 By Staff
October 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
A company involved in determining what kind of advertising shows up on your computer screen when you are online decided it wanted to do something to help people during the Thanksgiving weekend – a time of year when the Salvation Army holds a major food drive.
Direct Access Digital, a twenty eight employee firm in the east end of the city divided the staff into four teams that then competed with each other to see who could raise the most in the way of food contributions.
They raised enough food to provide 1500 Thanksgiving meals.
 Vanessa Mateus and “Captain Alpha with some of the food that was raised by employees at Digital Direct Access Vanessa Mateus came up with the idea of giving back to the community, and the competitive nature that of the technology industry was all that was needed to result in 3000 items being purchased
In true digital fashion, Team Three, lead by “Captain Alpha”, quickly got online and ordered over 1200 items of canned goods to be delivered to the office and then taunted the other teams on the company’s blog to match that effort.
Digital Access Data (DAD) Director of Performance, Rob T. Case, has an affinity with the Food Bank. His family had used food banks for five years. After turning his life around, he became a successful digital marketer, worked at Google and joined the Direct Access Digital team this year.
Case said the food banks ” were there when his family of four needed them and it is important to give back, to show gratitude, especially at Thanksgiving.”
Another member of the team also claimed to have used the Food Bank in the past. She says, “Sometimes you find yourself in a place you never expected. You get help and drive forward.”
DAD co-founder, Eric Rodgers say that “When Vanessa Mateus, suggested we do something for The Salvation Army’s Food Drive it was absolutely something we wanted to support; we are always happy to help the community. There were challenges posted on our company blog from one team to another. It was pretty heated, but a competition worth winning.”
The team plans to do something for the holiday season, but they are not talking about their ideas yet.
Direct Access Digital, an award-winning digital-performance marketing agency based in Burlington is the two-time winner of The Google Search Excellence Award.
Founded in 2011, DAD has evolved into one of Canada’s leading boutique agencies, and now serve mid-sized businesses and Fortune 500 companies alike. Known for their expertise in all digital marketing verticals, from search engine marketing (SEM) to search engine optimization (SEO), local search, social media marketing and more, their true hallmark is building strong partnerships with their clients and working diligently to deliver the tools, data and strategies that drive customer conversions and sales while aiding brand awareness. www.directaccessdigital.com
 By Staff
October 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police have made a male suspected of accused breaking into lockers belonging to members of a private gymnasium and stealing money from their personal belongings.
 Vezio CARDULLO In August and September 2015, Vezio CARDULLO attended a health and fitness gym on several occasions in the City of Burlington.
The accused broke into lockers belonging to members of the gym and stole money from their personal belongings.
Police have been unable to locate the accused and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
There are numerous people who continue to evade the police and the court system and continue to live out in our communities while having a warrant for their arrest in place.
Every Friday, the Burlington Offender Management Unit will share information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual.
We will share “Fugitive Friday” information on our website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
In this edition of Fugitive Friday, the 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for Vezio CARDULLO, 33 years old, of No Fixed Address.
CARDULLO is wanted by the Halton Regional Police Service for:
Theft under $5000 x 3
CARDULLO is described as 5’7”, 170lbs, bald with brown eyes. CARDULLO has forearm tattoo sleeves on both his left and right forearm and a scar under his left eye. CARDULLO is known to frequent Burlington and the surrounding areas.
Anyone who may have witnessed this male or has information that would assist investigators in locating 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
October 8, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The results of a two-day commercial vehicle (CMV) enforcement blitz held at the Mohawk Raceway in Milton have surpassed records in the number of vehicles inspected and the total number of charges from previous years.
 Officer checking the condition of truck tires during inspection blitz. Police Officers and Inspectors from eight police services and two provincial ministries yielded the following results:
Total CMV’s Inspected 472
Total CMV’s taken out of service 167 (35% failure rate)
Total Charges Laid 348
Sets of plates seized 29
The out of service rate improved by approximately 6%; this could be attributed to an increase in compliance with safety statutes. In 2014, out of 457 inspected, 188 were taken out of service; a 41% failure rate. A total of 301 charges were laid in the 2014 blitz.
Of the charges laid this year, the following is a sampling of some of the offences:
Failure to complete annual inspection 55
Improper brakes 16
Insecure loads 23
Fail to complete daily inspection 60
Dangerous good violations 5
Driver’s Licence violations 13
Insurance violations 10
Based on these number more than a third of the trucks that pass you on the road shouldn’t be there – tougher regulations might be needed or heavier fines.
Having the trucks taken off the road for a short period of time doesn’t seem to be doing the job – this blitz takes place every year – the numbers don’t decrease.
 By Pepper Parr
October 8th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Each year the Fire Department holds an Open House which Fire Chief Tony Bavota describes as a day for the family that doesn’t cost a dime and “if they buy a hot dog from the service group they get it at cost – a great inexpensive family outing”.
But this year there was no Open House because the fire department HQ is undergoing a major renovation – so they had to come up with a new idea. And they certainly came up with what can only be described as a winner.
The Fire Department partnered with the Culinary class at Robert Bateman High school for a cook off between four teams. Each team was made up of a fire fighter and two students. Murray Zehr who runs the Culinary program said there are 300 students in the class where the focus is on nutrition and kitchen safety. The cooks had an hour to prepare the meal.
There were very good reasons for using a cook off as the focus for the event – 53% of the fires in private homes are the result of unattended cooking.
 Acting Captain Sam Wakunick taught the Gazette reporter a couple of things about unattended cooking. It was embarrassing. This reporter has some direct experience with unattended cooking and the Burlington Fire department. Shortly after moving into a new home and getting used to the stove I wandered away from the kitchen and then heard that beep beep sound of the smoke alarm. There was nothing I could do to shut the damn thing off the way you can in most houses. I called security and told them everything was under control but it was too late – the fire department was on the way and before I knew it Sam Wakunick was standing at my door in full fire fighter kit. I sheepishly explained what I had done – she smiled – Sam wasn’t a guy – and asked if she could just look through the unit – which wasn’t exactly tidy.
