 By Staff
October 23, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The province wants to help cities become more bike-friendly – that perked up the ears of council members as they worked through a draft of the Strategic Plan that is going to set a direction for the balance of the current term of office.
 MPP Eleanor McMahon is a strong and consistent cyclist. Burlington has an MPP, Eleanor McMahon who is a champion of sharing the road. The city has hundreds of kilometres of bike trails and a rural area that offers some of the most challenging terrain for the truly committed.
McMahon said: “Ontarians want to spend less time in their cars and more time travelling by active transportation. The number one reason Ontarians don’t ride their bike is because they don’t feel safe to do so. In addition to recent changes to the Highway Traffic act, the amendments support the development of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure by simplifying the process for municipalities to plan and build off-road multi-use pathways.”
Burlington could be the poster boy for community cycling. So when the province announces funding for more bike use – we are in.
Ontario is helping cities become more sustainable and environmentally friendly by making it easier to build off-road bike paths and large-scale recreational trails. The province will invest $25 million in #CycleON: Ontario’s Cycling Strategy to create a more cycling-friendly the province.
The province has created a new streamlined process for municipalities to submit proposals for environmental assessment on new paths and trails. The new process will be easier and quicker, saving municipalities considerable time, money and effort.
The amendments were proposed by the Municipal Engineers Association and received significant public feedback during the province’s public consultation. The new environmental assessment process also supports CycleON, the province’s long-term strategy to help make Ontario the number one province for cycling in Canada,
 Cycling enthusiast Rob Narejko keeps a couple of bikes in his garage and can often be seen on the rural roads. Supporting cycling and helping Ontarians reduce their carbon footprints is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario up. The four-part plan includes investing in people’s talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.
Great wording – now where would Burlingtonians like to see “off road bike paths” built?
Leave your ideas in the comments section.
By Pepper Parr
October 22, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If you are a regular reader of the Gazette published by the federal government you would know that it is Official – Karina Gould is the Burlington member of the House of Commons.
When an election is called the Governor General instructs the Chief Electoral Officer to issue a Writ to the Returning Officer in each of the 338 constituencies. That Returning officer is the person who causes the election to be held in each constituency. The Returning Officer, Pat Barr in Burlington, writes the results of the election on the back of the Writ she was given to hold the election and sends it to the Chief Returning Officer by Priority Post.
 Karina Gould – Burlington’s member of the House of Commons. The Chief Electoral Officer has those results published in the Gazette which is the publication the government uses to make official announcement. At that point Karina Gould becomes the member of the House of Commons for the Burlington constituency.
She has a job.
Next week she will be in Ottawa for several days of Orientation. These are formal classes given to all new members who take five or six classes designed to teach them everything they need to know to get themselves to the point where they at least don’t get lost in the House of Commons.
The Gazette interviewed Karina Gould Thursday afternoon and asked when she would be setting up her Burlington office. “I don’t know” she said. She did say that she expects to take over the space at the Burlington Mall that Mike Wallace used for her constituency office.
When will you have an Ottawa office? “I don’t know” she said.
She thinks she will get a phone call from the Liberal party who will tell her where she is to be and what she is to do as a member of the government. One of the first things that has to happen is the swearing in ceremony – that might take place sometime after the Cabinet has been sworn in. Members are sworn in by the Clerk of the House of Commons.
Where will you sit in the House of Commons? “I don’t know” replied Gould.
It is rare for Karina Gould to say more than once that she does not know something.
For the immediate future her time and energy are going to be spent on getting herself organized and learning all the procedural rules and finding her way around the House of Commons and getting all the security passes she will need.
Samantha Nadler is handling some of the transition tasks from a campaign organization to the office of a member of Parliament.
What do you plan to do during the first month you are in Ottawa? “I don’t know” she replied.
At some point in the near future she will take part in her first Liberal Caucus meeting – which will be the start of the political part of her role as an MP for the next four years. Caucus is where the Liberals get brought up to date on what the leader of the government plans and where individual members get to ask political questions of the Prime Minister and to make their own comments about what they think of the direction the government is taking
Where will Gould live in Ottawa? “I don’t know” she said.
Are you excited? “Yes, I am excited” she said.
 Which of these seats in the House of Commons will be assigned to Karina Gould? Burlington now gets to see what a 28 year old with a good education, a quick mind, a sense of humour and a desire to make this country the kind of place she believes most people want it to be, can do for her constituents.
Campaign manager Claire LaRocca, who the Gazette thought was going to be a critical part of the team Gould puts together to serve the community, left Burlington for the UK where she starts a new job. During several conversations with LaRocca the Gazette talked about how she would manage the Ottawa office and the Burlington office for Gould once she was elected. She didn’t say a word about taking up a job the day after the election ended – so not quite the transparency we thought. Something to keep in mind as we track and report on the Member of the House of Commons for Burlington.
We have learned to probe a little deeper and to not assume that we are being given the full story. Such is the game of politics – it is seldom what it seems on the surface.
 By Staff
October 22, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Region Health Department has started the influenza (flu) immunization clinics for the 2015-2016 flu season with community influenza clinics for all residents aged six months and older beginning this week. Flu immunizations are also available at many pharmacies (for those aged five years and older), as well as in doctors’ offices, walk-in clinics and at some workplaces.
Getting the flu vaccine every year is the most important way to protect against the flu. It also helps to prevent the spread of the virus to those who are vulnerable to complications of the flu. The flu immunization is recommended for all those six months of age and older.
Most healthy people recover from the flu within a few days; however, influenza infection can lead to pneumonia and hospitalization, and can even be fatal, especially in the elderly, those under five years of age and those with certain chronic health conditions.
