By Staff
December 14th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Centennial Pool will be closed for maintenance starting Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 and will re-open on Sunday, Jan. 8.
To find other swim locations and times, please visit www.burlington.ca/play.
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December 13th, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
They came to town as the Twins, were sold and became the Bandits. The Intercounty Baseball League team has been sold again and is now to be known as the Burlington Herd. Herd was selected to pay homage to the Burlington Organized Minor Baseball Associations 60th anniversary and their premier rep program nicknamed the Bulls.  Will new ownership and a new name make a difference in the box score? The new owners intend to give it all they’ve got. Along with a new nickname and logo, the Intercounty Baseball Club has announced a transfer of ownership from Scott Robinson to local Burlington residents Ryan Harrison, Jason McKay and Dan Pokoradi. “Our group is very excited to continue IBL baseball in Burlington” said new IBL Burlington President Ryan Harrison. “Myself along with our board member have a passion for baseball in the city and believe with continued support from the City of Burlington, BOMBA and other local baseball organizations, we can build this team as a destination on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons.” A tribute to the history of baseball in Burlington, the “Herd” signifies the unification of two current baseball entities within the city. The new identity encompasses the Bulls theme, starting with the team colors of navy blue, yellow and white and continuing with the familiar Bull logo. “Our goal was to give the baseball fans of Burlington a team and identity they can call their own,” said Herd President Ryan Harrison. “Burlington is full of traditions woven into the fabric of the city, and this new tradition will be something local and iconic and celebrate what makes Burlington and Minor League Baseball so great: family and fun.” The new on-field cap will feature a stylized “B” for Burlington on a navy and yellow hat.  Burlington MP Karina Gould throwing out the first pitch. She will need a new jersey next season. “We wanted to create a name and a brand that allowed the heart of this city to shine through it,” said Harrison. “While we take our responsibility to provide affordable family entertainment very seriously, we also want to embrace the fun which permeates through Burlington. We will continue to create a festive atmosphere with great partners in a clean, immaculate environment where you can bring your family.” The Herd take the field for the first time on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the Barn (Nelson Park). Season tickets and group packages are now on sale by calling (905) 630-9036 or by visiting the team’s new website, burlingtonherd.com. The Herd can be followed on social media platforms (“iblherd”), including Facebook.com/iblherd.
December 13, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
Somebody changed their mind – and that is healthy. The school board has released the data gathered at the public meeting last Thursday. The Gazette attended the first really public meeting of the PARC Program Accommodation Review Committee that was created to provide comment on the Boards decision to close two of the city’s high schools. Lester B. Pearson and Central high school were marked for closure because the city had more than 1800 seats that were not occupied. The meeting was boisterous but serious questions were asked and the audience of more than 350 dutifully clicked the devices they were given to record the answers. Given the number of parents from Central, 58.6% of those who voted on the questions asked, the data is going to be somewhat skewed but a close read of all the data suggests that parents from the other high schools could feel much the same way.
That they don’t feel they are at risk and that the problem doesn’t impact them is not the smartest position to take. All the data is now publicly available and parents can begin to do their own analysis. The Gazette wants to thank the school board for making the data available. It can be found at LINK. Related articles:
December 13th, 2106 BURLINGTON, ON
If you live in the downtown core. And if you are at all concerned about what happens to Burlington’s Central high school – scoot on to Joe Dogs Gas Bar and take part in some fine entertainment and a Silent auction. Marianne Meed Ward, the council member for ward 2 and a member of the Program Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) that will be giving the Director of Education some advice will probably not make the event – she will be stuck in council chamber listening to the 27 people expected to delegate at city hall. She could make it for the last round.
