 By Staff
December 2, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Watch sculpting master Michael Muli use various techniques to transform ice into art at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
 A master ice sculptor will be at the Royal Botanical Gardens December 6thand 7th. No to be missed. Michael is creating an enormous 3D tribute to the RBG Train Show for kids to climb aboard. You can drop by and get your picture taken with the kids.
Be sure to stop by and get your photo taken with the final piece before it disappears!
Event takes place from December 6 (1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.); December 7 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
 By Pepper Parr
December 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
 Sign at the western gateway to the city. With the chain of office officially his for the next four years Mayor Rick Golding can settle in and make Burlington a better place.
One of the first things that he did as Mayor for the 2014-18 term was get his picture taken in front of spanking new sign telling traveler’s they are about to enter the village of Aldershot.
Later today the Mayor will give his Inaugural address and possibly even give us a peek at his thinking for the next four years.
 The guy on the left, Mayor Goldring, invited the guy on the right, Ron Foxcroft, to give the keynote speech at the guy on the right’s Inaugural event. The guy on the right is funnier than the guy on the left. Mayor Goldring managed to let himself get upstaged by Ron Foxcroft who will deliver the Keynote address – there will be at least one joke at the Mayor’s expense.
On Thursday the Mayor will glad hand with those invited to a fund raiser to pay off his election campaign debt. Goldring fully expected the 2014 election to be a cake walk; there wasn’t a challenger on the horizon other than Anne Marsden who has run frequently in the past.
Council will begin to take care of business on the 15th when the Standing Committees meet.
Goldring had a campaign team which amounted to a collection of names; no one expected to have to do anything. Then out of the blue came Peter Rusin who did very poorly in the vote count but did manage to keep the Mayor on his toes for a couple of weeks.
Fund raising for Mayoral races usually gets done well before the election. If funds have to be raised after the election it is usually because there was a very hard fought race. That certainly wasn’t the case this time around – did the Mayor get caught flat footed on this one?
Expect anyone who thinks they can curry a little favour with the Mayor to happily accept an invitation to this event. The Gazette wasn’t invited.
By Pepper Parr
December 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The Art Gallery of Burlington is proud of its rich tradition in hosting an annual, live art auction. The event is a critical fund raiser for the AGB which sees itself as the heart of arts and culture in the region.
With an inspiring variety of exhibitions, education programs and an acclaimed Canadian contemporary ceramics collection, it is vital that AGB raise funds to continue to offer enriching programs to our community and keep the galleries free and accessible to all, seven days a week. Thus the art sale.
The next will be their 36th year and will be grown into a week-long celebration of visual art with local, regional and national artists.
It all begins May 31st and runs through to – June 6th, 2015. Mark those dates on your calendar.
 The Belle Epoch was a time of new ideas, emerging artists and rife with political controversy. There was a World’s Fair held in Paris – the world was alive with new wealth and ideas – it all ended with the start of the First Great War This week-long celebration features: an Art Sale; a live auction as well as a Silent Auction. This year there is going to be a theme to set a tone. The AGB people are stretching their wings and actually getting creative. They have chosen La Belle Époque as the theme, which we are told came out of the creative mind of Cheryl Goldring, chair of the Planning committee and an artist with a reputation of her own
Belle Époque was a period characterized by optimism, peace at home and in Europe, new technology and scientific discoveries. The peace and prosperity in Paris allowed the arts to flourish, and many masterpieces of literature, music, theater, and visual art gained recognition. The Belle Époque was named, in retrospect, when it began to be considered a “golden age” in contrast to the horrors of World War I.
 For a citizen of France to accuse the President of the Republic in a newspaper front page letter was unheard of – those were heady times. The Art Gallery of Burlington wants to re-create some of that era with a theme for the 2015 Art Auction. In the newly rich United States, emerging from the Panic of 1873, the comparable epoch was dubbed the Gilded Age. In the United Kingdom, the Belle Époque overlapped with the late Victorian era and the Edwardian era. In Germany, the Belle Époque coincided with the reigns of Kaiser Wilhelm I & II and in Russia with the reigns of Alexander III and Nicholas II.
All that rich history will be wrapped into a theme that will set a tone considerable different than previous art auctions. The city can perhaps attend an event that has the potential to get away from the stodginess that has at times crept into AGB events. Looks like they are going to zip it up a bit.
There is also going to be a 200 for $200 event; 200 painting priced at $200 each. That should appeal to the younger set that wants to begin collecting seriously.
The Planning committee wants the public to party like it’s 1889 when the world celebrated the opening of the World’s Fair in Paris and the coming of age of Impressionism. That might be a bit of a stretch – after all this is Burlington.
The Art Gallery of Burlington will be transformed into a Parisian market as guests are immersed in late 19th Century Paris with all the exciting sights and sounds of that vibrant era; art, music, jugglers, dancers, cafes, bistros and marketplaces.
The committee planning this event includes: Cheryl Goldring, Chair, Susan Busby, Anne Brownell, AGB, Catherine Brady, Cheryl Soderlund, AGB, Louise Cooke, Kim Varian, AGB and Don Graves.
Submission packages for artists can be downloaded here.
 By Pepper Parr
December 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The report gets put out every year – the most recent is the third released by the Burlington Community Foundation. It is a snapshot of where we are with the issues the Foundation feels are important to the city.
This year the Vital Signs report gives more attention is given to transit and mental health as well as, surprisingly, culture.
In the 2014 update, independent research continues to confirm that Burlington is truly unique among mid-size Canadian cities. Employment rates, new community gardens, improved waste management programs and dropping crime rates are among the many great livability highlights of this year’s report .
 Are we a city “we can all feel at home in?” Not everyone can feel truly at home – we have some work to do. As the BCF revisited 11 key areas of community life, a few areas with emerging issues were also uncovered. For instance, as our city becomes more built up, the city is experiencing more traffic, vehicle collisions and related property damage . There’s also a shortage of housing options. The current rental vacancy rate of 1 .9% is well below the 3% benchmark that is considered necessary for adequate competition and supply .
