 By Pepper Parr
October 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
An announcement that appeared on the Getting Involved website page said:
We are creating our next long-term vision and strategic plan – Horizon 2050 and we want to hear from you!
The Council in place now is working towards getting a budget in place for 2026.
Why are they starting a process that will outline a plan that takes the city forward to 2050? Will they be re-elected in 2026?
That is a job for the Council that will be elected in 2026
Their job at this point is to get themselves elected and then work with staff and the public to determine how the city should be built going forward.
 What do the citizens of the city want to see for a future Burlington? What’s possible. Horizon 2050 will guide the choices City leadership makes today and over the next 25 years. Help us plan for a Burlington that is future-ready, focused on connected communities and a thriving city for future generations.
What you share with us will help City staff and Council set the priorities that shape policies, programs and investments that impact our community for years to come.
 The 2015 to 2018 Strategic Plan was a real staff and City Councillor initiative. The 2022 to 2026 was driven to a considerable degree by consultants brought in by then City Manager James Ridge. 
How to Get Involved
Take the online survey from Oct. 1 to 31
Join us for a meeting in-person or online
Follow the project page for updates, reports and “What We Heard” summaries during the project.
Share your ideas with your neighbours and community groups and encourage them to share their ideas.
Why Horizon 2050 Matters
The decisions we make today will shape Burlington’s future. Horizon 2050 is about building a community where:
- Everyone feels included and connected,
- We protect and strengthen our natural environment,
- Housing, transportation and services meet the needs of all residents,
- Our city thrives socially, culturally and economically.
No point in protesting at this point. The city has already scheduled meetings for October (could this be to distract people from a budget that is going to have an increase in taxes of 5.8% over last year?)
October 14, 2025
 Every thought, every idea made by anyone during the 2015 – 2018 Strategic Plan sessions got written down. Staff and council put in much more than a full week of work to produce a solid document. When it came to getting opions using dotology – Council and Staff were far apart. Community Public Engagement Session #1
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Haber Recreation Centre, Room 1Tim Dobbie Dr., Burlington, Ont.
October 15, 2025 Community Public Engagement Session #2
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Mountainside Recreation CentreRoom 22205 Mt Forest Dr., Burlington, Ont.
 Frank McKeough, on the left, talks with Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman during the Strategic Plan sessions. The discussions were wide open and boisterous. October 15, 2025
Community Public Engagement Session #3
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Mountainside Recreation Centre Room 22205 Mt Forest Dr., Burlington, Ont.
October 21, 2025
By Gazette Staff
October 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The good news is that
No lane closures are currently planned for this weekend.
Background:
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has retained Alliance Verdi Civil Inc. (contractor) to undertake the rehabilitation of the 2.2 km QEW Burlington Bay Skyway Niagara bound bridge, and illumination upgrades in both directions of the QEW, from north of Northshore Boulevard to south of the Burlington Bay Skyway bridge, in the City of Burlington and City of Hamilton.
This project will extend the service life of the QEW Niagara bound lanes.
AECOM Canada ULC has been retained by MTO to provide construction administration and oversight of this project.
Construction started in May 2024 and is anticipated to be completed December 2026.
The Ministry of Transportation has advised media that a website has been set up to keep us aware of what they are doing that will impact travellers and when they are doing it.
Took far too long to get to this point – but at least we are there.
By Gazette Staff
October 3rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Experts ‘don’t think it will be a short crop year, just some reduced yields when comparing to other years.’
With harvest underway in Niagara, experts from Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) say the region is headed for a good crop despite the summer’s extreme heat and lack of rain.
“It looks like it is going to be an example of quality over quantity,” says CCOVI Researcher and Associate Professor Jim Willwerth (PhD ’11, OEVC ’04).
A damp spring combined with current moderate daytime highs and cooler evenings are helping to mitigate worries caused by the hot and dry summer conditions, says Willwerth, whose expertise includes soil, water and plant interactions.
 Jim Willwerth: “I don’t think it will be a short crop year, just some reduced yields when comparing to other years,” “I don’t think it will be a short crop year, just some reduced yields when comparing to other years, especially for those growers without irrigation,” he says, adding that a smaller yield due to smaller berries on the vine traditionally means more concentrated and desirable flavours in the grapes.
“We will see how the fall weather goes but right now the quality is looking excellent,” he says.
Last year, Ontario’s three major producing regions — Niagara, Prince Edward Country and the Lake Erie North Shore — produced 65,000 tonnes of grapes, according to the Grape Growers of Ontario (GGO).
GGO Chair Matthias Oppenlaender shares Willwerth’s optimistic outlook on this year’s harvest while also acknowledging the likelihood of a lower yield.