December 12, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington is asking residents to share their input on a proposed event strategy for the city through an online survey. A link to that survey is at the end of this article. Last March, hundreds of residents and event organizers shared their ideas and feedback with the Parks and Recreation department through stakeholder meetings and an online survey, about how to shape a future approach to festivals and events in Burlington, They fashioned an early sage strategy and now want feedback from the public to learn if the proposed strategy reflects their thoughts and ideas.  The meeting facilitator used a much different approach to recording the data gathered. The proposed strategy touches on many aspects of the delivery of festivals and events in the community, including: • The types of events held in the city The proposed event strategy will be presented to Burlington City Council in early 2017. The city’s 25 year Strategic Plan supports festivals and events of all sizes and annually hosts three Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario. Burlington directly delivers a small number of events with the majority of events being delivered by the community for the community. Festival and event organizers are supported by the city as they enrich our community, create a sense of belonging and support our strategic goals of A City that Grows, A City that Moves, A Healthy and Greener City and An Engaging City. A number of factors including the city’s natural beauty make Burlington a desirable location to host events. All stakeholders in the city have an expectation that the city’s assets and resources are used responsibly and reflect the best interests for the greater good. A number of trends have highlighted the importance of having an event strategy including: Interest in a variety of events There is a historical approach applied to the acceptance of events hosted within Spencer Smith Park; is it time or that to change. Spencer Smith Park and some downtown roads have reached capacity and there is now a desire for a balanced approached to potentially expand events to other areas in our city.  The decision to turn the Beachway into a very different Regional Park that will be managed by the city will impact what Parks and Recreation decides how it is going to manage its budget. The planned park is massive in size. Assuming all the planning being done to create a totally different Beachway the city will have a lot more space to locate events. It will be sometime before the public sees anything really new – but the plans to gut what currently exists in the Beachway and turn it into something significantly different are in place. Coming up with a longer term plan and then a strategy to put that plan work is something Parks and Recreation has been working on for some time.  Despite a pretty decent turn out the participants in the workshop type setting didn’t come up with very much in the way of ideas. The event held in March showed a lot of initiative and innovation on the part of the Parks and Recreation staff – but they got very little from the audience they had invited to take part. The “legacy stake holders” were in the room to ensure that the way things were working for them didn’t get changed – when it was change that the city wanted. Ribfest has been in Spencer Smith Park for more than 20 years – there are people at city hall think that might be due for a change. Ribfest is a Rotary event and one doesn’t advance a career at city hall going against the Rotary flow – Burlington has four different Rotary organizations in this city. Sound of Music has been around for a long time – it is one of the best festivals in the province and consistently takes awards – which are usually handed out by the organizations that run awards across the province – a little on the self-serving side. However, it is a stunning event and draws very well. Parks and recreation wants to know if it can be better. They also want to see what they can do to organize events that are not in Spencer Smith Park. So far they haven’t come up with much in the way of new ideas and that meeting in March didn’t add anything useful.  Denise Beard, one of the managers within Parks and Recreation is one of the best thinkers in the department. She organized the event. Parks and Recreation does have a challenge – the survey is one of the ways they are looking for reaction from the public on some ideas they are developing. What doesn’t appear to have occurred to Parks and Recreation is looking for ways to partner with community groups that are developing a market for events. The Lowville Festival – heading into its third year has shown that there is a market for what they have developed – now they need some facilities support and some early stage financial support – just the way the Sound of Music did when it started as a city run event.
December 10th, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
More on that Progressive Conservative nomination scandal “Despite the party announcing on October 3rd the nomination meeting in Burlington would be before Dec 31st, they tweeted out on Oct 17th that McKenna would be acclaimed. “Despite multiple attempts for an interview, the party did not agree to interview Jane Michael until Nov 22nd (4 days before the scheduled nomination meeting), and didn’t actually approve her until Nov 25th at 6pm- 16 hours before voting started. She sold 900 memberships which meant she only had 16 hours (including sleeping hours) to call all her members.  Would this nomination scandal have taken place on Cam Jackson’s watch? Jane McKenna did not need to have an interview, she was a former MPP. Many of Jane Michael’s supporters called her complaining they received a call from Jane McKenna indicating that she received access to the membership list after November 11 (the membership sales cut-off date for the nomination). Michael’s did not receive a copy of the membership list. We learn that before the nomination election was called the Burlington Progressive Conservative Association has just 200 members on its list but that they have very close to $20,000 in the bank. For an association that once owned the Burlington constituency there doesn’t appear to be much in the way of a local organization. Nothing lean or healthy about it. The request that the nomination race be re-done is embarrassing and leaves mud on the shoes of the organization no matter what the party decision.  Patrick Brown will be working the telephones next week – got a mess to clean up in Burlington. It is going to take some time to clean up that mess, fortunately or the Tory’s the Liberal government has got its hands full with some sticky issues. Time for the Blues to quietly re-build and then bring Patrick Brown into town and showcase the man. But clean up the mess first. The video that came out of the nomination meeting was all too telling. It came from a card carrying member of the association – there are people who want to clean it up.