 Washing your hands frequently when you are not well prevents the communication of viruses. In addition to getting vaccinated, you can take everyday precautions against influenza by washing your hands with soap frequently, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (when soap and water is not available) and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
If you are sick, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading your illness to others and see your doctor if your illness worsens or doesn’t begin to improve after a few days.
Clinic dates for Burlington are:
| Tuesday, October 13, 2015 |
Burlington Seniors’ Centre |
2285 New Street |
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
| Monday, October 26, 2015 |
L.B. Pearson High School |
1433 Headon Road |
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, November 3, 2015 |
Robert Bateman High School |
5151 New Street |
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. |
 By Pepper Parr
October 22, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Mike Wallace is in the process of clearing out his office at the Burlington Mall and then getting away for a short cruise with his wife – we need a break he said during a short interview at his office.
 Mike Wallace during his last day an a Member of the House of Commons – taking phone calls and helping out. Wallace said he hasn’t a clue as to what he will do next. He expect to make one more trip back to Ottawa to clear out that office and learn what he has coming to him in the way of severance. He expects there will be one more Conservative Caucus meeting for him and then his career as a politician comes to an end – at last for the immediate future.
He got more votes this time around than he did in 2011 – it was just that the other candidate got more than he did.
The Returning Officer for Burlington signed the back of the Election Writ and send it by Priority Post to the Chief Returning Officer who will publish the results in the Gazette – which is the Official record of the election. At that point Mike Wallace is no longer a Member of the House of Commons.
Wallace, being who he is, is on the phone talking to people he has worked with, accepting their commiserations and commenting on the how and the why of the election.
Will he run again? Mike said he has absolutely no idea. “I might be taking the GO train to Toronto in November” he said.
While there are those tired circles around his eyes – this man is far from defeated – it is not in his nature to see the glass he drinks from as half empty.
He and his wife will get away and take a look at their future and decide what they want to do. Caroline has been the close to perfect political wife and has filled in for him admirably on a number of occasions.
Mike, who deals with type 2 diabetes lost forty pounds since the the 2011 election and the and looks very fit.
He know he served his constituents to the best of his ability and he will land on his feet somewhere. For the immediate future he will put his feet up and perhaps even smell the roses.
 You won’t see Mike Wallace at Bay and Front Street with a tin cup – expect to see him at Rotary meetings though. At some point, one hope, the Burlington Conservative Association will hold an event in his honour. If there is dancing at that event watch how Mike and Caroline glide across the floor – they are both very good dancers and know each other’s moves well.
People can disagree on the politics but it is very hard to disagree on the level of service Wallace gave.
There are times when the Gazette thought Mike Wallace was offside by a country mile – that’s all part of party politics. When people needed a helping hand – his was there.
Good luck Mike!
 By Walter Byj and Pepper Parr
October 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The October 21 st Halton District School Board meeting was quick indeed. It started after the Blue Jays came ended and finished just before the Mets/Cubs came started. There were a number of housecleaning items that were passed unanimously.
The Community Partnership Policy had been posted on the Board’s website for the required 25 days and had just two comments from the public. Upon questioning from trustee Harrison (Oakville), Director Miller stated that the policy is usually reviewed every four years but will now be updated on a yearly basis.
 Joey Edwardh runs Community |development Halton, the organization working the community side of the Jump Play Run Healthy Community initiative funded by the province. Direction of Education for the Public school board watches a group of students with Ms Edwardh In a similar vein, the Trustees Expense Policy also resided on the website for the required 25 days and (with no comments posted from the public) was also passed unanimously. Perhaps this would be an ideal place to recap the remuneration that is available for the trustees.
Each trustee receives honoraria of $15,327.73 annually. There is a $4000 bump for the vice-chair to $19,309.23 while the chair receives $23,290.73. In addition, they have use of one of a number of different computer devices along with reimbursement of $59.85 for high speed internet service. They also have the use of either a monthly Blackberry or I phone plan that includes voice plan, data plan and long distance. The monthly reimbursement is $75.71 for the Blackberry plan and $107.35 for the I phone plan. All reimbursements are tax included. In addition, each trustee will have access to a $5,000 travel, personal professional development and office supplies amount.
With the hiring of a new Director of Education, Stuart Miller, the Director’s Performance Review Policy is now under review. This policy was last reviewed 5 years ago. The policy will be posted on the board website for the mandatory 25 days with the board to review any public comments in December. As of this writing, the policy has not yet been posted.
The board appears to rely quite heavily on the web site to convey information – and at the same time readily admits that the web site does not function all that well. Director of Education Stuart Miller tends to give people copies of information they need rather than send them to the web site
If the web site doesn’t work internally for the board there is little likelihood that it will work very well for the public.
Miller admits that the board is going to need every penny of the $100,000 allocated for the upgrade – probably a total re-build. And he adds that it will take six to nine months to get the job done.
Which suggests the flow of information is going to be limited – might be helpful if the board looked fore some kind of a work around to cover the major bases while the re-build gets done
Andrea Grebenc (Burlington) chair of the transportation committee noted that the board had applications totally more than 2400 for courtesy seats for the various bus routes. A courtesy seat is defined as a request for a seat on a school bus where the student who is not entitled to transportation based on distance they live from the school.
One would hope that the administrators would clamp down on this one – the board is involved in the Jump Play Run – Healthy Community initiative being funded by the province. Trustee Grebenc is all fired up on walking or biking to school – her vision should be shared with those parents who want their kid on the bus.
As the meeting neared conclusion, Director Miller reminded everyone of the upcoming public meetings of the Program Viability Committee that start on Monday October 26th at Nelson High School.
