 August 30, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. The water along the shore might be messed up with blue green algae and gas prices are said to be ready to touch $1.36 a litre but RibFest will start – so it can’t be all bad – can it?
Royal Botanical Gardens is going to hold the Teddy Bear Picnic, Royal Botanical Gardens between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to join the Teddy Bear Picnic. Don’t forget to bring your favourite furry friend.
 Ribfest Burlington – said to be the biggest in the province. Ribfest runs from Friday, August 3oth to Monday Sept. 2. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday.
Weather: Saturday is expected to see a bit of rain, maybe a bit on Sunday as well but Monday is predicted to be sunny but a little cooler than the seasonal norm.
The nut cases will be on the highways – watch out for them. Stay off your Smart phone – it is smarter than you are but hasn’t yet figured out how to tell you that you can’t drive and work one of the things.
There are plenty of activities for all ages at city parks and recreation facilities including pools, arenas and community centres. Hours and program times vary over the long weekend. For information, get on over to the city website.
Burlington Transit will be operating a holiday service schedule on Monday, Sept. 2. The administration offices, including the downtown transit terminal will be closed.
Parking: Free parking is available in the downtown core at all meters, municipal lots and the parking garage on Monday, Sept. 2. The waterfront parking lots (east and west) do not provide free parking on statutory holidays.
What’s Closed: Holiday hours will be in effect for some city programs and services over the long weekend. City Hall: Burlington City Hall will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2 and will reopen on Tuesday, Sept.3.
The Burlington Art Centre is closed but the Art Etc Gallery Shop is open seven days a week. If Burlington plans on becoming culturally relevant – the Art Centre will want to think about being open on holidays.
Tourism office is open.
The Performing Arts Centre is, as they say in show business – dark for the weekend.
Provincial Offences Courts will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2.
 Teddy Bear Picnic at the RBG If you want to close out the month with a bang and make a really significant career change – Saturday is the last day to get your application in to become one of the people who will settle on Mars . I’m not kidding – so far 7000 Canadians have decided this earth is too much for them and they want to live in a colony on the red planet. Check it out.
 August 30, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. The Ontario Association of Art Galleries (OAAG) has listed the Burlington Art Centre as one of 28 public art galleries in 20 cities across Ontario nominated for its 36th annual Ontario visual arts awards. OAAG will announce the winners at a ceremony on Friday, September 27, 2013 in Toronto.
The awards are annual, province-wide, juried art gallery awards of artistic merit and excellence. They recognize the new exhibitions, publications, programs and community partnerships that have been commissioned by and produced by Ontario’s public art galleries over the previous year.
 Denis Longchamps, the male on the right, and the recently appointed Director of Programs at the Burlington Art centre took part in the public consultation meeting to determine what the Action Plan should be for the next phase in the creation of a Cultural Plan for the city. While Denis Longchamps is now the current Director of Programs, it is the work of Jonathan Smith, Curator of the permanent collection, who should probably get the nod for getting the BAC on the nomination list this year.
Smith got himself as part of the city’s collection when he had a fob from a pocket watch he owns cast as one of the bronze sheets that are part of the Spiral Stella outside the Performing Arts Centre.
Getting nominated for an award is not the only news at the BAC. Ian Ross, until very recently the Executive Director of the BAC advises that he is now known as the President and CEO of the place. His Board didn’t attach any additional money to the title but they did pay for the printing of new business cards. He has yet to change the title on the web site yet.
Ross announced that changes are being made in the organizational structure of the place. When you’re the CEO you get to do that. “There will be a Director of Enterprise, a position that will pull together many of the jobs that reach out to the community” explained Ross. “Membership will come under the direction of whoever is brought in for this job as well as art rentals and media.” Relations with the corporate community are also expected to be part of this position.
 One of the best pieces of property west of the downtown core. Is this the best use for this location? The BAC is also the result of considerable speculation as to just how long they will continue to be located on the current site. The structure needs a considerable amount of upgrading to its plant and the building doesn’t exactly make the best use of the land it sits upon.
Burlington’s city manager has mused in the past about making better use of the assets the city has and the BAC is certainly a major asset on a prime piece of property. The Guild’s that get the credit for bringing the BAC into existence 35 years ago might have something to say about any ideas city hall may have about “re-aligning” that asset.
The fall programs will start soon; those Saturday morning art classes are one of the best offerings in the city. Check them out on the BAC website.
 August 29, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. Halton Region’s Health Department is advising residents to avoid swimming and wading in the waters at Beachway Park and LaSalle Park in Burlington and Bronte Beach Park in Oakville because blue-green algae (BGA) have been identified at these locations.
Residents are also advised not to eat fish caught in these areas and not to let pets play in or drink the water.
Halton’s drinking water is not affected and continues to be safe.
 Blue green algae tends to float near the surface and wave action brings it close to shore. Its colour makes it very easy to identify. Exposure to the algae causes skin irritation. Some BGA have the potential to produce toxins or skin irritants. Adverse health effects from BGA are mainly related to ingestion of BGA-contaminated water or skin irritation and itching from skin contact with BGA-contaminated water.
 Wave action brings the algae close to shore. As a precaution, signs have been posted to warn beach users.
“Conditions at the beaches can change from one day to the next,” stated Dr. Monir Taha, Halton Region Associate Medical Officer of Health. “We encourage residents to visit our website for up to date information.”
If you have been swimming or wading in these waters and feel unwell, please visit your physician or walk-in clinic.
 Hamilton put up these lines in an attempt to hold back the algae in parts of their waterfront. The picture was tweeted from Hamilton Algae is something that is in the water most of the time. Run off from heavy rains will flush phosphates into the streams and hot sunshine causes the algae to breed just that much faster.
It’s natural – its there – at times it just gets a little out of control.
For more information, dial 311 or visit the Region’s website.
 August 29, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. If there was a platform that the Artists Collective wanted to put forward – and there is one – it didn’t show much of its head at the first public consultation meeting on the creation of a Cultural Action Plan based on the consultant’s report the city now has in hand.
 The Artists Collective was very clear – they want the Parks and Recreation people out of the culture business. They want people with training on something other than a trampoline, preferably with degrees in the arts and practical experience as well. Jim Riley, an artist who was in the room last night, made a significant point when he said online that “he noticed the table Trevor was at managed to present some of the platform of this collective. I recall one other table bringing forward some aspect of the platform”
The artists heard city general manager Kim Phillips correctly when she said they need not bother to show up at the second public consultation at Tansley Woods if they were in attendance last night.
 Teresa Seaton, centre, does the deep think with others during the public consultation on the Cultural Action Plan Teresa Seaton, a stained glass artist who was a prime player in the creation of the ten year old Art in Action program, that gives more to emerging artists in the way of financial support than the city does, asks: Are we really not allowed to go to the next consultation? Funny!
The artists need to learn how to make their case and to do so as forcefully as they need to – or the “gymnasts” will continue to do what they’ve been doing for the past five years.
Many felt it was great that the mayor stayed for the entire event.
 Trevor Copp, the Burlington actor who mobilized the arts into a Collective makes a point on leadership while Executive Director of the Burlington Museum’s operation listens. It was a decently attended meeting – but decent attendance isn’t going to change the way city hall thinks. Art and culture is not something that has a foothold in Burlington yet. The positive note is that the artists now realize this and they have organized and are pushing back. Push harder – or you will lose.
What did transpire?
The meeting was organized into working groups with people at different tables working through different subjects.
The city wanted to know what the artists thought in terms of vision at one table; the creation of cultural nodes was the topic at another, leadership and funding at another.
The discussion was solid for the most part. We did hear the word “proactive” used very often – but no one seemed sure what was really meant by the word. One artist made a point of asking that question: “What do we mean when we say we want to be proactive?”
The artists want to be sure that they define the word and that city hall understands and accepts the definition they create.
While it was a good meting the city failed to allow participants to adequately prepare for the meeting. There was a 25 page report that set out work plans for six key areas of focus each of which had a number of deliverables and initiatives embedded in it.
 Brian McCurdy, newly appointed Executive Director of the Performing Arts Centre got a chance to bend the Mayor’s ear. Many were impressed that the Mayor stayed for the full evening. Few realized his wife was there taking part as an accomplished artist in her own right. Three year action plans, basic review criteria and five-year goals were set out in the document. The consultant Jeremy Freiburger at CoBALT Connects, also set out what they felt was the core financial investment required and key shareholder contributions where possible.
