Canada’s senate has passed a bill aimed at educating judges about the dangers of domestic violence and coercive control.
‘Keira’s Law,’ Bill C-233, was introduced by Anju Dhillon, member of Parliament for Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle in 2022 on the second anniversary of Keira Kagan’s death in Milton, Ont.
The legislation focuses on protection for children of abusive ex-partners via amendments to the Judges Act.
It adds continuous education for decision-makers on the finer points of violence and control in family relationships.
Additionally, justices are now expected to consider whether a release order for an accused is in the interests of the safety and security. Electronic monitoring devices can now be a condition of release.
 Kiera Photo credit: Jennifer Viater Keira Kagan was reported missing on Feb. 9, 2020 while spending the weekend with her father, 35-year-old Robin Brown.
Halton Regional Police later found Keira and her father dead at the bottom of a steep escarpment in Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area in Milton.
A coroner found the two had injuries consistent with a fall and referred the incident to the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee for a probe.
Jennifer Viater, Keira’s mother, believed it was a murder-suicide tied to court motions citing abusive behaviour. She was seeking to limit her ex-husband’s access to their daughter.
Despite finding evidence against Brown as “persuasive and compelling,” a judge said it was “not urgent” enough to prohibit contact with Keira.
“It means a lot to us that we you know that this has been successful and that … we’ve now solidified Keira’s legacy in Canada as a beacon of protection and safety for others,” Viater said in a presser on Wednesday hours after the bill passed.
 Dhillon said she was “grateful and pleased” for the support from Parliament, Senate and stakeholders across Canada for the legislation.
“The message is clear, we all agree that more needs to be done to protect women and their children who are also victims of domestic violence,” Dhillon remarked.
The bill will now seek royal assent and is expected to come into effect 30 days following the process.
 By Staff
June 16th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
 A decisions that came out of an Inquest that took place in Renfrew County in September 22, 2015, is sen by many as the event that brought about a change in the public perception of violence against women by their intimate partners.
The County of Renfrew is a Municipal Government stretching west from Ottawa to the northern tip of historic Algonquin Park. Founded in 1861, Renfrew is the largest county in Ontario and is made up of 17 communities.
The facts the Inquest dealt with and the actions that came out of the Inquest are set out HERE
 By Pepper Parr
June 16th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
This is a story about delegations that were made at city council recently. It was about an epidemic – something the delegations referred to as IPV.
It is a long article – that was edited for brevity.
IPV is intimate partner violence – domestic abuse.
Halton Deputy Police Chief Jeff Hill told Council that police make an arrest a day in Burlington alone.
There were four delegations on the issue.
Jennifer Kagan, a physician and advocate against gender based violence in all its forms, delegated to council on the resolution that proposed Burlington declare intimate partner violence an epidemic in the city. .
 Jennifer Kagan, a physician and advocate against gender based violence. Kagan said “this recommendation stems from the 2022 Renfrew County inquest into the deaths of Carol Collington Anastasia Cusick and Nathalie Warmerdam. (A link to a seperate article on what happened in Renfrew Councty is included at the end of this article.)
“It is something I hear about from women in the Region every single day. Women who fear for their lives and their children’s lives. Women with nowhere to turn because systems that are supposed to protect them are failing. Women who are fearful to engage with many systems because this can often make things worse for them and their children. The numbers are staggering.
“We are seeing an unprecedented increase in the need for domestic violence related services. This has only been exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic; this dovetails with my perspective on the ground as an advocate for survivors of violence and with my own experience.
“I was a victim of domestic violence and coercive control in a previous relationship. While I was able to leave the relationship fleeing with only a few essential items, I sought protection for our nine month old daughter, Keira via the courts. Keira was failed by many judges, child protection services and was ultimately killed at the age of four by her father in February 2020.
Dr. Kagan’s experience resulted in the passing of Kiera’s Law
According to the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability, a woman is killed somewhere in Canada every other day on average; 30 to 40 children a year in Canada are killed by a violent parent.
“One is too many. Those who work with survivors of violence see the impact that lack of resources has on the lives of women and children fleeing violence. I commonly hear from colleagues looking to find shelter space for abused women; they cannot find it and that police cannot meet the unprecedented demand for services.
“By declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic it will ensure the city can better meet the needs of women and children fleeing violence. It will also raise awareness about the scourge of domestic violence so that survivors and children living with violence and escaping violence know that they are not alone. Passing this resolution will save many lives and I am in strong support of it.”
Councillor Nissan asked Dr. Kagan if she had anything “on a wish list for us at the municipal level? W hat are the next steps after this resolution comes forward?
Kagan: “Training is a very large focus of our advocacy. Educating the students and teachers as well would be two items if I could think just off the top of my head.”
 Halton Police Service Deputy Chief Jeff Hill Deputy Chief Jeff Hill of the Halton Police Service spoke virtually regarding the same item saying “I very much wanted to be a part of this discussion and humbly submit is of the utmost importance, and needed desperately to help combat and intimate partner violence.
“I’m going to be concise, and paint the picture from a policing perspective of the surveillance of intimate partner violence in the city of Burlington. Regionally speaking to the rise, in intimate partner violence in 2015 we responded to 2757 calls and laid 1145 charges.
“Last year we responded to 3500 calls and doubled our charges, laying 2141 charges.
“That’s effectively responding to 10 incidents of intimate partner violence a day. Specifically speaking to the city of Burlington, of those 3500 occurrences 1346 of them were in the city of Burlington. Stemming from those occurrences we made 341 arrests; that’s basically an arrest a day.
“As of last week, we have already attended 544 incidents of IPV in Burlington.
“I’ve seen the statistics and I’m aware that this largely an under reported crime. We believe that only 30% is actually reported to us.
“Halton police has a dedicated 24 members, intimate partner violence unit, that partners with such entities as Women’s Place and the mentoring members of the Halton Violence Prevention Council. We’re doing everything we can in the areas of risk intervention, incident response prevention and social disorder, social development. Our Victim Support Unit reaches out to every victim of intimate partner violence that is reported to us. Even with all those resources being dedicated, the number of incidents that we respond to has remained steady since 2020, with a number of arrests rising year after year.