The Public School Board meetings to discuss English and French Immersion elementary programming begin next week. The increasing interest in French Immersion and the impact on the core English program has the board administration considering how these changes are going to impact the delivery of program. The board’s ability to recruit a sufficient number of qualified and fluent elementary French teachers is also part of the mix.
Parents/guardians are invited to attend to learn about the key issues, as well as the process and timelines to gather public input. Halton District School Board staff will present information concerning English and French Immersion program enrollment, as well as the preliminary recommendations of the Program Viability Committee.
All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.:
BURLINGTON Monday, October 26 Nelson High School (4181 New St.)
Director Miller told the Gazette that he doesn’t intend to do a lot of talking about the program initiative and the thinking that has taken place. “We want to know what people think and hope they will take the document away with then and get back to us with their thoughts”.
Miller points out that the uptake for French Immersion classes has created some difficult management problems. “It is very difficult to find really qualified French teachers” he said. And he added “ we have some English classes with as little as eight students in them” which is very inefficient from a teaching model aspect and not all that good for the socializing of students that takes place in a school setting.
The working up of the report and its recommendations was a file that Miller handled before he was appointed Director of Education so he has a really solid understanding of how large an issue the school board faces
 By Pepper Parr
October 22, 2105
BURLINGTON, ON
The photograph shown in an earlier version of this story was the wrong building. The photograph shown now is of the Aldershot branch of the Public Library. Our apologies and thank you to the reader who pointed out the error to us.
While he might be a little on the brittle side and a sense of humour is not the dominant part of his personality – ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven usually finds the facts that makes the point and drives it home.
 Rick Craven: Best committee chair the city has; not big on the warm fuzzy stuff through. Needs a hug badly.  The library works for the public; the library parking lot doesn’t work all that well – which doesn’t bother the ward council member – he wants people to get out of their cars and walk as much as they can. Parking and transit at times dominate discussion in this city – usually in the form of complaints.
Getting people out of their cars and walking the short distances to services they use has been a consistent thread through all the Strategic Plan debates. Councillor Craven explained how it has been made to work in his ward.
The new city library in Aldershot is part of a mixed use structure that works quite well. Parking is at the rear of the building, there is retail and services on the ground levels and the library.
People will complain about the lack of parking said Councillor Craven adding that the library is a very short walk for thousands of residents. Complaints about the lack of parking – there are 24 parking spaces at the rear of the building at Plans Road and Waterdown.
Craven makes a very solid point when he said that library registration is up by more than 400%.
It is a new library – so all it could do was grow – and if Craven’s numbers are right – the lack of parking space has not hurt library usage – and it has gotten people out of their cars.
A candidate in the municipal election didn’t see it quite the same way – he complained loudly that there wasn’t nearly enough parking and that it was difficult for his wife to get to the library pushing a three year old in a stroller.
It is going to take the city some time to break the “use the car” habit.
 By Staff
October 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton Regional Police are currently investigating a robbery that occurred at The Super Convenience Store located at 574 Plains Road East in Burlington.
On October 18th, 2015 at approximately 7:00pm a suspect, who was armed with a knife approached the clerk inside the store and demanded the clerk to open the cash register. The suspect subsequently fled to an awaiting vehicle. As a result of the robbery the suspect may have sustained an injury to his right wrist or lower part of his right arm.
The clerk was not hurt during the incident.
The suspect is described as:
Male, white, slim build, approximately 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 10 inches tall, wearing a black winter jacket with fur around the hood, black adidas track pants, white gloves and white shoes. The suspect had his face concealed by wearing dark coloured sunglasses and a red and white bandana over the lower portion of his face.
Any person with information related to this robbery is encouraged to contact Detective Phil Vandenbeukel at 905-825-4747 ext. 2343 or D/Sgt. Ron Hansen at 905-825-4747 ext. 2315 of the Halton Regional Police Service 30 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau or Halton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
 By Staff
October 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
If you are a non-profit organizations that delivers community health or social service programs to Halton residents the Regional government has a funding program that might interest you.
 Halton Regional offices are in Oakville Two categories of funding are available to organizations that meet eligibility criteria.
Category One provides one year funding to non-profit, charitable or community organizations for short- term, small capital and/or innovative projects. Category One grants are awarded for a maximum of one year, for an amount up to $20,000.The deadline for Category One applications is November 27, 2015 at 2 p.m.
Category Two provides up to three years of program funding for charitable organizations. The deadline for Category Two applications is December 4, 2015 at 2 p.m. During this proposal call, there is approximately $200,000 available for funding commitments in each of 2016, 2017 and 2018.
“The non-profit sector and community volunteers provide tremendous support to individuals and families in Halton,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “Halton Regional Council is committed to keeping Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire for all our residents and the non-profit sector helps our community thrive.”
Organizations interested in applying can learn more about the HRCIF by attending an information session:
• Thursday, October 29, 2015, 6 – 8 p.m. at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (Black Box Studio Theatre), 2302 Bridge Road in Oakville; or
• Tuesday, November 3 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Gellert Community Centre (Kinsmen Hall A), 10241 Eighth Line in Halton Hills.
To register for a session, or to access HRCIF guidelines, application forms and funding priorities, please visit halton.ca/investmentfund or dial 311.
By Staff
October 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Memex, a Burlington company that got a loan from the federal government to expand its operation is now part of it collaborative partnership that has joined with two very large corporations to make greater use of The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
The Internet of Things, known as IloT, has been bubbling away in the background for some time – it is now very real for MEMEX who have partnered with the Mazak Corporation and Cisco to showcase MERLIN software from MEMEX Inc.