Established in 1999 as a centre for philanthropy, the Burlington Community Foundation exists today because local people had a clear vision for our city’s future .
Arts and culture:
The report suggests Burlington has a strong and diverse arts and culture scene; that should be seen as more of a wish. The arts have been a part of Burlington for a long time; culture is something that is emerging.
 There are enough companies in the marketing field for the city to be seen as a place where good creative work can be done, Vital Signs refers to a rich variety of cultural attractions that will engage people as “go to” places, accessible and affordable to all . Burlington will be home to and will showcase a wide variety of multicultural artists, spanning many types of art: from “traditional” art forms to emerging art forms .
“Burlington will be seen as a city that attracts, inspires, encourages and is home to creative thinkers.” We are not there yet.
If seen as part of the 20 years out projection a vision could have Burlington seen as an arts and culture travel destination: people will come to visit Burlington because of the quality and variety of its arts and cultural experiences within a context of recreational, retail, and culinary options. People come to Burlington now because of the geography and out festivals.
Anne Swarbrick, the Interim Executive Director, Art Gallery of Burlington hopes that the arts will be valued for their contributions to economic development and for the creative thinking and skills that they teach.
In a survey of Burlington residents, 76% said culture is “essential” or “highly important” in their daily lives. There are many types of cultural experiences. For Burlington residents, the top 6 are festivals (86%), museums and local history (81%), art galleries (78%), going to the theatre (75%), public art (69%) and family heritage and traditions (69%).
Burlington is home to 33 community cultural organizations, which together support:
624,000 visits to local festivals, events, productions and exhibitions, of which 535,000 visits are free to the public
89,000+ hours of cultural programming offered to all ages
650+ workshops
1,400+ residents engaging as volunteers.
Impressive numbers.
 Burlington is not keeping up with the work force growth the Region is experiencing. Some research and analysis of this data is needed. who will do that research and analysis? Economic Development Corporation? Someone should do it. Employment
The statistics the kind of employment available in Burlington is not as impressive. The Economic Development Corporation is constantly looking for companies they would like to see move to Burlington and create high added value and high paying jobs; the reality is that we are adding relatively low paying retail sector jobs in a city where apartment rents are higher than other communities in the GTA and rental availability is considerably below the standard
There doesn’t appear to be a strategy that will work. “Creating a high performance economy depends on the right blend of businesses, a highly qualified workforce, and motivated business investment”, says Mayor Rick Goldring. The Burlington Economic Development Corporation is taking a more direct, proactive and strategic approach for a short and long-term development strategy to retain and attract business. This strategy will be focused on creating a dynamic ecosystem conducive to business growth for Burlington’s long-term fiscal capacity, now and in the future.”
Statements like this amount to bafflegab – they say nothing.
Burlington has historically had stronger employment levels than Ontario as a whole . Updated information from Halton Region’s 2013 Employment Survey shows continued strength: the number of jobs is up 7% from the 2012 Employment Survey, and the number of businesses is up 4%.
However, job growth has been lower in Burlington compared to the rest of Halton Region. The types of jobs in Burlington are changing. Notably, in the 2012 Employment Survey, manufacturing was the largest sector by number of jobs, but in the 2013 survey it had dropped to second place behind the retail sector.
A portion of the Phase 2 Final Report on Employment Lands said: Over the next twenty years, a number of the conditions which underpinned the City’s past economic successes are expected to change.”
 The drive for high quality well paying high tech jobs is not being reached; there are more people in retail now than in manufacturing – and Burlington isn’t exactly a shopper’s mecca. “Ontario’s manufacturing-based economy has entered another period of transition, as manufacturers come to grips with increased global competition, changing patterns of foreign investment and an aging labour force. Fuel costs are rising and congestion on the 400 series highway network is increasing. Locally, the availability of land for new greenfield development is expected to become scarcer as Burlington approaches its build-out.”
That is not good news and suggests a significant re-think is needed as to what we want to be from an employment point of view is needed.
 These are not good numbers. The city does not seem prepared to develop options that make it possible to travel by anything other than a car. Longer term this is very bad news for Burlington. Transit and transportation:
The challenge of easing traffic congestion will increase due to population and employment; the call is for more use of alternate modes of transit. The people of Burlington don’t yet have any appetite for getting out of their cars
Build more roads ? – our options are limited: Widening existing roads or building new ones, in most circumstances, will encroach on private property, impact mature trees and green space or compromise the existing public spaces.
A more sustainable transportation strategy is to move more people per kilometer by walking, cycling, via transit using high occupancy vehicles.
15% of all trips within Burlington are by transit
30% of all eastbound trips leaving the city are by transit
10% of all westbound trips leaving the city are by transit
Sustainable local environmental practices
Burlington will have strong local food security and a strong local food economy. There will be significant local food production and processing.
Residents will have ready access to local food through farms, community gardens, farmers’ markets, grocery stores, and restaurants.
Neither of these is the case today
 Lot’s of room for improvement here. Michelle Bennett, Grow To Give Garden Coordinator, BurlingtonGreen Environmental Association, says the dream, the vision and provincial policy call for Burlington and Halton Region to protect its urban and rural green spaces, agricultural lands and woodlots . The Niagara Escarpment lands, flora, and wildlife have to remain preserved from greenfield development, expanded aggregate extraction and highway expansion.
Residents will be engaged and have as much say as developers, business and city planners in how land is used and developed in Burlington .
Burlington’s drinking water from Lake Ontario and groundwater aquifer sources will be clean and healthy for all.
Burlington will have a community energy strategy that effectively conserves energy use, emits less greenhouse gases, and is increasingly reliant on renewable sources.
These were correctly set out as dreams; it is going to take leadership and vision to make them a reality.
There are also competing interests at play; the people who own large swaths of land north of Dundas didn’t buy it to grow hay for horses.
A city where people enjoy the outdoors
Burlington has 1,472 acres of city-owned parkland, and the city each year takes care of 60,000 trees, plants 600 new trees, and maintains 796 acres of grass. Most residents are within a 10-minute or less walk from green space.
