what he got:
 Thank you for contacting the office of the Hon. Karina Gould, Member of Parliament for Burlington. This message is to confirm that your email has been received.
Please note that we are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries. Our priority is to respond to constituents who reside within the riding of Burlington. If you have not already done so, please include your full address and postal code so we can confirm that you live in the riding and better assist you.
If you are unsure who your Member of Parliament is, you can find that information by entering your postal code at: www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
Our office is open Monday to Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We appreciate your patience and will respond as soon as possible.
In case of an emergency or urgent situation, you can also contact the following services:
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- Emergencies – 911
- Halton Region – 311
- Service Canada — 1 800 622 6232
- CPP / OAS —1 800 277-9914
- Employment Insurance —1 800 206 7218
- CRA — 1-800 959 8281
- Immigration— 1 888 242 2100
- Passport Canada —1 800 567 6868
- Halton Regional Police – 905-825-4777
Our office isn’t located in Burlington -we will reach out by telephone and see if we can get a clearer understanding of just what the notice sent out means.
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 By Hanna Moon
July 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Summer is a fantastic time to enjoy outdoor activities, community gatherings, and cultural celebrations. July and August are packed with exciting events in Burlington, offering plenty of options for residents and visitors to have fun and relax. Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated summer happenings in the city.
Music and Festivals
 Burlington Performing Arts Centre The beloved Jazz on the Plaza series, presented by The Burlington Performing Arts Centre, returns this August. Taking place outside the centre from August 8th to August 10th, this free concert series highlights Canadian jazz artists throughout the summer. In addition, Burlington’s “Concerts in the Park” at Central Park offer a variety of musical genres, including jazz.
For those interested in cultural celebrations, the Burlington Latin Festival at Central Park runs from August 23rd to August 24th. This lively street festival features salsa, reggaetón, merengue, and more. Attendees can dance outdoors, sample authentic Latin cuisine, and enjoy performances that celebrate Latin culture.
The festive spirit of these music events shares a similar energy to online entertainment options. Speaking of this, Luckycasino recently launched in Canada provides another exciting choice for summer entertainment.
Art and Culture
Art lovers will appreciate the Burlington Art Walk on August 23rd, from 10AM to 4PM. This annual event, organized by the Elizabeth Gardens Creative Collective, invites the public to visit galleries and studios across the city. Over 40 local artists, makers, and educators will showcase their paintings, sculptures, and crafts. Visitors can enjoy live music, hands-on art activities, an art scavenger hunt, and the chance to purchase local artwork and handmade goods. The event takes place at Burloak Waterfront Park.
Burlington’s Heritage Week, scheduled for August 2nd to August 9th, celebrates the city’s diverse history. The week includes displays at City Hall, walking tours such as the Beachway Park Waterfront Trail, exhibits at the Joseph Brant Museum, and presentations by the Burlington Historical Society and the Royal Botanical Gardens. This event offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about Burlington’s rich past.
Culinary Events
 Food Trucks in Burlington offer a wide variety of foods. From July 18th to July 20th is the Burlington Food Truck Festival, a three-day event featuring 30 food trucks offering some of the best flavours in the country. Admission is free, with family-friendly activities, local brews, and live entertainment adding to the festive atmosphere.
 Spencer Smith Park. Ground Zero for Burlington. On August 10th, Lakeside À La Carte takes place at Spencer Smith Park. This ticketed fundraiser for Joseph Brant Hospital offers gourmet tastings and premium wines from top regional chefs and beverage producers. It’s a must-attend for food lovers. Top-notch live entertainment is also available, just like going to the best theatre this summer.
Vegetarians and plant-based eaters will enjoy Burlington VegFest on August 16th. This event celebrates plant-based living and sustainability with delicious vegan food, eco-friendly products, live music, and family-friendly activities.
For BBQ enthusiasts, Canada’s Largest Ribfest runs from August 29th to September 1st. This Labour Day weekend tradition features award-winning pitmasters from across North America, live music, a family fun zone, a vendor marketplace, and cold drinks by the lake. Ribfest is a perfect way to wrap up the summer season.
 RibFest- the lineups are long, but they move really quickly With such a full calendar, Burlington promises a lively and enjoyable summer. Check local listings and the Burlington Gazette website for the latest updates and detailed schedules.
 By Katerina Orr
July 21st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The rise of online gambling has transformed how Canadians engage with their favourite casino games. More players than ever are choosing to wager from the comfort of their homes rather than visiting physical casinos. This shift is driven by convenience, advancing technology, and changing consumer preferences. As the online casino market in Canada continues to expand, it’s crucial to understand what Canadian gamers truly want when they place bets online from home.
Convenience and Accessibility Are Key
 Gamers appreciate platforms that offer easy access through both desktop and mobile devices. One of the top priorities for Canadian players wagering from home is convenience. Gamers appreciate platforms that offer easy access through both desktop and mobile devices, allowing them to enjoy their favourite games anytime and anywhere. With smartphones and tablets widely used across Canada, mobile compatibility is particularly important.
Players want websites and apps that load quickly, have intuitive navigation, and provide seamless gameplay. Long loading times, confusing interfaces, or complex sign-up processes can quickly frustrate users and drive them elsewhere.
A Wide Variety of Games
Canadian players expect a diverse selection of casino games that cater to all tastes and skill levels. While slots and blackjack remain the core favourites, interest in live dealer games, video poker, roulette, and various poker variants is growing steadily. The best online casinos in Canada offer a diverse range of titles to fit every player’s needs, ensuring that when gaming from home, bettors have access to hundreds, if not thousands, of different games.
Secure and Flexible Payment Methods
Security is non-negotiable for Canadian online casino players. When wagering from home, players want to be confident that their funds and personal data are safe. Online casinos that use strong encryption and reputable security protocols build player trust and loyalty.
