Comedy Festival: Back for its 8th year - a moving road show - taking place at four locations on different days

By Staff

April 13th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The successful Burlington Comedy Festival is BACK for its 8th year! And what a great lineup there is this year!  The seven-comic line-up is anchored by Dave Hemstad (three-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee who began performing on national television in 2002) and Ottawa-born comedian, host, and actor Jon Dore, one of “10 comics to watch” and a favourite on the comedy club and festival circuit in Canada and the United States.

The four-day Festival will feature five performances at: The Pearle Hotel & Spa, The Block Co., Paradiso Restaurant, and the Art Gallery of Burlington.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS AND FOR THE HILARIOUS DETAILS!

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The Burlington you know might begin to unravel if Bill 97 passes.

By Pepper

April 13th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Kilbride, Lowville, Mt Nemo are at risk and, when – not if – Bill 97 is passed the Burlington you know will have begun to unravel.

That does sound somewhat alarmist – but it is real.
Last Thursday afternoon, just before Easter, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing stood up in the Legislature and tabled a piece of legislation – An Act to amend various statutes with respect to housing and development.
This Act impacts seven different pieces of existing legislation.

Could small residential developments get built within Lowville ? Who owns the property in the community ?

Building Code Act, 1992
City of Toronto Act, 2006
Development Charges Act, 1997
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Act
Municipal Act, 2001
Planning Act
Residential Tenancies Act, 2006

The parts that will impact Burlington are:
Building Code Act 1992
Development Charges Act 1997
Ministry of Municipal Affairs Act 2001
Planning Act

A very reliable source with significant expertise told the Gazette that rarely does the provincial government introduce an Act that changes several other pieces of legislation.

The changes are being made to let the province pass the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023.

An example of a change from the current Municipal Act::
“… providing the Minister with authority to make regulations with respect to a variety of matters including governing the powers of local municipalities under section 99.1 and authorizing certain local municipalities to require certain owners of land to make payments and provide compensation. New subsection
99.1 (8) provides that in the event of a conflict, the provisions of the regulations made under section 99.1 prevail over the provisions of the Act or any other Act or regulation.

And what does this mean? Doesn’t sound good.

Is this property in Kilbride the kind of place low rise apartments could be built?

Or this from the Municipal Affairs and Housing Act
1. A new subsection 47 (4.0.1) is added to provide that the Minister may, in an order made under clause 47 (1) (a), provide that policy statements, provincial plans and official plans do not apply in respect of a license, permit, approval, permission or other matter required before a use permitted by the order may be established.

2. A new section 49.2 is added to give the Minister the power to make an order requiring an owner of land to enter into an agreement with the Minister or a municipality in matters where the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator or the Deputy Facilitator has been directed by the Minister to advise, make recommendations or perform any other functions with respect to the land.

And what does this mean? That they can do whatever they want. Remember, municipalities are the creatures of the province – the province creates them and can make whatever change they wish.

More from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Act

Minister of Municipal AffairsSteve Clarke displaying the documents that he will change in order to pass the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act.  He introduced the legislation in the mid-afternoon the day before the Easter holidays began.

The Minister may make regulations,
(a) governing the powers of a local municipality under this section, including regulations,

(i) imposing restrictions, limits and conditions on the powers of local municipalities to prohibit and regulate the demolition and conversion of residential rental properties,
(ii) prescribing requirements to be contained in by-laws made under this section,
(iii) prescribing conditions that local municipalities must include as a requirement for obtaining a permit, and
(iv) prescribing requirements that the local municipality must impose on owners of land to which a by-law passed under this section applies;

(b) authorizing local municipalities that pass a by-law under this section to require an owner of land to which a by-law passed under this section applies to make payments and to provide compensation;

(c) for the purposes of clause (b), prescribing the amounts to be paid, the compensation to be provided, the persons to whom payments and compensation shall be made and the circumstances in which payments and compensation shall be made, and otherwise governing the payments and compensation;

(d) prescribing steps local municipalities must take or conditions that must be met before passing a by-law under this section and governing any transitional matters with respect to the implementation of such conditions;

From the Planning Act:
This part is mind numbing – don’t expect to understand much of it – we include it to give you a sense of what is going to happen – if the legislation passes.

(e) defining, for the purposes of this section and any regulations under this section, any word or expression not defined in subsection 1 (1) of this Act.
The definition of “area of employment” in subsection 1 (1) of the Planning Act is repealed and the following substituted:
“area of employment” means an area of land designated in an official plan for clusters of business and economic uses, those being uses that meet the following criteria:

1. The uses consist of business and economic uses, other than uses referred to in paragraph 2, including any of the following:

Gerrie Electric has a large distribution centre in Burlington.

i. Manufacturing uses.
ii. Uses related to research and development in connection with manufacturing anything.
iii. Warehousing uses, including uses related to the movement of goods.
iv. Retail uses and office uses that are associated with uses mentioned in subparagraphs i to iii.
v. Facilities that are ancillary to the uses mentioned in subparagraphs i to iv.
vi. Any other prescribed business and economic uses.

2. The uses are not any of the following uses:

i. Institutional uses.
ii. Commercial uses, including retail and office uses not referred to in subparagraph 1 iv; (“zone d’emploi”)

(2) Section 1 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Doug Ford had plans for the kind of Ontario he wanted well before he was elected Premier. Should he be returned to office in 2026 – it will be the same.

Area of employment
(1.1) An area of land designated in an official plan for clusters of business and economic uses is an “area of employment” for the purposes of this Act even if the area of land includes one or more parcels of land whose use is excluded from being a business and economic use under paragraph 2 of the definition of “area of employment” in subsection (1) provided that the following conditions are satisfied:

Bronte Meadows was once considered as part of a package of properties that Amazon would use had they decided to locate more of their operations in Canada

It doesn’t get any easier.

There are members of Council who will not understand what all this means.

City Staff will be pulled of assignments to study the Act, discuss the complexities and how it is all going to impact the development work that is ongoing now.

Meanwhile the government will move the legislation through the process where it goes to committees for detailed review.

Some changes may get made – but the government has a strong majority and the NDP opposition does not have the depth that is needed to get into the details and come up with changes they might want to put forward.

The Liberals don’t have a leader and very few members who can adequately represent the public.

Does that mean there is no hope for public input?

Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre

Some group of interest and concerned citizens might invite Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre to an Open House to explain the Act, something we expect she would be challenged to do – development issues are not her strength. She is a Parliament Assistant to the Ministry of Education where her experience can be put to good use.

The developers will have their lawyers and the planning consultants going over this with a fine tooth comb.

The owners of stretches of property along some of the side roads have been waiting for this day.

Lowville has the local talent that can put up a good fight, Mt Nemo doesn’t. Kilbride could put up a battle.

Most informed people know what is taking place; the Premier has made his position very clear to the development community – he has consistently hood winked the public.

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City of Burlington Arts and Culture funds 19 new projects

By Staff

April 12th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The City of Burlington’s annual Burlington Arts and Culture Fund (BACF) grant program has awarded funding support to 19 projects this year.

Local artists, event and project organizers submitted 27 grant applications between Jan. 3 and Feb. 3 and a jury of peers and City staff reviewed the applications. The jury selected the 19 fund recipients based on:

artistic merit,
program merit and strategic initiative,
citywide and community impact, and
economic impact.

Approved by Council in 2017, the Burlington Arts and Culture Fund provides grants to local artists, multicultural groups, and arts and culture organizations to foster creativity and enrich how Burlington residents are able to experience and engage with arts and culture across the city.

The BACF seeks to nurture the arts and culture sector in Burlington, while fostering creativity, encouraging social cohesion, enhancing quality of life, and stimulating cultural and economic development through direct investment.

The program recognizes and supports diverse identities, perspectives, languages, cultures and artistic practices.

Here are the people and the project we will get to see in the months ahead:

Burlington Arts and Culture Fund Approved Projects for 2023/2024

Members of the Fine Arts Association.

Project: The Artist’s Mark Juried Exhibit
Applicant: Burlington Fine Arts Association
The Burlington Fine Arts Association (BFAA) is a high achieving artist collective of approximately 170 local artists. It is the largest of the seven guilds of Arts Burlington. The Artist’s Mark will provide a ten-day juried art exhibit at the Hub in Burlington Centre. The exhibition brings original art out of the gallery and into a more accessible community venue to provide a unique celebration of local, contemporary art. Throughout the exhibition, participating BFAA artists will interact with visitors by giving live demonstrations while talking about their work and artistic process. The Artist’s Mark will also feature focused artist presentations and discussions. The project provides a continued celebration of creativity and supports local artists from the Burlington community.

Project: Authors in Your Neighbourhood
Applicant: Sylvia McNicoll
Authors in Your Neighbourhood will encourage children to have fun interactions with local writers and illustrators to foster a love of reading and writing. This year, Authors in Your Neighbourhood has expanded to include four renowned Burlington writers: Lana Button; Jennifer Maruno; Sylvia McNicoll; Jennifer Mook-Sang and illustrator Jennifer Faria. They will each demonstrate and teach their craft in five two-hour workshops. Children will have the chance to learn about writing dialogue, describing settings and characters, structuring plots and illustrating their emotions. These workshops will be hosted by the Burlington Public Library at three branches: Central, Alton and Tansley Woods. The goal is to reach over 250 children.

Project: Community Large-Scale Pour Painting Workshop
Applicant: Samantha Le Grand
The mission of visual artist Samantha Le Grand is to challenge perceptions about the artmaking process. With persistence and creativity, almost any skill can be repurposed and applied to the creation of art. For this activity, groups of three to five people will work together to create a unique large-scale abstract painting. The groups will use a technique called pour painting, which includes dripping, tipping, splashing, flicking and dropping of paint and involves collaboration between groups. While the project is taking place, musician Luc Dupuis will play calming instrumental music to inspire the creative process. Making art is meant to comfort those who feel disconnected, unheard or unwelcome. All voices, levels of ability, skill, perspectives and backgrounds are necessary to create a meaningful art.

Project: Elizabeth Gardens Art Walk
Applicant: Elizabeth Gardens Creative Collective
The Elizabeth Gardens Art Walk is a free one-day event that features twenty to thirty local, multi-disciplinary artists, artisans, makers, designers, musicians, performance and arts facilitators. The event is accessible to all ages and has tents and booths showcasing various artists’ work. Twenty interactive and collaborative Art Experience Stations will be hosted by local artists and arts facilitators.

A goal of the project is to help the community learn about the many talented artists and craftspeople that live in Burlington. Through Art Experience Stations, participants can immerse themselves into new artistic practices in a safe, supportive environment. The project allows artists to develop relationships with the community and to network with other artisans to spark future collaborations.

Project: Enhanced Memories of the Brant Inn
Applicant: One Burlington
Based on the success of its 2023 workshop Memories of Brant Inn, the Enhanced Memories of Brant Inn will take place at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. The Brant Inn presented the best performers of the day, as solo acts performing with the support of the Brant Inn House Band and as ensembles. Renown Black performers including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lean Horn, Fats Waller, Sarah Vaughn and more were featured at the famous venue. The event will celebrate the music of these artists by creating new arrangements of their most iconic hits. These new arrangements will be performed by four singers and a band of three musicians. The project will also explore racial inequities of the time as outlined in Stewart Brown’s book Memories of the Brant Inn.

Project: Halton Freedom Celebration Festival
Applicant: Halton Black History Awareness Society
The Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) is dedicated to implementing cultural education into the public mindset towards appreciating the values of equity and inclusivity. HBHAS develops programs to erode racism, prejudice and stereotyping, while increasing knowledge of Canadian history and its cultural landscape. The free one-day Halton Freedom Celebration Festival brings together musical acts, children’s and youth activities, cultural art, food, crafts, heritage, historical and genealogical vendors, while promoting inclusivity and community. The multicultural ambience is infused with cultural crafts, art in the park, cultural fashions and accessories, food and music including the best in Canadian R&B, Reggae, Soul, Funk, African, Cuban, Jazz Fusion, Soca and Pop.

Project: Hansel and Gretel Touring School Production
Applicant: Southern Ontario Lyric Opera
Southern Ontario Lyric Opera’s vision is to provide high-calibre accessible opera, while maintaining a commitment to community outreach. SOLO’s Hansel and Gretel, a touring production, includes a cast of five professional opera singers, a music director/pianist, costumes and props. The project will be presented at Burlington schools. A teacher resource guide will be provided in advance of the performance, suitable for students in grades four through eight. The touring production provides an opportunity for Burlington students to learn about the inspiring world of opera and its many facets. There will be an introduction before the performance and a question and answer session following the opera to educate children and to foster an affinity for this oft-overlooked art form.