 With steel plants across the bay – our air quality is surprisingly good. Burlington operates three community gardens, two of which opened in 2014. “Community Gardens are shared spaces where people gather together to grow fruit, vegetables, and/or flowers collectively. Community Gardens provide health, economic, educational, social, and environmental benefits to participants and the community at large
 We are prosperous, we are generous. Are we going to be able to make the allowances for those that are not as well of? If the prosperous want cleaning ladies – they will learn to make the needed allowances. Burlington is a giving community.
In 2010, 30% of Burlington tax filers reported charitable donations, which is higher than for Ontario as a whole (24.5%). Collectively, Burlington tax filers donated $63 million to charities. (Community Development Halton, Charitable Donations in Halton, Community Lens Bulletin #91)
Many renters experience financial difficulty
When compared to other Regional Municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area, Halton’s average monthly rent is the highest.
According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing is considered affordable if shelter costs account for less than 30% of before-tax household income. If shelter costs exceed this threshold, it can become more difficult to afford other essentials such as food, clothing and transportation.
 The data shows close to radical changes. Are we planning this type of change or is it what developers want to build and the city planners go along with the projects? Is this good planning? Does it reflect the Official Plan? In Halton Region, over 41% of renters are spending more than 30% of their income on housing. The problem is even more severe among recent newcomers to Canada living in Halton, with 48 .5% spending more than 30% on shelter.
 Are these numbers to be concerned about? Close to 20% of residents are part of a low income household. Not only are rents high but there is a shortage of rental properties. The rental vacancy rate improved a bit from 1 .3% in 2012 to 1 .9% in 2013 . However, it is still well below the benchmark vacancy rate of 3% considered necessary for adequate competition and supply . It is also well below neighbouring Hamilton’s 3 .9% vacancy rate .
An application of community mobilization to policing – mental health:
“A lot of mental health issues have become policing issues because either there is no one else to call or they don’t know who else to call.” In the community mobilization approach, partnership with mental health organizations is critical.
 Burlington is a safe place to live. Is that because of superior policing or geography? Halton Regional Police Chief Steve Tanner says “We will always be the emergency response for mental health where someone may be violent or when someone is suicidal. We will always have the intervention, but then we should very quickly be able to hand it over to people who can deal with it better on a long-term basis.”
Canada’s age profile is getting older and Burlington is one of the city’s leading this change. The trend will continue for several decades into the future. For example, the proportion of people 65+ years of age in Ontario is expected to grow from 14 .6% of the population in 2011 to over 23% by the year 2036 .
Burlington’s age profile has historically been older than that of Ontario as a whole, and the difference has been increasing over time . As of 2011, 16 .9% of Burlington’s population was 65 years of age or older, compared to 14 .6% of Ontario’s population
The Burlington Community Foundation concludes that: “Potential is a word that sums up our city’s future. As a prosperous and affluent community, individual, household and family median incomes in Burlington are higher than the Ontario average. We are in a very fortunate situation.”
Looking ahead, a broad mix of employment opportunities – including more highly-skilled, well-paying jobs – will enable even more people to work and live here.”
“It is anticipated that the growing local food movement and urban gardening will both have a very positive impact on sustainable local environmental practices. Our close connection to nature will only increase with more urban and rural green spaces being protected from Greenfield development and aggregate extraction.
“Increased recycling and reuse initiatives have already helped to reduce garbage. However, we still have a way to go as 44% of materials currently being put in household garbage bins could have been recycled or composted.”
With less land available, more families will move into high density structures – the Halton Region Official Plan calls for half of all new housing units to be town-houses or multi-storey buildings and 30% to be affordable or assisted housing. Moving away from traditional single family homes will require new solutions and ideas to help us maintain the sense of community and scale that we all enjoy.
 Does Burlington want to be a city of older people? Has our city council taken us in this direction or did it just happen? And is it good planning? More importantly, is it sustainable? The demographics of our community have and will continue to change. With many boomers choosing to retire, a strategy to build stronger connections with millennials will be important. Young workers who establish work and family roots in our community are critical to ensuring a healthy and sustainable workforce. At the same time, a greater emphasis on community-based health care and supporting aging in place will assist our older residents who already face a shortage of long-term care facilities.
The 2013 Vital Signs identified an opportunity to improve mental wellness. In 2014, the Foundation organized three Roundtables to start conversations about mental wellness across our community. Leaders from mental health organizations, corporations and institutions, civic leaders, practitioners and community members, donors and fund holders as well as individuals who have experienced mental health challenges are all involved.
The next step is the creation of an action plan – supported by collaboration and community partnerships – to improve future mental wellness and mental health care in Burlington.
Collaborating with individual donors, public and private organizations to build endowments, give grants and connect leadership, the BCF is now the centre for philanthropy in the city. The 2014 Vital Signs report demonstrates the many opportunities Burlington has to continue to be a city that we can “all feel at home in.”
Related articles:
2012 Vital Signs report
2013 Vital Sign report.
 By Staff
December 1, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
A house fire on Deerhurst Drive is being investigated as an arson.
The Halton Regional Police Service is investigating a residential fire that left a number of residents with smoke inhalation after 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
At 3:36 p.m. emergency services were called to Deerhurst Drive where residents were forced to flee their residence as a result of a localized fire in an upstairs bedroom. Residents were treated for smoke inhalation by responding EMS personnel.
Due to the circumstances surrounding the nature of the fire, the Arson investigators were called to the scene and have since taken carriage of the investigation.
As a result of a subsequent investigation by police, a 59 year old male resident was charged with Arson – Disregard for Human Life and Arson – Damage to Property contrary to the Criminal Code.
 By Pepper Parr
November 30th, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
It won’t be the cowboy hat and the blue jeans Monday evening for Haley Verrall, the Nelson High student, who will take to the stage and lead the people at the Performing Arts Centre in the singing of O’Canada as they witness the Swearing In of the new city council.
Hayley is a young, 17, Burlingtonian who is fashioning a career as a singer song-writer who wants to change the world with words and music.