Months later I show up to cover a news event and there is Sam – reminding me not to wander from the kitchen when food is cooking.
The Fire department media people working with the Bateman staff came up with a really fun and instructive program that made the point – fires are dangerous and they can be prevented. It was also an opportunity to showcase the cooking talent at Bateman
 Fire fighter Peter Temoche explains a point to a member of his team Kristan Dymad – Alicia Ann Husk was also on the team. Each of the cooking teams was given a recipe and the ingredients – there was a table with all kinds of oils, wines, and fresh vegetables that cooks could dip into.
To jazz up the event – a fire fighter with the name “That Guy” who wandered from stove to stove and just became a pain in the butt. He would drop something into the food or give one of the cooks a penalty which meant they had to sit in a penalty box – and not be able to take part in the food preparation.
There was a party atmosphere that brought out the newly minted Director of Education Stuart Miller and Mayor Goldring who advised the students that he had absolutely no culinary skills but was prepared to serve as a judge for the cook off. The Mayor mentioned that during his recent trip to China he learned to ask what he was being served; “you sometimes didn’t want to know” he said. Burlington’s taxpayers however might want to know what the Mayor was doing in China for close to a week.
 Firefighter Dave Reid and Bateman students Vanessa Plouffe and Alisha Hales look into the ingredients they were given to cook up a meal in one hour. Fire fighter Dave Reid and students Vanessa Plouffe and Alisha Hales were on a team called the Dragons.
 Fire fighter Chris Grieve takes his cooks Cameron Davies and J.R. Kelertas through the approach he thinks they should take to preparing the meal. Chris Grieve, the fire fighter was on a team with students Cameron Davies and J. R Kelertas – they decided to be known as Five Arm Alarm; one of the students had a cast on his arm
Fire fighter Peter Tamoche teamed up with Krista Dymod and Alicia Ann Husk – they wanted to be called the Hot Tamales.
 Ty Solomon gets rapt attention from a student during the cook off. Ty Solomon and students Bryce Walker and Nick Shaw titled themselves: Kill it with Fire.
 The Bateman high school kitchen with its four gas stoves was a bit of a zoo with cameras all over the place and students scooting around picking up supplies and utensils. The kitchen at Bateman was a bit of a zoo with students photographers wandering all over the place, the Cogeco cable News camera kept popping up while cooks were scooting around getting equipment and ingredients while Dennis Hayes kept calling out trivia questions and announcing penalties and in the last fifteen minutes telling everyone how little time they left.
Students and other observers looked on from the back of the kitchen.
The judging was pretty tight: winning team got 75 points with two teams getting 71 points. They were judged on presentation and taste.
 Dave Reid’s team, on the left took first place while Ty Solomon throws his arms up and congratulates Bryce Walker and Nick Shaw who took second. There were less than four points between each team. Fire fighter Dave Reid and students Plouffe and Hales took first place.
 While students were cooking up their storm other students were trying on fire fighter equipment. The fire department had three pieces of equipment parked outside the school and all kinds of fire fighter equipment set out for students to try on. There were 19 fire fighters helping out “on their own time” added Chief Bavota.
 By Staff
October 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Regional Health office is making it easier for parents to advise the health office that their children have been properly immunized.
The online immunization reporting form makes it more convenient way to report required immunizations. The form is available at halton.ca/immunize.
While the majority of families in Halton Region immunize their children to protect their health, many are unaware of their legal requirement to notify the Halton Region Health Department about any required immunizations their children have, especially those the province requires for school attendance.
Parents can update their child’s immunization records by going online at halton.ca/immunize, dialing 311 or dropping off an up-to-date record at 1151 Bronte Road in Oakville.
 Advising the regional health office that your child has been properly immunized is a requirement. That can now be done on line. “Halton Region’s Health Department is responsible for enforcing the provincial Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), which outlines the immunizations students need to attend classes, in order to keep our schools and students healthy,” said Halton’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hamidah Meghani. “Since students without up-to-date immunization records can face school suspension, it’s critical that parents make sure the Halton Region Health Department has their child’s most recent immunization records on file.”
Immunizations are available through family doctors or at one of Halton Region’s immunization clinics. If children are unable to get immunized, they must have a notarized exemption on file with the Health Department in order to meet school attendance requirements.
To learn more about which immunizations are required to attend school and how to report immunizations, please visit halton.ca/immunize.
By Staff
October 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There are occasions when the city does listen to the people who pay the freight. Not as often as they could and should but they at least do try.
Last year the city held an event that people who liked the idea of serving on an advisory committee could attend and meet city staff who could explain what was involved.
Danielle Pitoscia, Manager of Committee and Election Services, who I think deserves credit for the initiative announced that “After the success of last year’s first-time event, we are holding the event in a larger space to make room for all the participants. It’s great to know there are so many people who want to get involved with their city through the committees,” she said.
 Except for one person, and she was a consultant hired by the city, these people are all community volunteers. At times they are very effective. “This event is a great first step for people wanting to become involved and have a real impact and voice within their community through our volunteer boards and committees.”
The event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, at Burlington City Hall between 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Whoops – glitch!
 City hall is not the only place in the city people can meet in. Why does everything have to take place at city hall. This makes it very inconvenient for people who live north of the QEW. Lesson in there for city hall – hold three events – one at Tansley Woods, and another at the Haber Recreational Centre.
 Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven is a big booster for his ward – he welcomes everyone to his part of the city. Ooops – just heard a groan from Councillor Craven in Ward 1 – hold the event in Aldershot as well.
That does mean the people who are behind these committees have to get out of their offices more than once. If you want the public to be involved – give them a decent chance to become involved.
Everyone is welcome to come out and learn about the committees and see why volunteering on a local board or committee can help you meet new people, share your talents, develop skills, address a common interest as well as make a difference in your community. Current volunteers are also invited to attend as a networking opportunity.
Applications for local boards and committees close Oct. 30, 2015.
For more information about the Volunteer Open House, committees or to apply for a volunteer position, contact the Clerks Department at 905-335-7600, ext. 7481 or visit www.burlington.ca/citizens.
