 By Staff
October 20th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
History lives and a couple of hundred people have the chance to become a clone of Spencer Smith. And if you don’t know who Spencer Smith is – search him in the Gazette. The Spencer Smith Park is what it is today due in no small measure to this man.
Trees that Spencer planted seventy years ago were cut down because the city arborist thought the degree of rot in the tree trunks made them a public safety matter.
 Here’s a picture that is a keeper – the gazebo that is no more along with the willow tree that got cut down – city has saved 200 + clippings that will be given away in the spring. The two 70-year-old weeping willow trees near the gazebo at the waterfront park were removed in June 2016 to ensure public safety. City of Burlington arborists had found significant rotting and areas of decay in the trees, originally transplanted by park founder Spencer Smith in the 1950s.
Arborwood Tree Service Inc. and Exotic Woods are at the city’s roads and parks maintenance building this week, planning, milling and then kiln-drying the wood from six large logs to make boards that can be used for whatever wood can be used for.
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward hugging a willow tree in Spencer Smith Park that is no more Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward didn’t want to see the trees taken down and did give them a nice little send off.
The city then moved in and tore down the gazebo and began to upgrade the landscaping and put in pathways and level out the land; there was a bowl effect that collected water and made that part of the park less useful than it could be.
The city saved more than 200 clippings from the willow trees that are growing in a greenhouse. There are plans to distribute those seedlings to people who are interested in growing a piece of history on their own properties sometime in 2017. Expect more from city hall on this initiative in the spring.
Burlington and the Region of Halton have done a good job of preserving historically significant trees.
 They call it the Brant Oak tree – it’s located on Allview Street in the west end of the city and is known as one of the markers setting out the boundary of the land grant given to Joseph Brant. The tree that marks part of the boundary marking the lands that were given to Joseph Brant is still in place.
More information will be available in early 2017 about how people can get one of the willow clippings or to take a piece of wood home as a souvenir.
Related story:
Who was Spencer Smith?
 By Pepper Parr
October 20th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There is a scramble going on in Burlington for the provincial Progressive Conservative nomination.
Jane McKenna is seen as the nominee, in name only, because she was the candidate, and the MPP but she has to earn the nomination just like anyone else.
And she is out there running hard. She is reported to have Mike Wallace managing her campaign.
 Candidate Jane Michael and Bishop Crosby. There is another Jane in the race for the nomination – Jane Michael, who is the current chair of the Catholic school board.
And now for the wrinkle.
There is apparently a web site that reported Michael has pulled out of the race. We checked in with Michael and she says she hasn’t pulled out – she is getting the package of information that every candidate gets from the Progressive Conservative party and expects to be out knocking on doors and selling memberships.
There was a time when the Progressive Conservatives couldn’t find a candidate – that was back in 2011 when they almost drafted Jane McKenna after telling Rene Papin that he wasn’t quite what they had in mind and they weren’t ready to give Brian Heagle the embrace that he wanted.
 Whoever posted this on the internet uses the initials that most of us understand to represent the school board – this didn’t come from the school board – so who put it up? This race looks like it just might get nasty. There is some pretty mean spirited stuff being thrown around. This isn’t the way political nominations are earned.
Come 2018 – and it looks like there could actually be a horse race for that nomination – contested nominations usually result in better candidates.
McKenna has kept her hand in the political game and claims to have worked with Patrick Brown to “revitalize and refocus the PC Party. I still see so much work that needs to be done to get Ontario back on track.”
Two scrappy women fighting it out – it is going to be up to the Tory’s to figure out which one is best for the city. It shouldn’t be all that hard to do – just look at the track records.
The full story on that nomination meeting is interesting. You can read that in our July 2011 issue: McKenna gets the Tory nomination.
 By Pepper Parr
October 20th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
With Waterdown Road now a nice short drive to Hwy 403 development in the immediate area is beginning to take place.
Getting information on how one particular project is working its way through the system appears to be a problem for at least one Aldershot resident who writes:
 It’s an attractive enough building – interesting way they handled vehicles getting to the parking spaces. “As someone who has been following the 35 Plains Road building proposal closely, and attended the first public meeting, I am now concerned to find that a statutory public meeting is shown on the City of Burlington website for November 8th. https://www.burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/35-Plains-Road.asp
 The application is for an eight storey building with 55 residential units and commercial uses on the street level.  Our reader signed up – hasn’t heard a word since – what’s up? “Part of my reason for contacting you is to see if you received notice of this meeting. I was told that if I signed up to receive information (which I did), I would receive notice of this meeting. There are little over 20 days until this meeting, and yet I have received no formal notice from the city about it. I would have expected at least 30 days notice so that people wanting to attend could plan around it.
 An interesting use of the lot. Good morning city hall – can anyone help this lady?
The project is an interesting one. It appears to be a project being developed by Ruth Victor & Associates. Ms Victor has in the past worked as a planner/consultant for the ADI Development Group when they were telling the public about their plans for what is now known as Station West –
 By Pepper Parr
October 20th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is just under a month away but registration for this event is going to fill up very quickly – you will want to register now if you’d like to attend.