“Let me be clear, however, that the police alone are not the solution to this issue and we will not arrest our way out of this epidemic. If we don’t do something different, the problem will continue to grow. Intimate partner violence cannot be a private issue. We cannot be silent about the violence that is occurring. The resolution before you is a start but we must do something to raise community awareness and education on the surveillance of the issue with the necessity for a holistic approach from the community as a whole; one entity cannot do this alone. As you heard from Dr. Kagan, every six days in Canada, a woman is murdered by her partner.
“I want to leave you with this final statistic, the last 40 years the Region alone has seen 22 women murdered at the hands of their partner, a woman murdered every other year in our region alone. This absolutely has to stop.”
 Councillor Bentivegna asked the Deputy Chief: “Is there something that you can share with residents throughout the region of things that as neighbours we could be doing. Are there signs out there that you can share that say hey, you know, this doesn’t look right. I don’t know whether we should approach the individual or maybe make a call to halt and say, you know, here’s what I’ve seen, or are there clues out there?
Deputy Chief Hill: “I think it’s just the awareness that this is happening around us. I think it’s the need for people to know, and not be willing to turn a blind eye to it. I’ve often made the comment, I’m not a social media person, but what ironically happens is what I even alone advocate for, you know, violence against women – to speak to it – I actually tend to lose followers. It’s like people don’t want to speak about it. And it’s something that we have to bring to the forefront, the entire community has to bring it to the forefront. We have to watch out for our neighbours.
“The reality is by the time a lot of these issues get to the police they are at the point of crisis in the cycle of violence. So we need people to intervene earlier – we need to help talk about it. We need funding for the people that we are going to speak to next. I think the very beginning of it is just a recognition that we’re all in this together. This is not a women’s issue. This is not an individual issue. This is a community issue.
Lori Hepburn Executive Director of Halton Women’s Place was one of the several delegations. Speaking about the intimate partner domestic abuse crisis in Burlington.
 Laurie Hepburn Executive Director of Halton Women’s Place She said the Halton Violence Prevention Council plays a leading role in supporting and empowering survivors of intimate partner violence and domestic violence. “I stand before you to discuss a pressing matter that requires our collective attention – declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic within our community to emphasize the urgency and significance of this declaration to examine the findings of the Renfrew County inquest, a recent and notable case that sheds light on the severity of the issue.
“The inquest was conducted following the tragic deaths of three women who were victims of domestic violence. Its findings revealed a series of system failures, missed opportunities and service provision gaps that could have saved these women’s lives. The number one recommendation of the inquest is for the province of Ontario to declare intimate partner violence as an epidemic. Women’s Place provides refuge and support for several hundreds of women and children each year who are escaping abusive situations.
“Last year in our community, Halton Woman’s Place supported 126 women and children through safe shelter, and over 6061 women through our community outreach programs, and we received over 2200 crisis calls to our support line, approximately 25% of the women who access our services identified coming from the City of Burlington.
“These are alarming statistics. And they aren’t just numbers, but they translate into the lives of real women and children whose lives are being derailed by intimate partner violence. The Renfrew County inquest serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of intimate partner violence and the need for comprehensive proactive measures to address this epidemic.
“IPv is no longer an issue that can be ignored, kept behind closed doors. Declaring intimate partner violence as an epidemic the City of Burlington can signal its commitment to implementing these measures that prevent similar tragedies from occurring within our community.
 Seating area just inside the doors of the Halton Women’s Place located in Burlington. “In March 2023, Mayor Mead Ward stated that the city of Burlington must stand by and be prepared to provide the services needed that reflect our community’s commitment. Stand by one another, come together in collaboration to ensure every single Burlington resident feels respected, safe and supportive, in alignment with the values upheld by the City of Burlington.
“Last year, the Halton Regional Police responded to over 3500 intimate partner violence calls, which translate to approximately 10 calls a day. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Many survivors suffer in silence and do not seek assistance due to fear, stigma or lack of resources. It is the under reported violent crime that makes this problem an epidemic. The City of Burlington acknowledges the harsh reality faced by survivors in our community, recognizes that this issue extends beyond isolated incidents – it is deeply ingrained in our society.
“This declaration acts as a call to action demanding that we come together as a community to address the root causes of violence and support survivors and their journey towards protection, healing and safety. Furthermore, this declaration demonstrates our commitment to data driven decision making.
“By acknowledging the prevalence of intimate partner violence we can more effectively allocate resources and implement evidence based strategies to prevent further harm. By intentionally changing our actions, we shift the narrative of dismissiveness towards IPv and step into the messiness and say to the individuals facing intimate partner violence, we see you, we hear you and we are driven by the courage, resilience and bravery of our survivors to fight for change in our local community.
“For the City of Burlington to declare intimate partner violence as an epidemic within our community, together, we can break the cycle of violence, support survivors, foster community that prioritizes safety, respect and equality for all.”
Councillor Nissan asked: “Laurie do you have suggestions for how the city of Burlington can follow up on this declaration and work with both yourself as well as the Halton Violence Prevention Council ? I see Halton Region as one of the partners which is really important, but how can the City of Burlington fit in to the to the plans?”
Hepburn: “I think Burlington can fit into the plans – helping with community awareness. That’s part of the biggest piece that’s missing with domestic violence is it’s typically been something that has been hidden. There’s so much fear and stigma around speaking about domestic violence, and that’s part of the cycle of control. Having somebody who feels powerless and doesn’t feel that they can share what’s happening to them – there’s so much judgment out there. We need to make sure that we’re normalizing these conversations about domestic violence adding that Councillor Bentivegna shared a really great point – let us know the signs about domestic violence.
“These things are happening to our neighbours, friends and families in the community. Hepburn added that “We’ve applied for a grant to have an educator getting the word out to the community; the goal is to have 20 presentations – lunch and learns – for businesses in North Halton because we know there’s a need out there. Creating awareness and making sure our communities are educated – we cannot do the work alone, we need our entire community to be talking about domestic violence and have a zero tolerance for domestic violence.
“We are looking at putting purple benches throughout the Region to signal to survivors of domestic violence that we see, we hear and we believe you and want you to know we are going to be here for you if you need support.”