“The heat and drought in the summer were a challenge,” he says. “But even with a lower crop, the quality is excellent. We hope the cool nights and sunny days continue to carry us through to the end of harvest.”
Temperatures reached extreme highs over the summer, with several extended heat waves consistently measuring over 35 C.
Worries of a short crop were compounded by limited summer rainfall, with many areas of Niagara getting a third of their normal precipitation, Willwerth says.
“Most rain, if it did arrive, came in brief thunderstorms that did not allow the soils to absorb much water,” he says.
While wet weather in the spring helped grapevines avoid summer water stress, Willwerth says conditions in June and July impacted “fruit set” and helped create the lower yield estimate.
“Fruit set is the time when flowers develop into berries, and the excessive heat appeared to impact that process leading to fewer berries and smaller clusters,” he says.
Willwerth is hopeful October will see continued moderate temperatures and precipitation.
Too much heat now, he says, will have a poor impact on acidity and flavours in the grapes, and drier conditions can help reduce diseases that can be caused by moisture and humidity.
“We want to retain acidity to give the grapes that cool climate freshness that we are known for,” he says. “If temperatures get too high now, acids will start to break down faster.”
He says growers and winemakers are looking for a balance.
“Hopefully we will have a gradual ripening period where we have good flavour, good sugar levels and optimal acidity,” he says.
CCOVI Senior Oenology Scientist Jennifer Kelly runs the institute’s Pre-Harvest Monitoring program that serves as a free resource for industry to monitor ripeness of five varieties across the region from multiple vineyard sites, soil types and crop levels. From her perspective, the outlook is positive for local grape growers.
“The weather we are having now is really helping with a favourably slow progression of ripening,” she says, adding that the ripening rate could mean harvest 2025 will be extended by a couple weeks into early November.
“We are finding that sugar accumulation and acid degradation is happening a bit slower than it did last year,” she says. “More time on the vine is always a good thing.”
Oppenlaender agrees and says he expects this year’s conditions will result in a vintage that local growers and connoisseurs will happily remember.
“It will make for outstanding 100 per cent Ontario grown VQA wine,” he says. “I am looking forward to tasting them.”
By Pepper Parr
October 2, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
We are not naming sources in this article. Gag orders appear to have been slapped on everyone involved in the process.
The date was set as September 29th – the two swimming clubs that are battling over the amount of time swimming pool time they will be given, were to have submitted their clubs’ membership by that date,.
In order to determine who is going to get what in terms of pool time – the Procurement people (it may be people from some other department) asked each club to provide verifiable membership numbers.
 BAD: Burlington Aquatic Devilrays The most recent information request from the city was for a list of the postal code for each member of the club.
 Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club One of the clubs, we have yet to determine which club, had a problem with just a postal code to determine if a swimmer was a resident of the City. They could give a Burlington postal code for a relative or a friend – there would be no way to follow up and verify.
The source of verifiable information on swimming club membership rests with Swimming Ontario. One of the swimming clubs suggested that the city get the information from that source.
No response yet from the city.
 Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns The intention Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns expressed to have the City Auditor look into just how the decision to award swimming pool time was made isn’t clear – someone with the authority to acquire information was needed.
At this point, the matter does not appear to be on the Council agenda for next week.
Additions can be made to the Agenda before the meetings on October 6th and October 7th. Or Kearns can bring a Motion to have an item added.
Prior to this year, BAD had 40 hours of pool time each week. They now have 17 hours, while GHAC is believed to have 37.
The reduction in pool time is hammering the BAD club – their membership was once at 400; it is now less than 175. Swimmers join a club that has pool time.
The wheels at City Hall do not move quickly – they are as bad as they are in the provincial Court system.
But this will get resolved.
And if it is done fairly Burlington will have a hometown swimming club.
If it is unfair, the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays will become part of the city’s history.
By Gazette Staff
October 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Bowling lanes at Splitsville no longer have that hardwood floor look – they glow blue. Not sure that results in better bowling scores – but it sure is different. Splitsville Bowl has been an integral part of Burlington’s community for over 20 years, providing non-stop fun for family, friends, and businesses throughout the area.
After months of anticipation, changes, and renovations, Splitsville Bowl Burlington’s glow-up is complete.
Brands new lanes and pinsetters – guests can enjoy seamless bowling and our state-of-the-art scoring systems.
The have upgraded the arcade area, with new games and new prizes for everyone to enjoy!
Reserve your fun time online – click HERE
By Gazette Staff
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Chick-fil-A restaurants across Ontario will be offering a complimentary Original Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich or Spicy Chicken Sandwich to guests, while supplies last.
 The Burlington location is at 2331 Appleby Line
This offer is a way for Chick-fil-A to express gratitude to the citizens of Burlington and connect with both long-time fans and new customers. It’s the perfect opportunity for Canadians to enjoy a taste of Chick-fil-A’s signature offerings completely free of charge.
