 By Staff
September 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Each year the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) holds the Rising Star Talent Competition. They have been doing this for 29 years.
The final round of competition took place this past weekend at the CNE’s International Stage inside the Enercare Centre, where spectators witnessed the best of the best among more than 100 contestants who competed over 17 days of the Fair.
 The Talent Competition is one of the longest standing talent competitions in Ontario, long before the popularity of TV shows such as “Idol” came along. Contestants are judged on their natural ability, audience appeal, stage presence and the quality of their performance. 2015 Winning Contestants of CNE Rising Star Competition
Junior (aged 6-12):
 Grand Champion: Brooklyn Slade, 12-year-old dancer(Milton)
1st Runner Up: Emma Wright, 11-year-old singer (Meaford)
2nd Runner Up: Lauren Salt, 12-year-old dancer (Burlington)
3rd Runner Up: Allison Lee & Daniel Tamburro, 7-year-old dancers (Aurora)
4th Runner Up: Detention, Hip hop dance group (St. Catharines)
5th Runner Up: Alyssa Almeida, 11-year-old singer (Mississauga)
 By Pepper Parr
September 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The second in a series on the Burlington trustees on the Halton District Board of Education.
Burlington has four seats on the 11 member Halton District School Board. All are female; one was acclaimed.
Each had their own reasons for running. Some had a clear objective others were a little more nonchalant about public service.
The three new board of education members were somewhat overwhelmed with the steep learning curve but have for the most part have settled in. None however has yet made a significant mark on what the board does. There have been issues: The Pineland school concerns; French language classes, starting times, using the schools as voting stations – each Burlington trustee has participated in the discussions – but our reporter Walter Byj, wasn’t able to point out anything significant in the way of a contribution from any of the new Burlington trustees on policy and the thinking as to how the schools should be run.
The one thing this current board did do was put in place a system that records every vote that takes place – the public knows in an instant how a trustee voted on any particular motion, which is more than one the public gets to know about how members of city council votes.
Both Walter Byj and I jointly interviewed all four Burlington trustees. Three were first time members of the Board – Amy Collard is serving her second term – she was acclaimed in both elections.
 Andrea Grebenc – a woman seldom at a loss for words. Andrea Grebnec ran as a trustee when she found she didn’t like the way the Alton school boundary review was handled. Now that she is on the Board she has concerns with triple stream schools. She is also a strong believer in parents being able to have all their children in the same elementary school. she thought that at one point she would have three children attending three different schools.
Grebnec did some of her elementary classes at a Catholic school and then attended Lester B Pearson. Her Father taught at MM Robinson; her Mother was a librarian.
We leaned from Grebnec that the Burlington trustees never caucus – but are nevertheless described by Grebnec as a collaborative team – a term she uses to describe the full Board.
Grebnec give current chair Kelly Moss full marks for the nurturing and support she was given as she learned the ropes. She doesn’t give Burlington’s ward 3 Councillor John Taylor any marks – says she has never heard from the man even though she was elected by voters in ward 3. So much for city – board of education cooperation.
Andrea, who covers wards 3 and 6 has a solid working relationship with city Councillor Blair Lancaster. “I once did some one-one-one work with her on personal grooming – so we know each other quite well.”
 Andrea Grebenc – trustee for wards 3 and 6 – when she gets going – there is no stopping her. Board issues for Grebnec? The web site –“ it doesn’t work – close to impossible to find anything – even though you know it is in there somewhere” says Grebnec, who has a background in IT. She thinks the website the board has in place now is what they “created originally and just kept adding to the thing.”
We have yet to come across anyone who has anything good to say about the web site – David Euale, the retiring Director of Education, told the Gazette that $100,000 has been allocated for an upgrade to the web site – which is nice. The disturbing thing is that an institution responsible for the education of our youth – people who will be going into a world where the flow of information and the use of information is foundational – does not itself have a useful web site.
Whoever the trustees decide to hire needs to be on top of this kind of thing. The communications people within the administration need a sound talking to for permitting such a lousy system to be in place.
 Andrea Gebenc, trustee for wards 3 and 6 explains a point she wants to make during an interview. Grebnec wants to see more walking and bicycle use; she wants to “get the kids out of the cars”. She maintains that the boards, perhaps unwittingly, have been telling people to drive to school. “we tell them how the traffic circle works, we tell them where they are to drop off their kids – we are telling them they are bad parents if they don’t drive their kids to school. Grebnec wants to see a change in the culture and has advised her colleagues that she will be bringing a motion to a future board meeting suggesting changes.
Grebnec points out that there is a lot of fear in the community about just how safe our children are – “safe streets have children on them” she adds and when children are on the streets with other children they play – which is a large part of what childhood is all about.
She talks about walking school buses – which amounts to a bunch of people who might normally take the school bus – walking to school as a group instead.
 Trustee Andrea Grebenc talks with Gazette education reporter Walter Byj about the job she got herself into when she wanted to see some changes at the school her children attend. There is a feistiness to Andrea Grebnec. Now that she has a year of service as a trustee behind her – I think the community is going to hear more from her.
To follow – short profiles on Richelle Papin and Leah Reynolds, the other two first term Burlington school board trustees.
We will follow that up with a look at what Amy Collard has been doing on the school board.
Related links:
Choosing the new Director of Education
 By Pepper Parr
September 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
This popped up in my email box – can you imagine a bank asking you what you thought of a change they were making .
That never happens – which was the first clue that the email was the first step in an attempt to get into my identity and rummage around my bank account to see if there was something they could steal.
I’ve not had an account with the CIBC for at least ten years – so there is nothing to learn about me there.
Somewhere along the way someone who makes their living taking what isn’t theirs from people
If you see this one – click on delete, quickly.
The cheek!
Changes to the Electronic Access Agreement
We’ve changed the Electronic Access Agreement.
We wanted to check it’s OK with you.