Project: Home Is Where the Art Is
Applicant: Lara Kirschner
Local artist Lara Kirschner has partnered with Shifra Homes to offer paint classes to pregnant at-risk women and new moms. The classes will be offered throughout 2023 and each class will involve creating a personal interpretation of a pre-planned acrylic painting on stretched canvas. Epoxy resin pour painting techniques will also be used at some classes and each class will present a new theme to help foster a sense of accomplishment. Learning opportunities for the project include developing a new skillset to boost self-confidence, working outside of one’s comfort zone to promote mental and emotional growth, the development of interpersonal skills in a group learning environment and exposure to a variety of painting techniques. The project provides a vulnerable population with access to creative teaching and skill development.

Project: Hope For Home Workshop and Play
Applicant:  Theatre Burlington

Theatre Burlington was created in 1952 with the mission to provide opportunities for Burlington residents to learn about the direction, production and staging of plays. Live theatre is an example of how art can be inclusive, entertaining and healing. The play Hope for Home promotes understanding and empathy for homeless individuals and their need for community. The workshop will cover fundamentals of theatrical production and participants will learn the basics of live theatre during these interactive sessions. The workshop will be provided to adults from culturally and economically diverse backgrounds, including individuals with no previous experience in theatre. Participants will learn and spend time practicing these new skills as they prepare to take part in the final production of the play.

Project: Images of Our Past, Present and Future
Applicant: Erick Nettel
Images of our Past, Present and Future is a series of free workshops to teach the basics of still photography to new immigrants who have no technical knowledge or background and want to learn a new skill. At the end of the workshops, applying what they have learned, participants will capture four pictures: a picture that represents something important, relevant or symbolic about their past, something about their present, something about their future, and a self-portrait. The pictures will be showcased in a public exhibition and the entire process will be filmed to create a short documentary. It will highlight the newcomers reflecting on the process of learning photography and the meaning of their pictures as it relates to their new life in Burlington.

Project: Indigenous Collaborations – Free Concerts for Burlington Schools
Applicant: Chris McKhool
Three-time JUNO Award nominees and Billboard charting band Sultans of String will present a series of livestream concerts for Burlington schools throughout the city’s six wards. The concerts will be based on the group’s Walking Through the Fire project, a collaboration with First Nations, Metis and Inuit artists across Turtle Island. The concert lineup will consist of the core Sultans of String members: Chris McKhool on violin, Kevin Laliberté on guitar and Drew Birston on bass, as along with Indigenous collaborators: Marc Meriläinen (Nadjiwan) – Ojibwe Singer/Songwriter, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk (Métis Fiddler Quartet) – Métis Violist, Shannon Thunderbird – Tsm’syen Elder Singer/Songwriter, Dr. Duke Redbird – Chippewa/Anishinaabe Elder and Poet, Northern Cree Pow Wow group, Don Ross – Mi’kmaw Guitarist, Kendra Tagoona and Tracy Sarazin – Inuit Throat Singers. The project offers a unique concert experience for elementary and high school students and provides access to performing arts experiences that inspire, empower and spark imaginations.

Project: The Inspiration Initiative
Applicant: Briar Emond
The Inspiration Initiative encourages creativity in individuals that might not consider themselves artistic. By exhibiting local artists of various backgrounds and media, and providing interactive opportunities for everyone to be creative, artists gain exposure and participants gain a further appreciation for Burlington’s local arts and culture. The project brings art to the community and features a week of demonstrations by award winning local artists, interactive painting activities, spoken word readings and a performance by the Garden City Orchestra. The project showcases a free art exhibition that focuses on Lake Ontario from three artists’ perspectives. Combining visual art with other forms of artistic expression will promote an environment that stimulates and encourages community creativity.

Lowville now has an established summer program – watch for it.

Project: The Journey Around the Sun
Applicant: Lowville Festival
The Lowville Festival was founded in 2015 with the vision that arts and nature were perfect partners in creating unique cultural events in the natural beauty of the Niagara Escarpment. In 2023, the festival will pivot to create outdoor events that celebrate the natural change of the seasons – Equinox and Solstice. The focus of this project is to create performance events for a diverse audience, including people of all ages from different cultures, religions, pronouns and perspectives. The cohesion is the celebration of the journey of the sun and its celestial partners, including the earth and moon. The project will take place on four specific dates: June 21, Sept. 23, Dec. 21 and March 19 which coincide with the dates for Summer Solstitium, Autumnal Equinox, Winter Hibernal and the Vernal Equinox.

Project: Lunar New Year Celebration Gala
Applicant: Redleaf Cultural Integration
The Lunar New Year Celebration Gala is an event to celebrate the beginning of the new Lunar Year, one of the most important festivals in Asian countries. The event connects people, shares diverse cultures, and celebrates the Lunar New Year. The celebration includes a half-day, free culture exhibition showcasing multicultural displays of Chinese watercolour painting, calligraphy, traditional sugar painting, a tea ceremony, Indian Henna painting, a Korean culture display and more. The main event includes performances showcasing a variety of songs and dances from various cultures and a magic show on the BPAC’s main stage. Redleaf Cultural Integration is a non-profit cultural organization that works with people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and ages to enhance the quality of life in Burlington.

Project: The Melting Pot – Building Community Connections through Culinary Arts
Applicant: Creative Community Collective
Nothing brings people more together than cooking and sharing a meal. The Creative Community Hive has been hosting a variety of creative activities at various locations in Halton Region since 2017. This project aims to share multicultural recipes through live demonstrations by chefs from within our community who have origins in Congo, South Korea and Spain, share cultural cuisine/recipe-based anecdotes led by an expert storyteller and hear from expert guests in the food industry that share their knowledge around food literacy. The event will allow participants to learn about nutrition and expose them to new cuisines from different cultures, while introducing them to music, art, crafts and images from the various cultures represented.

Charles Cozens

Project: Metamorphosis Concert
Applicant: Charles Cozens
The Metamorphosis concert will feature composer/arranger and pianist Charles Cozens in concert with his trio. The music embraces new compositions by Cozens and fresh, invigorating arrangements of other contemporary jazz and classical themes. The project will explore the art of improvisation and musical metamorphosis and the development of musical themes and motifs. The concert will be scripted with some speaking by Cozens about the nature of the music and each particular piece. The audience will be encouraged to participate through question and answer periods during the performance which will allow for engagement and outreach. The concert demonstrates that music is a universal language that affects culturally diverse people in a different way than spoken word, as music is all encompassing.

