 By Staff
November 19th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
More than $7.7 million has been allocated to the Halton District School Board for the construction of two school additions, addressing the increase in student enrollment in north Burlington and Milton.
 After just a few years after it opened the Alton Village Public school is to get a five classroom expansion. Alton Village Public School in Burlington will receive $2.27 million to build a five-room addition, providing classroom space for 115 students.
The need for additional classroom space in Alton surprised a lot of people – until it was realized that many of the houses in the Alton part of the city are accommodating extended families where there are far more than the traditional two, three and perhaps four children.
This change in family living patterns got by the demographers at the public school board
 The Alton Village community knows how to do a fund raiser – here is the sign up sheets for all the donated items. With a capital funding allocation of $5.52 million, Craig Kielburger Secondary School in Milton will receive a 10-room addition, providing accommodation for 210 additional students.
“This capital investment by the Ministry of Education will help improve the learning environment for students and relieve some of the accommodation pressures we are experiencing in these two communities,” says Kelly Amos, Chair of the Halton District School Board.
The school additions at Craig Kielburger Secondary School and Alton Village Public School were identified as the top two priorities in the Halton District School Board’s request to the Ministry of Education for Capital Priorities in 2015.
Funding for these capital projects was part of a $498 million provincial announcement on November 9, 2015 designated for new schools, additions and renovations.
The impact on parks and recreation services along with other social services can be expected to ripple through the city and the Region.
 By Staff
November 19th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Halton District School Board Trustees voted unanimously in favour of the appointment of David Boag as Associate Director, effective December 1, 2015.
The decision fills the vacancy left when former Associate Director Stuart Miller was appointed to the role of Director of Education in October.
 Trustees approve the appointment of the number two man in the administrative structure of the Halton District School Board “The high caliber of the candidates who came forward willing to take on this role made the decision a difficult one,” says Stuart Miller, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. He added that “David has been an integral part of our senior administrative team, and his commitment to students, as well as a comprehensive yet compassionate approach to problem-solving while recognizing the needs of the student and school communities, will continue to serve this Board well.”
 David Boag – appointed Associate Director o Education Halton District School Board effective December 1st. David Boag’s Halton teaching career began in 1988 at Lester B. Pearson and Queen Elizabeth Park High Schools, before he took on the role of Department Head at Lord Elgin and EC Drury High Schools. His administrative experience as Vice Principal at MM Robinson, Robert Bateman, Lord Elgin and EC Drury High Schools prepared him for a lead role in the Board’s Learning to 18 Initiative. As principal, David was able to utilize this experience at Robert Bateman and at Gary Allan High School where he focused on alternative and adult education. He was also instrumental in developing strategies to re-engage students to return to school – a successful program that continues to offer graduation opportunities to returning students to this day.
 Both the Director of Education and the Associate Director of Education appointed by Halton District school Board trustees came from within the organization – is there going to be any new blood brought in and an expansion of the gene pool. David was appointed as Superintendent of Education in 2009 with responsibility for Student Services, and as Superintendent of Education with responsibility for School Programs (secondary) and Student Success this past year. As Superintendent, David was also instrumental in the development and implementation of the Employability Skills and Community Skills Certificates, and the Board’s Mental Health strategy.
David is committed to the provision of safe and inclusive learning environments for students, providing engaging and responsive instruction, and opening doorways and creating pathways for students who may find challenges in their educational careers.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges and opportunities in this new role,” says David Boag. “I am very excited to continue working with a very talented senior administrative team and Board of Trustees to support all our staff in creating conditions to improve student learning and well-being.”
By Staff
November 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Rick Goldring is hosting a community meeting on December 1 at Mainway Recreation Centre to discuss how the community can come together to support Syrian refugees.
 During the last civic election Mayor Goldring faced a bit of a conundrum – there was a socially significant event taking place but because of the election Goldring felt he could not use city property. There is no election taking place now and our Mayor is gong to provide the kind of leadership every livable city needs. Kudos for him on this one. The event takes place at 7:00 p.m. at 4015 Mainway. Speakers will include officials from the federal and provincial governments, Lifeline Syria, organizations that welcome newcomers, faith-based groups and service clubs.
Burlington does not have a council or any other kind of faith based group made up of all the local clergy that meets on a regular basis. Someone had to call this kind of meeting – kudos to the Mayor for leading this initiative.
The Mayor’s office would like to get a sense as to what different churches are doing – for more detailed information or to confirm your attendance, please contact Mayor Goldring’s office at 905-335-7607 or email mayor@burlington.ca.
By Staff
November 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There has been considerable concern within the community about just where things stand with the ADI Development Group application to build a 26 storey residential building at the intersection of Martha Street and Lakeshore Road.
Tom Muir has been actively pursuing ward two Councillor Marianne Meed Ward for some answer – he wasn’t satisfied with the answers he was getting and the Gazette, as well as a number of other people, did not buy into what Meed Ward had to say about the application.