It was patently unfair to expect those attending to give what is a key document for the development of a Cultural Action Plan the time and attention it needed when they get to a meeting. Some members of the Artists Collective did have a copy of the report – but many had never seen the thing. Yes, it was on the city’s web site – and if you found it, you were fortunate. The city is still working through the development of its e-gov initiative – they’re not there yet.
 Jeremy Freiburger, the consultant who wrote the Cultural Plan and provided a lengthy set of recommendations, is probably the best cultural thinker west of Toronto and could hold his own with anyone in Toronto. He is credited with the creation of the Arts Walk event in Burlington. No one is sure just how much of his report will make it into the budget. Freiburger set things out for the city in plain clear language in his recommendations. It is now up to the city to decide what it wants to do. Public consultations are being held – the first was last night – they city is going to need to be much more inclusive and find a way to reach out to a wider audience. The Artists Collective has organized themselves more effectively – now, and they need to learn one key lesson: bureaucrats do not like to give up any power they have.
There is hope however. City Hall and City Council found that they could not manage the Heritage file and they basically outsourced that to the Heritage Advisory Committee. If the Artists can convince the Mayor and the city manager and then a majority of the council members there is a hope.
In the opening remarks to his recommendations Freiburger said:
Focus Areas: The focus areas were chosen to address the needs and desires we felt were most paramount in the community. While we acknowledge that there are other issues that could have been formally addressed in this plan we felt it was important to give you a plan that was achievable and targeted. A plan that provides an exhaustive list of options and actions only provides room for distraction and misalignment. We feel that if the community focuses on these core issues, other successes and resources will follow.
Timeline: Similar to the focus areas, we felt that providing a plan that was tied to a realistic timeline was essential. Oftentimes, as evidenced in the Internal Literature Review of this process, 10-year plans get lost within the hectic schedules of your organizations and the municipality. It’s all too easy to lose sight of a 10- year goal, but a goal within the next 12 months must remain top of mind. We also feel that plans with longer durations mean less and less to Council as they shift. Creating a shorter timeframe in which Council, staff and stakeholders can show ownership and see action is key.
 It was vision and cultural courage that got this piece of art outside the Arts Centre. The artists in the city are going to have to bring the vision to city hall and press hard for the cultural courage that will be needed to make the city a place with a cultural base. Vision: Through the recommendations provided we aim to see Burlington become a community that provides clear leadership on cultural development. Throughout its history Burlington has made strong choices to support the development of incredible facilities like the ones you manage, unique programs like Student Theatre and Teen Tour Band, great festivals, incredible outdoor spaces and a network libraries and community centres that rival any in the country. In our opinion your next strategic choices are about leadership, collaboration and community.
Throughout this process we did not only identify issues; we also connected with opportunity. Almost every citizen or artist, parent or cultural provider, business or politician we met offered possible solutions, expertise and ideas on moving the cultural yardstick forward. No one asked not to be further engaged.
With this in mind the principle gaps we see as paramount are essentially human resources and communication. The willingness is in the community – be that at Council, in neighbourhoods, or boardrooms. Everyone wants an opportunity to participate if they feel the request is realistic, supported and genuine. With a commitment to human resources focused on development, sustainability and communication we feel Burlington’s cultural community will thrive.
Finally, we want to impress upon you that this is not a plan for just the municipality to enact. Where possible we’ve given roles and responsibilities to cultural and non-cultural bodies, residents, City staff, artist and residents alike. We also set goals on the engagement of other funders, business partners and the creative/cultural industry as a whole to bring this plan to fruition.
As you review these recommendations know that they are just that – recommendations. You’re free to explore new ideas, reshape these concepts or add additional initiatives. We hope you’ve found our approach thorough, creative and inclusive and we look forward to working with you as you take the City of Burlington Cultural Action Plan through its final stages.
There is much more to say on this file.
Stay tuned.
 August 29, 2013
By Ray Rivers
BURLINGTON, ON. Let’s debunk the nonsense about the high cost of renewable energy in Ontario. Gord Miller, Ontario’s Independent Environmental Commissioner, estimated that, for 2010, the total cost for wind and solar was a mere 3% of a household’s total ‘energy used’. Since your household bill includes other charges, such as delivery and debt recovery,that translates into just over one percent.
 There are thousands of small solar panel installations like this across the province – they work very well and in many cases provide revenue for the owners. So, McGuinty’s Green Energy Act is not why your hydro bill keeps climbing and it’s certainly not going to bankrupt the province, as the scare mongers would have you believe. That rising tide of hydro bills has to do with more mundane matters like updating, improving, maintaining and expanding our grid infrastructure; and building new power plants even as electricity demand has been falling.
Yes, there is the half-billion dollars, or so, wasted on the cancelled gas plants – but that pales with what we’ve spent on the nukes. Professor Jose Etcheverry, with the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University, sums up Ontario’s nuclear experience as “it always costs much more and takes longer than originally budgeted”. He points out that $1 billion is being shelled out to consultants just to estimate the cost of fixing our newest nuclear plant at Darlington. And like the cancelled gas plants we won’t see a kilowatt of energy out of that money.
Canada was proud to be only the second nation ever when, in 1945, we achieved a self-sustaining chain reaction with a tiny reactor at Chalk River, Ontario. But it was only seven years later, in 1952 when Chalk River became the site of Canada’s first nuclear accident. And there was another one in 1958, and then there have been three more serious Canadian accidents after that. Fortunately there were no direct fatalities from any of these mishaps.
As the professor points out, Ontario’s experiment with nuclear power has been costly. And there is still no plan or budget to deal with the nuclear waste we have been storing on-site in big pools, pools like the ones at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant. Leaking radioactive water from that disabled plant, now the worst nuclear accident in history, is a real environmental concern, which nobody should take lightly as we watch the poisonous plume of seawater approach the shores of North America.
Ontario is a pretty stable seismic location to situate something like a nuclear plant. But it wasn’t the earthquake which caused the crisis in Japan, it was the flooding tidal wave. And if we learned anything this year, it is that we, too, are powerless against floods when nature decides to unleash its furry. Then, there is always the chance that something else will go wrong as it did at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl or at Chalk River. And what about the chance that some terrorist makes her way inside the reactor building?
 Ontario has a number of nuclear energy reactors – they were expensive to build and are very expensive to maintain. We get half of our electricity in this province from nuclear energy and the facilities have been pretty reliable of late. But we know there will be more problems, requiring even more money to be poured into these reactors as they age and decay. And then there are the unknown costs of eventually decommissioning the plants and the contaminated sites they sit on. So the chattering class of pundits, taking shots at renewable energy as being too expensive, are either lying to us or have their heads stuck where the sun doesn’t shine.
Speaking of the sun, I installed a solar panel last year. Imagine how much different our power needs would be if everybody had one of those on their roof. Sure, you need to back-up these renewable sources with gas plants, at least until the engineers can get their act together and develop ways of storing surplus energy – with capacitors or hydrogen gas or something else. And there will always be some bean-counter crying ‘unreliable’ or ‘inefficient’ when she spots below-capacity generation on a cloudy and calm day – but that is the nature of the beast. These systems only work when the conditions permit, but work they do.
Wind turbines and solar panels are as safe as electrical generation gets – something we can never say about a nuclear chain reaction. And the costs of buying, installing, maintaining and de-commissioning renewables are relatively inexpensive. I know there are people who give themselves stress headaches, worrying about a wind turbine, half a kilometer away, producing a whoosh of wind only they can hear. But really they need to get a grip – for example, they should take comfort in knowing a wind mill will never threaten them with the China Syndrome.
 Ray Rivers earned an economics degree at the University of Western Ontario, taught in New Zealand and earned a Master’s degree in economics at the University of Ottawa. His 25 year stint with the federal government included time with Environment, Fisheries and Oceans, Agriculture and the Post office. Rivers is active with ratepayers groups, a food bank, environmental organizations, community journalism and policing. He has run for municipal and provincial government offices and held executive positions with Liberal Party riding associations.
 August 29, 2013
By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. For what is seen as the traditional last weekend when you can swim for as long as you want and not have to even think about getting back to work or school the next day – the public beaches along the lake are not particularly inviting.