How Guests can Claim Offer
- Guests can claim their complimentary sandwich by visiting any participating Chick-fil-A restaurant in Ontario or Alberta, either inside the restaurant or via the drive-thru.
- This offer is limited to one per person, per day, while supplies last, and no purchase is necessary.
- The offer is not available through the App, personal web ordering or third-party delivery.
The fine print? While suppliers last.
By Ray Rivers
October 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The timing couldn’t be worse. Canada’s economy is struggling, showing signs of stagnation, rising unemployment and a decline in per-capita GDP (productivity). This was Mr. Trump’s plan after all – destroy Canada’s economy and we will beg to become the 51st state. The last thing we needed was another postal strike.
 Postal workers – waving goodbye to the decent jobs they had? We shouldn’t be blaming Mr. Trump for the mess in our postal service. Mr. Trudeau won his 2018 election promising to preserve the money-losing door-to-door delivery service. And then, perhaps because of all the strike threats, the post office corporate management lost much of their lucrative parcel business. They went from holding over 60% to less than 25% of the parcel market in just the last five years. That’s no way to run a business unless you want to bankrupt it.
Email has made snail mail delivery something of an anachronism. I had been hired by the post office in the mid-1970s as their senior economist and stayed long enough to help ease in the new crown corporation of the 80’s. That allowed enough political leverage to end the stream of deficits back then by jacking up the price of postage – something which wouldn’t work today.
The post office has played a crucial role in this country’s development since its beginning. It is vital for remote communities where alternate means of communication are limited. Perhaps that is where the post office’s real future lies? After all, it’s been really lousy competing with the private sector. Still there are all those group mail boxes, the street mail drop-off boxes and all those postal stations.
Canada Post currently delivers mail over the largest geographic area in the world, including Russia. So it is not going to disappear. It’s not the pony express – where riders relayed, swapping horses along the way, as they carried mail between Missouri and California to honour their 10 day delivery guarantee. That early private sector mail experiment lasted fewer than two years.
 Every country road has scenes like this. They could all be gone in less than three years. There are about 70,000 full and part time employees in the corporation which serves over 3 million rural customers with residential mail delivery. Regardless of the current strike’s outcome, thousands of existing employees will end up on the jobless rolls.
Even if those lay-offs are phased-in, the pain of finding oneself jobless in a growing jobless market today is problematic. We should have seen this coming.
Mr. Carney has his work cut out for him.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
By Gazette Staff
October 2nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Fall is the season of change, the perfect time to share some of the new and exciting initiatives we’ve been working on in response to community feedback. Earlier this year, we received valuable input from more than 4,600 people through our Customer Satisfaction Survey—thank you again to everyone who took the time to share their input to help shape the future of the library!
Responding to Your Needs
 In the survey, we heard feedback on three key areas: in-person spaces, demand for books in all formats, and programs and events. Here are some highlights of your feedback and how we’re responding:
More private space for collaboration and quiet work
In our surveys from last year and this year, we heard from many customers that they wanted more private space for quiet work or group collaborations. In response, we recently introduced online booking for BPL’s free meeting rooms and workspaces!
With the opening of our relocated New Appleby Branch earlier this month, we’re also able to offer expanded seating and three additional free bookable meeting rooms.
More to borrow
Burlington loves to read! Similar to last year, your survey comments show a demand for print, digital, and audiobooks, as well as concerns about longer wait times. We hear you and are refining our processes and borrowing parameters to manage demand for popular items. We’re continually adding more titles to borrow—last year, we added 700,000 eBooks on Hoopla and this year, Milton Public Library was added to our More to Borrow partnership, meaning customers can now access over 350,000 digital titles through OverDrive/Libby.
Over the past year, the cost of licensing eBooks and eAudiobooks and purchasing print material has continued to increase due to global economic factors, and we have to spend more to get the same amount. This is a long-term challenge that we will continue to address through advocacy, partnerships, and promotion strategies.
More programs and maker spaces
We heard that customers are seeking more frequent and diverse programs for a variety of ages and interests. This year, we expanded our maker offerings to include a MakerStation at Alton Branch and MakerStudio focused on video and audio at New Appleby Branch. We’ve also added new programs such as Tech Connect for older adults, family board game drop-ins, and a new drop-in program for teens.
Looking Ahead
We were thrilled to see that 96% of survey respondents believe the library improves the well-being of the community as a whole. Connecting the community with one another and the information and resources they need is at the core of what we do, and the foundation for our work ahead on our upcoming 2026-27 Strategic Plan. Thank you again to everyone who provided their input. We look forward to sharing our plan with you later this fall!