 The development site looking south from Martha Street. Meed Ward advised the Gazette earlier this week that she had asked James Ridge, the city manager, to put together a document that explains the time line and where he believes the city stands as it prepares for the Ontario Municipal Board hearing.
Set out below is the time line Ridge provided.
Chronology;
Application is received September 5, 2014
Notice sign posted September 24, 2014
Public Circulation September 24, 2014 (comments requested by October 24, 2014)
Application deemed complete (i.e. “the clock starts”) September 25, 2014
Neighbourhood Meeting October 9, 2014
Technical Circulation October 17, 2014 (comments requested by November 19, 2014)
Comments from Departments and External Agencies are received October 21, 2014 – March 11, 2015
Staff request a Parking Justification / Reduction Study from the applicant November 28, 2014
Information Report is due to Manager December 8, 2014
Information Report is due to Director December 15, 2014
Information Report is due to GM December 18, 2014
Information Report is due to Clerks January 7, 2015
Statutory Public Meeting (D&I) January 19, 2015
Council Meeting January 26, 2015
Staff meet with applicants to discuss application February 9, 2015
Applicant provides Parking Justification / Reduction Study February 16, 2015
Recommendation Report is due to Manager March 2, 2015
Recommendation Report is due to Director March 9, 2015
Recommendation Report is due to GM March 13, 2015
Recommendation Report is due to Clerks March 18, 2015
Recommendation Report is publicly available online March 23, 2015
“Day 180” since the application has been filed March 24, 2015
Applicant provides notice to Clerks Dept that they are appealing the application March 26, 2015
Recommendation Report Meeting (D&I) March 30, 2015
Council Meeting April 20, 2015
Here are his un-edited comments:
 Architects rendering of the structure the ADI Development Group wants to build at the intersection of Martha Street and Lakeshore Road. One of the key concerns for some involves the mistaken belief that an OMB appeal is automatically triggered when the 180 day threshold is missed. This is not the case. The applicant chooses whether to trigger an appeal after 180 days. In other circumstances where our review has gone past the 180 days, the great majority of applicants do not to appeal. Moreover, an applicant can choose to appeal before the 180 day threshold if they do not like a Council position on their application.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY OF MISSING THE 180 DEADLINE?
There will be a separate briefing note on this issue released publicly very soon. However, simply stated, the city’s rights and ability to make our case to the OMB are not diminished after the 180 day period, nor are the appellant’s rights or abilities increased. Suggestions that the City’s appeal rights, or powers are somehow compromised by missing the 180 days are incorrect. Again, a more detailed explain of the relevant case law will follow.
WHY DID WE MISS THE 180 DAY THRESHOLD?
Many applications reviewed by the City go past the 180 day threshold. The ADI application was not an isolated or rare event. The key reasons the City misses the 180 day threshold are:
1. The 180 day threshold is almost certainly not long enough given Burlington’s enhanced public consultation process. We have asked the Province for a longer timeframe, either for all municipalities, or municipalities like Burlington who have chosen to undertake greater consultation than required by the Planning Act.
2. Major revisions to a project, which are common, do not trigger a reset of the 180 day clock.
3. Perhaps most significantly, many of the external agencies that must provide comment before we can finalize a report, are delayed in getting their comments to the City. In every case there is a critical date at which point it becomes impossible to finalize a report in time to meet the 180 day threshold if external comment is still missing. These external bodies have very real and legitimate workload and priority-setting challenges of their own and often simply can’t turn around a response in a timeframe that would allow the City to meet the 180 day threshold.
Point 3 above was the key reason the ADI application went over 180 days. In order to have a report written and ready go to Committee and Council cycle for March (to have Council consider the recommendation within the 180 days), the report needed to be completed on February 2nd. But on that date we were missing two critical inputs:
• A key parking study from the applicant
• Comments from a key external partner (out of respect for the partner we would rather not name them).
I want to be clear we are not criticizing either the applicant or external partner for these delays. In each case there were legitimate and real workload and timing issues for them.
In short, as of Feb 2, there was no possible way to complete a report in time to meet the 180 days.
 James Ridge, city manager, former Military Police Officer: Is this a man you want to argue with? It should be noted that Ridge was not the city manager when most of the above happened, but the problem is now on his desk.
We await with interest, the additional material that is being put together.
We hope as well that the city’s administration will look upon this as a teachable moment and make information public so that people are aware of what the issues are; what the problems are and have some sense as to what city hall is doing.
Ridge is new to the file – he probably deeply regrets that it is on his desk at all – hopefully he will instill in staff, and the communications department in particular, a different approach to the way the public is kept informed.
The Gazette has, since its beginning, said that “an informed public can make informed decisions.