Equally important is offering a variety of payment methods. Canadians appreciate the option to use credit and debit cards, Interac e-Transfers, e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill, prepaid cards, and sometimes even cryptocurrencies. Fast, hassle-free withdrawals are just as vital as smooth deposits.
Transparency about fees, processing times, and transaction limits also impacts player satisfaction. Platforms that clearly communicate payment policies and avoid hidden charges tend to maintain higher loyalty among Canadian gamblers.
 Canadian players want responsive, knowledgeable customer support available when they need it. Responsive Customer Support
Even the best online casinos face occasional issues—from technical glitches to questions about account verification or payouts. Canadian players want responsive, knowledgeable customer support available when they need it.
Live chat is the preferred support channel for many because it offers immediate assistance. Email and phone support are also valued, especially for more complex queries. It’s important that customer service representatives understand Canadian regulations, payment methods, and common regional concerns to provide effective help.
Mobile-Optimized Experience
The importance of a smooth mobile experience cannot be overstated. With increasing numbers of Canadians using mobile devices to browse and play, online casinos must prioritize mobile optimization.
This involves ensuring websites are fully responsive and, where possible, offering dedicated mobile apps. These apps often provide faster performance, exclusive bonuses, and push notifications that keep players engaged.
Mobile games need to support a broad range of titles without compromising on graphics, sound, or functionality. Canadian players expect the same immersive experience on their phones and tablets as on desktops.
Social Interaction and Community Features
 Many Canadian players enjoy social elements that make online casino gaming more interactive. Though wagering from home can be solitary, many Canadian players enjoy social elements that make online casino gaming more interactive. Live dealer games simulate the casino atmosphere by enabling players to chat with dealers and fellow participants in real time. Connecting with other humans is known to be healthy, and now, a growing number of Canadians are choosing to socialize digitally online.
Some platforms include community forums, leaderboards, and multiplayer games that foster friendly competition and camaraderie. Integration with social media allows players to share achievements, invite friends, or take part in tournaments.
Bonuses, Promotions, and Loyalty Programs
Bonuses and promotions remain powerful incentives for Canadian casino gamers. Players expect welcome bonuses, free spins, risk-free plays, and reload bonuses to boost their bankrolls.
 However, fairness and transparency are key. Clear terms and conditions, reasonable wagering requirements, and no hidden restrictions are essential to prevent player frustration.
Loyalty and VIP programs that reward regular play with exclusive perks, cashback, or event invitations also encourage players to keep returning. Gamers appreciate when their commitment is recognized with meaningful incentives.
 By Lester Wellington
July 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Chronic lateness can often feel like an inescapable habit because showing up late to meetings, keeping friends waiting, or missing deadlines can lead you to constantly apologize for being late. People all over the world struggle with punctuality, and while being late might seem like a small flaw, it can have dire consequences.
If you are looking to overcome the habit of chronic lateness, then you are in the right place, as we have discussed several strategies and tips that can help you overcome chronic lateness and help you build a habit of being punctual and on time.
Understand the Cause of Chronic Lateness
Before you can fix any problem, you need to understand its root cause. Chronic lateness stems from a multitude of reasons, including :
Understanding what causes you to be late is the first step towards overcoming chronic lateness, and you should start by identifying the causes so that you can address them effectively to overcome chronic lateness.
After you have identified the root cause of chronic lateness, here are some actionable tips and strategies that will help you overcome chronic lateness and be more punctual.
Improve Time Management
The foundation of punctuality is deeply rooted in time management. If you are not good with time management, then you cannot overcome chronic lateness because you won’t be able to take control of your time. Improving your time management skills is very important, and this can be done by using digital tools to procure the Salah Timing Calendar and help plan your day, breaking down large tasks, making a routine and following it, and adding extra time to your schedule for unexpected delays or last-minute changes.
 Change your mindset and shift your perspective to overcome the issue of chronic lateness. Change Your Mindset
Your mindset plays a very important role when it comes to punctuality, and you need to change your mindset and shift your perspective to overcome the issue of chronic lateness. To do so:
- Aim for arriving early rather than being exactly on time. Leaving early for a meeting or event will cushion you against unexpected delays.
- Rethink the importance of punctuality in your mind and think of time as a form of respect for yourself, as well as for others.
- Visualize the benefits of arriving early, such as less stress, more confidence, and a better reputation, which can encourage you to be more punctual.
Address Procrastination and Perfectionism
Procrastination and perfectionism are two completely opposite things, yet both of these often hold people back and lead to them being chronically late. If procrastination or perfectionism is holding you back, then it is time to address these issues by tackling tasks early, setting deadlines, embracing imperfections, and focusing on completing tasks the right way instead of making them flawless.
Develop a Pre-Event Routine
 Overcommitment can be overcome by setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks that align with your goals and values. Developing a pre-event and consistent routine can help you stay on track and organized, and avoid last-minute rushes. You can create a pre-event routine by creating a checklist for the steps that you need to take before leaving for an event, setting alarms and reminders to remind you when it is time to get ready, and prepare the night before by laying out your clothes, packing your bag, and gathering any material that you will need ahead of time, including the Montreal Prayer Calendar, to reduce stress and save time.
Avoid Overcommitment
One of the major contributors to chronic lateness is overcommitment. People who overcommit are the ones who constantly have a habit of being late because committing to multiple things can make you overwhelmed, leading to chronic lateness and impunctuality. This can be overcome by setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks that align with your goals and values, and politely declining requests that don’t fit into your schedule or priority list.
 By John L. Henry
May 6th, 2025
Burlington, on
With many apps available today, it has become very easy to read news and magazines. In 2025, various apps provide the latest news, stories, and articles.
If you are looking for breaking news, business updates, or news about entertainment, these apps make it simple to stay on top of everything that is happening.