December 9, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
As we enter the holiday season, our focus becomes the hustle and bustle of shopping, dinner parties and family gatherings. As joyous as this season is, there are many families in the Region of Halton who struggle to provide their children with that special gift on Christmas morning. In 2015, the Toys for Tots program helped over 4,200 families in the Region of Halton. The police want to make the 2016 campaign just as successful.  Regional police “detective” McGruff will be at the Canadian Tire stores this Saturday Halton Regional Police is holding two Cram-A-Cruiser events on Saturday, December 10, 2016 as part of the annual Toys for Tots toy drive. Where: 1. Canadian Tire Store located at 5070 Appleby Line, Burlington When: 11:00am to 3:00pm at both locations Police officers and volunteers will be accepting new unwrapped toys, gift cards (great for teens), cash or Canadian Tire money for the Toys for Tots program. Please bring the children to come and meet our officers, tour a police cruiser and meet McGruff! Help us fill as many cruisers as possible! The Halton Police mascot, McGruff will be at the Appleby Line store. All donations remain in the Region of Halton.
December 8th, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
 Chris Glenn, Director of Parks and Recreation The City of Burlington is ready for winter fun with the launch of its Neighbourhood Rink program, the opening of Rotary Centennial Pond at the waterfront in downtown Burlington and dedicated locations for tobogganing. Neighbourhood Rinks This month, city staff will install boards for 13 ice pads in various parks throughout Burlington that will be maintained by neighbourhood volunteer groups. The rinks are open to the public and free to use. The following locations will host a Neighbourhood Rink for the upcoming season: • Brant Hills Park Rotary Centennial Pond  Centennial Pond will be open from 10 am to 10 pm – closed on Christmas Day. The outdoor ice at Rotary Centennial Pond is scheduled to open on Dec. 10, ice conditions permitting. Located at the waterfront in downtown Burlington, the pond hosts nearly 9,000 skaters each year. The rink is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends and school holidays and from 5 to 10 p.m. on weekday evenings. The pond is closed on Christmas Day. New this year, the city is asking residents to donate gently used skates they no longer need. These skate donations will be used for a skate lending program at Rotary Centennial Pond. “The skate lending program has been created to help eliminate barriers for people who may want to give recreational skating a try,” said Glenn. “We hope the skate lending program will encourage residents and visitors to try a new sport, learn some new skills and get outside and play this winter.” Skate donations can be dropped off at city pools, arenas and community centres. Tobogganing  This is what tobogganing is all about. The city has designated six areas in the city that are safe for tobogganing. They include: • LaSalle Park, east of the parking lot With snow flurries in the air the city might be about to begin a real winter.
December 8th, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
Celebrate Winter on the Trails at Hilton Falls Conservation Area on Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors who bring one non-perishable food item will receive a free hot chocolate. At Winter on the Trails you can enjoy a free horse-drawn wagon ride (please note: wagon rides are first come first served and limited space is available), feed the Chickadees and participate in crafts. Visitors can enjoy S’mores at the falls and warm up to a fire. Be sure to check out the work of Scott Rowe from the Country Saw as he carves an artistic creation with his chainsaw.