 Kirk and Sonya Robinson sat in the public gallery of the Senate when Kiera’s Law was passed. Kirk and Sonya Robinson were the final delegation. It was not easy to hear what they had to say.
Kirk started by saying “my wife Sonia and I sat in the Senate public gallery and listened while Kiera’s Law was passed. It is now a federal and provincial law. Relatives of IPV played a significant part in this with along with the unwavering support of our mayor and council here in Burlington. Our family and most likely 1000s of families will benefit from your support. We’re thankful for the opportunity today to delegate and tell our story with the hope of increasing awareness of intimate partner of domestic abuse.
“In April we were in Ottawa for the final reading and vote in the Senate for Kiera’s Law. Sonya and I met many survivors of intimate partner domestic abuse. We shared stories back and forth. When I met and spoke with them, I was overcome with many emotions ranging from grief to guilt, thinking about how we as a society can sit back and allow this to happen. We have great respect for the courage of survivors to continue to fight for change.
“One of the survivors I met was beaten by her husband so many times that she feared she would die. If she did she feared he would take her baby. She devised a plan to make a hiding spot for the baby under the stairs and put a note in her pocket so the police could find her baby when they found her body.
“Another survivor I met was there with her daughter. I learned that her husband had attempted to put one of their daughters in human trafficking, and she fought to save her. I learned that some of her encounters with law enforcement tended to favour her husband.
“I sat next to the daughter while listening to the Senators debate the bill that was before them. I could not help but wonder what this girl had seen or had been exposed to or how sad it was that someone was not there to help her when she needed it most. I learned recently of a suicide attempt in her family and I have no idea if it was her sister.
“Another survivor of child exploitation, drug use and drug sales by the father told of being interviewed by Child Protective Services worker and told that she had to wait for clarification on some issues that would take weeks, if not months. In the meantime the mother had to answer her seven year old daughter’s question. ” I thought the lady was here to help me. Why didn’t she help me?
Kirk said he had many more stories adding “you get the point. It has been my experience that the police services do not have the resources they need to get ahead of this and save those that fall through the cracks. Burlington has led the resolution supporting Kiera’s Law – let’s be a leader again supporting our police services who work tirelessly to save us from intimate partner domestic abuse.”
Mayor Med Ward followed with: “It’s important for us to listen – it is very very hard to hear those things. Thank you for all that you do, on behalf of all my colleagues. We are deeply grateful for your efforts.
Background links:
The Renfrew County Inquest
Kiera’s Law
 By Pepper Parr
June 17th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Residents have rights, at least that’s what Mohammed Kamal, a resident of Bluff’s Way in ward 3 thought when he called the city bylaw enforcement department about storage containers and cars bearing disgusting signs hung on the sides of cars that were on a flatbed in the backyard of a neighbour.
 The owner of this property has his house close to the road; the neighbour has his home at the back of the lot – his view coming out his door is the flatbed with cars and the foul banners  The view from one of the exit doors on the Kamal property. His Real Estate Lawyer has not been able to get a single offer on the property that has been on the market since February. Mr. Kamal, an Information Technology specialist, who has been in Canada since 1998, thought he would get a response from the bylaw enforcement people, which he did get.
The advised him to call the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) because part of the property in ward 3 came under their jurisdiction.
The city bylaw people are partly correct, the NEC does have jurisdiction over some matters. But nothing to do with the storage of 40 foot containers in the back of a residential property.
Kamal got passed back and forth between the city and the NEC and apparently the ward Councillor’s office.
Rory Nissan, Councillor for ward 3, who now lives in ward 2, was sent an email on March 23rd; Kamal who understands Information Technology keeps detailed records.
Included in those records is the notation of a threat from the neighbour on what could happen if the Kamal complaint was not withdrawn.
Kamal just wants to sell his home and move on. Based on the photographs included in this article we ask – would you buy the house ?
In addition to the cars with the disgusting signs on them there are three 40 foot containers on the property.
 The three 40 foot containers on private property are understood to be illegal based on the understanding Mr. Kamal has of the bylaw. He has no idea what is kept inside the containers.
 By Pepper Parr
June 16th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The Globe and Mail recently put out a statement on the use of artificial-intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT in their daily work.
I confess to not fully understanding just what AI actually is – other than that some people think it is the beginning of the end of the world.
Burlington has a city Councillor who has said she could use it to “bump” out statements. Scary.
 I will be at a BBQ with my grandson on the weekend. Western Ontario University gave him a doctorate that he earned – I’m hoping I can learn enough from his to at least sound as if I know what I am talking about.
Newspaper have had to deal with claims of publishing “fake media”.
Real news is people who do interviews, ask questions and take pictures and at the Gazette we work at putting the news in context. It isn’t enough to publish a statement an individual makes – that statement has to be related to previous statements the person made and looking at the policy context within which the statements were made. What we do rests on solid research, clear, intelligent writing, and maintaining a reputation for honesty, accuracy, fairness, balance and transparency.
We encourage public comment and follow the guidelines from the National Newsmedia Council that calls for responsible journalism and responsible readership.
Related new story:
Aldershot residents fail to hold their Councillor accountable.
By Staff
June 16th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
 The City of Burlington is looking for resident feedback on City-run recreation programs.
Feedback is welcome from the community as a whole – past and current participants and those that haven’t registered in our programs. Feedback from everyone will help to understand the needs of the entire community.
The survey will ask questions about what City-run recreation programs you have participated in, what programs you would be interested in and, would like to see offered. This review will help the City understand the recreation needs of our growing community.
It will also help align the programs the City offers to serve all residents and visitors for aquatics, skating, inclusion, sport, camps, adults, older adults 55+ and programming in general for years to come.
The results of the survey will be shared in a report to Council in Fall 2023.
The survey is open until Sept. 1, 2023. You can access the survey HERE
Today, the Province of Ontario announced it will be extending strong mayor powers, effective July 1, 2023, to every municipality that has adopted a housing pledge, including Burlington – City Council unanimously endorsed the pledge to build 29,000 homes by 2031 and we currently have 23,000 units under review.