 Dave McPhail, CEO of MEMEX walks pasty a stern looking management team during a federal cheque presentation last March The Internet of Things basically gives anything an internet address – which becomes the communications backbone that moves information in real time
The collaborative platform called SmartBox, developed by Mazak, is an industry-first launch platform for easy and highly secure entrance into the Industrial Internet of Things. SmartBox builds on MEMEX’s strategic partnership with Mazak Corp., which earlier this year named MEMEX to its exclusive Value Inspired Partner (VIP) program.
What follows is pretty technical and won’t mean much to most people – but it is very relevant to the economy the city wants to develop. This technology results in those high-tech, high paying jobs the city wants to attract.
“The SmartBox collaboration realizes the IIoT vision on the factory floor,” said MEMEX’s CEO David McPhail. “We’re thrilled to be participating in this powerful combination with Mazak and Cisco. As well as MERLIN software, we are contributing our easy-to-deploy Ax760 hardware adapters to SmartBox. They enable every machine on the shop floor, old or new, to become web servers that utilize the MTConnect® manufacturing communication standard.”
Using MTConnect® as its foundation, SmartBox connectivity of machines and devices allows for enhanced monitoring and analytical capabilities including advanced cyber security protection. SmartBox represents a huge leap in digital integration across manufacturing.
 MEMEX – a Burlington firm that is right up there with two of the largest heavy hitters in the manufacturing technical world. “With the development of SmartBox, Mazak continues to drive toward its iSMART Factory concept and connecting today’s shops to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to achieve levels of efficiency and productivity never before realized,” said Brian Papke, President of Mazak. “And while our concept centers around open connectivity and the Internet, we at Mazak believe it is our moral obligation to also provide customers the highest level of security possible with SmartBox. As with all the technology we develop, Mazak has first implemented SmartBox into our own operations before expecting customers to wholeheartedly embrace the system.”
Mazak developed SmartBox to work with any machine regardless of make, model or age and will offer it in various configurations/kits based on the scenarios and challenges in which the units will be used. The device physically mounts to the side of machines without having to integrate into a machine’s electrical cabinet. With several standard input/output connecting ports, SmartBox lets users quickly and easily connect any standard off-the-shelf sensors to the system for machine data gathering and condition monitoring. One SmartBox may service several machine tools along with other associated manufacturing equipment, depending on the application.
At the heart of SmartBox is Cisco’s Connected Machines solution, based on the IoT System, designed specifically for industrial environments and equipped with an MTConnect software agent. Using a fog computing model, MTConnect runs directly on the ruggedized Cisco Industrial Ethernet (IE) 4000 switch, providing MERLIN software’s real-time visibility and insights into data right on the factory floor.
MEMEX’s MERLIN software installed in Mazak’s factory allows for monitoring analytics of machines, test stands and other equipment within the plant. The Cisco hardware is designed to help prevent any issues with unauthorized access from both directions – to or from the machines and equipment within a network. SmartBox satisfies the highly critical security concerns of IT departments when connecting legacy equipment to a plant’s main network for the purpose of gathering manufacturing data via the MTConnect protocol.
MEMEX Inc. is a leading Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology platform provider that connects to any machine and delivers real-time manufacturing productivity metrics. Industrial strength MERLIN software provides Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) efficiency metrics in real time, from shop floor to top floor. MERLIN connects to any machine, old or new, utilizing MTConnect, other protocols or hardware adapters.
The MERLIN magic delivers a 10% to 50% average productivity increase so that any manufacturer can achieve world-class standards of excellence. Based on just a 10% increase in OEE, customers see profit improvements of 20%-plus and payback in less than four months.
What does all this mean to Burlington?
During the federal election Prime Minister Harper announced that an Advanced Manufacturing Hub would be built in the city – tied in in some way to McMaster University’s de Groote campus on the south Service Road.
 Dave McPhail on the right explaining the technology MEMEX has developed that allows real time data to be delivered to management Dave McPhail works assiduously developing relationships – he has been working on a collaborative approach with Cisco for some time – that seems to have worked out well for the company.
Mike Wallace took part in an announcement that put a cheque for $899,000 on the table allowing MEMEX to expand their operations in Burlington. So far that federal loan appears to be doing what it was intended to do.
By Staff
October 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario has nominated Dr. Bruce Krushelnicki for appointment as the new executive chair of Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario, subject to review by the Standing Committee on Government Agencies.
 Former city planner, Bruce Krushelnicki, has been appointed as the Executive Chair of the Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario Dr. Krushelnicki, a veteran urban planner and public administrator, recently retired from the post of Director of Planning and Building at the City of Burlington after 11 years. Before his employment with the City of Burlington, he held key positions with the Ontario Municipal Board and the Institute of Urban and Environmental Studies at Brock University, as well as maintaining a small consulting practice in urban planning.
Pending review by the Standing Committee on Government Agencies, Dr. Krushelnicki will take over the role of executive chair from Alternate Executive Chair Jerry DeMarco in fall 2015.
Dr. Krushelnicki holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Waterloo, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brock University. He is a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.
Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario is a cluster of tribunals that resolve appeals, applications and other disputes under some 100 statutes in relation to land use planning, environmental and heritage protection, property assessment, land valuation and other matters. It is made up of five adjudicative tribunals:
Assessment Review Board
Board of Negotiation
Conservation Review Board
Environmental Review Tribunal
Ontario Municipal Board
Adjudicative tribunals play a vital role in the justice system by using their specialized expertise to hear a variety of disputes in an independent and impartial manner.
One of those disputes is the application the ADI Development Group has made to the OMB for the right to build a 28 storey tower at Martha and Lakeshore.
Dr. Krushelnicki will serve as the Executive Chair of all five adjudicative tribunals that make up Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario.