The following is a summary of the changes made to the Agreement effective as of August 1, 2015
Part I “Terms and Conditions for CIBC eDeposit” is new and applies to your use of the new CIBC eDeposit feature within CIBC Mobile Banking.
Part K was amended to add new definitions to explain the meaning of the following terms: “CIBC eDeposit” and “Images”.
Section 56 “Exclusive Jurisdiction” was removed.
Section 70 “Governing Law” was amended to clarify its meaning and add new information.
What do I have to do?
If You agree with the changes we’ve made, please click on the link below:
https://www.cibc.com/ca/agreement-2015-confirm.aspx
You must use your Bank Card and Password to access Online Banking. You may also be required to answer your Personal Verification Questions when accessing Online Banking.
If you do not agree to a change in this Agreement, you must immediately stop using Online Banking
 Cine Starz Upper Canada Place
460 Brant Street
WWW CINESTARZ.CA
SHOWTIMES September 11 to 17 , 2015
WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS 14A
Fri to Thur 1:20 3:10 7:20 9:15
SINISTER 2 14A
Fri to Sun 5:20 9:10
Mon to Thur 7:40 9:30
AMERICAN ULTRA 18A
Fri to Sun 1:30 5:40 7:30 9:20
Mon to Thur 1:30 3:30 5:20 7:10 9:20
FANTASTIC FOUR PG
Fri to Sun 11:30 1:30 3:30 5:20
Mon to Thur 5:30
JURASSIC WORLD PG
Fri to Sun 11:10 1:00 3:20 5:10 7:15
Mon to Thur 1:00 5:10
VACATION 14A
Fri to Sun 11:20 1:30 3:15 7:30
Mon to Thur 1:00 3:15 7:20
SOUTHPAW 14A
Fri to Sun 11:15 7:15 9:30
Mon to Thur 1:15 3:00 7:20 9:30
INSIDE OUT G
Fri to Sun 11:15 1:15 3:15 5:15 7:15
Mon to Thur 5:40
PAPER TOWNS PG
Fri to Sun 11:00 3:20 9:30
Mon to Thur 3:30 5:15 7:30 9:30
AMY 14A
Fri to Sun 5:00 9:15
Mon to Thur 1:10 3:20 9:00
By Staff
September 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Keeping a downtown vibrant, healthy and attractive with the right mix of merchants is easier said than done.
 The location was good: was it the prices?; the service? Many people thought a butcher shop was just what the downtown core needed – apparently not. For every ten stores that open – ten find they have to close their doors after six months of toughing it out and finding that the great idea they had just didn’t work.
Setting up a new business is not an easy undertaking. That lesson got punched home for the butcher shop that took a brave step and opened up for business at the corner of Lakeshore and Brant street – which is about as downtown core as you can get.
 A sad message about a dream dashed. It didn’t work out – and the doors were recently closed.
Is there an opportunity for some comment, reflection on what didn’t work and why?
 By Staff
September 8th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Keith Marshall will be at the Fireside Lounge at the Art Gallery of Burlington to talk about his latest on Wednesday September 9th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
 His work is on display and will be open to the public until September 28th.
 By Pepper Parr
September 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
When Detective Constable Calvin Bulbrook to an idea into Superintendent Al Albano’s office at the Burlington division of the Halton Regional police he wasn’t at all sure if his boss would go for it nor was he certain it would actually work – he just thought it was worth a shot.
His Friday Fugitive has worked wonderfully well – so well that people who have warrants for their arrest outstanding are turning themselves in rather than waiting to be caught.
There are more than 170 people the police would love to put handcuffs on – they just have to find them first.
These are the Fugitive Friday individuals captured/located to date:
Week 2 – Curtis Komp was arrested on May 5, only four days after the Fugitive Friday release of his case. He remains in custody awaiting trial.
Week 4 – Scottie Ryerson turned himself in on May 15, the same day of his Fugitive Friday profile.
Week 5 – Mark Aubertin was arrested by Hamilton police on July 3.
Week 6 – Michael Ramsay turned himself in on June 19 as a result of media attention.
Week 7 – Milan Suchy and Blanka Dolezalova currently in BC, efforts underway to have their charges traversed to BC. (Both parties remain WANTED)
Week 8 – Jessica Haynes was located and arrested on June 29 as a result of information received after a press release was issued.
Week 10 – Brennan Bowley turned himself into Hamilton police on July 3 as a result of collaborative efforts of the Hamilton and Halton police services, and pressure from media attention.
Week 11 – Corey Rodgers (https://bit.ly/1IyoLLb) currently in BC (Remains WANTED)
Week 13 – Ashley JACOBS and Michael CRICK (https://bit.ly/1JE06BO) currently in Quebec, efforts are under way to have their charges dealt with (Both parties remain WANTED)
Week 14 – Ahmad ALAMI – arrested in Niagara
Week 15 – Beth Michaud – surrendered to courts
Week 19 – Ryan WOOD – believed to be residing in BC (Remains WANTED)
Halton Police continue to search for eight individuals on the Fugitive Friday list to ensure their appearance in court and to answer to the charges against them. Click on the red letter for more detailed information
Week 1 – Raymond French
Week 3 – Kenneth Moodie
Week 8 – Sean Kelly
Week 9 – Bryon Bullied
Week 12 – Marcin Sydor
Week 16 – Darnell Parchment-Yates
Week 17 – Korde HILL
Week 18 – Matthew PARSONS
Of the 22 people the Regional police went looking for there are nine that they have yet to find. That is an impressive record – so impressive that Det/Cst Bulbrook expects the program will be rolled out in Milton and Oakville in the not too distant future.
Of note in many of the offences listed was that almost all of those wanted skipped bail. The police arrest them, the Crown Prosecutor puts a case before a judge – and the judges seem to be quite ready to release the accused on bail. The accused fail to appear and the police have to go looking for them – again.
Det/Cst Bulbrook, like many police officers, look askance at the revolving door and wonder if there isn’t a better way to manage the problem.