In this article, we will share the five top news and magazine apps in 2025. Let’s get in!
 On September 22, 2002, Google News rolled out to all English-language readers, with a dedicated News tab on Google.com. Google News
One of the top news apps is Google News. Google News provides detailed stories and collects news from different websites. It shows you various points of news.
Moreover, this app is simple to use, free, and works on many devices. People usually like it because it has an easy interface and provides quick updates.
Apple News
Apple News is another amazing app. Apple News is made for Apple devices and has a clean look that many people like.
This app provides news from trusted sources and also shares detailed articles and reviews. You can pick any topic of your interest and just start reading.
Flipboard is a unique app that makes the news look like a magazine. It gathers news, stories, and posts from different trusted sources and shows them in a magazine style.
Flipboard is also simple and easy to use. It helps you enjoy news in a more fun way. You can also choose your favorite topics and make a personal magazine.
Furthermore, Apps like WhatsApp for Mac can be used to share real-time news.
The next top news and magazine app for 2025 is Feedly. One of the best things about Feedly is that it keeps all your favorite websites in one place. You can add many websites to your feed to stay informed and get quick updates. By using Feedly, you do not have to visit each website as you can see many news and articles in one place.
 Tools like Microsoft Teams are helpful for those who want to stay updated on work-related news. This app is available for both businesses and individuals, which makes communication and teamwork easier.
PressReader is also a great app for reading magazines and news. This app gives you the full page view, making reading more effortless.
This app covers a variety of topics, such as news, sports, entertainment, politics, and lifestyle.
By Jennifer Shell
July 18, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Social platforms have become quite relevant and powerful in today’s age and can be used for multiple purposes, including building and expanding your professional network. Having a strong and wide professional network is always beneficial because it opens new job and opportunities for you, provides you with the latest industry insights, and keeps you updated on the latest happenings in the industry.
Nowadays, most people rely on social platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to grow and expand their network, and that is what we will be discussing today as well. Let us take a look at several ways in which you can use social platforms to expand your professional network.
Choose the Right Platform
 There are a lot of social media platforms – pick those that meet your objective. The first and foremost thing is to choose the right platform for building and expanding your network. There are many social platforms available, but choosing the right ones where you can connect with colleagues, industry leaders, and potential employers is the right thing to do. The top three platforms for growing and expanding your professional network are:
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn is the go-to platform for professional networking. Anyone who wants to showcase their professional experience and skills, stay updated on job openings and industry trends, and connect with professionals from various fields should use LinkedIn as their first priority.
- X (formerly Twitter): People who are looking for real-time engagement and staying updated on industry news should use X as a great platform. On X, you can follow thought leaders, participate in discussions, share your insights, and build a personal brand by posting valuable content and connecting with other people.
- Facebook: Facebook isn’t just for personal use and socializing only; it is also a great platform for expanding your professional network. On Facebook, you can join niche groups and communities related to your industry to connect with like-minded professionals, stay informed about the latest events and opportunities, and share resources.
Apart from these platforms, other platforms like Instagram, Reddit, https://omeapp.com/ or niche forums shouldn’t be neglected or overlooked.
Optimize Your Profile
 A strong headline gets attention – just don’t go overboard. After choosing the right platform(s), the next thing is to optimize your profile. Optimizing your profile involves multiple elements, including a strong headline, a summary, a professional photo, and your skills and achievements. Curate a strong headline and summary for your profile because these are the first things that anyone will see when they look at your profile, so make it count.
Along with this, use a high-quality professional photo where you are dressed appropriately to make a strong impression and showcase your skills, certifications, and accomplishments clearly on your profile.
Build and Engage Your Network
Once you have set up your profile, start by building and engaging with your network. The best way to build your network is to connect with people whom you already know, such as:
- Current and former colleagues.
- Classmates and alumni from your school or university.
- Industry peers you’ve met at events or conferences.
After this, you can follow industry leaders, companies, and organizations to stay updated on industry trends, join groups and communities related to your field to share and gain knowledge, seek advice, and expand your network, and engage with content to show your interests and add value to the conversations.
Create and Share Valuable Content
 A well-designed infographic goes a long way to explaining complex issues. The secret to building and expanding your network on social platforms is to create and share valuable content. Posting articles, infographics, and updates related to your industry will position you as an industry leader and knowledgeable professional, which can increase your value in the industry.
Share your thoughts, experiences, and expertise through original posts to keep your network engaged and provide them with valuable information. Don’t forget to use multimedia and incorporate videos, images, and infographics to make your content more engaging.
Don’t Overlook Direct Messaging and Networking Events
Lastly, don’t forget the importance of direct messaging and attending virtual events. Whenever you are reaching out to new people to build connections, personalize your message by mentioning how you found them, why you’d like to connect, and how you can add value to their network. Plus, webinars, live sessions, and online conferences are excellent opportunities to meet new people and shouldn’t be missed in any way whatsoever.
By Gillian MacArthur
July 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Whether you’re a student, professional, or gamer, typing is a skill that has become an important part of our daily lives. Many of the daily activities that we perform depend on our ability to type fast and accurately, due to which many people are now more and more interested in improving their typing skills. But what if we told you that you could improve your typing without extra practice and spending hours in front of the screen?
Yes, it is very much possible, thanks to simple and effective hacks that are available to improve your typing efficiency, so that you can improve your typing without spending hours on practice skills. Let us take a look at some of the hacks and tricks that will help you improve your typing without extra practice.
1. Optimize Your Workspace
 Optimize your workspace – have an ergonomic setup that is properly organized. The first hack in order to improve your typing without any extra practice is to optimize your workspace. Your typing efficiency starts with your workspace. If you have an ergonomic setup that is properly organized and optimized, then your body will be in a comfortable and natural position while typing, which will reduce strain and improve performance. Along with this, you should also use a comfortable keyboard like an ergonomic keyboard or mechanical keyboard that can reduce strain and promote a ‘more natural’ hand position.