This struck the Gazette as one of the more interesting ways to promote the history of the city – and if anything is history in Burlington it is the Freeman Station.
 Pauline Grondin – the year is 1920 and she is at the Burlington Junction station in Freeman. On Saturday, November 19th, well-known professional storyteller Pauline Grondin will again work her magic as she relates, first-person, her story of life around Freeman Station.
The year is 1920, and the Burlington Junction Station in Freeman is a vibrant hub of community comings and goings.
Pauline will bring history to life for us as she relates what’s happening around the village. (A bit of gossip here and there?)
 Waiting for the train. The Friends of Freeman Station invite you to join them at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre for “Breakfast at the Bistro,” beginning at 8:30 AM for a delicious meal followed by Pauline’s enchanting presentation.
Reservations are required, seating is limited, breakfast is only $ 6.18 per person, tax included, it’s all for a great cause, and a good time will be had by all. Nostalgia guaranteed, tears optional.
Book early! Registration is required. Limited seating, and typically sells out well in advance.
To register, log onto: https://secure.burlington.ca/recexpress/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp
and enter the code “345506” in the TTR Barcode Search field to pull up Breakfast at the Bistro – Pauline Grondin – 345506
 By Staff
October 19th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Many of us use PayPal as a way to pay for items we bought or sold on the internet. It is a useful service – even though they do take their time about getting your money to you when you ask for it.
Other than that – decent value – people trust the service – and the trust the brand – which is why the crooks like to use it.
This came across our desk recently – don’t believe a word of it. Someone wants to steal your identity.
(NOTICE) Your PayPal account has been limited
In order to get back into your account, you will need to confirm your identity with us.
We have made the process easy for you:
Download and open the attachment file that we have sent, and proceed into filling in the form.
Our security team will review the information that you have provided, and immediately remove the limitations in your PayPal account.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
There will be no apology when they siphon money out of your bank accounts.
By Pepper Parr
October 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Wow!
THAT is crass.
Less than an hour after sending out a media release announcing the holding of two by – elections on November the province sends out a second media release announcing significant infrastructure projects for one of the ridings – Niagara West Glanbrook.
The by-election release came out as 12:07 – the infrastructure release came out at 1:01.
It is stuff like this that give politics a bad smell.
Was it just a coincidence?
The province has hundreds of communications specialists working to grind out media releases – sometimes as many as ten in a single day.
These people are trained to get out positive messages – and they are expected to be politically aware – especially those who work in the office of Cabinet Ministers.
The media release on infrastructure work that I to “Improving Roads and Bridges in Niagara Region” said the following;
Ontario is supporting upgrades to roads, bridges and other local community infrastructure in Niagara Region, helping to connect communities and keep people moving while creating jobs and economic growth.
Municipalities benefiting from upgrades include:
• Grimsby
• Lincoln
• Pelham
• West Lincoln
• Niagara Falls
• Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Fort Erie
• Port Colborne
• Thorold
• Wainfleet
• Welland
The boundaries for the riding of are shown below:
 That detailed information is followed by the boiler plate stuff put at the end of every media release the province sends out – sort of like Burlington’s fetish for the news that it is the number one mid-sized city in Canada
Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province’s history – about $160 billion over 12 years, supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province with projects such as hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit. Since 2015, the province has announced support for more than 475 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life. To learn more about infrastructure projects in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.
Investing in municipal infrastructure is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
They do all this with your tax money – don’t you just love them?
Related article: By-election announcements.
By Pepper Parr
October 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
November 17th could turn out to be a very difficult day for the provincial government.
Voters in the electoral districts of Ottawa-Vanier and Niagara West-Glanbrook will vote for new members of the provincial legislature in by elections.
 Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne This is not a popular government; voters get an opportunity to say how unhappy they are in by-elections without actually changing the government. The current Liberal government can afford to lose the two seats – what they can’t afford is the continuing slide in popularity.
Word of the by- elections first came from former provincial Ombudsman Andre Marin, the Progressive Conservative candidate in Ottawa-Vanier, who posted the date in a tweet then quickly removed it before the official announcement by Elections Ontario.
The Niagara West-Glanbrook seat was held by Tim Hudak who won it in 2007 with 41% of the vote. The riding has a just under 100,000 voters – of which 59% turned out in the last election.
Hudak could not convince the province to make him the Premier and so he moved on and is now in the real estate sector.
The Ottawa-Vanier by-election will replace former attorney general Madeleine Meilleur, who quit the long-held Liberal seat last summer.
These two by-elections will tell the government just how bad their situation is.
The next provincial election will be in 2018 – crunch time.
Related article: Road and bridge construction announcements follow by-election call.
 By Pepper Parr
October 19th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Stuart Miller is the kind of man who enjoys a challenge.
There isn’t all that much bureaucrat in the man – he likes people and he loves the job he has been dropped into – even though at times it does almost overwhelm him.
 If there are a bunch of teachers and students doing something on a Saturday – chances are Stuart Miller be with them. He is the kind of Director of Education who will slip over to Robert Bateman High school for lunch – one, because there is a great cooking class over there and two, he just likes being around students.