In Burlington we called him Bruce – he was without a doubt the most articulate staff member this city had – and also knew the best tailor in town
By Pepper Parr
October 21, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
And so now what does Karina Gould do? Begin looking for an apartment in Ottawa for starters and then going through the Briefing Books she will be given as she learns what it is to become a Parliamentarian.
She is twenty – eight years old, has solid university degrees and a hard fought election campaign behind her. She has experience with the Organization of American States in Washington and knows more about international trade matters than any other newly elected Member of Parliament.
 Claire LaRocca, centre, ran the campaign that is sending Karina Gould to office. Expect to see LaRocca running either the Ottawa office or the Burlington office. The two women go back a long way. There will be some significant committee work for her to do. If she thought she was busy going door to door as a candidate – she will wish for those days again once she has a year or two of experience as an MP behind her.
She will thrive in Ottawa – what kind of a constituent MP she will be is something we can only guess at today. She had a remarkable team working with her – expect to see the staff she has to create for both her Burlington office and Ottawa office as well to come from within that group.
Her campaign chair, Claire La Rocca might become the person who runs her Ottawa office – the two women go back a long way – they first met as students at McGill University. LaRocca bunked in with Gould’s parents while the campaign was being fought.
 Mike Wallace conceding the 2015 federal election to Karina Gould. “I have been in public service for 23 years” he said “tonight I was defeated by a 28 year old”. He said it with a smile. Mike Wallace, who was much more graceful in defeat than his leader Stephen Harper, now has to pick up the pieces and move on to another phase of his journey. It will be with a heavy heart that he closes his office at the Burlington Mall and does as much as he can to find places for the staff that have served him during his term of office.
Wallace has always had a strong sense of humour that served him well. He was able to laugh at his own short comings.
Burlington did well by Mike Wallace – Gould will have to work hard to even begin to equal his record.
The early numbers didn’t put her that far ahead of Mike Wallace – she too benefited hugely from the NDP disaster. She has four years to learn the craft of being an MP and to solidify what she won last night.
What to expect from this newly elected MP? We will hear thank you, thank you, thank you for the next few weeks – then she has to settle into a new career. The new government will be sworn in and we will watch for what she has to say during her maiden speech in the House of Commons.
Burlington is in the process of developing an Advanced Manufacturing Hub that the Prime Minister promised the city would get – if he was elected. That hub will be located in Burlington – a lot of work has yet to be done on it before it is a reality – Gould will need to meet with the people who are doing the ground work on the project. They will find her to be a delight to work with and very smart – add to that her being a quick study.
When will the new government be sworn in? November 4th. Justin Trudeau has to get his voice back and have the conversations with the men and women who will be in his Cabinet. Karina Gould will learn just how federal government bureaucrats work as she completes mountains of forms to get herself onto the payroll and learn where her office is going to be.
Her first caucus meeting will be exciting – she will fully appreciate then what it is to be part of a government that has a vision, has a mission and will want to do good things quickly.
How soon will we see refugees on the ground from the Middle East? What will the first piece of legislation be?
 Is this the first date of a significant political marriage? Mayor Rick Goldring moves in for a hug with newly elected federal MP Karina Gould. She does have a wary eye doesn’t she? Gould got off to a good start on her victory night – Mayor Goldring got a great hug – those two will get along just fine.
Her meetings with the Economic Development Corporation will be both interesting and fruitful. The Executive Director over there, Frank McKeown, would be well advised to ask Gould to sit in on one of their board meetings.
While the Mayor has yet to tell the citizens of the city why he was in China bits and pieces of that puzzle are coming to the surface. We know for certain that he was not in China to participate in a ping pong tournament – but there was a hint made recently that it has to do with foreign investment – there isn’t enough information available yet to say much more than that.
Gould has significant experience in foreign trade – the Mayor would be well served to give her a call and talk through just what he has been up to during his travels.
 These two women painted the town red. MPP Eleanor McMahon won the city and put a Liberal at Queen’s Park for the first time in 70 years. Gould followed up with a win earlier this week – replacing a two term Conservative. What kind of a city are we going to be four years from now? An added plus is the helping hand MPP Eleanor Mc Mahon will be giving. During the victory celebration McMahon came across as a proud den Mother – she will be a useful resource; ideally those two woman will serve the city well.
Can we expect Paddy Torsney, a former Burlington MP, to drift back into town to have a chit chat with our newest member?
 By Ray Rivers
October 20thj, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Sometimes things just happen to us – bad luck we call it. And sometimes the hens come home to roost and we reap what we have sown. Canadians overwhelmingly rejected Stephen Harper because of what he stands for and what he has done to us over the last decade.
 Justin Trudeau embracing his Mother Margaret before giving his speech the night he was elected Prime Minister of the country. what a sweet moment. As this longest election campaign in a century came to a close, Canadian electors decided to shed the misery of the past decade. We are a stagnant economy with the lowest growth rate and highest income inequality since the dirty ’30’s. We now have the least efficient and most secretive government in our modern history. And something has happened to that Canadian sense of fairness and tolerance.
So most Canadians went to sleep last night with the prospect of a better future than their recent past would foretell. Stephen Harper is gone! And a breath of fresh air, optimism and hope has replaced him. It is sad to say but Stephan Harper will not be missed, and his legacy will be a bookmark for an epoch lost in the dust of history.
 Stephen Harper showing up at a Rob Ford garden party. Of course Rob and Doug Ford will miss him, but then almost nobody ever missed the Fords once they left the limelight. And that big shindig they hosted for Harper on election eve may have been the icing on his farewell cake. But then I’ve come to bury Harper not to dwell on his failings.