The Region’s Water testing reports – well the results are below. Not all that good.
Both the Beachway Beaches and the small Beach at the foot of Brant Street are deemed to be unsafe – you certainly don’t want to gulp down any of that water. Acton and Milton are the only places where the water is deemed safe. The lake is not being nice to us this weekend – and that would be because we have not been nice to the lake.
Feeding those geese is a large part of the problem.
 August 28, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. Construction equipment is on site and holes are being dug in the ground as ADI Developments begin building the three-story condo on Guelph Line between Mainway and Upper Middle Road.
 The roof top deck and shared amenity was an interesting addition. Will the noise from the QEW take anything away from the space? It’s an attractive looking building with considerable thought as to how parking would be handled and the way people would use the amenities that are part of the structure. The roof top lounge on such a small building was an interesting add-on.
 They looked like perfectly good trees that would have enhanced the development – but they got cut down. As nice as the Guelph Line project is going to be – it could have been even nicer had more thought been given to keeping the number of perfectly good trees. ADI, although new to Burlington, has picked up on the ability to cut trees down when some effort could keep perfectly good trees in place.
We asked the developer to comment on why several trees were cut down but did not get a response.
 Ground broken – move in dates can’t be far off. The project on Guelph Line is basically sold out and with construction underway ADI has another project which is about to go through the planning process. The group made a presentation at a public meeting held at city hall to show the public what they had in mind for the Sutton Road and Dundas part of town – at the top of what we know as The Orchard.
ADI, a company run by twin brothers supported by a father who has considerable development experience, seem prepared to take some risks when it comes to design. Burlington developers tend to stick with the familiar and not design building that fall far outside the tried and true buildings of the past.
Drive along Maple to get a sense of what Burlington has come to expect. Devoid of design sums up those structures.
The plans, and that’s all they are at this point, were made public. Now the developers have to get a sense of what the reaction is going to be and can they be sold – in a reasonable amount of time.
The Guelph Line project sold quickly enough.
 An early architects rendering of what the ADI Development Group thought they wanted to do with the Dundas-Sutton project. The look of the project and the price point both underwent a change. What started out as the LINK Condos+Towns project appears to be morphing into something with the name Bronte Creek in it. The design appears to be going through a number of changes as well. This project has an edgy look and feel to it. ADI design is always a cut above what others bring to market and are usually priced comfortably. They were talking of starts at $160,000 but that got bumped to $170,000.
 Second design has a deck for residential use – a feature ADI has on another of its buildings – and parking at the ground level. Retail will be built into the ground level as well. Very short walk to Bronte Creek. The project has a unique second level deck – garden arrangement that creates a lot of open air space available to all the residents and puts the parking underneath on a lower level.
No dates yet on when this project will break ground. It got a decent community response at the public meeting. Site approval should go smoothly.
 August 28, 2013
By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON Halton Police are searching for a man reportedly seen masturbating in a complex on Maple Crossing Blvd in Burlington. On August 28, 2013 at about 3:15 am, police received a report of a man who entered a backyard and peered through the window of a residence in the complex. It appeared the male was masturbating before he was seen leaving the yard on foot. He is described as male white, early 30’s, 5’6, 180 lbs, short brown hair wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans.
That this wasn’t captured on a cell phone camera is a missed YouTube moment.
Police would like to take this opportunity to remind residents to not only secure their homes but also to lock yard gates and report suspicious people in their neighbourhood to police.
Any person with information related to this investigation are encouraged to contact the Three District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext 2315, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting ‘Tip201’ with your message to 274637(crimes).
 August 27, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. The natives are restless. The tom-tom drums are beating. Smoke clouds are being used to spread the message:
There’s a storm coming – a storm of colour and light and sound. August 28, 6:30pm at the Burlington Art Centre. The City is holding a public consultation for the Cultural Action Plan: come and get soaked, was the language used by the newly formed Artists and Cultural Collective that was organized to ensure that the voice of the people who “do” culture was heard.
 Jeremy Freiburger, author of the Cultural Plan for the city has extensive connections within the arts community and is credited with the creation of the Arts Walk in Hamilton. Will his report make it through the city hall bureaucracy? Burlington got the Cultural Plan they commissioned CoBALT Connects to do for the princely sum of $100,000 +. Now they are going out to the public for a response.
The Artists Collective has taken exception to the approach the city has put in place – they argue that there isn’t a real, living breathing artist on the Steering Committee, that is conducting the public consultation. In the past the artists have formed their own small groups and griped or complained about how they were treated. The big dollars and all the energy went into putting up buildings and now we have a Performing Arts Centre that theatre groups can’t afford to use.
 City General Manager Kim Phillips, who now has the cultural file on her desk, will need to pull hard in a number of directions to produce a report that satisfies the artists and can get approved by a city council that isn’t big on the arts in general. Lip service is the order of the day for this city when it comes to culture. The Artists take exception to a situation at city hall, where people with physical education backgrounds in the Parks and Recreation department oversee culture. The artists feel they are neither heard, understood or represented. They want to see a change and have set out five points they maintain are essential in any cultural action plan city hall staff send along to Council.
The artists collective has created a bulletin board their members use to communicate electronically and posted five points for their members to consider and take to the public consultation meetings.
The recommendations from the now 200+ strong organization were developed at a number of Town Hall meetings held during the summer when they identified five top goals for any Cultural Action Plan.
The five recommendations from the Collective are:
1. A distinct Arts & Culture department within the City. We require focused leadership for Arts & Culture from within the City to function effectively. This is primarily a restructuring of existing City elements – grouping Art in Public Places, Festivals And Events, Tourism, Teen Tour Band, Student Theatre together – along with 2 FTEs reporting directly to a General Manager within the City by the end of 2014.
One appointed, the head of the new Department – who should be a qualified and experienced Arts & Culture administrator – would have the initial task is to gather input and research towards point 2:
2. A funded external, arm’s-length Arts Council. This is a tricky and key point to moving forward. It requires a balanced representation of Arts & Culture makers in the City and needs to have clear sustainability plan in place in order to succeed. It’s precise role and model would be based on the research, input, and recommendation of the new Arts & Culture department in partnership with the Arts & Culture Collective.
With grassroots support and an infrastructure developed in partnership with the City, this external arm’s-length Council can effectively optimize the Arts & Culture of Burlington. We would look for this plan to be developed over 2014-2015 and receive approval as a part of the 2015 budget.
These two elements – an internal and external organizations – would end the history of isolation and fracturing that has characterized Arts & Culture in Burlington. This partnership could then advocate and address our remaining top concerns in 2015 and beyond.
3. Grants for Arts & Culture makers in the City. Develop a grant program to support Artists and achieve the City’s economic and cultural goals. In order to make this an innovative city investment in Artists are necessary.
4. Space. Spaces for Arts & Culture activities are too expensive and too few – we need significantly better rates, more space for us to realize our aims.
5. Review the Bylaws and Permits. Existing Bylaw and Permit systems are making Arts & Culture events and business ventures prohibitive. Better systems will ensure accessibility for private and public developments.
Laudable and certainly debatable – it will be interesting to hear how the city types responds to these.
 Trevor Copp talks with Angela Paparizo during the unveiling of the Spiral Stella at the Performing Arts Centre earlier in the week. Trevor Copp operates a professional theatre company, Tottering Biped Theatre and was the instigator and prime mover of the Collective. When he became aware that the city had deferred a meeting to discuss a Cultural Plan it had been holding for some time he started to organize and rally the arts community to present a unified front.
 Teresa Seaton, a stained glass artist has been a prime mover behind the annual Art in Action tour – and is now part of the newly formed Arts and Culture Collective. Copp argues that the arts have never been given the kind of attention they need and that the focus has been on bricks and mortar. The city currently has one person with training working on the arts file – half time. Copp sees the Collective as a “common place for the artistic voice of Burlington. Musicians, photographers, visual artists, writers, culinary artists… all are welcome! Consider this the “unofficial Arts Council” board of Burlington!”
Teresa Seaton, a stained glass artist and a long time arts advocate wonders aloud when Burlington can take part in the provincially directed Art Days that take place in many communities across Ontario where a 3 day-long, annual collaborative pan-Canadian volunteer movement takes place pulling together all the cultural threads in a community.