She took part in the city’s culture week and was recognized by Angela Pap Paparizo at city hall and then got a call from the Mayor’s office asking if she would be interested in singing the national anthem for the Swearing In.
Both Hayley and her Mom Kim couldn’t say yes fast enough. The question then was – “Do I have to wear a dress” asked Hayley.
 Hayley Verrall at the keyboard. She will sing the national anthem at the Performing arts Centre during swearing-in of new city council. The budding artist has six songs written, a CD with her picture on the cover and more lyrics in the works. Her preference is country and western – with bluegrass where her heart really lies at this point in her career.
Hayley plays piano, trumpet, ukulele, banjo and guitar – you know which the favourite is as she slides the guitar strap over her should and adjusts the instrument to her body and strokes the strings.
Hayley plays around town wherever she can get herself in front of a microphone in Burlington. She has a spot in Waterdown that makes her welcome as well.
 The guitar is her instrument of choice. Hayley Verrall singing “Follow Your Dreams”. Besides being a musician, Hayley is a gamer. She thinks university is in her future with McMaster or Western as the destination for her. Teaching music is something she thinks she could do quite well – but the long term career isn’t the real focus for Hayley. Right now it is writing some and playing wherever she can find people who want to listen
Her Mom, Kim gets a credit as the co-writer for several of the songs written so far. Described as a musician with influences as diverse as country, rock and pop Hayley has been written up as “a versatile performer who blends her instinctive attitude for fresh melodies with a consistent background as a skilled classical pianist.”
Music for Hayley is more than simple entertainment; it is a medium to inspire, share and tell stories that can relate to an audience in a unique way.
We won’t get to hear the true love music on Monday – not unless Hayley rolls from the national anthem to “Young Gambler”, a featured piece on her CD titled: You Ain’t seen Trouble Yet.
 By Staff
November 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Are you female? Under 5’7” tall?
 If you can sing “16 going on 17” there is a place on a stage for you. Do you look the part of “Liesl” from The Sound of Music?
Can you sing “16 Going on 17”?
Then fame and fortune await you – well maybe not fortune.
The people who run Koogle Theatre would like to talk to you about their upcoming concert with Symphony on the Bay “An Afternoon of Rodgers and Hammerstein”
If you’re interested pop them a note: info@koogletheatre.com
By Staff
November 29, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
If you haven’t got your weekend plans worked out and you are looking for something different to do with the kids – what do you think about Synchronized Swimming ?
The Burlington Synchronized Swimming Club (BSSC) invites families and friends to join us for a FREE family swim as part of the Burlington Sports Festival. Celebrate the power of sport that builds strong communities and get active with BSSC!
 Join the Synchronized Swimming Club at the Centennial pool to learn more about synchronized swimming and try some of the moves. Did you know that synchronized swimming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music?
Join us to learn more about synchronized swimming and try some of the moves.
SATURDAY, November 29, 2014 from 3:00 – 4:30 P.M. at the Centennial Pool, 5151 New Street,
Have fun with a FREE family swim that includes a “try it” session offered by BSSC
By Staff
November 28, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
Are you a teen in the Halton Region who would like to understand more about the Police, Ethnicity and Culture (PEACE) in our communities?
Are you interested in a career in policing?
Have you ever wondered what the police do, how they prevent and investigate crimes and what the different units within the service are responsible for?
Would you like to have hands-on practical experience of what it’s like to be a police officer?
 If you are 15 – 18 years old and the answers to these questions are yes, maybe you’d like to check out the Halton Regional Police PEACE program!
There are still spots available for the Winter Police Ethnic and Cultural Education (PEACE) program, which runs from 6:30 – 9:00 pm every Tuesday night for twelve weeks, starting January 20, 2015 and April 7, 2015.
Each week, students will be given presentations by the different units and bureaus within the police service, with the emphasis being on practical demonstration and involvement. As well, students will learn about cultural awareness and inclusion, how the police service strives to provide equitable service for all communities within our Region and how we are educating new Canadians and recent immigrants about policing in Canada.
You can find out more about this free, voluntary program by visiting our website and clicking on Diversity.
Just complete the application form on line and Email it to the Diversity Coordinator at the contact information on the form.
 By Pepper Parr
November 28, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Many a political career has been started with a citizen serving on a city board or committee.
There are hundreds of people as well who have served on a board and found immense satisfaction in being able to make a difference.
Burlington citizen advisory committees provide Council and staff with input about a wide variety of subjects through discussions, presentations and recommendations. Some committees also organize and participate in community events.
Burlington welcomes citizens who represent the diverse backgrounds of the community to participate on these committees. Becoming a member offers residents a unique chance to volunteer their highly valued skills and to strengthen our shared sense of community.
One of the key groups is the Burlington’s BEST Awards Committee. It is made up of 10 voting members, including: six citizens from the community, and four representatives from media and information agencies.
 The committee was established in and is seen as a Planning Committee reporting to City Council through the Community Services Committee.
Their mandate is to recognize citizens of Burlington who have brought favourable publicity and honour to the City of Burlington, to increase awareness of the committee so all citizens of Burlington have the chance to be recognized for their achievements.
The recognition is provided through Burlington’s Best Awards an annual event at which Burlington recognizes the Citizen of the Year; a Junior Citizen of the Year; an Arts Person of the Year, and a Seniors Person of the Year;. The city also gives a Community Service Award, an Environmental Award and a Heritage Award.
These awards are important – but there is a problem. In 2014 the nominations or recommendations did not come from the Planning committee – their task was to vote on the nominations they had before them.
Those nominations came from anyone who wanted to send in a nomination. The result was we had wives nominating husbands, Mothers nominating their children and girlfriends nominating their boyfriends, which, while admirable, is surely not Burlington’s definition of the BEST we have?
In the next few weeks the Clerks department will go through the applications for people who would like to be on the Planning Committee. Let us hope that the committee that chooses the people who will vote for the BEST that Burlington has are people who get to vote on merit.
There are some people in this city who have in the past year served us exceptionally well. They deserve to be recognized for what they have done – not for who they are or what their Mother, Father, husband, wife or girlfriend thinks of them.