By Gazette Staff
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery of Burlington has partnered with Chartwell Retirement Residences to offer free Seniors to deliver Seniors’ Programming at the AGB this October.
October 1 is National Seniors Day an occasion for all Canadians to join in celebrating older adults across Canada—whether a parent, a co-worker, a neighbour, or a friend.
 Exploring creativity at the AGB clay studio through a new series of hands-on workshops. The AGB is inviting seniors in the community to explore their creativity in the AGB clay studio through a new series of hands-on workshops. Each two-part session invites you to hand-build a clay vessel with guidance from AGB artist educators Dawn Hackett Burns and Heather Kuzyk, then return the following week to personalize your creation with glazes inspired by the freedom of expression found in Russna Kaur’s exhibition
Chartwell Retirement Residences’ sponsorship of this program supports free registration for participants 55+ years old, all materials and kiln firings, and a tour of the AGB’s fall exhibitions. The program will conclude with a special reception for participants of both sessions in the Gallery’s lounge Thursday, October 30, 2–4 pm. Coffee and tea will be served.
Registration is free for participants ages 55+.
Participants can register on a first come, first served basis– space is limited to 12 participants per session.
Photo Credit: Jing Marchant and Mina Dragojevic from Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Photography.
Expressive Clay for Seniors
Session One
Tuesdays, October 14 & 21, 2025: 1:30–4 pm with Dawn Hackett Burns
Session Two
Thursdays, October 16 & 23, 2025 10 am–12:30 pm with Heather Kuzyk
REGISTER HERE
Chartwell Reception: Thursday, October 30, 2025 – 2–4 pm. AGB Lounge
About the Instructors
Dawn Hackett Burns is an acclaimed ceramic artist and Sheridan graduate who lives in Greensville, Ontario and has been teaching clay classes for over ten years. Her own clay practice often references place and culture and utilizes pattern and repetition. Nature is also a recurring subject. She has a gift for designing lessons and projects that fuel imagination and get artists of all ages excited about building with clay.
Heather Kuzyk is a versatile and creative visual artist. She is a graduate of Sheridan College in both the Craft and Design and Art Fundamentals Programs.
She is the recipient of the Gardiner Museum Award for Ceramic Excellence. Following graduation, Heather has built a passionate career spanning 24 years as a dedicated arts educator. Her varied skill set includes ceramics, sculpture, mixed media, drawing, and design. When she is not sharing her love of the arts, she can be found dabbling with new media and looking for unique and interesting ways to express herself creatively.
By Gazette Staff
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Public Library is excited to be part of the Telling Tales Festival in October— they can’t wait to see you there.
Telling Tales is a huge children’s literary event held every year in Hamilton. This year, Hendrie Park in Royal Botanical Gardens is where all the action happens on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5.
The weekend festival features over 70 presentations by Canadian authors, illustrators, and storytellers, offering storytimes, music, theatrical performances, and workshops for book lovers of all ages, from babies to teens.
Now in its 17th year, Telling Tales always draws a big crowd, so be sure to register in advance to attend this FREE event to be part of the magic.
BPL’s Tales Under the Tent Puppet Shows
Step right up and join the fun at BPL’s Big Tent in The Creativity Zone at Telling Tales. Our talented troupe of tale spinners is ready to whisk you away with puppet shows that’ll tickle your funny bone and send shivers down your spine. Join us for parachute play and silly songs—and try your skills playing one of the big games under the tent. Fun for the whole family awaits!
With puppet shows happening all weekend, there’s always a reason to stop by and say “hi”!
Our Puppet Shows run for 25 minutes:
- Saturday, October 4: Show starts at 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm
- Sunday, October 5: Show starts at 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm
And More Puppet Time Ahead!
Fun with puppets lives on at Burlington Public Library even after Telling Tales 2025 wraps up! Join them at 2pm for an hour of puppetry fun for the whole family. Create a puppet craft, explore the library’s puppet family, and put on your own mini puppet show. Kids also have a chance to win a puppet! Children ages 5 and under must have an adult with them. No need to register. Please note: this is a hands-on discovery session, not a puppet performance.
Puppet Time @Central Branch – Saturday, October 18, 2-3pm
Puppet Time @New Appleby Branch – Saturday, October 25, 2-3pm
Telling Tales Books to Read
Check out books from our collection by some of the authors and illustrators you can meet in person at Telling Tales this year.
By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
September 17th, 2012 was a boffo week for the BurlingtonGreen crowd.
Dr. Jane Goodall was in Canada and the BG’s were thrilled to have her first event presentation taking place right here in Burlington.
 Jane Goodall Goodall shared fascinating stories from the field, her reflections on global conservation and hope for the future of the planet to both a daytime audience of 700 Halton youth attending our annual “Imprints” Youth event followed by a sold out evening event also taking place at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
Dr Goodall passed away at the age of 91.