Project: Telling Tales Festival
Applicant: Telling Tales
The 15th Annual Telling Tales Festival returns to the Royal Botanical Gardens’ Hendrie Park. The event is free and visitors can participate in a number of educational activities led by a diverse group of authors, illustrators, musicians and storytellers. The program is culturally diverse and committed to showcasing fresh, local talent alongside internationally renowned luminaries. Guests can listen to stories behind a book’s creation, learn writing tips and meet local authors. Participants can also explore interactive workshops, express their creativity in the craft tent with story-based art and explore the park’s sculpture collection. Telling Tales fosters the family literacy skills that will support mental health and a sense of well-being, by promoting a love of reading and an appreciation for the natural world.

Project: The Women Composers Project
Applicant: Effusion and Friends Collective
Effusion was formed in 2016 when five classically-trained musicians joined forces to present concerts to educate the Burlington community. For this project, Effusion aims to bring awareness to the amazing depth and range of women composers in music from classical, rock and pop, to musical theatre and film. The concert will curate music from these genres and composers will come from various cultures and ethnicities. As we introduce these women composers to the public, we will give brief descriptions of the music, the impact that it had at the time, and share important facts about each composer. The project will feature music by Black, Indigenous and Japanese women in addition to works by women from Europe, Canada and the US and will provide a new way of looking at women composers.

Burlington Symphony Orchestra

Project: Burlington Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Engagement Project
Applicant: Burlington Symphony Orchestra
The Burlington Symphony Orchestra (BSO) produces orchestral and small ensemble performances that engage and inspire large, diverse audiences. The BSO Young Artists Engagement Project is a deliberate attempt to offer a number of experiences for youth at various stages of their musical growth. By connecting these experiences, young people can form goals for their artistic future by visualizing their musical growth and potential. The engagement project includes a Young Artist Competition, Youth Learning Day and a concert at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. The winner of the Young Artist Competition will perform as a soloist during the concert. The project provides youth with the opportunity for long term support and real-life experience working within the structure of an orchestral setting.

The Gazette will do what it can to promote these events and tell the story about how they came to be.

 

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Ontario Helping Families Save Money with Energy-Efficiency Program:  Programs providing home upgrades that will reduce energy use and bills for families

By Staff

April 12th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Thousands of families will be able to reduce their energy use and save money is as the result programs now available.

That energy bill is often a shock that comes your way several times a year. Some savings programs are now in place.

The Energy Affordability Program provides free home-efficiency upgrades for Ontarians who are looking for support with their energy bills.

To ensure families have access to these critical supports and help keep costs down, the income eligibility threshold is being raised by $11,715 for a four-person household, and by $8,285 for a couple.

“As the home heating season continues, our government is helping families reduce their energy use and save money on their bills”, said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “With this update to the Energy Affordability Program, Ontario is ensuring access to free home energy-efficiency upgrades like insulation, smart thermostats, and energy-efficient refrigerators and air conditioners.”

The Energy Affordability Program offers energy saving measures that can help participating households manage their energy use and lower electricity costs by up to $750 per year depending on eligibility, at no cost to the customer. The energy-efficiency upgrades and types of support available are tailored based on various factors including home heating system, location and an assessment of energy needs.

Under the increased income eligibility threshold, a four-person household with a before-tax income of $84,872, or a couple with a before-tax income of $60,014, is now eligible for support through the Energy Affordability Program. That represents an increase of 16 per cent compared to the previous income threshold.

Like everything the government does for you – there are hoops you have to jump through. A link to the process is HERE

The government is also continuing to invest in other critical programs to support Ontarians who are looking for support with their electricity or natural gas bills.

The Ontario Electricity Support Program provides an on-bill credit of up to $75 per month to provide support for low-income households when paying their electricity bills. Customers can also access the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program and receive up to $600 in emergency assistance if they are behind on their electricity or natural gas bill and face having their service disconnected.

The application procedure is HERE:

“Updates to the Energy Affordability Program will provide greater comfort and lower bills for income-eligible Ontarians,” said Chuck Farmer, Vice-President, Planning, Conservation and Resource Adequacy at the IESO. “Energy efficiency programs like this reduce electricity demand and contribute to the overall reliability of Ontario’s power system.”

The Energy Affordability Program and Enbridge’s Home Winterproofing Program, which provides home energy upgrades to income-eligible natural gas customers, are now coordinated though a one-window approach. That means an improved customer experience and making it easier than ever for families to receive energy-efficient upgrades that will help them reduce energy costs and improve comfort at home.

To follow up on what the Enbridge could do for you click HERE

“Energy affordability and climate change are among the most pressing issues we face today, and energy efficiency is one of the most effective solutions that addresses both,” said Michele Harradence, President, Enbridge Gas. .

Background:
In October 2022 the government announced it was increasing funding for the province’s energy-efficiency programs by $342 million, bringing the total investment to more than $1 billion over the current four-year electricity conservation framework.

• The Energy Affordability Program, which is funded by the province’s current four-year electricity conservation framework, has provided free energy-efficiency upgrades to more than 47,000 Ontario households since 2018.

• Free energy upgrades may include insulation, draft proofing, smart thermostats, shower heads, aerators, pipe wrap, energy-efficient refrigerator, air conditioner and health and safety measures where needed such as carbon monoxide detectors and attic dampers.

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Ireland Park outdoor courts to have dedicated pickleball times

By Staff

April 12, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

The game has become incredibly popular – squeezing tennis off some of the courts.

As part of a one-year pilot project, the outdoor courts at Ireland Park will have dedicated times for pickleball play.

Outside of the dedicated pickleball times, the outdoor courts will be available for both pickleball and tennis on a first come, first served basis for 30-minutes at a time.

Ireland Park has four lined pickleball courts within tennis courts.

After the 2023 outdoor court season ends in the fall, City staff will review the project and make a decision whether to cancel, modify or continue the schedule next year.

Dedicated pickleball times
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 8 a.m. to noon
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday – 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Sunday – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

No matter who is using the courts, we ask everyone to follow the rules of etiquette including keeping the area clean and follow all fair play and sportsmanship rules.
Additional outdoor courts

The City’s outdoor courts will begin to open the week of April 11 and are expected to all be open by mid-April.