Friends and family should be applauding the choice the committee makes – they shouldn’t be sending in nominations – nor should the committee be accepting them.
 By Staff
November 28, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
It’s not quite Christmas without taking in a performance of The Nutcracker,
There will be four runs of Tchaikovsky`s renowned ballet at the Performing Arts Centre December 18th, 19th and 20th.
 The Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble (CBYE) will be presenting their critically acclaimed production of The Nutcracker featuring the world renowned National Ballet of Cuba.
The CBYE has been bringing arts and culture to the local community since 1991 by collaborating creatively alongside the National Ballet of Cuba in addition to hosting and producing countless shows with a wide range of Canada’s most captivating dancers.
Under the direction of Hamilton Arts and Entertainment Ambassador Ms. Gurdil-Diamante, The Nutcracker features the National Ballet of Cuba’s finest dancers accompanied by an ensemble of talented children from Hamilton and Burlington. The Nutcracker is the perfect ballet experience to delight both first-time attendees and life-long lovers of the art; a cherished seasonal classic for young and old alike.
 Gary Smith, Theatre and Dance Critic for the Hamilton Spectator said “It’s the most authentic, most moving, most spirited Nutcracker there is. It’s filled with the joy and love of Alicia Alonso’s thrilling choreography and Tchaikovsky’s music. Best of all it’s performed with the passion and heart only these Cuban dancers can bring to ballet.”,
Dates for this limited run are:
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Opening Night Performance: 7:30 pm
Friday December 19, 2014
Evening Performance: 7:30pm
Saturday December 20, 2014
Matinee Performance: 2:00 pm
Final Performance: 7:30 pm
VIP tickets, which include a meet and greet with the award-winning dancers and the best seats in the house are available for each evening performance.
Click here for the Box office or call 905-681-6000
By Pepper Parr
November 27, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
They are the backbone of the community.
There are all kinds of men’s clubs and organizations but they don’t have a hope when they have to go up against a church’s woman’s group.
 The red Flood Relief T-shirts were evident. The Woman’s Group at St. Stephen’s United Church seem to be just that much feistier than many this reporter has met with.
They turned over a cheque for $1,263.80 and broke into applause when Laura Pizzacalla of th3e Burlington Community Foundation told them that the money they raised would be matched by the province on a two for one basis to arrive at total of $3791.40
The women of St. Stephen held a pot luck “breakfast for dinner” that had a $5 ticket price. They apparently had no problems with getting creative about just what a “pot luck” is either. They held their first ever Silent Auction and raised $700 of their total that way.
 Linda Draddy runs the meetings of the Women’s Group at St. Stephens. Linda Draddy appears to run the women’s group – not the kind of woman many people actually say no to – she has a way about her. Sitting off to one side is the groups Secretary, Nelly Ferrell; a quick glance at Nelly and you know she has been taking the minutes for quite a while.
During the fund raising drive the Burlington Community Foundation has run there have been dozens of small groups that found a way to raise funds. Some in the group had their homes flooded but they had time to help others out.
One woman asked if there was still a need for furniture. Another wanted to know how to get the application forms.
With the cheque presentation – Linda Draddy moved the group on to the next item on the agenda; approving the cost of the refreshments for a funeral reception.
 Nelly Ferrell, secretary to the group. She has probably been taking the minutes for years. They are indeed the backbone of the community. This was a small group, tucked away in a corner of ward 3 with a larger Catholic Church across the street and a school couple of hundred yards away. There were no dignitaries on hand; the ward Councillor wasn’t there to get his picture taken, the Mayor didn’t make an appearance. One of the men from the Church Council was on hand,
By Staff
November 27, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
They are going to do it again this year.
Last year with a lot of pushing from ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward the city made all of December a free parking downtown month.
“We heard from many people last year who enjoyed the free parking promotion and took advantage of the offer to do some of their holiday shopping and celebrating in the downtown,” said Scott Stewart, general manager of development and infrastructure. “We hope the return of free parking throughout December will encourage residents and visitors to explore the people and places that make downtown Burlington a great place to visit, live and work.”
 Throughout December, vehicles parking at on-street parking meters can park free for up to three hours. For vehicles parked at municipal parking lots or at the parking garage at 414 Locust St., there is no maximum time limit. Overnight parking in municipal lots is allowed except during snow removal activity between 2 and 6 a.m.
The city created a cute video to get the message across.
 The City of Burlington provides more than 1,400 municipal public parking spaces in downtown Burlington and offers free parking year-round in downtown Burlington on weekends, Monday to Friday after 6 p.m. and holidays.
When the city announced the program last year the people working at the local retail locations saw a good deal and made the best of it – it was hard to get a space in some of the more popular lots – they were filled with people who worked downtown – not the people who had come downtown to shop.
The city manager at the time put out a pretty stiff memo but it took a few days to get the needed attitude change. Interim city manager Pat Moyle might want to dig out that memo and re-issue it.
Related articles:
The free parking was supposed to be for customers – not staff at retail locations.
Councillor argues that free parking for city employees is a taxable benefit.
Councillor goes after free parking during budget discussion.
 By Ray Rivers
November 27, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
Before the British North American colonies converged into a new nation, Ontario and Quebec shared history as the united ‘Province of Canada’. The Act of Union in 1840 brought together the former Upper and Lower Canadian colonies into a union which lasted until confederation in 1867. This union gave birth to the responsible government in the colonies, involving both English and French Canadians despite occasional disagreements, as in 1849, when rebelling Tories burned the provincial capital buildings in Montreal.
 The hanging of Louis Riel created a major rift between Quebec, the aboriginal community and the federal government that to some degree still exists today Ontario and Quebec have had their disagreements; Louis Riel, conscription, liquor marketing restrictions and cross border labour disputes – but there has always been a fraternal amity, not unlike that between the western provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Premiers Robarts, Davis, Peterson, McGuinty and Wynne were always strong promoters of Quebecers’ interests in Canada including through those troubling periods when Quebec was threatening to leave the federation.