You will find him at some kind of student event on a Saturday when most of the senior board people are chilling at home.
He has some major administrative tasks in front of him but for Miller the administrative part isn’t the challenge that has him tossing and turning – it is the impact the change is going to have on the students he is responsible for – and make no mistake about it – he feel responsible for them and takes great pride when those students do well.
Six months ago he was struggling with how his board was going to handle the very significant increase in parents wanting to get their children into French Immersion almost from the day they walked into a school.
He faced several issues there – and he doesn’t have those issues resolved yet. He couldn’t find enough highly qualified teachers and he had a real concern for that small number of students who were not ready for French Immersion in the early years – if at all.
 Always engaging – always listening. Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. The best and the brightest in a student population always catch they eye of senior board administrators. Miller has an eye for the kid that is perhaps a little slower and needs a little more time or who doesn’t fit in all that well socially but is razor sharp.
Students aren’t the only concern for Stuart Miller. Wednesday evening he is going to hear delegations from half a dozen parents who are going to hand him a 12 page summary of the concerns they have over the thinking that is going to go into a PAR Review
In less than a week, a group of about ten parents – maybe less – pulled together loads of input from parents, did a thorough review of a long document the school board staff have had months to prepare and have come back with their thoughts on what the board thinks it should do.
That the senior bureaucrat could be as productive.
To be a fly on the wall of Miller’s office as he flips through the pages of the report the parent’s prepared.
Miller has an at times wry look on his face and my bet is that when he completes his reading of the document he is going to smile and say to his staff:
‘You know this is pretty good stuff – we need to listen to these people.’
That’s the kind of Director of Education we have in Halton.
Let’s see how he handles the situation on Wednesday evening.
Salt with Pepper is an opinion column written by the Publisher of the gazette. we invite well thought out opinions from others in the city.
By Pepper Parr
October 18th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
You knew before the meeting was over that this was a group of parents who were going to think through the situation they faced very thoroughly and present a case for keeping the community school.
 They packed the room. There were well over 80 people (some set the number at close to 100) packed into a room at Wellington Square United Church to figure out what they wanted to do about the Halton District school Board decision to hold a PAR.
A PAR is a Program Accommodation Review which is a look that the board has to take when the amount of available space in a school falls below 65%
A PAR – to address enrollment, empty/overfull space and programs offered – is needed for Burlington secondary schools claim the parent group – but the conditions needed to hold a PAR are not yet in place.
In its report Board of Education staff found a number of school that were below or very very close to that 65% number and they produced a report that set out 19 option. The options were related to various schools in Burlington.
 There are just too many empty seats at Central High.  The utilization percentages are good – bu the sea available are in the wrong schools.  The parents group covered everything – and then some. The parents did their homework – the looked at the facts and they came to the conclusion that while there might be a need for a PAR – this was not the time to proceed.
The Board for its part produced an exhaustive report – we are talking inches thick here and it takes time to go through the details and then measure them against what the parents know and experience.
The letter was signed off on by Michael Kukhta and Dania Thurman who were speaking on behalf of the Burlington Central Strong Community Group).
Michael had run for school board trustee before Dania is new to the game but keep an eye on this woman. She is a force to be reckoned with.
In a letter to the school board trustees this group of parents from Burlington central high school said:
At the Halton District Board of Education (HDSB) Board of Trustees meeting on 19 October 2016, you will be deciding on a motion to approve beginning the Program Accommodation Review (PAR) process.
In this letter, we will outline why we urge you delay the start of the process by tabling the motion until numerous issues are addressed. This request is made in order to ensure the integrity of the PAR process and to ensure that accurate and productive recommendations can be made to the Board of Trustees at the conclusion of the PAR process.
It appears to be clear that a PAR is needed, but also clear that the conditions to start it now, 19 October 2016, have not been met. It is crucial that many issues in the Halton District School Board’s (the “Board”) PAR process and Director’s Preliminary Report on the PAR (#16132) be clarified and clearly understood before proceeding with the PAR process. There are also many concerns with data and the Board’s new and untried PAR process that should be addressed.
Summary of Concerns:
1) A PAR is needed, but conditions to initiate the PAR at tomorrow’s (October 19th) meeting have not been met;
2) The Board’s new and untested PAR process has critical errors and confounding steps;
3) Significant segments of data are incomplete, missing or inaccurate;
4) The nineteen (19) Alternate solutions offered do not consistently compare conditions and issues creating unfair and confusing conclusions and inferences.
Very compelling details, supporting data and information about each of these Concerns are detailed below in Appendices. (They are voluminous and will be set out in detail on the web site when it is fully operational.
The Gazette will publish that data later in the week.
Our volunteer and dedicated community group has worked very hard to pull this letter and information together in a short time frame. There are, no doubt, challenges and questions with the conclusions we have made; however, we have only had a week to look at this.
Nevertheless, we have discovered and documented many issues that will jeopardize the PAR until they are understood and corrected. We look forward to continue working together with you and the board to be as informative, objective and accurate in providing productive discussion, analysis and recommendations to assist you in making the best decisions possible.