Ridge adds the following information:
Application and approval process
 ADI Development Group wants to put a 26 storey tower on a .136 hectare parcel of land at 374 Martha Street. The zoning of the property allows four storeys in height with the potential to increase the height to eight storeys through a rezoning application. In 2014, Adi Developments submitted an application to the City of Burlington for a 28-storey condo to be developed on a .136 hectare parcel of land at 374 Martha Street. The zoning of the property allows four storeys in height with the potential to increase the height to eight storeys through a rezoning application.
City of Burlington staff in March 2015 presented to the city’s Development and Infrastructure Committee a thorough report that looks at all facets of the Martha Street proposed development. City staff recommended that City Council reject the application, for reasons that include height, parking issues and traffic impact. Council voted unanimously to support the staff recommendation.
Requirements of the Planning Act
The city has 180 days, under the Planning Act, to respond to this type of development application before a developer can appeal its application for amendments to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). However, the City of Burlington does not believe that the 180-day time frame set out in the Act is sufficient, and we have communicated this to the province.
Burlington undertakes additional community consultation steps over and above the consultation that is required by the Act–steps that are not in place in many other cities. As a result, the 180-day threshold is often hard to reach. This was one of those circumstances.
As sometimes happens with complex reports requiring a high level of engagement with the community and government partners, this report went to City Council for endorsement in April 2015, after the 180-day period.
It should be emphasized that while exceeding the 180-day review timeframe was the ground for the OMB appeal in this case, Adi Developments still had the right to appeal the city’s decision if they disagreed with the City Council decision had it been made within the statutory time frame. I would add that in the great majority of other planning applications where the city’s review process has taken more than 180 days, applicants have chosen not to appeal to the OMB. The 180 threshold does not automatically trigger and OMB appeal, that decision is entirely up to the applicant. Even if the City Council decision happens after the 180 days, the city retains full right to make its case to the OMB.
Appeal to the OMB
A pre-hearing is scheduled for December 2015, and a full hearing is scheduled for March 2016. The city will continue to vigorously oppose the proposed development. The city has said publicly that an application for 28 storeys is well beyond what is appropriate in this location, for both height and density.
The city will provide all the information necessary to ensure we balance the development of our city with the preservation of our neighbhourhoods. We are committed to practicing planned, deliberate growth with community input.
 ADI Development Group put up the sign without running it by the bylaw office – a complaint brought the matter to city hall who met with legal to determine if it was a sign, a fence or a hoarding – it was determined to be a sign and it had to be taken down. Civility does not seem to exist in the relationship between the developer and the city. Signage at the Martha Street site
There have also been complaints about the signage at the 374 Martha Street site. The city has taken the appropriate enforcement actions to ensure that Adi Developments complies with the city’s signage bylaw, and removed the signage.
If you would like more information about the proposed Martha Street development, please visit this link for more information about the proposed development, reach me by phone at 905-335-7600, ext. 7608 or respond to me by email.
By Staff
November 19th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Personal Best has always meant achieving a time better than anything that she had achieved before for Kerry Halcovitch.
That personal best takes on a new dimension for Halcovitch who celebrates one year as a pancreatic cancer survivor.
Her next personal best? To compete in Ironman, Mont Tremblant, in June 2016 as a pancreatic cancer patient!
 For Kerry Halcovitch – personal best is a daily triumph. Pancreatic Cancer is a devastating diagnosis. 75% will pass within 3-9 months from diagnosis. 92% will not survive 5 years. These grim statistics have essentially remained relatively unchanged for over 40 years. In fact, research indicates that incidences of pancreatic cancer are in fact on the rise.
On Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 Burlington resident, Kerry Halcovitch, will kick off her Ironman training by inspiring 150 runners and walkers with her story of courage. She will then lead the 5km “Light Up the Lake” run starting from the Burlington Waterfront Hotel.
She will be speaking at 5:45 – it will be worth listening to.
Kerry and her husband David Halcovitch both work in law enforcement. Kerry is the Executive Assistant to Stephen Tanner, the Chief of the Halton Regional Police Service.
Kerry has run the Boston Marathon and is an Ironman athlete. David is a retired police officer, who completed his policing career with the Hanover Police Service as the Chief of Police. He presently is an international security specialist.
By Staff
November 19th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Anyone interested in learning more about the Forensic Identification Unit, the Tactical and Rescue Unit, or the Collision Reconstruction Unit of the Halton Regional Police Service might want to follow up on a really interesting opportunity.
Are you curious to know what it’s really like to be a police officer? Want to know about fraud and identity theft prevention?
The Halton Regional Police Service still has spots available for the upcoming session of the Citizen Police Academy. This informative and innovative program runs from 7-10 pm every Tuesday night for twelve weeks, between January 26th and April 12th 2016.