December 8th, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
There is trouble in paradise. Jane McKenna who is reported to have won the Progressive Conservative nomination as the candidate for Burlington in the next provincial election, scheduled to be held on or before June 7, 2018. is having that nomination challenged, A group led by Colin C.G. Pye has asked that: Pursuant to Article 27.1 of the Constitution of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (“Constitution”) and Rule 21 of the Rules Governing Candidate Nominations (“Rules”), the undersigned Residents of the Electoral District of Burlington who support the Principles and Objects of the Party hereby protest and appeal the nomination of Jane McKenna as candidate for the Electoral District of Burlington on November 26, 2016.  Jane McKenna’s nomination win as the PC candidate for the provincial seat is being challenged. There is all kinds of schedules attached to the request – which we willwork through and pass along as much as we can. McKenna is reported to have won over Jane Michael by 41 votes. What has not been made public is the number of ballots cast. This is clearly a developing story. In the request for a review the applicants state that: As the nomination process and election has been tainted by numerous breaches of tl1e Nomination Rules and the Party Constitution, thus bringing the Party into disrepute, the Appellants request that a. a hearing be held before tl1e Provincial Nomination Committee pursuant to Rule 21.7; b. a new Nomination Process be held under supervision of the Board of Appeal pursuant to Rule 21.9., and; c. pending the resolution of the hearing under Rule 21.7, Jane McKenna be enjoined from holding herself out as the duly nominated candidate for Burlington, and be further enjoined from conducting any campaigning or fundraising activity as the nominated candidate for Burlington. The meeting got a little rowdy – check out the video below.
December 6th, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
Wow! Cannot wait for this one to come to my local supermarket. Amazon GO has opened their first supermarket in Seattle. They seem to be into everything but listen to what they have added as a service – convenience feature. When you take something off a shelf and put it in the cart – the cost of that item is automatically deducted from your Amazon account.  Imagine – no more standing in a checkout line at a supermarket. Amazon GO lets customers walk in, grab food from the shelves and walk out again, without ever having to stand in a checkout line. Customers tap their cellphones on a turnstile as they walk into the store, which logs them into the store’s network and connects to their Amazon account through an app. The service is called Amazon Go. It uses machine learning, sensors and artificial intelligence to track items customers pick up. These are then added to the virtual cart on their app. If they pick up an item they later decide they don’t want, putting it back on the shelf removes it from their cart. Do you know what that means? No more standing in a checkout line. No more standing behind someone who fishes through their change purse for the exact amount of change. This is close to Nirvana.
December 6th, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON Faris and Sam are their names In the corporate world there is usually a group that handles the promotion of the corporate image.  From the left: Omar, Faris and Sam. Faris will always remind you that he is from Palestine – The Holy Land! When you are a small retailer that has been serving a community for years what do you do to celebrate and thank your customers? You hold a day long thank you event serving soft drinks and desserts to the hundreds of people who come through your door each day. And that is what the crew at Ray’s Variety did last week – it was their celebration of serving their customers for the past twenty years. Congrats guys!
December 2, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
Halton District school Board Director of Education Stuart Miller delegated to city council a while ago and explained why his organization was recommending that two high schools in the city be closed. It was a polite delegation – none of the council members asked much in the way of questions. He had made his point and that was that. Miller did explain the process that is used when a school is going to be closed. At the time he didn’t mention that the city is asked to provide a representative on the PAR committee. Once the PARC was formed the city was then asked to select a representative. A PARC is a committee to Program Accommodation Review. In a report to council earlier this week the Mayor recommended that city manager James Ridge be appointed as the representative to participate on the PARC, in an advisory role, to be a conduit of information, and to provide meaningful input and feedback concerning the proposed solutions. The Board of Education initial preferred option includes closing both Burlington Central and Lester B. Pearson secondary schools. The Mayor said that James Ridge has been consulted and is supportive of fulfilling the appointment to the Halton District School Board PARC. The fact is that Ridge volunteered for the task. In a report that was submitted under Mayor Goldring’s signature it said:  Mayor Goldring speaking to media wearing his Chain of Office which identifies him as Mayor – a political role. “There is obviously a great deal of concern in our community, especially with teachers, parents and students and within the areas located in close proximity to both Central and Pearson. It is only natural that many residents would want Burlington City Council to get involved in this issue. “Recognizing that it is the Halton District School Board that makes the final decision, it would be inappropriate for council to take any sort of official position on this issue. I do understand, however, the interest in members of council wanting to get involved simply as residents. “I am of the opinion that James Ridges will be an excellent representative of the City as a community partner on the Halton District School Board PARC. In this advisory role, I am confident that he will effectively communicate a clear and objective perspective concerning the proposed solutions that will be part of the PARC discussions. During the council meeting the Mayor said he had received a note from a citizen saying they thought the Mayor should represent the city because he was unbiased, fair, thoughtful and objective. The Mayor then said that those words applied to city manager James Ridge but that in his case these words were squared, a mathematical term, and that Ridge had the “big picture” as well.  