The students hung on every word she said when she spoke. During a short interview after her presentation, I was asked by her media assistant to wait a few minutes: “Dr. Goodall wants to refresh herself”. The aid took a medium-sized flask from her purse and slipped into the room Dr. Goodall was relaxing in.
She was a charm to interview; the world is a lesser place with her passing.
Related news story:
Goodall in Burlington
By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Raising funds for a community initiative is never easy. It takes an innovative approach and then some hard work to make the idea effective.
Eagles Nest is an organization that provides affordable mental health services in the community. The tag line for them is: HOPE RESTORED, LIVES CHANGED.
They recently held a raffle that is one of the best I’ve seen in some time.
They sold 9,630 tickets and raised over $5,000. The funds will be used to cover some of the operating costs.
There were two prizes: the Culinary Experience Bundle, which was won by N. McCarthy of Brantford and the Upscale Flavours Gift Pack, which was won by R. Armstrong of Burlington.
The Culinary Experience bundle included: Quatrefoil Restaurant ($300), The Good Earth Food & Wine Co, ($200), 400 Brant Kitchen & Bar ($400), Rapscallion & Co. ($200), Spencer’s at the Waterfront ($300), Edgewater Manor ($200) and The Standard ($200).
The Upscale Flavours winner got to choose from a hand-picked selection of gift cards from two favourites: Shy’s Place ($200) and Bench Brewing ($200)
Not a bad return for tickets that went at Single Ticket for $10, 3-Ticket Pack for $20 and a 100-Ticket Pack for $50.
Amanda DevriesWeeks before the raffle took place the Eagles Nest staff and many of their supporters met at their location on Dundas to talk about the programs underway.
 Amanda deVries on the left with a staff member working the cell phones.  It was a soft summer evening; people catching up with one another – many wearing T-shirts that spelled out what the organization is about.
By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
There will soon be more older people than young people in the city.
And many of those older people are going to need levels of care that are not normally provided.
 University Professor Tim O’Connell, Chair of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University explains that: “As society increasingly embraces a holistic approach to health, recreation has emerged at the critical intersection of personal wellness and community well-being.
To meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in recreation fields, Brock University and Mohawk College have signed two transfer pathway agreements to deliver flexible options for students to pursue either a Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation or Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies.
The articulation agreements set students on a direct track from Mohawk College’s two-year Recreation Therapy and 16-month Accelerated stream programs to either Brock program. Eligible students will receive a block of seven transfer credits, fast-tracking them toward their 20-credit degree.
By embedding courses such as Leisure Education in Therapeutic Recreation in a broader recreation and leisure studies framework, Brock’s programs equip graduates with in-demand skills, professional experience and industry-recognized credentials. Career paths range from clinical practice in hospitals and long-term care facilities to community-based roles where recreation and leisure contribute to physical, social and emotional well-being.
 The Therapeutic Recreation program also qualifies students to participate in the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. “The pathways are a game-changer for students,” says Connell. “They not only gain advanced standing in their degree but increase their career readiness by graduating with an essential credential employers are looking for in hospitals, long-term care facilities and treatment centres.”
In addition to clinical practice, students complete a 560-hour supervised internship, benefit from access to an extensive alumni network and have options to pursue an honours thesis.
The Therapeutic Recreation program also qualifies students to participate in the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam, a credential increasingly sought by employers across Canada and the United States.
By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
City Hall was shut down for Truth and Reconciliation Day, but the schools were open.
 Amy Collard: Chair, Board of Trustees, Halton District School Board The Halton District School Board had a solid program that helped create a better understanding of what took place at the hundreds of residential schools that existed across the country.
The Indigenous Rights and Education Department had First Nations, Métis and Inuit students gather and work at build community with their fellow students in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Students were engaged in activities and learning in ways that allow for their gifts and authentic selves to be valued and respected. Students are engaged in learning about the diversity of nations through story and sharing with each other.
 Curtis Enns: Director of Education Halton District School Board HDSB students and staff were invited to wear orange shirts to acknowledge the shared responsibility to learn and understand the history and legacy of Residential Schools. When sourcing orange shirts, HDSB schools have been encouraged to use resource providers who are committing proceeds to the benefit of Residential School Survivors.
 The site was a school that was first built in 1831. It was burned down twice by the students. It was taken over by the federal government and used as a Residential school until 1970, when it was closed.
By Gazette Staff
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
If you don’t get downtown that often, you may not be aware of the change taking place directly across the street from City Hall.
The block that was home to Kelly’s Bakery and Elizabeth Interiors is being demolished. It will become a 17-storey tower that is reported to have 25% of the units marketed as Affordable Units.