• Bolus Garden Parkette: two lined pickleball courts within the ball hockey area. You must bring your own pickleball nets.
• Optimist Park: two lined pickleball courts within tennis courts.
• Sycamore Park: two lined pickleball courts within tennis courts.
• Tansley Woods Park: three dedicated pickleball courts with fixed official height pickleball nets.
• Leighland Park: two dedicated tennis courts (currently closed for construction)
• Brant Hills Park: two dedicated tennis courts

Emilie Cote, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture commented that ““Pickleball’s popularity is now spreading to the younger generations and the demand for courts is high. It’s a great social sport for all ages and abilities. After the 2023 outdoor court season is over this fall, staff will review the pilot to determine what will happen next year.”

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Retirement Home and Long Term Care Residence in the Alton community goes to Council later this month

By Staff

April 12th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

Much needed facility will go to City Council for final approval later this month

 

A five (5) storey Long Term Care Facility building containing 256 beds and a six (6) storey Retirement Home building containing 115 units to be developed as well as associated ancillary commercial uses in the ground floor.

The proposed gross floor area for the Long Term Care Facility building is approximately 17,346 m² and for the Retirement Home building is approximately 9,510 m² resulting in a Floor Area Ratio of 1.8.

Additionally, the development proposes 238 vehicle parking spaces including 6 accessible parking spaces, 8 bicycle parking spaces and 2 loading spaces.

The development was recommended by Planning department and goes to Council later this month where a vote to approve the development will be taken.

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Summer recreation program registration opening soon

By Staff

April 12th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The City’s summer swimming lessons and aquatic leadership programs will be opening for registration on April 22 at 9 a.m. The programs are viewable online now.

Adult 19+ and Adult 55+ summer programs will be opening for registration on May 27 at 9 a.m. with programs viewable online on May 17.
View registration information at burlington.ca/recreation.

Learning a life long skill

Saturday, April 22 9 a.m. • Swimming lessons for all ages and skill levels are available in group and private lesson formats
• Aquatic leadership courses
• Log in and register at liveandplay.burlington.ca.

Waiting for the ball to come their way.

Saturday, May 27 9 a.m. • Variety of in-person indoor and outdoor opportunities
• Sports, games, fitness, creative activities, music programs, social events, discussion and learning programs
• Log in and register at liveandplay.burlington.ca.

Non-resident registration opens April 28 for swimming lessons and Aquatic leadership programs, and June 2 for Adult programs.
Summer youth and camps programs went on sale in Spring. Some spaces are still available for select summer youth and camp programs; registration is open now.

Assisted Registration
Residents who need extra support or do not have online access to register for programs can call 905-335-7738 for staff-assisted telephone registrations starting April 22 and May 27 at 9 a.m. The Recreation customer service team is also available through email at liveandplay@burlington.ca. Phone and email support is available Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In-person registration is available starting Monday following the launch at Tansley Woods Community Centre, Burlington Seniors’ Centre and other recreation customer service counters during program times.

Recreation Fee Assistance
Recreation is for all, regardless of financial situation. Recreation Fee Assistance is funding made available to resident individuals or families who need help to pay for City of Burlington recreation programs. For more information or to apply, visit burlington.ca/feeassistance.

 Emilie Cote, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture

“No matter your age, our programs are a great opportunity to get out, meet friends, make new ones and get active in your community. Our catalogue has programs for arts, athletics, education and more.”

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Plants and bags of soil - Community Living can benefit if you order from their partners

By Staff

April 12th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Spring has finally sprung, which means planting season is just around the corner!

Whether you have a green thumb or are just starting out, Community Living has you covered and they are ready to help your garden grow!

They have teamed up with BigYellowBag and Plantables. Both companies deliver high quality garden products straight to your door.

Give and Grow with Big Yellow Bag- Garden Soil
When you use promo code CLBURL23 at www.bigyellowbag.com

You will receive $5.00 off your purchase
BONUS – SAVE an additional $10 when you order by April 30th
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If you have any questions regarding either fundraiser, please email fundraising@clburlington.ca

You can only imagine what your support will do for Community Living

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Controlled burn at the site of Fisher’s Pond located off Cedar Springs Road in Burlington will take place on Wednesday the 12th

By Staff

April 6th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) will be conducting a controlled burn at the site of Fisher’s Pond located off Cedar Springs Road in Burlington the week of April 10-14, 2023. The aim of the controlled burn will be to continue the work of transforming the surrounding meadowlands into a tallgrass prairie, one of the rarest habitats in Ontario, while reducing the amount of invasive vegetative species gaining control in the area.

A wide area can be burned off to permit new growth. Always tightly supervised with very close attention paid to wind conditions.

The controlled burn will take place on a single day between April 10 and 14, 2023. The timing of the burn must be carefully chosen based on weather and climate conditions as well as mindfulness of ecological concerns, such as reptile movements and the nesting activities of birds. As such, the exact date of the burn will be determined swiftly when conditions are appropriate. The BTC will post a notice on our website and social media channels once the date is confirmed. On the day of the burn there will be no access to the Fisher’s Pond Side Trail or the main Bruce Trail between Springer Crescent and Guelph Line. BTC Staff will be positioned at entrance points to advise trail users.

A controlled burn, also called a “prescribed burn”, is a widely used method that allows for the growth and regeneration of native grasslands. This deliberately set, carefully planned and controlled fire will be conducted by specialists from Lands & Forests Consulting, a company with extensive experience ensuring that burns are controlled, safe, and occur in such a way that minimizes smoke in the surrounding areas. Local fire services have approved the burn plan and the site will be monitored by Lands & Forests Consulting continuously until the burn is declared out.

Smoke will exist while the burn is taking place and for approximately 48 hours after the fires have been extinguished.

Residents near Guelph Line and Dundas Street in Burlington and the surrounding areas may see smoke while the burn is taking place and for approximately 48 hours after the fires have been extinguished, however, smoke issues will be minimized by burning under specific wind directions and atmospheric conditions. Please be advised that visible smoke in the area is not cause for concern and firefighting services will be on standby in the highly unlikely event that emergency action is necessary.