By Staff
October 7, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Some of the most horrific highway accidents take place on holiday weekends – that’s when families are in cars going to see other members of their family. Check the newspapers Monday, listen to the radio – you will see and hear it all.
 Can we get through the Thanksgiving weekend without pictures like this? Try Over the Thanksgiving weekend, October 9th through to the 12th, the Halton Regional Police Service will be taking part in a national road safety partnership known as Operation Impact. The goal of the program is to remind drivers that an essential part of traffic education and enforcement is to save lives and reduce injuries on our roadways.
Officers assigned to Operation Impact will focus on behaviour that puts drivers, passengers and other road users at risk: impaired driving, seat belt use, and all aspects related to aggressive/distracted driving.
Aggressive drivers often engage in a combination of high-risk road use behaviours; non-use of seat belts, drinking and driving and speeding. The results of these behaviours are often catastrophic for all involved road users.
This year there have been several motor vehicle fatalities investigated by Halton Police. Each of these deaths represents the tragic loss of a loved one – a senseless tragedy that in most cases could have been prevented.
Our annual participation in Operation Impact forms an important part of our overall traffic strategy where partnerships lead to greater road safety. A focus on high risk behaviours provides opportunities for enforcement as well as education.
A good program, that will be solidly enforced – what was missing? Not a word about distracted driving – the nut cases that think they can text and drive at the same time. If the behaviour isn’t mentioned and targeted it may not get the attention it deserves.
Operation Impact is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and member agencies of the CACP Traffic Committee from across Canada in support of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2015, which has a goal of making Canada’s roads the safest in the world by 2015.
That is an interesting target – aren’t we already in 2015?
By Pepper Parr
October 6th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Was it a sign, a fence or hoarding around a construction site.
 City lawyers say this is a sign and not a fence or a construction site hoarding. Will now work with the developer to bring them into compliance. The city by law enforcement officer needed to know just which it was before she took any action on the huge sign that sits on Lakeshore Road at Martha where the ADI development Group has submitted an application to put up a 28 storey structure that was rejected by the planning department but never actually voted on by city council. It is now before the Ontario Municipal Board which will hear the ADI argument for the right to build the structure at a December meeting.
The by law enforcement officer had to respond to a complaint – but needed to get a ruling from the city’s lawyers.
It is a sign say the lawyers – now what?
 This isn’t construction site hoarding and it doesn’t look like a fence – so the bigger part was declared to be a sign and has to be brought into compliance with the bylaw – six square feet. Well as a sign it is too big – they are allowed to put up a sign that is not larger than 6 square metres. The sign is apparently close to 16 square metres.
The options for the city?
Fine the developer and force them to reduce the size of the sign. The city can do both but the understanding the Gazette took from our discussion with the bylaw enforcement officer is that they would probably not do both. The intention is to work with the developer and bring them into compliance.
Why the velvet glove treatment? ADI has run rough shod over every process and procedure the city has in place. They appear to see rules as things that are made to be broken or severely bent.
 By Pepper Parr
October 6th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Holding a discussion between candidates running for public office needs a public audience and the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) served the community well when they hosted the discussion between the four candidates who want to represent Burlington in the House of Commons.
Incumbent Mike Wallace stood against Liberal Karina Gould, New Democrat David Laird and Green Party candidate Vince Fiorito. For a while they had Wallace on the ropes
The meeting was broken into two parts; the first was used to put forward questions that had been prepared by the CFUW – the second part was to put forward questions prepared by the audience.
The CFUW could have done a better job of tightening up their list of questions – there were too many and some overlap between the questions.
When the overlap was getting out of hand the audience made it clear that they didn’t want to hear anymore.
It was rowdy room – the auditorium at Central High School was close to packed; when the audience didn’t like what they were hearing they got a little boisterous.
Moderator Dorothy Borovich sent out her most withering glare on more than one occasion – it didn’t always work.
What the audience did get was a clearer look at just where the candidates stood on specific issue.
 Conservative incumbent Mike Wallace who has served two terms as the Burlington MP was giving a rough ride during the all candidate discussion sponsored by the Canadian Federation of University Women. Mike Wallace had to defend himself on several issues and while he had his supporters in the room it was pretty clear that the audience was buying what Karina Gould had to say. There were several bursts of spontaneous applause for Gould positions.
Burlington doesn’t do debates – the thrust and cut of argument doesn’t seem to suit the community.
There was no clear winner but it was clear that Wallace was on the defensive.
It was an older audience for the most part but it certainly wasn’t a submissive audience – they hooted and hollered frequently.
Every candidate agreed that the demographic shift that has taken place meant more attention and resources had to be spent on the senior population – and all four candidates agreed that the biggest problem facing the country was climate change.
The first question from the CFUW list was related to governing and they wanted to know what each candidate had to say about the way they would lead locally – that is what they would do in the community.
Mike Wallace started off with is nine year track record which he thought was pretty good. He spoke of leadership and the way the federal government has handled terrorism (which got a groan from the audience) and his work as chair of the Justice Committee.
He wanted voters to look at the issues and then decide who is best suited to lead in both the community and the country.
 Green Part candidate Vince Fiorito talks over an issue with a participant. Vince Fiorito followed with four points: the environment, the debt, poverty and jobs – and then went on to tell the audience a little about himself.
Karina got her turn next. “We can do better” she said “with job creation, with fixing and improving the infrastructure.” She added: We need less secrecy, we need to see the Prime Ministers office working differently, we need to create a Senate that works; our job creation has been dismal.
Part of the reason the government had a surplus last quarter Gould said was because they didn’t spend the money budgeted on the veterans and the aboriginal community. We have a government that hides its problems and doesn’t trust Canadians.
The audience at Central High school burst into applause. As people were filing into their seats the audience appeared to be more senior than younger family types – I thought they were part of the core Conservative vote out to hear that candidate.
David Laird tells people this is his fifth campaign and that he was there once again to fight the good fight for the working people. He added that his focus was the young people and the help they needed – not the smartest political move in an audience that has less than 5% younger people.