 There is some international standard art produced in Burlington – the city is looking for a way to create a Cultural Action Plan to build on the successes. Are the right people in place to do this? Two years ago the Art in Action people, who hold an annual studio tour were told they had to get a license for each of the studio location the public was invited to tour. Artists working out of their homes were lumped in with people going door to door selling aluminum siding or driveway sealing services. The artists felt the city should be encouraging the development of their community rather than seeing them as a source of permit revenue.
The city now has a new Executive Director at the Performing Arts Centre who brings a strong reputation for being able to see the bigger picture and create a sense of community and direction for the arts. In Kingston where he last served, Brian McCurdy was referred to as the cultural guru; that is certainly something Burlington could use. The city has never had a clear sense as to what it is culturally. It seemed to feel that once the Performing Arts Centre was built the job was done – the artists have organized themselves to tell the city that art and culture is not about buildings – it is about people expressing themselves through different art forms – not something that comes easily to a city that grew out of farm land that produced apples, pears and peppers.
Burlington has been the soil from which very significant groups have emerged – but they left town just as soon as they had strong enough legs to get to the GO station. From time to time they come back and entertain us. Copp would like to change that and hopes he can be part of a movement that makes it possible for artists to earn a living here – now.
For its part city hall wants to now create a Cultural Action Plan that it can take to Council. Staff wants to produce a document that includes a vision, leadership, communication, cultural nodes, local investment, including support for individual artists and emerging organizations and events along with some way to measure the results of the city’s efforts.
What bothers the artists is that the people heading up the public consultations are not artists – they are bureaucrats who, the Artists Collective don’t feel understand how art works and what it needs to be grown.
The city has organized two public meetings; one at the Burlington Art Centre this evening and a second meeting at Tansley Woods on Thursday, September 12, Community Rooms 2 and 3.
These are going to be interesting meetings.
The results will go to a Council meeting in October – at a time when council members are beginning to hunker down for the municipal election in 2014. This Council couldn’t agree on creating bike lanes on Lakeshore Road and wasn’t able to get a private tree bylaw in place because they felt it offended too many people.
If they couldn’t muster the courage to save the trees – is there hope for the artists?
 August 27, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. They waited years for this – seventy years to be exact but earlier this week the Canadian government formally recognized the members of Canada’s World War II bomber command by issuing a clasp that would be attached to the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.
 Awarded to all those who served as volunteers during World War II. Members of Bomber Command who are still alive will now get a clasp to go with the medal. The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal was awarded to every person of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on Active Service and honourably completed eighteen months (540 days) total voluntary service from September 3, 1939 to March 1, 1947.
Of about 50,000 Canadians who served in bomber crews during the war, nearly 11,000 died.
 Henry James Hewitt of Oshawa was one of the GTA resident who was honoured last week. Burlington veterans will be awarded their medals in due course. These men were just beyond being boys. They flew missions that were dangerous and far too many of them didn’t return. Earlier this week far too many of them were no longer alive and able to accept the recognition they deserved.
We celebrate the Battle of the Atlantic Sunday because Canada was such a vital part of that part of the fight. It was our frigates that assembled in the Bedford basin part of Halifax harbour and prepared to begin the treacherous journey across the Atlantic knowing full well that submarines lurked below the surface of those tossing seas.
 A Lancaster bomber during a run – those black marks are not clouds – they are anti-aircraft shells exploding. The men who flew the Lancaster bombers out over Germany time after time dropping bay loads of bombs on cities that were railheads for the movement of trains and troops and munitions, each time flying into a hail of anti-aircraft fire that brought down hundreds of our aircraft.
 They were so young, so willing – we lost far too many of them. The crews of those bombers were tightly knit groups who never knew when they lifted off if they were going to return to touch down.
The clasp given to these men, people from the Greater Toronto area were the first to be recognized, will be added to the medals they already have. But this little bit of medal will mean so much more to those who were part of bomber command. It was a recognition that was long past due and hopefully the Ministry of Veterans Affairs will make that special effort to ensure that every living member is found and given their clasp and that the families of those who are not with us any more are also found and given the clasp.
 August 25, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. And there it was. Burlington’s first piece of public art that was the result of a joint private benefactor, public funds sculpture sitting outside the two-year old Performing Arts Centre.
The art was the result of an idea Burlington businessman Dan Lawrie had that led to a conversation with former Centre Executive Director Brenda Heatherington, about a sculpture for the Centre. The idea worked its way to city council where they agreed to add to the generous financial contribution Lawrie had made.
 And there it was: Burlington’s Spiral Stella unveiled. That brought the city’s Public Art contractor Jeremy Freiburger into the picture. He was tasked to put together a jury to decide what should be installed. A jury was selected and a decision made. Throughout the process the public was involved and the result was a gathering of citizens on a bright sunny day, to unveil the 17 foot sculpture done for the city by New Brunswick based artist Peter Powning.
The jury, made up of Burlington Art Centre president Ian Ross, artist Trevor Copp, Emma Quin, Executive Director of the Ontario Craft Council narrowed the 119 entries down to three finalists and chose Peter Powning’s submission.
 And now the Stela gets its first public close up. Do they like what they see? Will it grow on people? Was it a good idea? The city wanted art that involved the public and that brought out the idea of a “cultural mulch”; a phrase that was as new to Burlington as it was to the artistic community. Cultural Mulch was described as “stories about who we are and where we grow.”
 People gather around to see what has been placed into the sheets of bronze that are attached to the Stela. The word was spread quickly as people photographed and “tweeted” about what they were seeing. That led to a number of sessions where Powning took plaster impressions of various artifacts the public brought in. Powning had no idea what the next person in line was going to give him. Some brought in old keys, other brought in a pair of binoculars that had belonged to their grandfather. Another person brought in a pocket watch fob while yet another brought in a ticket from the opening day of the Centre.
 The Spiral Stela was certainly getting a lot of attention from the unveiling day crowd. What was that piece, and that piece there, where did that come from. The Stela needs a close look and some time to figure out what it’s all about. There were medals and toy trucks – anything the people of Burlington thought described who they were. With the plaster impressions done Powning trucked it all back to his workshop in New Brunswick where bronze castings were made which were then attached to the stainless steel obelisk shaped structure.
The Spiral Stela is now, like the Pier, part of the city and in time the public will come to appreciate what they have outside the Centre. Jeremy Freiburger, who also wrote a Cultural Plan for the city, believes Burlington has begun a change to a more artistically sophisticated city.
Ward 2 Councillor described what had happened very well when she said “the role of public art reflects what a community is” and what is crafted into the sheets of bronze on the Spiral Stela certainly describes the city, rather proudly.
Public art was described by Dan Lawrie as a “manifestation of a community coming together” and is a lot more than a possession but rather “a collection of memories that will get passed from generation to generation. It is a perpetual memory and a permanent landmark.”
The beauty of a piece of art is usually in the eye of the beholder. When good art is made part of the public environment the understanding of what art can do and the impact art has on our daily lives goes through a transition. Some art is accepted immediately while other art is part of controversial conversations for a long time.
Peter Powning spoke later to a small audience at the Art Centre about public art and the impact it has had on his career. Powning earns his living working full-time on commissions which come from the corporate sector but is driven now to a considerable degree by the municipal sector.
 It was Dan Lawrie’s idea and his willingness to put up $37,000+ of his own money that started the process that ended with a piece of public art being unveiled outside the Performing Arts Centre. In 1983 Powning was able to convince a developer to include funding for art in a project budget. One of his early projects was a piece of art in the Market Square in St. John, New Brunswick that Powning said is “still there and holding up very well”.
The value of public art explained Powning is that it gives a community an opportunity to say who they are – to say what a locality’s destiny is. It is a cultural eruption that has value that accrues to a community.
When Powning saw the notice Burlington published for public art submissions and he looked at the site he immediately saw some very interesting potential. When he learned that the city wanted significant intense community participation Powning knew this was a project he could develop and convinced the jury he was the man to do the job.
Powning was one of three finalists out of the 119 artists who responded to the call.
 Rick Burgess, on the left with Mayor Goldring and sculpture benefactor Dan Lawrie look over the newly unveiled piece of public art. Public art explained Powning can be “serene, bold or provocative”. If it results in controversy there is growth in the thinking of a community and as long as it is not too far outside commonly accepted boundaries acceptance takes place.