 Brant from James south to the mini park on the east side of the street is being demolished The developer intends to have shovels in the ground by the end of the year.
The demolition is underway, and it won’t be long before everything has been flattened.
 Upper floors of City Hall can be seen from the demolition of the block on the east side.
 Back how bites into the roof of what used to be Elizabeth Interiors on the east side of Brant Street, opposite City Hall.
By Smantha Serle
September 30th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
In online poker, choosing a reliable source of information, deals, and traffic data matters. Two well-known names are WorldPokerDeals (WPD) and PokerScout. Each aims to help poker players make better choices, but they do so in different ways.
WorldPokerDeals, founded in 2013 and led by Rodion Longa, is a portal built by poker fans and experts. It emphasizes deals, promotions, poker room options, multilingual support, and direct contact with real staff. WPD aims for personalization, value, and trust, while also guiding players on key issues such as the legality of online poker in different regions.
 PokerScout is a traffic and site information platform that offers live traffic stats for poker sites, site reviews, guides, and news. Its strength is data, comparisons, and helping you see where the action is happening.
This article compares them across important dimensions: portfolio, traffic and metrics, customer service, promotions, reliability and recognition, and localization, and then helps you decide which one might better suit your priorities.
Portfolio & Metrics
WorldPokerDeals offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios in the industry, covering more than 40 poker rooms across every category — from fully regulated sites to offshore rooms, crypto-friendly platforms, and even private poker apps and clubs. This variety makes it easy for players to find what fits their goals, whether they want maximum rakeback, softer fields, or innovative payment options like crypto. On top of that, WPD provides clear guidance on safety and availability, ensuring that the sites shown are genuinely accessible in your region.
PokerScout has built its reputation around traffic statistics, tracking player numbers across 70+ rooms with updates every few minutes. While this data is useful, it represents just one dimension of players’ needs. Unlike WPD, PokerScout doesn’t offer the same level of choice in deals, promotions, and tailored options that can directly impact a player’s bottom line.
In other words, if your priority is value and variety, WorldPokerDeals delivers far more than raw traffic numbers. It shows where you can play and ensures you get the most out of your volume through better deals, promotions, and personalized options.
Traffic Data & Real-Time Monitoring
PokerScout is well known for its live traffic updates, showing cash-game activity and peak times across many sites. This gives players a snapshot of where games are currently running.
 WorldPokerDeals, however, goes beyond just displaying numbers. While it may not offer a standalone dashboard, the team provides context and guidance on what those numbers mean for your bankroll. They combine traffic insights with practical advice on game softness, regional availability, and the real value of joining a site. This player-oriented approach ensures that you’re not just chasing the busiest tables but also choosing the rooms where you can earn more through better deals, rakeback, and promotions.
In practice, PokerScout delivers statistics, while WPD turns information into actionable value, making it the stronger option for players who want results, not just raw data.
Customer Service & Human Interaction
WorldPokerDeals sets itself apart with its hands-on, human-centered support. Players can reach the team through live chat, email, Telegram, WhatsApp, and other messengers — and every interaction is handled by real poker players who understand the game, not automated bots.
Beyond answering questions, WPD staff provide personalized recommendations, helping you choose the best option among 50+ poker rooms and 30+ clubs based on your goals, region, and playing style.
PokerScout, by comparison, is designed primarily as an informational portal. While it offers reviews, guides, and traffic data, it does not focus on one-on-one guidance or personalized support. Players can use the site’s resources to research, but they won’t get the same direct interaction or tailored advice.
For anyone who values real conversations and expert input from people who play the game, WorldPokerDeals is the stronger choice. It transforms poker guidance from static information into a collaborative experience, ensuring players get more than just data — they get solutions that truly fit their needs.
Promotions, Deals, & Value Offers
WPD is built around offering deals: rakeback, promotions, special offers, and access to poker rooms and clubs. They offer a wide selection of poker rooms and apps, often including options for crypto, and a good variety in promotions. Their positioning is “help you earn” by pairing you with advantageous promotions.
PokerScout does list site reviews, bonuses, and promotional info, but its primary focus is not on being an affiliate offering exclusive deals. Its strength is more in reporting/promoting transparently rather than campaigning or negotiating special deals. Thus, if deal value is your priority, WPD is more likely to offer specialized promotions, especially from affiliate partnerships.
Reliability & Recognition
 WPD has been recognized publicly. According to Trustpilot, they have a strong rating among their users. They’ve won the iGB Affiliate Awards (Best Poker Affiliate) in 2019 and 2025, among others. Their presence in multiple languages and direct support help build trust.
PokerScout, meanwhile, has established its reputation over many years as a reliable traffic tracker. It is well known in the poker community. It is also part of Catena Media (since the acquisition in 2017), which gives it infrastructure and resources.