Regular controlled burns are an important natural component in establishing and maintaining endangered plant communities restricted to prairie habitats in Ontario, which have been in

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How to Improve Your Mental Skills with Online Gaming

By Corinne Galvan

April 11th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Were you aware that there are nearly three billion online games in existence? In fact, the chances are high that this number is actually under reported. While virtual games can be a great deal of fun, it is important to remember that they can also be used to hone specific skill sets. Let us take a look at four game categories and how each may positively impact your mental “fitness” over time.

Strategy-Based Platforms

Games such as chess and checkers have existed in one form or another for thousands of years. In the same respect, it is known that the Romans incorporated dice as a form of entertainment.

These bundles are unique in the fact that they teach basic forms of strategy. This is why they are even taught to military cadets. The good news is that you do not have to enlist in the army to enjoy all that such platforms have to offer. There are plenty of online versions to choose from.

Making Decisions Under Pressure

Do you enjoy visiting an Ontario casino from time to time? If so, why not translate this form of entertainment into the digital domain? We are all aware that many individuals register with virtual casinos as a means to earn an additional side income. However, many of the games themselves represent excellent ways to become comfortable when thinking under pressure. Poker, backgammon, roulette, and blackjack are all associated with time limits and therefore, being able to make on-the-spot decisions is a talent that should never be taken lightly. Casinos can help to improve and augment this skill set.

Visual Acuity

There are still other types of online games which can help to improve your visual acuity if played on a regular basis. In fact, medical professionals have employed such methods for quite some time. The good news is that the casual nature of these platforms is sure to provide you with hours of entertainment. Point-and-click games are a perfect example, as they are rather lighthearted and still challenging. Many can be downloaded as a smartphone application that plays offline; an additional benefit while out and about.

Critical Thinking

Possessing sharp and flexible critical thinking skills is crucial during countless real-world situations. While this is an inherent trait of all human beings, the approaches themselves can be improved by playing online games. Strategy-based platforms and decision-driven variants are two common examples. As the story is partially based on the choices that players make, they will be required to think outside of the proverbial box if they hope to succeed. There are even times when collaborative efforts are supported (such as when accessing a multiplayer game).

While we are all aware that online games are a great deal of fun, they can also offer a wide spectrum of additional benefits that are not always apparent at first glance. Feel free to explore the virtual community in order to further determine which genre is the most appropriate for your unique tastes!

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Transit doesn't have anyone on City Council championing better transit service and getting rid of the diesel powered busses

By Pepper Parr

April 11th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Is there anyone who speaks for and about transit issues in Burlington?

The six members of Council are now all Deputy Mayors with what Mayor Meed Ward called a “portfolio” which portfolio looks into and after the transit service – the word doesn’t event appear in the list of portfolios.

Imagine seeing one of these scooting up and down Brant Street or along Fairview. They are called Autonomous Vehicles that drive along a pre-determind route, can carry up to eight passengers along with a driver who could take over the wheel if needed.

Transit sucks up a significant portion of the budget. This council is tightly focused on getting both affordable and attainable housing in place for the thousands of people who are expected to call Burlington home by 2031

They are going arrive – how will they get around the city – there is already a considerable amount of grid lock.

Sue Connor, former Director of Transit for Burlington.

There was a time when the city had one of the best transit operators in the province serving is as Director of Burlington Transit. For reasons that were never explained Sue Connors moved on and now spends a lot of her time with CUTRIC, Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium where her experience is being put to good use.

While with Burlington Connors shepherded Council through the challenge the city faced is as it began thinking how it would move away from diesel powered buses to battery or hydrogen fuel cells systems. There are significant differences between the two.

Battery powered buses have been around for some time; hydrogen is more recent. Much of the thinking about which works best is being done at CUTRIC.

Burlington doesn’t have a single member of Council with any depth of understanding about the challenges the city faces.

The current Council doesn’t seem to have much in the way of appetite for both understanding and resolving the issue.

This failure, and it is a failure not an oversight is something the city will pay for dearly in the not too distant future.

The city did declare a Climate Emergency – it sort of got left at that.  Councillor Nisan has the Environment portfolio but don’t expect him to take up the torch for buses that don’t pollute – unless there is an advantage in it for him – polishing up the profile wouldn’t be excuse enough.

There is little interest in transit in Burlington. It would be safe to say that not one member of council has been on a bus so far in this term of office. People in Burlington want to drive in their car and complain about grid lock. There is nothing exciting about transit – but if the city went after an opportunity to be a pilot site for one of these autonomous vehicles thousands of people would at least want to try one out.

Ward 1 – Councillor Kelvin Galbraith; Deputy Mayor for Business & Red Tape Reduction:
Ward 2 – Councillor Lisa Kearns; Deputy Mayor for Community Engagement & Partnerships.
Ward 3 – Councillor Rory Nisan; Deputy Mayor for the Environment
Ward 4 – Councillor Shawna Stolte; Deputy Mayor for Housing
Ward 5 – Councillor Paul Sharman; Deputy Mayor for Strategy & Budgets
Ward 6 – Councillor Angelo Bentivegna; Deputy Mayor for Recreation and Community Services

Do you see the word “transit” in the portfolios the members of Council have as Deputy Mayors ?

Transit is getting a lot of attention in other municipalities.  Whitby was the location for a pilot of the Autonomous buses driven by batteries.

Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.

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Goff takes another run at public school board seat

By Pepper Parr

April 11, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Chris Goff lives in ward 3 and drives school buses that get children who live in Aldershot to school.

While a student at Mohawk College he served as the student representative on the Board of the Community College.

Chris Goff, candidate for the wards 1&2 trustee seat on the Halton District School Board.

He also served on the Board of the Association of Community Colleges.

He describes his strength as someone who understands and has experience in governance issues; something he feels can be improved at the Halton District School Board.

His view is that the trustees are elected to oversee the running of the school board – not to get into the weeds of daily operations.

Goff would like to see better communications between the Board of Education and the parents. His view is that the “messaging is poor”.

His concern with the Oakville High School teacher, who is no longer in the classroom, was from a safety perspective. Dressed as he was Goff felt student safety was at risk.

Goff has attended school board trustee meetings prior to the pandemic lock downs and is familiar with how they do their work.

Goff said he has seen and reviewed past budgets but was not aware the Board of Education currently has a survey out asking people for feedback before they deliberate the budget for 2023-24

The two top issues for Goff are problems with the school bussing and the mental health of students. The operation of the school buses is handled by the Halton Student Transportation Services; they sign contracts with the bus operators on behalf of both the public and Catholic school boards – not something the trustees handle other than oversight.