2. Learn Keyboard Shortcuts
If you are looking to improve your typing efficiency, then start learning keyboard shortcuts because they are a game-changer when it comes to improving typing efficiency. Keyboard shortcuts allow you to perform various tasks quickly without lifting your hands off the keyboard. Some essential shortcuts that you must learn include:
- Ctrl+C (Copy) and Ctrl+V (Paste): For quick text duplication.
- Ctrl+Z (Undo) and Ctrl+Y (Redo): To correct mistakes instantly.
- Ctrl+F (Find): To locate specific words or phrases in a document.
Apart from this, you can also create personalized shortcuts for frequently used actions in the typing program that you are using. For instance, MS Word allows you to assign a shortcut to insert your signature or a frequently used phrase in the document.
3. Improve Your Typing Environment
Having a cluttered, disorganized, or noisy workspace can hinder your focus and decrease your typing productivity and efficiency. When it comes to typing, you need to have utmost focus; otherwise, you won’t be able to type efficiently. Therefore, creating a distraction-free environment is necessary to improve your typing, and to do so, you can silence your phone, close unnecessary tabs, turn off notifications, use noise-cancelling headphones, and have a neat, clean, and tidy workspace. You will be amazed by how much typing will improve simply by applying these aforementioned tips.
4. Gamify Your Learning
To make learning and improving typing more focused, you can consider gamifying your learning. Typing games and tests provided by websites like https://typingtest.co/ make practice more fun and engaging. With these typing games and tests, you can track your speed and accuracy without getting bored. These games and tests provide a great way to improve your typing skills without getting overwhelmed by constant practice on a blank notepad.
5. Use Text Expansion Tools
 There are hundreds of ways to create typing shortcuts – learn some of them. Text expanders or text expansion tools are programs that automatically replace abbreviations with full phrases or sentences. You can set up text expansion easily by creating shortcuts for common phrases or email templates. For instance, typing “tysm” will expand to “Thank you so much!” once you set it up.
Just like this, you can set up thousands of different abbreviations that could be replaced by full phrases or sentences. Most writing tools like MS Word or Google Docs have text expanders available by default; you just need to configure them up.
6. Use Voice Typing/Dictation
Voice typing or dictation is a relatively new feature that allows you to speak instead of physically typing on a keyboard. This feature has gained a lot of traction in recent years and it is a great way to draft emails, take notes during meetings, or prepare long documents quickly without doing much. Nowadays, you can find voice typing integrated into software, such as Google Docs Voice Typing, Siri Voice Typing, etc. Simply by leveraging voice typing, you can get done with the task at hand much quicker.
 By Pepper Parr
July 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
Last week, during a city council meeting, two members of Council spoke of personal safety issues.
Mayor Meed Ward said : “I had an individual threaten to set me on fire if I attended a public meeting related to a development application in my city. I was advised it may not be safe for me to attend. This is doing my job. This going to public meetings about matters that council has to make a decision on is my job. I was advised for a period of time that it was safer for me to drive to work. I live four blocks from work. I had a security detail for a number of months at every public meeting.”
 Mayor Meed Ward during a webcast from her City Hall office. Reprehensible is too kind a word to describe what happened to the Mayor.
Differences of opinion with elected officials is part of a democratic society.
Threatening to harm a person is, in our opinion, a criminal act and we trust that the police are involved in tracing the message sent to the Mayor.
There is an obligation on the part of the police to make events like this a priority and for the Crown Council to lay hate charges which can lead to long prison terms. A responsibility as well for the judiciary to hand out stiff sentences, and for media to ensure that the public is made aware of the penalties for what is a hate crime.
This just cannot be tolerated.
If you want to get rid of a politician, there is a place you can do just that – at the ballot box.
 Shawna Stolte: Needed security to keep Advisory Committee meetings civil. Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte required security at an Advisory Committee meeting. She explained that her personal safety was not the issue – saying that she needed security to prevent the members of the committee from going after each other.
We hope that the problem members of the committee have been removed.
During an interview in 1010Newstalk Mayor Meed Ward explained what she thought was happening:
“I think people got used to being keyboard warriors. I was hoping that the decline of decorum, that that we all saw and faced. You know, I was a city councilor for eight years, a mayor for about a year before COVID, and I had never seen anything like what we all experienced during COVID. And that’s when the death threats started to come. People threatening to hang me, people threatening to make a CITIZENS ARREST.
“I was given a little key fob on my phone. That is a, I call it a screamer. If somebody were to approach me and throw me in the back of the car, I could open, I could use this screamer to draw attention. I mean, just really unnerving things.
“Maybe it’s the isolation, maybe it’s the fact that we’re all behind a keyboard. We were not interacting as humans. We hoped that once COVID passed and we could see each other, that decorum would return, but, but it hasn’t. In fact, it’s gotten worse, and it’s been enabled by people in elected office.
“The Elect Respect Initiative came out of what I call my support group of elected representatives. We call ourselves HER – Halton Elected Representatives. We meet a couple of times a year to support each other, share stories. And at one meeting, someone asked: “Would you advise your daughter to enter politics?” And we were all kind of going, hmm, – I’d have to tell them about the risks. There are 25 – 30 of us – all had a story of receiving death threats. This is very widespread at all levels of government.
“Elected officials take a pledge to be respectful to each other, to the public, and call out and support each other when they see each other under attack.
“There is a similar pledge for the public to say, ‘I’m going to elect people that are going to be respectful and focus on policy debates, not personal attacks.”
 By Max Maddyson
July 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
If you’re into Australian online pokies, chances are you’re not playing them on a desktop anymore. Mobile gambling with Lucky Green Casino lets you take your favourite games anywhere — from the couch to the beach to the back of an Uber. But what actually works, and what just sort of… exists? Let’s get into it.