Powning feels public art helps a community gets away from the “big box” culture that is dominated by a profit or loss report. Buildings are put up for profit where the objective is to keep costs down. Spending thousands of dollars on something that does not have a profit attached to it is a hard sell not only to developers but to the general public as well. If you have been following the comments about spending public money on the Freeman Station you will get a sense of how the public debate plays itself out. Pay particular attention to the comments part of the story.
The evolution of art for the public has grown from bronze statues of Kings and Queens and major public figures, usually military types to the Rebecca outside the Art Centre that is still surrounded by controversy.
 Cultural projects manager Angela Paparizo and Stela selection jury member talk about the next project for the city? Powning points out that public art has moved away from themes and is not tied down to anything specific but is now much more interpretive.
Powning convinced the public art jury to go along with his Stela approach but had no idea what he would be given by the public to work with.
As individual artifacts were put in front of him he had to make the plaster impression but at the same time listen to the story people told and remember what he heard and what he felt as he listened.
All these words and feelings were taken back to New Brunswick where the creative process began. Where should the individual artifacts be placed? Is there a theme that comes out of what he was given? Is there a theme he wants to create? What are the space limitations he has to deal with?
 Were you there? You should have been. People milled about and asked questions and talked about this newest addition to the city’s cultural fabric. “There are no rules for this kind of work – it is pure visual improvisation”, said Powning.. There are breakthroughs as you are doing the work. “You count on those” added Powning who has done a number of Stela’s across the country. One of the more outstanding Stela’s was done in Canmore, Alberta where there was a theme based on eagles that would fly between two mountains at the edge of the city. Eagles became the theme for that Stela and Powning built on it.
Burlington didn’t have a single theme. For once the Burlington bookends of the lake and the Escarpment didn’t take over the dialogue; instead Powning worked from material given to him by the community.
The result is a bronze structure that now stands outside the Centre that is expected to become the hub of a community’s cultural aspirations.
Powning and his wife, a writer, were married when Peter was 19. They had decided they were going to live “off the grid” long before that was an accepted phrase. They were part of the “back to the land” movement, and live in a place where the telephone line doesn’t always work the way most of us expect it to work. They have enough in the way of solar panels on their buildings to supply most of their energy and grow much of the food they need.
Powning will keep in touch with how Burlington reacts to and grows with its Stela. Public art does have to be maintained; you can’t put it up and just leave it there. Burlington’s Spiral Stela is covered with a coating of wax that makes it easier to clean and Powning will probably come back to Burlington to put a new coat of wax on the sculpture in a couple of years.
 Performing Arts Centre board chair Rick Burgess on the left with artist Peter Powning centre, talking to a city staff member. Before getting driven to the airport to return home, Powning asked for some time to get back to his sculpture and take a few pictures – he has been so busy getting it installed and talking about it that he hadn’t had any time to photograph the work.
The public will now begin walking over to the Stela just the way they now walk out onto the pier. In the not too distant future the city hopes to have a web site with many different views of the Stela where people can tag different parts of the bronze pieces.
The art does need some sort of a plaque or notice put in place that explains what the object on the bronze portions are all about – and that’s about the only criticism one can make about the unveiling of the Spiral Stela in front of the Performing Arts Centre on a sunny Sunday morning. We did good.
 August 25, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. It was expected to be a pretty simple task. Get the Spiral Stela from the shipping yard it was stored in down to the Performing Arts Centre and erect it.
 The time had come for Burlington’s Spiral Stela to be moved to its final home – outside the Performing Arts Centre. It wasn’t a mammoth structure. The crane would handle it easily and there was nothing complex about the task. Get it upright and lower it onto the four large bolts that had been installed, tighten up the bolts – and it`s done. Right?
If you remember the installation of the Orchids in November of 2011 on Upper Middle Road you’ll understand that Burlington and art are not quite in total, smooth sync – yet.
 The Spiral Stela, getting ready to stand up and be locked into place – ready for the public to see for the next 100 years. Getting the piece of art off the truck and onto the plaza outside the Centre was the easy part. The crane operator and the artist worked together and eased it to the ground.
The base of the Stela is a ¾ plate of stainless steel with four holes drilled. There is an additional plate of steel that is thinner attached to the top of the base plate. It too had holes drilled into it.
A member of the installation team took a long steel rod and pushed it through the holes in the steel plates to ensure that nothing would block the bolts as the Stela was lowered into the base.
 What do you mean the holes don’t line up? The bolts on the base plate in the foreground are supposed to slide into the holes on the structures base plate. They didn’t. Oops Oops – the rod did not go in – something was blocking the rod. Shades of the Orchids installation on Upper Middle Road when the installation team there discovered that the size of the bolts and the holes they were to slip into were not the same and a mobile crew with some very heavy-duty equipment was called in on very short notice to solve that problem.
Burlington was facing the same problem with the Stela: this time the inner plate had holes that were just a little smaller than the holes on the outer plate.
 Jeremy Freiburger works his cell phone – there has to be someone out there he can reach to solve this problem. How did this happen he wonders? It’s 7:00 am and it isn’t easy to find technical people at that hour – no one is at their shops yet. Jeremy Freiburger, the city’s public art program management contractor began t work his telephone list.
Off went one of the technical team to get a drill bit that would widen the holes. That didn’t work. Freiburger continues to madly work his cell phone – chasing down the people he needs to reach The plan was to have the Stela installed and veiled before the public was up and around.
The Stela was not to be seen by the public until it was officially unveiled on the Sunday afternoon..
More urgent phone calls. The technical team made another trip into Hamilton and came back with some grinding device that was inserted into the holes. Grinding noise, dust all over the place. Was it working?
 Close, close, very close – then the Spiral Stela was in place and could be locked down. Peter Powning put his finger inside the hole – the 1/8th of an inch of lip had been ground away. The installation could continue. The crane lifted the Stela upright, eased it in over the base plate and gently lowered into place – a little jigging and it slipped over the bolts and a much relieved Peter Powning put on the lock nuts and prepared to secure what is known in architectural circles as an obelisk.
 Done – now all they have to do is put the veil in place and Stela is ready for her public unveiling. Now all they had to do was strip away the packing material put the veil over the structure and they would be ready for the unveiling.
The veil was made of material that landscaping people use. Relatively heavy black cloth that Freiburger and his wife stitched at home. “We basted the pieces together so lightly that a decent tug and they would come apart.
Four tales were attached to the veil. Mayor Goldring, Peter Powning, the artist, Dan Lawrie, the benefactor and Chair of the Performing Arts Centre, Rick Burgess would be at the end of each tail to give them a gentle tug.
The public will then see a unique piece of work that has the city and its history stamped all over it.
 August 24, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. The Friends of Freeman Station have confirmed that the historic train station will move from the Burlington Fire Department headquarters to the station’s new location the week of Sept. 9. The station, built in 1906 by the Grand Trunk Railway, will be moved from its perch beside the Fairview Street fire station to corporately-owned land a couple of hundred yards away.
While the distance is short – the move signified, finally, that the station is going to be restored and won’t get torn apart for kindling.
 The Freeman station got moved around a number of times while the city figured out what it wanted to do with the thing. When city council failed to come up with a solution citizens led by Councillors Meed Ward and Lancaster more here. The move is the result of an agreement reached in 2012 between the city, the Friends of Freeman Station and manufacturer Ashland Inc.
“Stations aren’t supposed to move. Trains come and go and stations are supposed to wait for trains to stop,” said James Smith, president of the Friends of Freeman Station. “It looked like time and neglect would be allowed to take their toll on Freeman Station but today we are announcing encouraging news. The train station is moving and will be restored. I encourage people from across Burlington to watch this dramatic and historic move.”
The volunteers of the Friends of Freeman Station have worked since 2011 to save, stabilize, repurpose and find a new home for this piece of Burlington’s history. They have enlisted local companies to help return Freeman Station to its former condition.
“I am impressed and heartened by the work of the dedicated volunteers, supporters and donors who have given so much to preserve and restore Freeman Station,” said Mayor Rick Goldring. “This community effort ensures that Freeman Station has a role not only in Burlington’s past but also in its future.”
In May, McCulloch Building Movers installed steel beams under the structure. In June, Murison Restoration began preparing the station for the move. King Paving is getting the new site ready.