Keeping the offenders in custody is expensive but releasing them on bail and then then having these men and woman not show up damages the criminal justice system in the eyes of the public – and that isn’t healthy for any society.
Failing to appear when given bail is a problem that needs a solution.
 By Pepper Parr
September 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The first in a series on the Burlington trustees on the Halton District Board of Education.
In the next 120 to 150 days 11 people are going to make a choice that could change in a very meaningful way how the municipalities of Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills are seen by the rest of the province and perhaps the rest of the country.
Trustees Kelly Amos, Oakville; Amy Collard, Burlington; Joanna Oliver, Oakville; Leah Reynolds, Burlington; Donna Danielli, Milton; Andrea Grebenc, Burlington; Ann Harvey Hope, Oakville; Richelle Papin, Burlington; Kim Graves, Milton; Jeanne Gray, Halton Hills and Tracey Ehl Harrison, Oakville are the elected members of the Halton District School Board and they as a group will vote on who they want to lead the development, administration and delivery of education in the Region.
 Andrea Grebnec – Burlington Trustee  Amy Collard – Burlington Trustee  Anne Harvey Hope – Oakville trustee Burlington let itself get caught up in the promotional hype of a magazine that chose the city as the best mid-sized city to live in. That Burlington was chosen was due in no small measure to the persuading former Mayor Cam Jackson laid upon the publishers of the magazine. Jackson convinced them to see Burlington as a separate entity and not lump us in with Hamilton – when that was done Burlington began to look much much better.
For a time that line “the best mid-sized city in Canada” was parroted by members of city council as if it was something we had earned – it was an award made up by a magazine to promote their circulation,
There are many many things about Burlington that are positive. But the city doesn’t have much in the way of a provincial or a national profile. Oakville is known for all the people with bags of money that live there and Milton is known for its explosive growth – they also have an Olympic grade Velodrome that was their benefit from the Pan Am games – all Burlington managed to get was a cheque for renting out the City View Park for Pan Am soccer practice.
Burlington seems to want to focus on its geography – the Escarpment to the north and the lake to the south and that’s about it. A nice, for the most part, comfortable community that has its share of problems that it seems to muddle through.
Hamilton is entering a phase that has some buzz to it – the end of their steel manufacturing stage has begun and they are in the process of re-inventing themselves. Two decades from now Hamilton will be THE place to live in Ontario.
As for Burlington – there is an opportunity that is now in the hands of the 11 people who have been elected as school board trustees.
Current Director of Education for the Halton District School Board David Euale has resigned and the search for his replacement is now down to the short list.
 Donna Danielli -Milton trustee  Jeanne Gray – Halton Hills trustee Burlington is the kind of city people like to live in – it is safe, not particularly exciting but a reasonably easy place from which to get to Toronto. But is there a really strong reason to live in Burlington? – it certainly isn’t the cost of housing.
But Burlington could be the city that has the best public education school board in the province. Schools matter to parents – just look at the number of private schools in the Region.
Those eleven school board trustees have the opportunity to put Halton on the map – and by extension Burlington as well.
There are schools in this city that parents will actually cheat to get their children into – Tuck is one of them. Why do they do that? Because the principal of that school has made it one of the best in the city.
Why is Nelson High School the superb institution that it? Why is Bateman such an excuse for a high school? (That is a person opinion – I have had dealings with the leadership at that high school and this is an opinion column.)
It all comes down to leadership – there are great leaders in the public education system and they are always looking for a great board of education to work for – there aren’t a lot of them around.
Imagine what could happen if the trustees made it known that they want the best person there is to lead their board. To say publicly and loudly that they want an education leader who will not only improve our rankings but develop schools where every principal is not only a leader but an innovator.
 Kelly Amos, Oakville trustee and current chair of the board  Kim Graves, Milton trustee  Leah Reynolds – Burlington trustee A director that knows how to motivate and to take risks and create schools that students are excited to go to each day. A leader that has standing and a profile in the community – a leader that has a grip on the changes taking place in the flow of information that young people have coming at them.
A leader that develops high schools that produces Rhodes Scholars – Halton has apparently produced one Rhodes Scholar.
A leader that has high schools that graduate students who are almost automatically accepted at universities because they came out of the Halton school board system.
There is a line in our Bibles about Daniel from which the phrase “Dare to be a Daniel” has come. “God gave Daniel a special task. He boldly accepted the assignment and God used him to change an entire nation!”
As our trustees begin their task of determining who the next Director of Education should be one hope that they will dare to be Daniels.
 Richelle Papin – Burlington trustee  Tracey Ehl Harrison, Oakville trustee A significant step has already been taken in creating a leadership team at the board in the appointment of Jaqueline Newton who has been appointed the Superintendent of Education. Ms Newton was the woman tasked with opening Hayden High school – she did a superb job there and we believe will do an equally superb job with the Board. A Director of Education made from the same mold would be nice.
There are eleven people in the Region who have the power to do just that. If they aren’t all that close to their Bibles perhaps they can fall back on the Nike advertising slogan – Just do it!
 By Pepper Parr
September 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Once the “love in” part of the evening was over – those in the room at the Royal Botanical Gardens were able to take part in a good discussion on what the province was planning on doing about transit in the province.
 Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs is in the thick of transit issues as well – Ted McMeekin takes part in Town Hall on Transit Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon and Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs MPP Ted McMeekin hosted the event at which Minister of Transportation Steve Del Luca did most of the talking and the listening.
The stopover in Burlington was the fourth Town Hall type meeting Del Luca has held – 40-50 people in the room – close to a quarter of them bureaucrats of one flavour or another.
He told the audience that his mandate was to “catch up” and “keep up” on transit matters. While highways are a large part of that mandate – this meeting was about transit.
Difficult for a Burlington audience not to want to drift into highways when the QEW and the 403 cut us into pieces.
Del Luca pointed out that the government has committed $130 billion over ten years into getting a transit system that meets the needs – it’s amazing how these people throw around those big number – billions – millions.