What Works: Things That Actually Make You Go “Yep, That’s Good”
When you fire up Lucky Green on your phone, you want it to just work. Here’s where it delivers.
- It runs smoother than a new ute on fresh bitumen. The mobile site loads fast, even on dodgy Wi-Fi. It’s not clunky. It doesn’t freeze. The layout fits neatly on any screen — phone or tablet. Whether you’re team Android or iPhone, you won’t be stuck squinting or jabbing at unclickable buttons. That HTML5 backend really pulls its weight.
-
 Depositing and withdrawing on mobile is dead easy. Crypto? Sweet. E-wallets? Yep. Even classic card payments. The forms are clean, and you don’t have to tap through endless popups to find your preferred method. Fast in, fast out, and no nasty surprises. You get the full spread of games. Pokies, blackjack, roulette, live dealers — it’s all there. There’s no stripped-down “mobile lite” experience. What you see on desktop, you get on mobile. Including those progressive pokies that could, in theory, make you a millionaire during a toilet break. Not saying it will happen, but hey, the dream’s alive.
- Banking doesn’t make you want to chuck your phone. Depositing and withdrawing on mobile is dead easy. Crypto? Sweet. E-wallets? Yep. Even classic card payments. The forms are clean, and you don’t have to tap through endless popups to find your preferred method. Fast in, fast out, and no nasty surprises.
- Bonuses don’t disappear just because you’re on mobile. You’re not punished for using your phone. The full welcome package — up to AU$5,000 + 300 spins — is available on mobile too. Same goes for reloads, cashback, and the occasional cheeky freebie. The mobile version isn’t some sad cousin of the desktop site.
And yes, players have mentioned in chats and Reddit threads that mobile withdrawals sometimes hit their wallets faster than desktop ones. Could be coincidence. Could be a hidden perk. Either way, we’re not complaining.
All that makes mobile play at Lucky Green more than just passable — it’s genuinely good.
What Doesn’t: The Bits That Could Use a Bit of Elbow Grease
Mobile gambling isn’t perfect. A few bumps in the road could slow your ride.
-
 Old phones struggle. No app in the App Store. You won’t find Lucky Green in the Apple or Google app stores. If you want an app-like experience, you’ll need to download an APK or just stick with the mobile browser version. Which works well, but for folks who like neat icons and native push notifications, it’s a bit of a letdown.
- Tiny screens, tiny frustrations. Live dealer games can be a bit squishy on a small screen. Sure, the video is clear, and you can still bet easily, but the immersive vibe takes a hit. And if you’re a fat-fingered player, misclicks are bound to happen now and then.
- Old phones struggle. If you’re still rocking a Nokia or some creaky pre-2018 Android, you’ll notice lag. Newer devices fly through the interface. Older ones cough and wheeze if you try to load a live roulette table while Spotify and Instagram are open.
- You need to stay online. No internet, no play. There’s zero offline functionality. Lose signal on the train and say goodbye to your bonus round.
So yeah, it’s not flawless — but it’s still way more hit than miss.
Mobile vs Desktop: Which One Wins the Fight?
Here’s a quick comparison to show how mobile stacks up against desktop. If you’re trying to choose where to play, this’ll help clear things up.
| Feature |
Mobile |
Desktop |
| Game Access |
✅ Full access |
✅ Full access |
| Graphics |
Good |
Slightly better |
| Convenience |
Excellent |
Tied to location |
| UI/UX |
Touch-friendly |
More detailed |
| Banking |
✅ Fast |
✅ Fast |
| Live Dealers |
Works well |
Best experience |
In the end, mobile wins for convenience, but desktop still brings a bit more polish.
How to Squeeze the Best Out of Lucky Green on Mobile
A little prep goes a long way. Want smooth gameplay and fewer headaches? Do this.
 If you are Irish this might be just the site for you. Even if you aren’t Irish – it could be the site for you Before we get into the list, know that none of these require a tech degree. Anyone can do this in under a minute.
- Use decent Wi-Fi or 4G. Lag kills vibes.
- Close background apps before a long session.
- Turn your phone sideways. Landscape mode makes games look proper.
- If they ever offer an APK, grab it from the official site only. No shady links.
- Check for bonuses in your SMS or email. They often drop mobile-exclusive promos there.
Follow these tips, and your mobile experience will feel a whole lot slicker.
The Verdict
Mobile gambling with Lucky Green Casino delivers the goods. It’s fast, full-featured, and doesn’t feel like a watered-down version of the “real” casino. Sure, there are gaps — mainly the lack of an official app and the fiddliness of playing on a phone. But those are minor speedbumps.
If you’re the kind of player who’d rather spin reels on your lunch break than wait till you’re home, this setup suits you just fine.
FAQs
Is mobile gambling safe at Lucky Green Casino?
Yes. The mobile site uses the same encryption and login protections as the desktop version. Just don’t share your password with your housemate.
Can I play pokies on my phone at Lucky Green Casino?
Absolutely. You’ll find hundreds of them, including the big names and progressive jackpots.
Does Lucky Green Casino have a mobile app?
Not in app stores. But the browser version works great, and there might be an APK available through the official site.
Are the same bonuses available on mobile?
Yes, you get the full range — welcome bonus, reloads, free spins, all of it.
Which devices work best for Lucky Green’s mobile casino?
Modern Androids and iPhones run it smoothly. Older phones might lag, especially with live games.
How fast are mobile withdrawals at Lucky Green Casino?
They’re quick. E-wallets and crypto usually hit fastest, sometimes within the hour.