The CUFW wanted to know what the candidates would do with the health system, specifically home care, pharma care and longer term care.
Wallace explained that health is a provincial responsibility and that the federal government is a funding partner that transfers money to the provinces. The amount to be transferred next year is to be reduced by 3% he explained but if a province has experienced significant growth in senior population an additional amount will be available.
One would have thought the federal government would know where the senior population is located – this isn’t exactly a mobile demographic.
Gould was more specific. She said a Liberal government would pour in an additional $3 billion into home care – because it works she said.
Laird too promised money for home care, palliative care and Pharmacare.
With all this agreement being set out – one wonders why this isn’t already in place. Why are seniors worried?
CFUW wanted to know what each candidate would have their party do about Canada’s image worldwide.
Fiorito said “we have to be more visible at the UN, respect International Law and get back into the Peacekeeping business” for which he got a decent round of applause.
 Liberal Party candidate Karina Gould had a good night. She was applauded frequently but summed up rather weekly Gould hit the right button when she said: Step # 1 Change the government – for which she got an immediate burst of applause. She went on to say that “Canada used to have a vision, we were a player, we were respected at the United Nations; our view on climate change was understood and respected – we were not seen as obstructionist – our was a voice of reason.”
David Laird said he had predicted all this and said the government needed to explain why the system was broken.
Wallace said he didn’t agree with the premise behind the question (for which he was booed) and pointed to the way Canada supported the government of the Ukraine and how it had stood up for the values of the men and women who had fought in Korea and WWII
The CFUW wanted to know where the candidates and their party’s stood on pensions.
Gould said the current pension system is not working – we have to meet with the provinces on this – we get that she added. The Guaranteed Income Supplement has to be increased by 10% – then the pension paid has to be indexed.
 David Laird, New Democrat candidate, running for the fifth time, made a very strong point when he said pension money does not belong to corporations. Laird wanted to see pensions increased and was specific – add $400 million to the GIS – it is amazing how the politicians throw around figures.
Laid did make a very strong point when he said: Should a company declare bankruptcy the bond holders get first dibs on any assets – Laid wants the pensioners to be first in line. He added that some companies declare bankruptcy to get out of their pension obligations.
Laird is absolutely right – pensions are not a corporate asset – pension contributions have to be put into a fund that corporations cannot touch – it isn’t their money.
Wallace pointed to some changes that had been made to the RIF rules that allowed people to take some of their money out at an accelerated rate. He wasn’t on for increases to the Canada Pension Plan which the Conservative government called a tax on business. More cat calls from the audience at this point.
Education – always a warm spot for the CFUW who offer a scholarship every year.
Laird wanted to see free university education. That brought some rather direct comment from the audience which in turn brought the first of the Borovich glares. When Dorothy Borovich directs her very strong gaze on you – you want to duck. She has a Shush that would put a librarian to shame.
Fiorito took basically the same view – universal, state paid university education to those who show merit – if you have the marks – you get in.
Wallace didn’t see it that way. His party believes these are decisions the parents make – the government will provide income tax benefits and some funding but the parents get to make the decisions. The federal government he said would not be creating a national university education program.
Gould didn’t talk about an education program – she wanted to focus on a Day Care program that into which a Liberal government would pump $500 million.
Karina Gould took the room from the very beginning of the evening and while she didn’t shine every time – she was on target most of the time. She was never booed – the others were. Both Wallace and Laird at some point both said they agreed with her.
But when the evening was over and the candidates were doing their summing up – no one really moved the audience – other than the Green Party candidate Vince Fiorito, who spoke with conviction.
There was more – we will cover that in an additional report.
 Ciné-Starz
Upper Canada Place, Burlington, ON
Burlington, ON L7R 4B6
Week of Friday, October 09, 2015 through Thursday, October 15, 2015
The Perfect Guy (14A)
Fri – Mon: 11:30 AM, 9:30
Tue – Thu: 3:00, 5:10, 9:20
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (PG)
Fri – Mon: 7:20 PM
Tue – Thu: 3:20, 7:10, 9:30
Straight Outta Compton (18A)
Fri: 7:00 PM
Sat – Mon: 7:00, 8:45
Tue – Thu: 7:00 PM
Shaun the Sheep ()
Fri – Mon: 11:20 AM, 1:30, 3:35, 5:15
Tue – Thu: 5:30 PM
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (PG)
Fri – Mon: 1:10, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40
Tue – Thu: 1:00, 3:15, 5:00, 7:10, 9:15
Pixels (PG)
Fri – Mon: 11:15 AM, 1:15, 3:20
Ant-Man (PG)
Fri – Mon: 1:10, 3:00, 7:20, 9:30
Tue – Thu: 1:00, 3:00, 7:20, 9:30
Mr. Holmes (PG)
Fri – Mon: 11:30 AM, 5:20, 9:40
Tue – Thu: 1:10, 3:10, 5:10, 9:40
Minions (G)
Fri – Mon: 11:20 AM, 1:30, 3:15, 5:15, 7:00
Tue – Thu: 1:15, 5:40, 7:30
Inside Out (G)
Fri – Mon: 11:15 AM, 1:00, 3:20, 5:20
Tue – Thu: 1:00 PM
A Walk in the Woods (14A)
Fri – Mon: 3:15, 5:15, 7:20, 9:20
Tue – Thu: 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00
By Pepper Parr
October 5, 2015
BURLINGTON,ON
It was a small event, scheduled to run for just over half an hour – it ran for an hour and a half. What was billed as a citizen getting an award for volunteer work turned out to be a love story – the story of Janice Connell’s love for her husband “Mikey”.
 Michael Frederick Swartz, Canadian Diabetes Association 2015 Volunteer of the year Michael Frederick Swartz is a tall lanky man who speaks in a bit of a drawl. He is quiet by nature; tends to focus and drill down into the issues before him. He worked in the world of banks and money; his home on Lakeshore Road suggests he has done well financially.