An additional $31.5 million has been has been added to put a 15 minute – both ways service in place on the Lakeshore, Kitchener, Stouffville and Barrie services.
De Luca made a strong point when he explained the situation on the Barrie line: four trains leaving Barrie every morning and four leaving Union Station for the trip home each evening.
Which was Ok for people who just commute and stay in the city all day but for those who want to slip into the city for an early afternoon meeting and then head back to an office in Barrie the current service doesn’t work – those people explained Del Luca drive in and out – adding to traffic congestion and wasting a lot of time behind the wheel of a car.
The Transportation Minister added that getting 15 minute service has some hurdles to be gotten over – and the electrification of the system has its own problems.
Track ownership is also a problem – but Del Luca was able to leave the impression that he has a strong team and that they can learn to understand the problems and then find solutions.
What was refreshing was that Del Luca didn’t even try to sugar coat the problem.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon hosts a Town Hall on Transit and lets the Ministers do all the talking. He made it clear that he wants to see the changes made within a decade and that to make it happen there has to be a change in the culture – the car isn’t going to be what it has been – both in the way it is used and in the way it is designed for the future.
The rail lines are going to be electrified – if we don’t do that greenhouse gasses will kill us all.
Everyone wants better service but the changes we need to make to provide that service will be disruptive – which boots the ball into the political realm. Del Luca’s trip to Burlington was to get a sense of what the public in this part of the world was thinking.
Something not usually seen at Burlington based event s was the participation of students from McMaster. All males and all appeared to be graduate level students – and they had good questions.
Del Luca, who represents Vaughan in the Legislature, pointed out that his mandate is focused on capital projects – this guy is building a transit system – all the bells and whistles on what happens when the transit system is in place is the responsibility of the municipalities that connect with those rail lines.
The only thing the Ministry does, explained Del Luca, is give the municipalities a portion of the gas tax it collects. Burlington got between $20 and $21 million last year.
There are Buringtonians who come close to swallowing their tongues when they see some of that tax rebate being put into infrastructure (roads) upgrades and upkeep.
The cultural change the Minister is working to bring about hasn’t penetrated as deeply as it is going to have to in Burlington – the city may be one of the last to fully understand what has to be done.
There were people from Burlington transit and transportation in the room – but they didn’t seem to be paying a lot of attention from where I was sitting.
There was a little bit of money for new ideas and pilot projects explained Del Luca. “We put $1 million into a fund for new ideas and doled it out in $100,000 grants. It was so popular and useful that we increased the annual allotment to $2 million.”
Milton got a grant to create an application that would let commuters use their smart phones to tap into their transit schedule – there was no mention of any application from Burlington Transit.
 Minister of Transportation for the province Steve Del Luca engages Greg Woodruff on the role of the car in future transit plans – both agree the car isn’t going away. Aldershot activist Greg Woodruff engaged the Minister on the role cars would play in transportation. He pointed out that the car is undergoing a very radical change and added that research suggests there will be 40% fewer cars on the road within the decade – what does that do to your transit plans he asked.
Del Luca told Woodruff he didn’t think he was wrong and added that within the decade 70% of the cars on the rod will be automated. Both men agreed that the car was not going to go away and it doesn’t need to go away – it will just play a much different role and will not dominate the way it has for the past number of decades
While transit was the focus of the meeting – land planning policies that make sense was a critical clutch point – and the sense in the room seemed to be that we weren’t doing all that well on developing those policies.
 Ted McMeekin, a political activist who got into government to make changes talks with Rishia Burke, a staffer with Community Development Halton – an organization McMeekin got started with others many years ago. One could almost see the torch being passed. Minister McMeekin, who wasn’t saying all that much, explained that he was coordinating a review of the urban sprawl we have to work with and what part urban boundaries play in transit planning.
There are transit advocates in Burlington who wonder why the Oakville, Milton, Burlington and eventually Halton Hills transit services are not rolled into a single service – York Region has done that very successfully.
At some point there is going to be transit service along Dundas and rolling up into Milton – whose court will that ball be in – Milton or Burlington?
Creating a smoother transition for transit users in the east end of the city who want to or have to use both Oakville and Burlington transit is another problem
When Burlington’s politicians got all hairy about transit and began taking the bus to work, and making sure there was a photo op to prove they had actually ridden the bus, ward 2 councillor Marianne Meed Ward took the bus to a Regional meeting – that isn’t something she will be doing again.
It has become clear to the government that in order for transit use to be increased – growth and intensification has to be along transit lines.
 Vito Tolone, interim director of transportation for Burlington, did a lot of listening as the two provincial minsters did all the talking. Their comments seemed to tie into the Draft Transportation Master Plan Tolone is working on Where are the transit corridors going to be in Burlington. Vito Tolone, interim Director of Transportation, is working on a Transportation Master Plan – a draft was put together by people from both planning and transportation. While far from complete – there were some pretty solid suggestions as to the direction the city could consider taking.
Unfortunately there wasn’t much in the way of enthusiasm in the response from city council on what was a well presented set of suggestions and ideas – whatever Burlington does – transit is going to have to be the core – and this city council just doesn’t have much of an appetite for more busses on the streets – all they can see is empty busses going by.
Minister Del Luca asked the municipalities to “work with us and get it right” He wants to do away with the artificial transit barriers and the artificial municipal barriers to get it right.
It is not going to be easy to do that with the city council Burlington has today.
The last topic to get some time was the HOT lanes that were put in place for the Pan Am Games. It may not be popular, but High Occupancy Toll lanes are becoming the flavour of the month in transit and transportation circles.
Ontario transportation officials are fine-tuning a plan to introduce the concept to selected highways in the Greater Toronto Area. Most Ontarians are familiar with HOV (or High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes that require a vehicle to have at least one passenger.
The HOT lane expands upon that, extending access to lone motorists — but charging them a toll. The government is moving ahead on installing high occupancy toll lanes. These are on the way but “we want to make sure we get it right,” he told the media.