In a prepared statement Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward said: “I want to thank all the volunteers who generously gave their time to make this move a reality. Without your efforts, the Freeman Station would have been lost. With this move, restoration work can begin so future residents can enjoy the station and learn about Burlington’s rail history, from delivering produce from our farms, to sending our young people to serve our country in the Great Wars.”
 Steel beams are taken off a truck to be slid underneath the station so that it can be lifted off the ground, eased onto a flatbed and move the couple of hundred yards to its new home – where restoration will begin. Typical fluff statement when the truth is that were it not for Meed Ward and Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster the station was a goner. These two women refused to let the station get chopped up for fire wood and convinced their colleagues on Council to give the community some time. Councillor Sharman’s behaviour during the debate was close to shameful. And we didn’t see all that much in the way of leadership from the Mayor.
 The deal gets done. City formally signs the agreement with the Friends of Freeman Station to have them take possession of the building and take on the task of restoring the structure. Burlington came perilously close to losing the historic structure. However, after a lot of discussion, loads of bureaucratic back and forth, the Freeman station is about to be taken for another ride. It has experienced several in its more than 100 years of existence.
Early in September the trucks that move buildings will ease the flat-bed beneath the station and ease it down onto the truck and then move it all of 250 yards and settle it into a location where the major renovation will begin. The structure weighs 45 tonnes. It is made of wood and shingles with a brick chimney. It is nearly 1,200 square feet.
 August 24, 2013
By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. While the association of police chiefs ratified a resolution that would expand enforcement options for illicit possession of cannabis, giving officers the ability to issue tickets similar to those for driving infractions or jaywalking, it wasn’t jaywalking police regional police were doing on Donegal Drive yesterday.
 A police photo-op – the politicians want their pictures taken and take advantage of every opportunity to get in front of a camera. The police do much the same thing – every opportunity to show the public what they’ve been doing for them is used. This week they scooped up all these drugs and cash. In August 2013, the Halton Regional Police Service commenced an investigation into a marihuana trafficker from the City of Burlington and yesterday members of the 3 District Burlington Strategic Support Team executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a residence on Donegal Drive and seized approximately 460 grams of marihuana (over 1 Pound), 31 grams of Hashish (over an ounce), a quantity of cocaine, $3,165 CDN funds, packaging material and digital scales.
Police have arrested and charged the following persons:
Justin LIDKA (24 yrs) of Burlington charged with possession of a controlled substance (marihuana).
Michael CRAMPTON (21 yrs) of Burlington charged with:
Trafficking a controlled substance (marijuana)
Possession for the purpose of trafficking (marijuana)
Possession for the purpose of trafficking (hashish)
Possession of cocaine
 Police look for patterns in criminal activity. Is there a pattern here? A drug raid took place earlier in the month on Lakeshore Road then another drug raid on Donegal Drive yesterday; are there links between the two? Both parties were released on a Promise to Appear in Milton Court on October 8th and 15th, 2013.
Investigators remind the public to utilize Crime Stoppers to report any illegal drug, gang or gun activity at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes).
 Part 2 of a 5 part series.
August 23, 2013.
By Gordana Liddell
BURLINGTON, ON. Most established towns have a sense of belonging within. When a family moves in, it takes time for them to feel embraced; to feel like they are a part of the neighbourhood. But when an entirely new community is built, it is a struggle both ways to connect the old and the new. The whole city has to adapt to its mere existence, and the struggle to embrace it as a legitimate part of their town is very real. Often the older, more established part of the city isn’t really aware of the “newcomers” – they don’t travel to that part of town. After all, wasn’t it the long-time residents that helped to make the city what it is today?
Alton Village is here. They are loud and they are proud…and they have money. And they have a history they are proud to recognize. Relatively speaking, – it’s not cheap to live in Alton. The majority of the population in this new community is made up of young families. These up and comers have not “up and come” into their wealth. They have worked for it; they are new money. And because they are used to a payoff coming only from hard work, they can also bear the work of what they have to go through by living in a construction zone. Some old Burlingtonians may not have the will or even the pioneering spirit to go through that.
 There was a time when the Village was basically a construction site – the skate park had not been constructed and the community centre wasn’t even a hole in the ground. That was then – this is now. City Hall staffer Cindy Mercanti points out what is going to go where in the new community In older Burlington, the houses are older, the money is older, and sometimes the mentality is older. Often, these are good things. Bigger yards, interesting architecture, beautiful neighbourhoods, and solid traditions. But along with the old, sometimes comes old ways of thinking that are not good for anyone. There is none of that in Alton. And thank God for that. Inclusivity thrives in the village. The area is so much more cosmopolitan in nature, it is a pleasure to see. Kids are lucky to grow up in an area surrounded by this and to grow up not even knowing any different. The rest of Burlington could take a lesson here.
When construction on Alton Village began, it arose beyond Burlington’s previous urban border; extending north of what anyone had considered before to be “town”.
 There is never any question as to where the Village starts – can’t say that for Headon or The Orchard now can you? Mention Alton Village to residents to the south of Highway 5, and quite often the only reaction you’ll get is a confused look and a slight tilt of the head, suggesting disdain. “Where?” will be a frequent response.
Sometimes, though thankfully rarely, the response will be that of a sneer, accompanied with the explanation that “Real Burlington” lies south of Dundas. Seriously? The implication that living in Alton is the equivalent of living on the wrong side of the tracks is ludicrous. People have invested their life savings, and they certainly deserve to feel like a part of the city they moved into.
 Nothing anywhere near something like this in any part of Burlington. Alton has charted new territory in the way neighbourhoods are developed. This set of buildings will house a Recreation Centre, a high school and a public library with a large series of parks right across the road. At one point, any given area was considered “New Burlington”, wasn’t it? Some old timers even have the backward (and very wrong) idea that anything north of New Street is not the “real Burlington”. What an odd thing to think, and an even odder thing to want to be true. If people truly wanted their small towns to stay excruciatingly small, then they should perhaps have chosen to buy their home a touch further away from the Golden Horseshoe…one of the most continuously and densely populated bands of civilization in North America…because, guess what? It’s going to grow.
Perhaps because these cynics are afraid (ashamed) of their inability to think ahead, they must instead redirect their fear (anger) and focus on the originally established town line instead. Isn’t this kind of thinking sort of…provincial? Can we not liken Alton to a family that grows in size? Are the original members the best? Or the only “real” family members? A city is like a growing family is it not? If it does not feel like one, well…it should.
This phenomenon is not unique to Burlington. Ask any Miltonian and they can easily pinpoint the boundaries and differences between “New Milton” and “Old Milton”. Probe a little further and some residents of the latter group will undoubtedly use the term “Real Milton”.
 Everything about Alton Village was going to be different. City council talked about modern, artistic looking bus shelters – how would this idea have fit into the community? The expansion of a city always comes with growing pains. But there is no need for division. We should all relish the fact that when our city grows, there is more for all of us to see and do. Consider the influx of tax money, (Alton is no stranger to the Burlington tax scale), and the jobs created by the construction, the plazas, and not to mention what’s yet to come on Palladium Way. The facilities and parks in Alton are shiny and new and are for everyone in Burlington to use.
You’d think that the problem might be that we all get a little shy and apprehensive with the new and the unknown. But I don’t think it is. Altonites are not the shy new guys. They are worldly, educated, and, unlike many original Burlington residents, have moved before and are accustomed to change. There is a boldness about these residents. They are tough and wise. They have a pioneering spirit, embrace newness and bring a fresh energy to the city. It’s the rest of Burlington that needs to get accustomed to Alton, not the other way around.
Alton Village wasn’t much of a force in the 2010 municipal election; it was a collection of moving trucks but it didn’t take them very long to figure out how things worked and when there were problems with properties along one of the creeks they were quick to learn how to resolve their problem.
 The Village has its own pub with entertainment that you don’t find “downtown” The residents of Alton know how things work. They are experienced; many of them have lived in a new community previous to this one. They know what to expect. They moved into an area where everything was built and planned just for them: the library, schools, gigantic parks, a community centre, stores, pubs and restaurants they can walk to, and soon many residents will be able to walk to work. They are even getting their very own LCBO. Aldershot doesn’t even have one of those…but then, is Aldershot a part of “real Burlington”? I have nothing against Aldershot. Just trying to make a point here.