Canadians changed the channel, in fact they bought a brand new TV. Positive – Better – Brought Together. Sweet words, Mr. Trudeau, but where do we go from here. The cupboard is a mess and the list is long. The economy, income inequality, that TPP, the oil patch, bombing in Iraq/Syria, whacky-tobaccy, electoral changes, the Senate, Bill C-51, green jobs, restoring environmental protection, climate change…
It should be a comfort to us that every province and territory is represented in the new Trudeau Liberal caucus, thanks to that overwhelming strategic vote last night. Mr. Mulcair’s party bore the brunt of that strategic effect, but he has only himself to blame, as discussed in my last column. Besides Trudeau, the federalist, has now been given an endorsement by his native Quebecers. What could be better for the federation?
It was interesting that The Globe and Mail endorsed Harper’s party but not Harper, in fact demanded he resign. Was that political naivety or an indirect call for voting ‘anybody but Harper, by a paper lacking the guts to break a tradition of supporting the Tories?
Also The National Post’s Andrew Coyne resigned as political editor after his publisher refused to print a column unsympathetic to the Tories. He has earned my respect for that. And was G&M columnist Margaret Wente trying to send a message when she ‘damned Harper with faint praise’ – saying he wasn’t the worst PM we ever had.
Mr. Trudeau came into the election amid low expectations, thanks to the Tory attack ads. Today it’s the reverse situation, as he wears the support of about seven million Canadians who voted for him, and so many others who would have made him their second choice. It is a tall order to undo the last decade in a heartbeat, and so it will take time.
 Stephen Harper – expressing an opinion. Therefore we all need to take a pill, or a toke (when it becomes legal), and chill to allow the new PM-designate the chance to get on with the job. This is an exciting time and the critics, including me, will be hounding him to deliver. And somewhere on my wish list would be how to get us into the 21st century when it comes to our next federal election.
I’m not talking about preferential (ranked) balloting, which Mr. Trudeau has already committed to. I’m referring to our archaic system of paper ballots, and pencils and manual counting. If we can do our banking securely via the internet, why can’t we vote that way?
 Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington where he ran as a Liberal against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province.
Background links:
Federal Election Coyne Wente G&M Endoresment
 By Staff
October 20th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
SeeClickFix service disruption – Oct. 20 to 22, 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
The SeeClickFix will experience service disruptions during system maintenance:
Oct. 20, 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Oct. 21, 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Oct. 22, 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
What is SeeClickFix?
Currently pothole, traffic sign, traffic signal, street light, graffiti, and coyote sighting requests are being accepted.
City of Burlington staff will be alerted and will respond within a reasonable time to address the request.
If you lose your hub cap in that pothole – SeeClickFix is the city’s interactive map where you can report thee things.
By Staff
October 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Union Gas handed over 500 combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to the Burlington Fire department at a meeting at the Seniors Centre on the weekend. It is part of Project Zero, a public education campaign that provides combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to residents with the goal of reducing the number of residential fire and carbon monoxide-related deaths to zero.
The alarms were handed out at the seniors event, they were “won” through answering fire safety trivia questions.
 Fire Chief Tony Bavota. The few remaining alarms will be given to seniors registered in the fire department alarm assistance program, which helps those who are isolated and/or have disabilities or mobility challenges, which make it difficult to install and maintain their home smoke and co alarms.
Union Gas utility services manager, Marc Hoewing visited the Burlington Seniors’ Centre yesterday to present Burlington fire chief, Tony Bavota with the alarms.
“At Union Gas, the safety of our employees and our communities is our most important core company value,” said Hoewing. “And we share that commitment by supporting much-needed programs like Project Zero that helps us all stay safer.”
 They work – but only if they have fresh batteries. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless toxic gas that is often referred to as the “silent killer.” Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness and even loss of consciousness, without the elevated temperature associated with the flu. In severe cases, CO poisoning can cause brain damage and death. The elderly, children and people with heart or respiratory conditions may be particularly sensitive to CO. Over 80 per cent of carbon monoxide-related deaths and injuries in Ontario occur in the home.
Fire Chief Tony Bavota said at the meeting that “Working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms save lives,” said Bavota, “Offering them to some of the seniors in our community will help to keep them safe in their homes.”
By Walter Byj
October 20, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Let me begin with the following two paragraphs from a June article I wrote:
“For some it is a grand success story while others view it as an experiment that has created a mess. Either way, it has created a logistics nightmare for boards across the province as educators try to run both a successful English program along with a strong French Immersion program. School busing, disruption of community schools, huge uptake in French Immersion and a shortage on competent French teachers in Ontario is forcing many boards to review their current implementation of French Immersion.
 Burlington school board trustee Richelle Papin was a member of the Program Viability Committee “In Halton, the board recently created the Program Viability Committee (PVC) whose goal was to do a thorough review of the challenges that French Immersion has placed on the English program and to then propose a number of solutions that could alleviate any current problems. The committee, which consists of 22 members, includes the Director of Education, board superintendents, schools principals and three trustees. The trustees are J. Oliver (Oakville, K. Graves (Milton) and R. Papin (Burlington). “
After a number of committee meetings, committee chair and Director of Education, Stuart Miller gave the board his report with his recommendations on September 16th
RECOMMENDATION 1:
Be it resolved that the Halton District School Board present the following options for the delivery of French Immersion to the public in the Fall of 2015 for the purpose of receiving feedback, considerations and comments. Feedback will be brought to the Board for consideration in the delivery of French Immersion programming:
1. Option 1: Grade 1 (early) French immersion remains a 50% French 50% English delivery model, but entry to French Immersion will be capped. The method of capping would be determined at a later date.
2. Option 2: Grade 1 (early) French Immersion remains at 50% French and 50% English, however all French Immersion programs will be delivered in single track FI schools. French Immersion will be phased out of dual track schools and no new dual track schools will be considered. The location of the single track schools will be determined at a later date.