Goff’s long term hope for education in Ontario is better communication and more attention paid to the processes that are relied upon. The system is Ok said Goff; it is the processes that need improvement.

Goff ran in the election that took place last October. The by-election was necessary due to the resignation of a newly elected trustee.

Goff had a very positive opinion on the STEM program at Aldershot High School but added that “the last two years have been rough – the students couldn’t be in class due to the Covid19 pandemic.”

Goff’s web site can be found HERE

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Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan manages to top the list of Regional Council spenders

By Pepper Parr

April 10th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Members of city council are also members of Halton Regional Council where they earn $62,647.00 annually.

Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan

They are also reimbursed for expenses they incur attending conferences – the registration for the conferences is paid for by the Region

Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan cost the Region $71,933 –

$62,647 in salary,

$5,356 in “other expenses”

and $3,930 in conference attendance.

No other Councillor took away more than $70,000 cumulatively or more in conference and other expenses.

Rory Nisan at a conference with MPP for Oakville North Burlington.

Nisan, who is now in his second term is as a City and Regional Councillor, got more in the way of Regional funds than anyone else on the 24 member Council, with the exception of Gary Carr who is Chair.

We have reached out to the Councillor for some detail on just what the “other expenses” were and which conferences he attended.

There has been no response to date

 

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The Little Adventurers: Exploring the World of Mountain Bikes for Kids

By Paul Sebastian

April 10th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Mountain biking is a thrilling and adventurous outdoor activity that has become increasingly popular in recent years. While it was once considered a sport for adults, mountain biking has now become a family-friendly activity, with many parents introducing their children to the sport at a young age. This article explores the world of mountain bikes for kids’ adventures and highlights some of the benefits of this exciting and engaging activity.

Choosing the Right Bike

The right kind of bike at the right time will mean a lifetime of enjoying the sport.

One of the most important things about mountain biking for kids is selecting the right bike. Like adults, kids’ mountain bikes come in various sizes and models, and choosing the appropriate one for your child is essential. It’s important to consider the child’s age, height, and weight when selecting a mountain bike. Additionally, you should look for bikes with adjustable seat heights, easy-to-use brakes, and lightweight frames that are comfortable for the child to ride.

Benefits of Mountain Biking for Kids

Mountain biking is an excellent outdoor activity for kids because it has many benefits. Firstly, it allows children to get out and enjoy nature. Mountain biking allows kids to explore new trails, experience different terrains and environments, and appreciate the beauty of nature.

Furthermore, mountain biking can help improve children’s physical health by developing their cardiovascular fitness, endurance, and strength.

Moreover, mountain biking is an excellent way to develop children’s social skills. Kids can ride with friends and family, creating opportunities for social interaction, bonding, and teamwork. It’s also a great way to build self-confidence, as children can push themselves to take on new challenges and develop new skills.

Safety Tips for Kids

Helmets are a MUST. Make sure it fits properly.

When it comes to mountain biking for kids, safety is of utmost importance. Parents should ensure that their children have appropriate safety gear, including a helmet, knee and elbow pads, gloves, and sturdy shoes. Additionally, parents should teach their kids how to properly use their brakes and ensure that their bikes are in good condition before each ride. Children should also be taught the importance of staying on the designated trails and avoiding areas that may be too challenging for their skill level.

Mountain Biking Programs for Kids

Getting the kids off to a good start will result in safe biking.

Many communities and organizations offer mountain biking programs for kids. These programs are designed to teach children the basics of mountain biking, including proper technique, safety, and bike maintenance. These programs also allow children to meet and ride with kids with similar interests. Furthermore, some programs offer competitive opportunities for kids who want to take their mountain biking skills to the next level.

Conclusion

Mountain biking is an exciting and engaging outdoor activity that kids can enjoy. It provides an opportunity for children to explore the beauty of nature, improve their physical health, develop social skills, and build self-confidence. When it comes to mountain bikes for kids’ adventures, selecting the right bike and ensuring that children have appropriate safety gear are of utmost importance.

Furthermore, parents can enrol their children in mountain biking programs, which offer an excellent opportunity to develop their skills and meet other kids who share similar interests.

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The scam scum are using trusted brand names to lure you in

By Staff

April 9th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The scam scum are using brand names that you know and trust to draw you into giving them personal information that gets them to the point where they can access your personal financial accounts.

Some have lost tens of thousands.

There is very little that is free on the internet – you are usually giving away personal information in exchange for a Google map or a picture of someone you were searching for.

The financial damage is severe – the banks are taking a beating; the law enforcement people cannot keep up with the avalanche of complaints.

YOU are the best line of defence. Always, always look at the address of the person sending you the email – if you don’t recognize it – take a pass.

Make a point of looking at the email address – very carefully – this one came from: Costco@techbumbles.com  – and that ain’t Costco.

 

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Training is over; all the practices are done - it's now on to competitive Ringette for the Burlington Blast

By Pepper Parr

April 9th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Burlington Blast are in Regina getting ready to play their first game of the National Championship Ringette tournament.

The Burlington team is in the U16AA category consists of 3 age groups:

Bake sales, clothing drives and a GoFundMe account – plus a lot of training got the team to Regina.

There are three teams representing Ontario for U16AA based on the results of our provincial championships. The provincial gold medalist is named “Team Ontario”
1. Ajax (Team Ontario)
2. Burlington
3. West Ottawa

The round robin games take place from Monday April 10 to Wednesday, April 12.

Games are played at the Cooperators Centre in Regina where there are six regulation-size ice surfaces, 32 dressing rooms and a capacity of 1300 people

The Blast play 5 games in the round robin over three days. The results of those games determine when who they play on Thursday.

Thursday, April 13 are the play-in and quarter final games
Friday April 14 are the semi finals
Saturday April 15 are the gold medal games.

Burlington Blaze Ringette team days before they left for Regina to participate in the National finals.

The players are staying at local hotels.  The turnaround of only a month, between provincials and nationals meant the players booked their own flights – so there isn’t a picture of a team heading west with hopes of returning with Gold medals.

 

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Daniel Oke running for Burlington Wards 1&2 school board seat 'to repair damage done during past three years'

By Pepper Parr

April 9th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Daniel Oke is a ward 1 resident, who runs a martial arts school and wants to become the Halton District School Board trustee for the Burlington wards 1&2 seat.