 By Ray Rivers
July 18th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
“… the new caps [on steel imports] will help Canadian steelmakers “recapture domestic market.” (Catherine Cobden, president and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association)
One day on our farm in Ottawa a neighbour’s prized Charolais cattle broke through our fences and stampeded through our garden – munching and trampling as a heard of cattle will do. Our neighbour was as angry as we were, complaining that he might have lost some of his prized herd. After he had rounded up his herd I recall him telling me – “good fences make better neighbours”.
 To Trump, globalization is dead and free trade lies fragmented in the trash can of history. US president Trump, love him or hate him, is the most powerful leader that country has seen in over half a century. He believes in America first and that America doesn’t need the rest of the world to be successful. He believes in fences, such as his wall with Mexico, his immigration policy, and more recently his economic tariffs on imports.
Thanks in large part to Trump, globalization is dead and free trade lies fragmenting in the trash can of history. Trump’s world view is pure economic nationalism. Low-tariff trade has weakened rather than strengthened the US economy in his view.
His plan is to change all that through protectionist trading rules. And as the world’s largest economy goes, so will much of the rest of the planet. it’ll only be a matter of time before the other nations on this planet follow suit with their own protective economic tariffs.
This week, Canadian PM Carney came into stride with Trump. At a press conference in Hamilton, Carney laid out the beginning of Canada’s new international trade strategy. Quotas on foreign made steel are being introduced and all imports beyond those quotas will face a 50% tariff. In addition, steel originating from China, a nation long known for its unfair trade practices, will be penalized by a further 25%.
Meanwhile restrictions on imports from the US await negotiations between the two countries. But Carney has already signalled that any trade deal is unlikely to be tariff-free. Canada produces around 12 million tonnes of steel annually, exporting a good portion of that mainly to the US. But Canada is also a significant importer of foreign made product – an opportunity for import substitution.
 By making foreign steel more expensive, tariffs will encourage Canadian industry to use domestic rather than imported steel products. It is a promising first step in this brave new world before us. Trump’s 50% steel tariffs are already impacting our steel industry, so it is not too early to act. At stake are the livelihoods of 23,000 workers in the industry and another estimated 100,000 indirect spin off jobs. By making foreign steel more expensive, tariffs will encourage Canadian industry to use domestic rather than imported steel products. It is a promising first step in this brave new world before us.
The second step will be to create new opportunities for steel products. In addition to expanding the acquisition of military hardware the recently enacted Bill C-5 calls for big nation-wide projects, many of which will require steel. Carney’s announcement of new tariffs also sends a signal to Mr Trump that Canada ‘gets it’ – we’re not afraid of the tariff fence Mr. Trump is building and we will protect our economy.
When the first US-Can free trade deal was signed in 1988 Canada had been the 7th largest world economy, with an annual GDP growth rate of 5%. We have since slipped to ninth or tenth place and our manufacturing sector has been hollowed out by the elephant living next door and through the predatory trade practices of emerging Asian nations.
Mr. Trump’s shift in trade policy has come at lightening speed and many Canadians and Canadian companies have yet to wake up to the reality that their world has changed and they too need to change. Trump considers this period in history to be America’s golden age. There is no reason why it shouldn’t be Canada’s as well. And good fences will just make us all better neighbours.
 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
Background links:
Carney Announcement –
By Pepper Parr
July 15th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Few would see Burlington as a farming community.
 Vincent Sowa. Chair of the Burlington Agriculture and Rural Committee. Vincent Sowa, Chair of the Burlington Agriculture and Rural Committee started his delegation with: I want to thank you for prioritizing the development of the Burlington Agricultural Action Plan from our the delegation early in the spring.
Your leadership brought this work forward. Having said that, just reverting back to the why of all this. Burlington is often recognized for its vibrant downtown and waterfront. It is important to remember that nearly 50% of the city’s geography is rural.
We did some digging: In 2001 census reports had 73 operating farms in Burlington that generated over about $46 million in gross farmer receipts – this isn’t a fringe sector, it’s a key contributor to Burlington local economy and long term sustainability. More than that the rural area often represents the foundation for economic self sufficiency through either food production, land stewardship, opportunities for innovation and agribusiness tourism, and, you know, forms a big part of climate resilience, you know, with foliage cover and all of that.
 
The rural community faces some really unique and frustrating paradoxes, and despite being subject to some of the most restrictive land use controls in Ontario, from the Greenbelt and Niagara Government Authority, Burlington is ineligible for many provincial programs that support rural economic development.
The Burlington Agricultural Action Plan sets out ten core actions that the City can take to advance opportunities for economic growth, innovation and resiliency in the Rural Area. The actions are structured in a manner that aligns with the City’s commitment to conserving the character of the Rural Area and protecting and enhancing its natural environment, while also enabling the rural economy to evolve and change. By investing in this sector, the City will not only protect farmland but also foster a thriving rural economy, strengthen food security, and enhance climate resiliency.
The agricultural sector faces regulatory complexity, rural/urban land use conflicts, rising land costs, succession planning challenges and infrastructure gaps. The Burlington Agricultural Action Plan (the Plan) outlines a comprehensive strategy to strengthen and sustain the city’s agricultural sector while aligning with updated provincial policies. The
Plan emphasizes collaboration, streamlined development processes, economic development, infrastructure support, and public awareness through the following core
actions:
1. Review the rural and agriculture-related policies of the Official Plan to ensure
alignment with the updated provincial policy framework.
2. Develop a targeted economic development strategy to foster businesses needed
to support a healthy agricultural system.
3. Work with regulatory agencies to establish an expedited approval process for
rural development.
4. Develop an awareness program that informs the public about the benefits of local
agriculture.
5. With input from the rural community, develop and implement an infrastructure
plan required to support the agricultural system.
6. Assess leading agricultural and related sectors to quantify what they require to
thrive and how the City can assist.
7. Establish a system to track key components of the agricultural and rural system.
8. Encourage the implementation of progressive financial opportunities that support
agriculture.