At the Burlington event Del Luca said the move wasn’t intended to produce revenue but to free up capacity – the thinking being that if someone was prepared to pay a fee to drive in a HOT lane that meant their car would not be taking up space in the free lanes.
Del Luca told the Burlington meeting that the government had not clearly communicated what the program was, how it would work and the difference it would make.
He certainly got that part right. Many wonder just what the cost would be – and how much would be spent on creating the things – whenever government and technologically are in the same room – the costs just seem to rise – remember the mess and the expense with making hospital records electronic – gazillions – and it isn’t done yet.
By Walter Byj
September 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The wait for the Public School Board meeting was longer than the meeting itself.
The scheduled 7:00 pm start time was delayed until after 8:00 pm and was finished by 9:00 pm. The early in camera session carried on longer than usual allowing the trustees to play catch up for the preceding two months. Let’s hope they weren’t discussing their summer vacations.
 David Euale, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board announced his retirement several months ago – is now on a daily retainer until there is a new Director. No doubt some of the discussion centered on the current status of a hiring of new Director of Education; David Euale announced his retirement earlier this year and is being retained on a daily contract.
There was one new staff face at the meeting; former Hayden High School principal, Jacqueline Newton, was formally introduced as the new Superintendent of Education replacing Yaw Obeng who had resigned earlier this year for a position in Burlington Vermont.
The 2015 school year in Halton has two new schools in Halton (Oakville, Milton) and although cosmetically there may be some additional work, classes will begin on Tuesday.
 Opened less than two years ago – the Alton Village Public school is now adding a second floor. No one appears to have fully understood the kind of population growth the school was going to go through. In Burlington, preliminary engineering work was approved on a second floor addition at Alton Village Public School. Although ministry approval has not yet been received, it was essential that this school, which is bursting at the seams, have the additional classrooms for September 2106.
Another school facing an expanding population is Frank J. Hayden Secondary School. Currently there are a number of portables in the parking lot waiting to be moved to their specified locations; in the meantime some students will attend classes in the community centre, library and cafeteria.
 Hayden High, Burlington’s newest high school built as part of a complex that includes a Recreation Centre and a public library with a skate park right across the street – it is now going to sere portables in the rear yards – more space needed, One wonders how a high school opened number OF years ago needs more space – did someone misread the demographics of the community?
Andrea Grebenc, (Burlington) advised her colleagues that she would be presenting a motion related to car traffic and safety concerns near the schools with suggestions as to how to promote more physical activity coming to and at school.
 By Ray Rivers
September 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Each week between now and the day we all vote, October 19th, Ray Rivers is going to give Gazette readers his take on how the election is going. The week that was will appear every Monday morning.
Thanks to a reader it has been brought to my attention that the report of the father of the drowned refugee child refusing Canadian citizenship was false, despite its broad reporting by media including the CBC and National Post. Please disregard that line in the column for that reason and if interested please take the time to consult….
Note from that website that…”As National Post editor Jen Gerson suggests, the blunders in reporting this breaking news story do not change the core substance of it: the drowned boy whose picture made the world suddenly care about the refugee crisis might have found refuge in Canada. His family had tried. Our Immigration Minister was directly approached about this specific case.
The story would have been no less impactful had it been reported accurately, and there is no evidence to suggest that the mistakes were made out of partisan bias or intent to sensationalize or deceive. They were mistakes, which often happen in breaking news stories.”
Thanks again to readers who take the time to contribute to the discussion. It is exactly for situations like this that I include my primary source
Ray
Advertising – it’s what chews up so much of the money in election campaigns. And, of course, it usually works, though not always as expected. For example, the Conservative ads prior to the last election in 2011, implying that Liberal leader Ignatieff had returned to Canada out of opportunism rather the welfare of Canadians, may have helped knock the Liberals into the Parliamentary basement.
 This advertisements did some damage – will it come back to haunt the Conservatives? This time the Tories have taken aim at another Liberal leader, Mr. Trudeau, claiming that he is ‘just not ready’ to be PM. And one pollster is claiming that it has already been effective in dissuading otherwise Liberal voters. Of course, that seems to fly in the face of the latest CBC ‘poll tracker’ which has the Liberals slipping into second spot, ahead of their Tory arch-enemies and closing the gap with the front running NDP.
One has to recall how the Conservatives blew it big time when Kim Campbell was running in 1993. Tory strategists, including the current Toronto mayor of the same name, had ordered up a series of four ads depicting Mr. Chretien as unsuitable for the big job. The images used were unflattering, highlighting a childhood illness which had left him slightly disfigured.
Despite protestations by her campaign team, Campbell pulled the ad in response to a chorus of public protestations. But it was too late and the Conservatives were decimated at the polls, dropping to only two seats.
 Mike Duffy is on trail – hard to realize that with the way the proceedings in the courtroom are going. Mr. Harper’s drop in the latest polls reflects a campaign gone awry. The Duffy Senate scandal is still in people’s minds and nobody believes that Mr. Harper didn’t know about the payment nor try to cover it up. If anything will tick off the public, it is an almost never-ending stream of lies.
Then there is the sad state of the economy, covered in my regular column a week ago. The PM’s has been cherry-picking the statistics to put on a happy face on what is pretty clearly bad news – but nobody is buying.
Most recently Canada’s failure in the Syria/Iraq refugee crisis has demonstrated an inexplicable level of incompetence in administration and policy. The minister, Chris Alexander, clumsily and stupidly attacked the media while being interviewed on CBC’s ‘Power and Politics’. The next day, in an admission of his failure, Alexander postponed campaigning so he could return to his office to fix what he should have taken care of months earlier.
This issue has come back all the way to Harper heartland. While other Calgarians were protesting the refugee mess, the City’s popular mayor, Mr. Nenshi, added his voice. He attacked the PM’s response to the crisis and Alexander’s performance. Nenshi demanded bringing back ministerial responsibility and accountability, code words for somebody needs to be fired.