Each mayor will need to decide what is best for their community in meeting their housing pledge targets, and whether to use some, all, or none of these new tools. The Province announced months ago these would be rolled out to additional municipalities and they have done that today.
These tools are not something I have requested. My focus has always been on building a strong city and a strong collaborative Council. One way has been through giving each Burlington Councillor a Deputy Mayor with Portfolio role to provide leadership on specific files that incorporate their interests and strengths from previous experiences. I will be working very closely with all the Deputy Mayors for – Housing; the Environment; Business & Red Tape Reduction; Recreation & Community Services; Community Engagement & Partnerships; and Strategy & Budgets – to meet our housing pledge and deliver complete communities for our residents.
I believe the best decisions are made in collaboration with Council, City staff and the community – and that will not change. Burlington Council is already very cohesive and collaborative, with more than 90% of our votes being unanimous, and the balance of votes with strong consensus around options.
We have always taken a “made-in Burlington” approach to changes that affect municipalities. Burlington Council works well together, and I know we will continue to do so.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward City of Burlington
—
By Staff
June 16th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario government is expanding strong mayor powers to the mayors of 26 large and fast-growing municipalities that have committed to a housing pledge as part of the province’s work to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.
The announcement was made by Steve Clark, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, during today’s meeting of the Ontario Big City Mayors. Strong mayor powers for Toronto and Ottawa took effect in the Fall of 2022 and will be expanded to mayors in the 26 additional municipalities on July 1, 2023.
“Municipalities are critical partners for our government as we help communities get shovels in the ground faster and work to build more homes,” said Minister Clark. “By adopting ambitious and absolutely necessary housing pledges, these 26 municipalities have demonstrated they understand the importance of that target, and we are ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed. We welcome housing pledges from other municipalities to help reach our goal of 1.5 million homes by 2031.”
Strong mayor powers offer tools to help heads of council cut red tape and speed up the delivery of key shared municipal-provincial priorities such as housing, transit and infrastructure in their municipalities. These enhanced powers will also bring increased accountability for local leaders, while checks and balances maintain the important oversight role of councillors. For example, council may override the mayor’s veto of by-laws or budget amendments with a two-thirds majority vote.
 Will the Escarpment be at risk if new Strong Mayor Powers were put to use? Strong mayor powers and duties include:
• Choosing to appoint the municipality’s chief administrative officer
• Hiring certain municipal department heads, and establishing and re-organizing departments
• Creating committees of council, assigning their functions and appointing the chairs and vice-chairs of committees of council
• Proposing the municipal budget, which would be subject to council amendments and a separate head of council veto and council override process
• Vetoing certain by-laws if the head of council is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority
• Bringing forward matters for council consideration if the head of council is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority
“Ontario’s Big City Mayors back the province’s goal of building 1.5 million homes by 2031, and all of our members have accepted their housing pledge in support of that target,” said Marianne Meed Ward, Chair of OBCM and Mayor of Burlington. “Different communities require different tools and approaches to address local housing needs, and strong mayor powers are one such tool that can help mayors and municipalities meet their housing targets. We’re committed to continue working with the province to build the homes our residents need.”
In the past Mayor Meed Ward has said that she sees no need for such power in Burlington.
 Each red dot represents a development that is somewhere in the Planning department or at the Ontario Land Tribunal. “Today’s announcement by the provincial government providing strong mayor powers for Ontario’s largest and fastest-growing cities comes at a time when mayors need every tool to advance work on housing pledges and meet new challenges,” said Cam Guthrie, Mayor of Guelph and past chair of OBCM. “Although strong mayor powers may not be required in all contexts to reach our collective housing goals, our citizens expect results – and tools such as this can help us achieve them.”
These measures will support municipalities as they work to meet their commitments and support the construction of the new homes their residents need and deserve.
Quick Facts
Ontario has made significant progress in tackling the housing supply crisis with a range of innovative actions to increase housing supply. In 2022, housing starts in the province surpassed 96,000 – the second-highest number since 1988 and 30 per cent higher than the annual average for the past 20 years.
That is a fact – another fact is that the province did not meet the target they had in place for 2022.
Rental housing construction improved as well, with 2022 setting a new record of nearly 15,000 starts.
The 26 additional municipalities that would be designated as part of the strong mayor framework are single- or lower-tier municipalities with a population over 100,000, or growing to 100,000 by 2031, that have submitted a housing pledge to the province.
The 28 municipalities that will have strong mayor powers as of July 1, 2023, have collectively pledged to build 1,217,000 units by 2031 – more than 81 per cent of the provincial target of 1.5 million homes.
The strong mayor by-law powers could only be used to support prescribed provincial priorities: Building 1.5 million new homes by 2031 to address the housing supply crisis, and the construction and maintenance of infrastructure, such as transit and roads, to support new and existing housing development.
Existing municipal accountability frameworks continue to apply to heads of council with strong mayor powers, including conflict of interest rules.
 By Staff
June 16th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Sport Alliance 2023 award winners.
Junior Athlete of the Year – Andrea Cabio (tennis)
Athletes of the Year – Michael Gligic (golf), Emma Maltais (hockey)
Master Athletes of the Year – Tom Adams (swimming), Suzanne Ruginis (swimming)
Special Olympians of the Year – Nicholas Rodriguez (multi-sport athlete), Katie Veitch
Parasport Athletes of the Year – Shayne Sharkey (wheelchair basketball), Katie Cosgriffe (swimming)
Coach of the Year – Mariya Kovtun (rhythmic gymnastics)
Volunteer Sport Builder – Nick Manz (rugby)
AJ Dunn Sport Builder – Don McMillan (posthumously) – BIG Executive Director, Baseball Coach, Broadcaster
Official of the Year – Ivy Callaghan (swimming)
Team of the Year – Nexxice Junior Synchronized Skating Team
The achievements of these incredible members of our sporting community will be recognized at an awards ceremony to take place at the Polish Hall at 2316 Fairview, on Tuesday June 20th. at 6:00pm.
For tickets please contact Jillsutherlandbsa@outlook.com.
 By Pepper Parr
June 16th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
We have heard about the scams that rob decent people of their hard earned money.
 Thousands of people are being robbed of their hard earned money by people who are basically crooks. Pay close attention to any email you get that even looks suspicious – deal with people you know. We have reported on many of these in the past.