Decisions to close schools and realign boundaries will have long-lasting and profound effects on the community. Let’s get it right. Mistakes could be costly and cause delays in implementation. The Board’s process is fast: 5-7 months from approval and launch to recommendation to and ultimately approval by the Board of Trustees.
There is insufficient time once the process starts, to research, fix and present new data to the PAR Committee. A delay in the process will allow the constituencies affected – indeed, the students and entire community of Burlington – to catch up with the process and truly feel engaged and respected as valued stakeholders.
 From the right Burlington trustees Amy Collard and Leah Reynolds – two of the four. We urge you to table the approval of the PAR process until all of the issues and concerns are clearly articulated, the data and information understood and the process robust and transparent.
Will the trustees listen? The four from Burlington can be expected to do so. But there are 11 trustees and they all get a vote on this.
It will be an interesting Board of Education meeting this evening.
By Staff
October 18, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is a dirty business – despicable.
But it does happen
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has charged a Hamilton man with three offences as part of an Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) coordinated, national investigation to suppress human trafficking.
Dubbed Operation Northern Spotlight, members of 36 police services from across Ontario, including Halton Regional Police Service, directly engaged with people suspected of partaking in the sex trade, potentially against their will.
During coordinated investigations over a six-day period, police charged 25 people with 67 offences. Police were also able to ensure the safety of 16 people who had been working in the sex trade as a minor or against their will. A total of 207 police officers and support staff engaged with 199 people and offered them information and contacts with community-based support agencies.
Charges resulting from the operation include Trafficking in Persons under 18, Trafficking in Persons, Procure Sexual Services under 18, Procure Sexual Services, Receive Material Benefit under 18, Receive Material Benefit, Communication for the Purpose of Obtaining Consideration the Sexual Services of a Person, Exercise Control, Make Child Pornography, Distribute Child Pornography, Possess Child Pornography, Child Luring, Advertise Another Person’s Sexual Services, Assault, Obstruct Police, Resist Arrest, Weapons Dangerous, various Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) and Failure to Comply with Court Orders and Conditions including Breaches of Recognizance and Probation.
As part of their role in Operation Northern Spotlight, officers with HRPS’ Morality Unit engaged eight potential exploited victims working in the Halton area, rescuing one.
Twenty-four year-old Sean TRACEY has been charged with Procuring a Person to Offer or Provide Sexual Services for Consideration, Advertising Sexual Services, and Receive Material Benefit from Sexual Service as a result of the HRPS investigation.
“Like our counterparts, our Service is committed to fighting human trafficking by holding those engaged in it to account, while supporting its victims,” said Inspector Anthony Odoardi. “We are pleased to have contributed resources and expertise to this important joint operation.”
Given some of the stuff we are hearing while the Americans try to figure out who they want to lead them – it is little wonder that trafficking in human beings is a business. These guys are just a little lower down the food chain that a nominee for the President of the United States of America,
By Pepper Parr
October 17, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Hamilton-Burlington Junior League Annual House tour will be taking place November 11 to 13th.
There are three homes on the tour this year: two in Burlington and one in Ancaster.
 Designer creates a focal point in a home for the Holiday Season Jackie Cracknell and her colleagues were given one of the Burlington homes to get ready for the event. The home, a 2400 sq. ft. 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house that undergone a significant renovation. Located in the east end of Burlington the home will be open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, 10:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Jackie said the challenge in preparing a smaller home for a tour is keeping the flow of patrons moving smoothly so that they can view everything in their own time, but not have areas of congestion.
This home provided great opportunity in that the interior has been completely restyled and has some interesting design features that will allow the decorators to showcase the beautiful renovation that has taken place.
She added that “most of the decorators in this home have worked on the tour before and know exactly what is required to wow our patrons.
Those that are new are given information from previous tours so that they know what is expected. Our role as house reps is to ensure that the decorators follow the guidelines and also to liaise between the homeowners and decorators so that everything runs smoothly.
The most outstanding transformation in the renovation of this home is the kitchen – it really is the heart of the home and a wonderful light space to enjoy, with some very special design features. I think it highlights that fact that you can really incorporate some wonderful features in a home that may not be as large as some of the others on the tour – bigger is not always better!
The decorators of this home include House of Fraser Décor, Megan & Megan, Welcome Home Interiors, Details Interior Design, Hudson Interiors and Marquis Cavalier Dreamstore.
Tickets to this always popular event – this is the 34th Annual Tour the Junior League has done, are available at: CLICK HERE
Hours: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, 10:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The address for each of the homes is printed on the tickets you receive.