But this love story was not about how well Michael has done; it was about the woman in his life who cares for him in a way that is seldom celebrated so publicly. It was just a simple, almost brazen declaration of love that came through every paragraph of the comments Janice made about the man who was being named the Volunteer of the Year for the Canadian Diabetes Association.
It is hard to tell how often Janice Connell had to roll her husband over when he had become unconscious: Michael is a type 1 diabetic and needs constant care and attention.
 Mike Dawson, Ansley Dawson (mike’s youngest daughter and baby Cameron Dawson (our 8week old grandson) Janice Connell, Mike Swartz. Tucked in the centre background Ed McMahon, fellow Habitat for Humanity board member. Everyone had nice things to say about Michael Swartz – that’s what these events are about. And while the event was to recognize and celebrate Michael Swartz, it was Janice who put the energy into the space and spread the feelings she has for her husband throughout the room.
There isn’t much nonsense to Janice Connell – perky, direct, sometimes too direct, considerate – the kind of person who goes out of her way to help. This reporter experienced that touch on a desolate Christmas Day.
I wasn’t able to see the look on Mike’s face as she spoke – I wondered what he was thinking as he heard her tell of the numerous times he had passed into unconsciousness and stood a better than even chance of dying were it not for his wife being there.
Janice told her audience that when the doctors tell you ‘everything is under control and you can leave the emergency room – don’t believe them.” I suspect she didn’t leave the room and there isn’t a doctor in the system that would have the courage to insist.
Swartz was described as the go to guy; the fellow who would find the nut in a problem; the kind of guy you work with – not someone you work for – who happens to have a serious Tim Hortons habit.
 Janice Connell with husband Michael Swartz Mentioned as well was his ten years serving with Habitat for Humanity where he convinced the organization to build the large project on Appleby Line – even though they didn’t have the money. “This is what we are here to do” he told the board that met until well after midnight the day that decision was made.
He brought his talents to the organizational side of the 65,000 Diabetes Association volunteers – and they all loved him.
His closing remarks as he held the award he had been given was – be a volunteer – it doesn’t matter where – just be a volunteer.
By Walter Byj
October 5th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Secondary summer school continues to grow in popularity.
At a recent Halton District School Board (HDSB) meeting Superintendents of Education, David Boag and Tricia Dyson, presented a report which showed growth in the summer program with overall summer enrollment growing by 15.5%
 Some students chose to gain full credit enrollments, others chose to either upgrade or have a one half credit; 4312 students chose to either upgrade their marks or to reach-ahead.
The major increase was in online enrollment which grew by 34% and had a completion rate of 85% vs 87% for in-class courses.
A quick numbers update.
• 1584 full credit in-class enrollment vs 1524 in 2014
• 1058 upgrade and one half in-class enrollment versus 890 in 2014
• 599 online full credit enrollment vs 507 in 2014
• 768 upgrade and one half credit online enrollment in 2015
By Staff
October 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
At its meeting on Sept. 28, Burlington City Council approved a new bylaw prohibiting the feeding of wild animals, including coyotes, in the city’s public parks. The bylaw will not however become effective for one year.
 The bylaw prohibiting the feeding of wildlife in public parks goes into effect in one year. “This new bylaw will help the city address public concerns over coyotes by trying to prevent conflicts before they occur,” said Scott Stewart, the city’s general manager of development and infrastructure. “Research and experience show that one of the most significant things everyone can do to reduce direct public interaction with coyotes is to avoid feeding them.”
 Swans can be fed but only by those who are licensed. The no feeding wildlife bylaw prohibits the feeding of any wildlife including waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, in public spaces. City Council approved an amendment to the bylaw to allow the Trumpeter Swan Coalition to continue its work with the trumpeter swans that live in LaSalle Park.
“Like all wildlife in Burlington, coyotes are just trying to survive, and they do that by finding food sources,” said Tracey Burrows, manager of bylaw enforcement and licensing. “The new bylaw will not come into effect for one year, during which time the city will be reaching out to residents to help inform them about how we can work together to eliminate and properly manage food sources around homes to ensure coyotes remain wary of humans.”
In addition to the no feeding wildlife bylaw, the city also offers an online service where residents can report coyote sightings. These sightings are monitored and tracked by city animal services staff to learn more about which areas of the city coyotes are located.
For more information about coyotes or to report a coyote sighting, please visit www.burlington.ca/coyote.
 By Staff
October 5th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The views of political personalities on issues that are critical to the social well being of the country are important and deserve the widest possible audience. Former Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams speaks out on Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s position on the wearing of the niqab during citizenship swearing in ceremonies.
The Gazette believes this country is bigger than the Prime Minister that currently leads us
Former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Danny Williams saaid in a CBC News story that some of the tactics of Conservative Leader Stephen Harper are borderline racist.
Williams, who led a Progressive Conservative government in Canada’s most easterly province from 2003 to 2010, launched his latest scathing attack against Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada on Sunday during an interview with CBC News.
He used the word racism in reference to the debate over the wearing of the niqab by Muslim women taking part in the oath of citizenship.
Williams said the issue is not worthy of becoming a national issue, but the Conservatives have latched onto it in order to secure votes.
 The tolerance for which Canada is respected around the world has been severely damaged by the actions of the Prime Minister over woman wearing a niqab during citizenship swearing in ceremonies. “He doesn’t care if he isolates the issues of women or if he isolates the issue of minorities, and even crosses, possibly, that racism line,” Williams stated.
Williams accused Harper of breaking a promise on equalization payments, igniting an unusual rift between the two Conservative cousins.
The campaign was hugely successful, with not a single Conservative candidate winning election in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The federal Conservatives remain very unpopular in the province, which is largely a legacy of Williams’s ABC campaign.
Williams left office in late 2010 with his popularity still largely intact, and his views still carry a lot of weight in the province.
Williams is obviously hoping his unfiltered attack on Harper will make a difference in a three-way race between the Conservatives, Liberals and New Democrats.
“Over time we’ve seen that this man cannot be trusted. He had no integrity. He’s trying to stifle democracy. There’s no end to what he’s doing,” said Williams.