One of the more common, and very treacherous ones is the request from someone who has a name similar to a name of someone you know.
Here is an example of what we are talking about.
Start reading from the bottom.
The name the writer uses is almost identical to someone I know very well. I trust that person – so when I saw the name I responded.
Thanks for your response, I need to get an APPLE GIFT CARD for a friend of mine who is diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma cancer, She lost her only daughter to the disease (COVID-19).it’s her birthday but I can’t do this now because I’m currently out of town.I tried purchasing it online but unfortunately I got no luck on that. Wondering if you could get it from any store around you I’ll pay back when I get back. Kindly let me know if you can handle this.
Thank you
On Thu, Jun 15, 2023 at 11:43 PM Pepper publisher <publisher@bgzt.ca> wrote:
Who are you and what do you want?
Publisher
From: STAN STAINTON [mailto:sbstainton@sympatico.ca]
Sent: June 15, 2023 5:37 PM
Subject: Checking on you
Hi,
How are you ? Hope you are keeping safe?
Are you available via email? I need your help.
Thanks
STAN STAINTON
There are news reports of people who have lost significant amount of money – thousands of dollars – because they were duped. Pay close attention – if you find you are in doubt – don’t.
Report the scam or fraud to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
 By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Terry Caddo, President of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce sent out an announcement saying: The Burlington Chamber of Commerce wants to hear from you!
He is getting a response – not quite what he was is expecting was the view we got after looking at some of the social media that is floating around out there.
The current kafuffle has to do with what the Chamber did and didn’t do with the recent Walk a Mile in their Shoes event; a fund raiser for the Halton Women’s Shelter.
Peter van Dyke said in a tweet that “the Chamber should have made a donation before they published a picture of the event”.
 Terry Caddo was given the option of wearing high heels or runners – he took what he saw as the safer choice. Caddo explains that the Chamber has 58 not for profit members and that his organization cannot raise funds for every one of them. Cadoo said “we paid our registration fee”.
What Caddo is not hearing are comments like” “enough is enough” – “the man is a misogynist”, “gave himself an award at a recent Chamber event”; “know nothing about diversity”
No one wants to go on the record with their comments other than to say that the Chamber Board of Directors will do nothing to rein Caddo in.
Caddo adds that the Burlington Chamber brought in 137 new members last year and is on track to recruit 175 this year. The Burlington Chamber is reported to be the fastest growing Chamber in Canada
Those with complaints that sound serious enough and say they have reached out to the board with very little in the way of positive responses.
Randy Smallbone, Chair of the Chamber Board, told the Gazette that there is a small group that is not happy with the direction the Chamber is taking and some of its practices. He said he is looking for a way to reach out to those people and work at repairing relationships. He has his work cut out for himself.
One of the biggest complaints is that the Chamber removes any comment people leave on their web site and or Facebook page that is less than complimentary. Smallbone said that if a comment is not factual it will not remain on their website.
The people who lead the organizations that benefit everyone in Burlington should all be singing from the same hymn book.
At this point it doesn’t look is as if they have hymn books.
By Staff
June 15th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington needs approximately 10 writers and 10 visual artists to submit their creations to be displayed on temporary signs along the Beachway’s multi-use path during Culture Days.
This call is open to Burlington-based writers and artists. The public art program is accepting all art forms that can be presented in a sign format. This includes, but is not limited to: visual art, graphic art, photography, poetry, short story, non-fiction, etc. Submissions are due July 14 and may be from existing or newly created work.
About Culture Days
This year, Culture Days will feature three weeks of arts and culture experiences outdoors, indoors and online from Sept. 22 to Oct. 15, 2023. Culture Days is an annual celebration of arts, culture and heritage across the province. Each year, they work with organizers to host programs throughout Ontario and invite the public to participate for free.
About the location
The artwork will be installed along the Beachway’s multi-use path. The two km trail runs along Lake Ontario from Spencer Smith Park to the canal in Burlington. Beachway Park also features a natural sandy beach, an outdoor pavilion, playground and seasonal concessions. The public art signs will be located near the playground, pumphouse and pavilion.
There is an application process: Link to that is HERE
 The Beachway Trail, once the land that was used for two railway lines that went into the city at a time when it was a town. Nestled closely to the rail lines was the Pump House that drew water from the lake for the city and a small community of homes that were torn down – they were then land rented from the railway. Lot of history along that pathway – frequently used for groups celebrating an event. Deadline Activity
July 14 Submissions due
by Aug. 4 Successful artists selected; enter into a contract with the City of Burlington
Aug. 25 Final artwork files due
Sept. 22 – Oct. 15 Culture Days – Artwork on display
Angela Paparizo, Manager of Arts and Culture: “I am so proud of our local artist and community groups who come together for Culture Days every year. They drive the success of Burlington Culture Days year after year. The Arts and Culture team has started planning this year’s event and we are excited to invite local writers and artists to submit their work for the Beachway installation. Residents and visitors to the Beachway will be able to enjoy these pieces during the 14th annual Culture Days celebration from Sept. 22 to Oct. 15. I invite everyone to view them along the Beachway path as part of this national initiative. The City of Burlington is pleased to be a part of this project that aims to raise awareness, provide accessibility and encourage participation Burlington’s vibrant arts and culture scene.”
By Staff
June 15th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Freeman Station: a sterling example of what can be achieved when citizens decide they want to get something done.
There was a time when the city didn’t know what to do with the structure that was rotting away while stored on a small plot of land at the Fairview fire station. The city wasn’t able to sell the building for firewood despite running an advertisement in a local newspaper – it wasn’t the Gazette.
 It was citizen initiative and some imaginative thinking that made it possible to save the station and keep it open to the public..  The Art Gallery didn’t want it on their property – there was an idea to turn it into a radio station and put the building somewhere near Spencer Smith Park.
A group of dedicated citizens found a way to put the building yards away from the fire station on part of an industrial site.
It sits there today and is a top draw for people who are railway buffs who come to Burlington to see a beautifully restored building with an impressive collection of railway memorabilia and quite a bit of rolling stock is as well.