It takes time for “neighbours to reach a sense of comfort; for the newcomers as well as for the long-time residents.
 A skate board park that is the envy of every part of the city. Burlington didn’t do things like this when they built Headon or The Orchard. Alton Village is getting a lot of goodies The residents of Alton do need time to embrace their new surroundings. Some may not even explore what their own city has to offer, but instead go back to their old stomping ground. They might not go to the Burlington pools or parks in the summer, but trek back to Milton or Mississauga for a dip. Perhaps instead of shopping in their new town, they will go back to the malls that they know; back to the familiar and the comfortable. As soon as we all embrace the fact that urban Burlington now reaches north to the 407, we will begin to become a single city with plenty to offer one another. There is no need for division…we just need to get to know and appreciate one another.
And we can then all work to ensure that the Burlington we all are – stops at the 407-Higway 5 boundary and that the rural lands are a vital part of our city.
Everyone deserves to feel like they belong. Especially when they are at home.
 Gordana Liddell is a writer. Her passion is travel. We were able to convince her to travel about the community that first got her to Burlington and to focus on where she and her husband decided to settle.
Liddell has written a five part series on the Alton Village. Part 1
 August 23, 2013
By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. Shortly after 9 p.m., YESTERDAY, a 31 yr old Waterdown man was operating his 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 600cc motorcycle northbound on Guelph Line, north of the QEW. He had a 31 yr old Burlington woman as a passenger.
For yet to be determined reasons, the motorcyclist lost control as he attempted to make a left turn onto westbound Mountainside Drive. This caused the motorcycle to flip onto its side and eject the riders.
A 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt being driven by a 42yr old Hamilton man made contact with the motorcycle and the rider in the intersection. It is unknown at this time if the Chevrolet contributed to the reason as to why the motorcyclist lost control. The Chevrolet driver was not injured and was released from the scene.
Both the motorcycle rider and his passenger suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. Due to the fatalities, the Collision Reconstruction Unit (C.R.U.) was called in and took carriage of the investigation.
Guelph Line was closed in both directions for approximately six hours while the C.R.U. conducted their At-Scene investigation.
Police will not be releasing the names of the decedents at this time.
Any witnesses to this collision are asked to contact the C.R.U. at 905.825.4747 ext.5065.
 August 23, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. When any kind of entertainment event takes place, someone has to produce the show.
How these events come into being is often the result of chance meetings. Reg Titian invited Wayne Brown out to Mohawk Raceway to listen to The Drifters. That event was booked by Titian, who is one of a number of agents who does talent search and booking work for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. He is also the Canadian booking agent for The Drifters
 This is the way it was done back then. It was a form of primal and tribal communication – and it worked.  Reg Titian on the left with Connie Smith and Robbie Lane, who will share the MC job chat it up with Scott Robinson, co-chair of the Magic Moment event. Robinson just might wear those trousers to the event. Wowza! Reg began his career in music when he ran a store on James Street in Hamilton. For many years it did quite well. He ran retail for more than 25 years, taught music and was enjoying a good life until 1999 when the bottom fell out of retail and business in Hamilton was abysmal. Titian had to diversify and get into different lines of business because retail wasn’t working anymore.
Entertainment is show business and that was the direction Titian went as he grew into the He did work for the Niagara Falls Casino, has booked Diane Warwick and does a lot of work for the Norwich Fall Fair.
Festivals, country fairs, theatre productions are all part of what Reg Titian does now.
He had booked The Drifters into the Mohawk Raceway and invited Wayne Brown out to hear the show. Wayne went and left that show with an idea. Why not create a Magic Moment in Burlington and tie it into the Halton Heros event that was raising funds for police officers and their families that needed help when misfortune befell them.
Wayne Brown talked to Keith Strong who was heading up the Community Cares Committee of Halton, a group that pulls together citizens from Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills who gather once a year to hold a gala that raises funds for police services members who need help.
 Wayne Brown, along with his co-chair Scott Robinson has stick handled the field work that will make the Magic Moment happen. So when Wayne Brown got back to him with the Magic Moment idea and the Drifters Titian was their man.
Eric Kohanek, a former television journalist with the Spectator knows the Drifter well and explains that “the original Drifters group formed in 1953 and there were dozens of guys who joined up and then left over the years. The group that appears at Mohawk Raceway and other venues in Canada from time to time is actually called “The Drifters Featuring Rick Sheppard.” Sheppard didn’t join the original group until 1966.”
“The original Drifters are actually based in the U.K. and are touring there in September. The other groups calling themselves The Drifters are actually splinter groups, not the original one.
 With many millions of records sold – the Drifters are going to be in town to bring back a lot of those Magic Moments. “Sheppard’s achievements since then are certainly noteworthy. He currently owns the Canadian trademark for the Drifters name and has re-recorded some of the original group’s hits as well as songs that sound similar in nature but have no link to the original group. He also reportedly won a lawsuit recently that prevents any other Drifters groups from performing in Canada.”
It’s an interesting story – all part of the Magic Moment that will take place in Burlington September 13th, at an exclusive Soiree to take place at the Waterfront Hotel.
Saturday evening The Drifters will take their Magic Moment to a much larger audience that will assemble at Nelson Park starting at 2:30 in the afternoon and run on until the last dance.
If you’re close to sixty you will know the music. “On Broadway”, “Under the Boardwalk”, “Save the Last Dance for Me”, “Up On the Roof”, “This Magic Moment”, “There Goes My Baby”, and many more. The songs are etched into the memories of music fans worldwide and helped form part of the foundation of contemporary popular music. What these songs have in common is that they are all the product of a veritable hit-making machine better known to their millions of fans as The Drifters.
Rick Sheppard is an integral part of that hit making machine. He has been there for more than 45 years. Rick joined The Drifters in 1966 and recorded with the group on Atlantic Records through the early 1970s. During that time, he toured with The Drifters throughout the world and shared stages with some of the greatest names in music and show business. You can look it up in books and anthologies chronicling The Drifters history. Rick Sheppard is prominently featured.
Sheppard, a born entertainer, has been at the forefront of the music industry from the time he can remember. He began performing at the age of nine years old and by his teenage years had a number of local television appearances on his resume. His first real professional engagement occurred in Miami, Florida, opening for Sammy Davis, Jr. Right then, young Sheppard knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He wanted to entertain.
The first several years would see Sheppard on the road in a seemingly endless stream of one-night night club performances. During that time, he was in and out of a variety of groups as well. His career seemed to be lacking a real direction, and then came the telephone call that would change his life. Forever.
It seems that a songwriter familiar with Sheppard mentioned his name to legendary manager George Treadwell who managed the Drifter. He was looking for someone to replace one of the singers in the group. Sheppard’s songwriter friend was persuasive enough to get Treadwell to call Sheppard to see if he would be interested in joining The Drifters.
At the time Sheppard thought the caller was a friend playing a joke, so he hung up. Fortunately, Treadwell called back, assured Sheppard that he was, indeed, the manager of The Drifters and that the offer was genuine. After a quick apology and three seconds to think it over, Sheppard said, “yes,” and became a part of one of the greatest hit-makers in the history of contemporary popular music. The rest, as they say, is rock ‘n’ roll history.
 It will be one of the biggest one night events the city has seen in some time – and all outdoors, under the stars – at Nelson Park. The Drifters featuring Rick Sheppard are entering their fourth decade thrilling audiences in the United States, Canada, and worldwide. Their show is high energy and visually entertaining, mixing the classic Drifters repertoire that fans have come to know and love along with hits from the 1970s and 1980s done up in the unique Drifters style.
In 1996, they released two albums and have since sold millions of records.
That’s a lot of records and the Drifter are a load of talent – and for two days in September they will sing, entertain and provide music that people can listen and dance to at an evening under the stars at Nelson Park.
Tickers for the Friday evening Soiree are still available on-line. And there is still some room at Nelson Park – tickets available on-line. Show the partner in your life that you’ve not forgotten the music and you’ve not forgotten the person that took you to that Magic Moment music a long time ago.
 August 22, 2013
By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. Retail store robberies usually take place at night when it is dark but a lone male suspect entered the Macy Mart variety store located at 437 Brock Avenue in the City of Burlington indicated he had a weapon and demanded cash.