 How do the police choose dogs for the canine unit and how does the police officer handle the actual training – and where does the dog go at night? Each week participants are given presentations on various aspects of the Police Service. Just a few of the areas of the Police Service that are covered include Recruiting, Hostage Negotiations, Major Crime Investigations, Police Training Unit, Polygraph, Morality/Drugs, and the Communications Bureau.
This voluntary program is designed for anyone who wants to improve their knowledge of their local Police Service, and policing in Canada in general.
 How do the police get video from crime scenes and how do they analyze the information? Preference is given to persons who reside in, work in, or own a business in the Region of Halton.
For more information go online:
A current email address is mandatory for communication purposes and correspondence.
 By Staff
November 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Later today the first of several hundred people will arrive at the Art Gallery of Burlington, select a soup bowl and enjoy soups from some of the best kitchen in the city.
One of the recipes comes from the kitchen of the Pearl and Pine Retirement Residents where Chef Daniel oversees the meals prepared for the resident.
The private dining room looks better than most restaurants in this city.
 Chef Daniel Obeng, a Ghanaian by birth was raised in a tougher part of Toronto but overcame that background and is now the Executive Chef at the Pearl and Pine said that beets are one of his favourite vegetables “I just love the colour and the different things you can do with a beet.
 Chef Obeng trained at the renowned George Brown Culinary school in Toronto as well as studying at the Humber and the Stratford schools.
The soup will be one of dozens that will be served at the Art Gallery during the fund raising event which runs from the 19th to the 22nd. Not to be missed
Roasted beet Volute
Ingredients: Makes about 4 servings
1 cup diced peeled beets
2cloves minced garlic
2 cups chicken broth
2 stalk celery, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 1/2 cup 35% cream
1 bay leaf
½ teaspoon dried thyme
4 Tablespoon EVOO (divided)
S/P to taste
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
The Smoke seeds:
1cup pumpkin seeds
1 puck Hickory flavored bisquettes
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Place beets into a baking dish, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil; season with salt and black pepper.
Roast in the preheated oven until tender, about 1 hour; allow to cool. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat, and stir in the celery, onion, and garlic.
Cook, stirring often, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix in the cooked vegetables, chicken broth, thyme, and bay leaf, bring to a boil, and reduce heat.
Simmer until the celery is very tender, about 45 minutes. Remove from heat, and discard the bay leaf. Puree the mixture in the pot with an immersion blender until its smooth; stir in the cream and lemon juice. Season the soup and pass through a fine chinois and serve, garnish with smoke pumpkin seeds
Add the remainder oil to the seeds, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
Smoke for 1 hour.
What is this soup recipe all about – learn more.
By Staff
November 18, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
And so it begins. The project that was mentioned in a local newspaper in 1985 and approved in 1995 will see shovels in the ground very early in the New Year – perhaps New Year’s day if Jeff Paikin has his way.
Until the construction starts there is utility level work to be done. On Monday of next week a hydro line crossing will be installed which will close the west entrance of Old Lakeshore Road. All businesses remain open.
 The first phase of construction will include the burial of hydro lines. This work is expected to take approximately ten weeks. During the construction, there will be some minor lane disruptions and a one-day closure of the intersection at Lakeshore Road and Old Lakeshore Road.
Also as part of the construction, the section of Elizabeth Street, south of Lakeshore Road, will be closed until November 2018. Access to the Waterfront Hotel is available through the north driveway.
For more information, please contact Carol Gulak, Capital Works, City of Burlington at 905-335-7600, ext. 7772 or carol.gulak@burlington.ca.
By Staff
November 18, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Matt Dusk has forged a career in music that has resulted in four critically-acclaimed studio albums. He will be singing many of those songs when he returns to the stage of the Performing Arts Centre November 27th – one night only.
Dusk was last in Burlington November of 2012; they loved him then.
 Matt Dusk – when he does My Funny Valentine – give the hand of the person with you a nice little squeeze. His latest CD release, My Funny Valentine: The Chet Baker Songbook, is backed up by an eighty piece orchestra and numerous special guests including: Grammy award-winner Arturo Sandoval, Juno award-winner Guido Basso, Juno award-nominee Emilie-Claire Barlow, and Straight-No-Chaser alumn Ryan Ahlwardt. Together they pay homage to one of the most popular musicians of the twentieth century, Chet Baker.
Dusk will be in Burlington Friday November 27 – he won’t have the 80 piece orchestra but he will be holding the microphone and crooning to the delight of those who know his work.
There was only the one Frank Sinatra – but this young man nevertheless has a fine voice and the memories will surface as you listen
 Matt Dusk – working the microphone. “When I was growing up, I listened to what normal kids listened to: pop music. But in our house, my parents had the radio tuned to the classical station, however, at night they played jazz,” recalls the former choir boy. “And that’s how I discovered jazz; specifically Chet Baker. I remember saving my allowance, then heading to the record store where I’d rummage through the bins looking for his music. I eventually got a trumpet, learned how to play, but I quickly learned that should left to the professionals! When I made this record, I wanted to go back to my roots and pay homage to the artists who influenced me, one of them being Chet Baker.”