Perhaps in the not too distant future there will be a steam engine on the site is as well.
When you visit allow time to tour the diorama that is housed in the basement.
 When steam was the driving force engines like this pulled into Freeman station delivering coffins to Smith Funeral Home and taking fresh produce through to Montreal where some of it made its way to Europe.
 By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
It is that time of year when Convocations take place at universities across the country.
A Convocation at Brock University, they have established a presence in Burlington where they will be part of the former Bateman High School site when it opens, included Kyle Dubas who addressed the students.
 Kyle Dubas, addressing a Brock University graduating class after being given an honorary doctorate. When Kyle Dubas (BSM ’07) learned he was receiving an honorary doctorate from Brock University, his mind began to whirl about what he would say to the Class of 2023.
That message became clear on May 19, when he was fired as General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
During his Convocation address on Wednesday, June 14, the proud Brock Sport Management grad, who has since become President of Hockey Operations with the Pittsburgh Penguins, explained why some of the hardest days of his professional career are what drew the most inspiration.
“People often say if you find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. However,” Dubas said, “no matter how much you love your job, there will always be days that feel like work and there will always be days that are difficult.
“Find something that you really still love when it gets incredibly hard. When you fail, when you lose, when people tell you that you aren’t very good, when people doubt you: that’s what you’re probably meant to be doing. If you can find that thing you still love when it becomes hard, that’s for you. Invest in yourself when you get there.”
 Kyle Dubas served as Maple Leafs General Manager, did his best but could not make the team Stanley Cup winners Dubas learned to invest in himself from his late grandfather, Walter. At 18, Dubas was offered a scouting position for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds — his hometown Ontario Hockey League team, which he would go on to become General Manager of from 2011-14.
The scouting position offered minimal pay and required a car, meaning costly car insurance for any teen driver.
Many people encouraged Dubas to turn the job down — the cost was simply too much, they said.
But his grandfather brought another opinion to the table.
“He said, ‘everyone is looking at it as a cost, look at it as a bet,’” Dubas recalled. “I never looked at that opportunity as a cost, I looked at it as an investment in myself. Without that investment and without that advice, I wouldn’t be here today.”
“If the right opportunity comes along, even if everything is not perfect, look at it as an investment in yourself and what you really want to do,” he said.
 Kyle Dubas seemed to know he was going to be fired – the Pittsburgh Penguins announced he was joining that team before the Maple Leafs could announce they were letting him go. Feathers were ruffled. Following his time with the Greyhounds, Dubas spent nine seasons as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, including the past five as General Manager. At the time of his hiring in 2018, he was the second-youngest General Manager in NHL history at age 32.
When his career pivoted and he had to determine where to head next, the people he relied upon most to “help me make that decision and to help me get back up on my feet” were his close friends — fellow graduates from his 2007 Brock class.
“I was able to reflect back and realize that along the way when you fail … when you lose, when you don’t reach your goal, every time when you make a bad trade or a bad signing or you don’t hire the right people, it’s always the same people that are there to help you and lift you up,” he said, adding many of those lifelong friends are made in university.
Dubas encouraged Brock’s Class of 2023 to “always invest in yourself when you can. Always be there for your fellow graduates along the way, especially when they stumble and fall.”
 By Staff
June 15th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The Mountainside Outdoor Pool (2205 Mount Forest Dr.) is set to make a splash and re-open this summer.
A grand opening event is planned for June 30 at 3:30 p.m. with Mayor Meed Ward and members of Council to officially cut the ribbon. The community is welcome to come into Mountainside Pool for the ribbon cutting celebration followed by a free swim. Swimming at the pool will be free all weekend.
To help celebrate, Mountainside Pool visitors on June 30 will be able to get a free hotdog or hamburger, beginning at 4 p.m., while supplies last. Residents are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle.
 The pandemic and supply problems made the revitalization of the pool a challenge – Opens officially on June 30th. Former ward Councillor will be very pleased that all his early efforts made this possible. Hopefully he will be recognized. The pool’s revitalization has created an attractive, fun, active and welcoming multi-use outdoor swimming pool. We invite the community to experience swimming and water play here and take part in free swimming on June 30 and July 1-2. Walk-in only; no registrations needed.
The ward Councillor doesn’t get even a mention in the city medias release. Would that be because he doesn’t live in the ward anymore?
Revitalization highlights include:
• A new pool with a beach entry and three separate 50M lap lanes
• Accessibility ramps
• Water spray features
• Climbing wall
• Waterslide
• Shade structures
Grand opening events
Date Time Event
June 30 3:30 to 4 p.m. Ribbon cutting
4 to 7 p.m. Free fun swim and lap swim
4 p.m. Free BBQ, while supplies last
July 1 9 to 10 a.m. Free aquafit
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free fun swim and lap swim
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Free fun swim and lap swim
5 to 7:30 p.m. Free fun swim and lap swim
July 2 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free fun swim and lap swim
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Free fun swim and lap swim
5 to 7:30 p.m. Free fun swim and lap swim
Swimmers and participants are encouraged to use active transportation, Burlington Transit or carpool as parking is limited because of the BBQ set-up.
The pool is well used and serves on average 27,000 participants in a wide variety of activities including recreational swimming, lap swimming and learn to swim lessons each summer.
Public art
With input from public engagement, Clear Eyes Collective was chosen to create a large-scale mural as part of the Mountainside Pool Revitalization Project. The public art piece Clear Eyes Collective created is called Take a Step.
The final artwork will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
 By Staff
June 14th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
City hall announced that June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day; a time for all people to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
 Join Indigenous leaders and support organizations to participate in an evening honouring our local Indigenous community. Enjoy traditional drumming, music, dance and ceremonial tributes ending with a fire ceremony to mark the Summer Solstice. This is a free event. No registration is required.
Location: Spencer Smith Park, west lawn
Date: Wednesday, June 21
Time: 5 – 8 p.m.
Event Details
Setting Intentions and Tobacco Ceremony: with sacred fire by elder/healer White Eagle
Performances by: Nadjiwan, Amber Kakiishiway, Red Cedar Sisters, Spring Creek Dancers and Mother’s Heartbeat Drum Group
Take part in activities offered by: Burlington ROCK, and the Ojibiikaan Indigenous Cultural Network
For more information, please visit canada.ca/national-indigenous-history-month.