“He’s a lousy prime minister who’s divisive.”
By Pepper Parr
October 5th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It was billed as a discussion and not a debate – and it was a good solid discussion on the issues as seen by the four candidates running for election to the House of Commons.
The discussion, recorded by Cogeco Cable Television, took place live at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast before an audience of less than 75 people.
Running against incumbent Mike Wallace were Karina Gould, Liberal, David Laird, NDP and Vince Fiorito, Green Party. Fourteen questions from the audience were put to the candidates – some of the questions were directed at a specific candidate. Every candidate was given a chance to answer every question.
 Mike Wallace with his election results the last time out – will he do as well this time? There was no winner but a viewer of the discussion should come away with a perception of each candidate and where they stand on issues.
Mike Wallace didn’t appear as confident as one would have expected him to be – the polls suggest, even though the evidence is skimpy, that he is leading – the bubbly personality just didn’t come across during the Chamber of Commerce event.
 Karina Gould on the right looking at reports from her young, energetic team working the constituency. Karina Gould was direct, knew what she was talking about during most of her answers but didn’t project the sense that she was going to do more for Burlington than Wallace has – and Wallace has delivered for the city.
The surprise was Vince Fiorito, the Green candidate, who with zilch in the way of political experience, stood up quite well.
David Laird reminded the audience several times that this was his fifth election – and it showed. What Laird did point out was that the questions put to the candidate were all social in nature which he saw as positive – and on that issue he was right.
Gould has been canvassing very hard – her team is young energetic and she has done well at those events the public has been able to see. Many thought there would be a significant uptick for Gould as a result of the Liberal win at the provincial level – that doesn’t appear to have happened.
The shift in the polls nationally, that show slippage on the part of the New Democrats, and gains for the Liberals does not seem to have worked its way into the hearts of the voters in Burlington.
The real dislike that many have for the way the Prime Minister has run the country does not appear to have done Wallace any harm – his core vote does not seem to have a problem with the way Harper as created wedge issues and promoted fear and misunderstanding when there was an opportunity to heal and grow.
The list is legion; all the way from the Duffy Trial, to the way Harper refused to take in refugees because he suspected terrorists would use this humane gesture to slip into the country. His exploitation of the hijab issue is shameful and the secrecy surrounding the biggest trade deal that the country is about to agree to is close to criminal.
Wallace who has a strong core vote must cringe at times when he thinks about the positions his leader has taken.
The enthusiasm the country had for Thomas Mulcair has yet to reach Burlington.
It is still a fluid situation with the fight now between Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper – the leaders will either carry their candidates on their coat tails or they won’t.
Given the look of the numbers nationally at this point the Conservatives are not going to be able to form a majority government and will need the support of another political party – the New Democrats and the Liberals have made it clear that such support will not be forthcoming – which means the choices are another election or a sharing of power between Trudeau and Mulcair – which will be interesting to watch.
During the Chamber discussion every candidate threw around numbers as if they were ping pong balls – millions, billions – it didn’t matter. The average taxpayer can handle thousands – none of the candidates managed to present the numbers they were tossing around in a manner that made them understandable.
The question on where each candidate stood on minimum wage got sloughed off by Wallace as a provincial responsibility – but when health spending was brought up – it is also a provincial responsibility, Wallace spoke highly of what the federal government provides in the way of funds transfers to the province.
The public also got a look at where those transfers are headed – they are to be cut in a few years at a time when the seniors are not getting younger.
Both Laird and Gould said the minimum wage has to be raised – Fiorito wanted it raised to $20 an hour
What would the candidates do about the public debt? Gould argued that money had to be spent now on public infrastructure, (roads bridges) social infrastructure (affordable housing, sustainable infrastructure which Gould didn’t define.
 David Laird, New Democrat taking a question during a campaign meeting. Laird said the country has a stagnating economy and money had to be injected into that economy to bring about growth.
Fiorito said we should never spend what we don’t have and pointed to the billions that corporations have in their bank accounts. If they are not going to use that capital to grow the economy said Fiorito, then the government should tax it so they can spend it.
Mike Wallace said the first task is to pay down the public debt – and added that the debt the current government has was a result of the 2008 recession, brought about by the misdeeds of the financial sector when it was de-regulated.
Wallace claimed that Canada had the best record of managing the 2008 recession of the G7 countries.
Asked if the New Democrats would support some form of coalition Laird said: Yes to the Liberals; no to the Conservatives. Fiorito said the Greens wanted to cooperate and hoped that they ended up holding the balance of power. Gould made it clear that Justin Trudeau was not going to support a Conservative government.
Wallace said the solution was to vote for a majority Conservative government.
Sex trade laws got a good going over – you can guess who stood where on that issue.
Candidate were asked: How would they increase manufacturing in Canada. Gould said manufacturers don’t have a partner in Ottawa; that there is no focused strategy and that the federal government doesn’t work with the provinces – the Prime Minister she added won’t even meet with the Premiers.
Fiorito said the country needed a more educated work force – all the lower level manufacturing jobs that paid reasonable wages are moving out of the country. With a highly educated work force claimed Fiorito, Canada would attract manufacturers.
 Vince Fiorito, Green Party candidate looking over a piece of equipment left in the Sheldon Creek by a construction crew years ago. Citizenship – is it a right or a privilege? Canada now has a situation where a young man, born in Canada, whose parents came to Canada from Pakistan, will be deported when he complete a prison sentence for terrorist activities. They can do that is the question most Canadians ask.
Fiorito, Gould and Laird said citizenship is a right to anyone who is born in the country or who chooses to become a Canadian citizen.
Wallace argued that it is a right that can be taken away from a person – even if they were born in Canada.
Karina Gould wanted to make an important point about the separation of powers that the government was getting into but the 90 second response time was just not enough to explain what is believed by many to be an important point. Citizenship is something we are given at birth – others apply for citizenship and are accepted.
Each candidate was given 90 seconds to sum up – for Wallace it was about competency and he said Stephen Harper was the most competent person to lead the country.
Karina Gould said the country deserved better leadership and was dismissive of Harper’s leadership.