 From left to right: Dianne Brown, Fonda Loft, Jackie Cracknell,Liz Vandenberg, Annette Hamm, Cate Banfield, Karyn Glibbery, Roseanne Grego-Venneri, Sarai Spzak, Barb Oliver, Jane Tynan-Byrd, Iris Hughes. Middle: Anne-Louise Watts, Kathy North-Ross, Wendy Powell Front: Rachel Griffiths, Emily Stewart The Junior League is looking for people who would like to serve as volunteers at the different house tour locations. This is an opportunity to learn more about the Junior League – sort of a toe in the water approach. Diane Brown would love to hear from you. info@juniorleague.ca
By Staff
October 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington has an almost symbiotic relationship with the Ontario Municipal Board – at times city hall’s Planning department must feel they are joined at the hip with the OMB.
 Nautique – an ADI group development is one of the development projects that is now before the OMB. There are many in the municipal sector that would like to see the OMB abolished – it was formed in 1906; there were some very good reasons for keeping the Board which may no longer apply.
Ontario Proposing Changes to Ontario Municipal Board to Improve Efficiency and Accessibility: Province Seeking Public Input on Board’s Scope and Process
The Ontario government sees a continuing need for the OMB in Ontario’s land use planning system. That is why they are exploring changes to make sure that the Board’s role is appropriate, open and fair.
Through the OMB Review, the government will consider the Board’s scope (what it deals with) and effectiveness (how it operates) to determine improvements with respect to how the Board works within Ontario’s broader land use planning system.
The province is undertaking a comprehensive review of how the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) operates and its role in the province’s land-use planning system to help make it more efficient and more accessible to all Ontarians.
 Former Burlington Director of Planning wrote the text book on how the OMB works. Now he is the Executive Chair of the ELTO that oversees the OMB. Environment Land Tribunals Ontario is a cluster of five boards including Assessment Review Board (ARB), Board of Negotiation (BON), Conservation Review Board (CRB), Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) and the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB)
The OMB’s primary role is adjudicating applications and appeals under various land use planning statutes.
The Executive chair of the ELYO is Bruce Krushelnicki who was until a number of months ago the Director of Planning for the city of Burlington. How the city managed to let a good one get away is beyond many people in the province.
The OMB plays a central role in Ontario’s land-use planning process as an independent, public body through which people can appeal or defend land-use decisions that affect their property or community.
Ontarians wishing to participate in the consultation may submit comments online or in person at one of the town hall meetings being held across the province this fall.
Registration and an open house will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The town halls will begin at 6:00 p.m. and end at 9:30 p.m.
Oakville, November 3, 2016
Oakville Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road
RSVP date: October 30, 2016
Hamilton, October 24, 2016
Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection, 821 Upper Wentworth Street
RSVP date: October 21, 2016
RSVP on line: https://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page15043.aspx
Email at OMBReview@ontario.ca
For matters of registration you can call 416-585-6014 or 1-855-776-8011
By Staff
October 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
We sometimes wonder why the crooks with these innovative ideas don’t just go out and get good jobs – they would seem to be smart enough.
Maybe it’s because too many decent people get sucked in.
Here’s the latest one:
In the last two weeks Halton Regional Police Service has received three complaints for a package delivery scam in the Halton Region.
The suspect will call a small business and claim to be from a neighbouring business and asking the victim to sign and pay for an urgent package they are expecting but unfortunately cannot be around to collect themselves. They claim that they will pay back the victim as soon as they can get back to collect the package.
A short while later a male will show up with a boxed package for delivery and collect the COD fees and leave the store. It is not until sometime later after the neighbouring business doesn’t show up that it is discovered that the package is just an empty box weighted with used magazines and the victim is out the cash given for the delivery.
 Police are looking for this young man. Seen him? Police are hoping to identify the male pictured below and asking anyone with information to contact the Halton Regional Police Fraud Unit or if they wish to remain anonymous to call Halton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes)
By Staff
October 17, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Approximately 3.4 per cent of Ontarians have a moderate to severe gambling problem. This means that about 26,500 adults in the City of Hamilton and Halton Region are estimated to be negatively impacted.
 You’ve lost it all – now what do you do? Help is available. Many of these people think they will win big. The truth is that some will gamble to the point that they damage their finances, relationships and health. Problem gambling can be financially and emotionally devastating for the individual involved and the most important people in their lives.
“When gambling becomes a source of worry or stress, it’s important to listen to yourself”, says Jon Kelly, CEO, Responsible Gambling Council. “Ignoring changing feelings potentially puts both you and the people you care about at risk.”
The good news is that paying attention to how you feel about your gambling is the first step to early detection of a potential gambling problem.
Having mixed feelings about your gambling? If so, listen to yourself
If your gambling has stopped being fun and has become a source of stress and worry, it’s time to take a break and reflect.
Anxiety, guilt or frustration are common early warning signals that, if ignored, can lead to a potential gambling problem. The consequences of which can be emotionally and financially devastating not just for you but also for your family and friends.
During Problem Gambling Prevention Week, which runs in the City of Hamilton and Halton Region from October 17th to October 23rd, RGC is urging people to listen carefully to how they feel about their gambling.
What are some early signs of a potential gambling problem:
• Feeling guilty, anxious, frustrated or worried about your gambling.
• Thinking or talking about gambling more than usual.
• Gambling more to win back losses.
• Experiencing extreme highs from gambling wins and extreme lows from gambling losses.