9. Secure the long-term productive use of agricultural lands.
10. Coordinate policies for the natural heritage system and agricultural system to
ensure they are mutually supportive and enhance climate resilience.
The mismatch between policy and eligibility means Burlington rural sector is over-regulated and under-supported. We’re navigating near urban compatibility issues with access to the same funding that other rural areas would have. The plan before you, the Agricultural Action Plan, is timely and targeted; it includes 10 core priorities, from rural infrastructure and streamlined development approvals to economic development policy alignment and public awareness. It reflects extensive community input through food for feedback events that we’ve held over the last couple of years, staff collaboration and alignment with provincial planning changes that, of course, have occurred over the last couple of months or years.
 Rural Burlington has quite a few “pick your own” farms that are popular. They don’t do much in the way of adding to the number of people working in the sector. Most importantly, I think it’s actionable. It’s rooted in what Burlington can do now within our mandate and resources. I want to point out one very important point. You’ll notice that the plan does not yet include a detailed budget or a staffing model, and I want to address this head on This was an intentional and strategic decision. Rather than wait a couple of years for a fully staffed report that was dotted in every down lockdown 200% we thought it would be more important to focus on identifying quick wins and immediate next steps and provide a framework for action. The plan is a living document. There is no expectation that you approve this plan and everything is done tomorrow. The council doesn’t have that plan. I don’t think there’s any expectation that that is the case, but it provides that framework to say what is the next step, and the document to go back to a document to align to out of every four year census, you know, measurement to say how we progressed on these measures.
Why does approval matter? It demonstrates follow through on your behalf: Commitment to rural Burlington. It aligns with your goals already around crime and resilience, food security and holistic thriving Burlington. It shows leadership in responding to the loss of regional agricultural support services; by that, I mean planning being downloaded onto the city from, the Region.
This Action Plan allows us to re-engage with other local stakeholders, and other networks around the area. Our request this morning is that you approve the Burlington Agricultural Action Plan. We support the early implementation, particularly looking at things around rural infrastructure and economic development actions, and then ensure that there’s continued collaboration with the committee to monitor, adapt and bring the plan to life.
Councillor Bentivegna: The report reads very, very well. This is long overdue. You mentioned actionable items without funding. Can you expand on how we’re going to keep this living document going moving forward given that there is no funding for 2026?
 Farm properties do come up for sale – much of the land is already in the hands of developers who have taken a long-range approach – rent the land until they can develop it. Vince: If you read through those action items in the document, there are actually things that the committee can work through when we’re sitting together with city staff present, around some of the planning, some of the reporting, those types of things, we can start to put that framework together, and we can build that plan over the next couple of months, and then we can come back and present those budgets as staff has time to develop the facts and figures that are needed to support each one of those action items.
Having Economic Development sit in on the committee- that’s a really fast win. Yes, there’s an hour of time there, but that shouldn’t be a major impact to the city. We’re not asking for new staff , we are asking for a representative to sit with us. These are very small things that can be done; there are larger things that are going to take time. This provides the framework and a guide to get to those budgeting and resourcing.
Bentivegna: This goes to Council today – Tuesday July 15th – we will let you know what they decide to do with it.
 By Gazette Staff
July 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington’s Heritage Advisory Committee has put together what they are calling an “exciting lineup of activities for Heritage Week, Aug. 2-9.”
With a theme this year of Living with Our Natural Heritage, Naturally, 18 special events are planned to celebrate our city’s history.
A full list of events is available at burlington.ca/heritageweek.
All events are free. Registration for events that require it are now open until July 31, or until capacity is reached.
When City Hall talks about heritage, some property owners shudder – they see it as finding that their homes have been designated as historically relevant, which sometimes means the owner is limited to what they can do with their property.
Some see a designation as valuable, but not all. During Heritage Week we will look into how messy and controversial a designation decision can become
By Gazette Staff
July 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
As the long-standing steward of the Canadian Wine Library (CWL), the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) is now expanding opportunities for special interest groups, scholars and members of the media to access and review the nation’s top vintages.
Housed within CCOVI’s 44,000-bottle cellar at Brock University, the newly relaunched CWL was developed to determine how Canadian wines age and provide producers with feedback based on results from scheduled tastings.
 The Wine Library is huge. “Canadian wines improve very well with age,” says Barb Tatarnic, Manager of Professional Studies and Outreach at CCOVI. “We believe this message is not as clear as it should be and so, accordingly, the vision of the CWL is to demonstrate the potential of cellaring premium Canadian wines.”
The CWL is a non-profit, revolving collection of the finest VQA and domestic wines grown and made in Canada. It evolved out of the Ontario Wine Library (OWL) via an agreement signed with Brock in 1998. The name was formally changed to the CWL in 2007.
Tatarnic says tasting groups, producers, educators and researchers can gain access to the library’s wines by submitting an application on CCOVI’s website.
“We want to help inform the consumer on what they can expect from Canada’s wines within the collection in regard to ageability and to serve as a resource for ongoing research in such areas as sensory evaluation, vintage variations and stylistic changes over time,” says Tatarnic.
Tony Aspler was an original member of the OWL’s board of directors and one of the most respected wine writers in Canada, with more than 50 years of experience covering the industry.
He says there are many benefits to this repository and, thanks to the selection of wines already in the collection, the CWL’s inventory is off to a great start.
“To have a permanent library of back vintages of Canadian wines is not only a treasured archive but an invaluable educational tool for winemakers, historians and enthusiasts alike,” he says.
“This collection — which grows annually with each vintage — represents the finest efforts of the Canadian wine industry and is curated under ideal conditions at Brock University.”
Nicholas Gizuk, Head Winemaker at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Inniskillin winery, agrees the CWL is an invaluable resource for the industry.