So it is gratifying that Premiers Wynne and Couillard are taking steps to bump up their cooperation on language policy, climate change, electrical energy and strengthening the central Canadian economy. This sounds like a no-brainer though and provincial residents should thank the Prime Minister, if only because the federal government’s neglect is the spark that has driven this initiative. After all, Mr. Harper has spent virtually no political capital on central Canada’s economy, rather focusing his energy on the further development of the Alberta tar sands
Ontario and Quebec make up about 60% of the country’s population and its gross domestic product (GDP). So expanding trade between them should help expand their economies and allow them to pay down their debts. New approaches to sharing electrical grids will help keep electricity rates in check, which is good for the economies as well as the rate payers. But what would really help is a much needed boost to infrastructure, transportation infrastructure in particular, to keep their major cities from choking on their own success.
Throughout history the federal government has always been the driving force in the economic development of this country. It was the feds who gave us our national railways (and have since sold them off) that brought B.C. into the federation and bound us all together. The TransCanada highway is the centre piece of Canada’s national road transportation system. Environmental management across the country was only made possible with federal resources to build water and waste water facilities. The federal government (Trudeau) even salvaged the oil sands when Alberta was ready to throw in the towel, in its earlier days.
So, in keeping with that tradition the Harper government, a few years ago, announced a program to help the provinces fund their growing infrastructure needs. But Ontario’s share is less than three billion dollars while the provincial government needs to spend about $130 billion dollars over the next decade.
 The “Ring of Fire”; the name given to a part of the province that is believed to be rich in natural resources but cannot be reached because there are no roads into that part of the province. Ontario wants federal government help to build those roads. The federal government wants pipe lines to move tar sands bitumen from Alberta to the east coast. Then there is the ‘Ring of Fire’.
The so-called ‘Ring of Fire’, site of potentially billions of dollars worth of valuable minerals, lies about 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, but is currently inaccessible except by helicopter or canoe and portage. Both Ottawa and Toronto agree on the need to develop this resource and the Province estimates about a billion dollars is needed for a transportation system. The federal government has decided that this should come out of Ontario’s piddly $3 billion in that infrastructure fund – and therein lies just another disagreement between Canada and its largest province.
Premier Wynne has requested a meeting with the PM to talk about this matter among others. But Harper is refusing to meet her because he can see no benefit in helping a provincial Liberal government improve its economy. So he’s got nothing to say and no more money to offer. That is, no more money for Ontario if he is going to balance his budget; give another $2 billion in tax cuts to reasonably well-off Canadian families; and keep his fighter jets running missions in Iraq.
Then there is that Ontario pension program which Wynne has decided to undertake, all on her own, since the feds refuse to undertake much needed upgrades to the existing Canada Pension Plan.
And there is Premier Wynne’s demand for a more equitable share of the federal equalization program, now, when the province needs the money most. But then Ontario just voted Liberal in the last election – so who can blame the Conservative PM for not wanting to help her out.
Canada’s record on climate change is abysmal. We had once gained considerable reputation as a front-seat participant in different forums dealing with the the global issue. But Canada has surrendered its commitment to the Kyoto protocol and is unlikely to meet even the softer targets the Harper government recently set. Still, the PM likes to take credit for the recent modest improvement in emissions statistics, notwithstanding his ‘full-speed-ahead’ on oil sands development and the pipelines he envisions to move all that oil.
And any reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon emissions which Canada can boast about are almost entirely due to Ontario’s green energy program and the shut down of coal-fired electricity – an initiative which Ottawa refused to help finance. In fact Ontario and Quebec are the only two jurisdictions in Canada which have significantly reduced their GHG emissions over the years, again without help from the current federal government.
 Premiers Wynne of Ontario and Couillard of Quebec have begun to work together to protect the economic interests of Central Canada Mr. Harper’s party managed to pull a couple of wins in the recent by-elections, one of them in Ontario. The general election this coming year will be a greater test for his government. It will be an opportunity to discuss climate change, energy policy and infrastructure in a way that they were not debated in the by-elections.
It is unlikely that Mr. Harper will lose much political support in his western home base over his almost antagonistic approach to the rest of Canada, However voters in central and coastal portions of the country will need to ask themselves what they have been getting out of this confederation. And do we need to rethink the make-up of the political union we call Canada – as Quebec and Ontario seem to be doing. Or do we just change the channel at the polling booth.
 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 against Cam Jackson in 1995, the year Mike Harris and the Common Sense Revolution swept the province.
Background links:
Infrastructure Quebec-Ontario Partnership Canadian Federalism
Respect Ontario History Federal Infrastructure Program
More Infrastructure Even More Infra Ring of Fire
 By Pepper Parr
November 26, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s a community that just keeps on giving – a little like that Energizer bunny.
 TD District VP Cosimo Mazzafero on the left approving a withdrawal from the bank for the Burlington Community Foundation Laura Pizzacalli is pleased as punch with the donation. Ron Foxcroft know what it took the reel this cheque in. Yesterday it was the Toronto Dominion Bank that handed over their cheque for $20,000 – thank you very much said Ron Foxcroft as he added another notch to the fund raising goal for Flood Relief.
 The Burlington Sports Alliance came through in a big $20,000 way for the flood victims. From the left Mary Nichol, John Tait, Collen Mulholland, Rick Dawson, Jean Longfield and Angelo Bentivegna Next day it was the Sports Alliance that turned in its cheque for $20,000 as well. Not to take anything away from the bank – but for the Sports Alliance to bring in $20,000 is a major achievement.
The revised goal is now $1 million and with the donations in the wings and that last minute hustle Foxcroft has put on community organizations and major corporations the target is certainly achievable.
The Burlington Community Foundation is now winding down the hard push for funds – it is still important – but the task now is to begin putting together the files that have to be completed to put the money raised into the hands of the people who need it.
As the tremendous community effort works its way to the date – December 15th – on which funds begin to get distributed those who did the really hard day to day work to produce the results are beginning to think about the lessons that have been learned.
Tuesday morning Collen Mulholland who has been the driving force behind making this all come together, took part in a McMaster DeGroote School of Business event at the Ron Joyce Campus on the South Service Road where she talked about how communities are going to have to prepare for the “not if but when” extreme weather situations that most believe are the result of global warming.