3. Option 3: French Immersion will commence at a later entry point (mid entry); Grade 4. This will result in the delivery model of French Immersion moving from a 50% model to at least a 80% French Immersion model. In addition the delivery of French Immersion will occur in dual track schools only.
4. Option 4: French Immersion will commence at a later entry point (mid entry); Grade 4. This will result in the delivery model of French Immersion moving from a 50% model to at least a 80% French Immersion model. In addition the delivery of French Immersion will occur in single track French Immersion schools only.
 Director of Education Stuart Miller moves forward with the first initiative that has his fingerprints all over it – the public will get to see what he means by public engagement and how well he listens. After a thorough discussion, these recommendations were accepted unanimously by the trustees at the October 7th meeting with the understanding that the board would do everything they could to ensure the public thoroughly understand the current situation and be highly involved in any future solution.
Fully understanding the scope of this project, along with the potential ramifications on the public, Director Miller, with the encouragement of the trustees, emphasized that intensive input and ideas from the public would be required before any changes could be made.
He said the options presented are just a starting point and other alternatives would be studied. All information that the staff has would be shared with the public so that they would have a solid understanding of the challenges that the board currently faces.
There will be no pre-determined decisions as input from the public will play a major role in the final decision. Much time was spent discussing the different ways the public could be included in the process. Director Miller mentioned the use of social media and focus groups as some of the methods.
However, the first step will be face to face public meetings on the following dates:
All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.:
BURLINGTON: Monday, October 26 Nelson High School (4181 New St.)
OAKVILLE: Tuesday, October 27 White Oaks Secondary School (South Campus 1330 Montclair Dr.)
MILTON: Monday, November 2 Milton District High School ( 396 Williams Ave)
HALTON HILLS: Tuesday, November 3 Georgetown District High School (70 Guelph St)
After some prodding from the trustees, Director Miller said he would be open to have a fifth meeting if necessary.
Parents can attend any or all of the above meetings; they are not restricted by the city/town they live in.
The first major test will be the crowd at the Burlington meeting; it could be a barometer as to how well the board is reaching the public.
 Walter Byj has been the Gazette reporter on education for more than a year. He is a long-time resident of the city and as a parent has in the past delegated to the school board.
 Ciné-Starz Upper Canada Place,
Burlington, ON L7R 4B6
Week of Friday, October 23, 2015 through Thursday, October 29, 2015
Everest (PG)
Fri – Sun: 11:00 AM, 1:15, 3:30, 5:15, 7:25, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 3:00, 5:05, 7:20, 9:25
Black Mass (14A)
Fri – Sun: 1:15, 3:00, 5:10, 7:25, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:25, 9:30
The Visit (PG)
Fri – Sun: 7:45, 9:40
Mon – Thu: 3:15, 5:15, 7:45, 9:40
War Room ()
Fri – Sun: 11:00 AM, 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:30, 9:30
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:40
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (PG)
Fri – Sun: 11:10 AM, 5:00, 7:20, 9:35
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 3:20, 7:00, 9:30
Minions (G)
Fri – Sun: 11:30 AM, 1:15, 3:30, 5:45
Mon – Thu: 1:15, 5:40
Inside Out (G)
Fri – Sun: 11:10 AM, 1:05, 3:00
A Walk in the Woods (14A)
Fri – Sun: 11:00 AM, 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30, 9:30
Mon – Thu: 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00
By Pepper Parr
October 20th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There numerous errors in various version so this article for which we apologize. It was an amazing night – few thought the voters would change their country quite this much.
It was a rout for Mike Wallace – he handled it with dignity and grace. It was a win for Karina Gould, which she celebrated with jubilation.
 Prime Minister checks out the product at Ecoysynthetix during one of his several visits to the city. Wallace is on the far right. Company CEO John van Leeuwen is on the left. The Prime Minister turned out to be Wallace’s biggest problem.
Mike Wallace chose to be with his workers in the room that they fought their campaign in – a room that had all the polling station listed on a wall with young boys scooting back and forth with pieces of paper with the poll results.
There was never a point where it was going to be a Wallace win – he did take some polls – but the Gould wins were consistent. Gould 102 ; Wallace 99 was not uncommon; but there were many more that went Gould 112, Wallace 56.
By ten minutes after 10:00 pm it was evident that Mike Wallace was going to be defeated.
His loss was for the same reason he won the first time. At that time Canadians had had enough of Jean Chretien and the sponsorship scandals and they ousted Paddy Torsney and elected Wallace who had run against Torsney the election before that.
Mike told his workers – and there were a lot of them in his large campaign office at Fairview and Appleby Line that he won last time with 45% of the vote and he thought he would do the same this time.
“It was the collapse of the NDP vote that lost this election for me” said Wallace. He added that he heard about his leader and the concerns the public had with Stephen Harper at all the doors he knocked on.
“I feel badly for David Laird but I feel badly for myself.
“I list 12 pounds in this election race. I have served the public for 23 years and lost this evening to a 28 year old.
“We put out more signs this election than last and we had a good campaign team.
 Karina Gould won the Burlington seat and now heads to Ottawa as a 28 year old MP. Now the hard work for her begins. “I am not saying this evening that I am going to run again – when Wallace made that statement he didn’t know how huge the Liberal sweep was.
Wallace now needs to find something else to do with his time; he served his city well – the good ones land on their feet.
Mike Wallace certainly brought the bacon home to Burlington. He has a daughter who plans to marry soon – he can fully enjoy himself and he and his wife can travel and enjoy themselves for awhile.