And that would be the Minister, who is apparently unable to answer Nenshi’s questions on how many refugees Canada will accept or even how many have been admitted so far. Meanwhile the father of the drowned young boy, who has brought this issue to light, is so upset he has turned down a belated offer of Canadian citizenship.
 As a political advertisement – this one worked. Iggnatief lost his own seat and did indeed return to Harvard University – truth in advertising? Also newsworthy, the PM’s wife, Laureen, appears to disagree with her husband’s views on Marijuana and his so-called ‘tough on crime’ mandatory sentencing policy. And then, the Conservative internet folks seem to be unable to locate and use the right images to go along with their social media stories. One would expect such sloppiness from a losing campaign.
And nobody, it seems, wants Mr. Harper to lose this election more than newly crowned Mrs. Universe. Ashley Burnham, a Canadian of Cree origin has called on the country’s first nations to help vote him out of office.
 Ashley Burham, a Cree, was named Miss Universe – and is not a fan of the Prime Minister – thinks she can persuade the Aboriginal community to vote this time and vote for someone else Finally, there is pee-gate. Yes, the Conservative candidate in a Toronto area Riding is caught on camera urinating into a homeowner’s coffee cup and putting it back in the sink, while doing a home repair (his business line). This story is now trending on Twitter and prompting one tweet, “Too bad the Conservatives are no longer progressive, so we could argue whether Jerry Bance is a small p or big P candidate”.
If Mr. Harper’s house of cards includes using his considerable financial capability, particularly during this super-long election campaign period, to fill the airwaves with attack ads, he is in trouble. He knows the opposition can’t match him with attack ads of their own. But with all the bad news the PM has been generating his opponents don’t need them.
Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province. Rivers is no longer active with any political party.
Background links:
‘Just Not Ready’
Mulcair is Ready
Poll Tracker
Chretien Ads
Nenshi
Laureen
Social Media Sloppy
Mrs. Universe
Refuses Citizenship
Pee in a Cup
 By Pepper Parr
September 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Greens have a candidate; a little late out of the gate but the Green Party in Burlington has named Vince Fiorito as their candidate – they’ve chosen well.
 Vince Fiorito in the middle of Sheldon Creek hauling out waste that shouldn’t have been there in the first place is now the Green candidate for Burlington. While Fiorito has a lot to learn about electioneering in the six weeks left he has a solid reputation as an environmentalist and has made significant contributions to the environmental welfare of the city.
We will publish a longer profile on who Fiorito is and why he deserves at least consideration.
And with the race nationally being as tight as it is – who knows who is going to come out on top.
Vince Fiorito is going to learn more than he perhaps wants to learn about the political process – come October 19th – he will have seen the world through glasses that were not rose coloured – and we will all know more about why politics and the environment should be in bed together.
 By Staff
September 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It was blistering hot out there today and it isn’t going to be any cooler on Sunday – this heat is expected to stay with us until Monday.
 The lake is often shrouded in fog = as ship works its way toward the entrance of Hamilton harbour – passing the Burlington pier Maximum temperatures near or above 30 degrees and minimum temperatures near or above 20 degrees are expected through Monday. Meanwhile, peak humidex values near 40 are forecast for Sunday and Monday. These conditions may produce much discomfort for those who may not have access to a cool or air-conditioned place.
It is expected to remain very humid Tuesday, with maximum temperatures in the high twenties.
While extreme heat can put everyone at risk from heat illnesses, health risks are greatest for – older adults – infants and young children – people with chronic illnesses such as breathing difficulties, heart conditions or psychiatric illnesses – people who work in the heat – people who exercise in the heat – people without access to air conditioning and – homeless people.
 Drink plenty of liquids especially water before you feel thirsty to decrease your risk of dehydration. Thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration.
Take a break from the heat by spending a few hours in a cool place. It could be a tree-shaded area, swimming facility or an air-conditioned spot such as a public building, shopping mall, grocery store, place of worship or public library.
By Staff
September 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A probable human case of the West Nile virus (WNV) illness has been identified in an adult from the Town of Oakville. This is the first human case for Halton in 2015.
Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health pointed out that “80 per cent of people infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms, others will have West Nile fever consisting of fever, headache, muscle ache and a rash. If residents are concerned, I’d encourage them to visit their health care professional.”
 This is how West Nile Virus is usually transmitted Urban areas are more likely to have mosquitoes that carry WNV. The types of mosquitoes that transmit WNV to humans most commonly breed in urban areas in places that hold water such as bird baths, plant pots, old toys, and tires.
The following are steps that residents can take to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes:
• Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly-woven fabric.
• Avoid being outdoors from early evening to morning when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, as well as at any time in shady, wooded areas.
• Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.
• Use an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET or icaridin.
• Make sure your window and door screens are tight and without holes, cuts or other openings.
As part of its ongoing West Nile prevention program, Halton Region staff continually monitor areas of standing water, eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites and larvicide when mosquito larvae are found. A map showing the locations of standing water sites that have had larvicide applied is available at halton.ca/wnv.
By Pepper Parr
September 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Where are the Greens?
The Conservatives, the Liberals and the New Democrats have named their candidates and they have people in the field.
Rib Fest is likely to be the event in the city this weekend and you know that the candidates for those three parties are going to be out there with their T-shirts – but so far – no Green candidate.
 That party has a very effective leader and a strong following.
Hopefully the Green party is in the final stage of their vetting process – there are a number of people who could do well for the Greens – they have a statement that needs to be heard.
By Ray Rivers
September 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
 Prime Minister McKenzie King introduced the first pension plan. It’s the closest we come to socialism, excepting welfare and universal health care. The old age pension, a national universal pension was first established in 1927. William Lyon Mackenzie King delivered on his campaign promise to create Canada’s first national pension plan. It was modest and income-weighted but welcome relief for Canada’s needy seniors, allowing them to live out their remaining years in dignity, or at least out of starvation.
 Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent improved on the Canada Pension Plan McKenzie King created. In 1952 Louis St. Laurent reformed the pension program, which had barely survived the great depression and WWII, into today’s Old Age Security (OAS). Over the years the OAS has been tweaked, adding an income supplement for those in need, reducing eligibility from 70 to 65 years of age, and inflation-proofing it through indexation. Mr. Harper has partially reversed these progressive changes by deferring OAS eligibility by two years to 67, while his predecessor, Brian Mulroney’s 1985 attempt to remove indexing collapsed before a crack squad of raging grannies.
The OAS is not the only retirement goody that Ottawa offers. There are registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), initiated by Diefenbaker, which allow deferred taxation; registered interest tax-free savings accounts, started by Harper; and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), established in 1965 by Pearson. But unlike OAS, which is essentially a welfare program for seniors, these are contributory plans, though the CPP is co-funded by employers.
 It is something everyone is going to need – make sure you are satisfied with what whichever government we elect is giving you what you think you need. Unlike the OAS which is an entitlement, the pensioners actually are owed the money socked away in these plans, something governments sometimes seem to forget. For example, since Canada has no inheritance tax, the government requires us to continually reduce the value of our RRSPs beyond age 71, whether we need the money or not.
And then there are the myriad of private plans, more now being offered as ‘defined contribution’ rather than ‘defined benefit’. These plans are typically managed by intermediaries, insurance companies or mutual fund managers, who invest the retirees’ future into the vagaries of the market for better or worse, depending on whether the market and interest rates are up or down.
There are so many opportunities for today’s seniors to harvest their retirement earnings that Maclean’s Magazine ran an article (September 15, 2014) titled “Old, Rich and Spoiled”, claiming that today’s retirees are “the most prosperous generation ever”. Despite the inflammatory headline there is no doubt this generation’s seniors are better off than preceding ones. But there are still seniors living below the poverty line and surveys show there is great financial insecurity among a majority of Canadians being put out to pasture.
 Notrel in its day was a great multi-national company that failed to keep up with a rapidly changing technology – it also failed to ensure that its pension obligations were met – the provincial government had to pick up that tab. Private company pensions look good if you worked for the right company, the one that might still be in business through your retirement, unlike we saw with Stelco or Nortel. Even my former employer, the federal government, unilaterally decided to downgrade my superannuation package recently. If you can’t trust the feds to keep their word, who can you trust? In the case of Nortel, the Province has had to take over paying the retirees.
And that is part of the reason why Ontario’s premier, after petitioning the federal government to ramp-up CPP – and being shown the door – is developing her own pension plan, the ORPP. Notwithstanding her understanding that an enhanced CPP would be a better route to go for national portability and consistency, she has little choice but to go it alone. And the provinces have primary jurisdiction over labour matters, which is why Quebec has its own version of CPP.
As a result the provinces can find themselves bailing out defunct pension plans for companies, like Nortel, when they go belly up. Then Ontario also has been topping-up the federal OAS, through its GAINS program. So it has a legitimate dog in this issue, a right to protect the lot of Ontario seniors. And there is broad support for change in other provinces beyond Ontario, judging from the interest the Premier has churned up with other provincial leaders in the Council of the Federation.
Ontario’s plan would only apply to those currently without a company pension plan. It would ‘level the field’ with employees in the banking, insurance, municipal, teaching, and civil service sectors of the economy. Someone who has been employed for 30 years would typically receive 60% of his/her salary as a retirement pension, as most of the institutional plans offer.
But Mr. Harper will have none of it, refusing to change CPP and even refusing to help Ontario reduce the costs of its planned ORPP by harmonizing it with the CPP for collection and management. That is something which would cost the federal government very little but would save debt conscious Ontario from setting up a duplicate bureaucracy.
 They needed each other on the pension issue – will the Ontario idea of a provincial pension plan prevail? Quebec has its own pension plan. The federal plan as it stands now is not meeting the needs of many Canadians. Whatever Mr. Harper’s reasons, he is using Canada’s seniors and future seniors, as fodder in his war against Ontario’s premier. As could be expected, Premier Wynne has responded in kind, directly supporting Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, who has committed to modernizing the CPP. And justifiably, since so much of Canada pension framework of was developed by Liberal governments.
The PM is right that refreshing the CPP will add costs to the employers’ payroll, though it should allow the eventual phasing out of the myriad of piecemeal company plans. And that will reduce labour costs for business in turn, while enhancing labour mobility.
Come voting time, pension issues may well be a low priority for young families struggling to manage new families and their first home, where every dollar counts. And the issue will have little, if any, direct payback for seniors already living through their golden years. But making our income systems more equitable and secure is an issue that affects us all as a society.
Fortunately there are clear choices on this issue in front of the voting public. In that regard, Mr. Mulcair has announced that he would call a provincial-federal meeting to reform the CPP within six months of becoming PM. Given his persistent ranking at the top of the opinion polls that must be music to Premier Wynne’s ears, though we shouldn’t expect her to also campaign for him.
 Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province. Rivers is no longer active with any political party.
Background links:
OAS Canada’s Pensions World Pension Systems
CD Howe on Pensions Mulcair Harper
Federal Pensions GAINS ORPP Wynne
By Staff
September 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington is reopening Waterdown Road between Plains Road and Masonry Court on Friday, Sept. 4 between 4 and 5 p.m.
This section of the road had been closed since May 2015 for reconstruction. Working with the city and Halton Region, the contractor installed the new storm sewer, new water mains and reconstructed the roadway, widening the road by one lane northbound and one lane southbound and adding bike lanes in both directions.
 The work done to upgrade Waterdown road south of Hwy 403 got done in pretty short order. It has to be seen as part of the growth that will take place in Aldershot in the near future which will include significant population increases – might call for a ward boundary change as well. Waterdown Road carries 20,000 vehicles a day. The city wants to thank motorists and nearby residents and business owners for their patience during the temporary closure.