• Getting irritated more easily or having less patience when dealing with normal, everyday activities.
 The thrill of the horses thundering towards the finish line is one thing – the money you blew on a ticket that didn’t win is another. What to do when you have mixed feelings:
• The most important thing is to listen to yourself and recognize that these feelings are there for a reason. When they arise, take a break from gambling and do something else. Get back to those other activities that you enjoy.
• Set a betting limit to what you can comfortably afford to lose and stick to it.
• Never chase losses by gambling more to win back lost money or get out of financial trouble. This usually leads to even greater losses.
• Set a time limit for your gambling and, when it’s reached, walk away.
• Bear in mind that gambling is not a way to make money. Virtually all people with gambling problems hold the false belief that they are due for a big win. That belief can feed the development of problems.
How to get help
There is free and confidential help available for those who feel they may have a problem. You can find contact information for local resources at www.knowthesigns.ca or you can call the Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline 1-888-230-3505.
For more about the emotional and behavioural signs to watch for and how to protect yourself, go to www.knowthesigns.ca.
 They are the reverse of an ATM – you just keep putting money in. Residents in the City of Hamilton and Halton Region can access local help at:
• Burlington: ADAPT (The Halton Alcohol, Drug, & Gambling Assessment, Prevention and Treatment Program – 905-639-6537 or 1-866-783-7073
• Hamilton: Alcohol, Drug & Gambling Services (ADGS) City of Hamilton, Public Health Services – 905-546-3606
• Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline – 1-888-230-3505
The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to problem gambling prevention. RGC works to reduce gambling risks by creating and delivering innovative awareness and information programs. It also promotes the adoption of improved play safeguards through best practices research, standards development and the RG Check accreditation program. RGC is committed to bringing together all perspectives in the reduction of gambling problems, including those of people with firsthand experience with gambling problems, gaming providers, regulators, policy makers and treatment professionals.
By Staff
October 17, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A Burlington entrepreneur, 27-year-old Eric Rodgers, Co-Founder of a Burlington Digital Marketing Agency has been chosen as one of the best and brightest young Canadians under 30 by Canada’s Marketing Magazine.
 I didn’t know how to dress,” says Rodgers, 27. (That’s changed: with a lightly polka-dotted shirt, Hugo Boss jeans and loafers, he has the Silicon Valley uniform down cold.) “Once we got going, I got used to speaking at higher and higher levels (of executives). I’m more open now among clients.” At 21, Rodgers and industry veteran Don McNeil identified a gap in the market for precise digital marketing based almost solely on measurable data. With a focus on full user journeys instead of last-click attribution modeling, they went on to form Direct Access Digital in 2011. Both were keen to adopt new analytics models, participating in all available marketing platform betas with an interest to drive new business at the lowest cost per acquisition for clients like BMO, Lowe’s, Rona, and Enercare.
Eric Rodgers is no stranger to receiving awards, he was the first Canadian to win Google’s prestigious Google Search Excellence Award in 2014. The award is only given out to two Canadian’s a Year – amazingly, Rodgers won it again in 2015.
BMO’s CMO of Canadian Banking and Wealth Management, Betsy Chung says, “Whenever I have an issue or literally a business problem to face, he’s one of the few I would pick up the phone and ask, ‘How do consumers behave from what we know of how they purchase?’”
Rodgers’ says, “The early days were stressful, I was literally one of two guys sitting on either side of a desk. We focused on optimizing every marketing dollar spent just as we do today, that’s been our winning model. The model that, like Google, continues to change at a rapid rate and includes more tactics and platforms like Programmatic, Rich Media and SEO.”
With a father who worked in IT, Rodgers says he was attracted to technology at an early age, building his first computer at the age of 10. At Geosign, he essentially turned a summer job into an apprenticeship in selling and buying traffic from Google. By 19 he was managing a team of seven who in some cases were twice his age. After meeting McNeil at another job post-Geosign, the two believed there was a gap in the market for an agency built around what it calls “math men (and women” rather than Mad Men.)
Direct Access Digital’s team has grown to 30 brilliant digital marketers and is always looking for more engaged talent.
Rodgers shares the award with the Schulich School of Business, Assistant Professor of Marketing, Ela Veresiu, SnapChat’s Senior Account Manager, Alanna Glicksman, Facebook’s Client Services Manager, eCommerce, Vino Jeyapalan, McDonald’s Digital Social Engagement Manager, Rashel Hariri and 25 other young Canadians.
What was equally interesting is that among the 30under30 that were recognized as some of the brightest – there were more women than men. The times they are a changing.
By Staff
October 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore is going to get a $1 donation for every ReStore transaction from October 17 to October 31st.
 Those funds will help more families build strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable Habitat for Humanity homeownership.
The donation is coming from Proctor & Gamble and Swiffer, one of their products.
With nearly 100 locations across Canada, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores are home and building supply stores that accept and resell quality new and used building supplies, home furnishing, appliances and décor. Habitat’s ReStores accept donations of secondhand, overstocked and discontinued items, as well as salvageable building materials donated by manufacturers, stores, contractors and individuals. Proceeds fund Habitat for Humanity operations and homebuilding projects in communities across the country.