The Cogeco discussion is being re-broadcast on channel 23 and 700 at:
October 4 at 8PM
October 5 at 7PM
October 8 at 2PM
The Canadian Federation of University Woman are holding their all candidate event this evening, Monday October 5th at Central High School.
 By Pepper Parr
October 5th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Membership has its privileges – The Art Gallery of Burlington launched their fall season with a members only reception that had the xx artists in the fall program on hand to chat up their work and answer questions.
 Laurin’s work plays with family and found photographs that he reinterprets In Spirit
In Spirit presents the work of Timothy Laurin, John Latour and Heather Murray. Timothy Laurin’s work plays with family and found photographs that he reinterprets. His practice focuses on identity and memory and how one informs the other and keep in flux one’s sense of self.
John Latour’s text-based art, sculpture, and found photography highlight the ways in which we connect with the past, and how this uniquely human activity is mediated through words, objects, and images. Heather Murray is influenced by her rural backdrop and creates diligently and enthusiastically out of her haunted historical studio in Owen Sound Ontario.
This exhibition is co-curated by Virginia Eichhorn, Tom Thomson Art Gallery, and Denis Longchamps, Art Gallery of Burlington. The exhibition will run from September 19, 2015 to November 15, 2015.
Co-curation with the Tom Thomson Art Gallery is not small potatoes.
 Drawn from the AGB’s Permanent Collection of Contemporary Canadian Ceramics, five artists – Bruce Cochrane, Reid Flock, Harlan House, Ruth Gowdy McKinley, and Kayo O’Young demonstrate their mastery over the medium. Not to be missed. Thrown
While the thrown vessel is the most common ceramic form, great skill is required to achieve total control in the medium. Once this level of skill is reached, the artist can then either create ever more complex forms or loosen up and relax. Drawn from the AGB’s Permanent Collection of Contemporary Canadian Ceramics, five artists – Bruce Cochrane, Reid Flock, Harlan House, Ruth Gowdy McKinley, and Kayo O’Young demonstrate their mastery over the medium.
The permanent collection is gem that is all too often hidden – it was what validates the existence of the gallery – the rest of the country just hasn’t discovered it yet.
Curated by Jonathan Smith, the exhibition will run from September 19, 2015 to December 31, 2015 in the Perry Gallery.
 a snapshot of one of the collages “5 Glasses” featuring a photo of artist Clive Tucker surrounded by five different types of glasses. Click. Clip. Paste.
Jonathan Smith presents fifteen of his photo-collages ranging from the earliest created around 1997, to the latest one hung while the glue was still wet. Friends and family of the artist act as his models in this show.
The presence of the artist is suggested through his reflection with his eyeglasses or drinking glasses located in the foreground. Each work follows a set of formal principles: a grid is used for the collage composition following concerns of proportions, dynamic tensions and lines. The photos however were taken without any planned composition in mind. Many are captured at a table sharing a meal, at other times the models pose for the purpose of creating a collage.
Smith is the curator of the permanent collection. He has been with the AGB for 25 years and is an artist in his own right. The showing of his personal work in an exhibition was part of the thank you from the gallery board. Well deserved.
The exhibition is on until October 18, 2015 in the RBC Community Gallery.
 The AGB is going to use the corridor spaces to focus on regional work from different parts of the country. This preserve jar is a prairie contribution. Amber Fields of Grain
The wide open spaces of the Canadian Prairies have been home to a great many well-known Canadian ceramic artists. Beside such great functional potters like Robert Archambeau, the Prairies have produced its own particular brand of sculpture, “Prairies’ Funk” that was created by such notables as Joe Fafard and Victor Cicansky. The Wild West has its own unique culture that is explored, often with great humour and insight that reflects the wide open spaces of the plains.
This is an ongoing 2015-2016 exhibition curated by AGB Permanent Collection Curator, Jonathan Smith.
The Gallery is open to the public:
Monday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday – Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 12 noon – 5:00 pm
Admission is free
 By Ray Rivers
October 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Ray Rivers has been writing a column on political issues in the province and across the country. The Gazette asked Rivers to drop his regular column and write instead on what took place during the week. This is his fourth column on the federal election and what has transpired to date.
The polls are starting to widen as Canadians begin the process of finally making up their minds. The Liberals are trending up and the NDP down, as the two parties have virtually swapped positions from the start of the campaign. Atlantic Canada is consistently showing red and the prairies blue, but Quebec, Ontario and B.C. are still very much in play.
What were the issues that got the electorate to this point?
The Munk debate on international issues was by far the best debate of the campaign followed by Friday’s French language debate in Quebec, thanks in part to the skilled moderation of these events. It is unfortunate that so-called ‘wedge’ issues have come to override the debate of serious issues at this late date in the campaign.
 The niquab – it is being made into an object of fear rather than a part of religious dress for some people. It has also become a fashion statement for some woman. One of those wedgies is Mr. Harper’s promise to ban the ‘Niqab’, a simple woman’s head garment, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that a ban is unconstitutional. It is superfluous the Court says. Everyone is already required to show their face for identity and photographs prior to the actual swearing-in. Further, security is ensured through background checks and signatures, making the Niqab debate such a non-issue.
The PM is ‘full of baloney’ on this issue, according to those who meter these things. But more important is his shameless misleading of the Canadian public. Another wedge issue, also in play, is the annulment of a person’s citizenship.
The loss of citizenship is the last thing the group of 18 Toronto terrorists will regret as they rot in prison for the rest of their lives. But isn’t this a slippery slope – removing the rights of citizenship for some bad actors begs the question – why stop there?
 Citizenship ceremonies take place across the country – they are proud moments for those participating. Citizenship is a serious matter. Don’t we need to have a serious discussion about making it two-tiered, and conditional on the whim of a desperate PM, in the midst of an election campaign? One of those 18 being ‘de-citizened’ was born in Canada, with parents who long ago renounced their original citizenships to become Canadians. Where would Mr. Harper deport him to if he weren’t already headed to a Canadian prison for the rest of his life?