Denise Beard, Manager of Community Development explains: “This event will help to both teach and to heal so we can all move forward in our Truth and Reconciliation. Residents of all cultures and backgrounds can come, actively participate or silently support in any way you feel comfortable.”
By Pepper Parr
June 14th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
 Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie has her eye on the prize – leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party. Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie has made it abundantly clear that she will be running for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party.
Given the serious mess the province is in, provincial politics needs a serious shake-up.
When Ms Crombie formally announces later today that she will seek the leadership, why can’t something like the following take place ?
The other announced candidates for the provincial Liberal leadership announce they are withdrawing.
The executive of the party would then move the date for the selection of the new leader from December to September.
Crombie becomes the leader of the Ontario Liberal party.
 Premier Doug Ford – the headache is only going to get worse. She spends the summer touring the province introducing herself to the public and telling the people of Ontario where Doug Ford has gotten it all wrong.
Doug Ford can spend his summer explaining his way out of the mess he has created.
Natalie Pierre, current MPP for Burlington, spends her summer figuring out how to run a constituency office.
 Former Chair of the Halton District School Board Andrea Grebenc. Then Andrea Grebenc could announce that she will seek the nomination as the Liberal candidate for Burlington in the next election and spend her summer making sure that the people of Burlington know who she is and what she brings to the table.
Now – what’s wrong with that picture?
Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.
 By Samuel Windershot
June 14th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Poker Games Compatible with the Steam Deck
The Steam Deck is a marvellous piece of gaming tech that allows you to play your favourite games on the go. And what’s better than trying your luck in poker while out and about? As long as you have Wi-Fi access in the case of multiplayer poker games, of course. The thing is, not every game available on the Steam marketplace works on the Deck.
So, in other words, if you’re looking for some proper Canadian live casino action, you’ll be disappointed with the selection of games the Deck offers.
 Half the point of the Steam Deck is that it’s portable, but the other half is that it’s a PC. With the right tools, then, you can plug into a monitor, add a mouse and keyboard, and get playing as if it were a (somewhat) conventional gaming rig. Since the Deck runs SteamOS, which is based on Linux, unless a game has a native Linux version, it can’t run natively on your Deck. Instead, they run via the Proton compatibility layer, a collection of apps, tools, and software libraries that allows Windows games to run on Linux. While Proton works very well with a large number of games, there are a number of titles that do not work on Linux, even with Proton. If you’re interested in how Proton actually works, you can check it out here.
Valve’s Steam Deck Proton Compatibility Program Explained
Luckily, Valve has a Steam Deck Proton compatibility program in which Valve testers slowly comb through the entire Steam library, review games on the Steam Deck, and put them into one of four categories, each of which features a unique badge. As you can see in the screenshot below, there are four categories in total: Verified, Playable, Unsupported, and Unknown.
Poker Games Compatible with the Steam Deck 01
Verified games work great on the Deck without any tinkering. Playable games work, but they require gamers to set custom controller setups, use the magnifier feature to read tiny text or do something else in order to play a certain game. Unsupported games aren’t compatible with the Deck, and games with the Unknown badge aren’t tested by Valve yet. They might or might not work, so you can either download a game featuring the Unknown badge and test it yourself or wait for Valve to review it.
If you’re a Poker aficionado and don’t want to check each poker game you’re interested in manually on Steam or ProtonDB (more on this later), you can read our list of the Steam Deck-compatible poker games and see which poker games you can install and play on your Deck right away!
Full List of Poker Games Compatible With the Steam Deck
Since there aren’t many Verified poker games on the Steam marketplace, we’ve decided to divide our list into two parts. The first one includes Verified games that work great on the Deck out of the box. The second part includes games that are playable on the Deck. You can play them, but you’ll often have to tweak control settings, deal with a launcher before playing the game, or perform some other action in order to play the game. Let’s begin with Verified titles.
 That Verified check mark is something you want to look for. Poker Games Verified for the Steam Deck
Dance of Cards – A poker RPG in which you must survive a deadly cruise by beating your opponents on the poker table.
Four Kings: Video Poker – A casual single-player poker game where you can try your luck without gambling away real money.
Poker Club – A 3D poker simulation with 200-player online tournaments and more than 10 tournament modes, all based on Texas Hold ’em rules.
Poker Pretty Girls Battle: Texas Hold ’em – Another poker title based on Texas Hold ’em rules, but this time your goal is to unlock each of the 16 “kawaii” Japanese girls by winning games and advancing through the campaign.
Prominence Poker – The biggest name on the Steam Deck Verified list of Poker games. Prominence Poker is a free-to-play multiplayer poker game that features fully 3D visuals and pits you against players from around the world in various environments to battle it out on the poker table. The game also features a single-player mode where you play against AI opponents. You can customize your avatar, buy them cool accessories, and even purchase table decorations to show your opponents who’ve got the real bling!
Poker Games Playable on the Steam Deck
Below you can find every Poker game on Steam that carries the Playable Steam Deck compatibility badge. We’ve listed the game’s name along with notifications from the Steam Deck Proton compatibility program, detailing what tweaks you have to do to play the game or what issues the game has when played on Steam Deck.
Governor of Poker 3 – Entering some text requires manually invoking the on-screen keyboard.
Lords of New York – Entering some text requires manually invoking the on-screen keyboard.
MONOPOLY Poker – Entering some text requires manually invoking the on-screen keyboard.
Poker Championship – This game sometimes shows mouse, keyboard, or non-Steam-Deck controller icons.
Poker Quest: Swords and Spades – This game sometimes shows mouse, keyboard, or non-Steam-Deck controller icons; Entering some text requires manually invoking the on-screen keyboard; Some in-game text is small and may be difficult to read; This game supports Steam Deck’s native display resolution but does not set it by default and may require you to configure the display resolution manually.
 The game has always had that allure. Spicy Strip Poker – Some in-game text is small and may be difficult to read.
Strip’ Em II: Facka’s Game – Entering some text requires manually invoking the on-screen keyboard; Some in-game text is small and may be difficult to read.