To provide additional incentive, Swiffer is also giving out a free Swiffer Duster with all purchases while supplies last.
The funds generated through this campaign will be used towards Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga’s ongoing builds in Burlington, Acton, Georgetown and Mississauga. Once complete, the project will enable more families than ever before to partner with Habitat for access to affordable home ownership.
Habitat for Humanity’s first ReStore was opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1991. Today, there are almost 100 locations across Canada and almost 1,000 worldwide generating funds to support the work of Habitat for Humanity. It’s estimated that Habitat’s ReStores in Canada have been directly responsible for the construction of 1,200 Habitat for Humanity homes and in excess of 250,000 tonnes of material being diverted from landfills.
By Pepper Parr
October 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is not often that we see a media release from the provincial government that follows comments made by one of our columnists.
Ray Rivers wrote about the amount of water the Nestle corporation takes out of aquifers in the province. A couple of minutes after publishing the column we received the following media release.
Ontario Taking Action to Protect Clean Water : Province Proposes Two Year Moratorium on New and Expanded Water Bottling Operations
Ontario is taking action to protect the province’s water resources for future generations by proposing a two-year moratorium on new or expanded water takings from groundwater by bottling companies, as well as stricter rules for renewals of existing permits.
The proposed moratorium is the first of a number of steps the province will be taking to further protect Ontario’s clean water. It will apply to every water bottling facility that takes groundwater and is required to have a permit under the Ontario Water Resources Act. Proposed rules would reduce the duration of permit renewal applications from 10 years to a maximum of five years, as well as require increased public transparency, new operating guidelines, mandatory reductions on water taking during drought and further scientific studies.
As part of Ontario’s ongoing efforts to protect its water resources, the government is also closely examining how pricing and other tools could be used to help manage and protect the province’s water resources, and will provide an update later this fall.
While the proposed moratorium is in place, Ontario also plans to:
• Undertake research to improve understanding of groundwater in Ontario
• Review existing rules for adequate protection of groundwater for future generations
• Receive public input and feedback on Ontario’s current groundwater permitting process and groundwater management moving forward.
In the face of climate change, population growth, increasing water consumption and drought, concerns around water security have risen. Ontario’s ongoing plan to protect groundwater resources is essential to the health and integrity of the province’s ecosystems and communities.
Managing our water resources responsibly is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
That’s almost what Ray Rivers had to say – wasn’t it?
Ontarians can comment on the proposed two-year moratorium through the Environmental Registry until Dec. 1, 2016.
Link to the |Rivers column.
“Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.”
(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner – Samuel Taylor Coleridge).
 By Ray Rivers
October 17th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Take Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, something which the devastating hurricane Matthew just did. And what sad irony! Because only days before, environment officials from these two provinces walked out of a meeting on climate change. They were protesting the federal announcement of a national carbon tax, refusing to accept the easiest path for reducing climate changing emissions. So when NS and NL got hit by flooding, an apparent consequence of global warming, their walk-out became more like myopia or stupidity than irony.
 Bottled water production line. In Ontario we are having a very different conversation about water. Nestlé S.A, the world’s largest food and drink company is a massive transnational corporation with 447 factories, operating in 194 countries and employing over three hundred thousand. Already the second largest global water bottling company, with extensive operations near Guelph, it has just won access to another aquifer out bidding a small municipality near Elora.
In total, 1.4 trillion litres of water are extracted from ground water sources in Ontario every day. But only a fraction is returned into all the aquifers, especially the water from those plastic bottles. Between 2011 and 2015 the aquifer at Nestlé’s bottling plant in Aberfoyle dropped by 1.5 metres. And their continued pumping has become a major issue for a growing City of Guelph, which also relies on that aquifer for its water. And now the emerging sprawl community of Middlebrook near Elora, has lost its water source to the same corporation which could be allowed to pump as much as 1,300 litres per minute from the 110 meter deep artisan well.
 The citizens of Elora fear they are the next source of water that the Nestle Corporation is looking at. I’m not one of those generally opposed to the bottled water industry. Water coolers, which have been around forever, provide a healthy alternative to caffeine, in addition to offering a location for office gossip. And there are places where clean water only comes in bottles, as anyone who has travelled to Asia, Africa or Latin America will attest. But most of the water from the Nestlé bottling works near Guelph, or in Hope B.C. which extracts 265 million litres a day, goes into the North American market. And the water quality here is arguably better coming out of the tap than the bottle.
In part the argument is about money. The company pays just $3.71 per million litres in addition to a renewable five-year permit fee of $75. For that they are entitled to take 3.6 million litres per day. That costs the company less than $15 a day for water which sells for $2.00 or more per 500 ml bottle at the airport.
The bottling process itself can use three times the water that actually goes into the bottle. And the energy needed just to manufacture enough bottles for America’s consumption is the equivalent of 17 million barrels of oil, enough to fuel 1.3 million cars for a year. Americans use about 50 billion water bottles a year, the world’s largest users, but only 23 percent of these are recycled. The balance, the equivalent of $1 billion in plastic alone, goes into land-fills, ends up as litter on the land or becomes part of the huge problem of plastic waste in our lakes and oceans.