Last weekend Buffalo got thumped with snow that was as high as seven feet in some areas; the next day the GTA had a wind storm that got as high as 100 kmh.
 Help was needed from wherever it could be gotten in Buffalo when they got more than six feet of snow. In Buffalo there were shovel brigades consisting of dozens of people pushing snow. Many of the people in Burlington who will benefit from the Flood Relief funds raised did not have insurance – they weren’t able to buy any. Others had severe caps put on the amount of insurance they could buy.
These were all responsible people – they just weren’t able to buy the protection they needed. We are going to see more of this type of weather related damage done to communities.
Mulholland talked about the difficulty in raising funds quickly. Burlington had people who were in very real dire straits – they had been wiped out through no fault of their own. Many were able to turn to family and savings – but this country is no longer known for its high savings rate. A lot of families carry quite a bit of debt.
Mulholland explained that there are hundreds of Foundations that have funds which they make available – but as Mulholland explained: “It takes a long time to actually get the funds”. There are all kinds of hoops that one has to go through. She suggested communities might want to begin looking for and creating new models to meet the needs of a community. The Burlington Community wasn’t created to do what it found itself doing.
 It is difficult to financially support something you can’t see – when the waste bins were off the streets – the need wasn’t visible anymore – but the need is still there. The Mayor made the call and the BCF took up the challenge. Mulholland wonders if there is an opportunity to create a structure that has a Community Foundation in every city, town and hamlet in the country with each creating an endowment and being set up and able to move funds from one community to another.
Canada has a fine tradition of communities helping communities. Burlington recently agreed to send a truck and a front end loader to Buffalo to help clear snow.
We seem though to be entering a different environment where events such as the 191 mm of rain that fell on relatively small parts of Burlington in four to five hours was something the bureaucrats said could not possibly prepared for. There are differing views on that but the point is well made – we have different weather these days and both people and property are going to be hurt.
Burlington appears to have decided to become proactive and serve as a leader in the thinking that has to be done to create the structures needed across the country to let people help people and prepare for the kind of significant environmental changes we are going to have to deal with.
By Staff
November 25, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
 Bring your pen and pad, come with some ideas or just ready to write.
Prompts will be provided, sharing is requested, but not mandatory.
All writing styles welcome, ages 12 and up.
This workshop is provided for FREE, but donations are accepted.
Thursday – Tansley Woods Library 7-9
By Pepper Parr
November 25, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
We got the tease piece on Monday – be ready for a biggie announcement on a major drug arrest.
They were going to have pictures and even the Chief was going to be on hand to strut and show his stiff.
The Halton Regional Police Service Drug, Gun and Gang Unit had concluded an eight month drug investigation earlier that day with assistance from Hamilton Police Service, Waterloo Regional Police Service, Niagara Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Peel Regional Police Service and the Durham Regional Police Service. They executed a total of 15 search warrants throughout Halton, Hamilton and Toronto.
They raked in a substantial amount of drugs, cash and firearms. Further details were to follow; a press conference was planned for the next day.
It was the end of an eight month investigation into a group involved with trafficking cocaine and marihuana. The investigation revealed the network was well entrenched in the drug culture in Halton Region, the City of Hamilton and the City of Toronto.
 Modern day technology and counter-detection techniques deployed by this group presented significant obstacles to the investigative team. However, investigators were able to unravel the layers to this sophisticated drug trafficking operation. As a result, police identified the parties involved, their respective roles, drug stash locations and concealment methods.
Police arrested and charged 15 people, disrupting and possibly dismantling this drug trafficking network. Police seized the following evidence:
2.5 kilograms of cocaine
105 pounds of marihuana
1 kilogram of cannabis resin
2 semi automatic handguns and ammunition
$155,000
4 vehicles as offence related property
The charged persons are as follows:
James EVANS-O’CONNELL, 27yrs, from Burlington
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine (7 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana over 3 kilograms (6 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana less than 3 kilograms
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance (13 counts)
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
Garth WATKINS, 29yrs, from Burlington
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
• Obstruct Police
• Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
• Breach of Probation
• Breach of Prohibition Order
Derek JACKSON, 24yrs, from Hamilton
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine (7 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana over 3 kilograms (6 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana less than 3 kilograms
Erik STRONG, 29yrs, from Toronto
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana over 3 kilograms (3 counts)
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
Jessica GRANT, 26yrs, from Burlington
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
• Obstruct Police
• Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
James DEROSA, 27yrs, from Waterdown
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine and Oxycodone
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
• Breach of Recognizance
Adam DEBOER, 24yrs, from Millgrove
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
Joshua YEAGER, 29yrs, from Milton
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana
Ryan KNAPMAN, 29yrs, from Burlington
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine and Marihuana
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
Sean KNAPMAN, 27yrs, from Burlington
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance (2 counts)
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cocaine and Marihuana
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
Amir PAREKH, 26yrs, from Toronto
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
Frank GELENYI, 30 yrs, from Oakville
• Breach of Recognizance (currently on outstanding firearms charges from 2012)
• Unlawful Possession of Firearm
• Knowingly in Possession of an Unauthorized Firearm
• Possession of Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
• Breach of Firearms Prohibition
Greg JONES, 33yrs, from Toronto
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
• Trafficking a Controlled Substance; Marihuana
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Marihuana
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking; Cannabis Resin
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
Merrick BROOMFIELD, 27yrs, from Stoney Creek
• Conspiracy to Traffic a Controlled Substance
Tristan MIGNOTT, 26yrs, from Stoney Creek
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
• Knowingly in Possession of an Unauthorized Firearm
• Tamper with Serial Number on Firearm
• Possession of Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
That was certainly a big bust; the lawyers in town will be busy; no word on who got bail.
By Pepper Parr
November 24, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The National Energy Board (NEB) has made it very clear to Enbridge that the pipeline they want to reverse and pump Alberta tar sands bitumen to eastern Canada is not going to be as simple as they thought it was going to be.