Tickets to Matt Dusk at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre November 27 at 8:00pm can be purchased online (www.burlingtonpac.ca) or by phone 905-681-6000 or in person at the Box Office located at 440 Locust Street.
By Staff
November 18th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
 There is a reason for the smile on this guy’s face – he is ahead fifty big ones. There is a reason for the smile on this guy’s face – he is ahead fifty big ones.
Jordan Cairns, a Burlington resident was the winner of the Lay’s Do Us a Flavour contest.
Earlier this year, Lay’s asked Canadians to submit regional flavour ideas for the next great potato chip. Jordan was named one of four flavour finalists in August after making the contest’s shortlist. Cairn’s He used Atlantic Canada’s reputation for potato cultivation as his inspiration – one of his fondest memories growing up was enjoying freshly baked, rich and cheesy scalloped potatoes at family occasions.
Cairn’s came up with the idea for P.E.I. Scalloped Potatoes. The flavour was selected after a two-month consumer voting period.
Cairn’s won the $50,000 plus 1% of his flavour’s future sales.
The Lay’s Canada Do Us a Flavour contest has received more than 2.7 million flavour ideas from fans across the country since 2013. Jordan intends to plan an epic trip across Canada with his winnings.
 By Staff
November 18, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
Two people decided to get the jump on the weekend shoppers on Monday. Just after 7:40 pm an observant Loss Prevention Officer at a local Fortinos Store observed a man and woman load a grocery cart with large quantities of merchandise and suspected they would leave without paying for the items so police were called.
The Loss Prevention Officers suspicions proved correct as the man and woman left the store with the loaded cart without paying. Uniformed officers had arrived just as the couple were exiting the store and they were immediately arrested.
Police located the couple’s vehicle in the parking lot which had recently stolen licence plates on it. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of stolen merchandise from other Burlington stores.
Items stolen include chewing gum, toothpaste, chocolate bars, perfume and toilet paper. The exact value of the items stolen is not yet known however it is believed to be in excess of $3000.00
Arrested/charged are:
Scott Cameron RUPERT (44 yrs) of Hamilton
• Theft under $5000 (Five Counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime (Two counts)
• Fail to comply with probation
Maria MONIZ (30 yrs) of Hamilton
• Theft under $5000 (Five Counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime (Two counts)
Both were released on a Promise to Appear with an Undertaking and will appear in Milton Court on December 16th 2015.
Ho ho ho to them.
Anyone who may have any information pertaining to these or other incidents is asked to call the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825 4747 ext. 2316, Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting *Tip201* with your message to 274637 (crimes)
By Staff
November 18, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Our Member of Parliament is no longer homeless.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon was the warm up band for Karina Gould on the day she was elected as the Member of Parliament for the city. Karina Gould will put her name on the door of the office space that Mike Wallace used to occupy at the Burlington Mall
The telephone number – effective Thursday – will be 905-639-5757
There will be at least one person in the office answering the phone.
Gould said “the public is always encouraged to email me at:
karina.gould@parl.gc.ca
Give them a little time to get the furniture set up. Gould, who was always very good at working with her people might want to hold a house warming and invite people to bring pictures and plants to make the place look hospitable.
 Ciné-Starz Upper Canada Place, Burlington, ON
Burlington, ON L7R 4B6
Week of Friday, November 20, 2015 through Thursday, November 26, 2015
Burnt (14A)
Fri – Thu: 1:10, 3:10, 5:10, 7:10, 9:10
Our Brand Is Crisis (14A)
Fri – Thu: 1:00, 5:25, 7:30, 9:30
Crimson Peak (14A)
Fri – Thu: 9:35 PM
Goosebumps ()
Fri – Thu: 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00
Pan (PG)
Fri – Thu: 1:00, 3:10, 5:15
Sicario (14A)
Fri – Thu: 1:00, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30
Everest (PG)
Fri – Thu: 3:00, 7:20, 9:30
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (PG)
Fri – Thu: 3:00, 7:00
Minions (G)
Fri – Thu: 1:10, 3:15, 5:15
 By Staff
November 17, 2105
BURLINGTON, ON
Look for a tax increase of about 3.85% – Mayor Goldring suggested they might try and get it down to 3.25% during an Overview of both the capital and Operating budgets for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.
The Gazette will provide details on a budget that will result in a total tax levy of $146,883,341
 Don’t expect to see very much in the way of public engagement in the budget that council is working its way through – the word is that they will inform you – and that the time set aside for delegations will not include an evening session. Don’t look for all that much public engagement. Director of Finance Joan Ford said the city would “inform” the public but did not [plan on “engaging” the public on the contents of the budget.
There will be one occasion for the public to delegate on the city budget – January 19th at the Community and Corporate Service meeting – there will not be an evening session.