So both are reliable in their domains: WPD is reliable for deals, WPD is recognized, and PokerScout is reliable for data and comparisons, with an established reputation.
Localization & Languages
WPD supports multiple languages (English, Spanish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese) and offers support through real people in different regions. This allows localized deals, communication, and context.
PokerScout also provides content in many languages (menus and articles). Still, while its global reach is large, some parts of its service (especially data tools) may be less regionally personalized (i.e., deals specific to your country) than a local affiliate could do.
Summary: Which One Should You Choose?
WorldPokerDeals and PokerScout are respected platforms, but fill different roles in the poker ecosystem.
- If you aim to access exclusive deals, rakeback, crypto payments, and direct support from real people, WorldPokerDeals is the right fit.
- If you’re more interested in objective traffic numbers, site rankings, and seeing where the action is in real time, PokerScout has the advantage.
- For localization and human guidance, WPD is stronger, while for broad, data-driven insights, PokerScout delivers.
 Helping poker players make better choices. Final Thoughts
WorldPokerDeals is ideal for players who want to maximize value through deals and personal support, whether in legal rooms, offshore sites, or poker apps. PokerScout is the go-to resource for those who care most about accurate traffic data and impartial comparisons across the industry.
For many players, the best approach is to use both together: start with PokerScout to see which sites are busiest, then turn to WorldPokerDeals to secure the best promotion and personalized assistance before jumping in.
By Pepper Parr
October 1st, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
In an article published in the Gazette the day before Truth and Reconciliation Day, Sheila Cote-Meek, a member of the Temagami First Nation said: “Reconciliation is a journey. It’s an ongoing commitment to move forward together and build institutions that are more inclusive of Indigenous People. ”
 Mayor Meed Ward with Indigenous Elder White Eagle during Truth and Reconciliation Day That was certainly the case in Burlington on Tuesday when hundreds of people walked from the Pier, where the tower was lit up in orange, to the Canal.
There were ceremonies before the walk.
 Hundreds walked from the Pier to the Canal. If one walked about the city, orange T-shirts prevailed.
Will this event take place ten years from now? Will more of the 94 Calls to Action have been achieved?
That could happen.
By Pepper Parr
September 30th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
It didn’t take Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns to move back into her photo op mode.
She did a photo op with a really pathetic sign nailed to the northern wall of Spencer Smith Park. Many, perhaps most people, don’t know that the Park was named after Spencer Smith who came to Canada as a xxx in xxx
He ran a grocery store on Brant Street and was Chair of the Horticulture Society, which at the time was the most influential group of citizens in the city.
That was at a time when Burlington grew produce that was shipped around the world.
 148,000 plus of these benches have been sold. Burlington installed its first yesterday. Later the same day, Kearns slipped over to the Pier to celebrate the installation of a yellow bench. It’s supposed to make you feel better when you are depressed.
Kearns has been out of the country, serving as one of the Canadian team of people visiting Africa on behalf of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, part of a program funded by the federal government and delivered by FCM.
If we can catch Kearns between photo ops, we will ask her how the trip went. She did tell us that the story about her trip is on her Facebook page.
For the person who is the Deputy Mayor on Engagement issues – referring to a Facebook page isn’t really up to par. Was there a pun in there somewhere?
By Tom Parkin
September 30th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontarians are paying the price in money, emissions and uncertainty about where Ontario’s future electricity will come from.
Kilowatt hours of electricity generated by fossil fuels, by month, May 2018-Jul 2025
 Premier Doug Ford is emptying a bottle of Crown Royal whiskey during a photo op. While he eats ice cream, pours out Crown Royal and works hard to distract people, Ontarians are paying a price for Doug Ford’s electricity muddle.
After the PCs’ June 2018 election, their first major energy move was to cancel contracted generation projects, some mid-construction.
The cost paid by Ontarians was $231 million to get nothing.
Then his government lost more than four years in a muddle over how to contract new power supplies, not releasing a framework until December 2022. And all the while their muddle was costing time and money, long-scheduled maintenance and a couple turbine retirements were reducing generation capacity. The cost has been a stopgap return to fossil-fuel generation, a lot of hype about four small modular reactors with very large price tags, and uncertainty.
Fossil-fuel generation up 273% since PCs elected.
This July, almost 4.1 million kilowatt hours of power was generated by burning fossil fuels, according to a Statistics Canada report released Monday morning. That’s the highest level since at least 2007.In the twelve months before the PCs were first elected, a monthly average of about 0.9 million kilowatt hours was generated from fossil fuels, according to the Statistics Canada report. But during that period, Ontario’s nuclear power stations were generating a monthly average of 7.5 million kWh.