City manager James Ridge will represent the city on the Board of Education Program Accommodation Review Committee – a group that many see as very political in that it speaks to the interests of parents who want to keep their school open. Apparently the Mayor was having some difficulty deciding what to do and Ridge volunteered to sit on the PARC. It is doubtful that the city manager has ever been in one of the city’s high schools – if he has – it was part of a tour. He would not know the character of the different high schools – what makes Nelson the school that it is and what makes M. M. Robinson the high school that it is. Ridge has been in Burlington for about 18 months and while he may see himself as a quick study understanding a city and and its character takes years. Rick Goldring attended both elementary and high school in Burlington – he is a product of Nelson and know the rivalries that exist between the high schools and having raised children in this city he understands fully what the high schools in this city mean to the parents. Ridge has children that he and his wife saw through high school – but those schools were not in this city. What Ridge will bring to the PARC is the view of a bureaucrat not a citizen with a deep understanding of the city and its needs. Meed Ward responded to the Mayor’s decision with the comment that she had approached the Mayor privately and asked that he represent the city and that she was disappointed in his decision to recommend Ridge. Meed Ward believes the closing of a high school is a political issue. She pointed out that one of the pillars of the Strategic Plan focuses on healthy communities and the walk-ability of the community centres was important. The Mayor doesn’t appear to share that view – but he didn’t explicitly say so. He did say “we are all very interested observers of the process” and he felt the city manager could do the job that was to be done.  The body language tells it all – Councilors Meed ward and Craven sit beside each other at Council meetings because they represent wards 2 and 1 respectively and council members are seated in numerical order with the Mayor in the chair. The two don’t like each other and share very few viewpoints. Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven had no such hesitation in saying what he thought. He said he totally disagrees with Meed Ward and the position she has taken. “We need to stay out of the work the school board trustees have to do. I am quite uncomfortable with this”… “but it is not something I have control over.” Meed Ward explained that she has a son who attends Central high school and a daughter who attends Aldershot high school and it is her belief that what happens to a high school impacts the community and that is the business of a city council. Of note is that there is not a structure for the Board of Education and the city to meet to discuss shared concerns. The Chief of police has in the past delegated to city council to discuss public safety matters; the hospital boat will send their president to city hall to provide updates. The Dean at the McMaster DeGroote School of Business attends council to delegate. Politics is doing the business of the people and the school board close to the largest employer and the recipient of a very large slice of the tax revenue pie. They need to work together on issues of shared concern – and if this city council doesn’t understand or appreciate that the closing of a high school is not a major political concern we are indeed in serious trouble with the city council we have. The Gazette hears the phrase “this is a dysfunctional council” from far too many people who are admired, respected and the recipients of Burlington’s Best awards. For a Mayor to avoid sitting on a committee that will prepare a report that goes to the Director of Education which he uses to prepare his report to the trustees who will make the eventual decision, this is almost a dereliction of duty, which is defined as “the shameful failure to fulfill one’s obligations.” That pretty well sums it up – doesn’t it?
“This gives her a unique perspective that most of us do not have. She also has extensive experience sitting on different committees and is used to working with others to find solutions to complicated issues. “As a group we wanted to choose the person who was best qualified and could work well under the pressure of being on a committee like this. Marianne is very well spoken and more than capable of sharing our concerns clearly and thoughtfully. As a parent of a student at our school she qualifies to be a member on the PAR just like any other Central parent.
December 1st, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
It’s kick off time for the holiday season!
The party starts at 12:30pm and runs until 2:20pm, at Milton Memorial Arena (77 Thompson Road South, Milton ON). Those who live in the northern part of the city get represented provincially by the Member for the Milton riding; they are sort of a political orphan. While not related to the holiday season – it is interesting to note that both the Milton and the Burlington members of the provincial legislature are both members of the provincial cabinet. No word yet on what the other federal and provincial politicians have planned for us. Burlington will hold its holiday event starting at Civic Square where the Christmas tree will be lit – hopefully the Hydro crew will be able to make it work this year – something went wrong with the switch last year.  The holiday season decorations in Spence Smith Park are close to a must – Hydro does a superb job and seem to come up with new features every year. Burgers galore from The Works will be handed out – hot chocolate and then the traditional tour through the city with participants will singing Carols. We got a light sprinkle of rain last year – might have the same thing this year – but the event is a good way to spend an evening. A delightful number of people show up for the event You won’t want to miss this great event!  A light drizzle of rain last year didn’t deter several hundred people showing up for the lighting of the Christmas tree at Civic Square and the Carol stroll through the streets of the city. The Carol Stroll Friday night is followed by the Santa Claus parade on Sunday.