His Mother was a teacher for 33 years in Oakville schools, his father was in a PhD program. He has a masters in western history, completed his PhD studies but never wrote a PhD thesis as he wanted to get into the work world and start a family.

Oke who has some strong views on public issues.

Oke has never attended a Board of Education meeting but did say he has friends who do attend and they have kept him informed.

Daniel Warren Oke -candidate for the Burlington Wards 1 & 2 HDSB seat.

His top two issues are what he calls a “broken education system” and “repairing the damage that was done during the past three years.”

The Halton School Board is in the process of reviewing its budget. Oke wants to be sure that the taxes collected go into what the students need and not “expensive lunch room furniture for teachers” He describes teacher as “well paid and protected”

Oke refers to what is done in school now as a “factory style” approach that requires students to sit at a desk for seven hours a day; “boys are not wired to be able to sit at a desk for seven hours a day”

Asked what the current board of trustees are doing wrong Oke said “there have been some shifts in direction but they caved into the union demands when they were threatened with personal legal action” The Halton District School Board has gone along with the masking policy put out by the Regional Medical Health Officer.

Oke does not think the pandemic lock downs should have been imposed; he described what was done to students as “child abuse” and “probably not permitted under the criminal code.”

“Masks cause bodily harm and never worked” and were not safe to wear, said Oke.

Daniel Oke’s web site is HERE

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A viewpoint on virtual citizen ship appointments: 'Don't do it' - you cheapen the process of a person becoming a citizen

By Staff

April 8th,  2023

BURLINGTON, ON

It will be some time before we become fully aware about what changed us forever as a result of the pandemic.

Now into our fourth year the restrictions are much less onerous.  But the scientists seem to believe that this one isn’t over yet.

New Canadians being sworn in at a Burlington Canada Day event. In the lower left corner former Former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario – The Late Lincoln Alexander and wife Marni Beal Alexander.

For much of the pandemic we had to meet virtually and for many of those occasions it made sense to do just that.  People found that Zooming could cut down a lot of the travel time involved in pulling groups of people together.

Many organizations chose to use the pandemic as an opportunity to change the way business and some commerce is done.

The City of Burlington chose to make all their council meetings virtual events – it was mandatory at first but now it is described is as an opportunity to choose what is most efficient.

The city of Burlington seems to have adopted the hybrid approach – live or virtual – whichever you prefer – the result being that if the weather was not favourable you could stay in your PJ’s and attend the meeting on line.  One Council member attempted to Chair a meeting from his living room.

The City Manager decided that some staff members could be permanently virtual – coming into the office for just the Christmas Party.

The Late Peter Appleyard serving as a Citizenship Judge was a British–Canadian jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer. He died in 2013

One Burlington resident got very miffed when he spotted what he took is as an attempt to turn the Citizenship ceremonies into virtual event. He spoke up about the ‘virtual citizenship’ idea and was horrified to find that the government was putting together plans to eliminate in-person citizenship ceremonies, apparently to “clear the backlog”.

He asked MP Karina Gould to “please persuade your government to abandon this travesty saying that Citizenship ceremonies are a cherished, important step of becoming Canadian” and then added that he would “volunteer my time and effort to perform such a ceremony in my area. I am in no way a judge, or Order of Canada recipient, but I am retired, have the time, and certainly the willingness to preside at such an event if there is a way to be deputized for this purpose.”

The federal government had already said they had “resumed in-person ceremonies and are also offering a  virtual option for faster, more accessible services for our clients.”

Staff from the Office of MP Gould wrote that they are “… are all ears on our proposed changes to the Citizenship Act to give applicants access to self-administer the Oath of Citizenship, without the presence of an authorized official.”

A citizen responded: “Our citizenship is so much more than a legal status. It is our daily acts and the duties and responsibilities that come with them that make us Canadians.

The proposed regulations on self-administration, citizenship applicants would not require a witness.

“Sorry”, said our citizen “not good enough. What is proposed is as sterile as getting a license plate at Service Ontario, unworthy and disrespectful of a new citizen who has dreamed and worked hard to become one. And I don’t like the idea of a citizen being thought of as a ‘client’, and I hope Minister Gould doesn’t either.”

So if you are ‘all ears’, please hear this: Don’t Do It !

 

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Transit Supervisor running for seat on Halton District School Board

By Pepper Parr

April 8th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Anthony Hoyes is one of five people running for the vacated Ward 1&2 Burlington seat on the Halton District School Board.

He is a ward 5 resident who works for Burlington Transit as a Supervisor where he feels his experience in dealing with people is the strength he brings to the table.

Anthony Hoyes; running for the ward 1&2 Burlington seat on the Halton District School Board

His two major issues are bullying and diversification in the Halton schools; student equity matters to Hoyes who saw the issue with the teacher at an Oakville High School in attire that many thought was very inappropriate.

Hoyes saw any decision the trustees made about the teacher as a double edged sword. The students had to be protected and the views of the parents listened to – and at the same time strong union support for the teacher was difficult to deal with when the union took the view that the rights of the teacher could not be forgotten.

He would like to see the school board he wants to sit on returning to the reason why children have to attend school – teach them the basics and do so in a safe environment and stop distracting them from issues that are not part of what they need to help them thrive.

Hoyes has never attended a school board meeting, wasn’t fully aware that the meetings are open to the public

He had no views on the Board of Education budget and has not done the public survey the board puts out. He wasn’t aware that it set out on the HDSB web site.

He was open and transparent on what he knew and didn’t know about board of education matters – believing that he would learn on the job

“This is my first time running for public office – “I’m still learning” he said.

Nominations for the by-election close on April 14th

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Clean Up and Green Up - Annual BurlingtonGreen event

By Staff

April 8th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It is once again Clean Up – Green Up time

Be a part of the growing number of Burlington residents, groups, schools and businesses signing up to participate in Community Clean Up Green Up 2023!


FREE supplies available, get your clean up event posted to our map and enjoy the outdoors while you help to keep our shared community clean and green and beautiful.

Thousands of communities across the province hold events like this:  Burlington just seems to do it a bit better.  On occasion BurlingtonGreen has been able to entice a company from the hospitality sector to put on a BBQ event, usually at city hall where hundreds of people turn out.

Click on the link to sign up and join the groups already in place.

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