Burlington’s budget, in its first form, has been presented to Council before the Regional Council has decided on how much money it is going to need.
The Director of Finance expects the surplus for the fiscal year that is ending to come in at about $3.5 million. A large part of that surplus was the result of a supplementary tax payment – $1.8 million.
The finance people in Burlington continue to refer to the surplus as a positive variance.
Oakville has predicted a tax increase of 2.45%
 By Staff
November 17th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Taken from the largest collection of contemporary Canadian ceramics in the world, Still Life – Landscape from the Permanent Collection will run November 27, 2015 to January 31, 2016.
 Harlan House, Iris vase – 1989 Co-curated by the AGB’s Chief Curator Dr. Denis Longchamps and Permanent Collection Curator Jonathan Smith, who recently celebrated 25 years with the AGB.
Still life and landscape, while they are considered to be classic subject matter for painting, are a rich source of inspiration in the clay community. From decorative motifs to sculptural installations, this exhibition looks at a rarely examined area of inspiration and their relationship to each other.
Join AGB curators Denis Longchamps and Jonathan Smith on Sunday November 29 at 2:30pm for their free Curators’ Talk on the exhibition.
By Pepper Parr
November 17th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Chairing the board of a non-profit organization when your full time job is to enhance the profitability of your client’s – calls for a splitting of ones mind-set that not everyone can pull off.
Ilene Elkaim, who currently serves as the Chair of Burlington’s Performing Arts Centre in her spare time runs a Canadian retail services business that focuses on putting time and/or money back into the hands of small to mid-sized retailers. The focus is on systematizing or automating administration, operations during the rest of her week.
 Ilene Elkaim, chair of the Performing Arts Centre Elkaim followed Rick Burgess and Brian Pearson as chair of an organization that experienced a bit of a rocky start but under its third Executive Director is doing quite well.
Elkaim headed up the selection committee that recently hired Suzanne Haines to run the place on a day to day basis.
Burlington was very fortunate when it hired McCurdy to run the organization several years ago. He was a very fortunate choice; while with the Centre he righted a ship that was listing badly.
After the first Executive director vacated the job McCurdy put a program in place that was just what the city needed.
Suzanne Haines now needs to build on the solid base she was given; she has Elkaim at her side to advise.
The centre is run by a corporation – The Theatre Board that sets out the strategic direction and what it wants to achieve.
 From left to right: The centre board chair Ilene Elkaim, former Centre Executive director Brenda Heatherington, immediate past Executive director Brian McCurdy and newly appointed Executive director Suzanne Haines So who is this Elkaim lady that works in the background ensuring that the vision is firmly fixed?
The theatre and the stage floor have a magic of their own and they draw people either to the seats in the theatre or the stage itself.
Ilene Elkaim is one of those people who was drawn to the stage – her first performance was as a snow flake – she thinks she was probably in kindergarten.
Originally a Montrealer she was educated at one of Quebec’s CEGEPS and then went on to McGill University where she earned a degree in Commerce and arrived in Burlington in 1995.
Her most recent performance was in a production at the West Plains Road United church. Drama is a hobby and Elkaim has a strong enough sense of self to not take her hobby too seriously – for her it is fun.
The task at the Centre is to insure that the place thrives and that it meets the needs and aspirations of the public and at the same time grows a stronger appreciation for the performing arts.
 The day the Burlington Teen Tour Band marched through the sliding doors – the Centre belonged to the people. The BTTB finally had a home “The objective is to engage people” said Elkaim and “that means listening to what they have to say.” The measure of their success is seen in the sale of tickets but that is just part of the job. Earning enough to cover all the costs is not something that happens in the cultural world – the Centre is probably always going to need financial support from the city. The city owns the building.
Theatre operations come in two flavours – there are presenting theatres which means they books different acts or rent the space to artistic groups.
Then there are production theatres that create act and shows that are put on the stage.
Burlington is a presentation theatre – it doesn’t do or create any new theatre productions. These things can easily cost a million dollars to mount and unless a show goes on the road that kind of money is never recovered. It is also a hugely risky undertaking and city council is never going to let that kind of event take place.
 James Burchill, one of the better social media practitioners in the city use the Performing Arts centre for his events. Another pillar in the makeup of the Centre is making the space available to local and community groups.
The Performing Arts Centre needed a little time to plug into the community and arrive at an understanding with different groups on costs and who pays for what.
The Performing Arts Centre has costs and- expenses that have to be met even if there isn’t a single person in a seat.
With two spaces for theatre – the Community theatre (200 seats) and the Main stage (700 seats) the Centre can meet very different needs.
The magnificent open space – the Family Room – makes the Centre quite unique. There are occasions when the two theatres are being used and the audiences from each mingle in the Family room during an intermission – enjoying a drink at the impressive bar – and then return to the theatre they were sitting in.