Now, in the most recent reported twelve months, because of long-planned maintenance, nuclear generation is down to a monthly average of 6.9 million kWh. While Ontario grew. And factories electrified.
The result is, in the most recent reported twelve months, average monthly fossil fuel generation is up 273 per cent at 2.4 million kWh, according to today’s report.
And the Independent Electricity System Operator’s 2025 Annual Planning Outlook shows no substantial reduction in fossil fuel use until 2034.|
 Percentage of Ontario electricity generated from nuclear, May 2018-Jul 2025PCs’
SMR plan: inadequate and over-hyped.
Now the Ford PCs are hyping a plan for four small modular reactors (SMR) as a noisy distraction from the problem they created.
The SMRs come at the extraordinary price of $21 billion to produce just 1,200 MW. In contrast, refurbishing Darlington’s four reactors will cost $12.8 billion to produce 3,512 MW. And that 1,200 MW is like a raindrop in the desert for a province of Ontario’s size, not some salvation.
The IESO’s 2025 Annual Planning Outlook shows even with the SMRs Ontario faces uncertainty about where future power will come from.
 Source: Annual Planning Outlook, April 2025, IESO  GE Vernova is aiming to deploy small nuclear reactors across the developed world over the next decade, staking out a leadership position in a budding technology that could play a central role in meeting surging electricity demand and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The SMR, is designed to reduce the cost of building new nuclear plants. And there are energy security concerns. All existing Canadian nuclear generation uses CANDU technology, intellectual property owned by federal crown corporation AECL and licensed to CANDU Energy, with head office in Montreal. CANDU uses uranium mined in Saskatchewan and processed at plants in Blind River, Port Hope and Peterborough, forming a nationally secure energy supply chain. But the SMRs come from a company majority owned by GE Verona with its head office is in Wilmington, South Carolina. And its technology creates a dependence on a foreign supply chain for uranium enrichment.
Only six countries have uranium enrichment facilities, and Canada isn’t one of them. An estimated cost to build such a facility is $100 billion over a 20 year timeline.GE Verona plans to enrich uranium at Urenco USA’s plant in Eunice, New Mexico and ship it across the boarder to Ontario, raising the risk of an increasingly authoritarian United States gaining more leverage to wield “economic force” to gain control of our resources and preferential trade and security arrangements.
This is a very expensive government in many ways. Ontarians need to start asking themselves how much of Doug Ford’s distraction tactics they can afford as jobs tank, housing stalls, ERs overflow — and an electricity muddle costs money, emissions and uncertainty.
By Gazette Staff
September 30th, 2025,
BURLINGTON, ON
 Amy Schnurr, Executive Director of BurlingtonGreen has kept the organization effective by getting grants and now support from the city for doing work the city used to do.
Thanks to Eco Canada funding support, BurlingtonGreen has a 6-month employment contract, with an opportunity for extension!
They are seeking a passionate, organized, flexible, self-motivated, experienced professional to join our team serving as our Marketing Coordinator, responsible for the planning, implementation and evaluation of all promotions of our environmental programs, events, and services and various environmental topics.
Applicants must be pre-approved by Eco Canada’s Digital Skills For Youth program in order to apply for this opportunity.
This is an opportunity to help advance BurlingtonGreen’s strategic priorities while making a meaningful community and environmental impact.
Link to job application
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By Pepper Parr
By Gazette Staff
By Gazette Staff
By Pepper Parr
The Burlington location is at 2331 Appleby Line
By Ray Rivers
Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
By Gazette Staff
In the survey, we heard feedback on three key areas: in-person spaces, demand for books in all formats, and programs and events. Here are some highlights of your feedback and how we’re responding:
By Gazette Staff
University Professor Tim O’Connell, Chair of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University explains that: “As society increasingly embraces a holistic approach to health, recreation has emerged at the critical intersection of personal wellness and community well-being.
By Smantha Serle
PokerScout is a traffic and site information platform that offers live traffic stats for poker sites, site reviews, guides, and news. Its strength is data, comparisons, and helping you see where the action is happening.
WorldPokerDeals, however, goes beyond just displaying numbers. While it may not offer a standalone dashboard, the team provides context and guidance on what those numbers mean for your bankroll. They combine traffic insights with practical advice on game softness, regional availability, and the real value of joining a site. This player-oriented approach ensures that you’re not just chasing the busiest tables but also choosing the rooms where you can earn more through better deals, rakeback, and promotions.
WPD has been recognized publicly. According to Trustpilot, they have a strong rating among their users. They’ve won the iGB Affiliate Awards (Best Poker Affiliate) in 2019 and 2025, among others. Their presence in multiple languages and direct support help build trust.
By Tom Parkin
By Gazette Staff