The reconstruction project is scheduled to finish in June 2016
The reconstruction of Waterdown Road followed the opening up of the access ramps to highway 403 and sets up Aldershot for a level of development that is important to the city but unwelcome by a number of Aldershot residents.
 The expropriation of all the variety store property, which wasn’t necessary, did open up the land to the east of Waterdown on the north side of Plains Road – a stretch that includes the adult entertainment operation that many would like to see leave the community. The expropriation of the Murphy’s Variety property at the Plans Road – Waterdown intersection was necessary for the road to be widened – taking all the property when the findings of an WOD said it wasn’t all necessary was brutal – showed municipal government at its worst.
The ADI Development Group plans for a large two phase development that was to include apartments and stacked townhouses is somewhere within the planning department – it isn’t clear if the application has been withdrawn or if the city is still negotiating with ADI
 He loves his Ward, he knows his constituents and their needs. He has to be given credit for shepherding the significant amount of development that has taken place. Does the Council member have a larger vision for Aldershot? The proximity of the Aldershot GO station made this part of the city ripe for development. The King Paving property on the west side of Waterdown is surely getting a close look by developers who can put that land to better use and help Burlington meet the intensification targets the province has given the Region
This development takes place at the same time the city gets closer to selecting a new planner to replace Bruce Krushelnicki who retired several months ago.
The re-opening of Waterdown Road and the construction of the King Road grade separation suggest that Aldershot is primed for major growth – which might even include sidewalks on those streets that don’t have them.
By Staff
September 4, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
In April the Halton Regional Police Burlington Offender Management unit launched the Fugitive Friday initiative.
It was designed as an opportunity for the Halton Regional Police to share the identity of wanted persons with the public in an attempt to bring attention to individuals who may be living and hiding in our communities.
Every Friday since that time, a news release and accompanying photo has been issued to the media identifying a wanted person or wanted pair for offences in which they have evaded police or failed to attend court. Each weekly fugitive has also been promoted on Twitter and Facebook.
The Fugitive Friday initiative has been a great success. To date, six out of 12 featured persons have been arrested, in large part due to pressure from relatives of wanted people, friends and/or the community as a whole to turn themselves in to police.
The Gazette is preparing a more detailed report on how the Burlington division of the Regional police have made the Fugitive Friday program work and plans for its future development.
The police continually investigate and search for individuals who evade the law and the Fugitive Friday information sharing initiative has proved successful due to the teamwork and partnerships with our local media and our communities. We all have a role to play in keeping our communities safe and the extra eyes and ears are always a big help.
The Regional Police will share “Fugitive Friday” information on their website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
In this edition of Fugitive Fridays, the 20th, the 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for Joshua David WEEDMARK 30 years old, of Huron County, ON.
It is alleged:
In September 2014, the accused engaged in a heated argument with the victim and destroyed the victims cell phone and other property.
The accused was arrested, charged and released on a Recognizance with several conditions.
He failed to re-attend court in June 2015 and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He is wanted by Halton Regional Police for:
Mischief – Interfere with Law
Mischief under $5000
Fail to Comply with Probation
Fail to Re-Attend Court
He is also wanted by Huron County OPP (Goderich) for:
Fail to Comply Probation x 2
 Joshua David WEEDMARK 30 years old, of Huron County, ON. WEEDMARK is described as 6’, 245lbs, brown eyes and brown hair. WEEDMARK has a tattoo of a “Cross” on his left arm and may have other tattoos on both hands.
WEEDMARK has ties to Burlington, Huron County, Orangeville, Brampton and parts of British Columbia.
Anyone who may have witnessed this male or has information that would assist investigators in identifying him are encouraged to contact D/C Bulbrook – Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Offender Management Team at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2346 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Pepper Parr
September 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s getting tight people.
The high school students have a place to go next Tuesday and the Catholic students know where they are going to be as well. But the public elementary teachers are still jaw boning.
The doors will be open and the teachers are going to do the job they were trained to but they are not going to attend meetings nor will they be doing any of the administrative tasks that are not directly related to teaching.
 Teachers reminding the public just how much they do – they are hired to teach. The provincial government seems to have forgotten that teaching is not just the time spent with students in a classroom; there is paper marking to be done and all the tasks needed to keep curriculum material fresh and relevant. The internet has radically changed the flow of information and it is a monumental task to keep up.
Deb Matthews, President of the Treasury Board, released the following statement on the status of contract negotiations between the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU):
“I’m pleased that the parties have agreed to shift their efforts from negotiating essential services back to bargaining a collective agreement. We expect these conversations to begin next week.
Our government remains firmly committed to continuing to work with OPSEU to reach a fair agreement that balances the interests of employees with the need to provide sustainable and affordable public services, both now and in the future.”
I didn’t see the needs of the students anywhere in that statement – I thought schools were all about the children.
By Staff
September 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Changes on Route 1: Detours because of the Labour Day parade in Hamilton. detour on Labour Day – Monday, Sept. 7, 2015
 And the union makes them strong – Canada Auto workers – marching in a Labour Day parade Due to a Labour Day Parade in downtown Hamilton, Burlington Transit’s Route 1 will need to detour from approx. 9:30 a.m. – noon as follows:
Route 1 West (into Hamilton)
Regular routing to York Blvd. and Dundurn St.
• Right at Dundurn
• Left at Main St.
• Right at Locke St.
• Left at Bold St.
• Right at James St.
• Left at Augusta St.
• Left at John St.
• Left at King St.
Route 1 East (out to Burlington)
From King and John St.
• Left at James St.
• Right at Hunter
• Right at Locke St.
• Left at King St.
• Right at Dundurn St.
• Left at York St.
• Resume regular routing…
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The Talent Competition is one of the longest standing talent competitions in Ontario, long before the popularity of TV shows such as “Idol” came along. Contestants are judged on their natural ability, audience appeal, stage presence and the quality of their performance. 2015 Winning Contestants of CNE Rising Star Competition
Grand Champion: Brooklyn Slade, 12-year-old dancer(Milton)