There is always quite a buzz when the two audiences mingle – not an experience one can have in many places.
Rental of the space is always a challenge – the Family Room can be turned into a stunning space – it was almost awesome on the opening night several years ago.
McCurdy was very successful in pulling in grant money that allowed him to create programs for young people which Elkaim believes is the foundation that the board is mandated to build.
 The Centre took a soft opening approach that let the city get used to the place. when the “official” opening took place they pulled out all the stops and the place looked great. “Everyone can remember the first time they attended a theatre production” said Elkaim. “If we can do that kind of thing often enough we will create the audience of the future.
During the week, often in the afternoons, it is not unusual to see half a dozen school buses parked on Elgin Street outside the theatre where they delivered students who take part in an event.
“The biggest challenge we face” said Elkaim “is to really engage the community” She adds that engaging a community means bringing them into the tent and making them a part of the process that sets out the direction the Centre takes.
It is all about selling tickets – but it is also about scheduling events that reflect what people want to see and at the same time introducing new ideas and forms of entertainment that have not been part of the cultural community in Burlington.
 Denise Walker, a fund raiser for the centre was the first person to take to the stage and speak to an audience that had paid for a ticket. It has been a number of years since Denise Walker stood on the stage and opened the very first performance – when Royal Wood entertained.
I attended that event and remember both a fine performance and the two ladies that are best described as part of the “silver haired set: who walked out of the theatre rather briskly mumbling about a performance they clearly didn’t enjoy. They would have preferred to hear Guy Lombardo.
That same space saw the Blue Jeans festival fill the house that watched talent that ranged from The Spoons to Gordy Tapp and a young man who has probably learned that ballet was not going to be his art form.
The audience loved the event – it got to see, and learn, that the Mayor missed too many piano lessons and that while former MP Mike Wallace who is a very fine dancer he does a better job dancing with his wife than he did dancing with a broom in a Gene Kelly impersonation.
The applause for almost everything that was on the stage was welcoming – the community was enjoying and celebrating its performing arts centre.
The board of the Centre has its challenges but after the three year run under the direction of Brian McCurdy the place is on a sound footing – they want to keep it that way and grow both the audience and the artistic tastes of the city and introduce the younger demographic to theatre and all the magic that takes place on a stage.
One thing that the public will not see is Board chair Ilene Elkaim performing as a snow flake.
 By Pepper Parr
November 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Does anyone know where our newly elected Member of Parliament is hanging out these days?
Karina Gould is reported not to have assumed the lease that Mike Wallace had at Burlington Mall where he had his Constituency office – but it was reported that she might use the space on a month-to-month basis.
 Burlington’s MPP ha nice digs on Brock street – room enough for the Member of parliament to move in and couch surf for a period of time? There is a report that Gould is “couch surfing” in the offices of the member of the provincial legislature, Eleanor McMahon, who has nice new digs over on Brock street.
 Federal MP Karina Gould after the Canadian University Woman’s Association debate at which she did very well. Quick on her feet – but not as fleet of foot in getting a constituency office set up. At some point it would help if the MP told people where and how she can be reached. People need help and support on matters that are managed by the federal government. The local constituency is an important part of the democratic process.
Karina Gould has an email address – no answer from her so far – no telephone number for her in the House of Commons yet.
 Political power is in the hands of two woman in this city. What can be expected of the two of them – a tag team perhaps? As the senior public official in the city she was the first to lay a wreath at the foot of the war memorial last week.
Time for the Member of Parliament to let the public know who they should contact when they need help.
Gould will have been going through a steep learning curve but she is a smart cookie and will ace most of that stuff.
Being in three places at once will be the challenge and putting a staff in place that will hit the ground running is the next step.
By Staff
November 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
On November 13th 2015, the Halton Regional Police, Burlington Strategic Support Team (SST), concluded a drug trafficking investigation that resulted in three arrests and the execution of Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a Burlington residence.
Seized as a result of the Investigation:
• 59 grams of cocaine
• 428 grams of marihuana)
• 11 grams of cannabis resin/ hashish , also known as “shatter”
• $2940.00 in cash.
The drugs have an estimated street value of $ 10,500.00
The following persons have been charged:
Robert David EMERY (25 yrs) of Burlington (Released on Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 22nd 2015)
• Trafficking a controlled substance (cocaine),
• Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) for the purpose of trafficking,
• Possession of a controlled substance (marihuana) – under 30 grams
Cole SIROIS (22 yrs) of Burlington (Released on Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 22nd 2015)
• Possession of a controlled substance, (marihuana) for the purpose of trafficking,
• Possession of a controlled substance (cannabis resin) for the purpose of trafficking,
Aaron MACISAAC (22 yrs) of Burlington (Released on Promise to Appear in Milton Court on December 15th 2015)
• Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine).