No weapon was seen and after being given a quantity of cash the suspect fled the store and was last seen running out of the variety store on foot. No weapon was seen. The store employee was unharmed during the robbery. The time was approximately 4:50 p.m.
The suspect is described as follows:
Male, white, 5’6″ – 5’10’, thin/skinny build, 16-19 years old, dark hair with a red bandana covering his face, large dark sunglasses, baseball hat, wearing a light-colored “hoodie” with white drawstrings, white t-shirt, dark sneakers and black pants.
The male is presumed to be armed and members of the public should not approach this individual. Immediately call the Police and report his location.
Any person with information related to this investigation, the identity of the suspect are encouraged to contact the Three District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext 2316, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting ‘Tip201’ with your message to 274637(crimes).
 April 21, 2013
By Ray Rivers
BURLINGTON, ON. Last June, the Russian parliament unanimously passed a law that criminalizes “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors”. Presumably directed at the media, fines can reach as high as a million rubles, about $30,000 (Can) for a violation. It is unclear whether religion, increasing social conservatism, or the perceived need by Russians to reverse their falling birthrate was the stimulus for this bill. It is also unclear how broadly the authorities will interpret the new law.
We need to understand that homosexual relations in Russia have been legal since 1993 and still are. And though we see this new law as objectionable, when it comes to sexual discrimination Russia is in a far different league from the 38 African countries, including Uganda, which criminalize or otherwise repress homosexual activity. And Russia is nothing like Qatar and Iran where, under Iranian law, someone committing a homosexual act may receive 60 lashes or even the death penalty.
 The LBGT community has chosen to be very public in response to the repressive actions of the Russian government. It has taken a long time for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community to finally achieve a broad measure of equality and human rights in places like Canada and the USA. It was only 1967 when a young minister of justice named Pierre Trudeau ‘liberalized’ Canada’s criminal code on homosexuality, saying “the state has no business in the nation’s bedrooms”. Finally passed in 1969, this legislation also decriminalized abortion, and contraception, and further regulated lotteries, gun possession, drinking and driving offenses, harassing phone calls, misleading advertising and cruelty to animals. Passed by a two-thirds majority it was mostly opposed by the Conservatives, Social Credit and a lone Liberal.
In 2005 Paul Martin’s Liberals passed the Civil Marriage Act, making same-sex marriage legal in Canada, the fourth nation in the world and the first outside of Europe to do so. Again, the Conservatives were generally opposed. In fact, one of the early acts of the new Conservative minority government in 2006 was to reconsider (revoke) that legislation, a bill which was rebuffed by the other parties.
So, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, deserves considerable credit for taking on Russia, and Uganda and for bringing his Prime Minister and his political party on-side. He did the right thing, getting onto the curve of social opinion. Canada’s pro activity on this issue has not been unnoticed around the world, and is a much-needed step to restoring our international reputation. And John Baird, the former Tory bulldog has emerged as a respected diplomat for his efforts.
Our advocacy on this issue today is important, as the world community prepares to assemble in Sochi, Russia for the winter olympic games next year. Canada’s role has, no doubt, emboldened similar responses from the US, EU and IOC (Olympic Committee). Russia’s sports minister counters that this is an invented crisis, and he has promised to preserve the rights of all athletes attending the games. So why, then, did the Russians choose this time to pass such regressive, discriminatory, poorly defined and probably unworkable legislation?
 Russian athletes make their views on gay relationships really clear. Indeed Baird has displayed a progressive social characteristic that many complain is often so absent among conservatives and conservative policy. But we should remember that it was the capable Conservative justice minister Kim Campbell who liberalized and, thus, ended the abortion debate in this country. It was Brian Mulroney who led the attack on South Africa’s apartheid policies, in the face of American and British opposition. And Mulroney, despite his close relationship with US president Reagan, stood up against US aggression in Nicaragua, recalling another Canadian PM’s ethical positions on Vietnam and Cuba.
Russia’s new law may put an end to re-runs of ‘Will and Grace’ on Russian TV. The new censors there will have their hands full, cutting the ‘art’ which happens to ‘imitate life’ from the global media for Russian viewers. But it won’t stop the progress of civil and human rights everywhere. LGBT rights in Canada are among the most advanced in the world, and the debate here is over. It has been a long road and there is no going back. In the words of a former prime minister, “ what’s done in private between (consenting) adults doesn’t concern the Criminal Code”.
 Ray Rivers was born in Ontario; earned an economics degree at the University of Western Ontario. He taught in New Zealand and earned a Master’s degree in economics at the University of Ottawa. His 25 year stint with the federal government included time with Environment, Fisheries and Oceans, Agriculture and the Post office. Rivers left the federal government to consult for private sector and government clients. He completed his first historical novel The End of September in 2012; a story about what might have happened had Quebecers voted for sovereignty association in the 1980 referendum. Rivers is active with ratepayers groups, a food bank, environmental organizations, community journalism and policing. He has run for municipal and provincial government offices and held executive positions with Liberal Party riding associations. He developed the current policy process for the Ontario Liberal Party.
 August 20, 2013
By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON. Stela is in town. She arrived late last night and slept in for a bit this morning. Later today she will begin unpacking and getting ready to meet people in her new home
 Stela having a nap at a truck yard in midtown Burlington You know what it’s like when you move to a new place and everyone in the new place knows you well, or they think they do, and they want to drop in and get caught up. You’re still living out of cardboard boxes and every member of the family wants to drop in. It gets a little hectic, all these people – they see themselves as members of your family – and want to tell you what you should do next. Jewish and Italians families do this sort of thing all the time – but truth to tell the WASPs are just as bad.
Anyway – you have to meet them and you do love everything you hear about the new city and you’re kind of excited.
So – what are you going to wear for this “grand entrance” into your new town?
 Stela has a good bottom to her. She’ll need it – she’s going to stand outside the Performing Arts Centre for a long time proudly showing off her jewely and her fine lines. Turns out Stela is quite a looker. Double D’s, or that’s what we’ve heard, but she isn’t showing very much right now. That Double D might be the name of the guy that’s transporting her around town.
When she gets set up at her new place the lower part of Stella will be covered up with some kind of skirting. Some thought was given to draping her with a tent but she is very tall and there was nothing large enough to cover all of her.
When you get to see her she will be wearing quite a bit of jewelry – she tends to overdo it a bit. Sometime she wears every piece of jewelry she owns.
Friends and family members will get to see her Sunday afternoon at a reception on the Plaza of the Performing Arts Centre
This is the way we saw the entrance of the Spiral Stela into the city.
The news spinners at city hall tell the story in their way.
People from across Burlington who contributed personal belongings to a public art piece are being asked to come to The Burlington Performing Arts Centre on Sunday, Aug. 25 to celebrate the installation of the sculpture they helped create.
Created by Canadian artist Peter Powning, Spiral Stela is a tall stainless steel sculpture wrapped with a bronze spiral made from imprints of local residents’ cherished items – a process Powning calls “cultural mulch.” More than 200 objects were submitted by residents and incorporated into the work.
 Above is the design sample submitted by Peter Powning. what Burlington will see Sunday afternoon will be quite a bit different. First the Spiral Stella will be to the left of the ramp leading into the Centre. The overall look will be the same but Burlington’s Stela will have more than 200 local artifacts cast in Bronze attached to the base of the structure where people can see and touch the work. The latest piece in the City of Burlington’s Public Art program will find its home at the corner of Locust and Elgin and the city wants you to come see and feel this truly public work. Spiral Stela, an obelisk-shaped sculpture by New Brunswick-based artist Peter Powning, will stand tall outside the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
Keeping with the public spirit of public art, it was created with the help of Burlington residents this past winter. Powning used an interactive process he calls “cultural mulch” to construct bronze bands which will enrobe the structure – bands that were made from the tactile impressions formed by people’s heirlooms such as jewellery, keys, instruments, and tools, which they brought to Powning during public “casting sessions.” Powning then shipped the Burlington-made plaster impressions to his studio down east, where they were cast once more in bronze, and the 17-foot tall sculpture took its final shape.
The Burlington Public Art Program, is managed by CoBALT Connects, that oversaw the selection of a jury that chose the Spiral Stela from 119 designs submitted for this location from internationally acclaimed artists.
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