By Staff Is this a wickedly smart promotional tactic or are seat sales down so badly that something had to be done to boost sales. Whichever, – it sounds like a good deal – you might want to take them up on it. This Friday use promo code 25on25 to Quinn Sullivan – November 30 Offer valid on regular price tickets only on November 25, 2016. This offer does not apply to Youth or Child pricing. Cannot be combined with any other promotion or be applied to previous purchases. Offer only applies to performances listed above. No refunds or exchanges.
November 23, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
Thursday evening, November 24th, BurlingtonGreen, in partnership with Burlington Central Library and Halton Green Screens, will present the fifth acclaimed film of their 2016 Eco-Film Festival series, The True Cost. This documentary tells the story of the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the clothing industry has on our world. The links between declining clothing prices and increasing human and environmental impact are forged as the audience gets a behind-the-scenes look at the industry. The True Cost is a revealing film that compels us to ask, “who really pays the price for our clothing?”  If the price is right – what is the true cost? All areas of the industry are explored and exposed, from production of raw materials, to manufact-uring, to international shipping and retail networks, to the ultimate disposal of massive quantities of clothes. In particular, the film examines the damaging effects of “fast fashion”. Similar to many other environmental realities facing our planet, the clothing industry follows the pattern of exploitation of people and the environment in the developing world, in order to feed the insatiable appetites of those in the developed world. This film project was initiated by people within the clothing and fashion industry itself, who have witnessed the grim reality of the situation firsthand. In attendance during this film screening will be Kale Black of BurlingtonGreen, who will briefly share with the audience how he makes a positive difference through the informed purchasing choices he makes. When: Thursday, November 24, 2016. Doors open at 6:30 pm with film beginning at 7 pm.
November 23, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
Routes 3 and 5 will be temporarily detoured in the area. For real-time transit information and to plan your trip please use Trip Planner or call 905-639-0550.
November 22, 2106 BURLINGTON, ON
She has made it to the big screen! Well – in a manner of speaking.  Margaret Lindsay Holton Margaret Lindsay Holton took her latest film to the public last September and got a more than polite response. It was a short film with all the production problems that every film bumps into – they are just tougher to manage when the budget is shorter than the film. But it was produced and then what? The best that happens to most of thy get sown at small film festivals where everyone says something polite and he artist goes looking for money for the next production. Holton however is persistent if nothing else. She convinced the people at CineStarz to show her film in a commercial setting. People are going to have to pay to see the film just the way they would pay to see any other film. This is a limited engagement – the CineStarz people may have required Holton to guarantee a limited number of ticket sales.
Holton refer to the event as a “Very Special ‘ONE-TIME’ Canadian THEATRICAL RELEASE at : Cinestarz, 460 Brant Street, (Downtown Burlington) on December 18th, at 3 o’clock. The Frozen Goose is based on a short story of the same title written by M.L.Holton, published by Seraphim Books.
November 21, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON Pam’s buying!  Pam Damoff, MP for Oakville Burlington North with her coffee crowd. Damoff is the person on the left offering a small smile.
The Member of Parliament for Oakville North-Burlington has invited residents to drop by for a chat at the Tim Hortons on the Northeast corner of Dundas and Appleby in Burlington on Friday, November 25 from 5:30pm – 6:30pm. She wants to meet her constituents and hear about what issues or concerns are on their minds. Grab a coffee and join the conversation! She will also be giving you some tips on how to influence what the Minister of Finance puts into the 2017 Budget. Damoff wants you “to join the conversation about how we can make the economy work for you and your family. As we build on our momentum to grow the middle class and position Canada for the global economy of tomorrow, it is your insights which will shape our vision for Budget 2017.” You can provide feedback to the Minister of Finance for the 2017 Budget by the end of November though his online consultations. Here’s the online link to the budget consultations: https://budget-lebudget.ca/ All ideas are welcome which is comforting to hear. Personally we think the free coffee is the better idea. You will actually get something.