 Demonstrations against Nestle. Globally, over half of the water bottles out there are just bottled tap water, but that is not what Nestlé is producing. Using ground water, instead of surface water, say from Lake Ontario, places the discussion closer to what is going on in California. That US state is experiencing its fifth dry year in a row, and ground water has become the last resort for agriculture, in particular. Ontario got its taste of drought this spectacular summer, and it wasn’t the first year water started to get scarce.
So the Premier has opened the tap on limiting water taking by the bottling industry, and on making that industry pay a more reasonable price for the resource. After all, is it fair that Nestlé, gets an almost unlimited supply of our water for next to nothing, when we have been coaxed into investing in low flush toilets and other water conservation practices? And do we really need to keep buying all those wasteful water bottles, when so many reasonable alternatives abound?
Editor’s note: As we went to press earlier today the province released the following statement:
Ontario is taking action to protect the province’s water resources for future generations by proposing a two-year moratorium on new or expanded water takings from groundwater by bottling companies, as well as stricter rules for renewals of existing permits.
 Ray Rivers Ray Rivers is an economist and author who writes weekly on federal and provincial issues, applying his 25 years of involvement with federal and provincial ministries. Rivers’ involvement in city matters led to his appointment as founding chair of Burlington’s Sustainable Development Committee. He was also a candidate in a past provincial election
Background links:
Hurricane Matthew – Nestlé – More Bottles –
Even More Bottles – Even Even More –
Still More –
And More – And Finally – Ontario Challenge – California’s Drought –
 By Pepper Parr
October 17, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The field has been re-graded, gravel screen laid down between the bases, the pitcher’s mound is no longer a place for water to gather, and home plate can actually be seen.
 Pitchers mound and a level field – a bunch of boys made it happen. There are new benches, the back stop has been replaced and safety fences were installed where the players sit waiting their turn on the field.
The rehabilitation of the ball diamond at Lakeshore Public school got done because a bunch of boys saw an opportunity with a grant program the city announced awhile back.
The getting of the grant for the Lakeshore school ball diamond was driven by Griffin Gervais, a grade five student who depended on his Mother to get him to meetings.
The ball diamond was in pretty rough shape: The grounds needed a serious leveling out – they had little rises and small shallow spots. The bases needed bags that were properly anchored – third base is currently a small hole that collects water.
The back stop is close to being ready to fall down. And the benches are kind of crappy.
 Billy the Bandit poses with Griffen Gervais, MP Karina Gould on the left and ward Councillor Marianne Meed Ward. The project got started when Griffen met Burlington’s MP Karina Gould and asked her if she could help him do something. Gould was about to explain the intricacies of Canada’s separation of powers when Ward 2 city Councillor Marianne Meed Ward happened along, heard about the problem and said she was pretty sure what Griffin and his buddies wanted to do was possible under a program that was being rolled out by the city’s parks and recreation department.
The city had created a Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund that could put up as much as $5000 into a project that is designed to improve a community. The Parks and Recreation people were overseeing the program which meant a lot of paper work
The city had set aside $50,000 for the program last fiscal year and went into communities to talk up the program.
 More than 200 people showed up on a bright sunny Saturday. The objective wasn’t to just improve facilities but to help community’s work as communities where people would gather together and work on a common objective.
It was an amazing day with over 200 people coming out to celebrate. Evelyn Quist, Lakeshore Public principal took part in the festivities.
In Burlington some communities work very well – in others the cohesion needed to make a place work as community hasn’t developed. The Matching fund is intended for a project people want to see done in their neighbourhood.
 It was a pretty rough looking ball diamond before Griffen Gervais and his buddies got started.  Proud parents – Griffen Gervais with his Mom Carrie and Dad standing in front of the new backstop. Griffin project is going to come in at about $11,000 – they applied for the full $5000 from the city and fund raised to pull in the balance.
The community was expected to raise half of the amount needed. That half could be cash, or in kind materials. Any work that people did on the project was counted at the rate of $17.02 for each hour worked. 50% of any professional services that were needed could be included in the budget.
Denise Beard, Manager Community Development, made sure her staff did everything they could to make it work – including finding the insurance coverage needed.
Carrie Gervais, Griffen’s Mother rounded up the quotes needed from the Board of Education. They included $200 for a party in the park to celebrate their success which is all part of the city’s objective. They want people to come together, work together to make their neighbourhoods better places.
Related story:
 In no specific order: Sawyer Cobham. Scott Rose, Griffen Gervais, Kayden Maslanyk discuss the problems with their ball diamond. They set to work raising the funds to rehabilitate the diamond which was official last Saturday.
 By Pepper Parr
October 16th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Nice to see a political organization that understands transparency.
The Burlington Provincial Liberal Association held their Annual General Meeting last week and did all the usual stuff. Then they did something this reporter has not seen before in this city – they released their financial statements.
Good on them.
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