Investigators remind the public to utilize Crime Stoppers to report any illegal drug, gun or gang activity at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes)
Assuming the federal government decides to get into the distribution of marihuana – how will the police handle drug raids?
By Pepper Parr
November 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Your city council just might be doing some thinking and getting prepared to issue some kind of a statement on just why and how the ADI Development group application for both an Official Plan change and a zoning change was managed.
 Twenty six storeys on a very small lot – city council didn’t manage to formally vote against the development. When development applications are made the city has 180 days within which to respond. This time line is in place because at one point some municipalities sat on development applications they didn’t like. Now they have to respond within 180 days.
When that time line was passed ADI took their application to the Ontario Municipal Board and asked them to make the decision the city didn’t appear to want to make.
 This is is the lot a developer wants to build a structure that will reach 26 storeys into the sky. Tom Muir, an Aldershot resident, wanted to know why the city council did not vote on the application within that 180 day time frame.
He put his question to the ward Councillor and didn’t get a response. He then put the question to the Mayor and the city manager and included the ward Councillor who did get back to him.
The Mayor also got back to Muir asking for some patience and said he would get back to Muir with a “meaningful response”.
Muir never did hear from the Mayor other than to be copied on a comment he made to Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward. The developmental, to be built at the intersection of Martha Lakeshore Road is in ward 2.
John Was, another Burlington resident advised the Gazette “that all six councillors have been asked for a response regarding the 180 day timeline. The resident was also kind enough to say that our “efforts and persistence are appreciated”. At least two people like us
The one response that Was did get is disturbing:
It went as follows:
“I think Council is accountable for the end result, but responsibility for administrating this file rests with the Planning and Legal Departments.”
We have deliberately not identified the writer of that statement but will say that it was neither Councillor Meed Ward nor the Mayor.
The balance of the response went as follows:
“I still do not have a satisfactory explanation of why the timing requirements were not met and I also don’t have a complete understanding of the consequences of the late submission. I will respond back further when I have those questions answered.”
 Which member of this council does not have “a complete understanding of the consequences of the late submission.” The response is astounding – one of your elected official does not seem to know what may well turn out to be a very expensive Ontario Municipal Board hearing that has to potential to change significantly the way the eastern part of the downtown core works.
We will leave it to the Council member to identify himself.
On the same issue – it appears that there are efforts being made to put together something in the way of a response to the public.
Muir adds that he is “concerned that this has been going too long already, and the information being prepared appears to be for unspecified questions.” He adds: “How long is this information going to take to get to residents?
Meed Ward did say to Muir that the “city is preparing some additional information for residents in response to some of the questions that have been raised. Suggest waiting for that to determine if and whether additional correspondence or a meeting needed.”
What no one can understand is – what’s the problem? And why all this obfuscation?
By Staff
November 16, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Cogeco Cable Canada has deployed new download and upload speeds for some of its High Speed Internet residential and business packages in Halton Region.
As of today, the new speeds will automatically and progressively be rolled out to current subscribers, at no additional cost. New customers can also already subscribe to these enhanced packages.
“Our residential customers are streaming, browsing and downloading more than ever before” said the company in a media release. “With online entertainment usage growing exponentially, the current speed appetite of our Internet subscribers is trending upward”, said Daniel Boisvert, Vice President Marketing & Innovation at Cogeco Cable Canada.
“We are proud to boost the speeds of some of our packages at no extra cost, thereby enhancing our customers’ online enjoyment. We are committed to providing our Halton Region subscribers with the best Internet experience possible and to offering a suite of high speed Internet services at very competitive prices”.
The Turbo 30 package is renamed Turbo 40 as the download speed is increased to 40 Mbps. The Ultimate 55 and Ultimate 55 Unlimited packages will also benefit from more speed, with download speeds being increased to 60 Mbps. To reflect this change, the names of these packages become Ultimate 60 and Ultimate 60 Unlimited.
 Turbo 30 Turbo 40 From 30 Mbps to 40 Mbps 10 Mbps 175 GB
Ultimate 55 Ultimate 60 From 55 Mbps to 60 Mbps 10 Mbps 275 GB
Ultimate 55 Unlimited Ultimate 60 Unlimited From 55 Mbps to 60 Mbps 10 Mbps Unlimited
Business Internet Speed Increases
“Business owners are looking to increase their online productivity and optimize their efficiency. These new service upgrades will enable them to benefit from greater speeds, fuelling their growth in a cost-effective manner”, concluded Mr. Boisvert.
The Business Select package now offers download speeds of up to 50 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 15 Mbps. Subscribers to the Business Premium package can now enjoy upload speeds of up to 15 Mbps.
Business Select From up to 40 Mbps to up to 50 Mbps From up to 10 Mbps to up to 15 Mbps Unlimited
Business Premium Up to 80 Mbps
(no change) From up to 10 Mbps to up to 15 Mbps Unlimited
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By Staff