But the really big story this week is the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) which the PM is determined to sign, without debate, even as we sunset this election campaign. Encompassing 40% of global gross domestic product, this agreement is the mother of all trade deals. Yet over the last couple of decades so many tariff barriers have been whittled down such that other factors, for example exchange rates, can be more of a stimulus or impediment to trade.
We know that Canada’s auto parts and supply-managed agricultural industries are at risk from this deal. New Zealand, one of the instigators of the TPP, wants to sell its surplus industrial milk powder into our markets. And if they get a toehold into our supply managed systems, the US is chomping at the bit to dump its subsidized fluid milk onto our grocery counters, putting at least some of our dairy farmers out of business. Oh, and many US dairy producers use a nasty growth hormone which is banned in this country.
But, despite our health laws, we will have to allow American milk companies to sell their milk here because the TPP is really about investor power, about ensuring market access for investors and transnational corporations.
Twenty years ago the world rejected corporate globalization through something called MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment), a contract by which nations would surrender much of their domestic sovereignty to corporations. Now it sure looks like the MAI is back in sheep’s clothing.
 NAFTA, the template for so many of these ‘free-trade’ deals, already allows international companies to sue governments if they feel their right to sell into a market is impeded. And the TPP will supplant NAFTA, adding even more parties to the deal and bringing sovereign national rules and regulations over the economy, environment and social policy to their lowest common denominator. This is the perfect business model for non-interventionist governments – those which believe that government should stay out of trying to regulate its way to a better future, as the current one does, leaving that role to the business community,.
Of course the devil will be in the TPP details, and that makes this deal a pig-in-a-poke. ‘Trust me’ to look after the interest of Canadians,’ is what the PM is saying. And if you listen to the folks in Quebec or Newfoundland, who have been burned by this government on previous trade concessions in the dairy and fisheries industries, that trust is a breach of faith.
Canada’s embrace of free trade over the last decade has coincided with the loss of 400,000 manufacturing jobs and led, in part, to Canada scoring a record trade deficit this year.
 Is there a really Canadian beer company left? Moosehead – that is a Canadian Major Canadian entities like Inco, Alcan, Stelco, and our beer companies have been swallowed up by foreign conglomerates, and in some cases, as with Stelco, shut down to reduce competition for their international parents.
The theory of comparative advantage, that pillar of free trade economic logic, has allowed this government to regress Canada’s once balanced economy. We have almost become the hewers and drawers of natural resources, which we were at confederation. Without the resilience of a balanced economy we find ourselves at the mercy of the international commodity markets and their inherent booms and busts.
But perhaps the real reason the US has fallen in love with the TPP is China. Having surpassed the USA, China is now the largest economy on the planet, something which unnerves political nationalists stateside. So the TPP, which includes 11 nations, but not China, will help to contain the ‘waking dragon’ by drawing an economic curtain around it in the Pacific Ocean.
Given the cloud of secrecy surrounding this TPP deal, it is unclear how much of a role Canada played in its design and in negotiating its terms so as to protect our economy. Since it will replace NAFTA as it steamrolls its way forward, we may have no choice but to get on board. Still, why the rush and all the secrecy? Shouldn’t the public be given a chance to see and comment before we sign onto to something as awesome as this huge trade pact?
Tom Mulcair says he’d tear up the TPP if it endangers our supply management systems. Justin Trudeau, whose father established our supply management systems, promises to defend the farmers if elected.
Mr. Harper, who prides himself on having shut down the Wheat Board has no such affection for supply management, though it would be political suicide for him to say so, especially during an election campaign. So what about it, can we trust 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:
Niqab Baloney Citizenship Process
Toronto 18
Nenshi and the Niqab
French Language Debate TPP Winner and Losers TPP Dairy
TPP Negotiations TPP Explainer TPP Secrecy MAI
The US Position TPP Investment More TPP Investment Supply Management Fisheries
More Fisheries Export Deficit Overnight Polls
 By Staff
October 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
 Is there a cold winter coming our way?
September had some wonderful fall days – then suddenly it was gone and the winds were a little more brisk and had a trace of a chill in them as well.
Leslie Bullock – snapped a picture of the high winds late Saturday afternoon and shared it with friends – and we are sharing it with you.
What does the Farmer’s Almanac have to say – because that water looks cold.
By Staff
October 3, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On Friday October 1st, at approximately 2:37pm, members of the Halton Regional Police Service were called to an apartment located at 1285 Ontario Street in the City of Burlington in response to a verbal argument between the occupants inside one of the apartments. Police received further information that one of the occupants had armed themselves with a knife.
Members of the Halton Regional Police Tactical Rescue Unit officers attended and were able to resolve the incident which resulted in no injury to either of the involved persons.
A 45 year old female Burlington resident has been arrested for offences that include:
-assault
-assault with a weapon
-forcible confinement
-uttering a threat
The accused was held in custody for a bail hearing. She will appear before WASH court (weekends and statutory holidays) on October 3rd 2015.
Anyone with information that would assist in this investigation is asked to contact Detective Joe Barr at 905-825-4747 extension 2385 of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Pepper Parr
October 2, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Editor’s note: Invitational seating is limited and has already reached capacity…sorry, no more guests!
During the city Council meeting earlier this week, ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster chaired as Deputy Mayor while the real Mayor was in Chine – we still don’t know why – a list of names of organizations was read out announcing that it was whatever the name of the organization month.
The media tend to take these announcements with a bit of a yawn – every organization seems to have its day at some point during the year.
It is only when we pause and say “I know that person” that some attention gets paid.
 Michael Swartz is being recognized by the Canadian Diabetes Association as its “National Volunteer of the Year. I know that man.
This isn’t the time or place to explain the circumstances under which media came to know Mike Swartz and his wife Janice Connell rather it is an opportunity to learn more about what he has done in the community.
Mike is for the most part a quiet person – he has done well materially in life and has served as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and with the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) in a variety of roles over the past twelve years.
The reception to honour and recognize him will take place at the Art Gallery of Burlington in the Fireside Room at 10:30 am on Saturday.
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