All the old Tory stalwarts were in the room – and so was Mayor Goldring who watched the early returns along with his wife Cheryl. When it was clear that Wallace was not going to win the Mayor slid over to the Gould party and hugged the winner.
Wallace said early in his comments that he didn’t think what was happening was possible – but it was and the room began to see the shift. “If there is a majority one woman said – they will be there for four years.”
“Terrible” said another – “shocking” added a third.
Wallace made the trip to the Gould office where the room at Emmas Back Porch was packed.
Unlike the Wallace team, Gould’s Liberals chose to gather at a restaurant where poll results were telephoned into them.
The Liberal office was manned by a few people, several from MPP Eleanor McMahon’s office along with the MPP. They appeared not to want the workers to take part in the traditional political practice of watching the results come in poll by poll and recognize where the strength of the organization was – where they had won and where they had lost.
Canadians have been doing this kind of thing for decades – quite why the Liberals made it a party at a restaurant was confusing. Pam Damoff in Oakville North Burlington did the same thing.
There is a lot more to talk about on this election – it will take a few days to fully appreciate and understand what the voters have done for themselves and their country.
 By Pepper Parr
October 19, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Denise Beard is pumped.
 Denise Beard, Manager of xxx for the city heads up a provincially funded project to get the under 1q2 set outdoors running, jumping and playing every day. She has her hands on a project that is going to keep her busy for the next three years and she believes the project is going to make a difference.
During a press briefing Beard told media that the city has been given a grant of $1.1 million to get the fat off the bodies of young people who spend more time in front of a screen of some sort rather than on their bikes.
There is an obesity problem in the city – and Beard who was a life guard when she was a teenager, wants to see younger people enjoying better health – and she thinks the program she is going to run for the next three years can go a long way to making that happen.
Beard tends to put everything she has into her projects – it’s just who she is.
So what is the program all about?
It is billed as a Community Challenge – an event that uses provincial money to drive a program that will result in younger people getting more exercise.
For reason’s it only understands the province decided to work with communities rather than schools or the medical community to get young people off the couch and away from the screens and exercise more.
The idea was first used in France where significant results were claimed to have taken place. The Ontario government chose Burlington as the only community in Halton to get funding. Hamilton and 45 other communities in the province were given funds.
 Expect to see a lot of chalking going on at least until there is snow on the side walks of the city – all part of a healthier youth initiative. Beard talked about “chalking” the community – getting young people to take to the streets and make their mark telling what they are doing to live healthier lifestyles.
The initiative came out of the provincial Ministry of Health and Long Term care that will be putting forward a new theme every nine months.
In order to get the funding communities had to come up with an Action Plan; Burlington apparently had the best one – so we will now see the Mayor pumping and promoting healthy living.
The city wants to see the grade 5 level students Running, Jumping and Playing every day. Data will be collected with the focus on individual Body Mass Index (BMI) – some additional focusing will be done on students at the grade 8 level.
There are five neighbourhoods in the city that that are expected to get special attention. The program will collaborate with the YMCA, parent groups and schools taking a “street to street” and “parent to parent approach” to getting young people – mostly those under 12 out onto the streets and the playgrounds and getting more exercise.
Great initiative – that has to compete with computer games.
 By Pepper Parr
October 19th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
When Teresa Seaton opened her Stained Glass studio on Spring Garden Road a couple of years ago, a stones toss from the Royal Botanical Gardens – some thought there was the promise of a small cluster of art locations developing. The Seaton Gallery was right beside the EdRoy gallery which and the opportunity for some growth looked as if it was going to fade.
 Anne More’s piece is on the right. Yesterday Cheryl Miles Goldring and Anne More opened Gallery 2 and displayed a very nice collection of the both their own work and that of other artists.
The flow of visitors was consistent during the afternoon – what to make of this newest arrival to the art scene in the city?
Cheryl, who was chair of the Art Auction Committee for the Art Gallery of Burlington last year, is coming into her own rather nicely. The exhibition of her work from a Newfoundland tour was well received – now we are watching her develop the commercial side.
 Work by Anne More on the left and a piece by Cheryl Miles Golding, second from the right, is appreciated by a viewer during their opening event on Sunday. Anne More, who brings her own experience to the venture, studied under Gordon Harrison with Cheryl – a Harrison piece was shown at the opening exhibit. Just under a year ago Anne and Cheryl talked about renting the space that EdRoy had vacated; after working out some of the wrinkles they dove in and held their opening event on Sunday.
 Cheryl Miles Goldring listening to Catherine Brady. Anne wants people to understand what real art is: “I am constantly amazed at how little people know about how art is made.” Tough words from a woman who taught art with a Board of Education for a number of years.
Art is a business as well as a passion – and business means selling something to someone. There is a perception that original art is very expensive – and it can but doesn’t have to be. Anne has been involved in a number of sales that had payment for the art being made over a period of time. “If you like some of my art” Anne will say “make me an offer.” Her work has been shown at Art231 in Hamilton
 Anne More on a field trip. Cheryl sees the Gallery 2 as a place where they can focus attention on local artists who don’t get much of an opportunity to show what they have in a setting that was designed for the public and not done as an afterthought in a restaurant.
The Gallery 2 opening included work by Donna Fratesi, Pierre A. J. Sabourin, A. J. Van Die and Wayne Moore and Don Greaves.
The Gallery 2 intention is to mount new art every month – something this city has not seen in some time. Now the challenge of promoting the location begins
By Staff
October 19th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There is just one per person and the price paid to make this available to you was measured in lives – so use it wisely – and be sure to use it.
Today is Election Day across the country. The polls open at 9:30 am and close at 9:00 pm
If you don’t know where to vote and need some help you can call any of the political party election offices or the Burlington Returning Office.
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By Staff