The Four Kings Casino and Slots – Some functionality is not accessible when using the default controller configuration, requiring the use of the touchscreen or virtual keyboard, or a community configuration; This game sometimes shows mouse, keyboard, or non-Steam-Deck controller icons; Entering some text requires manually invoking the on-screen keyboard; Some in-game text is small and may be difficult to read.
How to Check Game Compatibility on Steam and ProtonDB.com
In case you want to check Steam Deck compatibility for a game not featured on this list there are a few ways to do it. You can do it on Steam itself or on the ProtonDB website.
How to Check Steam Deck Game Compatibility on Steam
To check whether a game’s Steam Deck is compatible, just type the query in Steam’s search box. Once you’re greeted with the results, narrow the search by clicking the Verified button in the Narrow by Deck Compatibility tab, as shown below. You can also include both Verified and Playable games or just search for games with the Playable badge.
Poker Games Compatible with the Steam Deck 02
Another way is to visit the Steam store on your Deck (press the B button and then select the Store option), go to the Search tab, and type the name of the game you’re interested in. You can search only for Verified games, or you can also include Playable games by checking the Playable button in the search menu as we did below.
Poker Games Compatible with the Steam Deck 03
Once you get the search results –in our case, we searched for Monopoly Poker– click on the game, and you’ll see its Steam Deck compatibility badge on the upper right side of the screen. In our case, Monopoly Poker is rated as Playable.
Poker Games Compatible with the Steam Deck 04
After we clicked the Learn More button, a new window opened informing us that Monopoly Poker performs well on the Deck, with the only caveat being that you have to manually enter some text via the on-screen keyboard.
How to Check Steam Deck Game Compatibility on ProtonDB.com
 As kids Monopoly was a family game – its quite a bit different when it is poker that is being played. ProtonDB is a community-based website where users share their in-game experience on Linux. As of recently, each game has separate Steam Deck and PC tabs, with the Steam Deck tab featured on the top. As you can see below, our test game, Monopoly Poker, has no reports from Steam Deck users. However, the game’s rated as Playable by the Steam Deck Proton compatibility program’s testers.
ProtonDB can be handy to Steam Deck owners because reports often include tweaks for better performance or longer battery life. For example, Prominence Poker has one report from a Steam Deck owner where they shared their custom settings that improve the battery life, as seen below.
Poker Games Compatible with the Steam Deck 05
As you can see, while there isn’t a truckload of poker games compatible with the Steam Deck that carry the Verified badge, you can play most of the games with the Playable badge without major issues.
And if the team behind the Steam Deck Proton compatibility program hasn’t yet managed to test your favourite poker game and it features the Unknown badge, nothing is stopping you from trying the game yourself or visiting ProtonDB and checking whether other Steam Deck owners have managed to run the said game. Remember, having the Unknown badge doesn’t mean the game in question isn’t compatible with the Steam Deck; it only means that members of the Steam Deck Proton compatibility program haven’t tested it yet.
By Pepper Parr
June 13th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
 Nancy Shea Nicol – believed to have announced she will be retiring. From a source that should know.
“ I understood that Nancy had announced that she was retiring but don’t recall a timeline. It’s hard to follow staff on the City website.”
See this is as good news – a change in that office has been needed for some time.
Blake Hurley is serving is as the Acting
By Pepper Parr
June 13th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington is pleased to announce the promotion of Jamie Tellier as the City’s new of Director of Community Planning.
Finally – he should have taken the job when he had the chance. If anyone knows community, understand community and actually likes community it is Jamie Tellier
 Site Planning co-coordinator Jamie Tellier explains what is going to be built whereon the JBMH campus. Tellier was chosen as the successful candidate following an extensive and competitive recruitment. As the Acting Director Community Planning, he demonstrated strategic leadership, collaborating to achieve successful outcomes and a continuous improvement mindset.
Jamie has been with the City for 21 years. He has progressed through various leadership roles in Community Planning, including two extended roles as Acting Director of Community Planning.
Over the next six months in particular, Tellier will focus on strategic priorities that are currently underway in Community Planning:
• Recruiting and developing talent to meet the growing needs of Burlington,
• Adapting the City’s organizational, policy and regulatory frameworks to adjust our work to comply with recent legislative changes, such as Bill 23,
• Introducing more tools, such as MyFiles, to improve how we do business with residents and developers to be more efficient and transparent and
• Foster a culture of collaboration between staff, partners and customers for mutual success.
Most recently, as the Manager of Planning Implementation, Tellier led a number of Continuous Improvement initiatives for the City’s Development Services area. These projects, which resulted in improved service to applicants and better outcomes for Council, residents and staff, include:
 Jamie Tellier is one of the few staff members who gets excited about the work he does. You always know he loves the job he is doing. Knows how to solve a problem. • Leading Development Services staff to develop a new Pre-Building Approval application process.
• Respond to and adapt the development application processes for Official Plan Amendments, Zoning Bylaw Amendments and Site Plan Applications. This positions the City to better respond to new provincial legislations, such as Bill 23.
• Enhance Community Planning’s teamwork with the Burlington Digital Services Department (ITS) to come up with innovative solutions to better serve the community and allow staff to focus on the development review process.
Before joining the City in 2002, Tellier worked as a planner in Palm Beach County, Florida. He has a Masters of Urban Design Studies from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies with Honours in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Waterloo.
 Jamie Tellier as seen by a city photographer: Terrible picture Jamie – you shouldn’t have let them do this to you. Tellier will continue to work with the Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Service Group and report to the Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility.
Brynn Nheiley, Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility got it right wen she said: “I very much look forward to continuing to work closely with Jamie as he adjusts from Acting to permanent Director. He is a wealth of corporate and departmental knowledge, innovative ideas and is very skilled at responding to the evolving challenges faced by the Community Planning department and the City.
“I would like to thank Jamie for assuming the Acting Director role these past six months, as well as big thanks to Amanda D’Angelo and Kyle Plas for taking on additional duties and responsibilities to support and maintain the high productivity of the Community Planning Department during this time.
“I am very pleased to have Jamie permanently join the Burlington Leadership Team, bringing his wealth of skills, knowledge and perspectives to the table.”
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