“To have a place for wines to be properly stored and made available for private and public tastings and educational purposes is so important to our industry,” he says. “Sometimes a great vintage will accidentally get sold out or they might get lost in a warehouse, but if they are put aside and kept separate in this library, it makes for unique opportunities down the road.”
By Gazette Staff
July 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Perhaps the biggest irritant for residents of the city is parking space – that comes right behind traffic congestion. Tax increases are in there somewhere.
The Burlington Downtown Parking Plan has now completed the second phase of the project. Read the Analysis of Future Parking Demand report which examines the relationship between existing land use patterns and current parking to forecast future demand levels, identify potential pressure on the parking supply due to planned development, and recommend corresponding management actions for municipal parking operations.
Key Findings
Baseline modelled demand calculations reinforce that the overall study area retains more than adequate parking capacity at all times of day. Findings anticipate an ability to accommodate future development that
generates both daytime and evening parking demand depending on its location relative to lightly utilized parking facilities.
 The timeline: If you have concerns, make sure you tell the people doing the study before decisions are made.
 The area being studied.
The city wants to know what you think. Take the survey today ; it closes this Friday July 18.
By Tom Parkin
July 17th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Falling prices are welcome news for house buyers and renters, but the unchecked price surge from 2020 to 2022 created an affordability crisis and economic decline.
GTA real estate crash continues, house prices now down 22% from peak
There is no sign the downward slide in GTA house purchase prices is coming to an end, bringing the hope of affordability to those in the housing purchase and rental markets after the massive and unchecked price surge of 2020 to 2022.
The Canadian Real Estate Association’s June composite benchmark price for the Greater Toronto Area was under one million dollars for the first time since March 2021 and is now down 22 per cent from the February 2022 peak.
While restoring some housing market sanity is welcome news, the massive economic destruction caused by a massive 53 per cent price increase in 23 months is still being wrought, showing the cost of trust markets to self-correct even when clearly overheated and irrational.
Act 1: creating the crisis potential with zero interest rates
On January 2, the Bank’s policy rate sat at 1.75 per cent and its estimate of the average variable mortgage rate was 2.90 per cent, already low by historic standards.
Then on March 30, 2020, at its first meeting after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, the Bank of Canada cut its policy interest rate to just 0.25 per cent, sending mortgage rates down. The Bank’s estimated average variable mortgage rate hit just 1.26 per cent on December 9, 2021 — almost free money.
Act 2: unchecked surge inflates prices 53% in 23 months
Lower rates qualified thousands of Canadians for bigger mortgages, bringing a surge of buyers to the market. But in Ontario, no action was taken to intervene in a obviously overheated real estate market and, in the 23 months from the Bank’s rate cut in March 2020 to the real estate peak in February 2022, the average GTA house price increased a massive 53 per cent.
While house prices in Vancouver also rose dramatically in a near-zero mortgage rate environment, from the March 2020 Bank rate cut to the Vancouver market’s price peak in March 2022, the average benchmark house price increased only 35 per cent. The B.C. government’s numerous market interventions included adding luxury taxes to high end properties, introducing a speculation tax, adding a foreign buyers tax and limiting the transition of property to short term rental use, such as through Airbnb.
Act 3: the affordability crisis hits consumer demand and tanks Ontario’s economy
Rising rents and mortgages rates — alongside grocery store inflation — put a squeeze on household budgets, putting consumers into retreat, as show by retail data.
After the real estate crash started, Statistics Canada reports retail sales in Toronto have fallen $280 million, or 2.4 per cent, from a peak in June 2022 to the most recent reported month. Vancouver retail sales have grown by $215 million, or 4.5 per cent.
In 2024, Ontario GDP lagged the national average while British Columbia’s economy grew fastest in Canada. June unemployment data from Statistics Canada reports an unemployment rate of 6.2 per cent in Vancouver and 8.7 per cent in Toronto.
Political leaders who do nothing while markets spin out of control have a heavy and lasting impact.
Retail sales from start of market crash to present
By Louie Rosella
July 16th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
There’s some good news for discount shoppers in Burlington, which, these days, is everyone.
There’s a new Dollarama opening in the city.
 New Appleby Line location is not yet ready for customers. The Gazette has learned the popular Canadian dollar store retail chain will open its seventh location in the city on Appleby Line, just north of Dundas Street.
Dollarama spokesperson Lyla Radmanovich confirmed there will be a new store opening at 3091 Appleby Line in the coming months, but didn’t have a specific opening date as of yet.
“With this new location, customers can expect a product offering and shopping experience consistent with the other Dollarama stores in the neighborhood, and across Canada,” Radmanovich said. “We look forward to reaching new customers and to providing even more convenience to our existing customers in Burlington.”
Outside the location, vehicles are coming and going, and there’s Dollarama signage stretched across the glass, while the area above the storefront has been painted green.
Logan Barker, general manager of the recently-opened RUDY Resto, which is just a short walk away from the new Dollarama location, said the new discount store will be great for the neighbourhood.
Business is already booming at RUDY, Barker said.
Known for their simple and classic burgers with locations in Toronto and other parts of the GTA, RUDY will reap big benefits from the new Dollarama, Barker said.
“We’re extremely excited to see them (Dollarama) open up near us,” Barker told the Gazette. “Let’s be honest; there’s going to be a lot of people who are hungry after going shopping.”
 Typical Dollarama store set up. Just a few weeks ago, Dollarama reported its financial results for the first quarter that ended May 4, 2025.
Among many financial highlights, Dollarama reported sales increased by 8.2 per cent to $1.5 billion, compared to $1.4 billion for the same period last year.
“We are off to a strong start to fiscal 2026 as we successfully pursue our Canadian growth, with comparable store sales supported by sustained consumables demand and positive seasonal offering performance,” said Neil Rossy, president and CEO of Dollarama, in a statement.
Louie Rosella is a professor at Humber Polytechnic and a former journalist in the GTA.
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