The NEB recently told Enbridge that their Line 9 plans failed to meet the requirement that shutoff “valves shall be installed on both sides of major water crossings”, and also challenged the company’s definition of what constitutes a major water course (WMC).
The Board has demanded a new company submission “at least 90 days prior to applying for the final leave to open” the pipeline which significantly sets back Enbridge’s previously announced intention to start shipments later sometime in November.
 There are seven creeks that run from the Escarpment into Lake Ontario. We know how volatile those creeks can get when they are flooded. They would carry an oil spill right out into the lake threatening our water supply. “The Board notes that only 6 of the 104 MWCs identified by Enbridge to date appear to have valves installed within 1 km on both sides of the water crossing, while the majority appear to have valves installed more than 10 km from the water crossing on at least one side,” explains the NEB letter to the company. “The Board is of the view that Enbridge’s criteria for determining MWCs are not adequate.”
One of those major water crossing is Bronte Creek. Hamilton has a community committee that has done their homework and are on top of the issue. Burlington isn’t as fortunate. BurlingtonGreen has some expertise but not much in the way of profile on this.
 The location of the valves – underground – that are controlled from the Enbridge office in Western Canada. Are there enough of these in place? The city’s engineering department has a small group monitoring but they don’t appear to have focused on those water bodies that are within our boundaries. Hamilton is pressing very hard to ensure that the required shut off valves are installed so that if there is a spill the flow can be stopped.
We don’t hear about Burlington banging their fists on the table to make sure that the seven creeks that flow through are city have the protection needed.
Burlington is going to have to be at the table pushing for what our problems are. Sam Sidawi, Senior Engineer with the city said “we are part of a thing called the Municipal Liaison Group”, and seemed content to leave it at that. Hamilton is a part of the same group and they aren’t leaving the protection of their Major Water Crossing in the hands of others.
The Conservation Authority is in there somewhere but try getting a map from them delineating all the creeks that run from the Escarpment to the Lake and they will tell you there are GIS licensing concerns. Balderdash.
We did get a copy this morning after months of asking
 Enbridge was sucking oil out of the river and creeks that had oil from the spill in them four years after the spill. Burlington could not go that long. At this point Burlington doesn’t have a problem – nothing is running through Line 9 – but when they get the clearance they need – we could have a problem – that line is close to 40 years old.
Kalamazoo Michigan had an oil spill that sent an estimated 800,000 gallons of crude oil into Talmadge Creek and the river. Nearly four years later since the spill was discovered July 26, 2010 near Marshall, the Canadian pipeline company is wrapping up the cleanup.
By Staff
November 24, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
The cops need some help and so does the Arctic Spa – they are missing a 16 feet long by 8 feet wide Hudson Swim Spa valued at $25,000. The Halton Regional Police are looking for any information that will help identify the person(s) responsible for the theft of Swim Spa.
On Wednesday, October 8, 2014 shortly after 10:00 pm a dark coloured pick-up truck with silver trim at the bottom and towing a 20 foot trailer with a forklift, pulled into the parking lot of Arctic Spa located at 990 Fraser Drive in the City of Burlington.
The forklift was used to load the Swim Spa valued onto the trailer.
Anyone with information is asked to contact D/Cst. Dikran Tokat, 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau – Commercial Crime Team at 905 825-4747 ext 2333, or anyone with information on this or any other crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
By Staff
November 24, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
News reports will make mention of video the police obtained to identify a suspect. Where do they get that video?
From people who have video cameras installed. Most commercial establishments now have video cameras – as well as many homes.
 The Halton Regional Police have created a new data base that will list all the known video camera set ups in the city.
If you have a security video system at your home you can register that camera and system with the Halton Regional Police. All the police do is make a note of your address and the fact that you have a video surveillance system around your house.
The police don’t have access to your system – they just know it is there because you voluntarily registered it with them.
In the event that there is an accident or a crime committed within range of your system the police know that you have cameras and will ask if they can have access to that video.
Called the Security Camera Registration and Monitoring (S.C.R.A.M.) Program; it is seen as a new crime prevention and investigative tool.
In 2013, the Region of Halton was named the safest Canadian regional municipality with a population of more than 100,000. In fact, it was a record year with the crime rate dropping to the lowest it has been since 1974. There are many reasons why Halton enjoys this status; one of which is the reciprocal relationship that the Halton Regional Police Service shares with the community it serves.
This partnership between community and police has allowed Halton to experience a declining crime rate, despite a growing population.
Private home security is a priority for many residents in an effort to protect their home and family. As our population is growing, so is the number of residential video surveillance cameras being installed in neighbourhoods throughout the region. As the number grows, so does the opportunity for police to have access to video/photo evidence that can assist with criminal investigations and lead to suspect identity and a conviction in court.
The new S.C.R.A.M. Program is a community based crime prevention opportunity and investigative tool that enlists the help of Halton residents and can help prevent crime on three levels. Residential video surveillance cameras can deter criminals from entering the area, can prevent crimes from occurring and can help solve crimes by providing valuable evidence to the police.
The S.C.R.A.M. program enables community members to voluntarily identify and register their residential video surveillance equipment through a simple, secure, confidential, online form located on the Halton Regional Police Service website.
Once registered, a database of surveillance camera locations will be available for officers when investigating a criminal offence. The database will provide officers with a more efficient manner of locating surveillance evidence in the critical initial stages of an investigation when time and public safety are potential factors. The program is an innovative and cost-effective way to increase resources that help solve crimes.
Currently when officers are involved in an investigation their only method for locating surveillance evidence is through a physical canvass which is both time consuming and resource heavy. The S.C.R.A.M. database will allow officers access to registered video surveillance in a particular area by utilizing an interactive crime mapping tool.
This program is a creative way of empowering the Halton community to take action against crime in their neighbourhoods. The program facilitates secure information-sharing between the community and the police, and promotes a united response to crime prevention. Because participation in this program is voluntary, S.C.R.A.M., in essence is a community-led initiative and encourages people to become part of the solution, while providing the police with a valuable investigative tool.
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