November 21, 2016 BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board will be holding their public Question and Answer session Monday night on-line at 7 pm. The protocol is set out on the Board’s web site. It isn’t easy to find – the Gazette will endeavour to get the exact url to log in.  Director of Education Stuart Miller addressing parents at Central high school. HDSB Director of Education Stuart Miller made a presentation at every high school – some were very poorly attended. He is now holding an on-line Question and Answer session to answer questions. The staff recommendation is to close both Central and Pearson high schools.– that is just a recommendation They were not required to provide a recommendation, however they did. The decision as to what is eventually done is made by the school board trustees. Going forward the Board will take questions regarding this Program and Accommodation Review; send them via email to: BurlSSPAR@hdsb.ca. The process to close a school is long and involved. Here are the steps that will be taken. Remember – it is the school board trustees that will make the final decision. Formation and orientation of Program and Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) Public Meeting #1 PARC Working Meeting #1 PARC Working Meeting #2 PARC Working Meeting #3 Public Meeting #2 PARC Working Meeting #4 Director’s Report to Committee of the Whole Public Delegation Night Presentation of Report to Board of Trustees for Decision What many people do not realize is that every high school in Burlington anywhere near that 65 utilization number at risk. Hayden high school is not at risk – the place has only be operational for three years. The parents at Central High School have been working diligently at doing everything they can to ensure their school is not closed. The community based team is now leading the effort to Save Central. The group has a leadership and strategy team and a data team as well. They have a web site and a twitter account. #centralstrong
And they have a long list of questions they want to ask the Director of Education. Here are some of those questions: At the meetings where the Director spoke he assured the public that expenses would not drive the decision it would be equitable opportunity for all students , can the board outline what goes into determination of equitable , is it course offerings, student success, or other things, what exactly is considered ? What is the point in having a PAR Committee that can’t hear opinions from the relevant schools, doesn’t hear from the Trustees of the relevant schools and won’t allow the Committee to make recommendations at the end? Why are teachers not allowed to talk about this or have opinions? This does a disservice to both them and their students who naturally want to talk to them about it Why did the board spend nothing on maintaining older schools for years, and remove students from Pearson only to put them at Hayden which caused the overcrowding? It appears this was all done so that Pearson and Central could be targeted for closure
The report does not state why Option 19 was recommended in comparison to other options and alternatives. Simply saying we think this is the best option at this time means nothing. Why was it the best option at the time? Why in Option #4 would you say you could move the IB program from Pearson to Nelson which would then have Nelson’s utilization at 113%? Why would you not move it to Central or Pearson?
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With 2 votes from Robinson; 7 from Aldershot and 5 from Bateman- it is difficult to get a sense as to what they think or feel.
All of these activities are included with regular park admission; Halton Parks Annual Members only need to show their membership for admission to Winter on the Trails.
The parents committee at Central are delighted that Meed Ward accepted the request that she sit on the PARC. Dania Thurman, spokesperson for the parents group said: “Marianne was the right choice for our School’s council representative because she has a son at Central AND a daughter at Aldershot.
Expect politicians of every stripe to invite you to share the Season with them. First out of the gate is Indira Naidoo-Harris who has asked her constituents to join her for an afternoon of fun and excitement at her third Annual Holiday Skating Party on Saturday, December 10th.
The Santa 5k Race will be taking place in downtown Burlington on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016 requiring some street closures from 7 to 11 a.m.
It’s an interesting film, poignant, funny in a Canadian way at times. Hopefully Holton will get the word out to every high school student studying film to attend – it is worth seeing as a nice piece of works that touches on a significant issue.
T-shirts and lawn signs are part of the campaign. Central has been down this road before. Their spokesperson said they have an excellent process and structure in place.
Why do you keep saying 1200 is an optimal number of students in a high school? This is only optimal based on dollars and cents. It is widely recognized in multiple studies that optimal numbers are actually in the 600-900 range. Where is your data to support this number?
It should be an interesting hour and a half of community engagement.
