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September 5th, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Sometimes it is more than a photo op.  Mayor Meed Ward and Councillors Kearns and Bentivega took part in raising a flag.  The umbrella helped but not that much. Give them credit for getting soaked while hoisting a flag that makes mention of Children’s Cancer Awareness month. How did Councillor manage to miss this opportunity?
September 5th, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON The Ministry of Transportation is getting better at informing people of road closures on the Skyway Bridge.
September 5th, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
I am writing in the spirit of goodwill, responsibility, and respect for the City of Burlington. I ask that you carefully review this complaint and take appropriate action to address the concerns raised. This note relates to the recent developments involving the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) and the Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club (GHAC).  Pam Pitz I am a Burlington resident and a 73-year-old grandmother with a lifelong love of sport, particularly swimming. Four of my grandchildren have swum with BAD, three of them quite recently. While I am not a BAD parent, I feel compelled to speak out due to the impact these developments have had on my family and Burlington’s broader swimming community. BAD has operated successfully in Burlington for more than 40 years as a not-for-profit club, supported by skilled coaches, committed volunteers, and strong community partnerships. Traditionally, the City allocated pool time sufficient for approximately 400 swimmers, with a residency requirement to ensure the vast majority were Burlington families. BAD has long been recognized as a trusted, well-run program dedicated to swimmer development and competitive opportunity. This year, when pool contracts were renewed, GHAC was allocated Burlington pool time. While competition between clubs can be healthy, I believe GHAC’s actions—and the City’s handling of the matter—raise serious concerns that require investigation. Elements of a Successful Swim Program
Concerns Regarding GHAC and Current Arrangements
While GHAC may suggest it can satisfy Burlington’s expectations by keeping Burlington-addressed swimmers in Burlington pools and directing swimmers from other communities elsewhere, this is unrealistic. Their recruitment has taken the total number of Burlington swimmers, between BAD and GHAC, to well beyond Burlington City capacity. Obviously, some will be displaced or be unfairly forced to swim outside of Burlington. In addition, as swimmers progress, they require higher-calibre coaching, stronger peer support, and access to the best facilities. Just as importantly, for a club to operate efficiently and effectively, senior swimmers must be consolidated under the highest-level coaches in the strongest facilities. Naturally, senior swimmers from both Burlington and beyond will migrate to train together at the City’s premier venues—particularly Centennial Pool. This pattern is consistent across all clubs: senior swimmers with similar needs inevitably come together at the strongest facility available. It will be impossible for the City to monitor or restrict this, yet the effect is clear: for every non-Burlington swimmer training here, a Burlington swimmer is also displaced. If GHAC truly had the swimmers best interests in mind, any Burlington resident expressing interest in competitive swimming over the last several years should have been referred to BAD in the first place — rather than bringing into the GHAC program and having them and their families endure inconvenient travel to training facilities outside of Burlington.
Community Impact: BAD, a community pillar for over four decades, is now at risk. Families are disheartened, children are leaving the sport, and Burlington’s swim culture is being eroded. This outcome serves no one—not the athletes, not the families, and not the City. Requested Action I respectfully ask the City of Burlington to conduct a thorough review/audit of this matter to ensure:
Closing This is not simply about pool time or BAD —it is about fairness, community, and the future of sport in Burlington. I strongly believe GHAC’s tactics, combined with the City’s approach, warrant a complete and independent review. The BAD contract, and I assume the GHAC one, has a clause that allows either party to cancel subject to a 90 day notice period. With this in mind, and the strength to do what is right, a reinstatement of BAD’s previous allotment of pool time is necessary to restore and preserve its longstanding position within Burlington and the overall swim community, and to give the swimmers confidence that they will have the protection and stability they deserve. GHAC’s approach and eventual encroachment into Burlington facilities is simply not acceptable.  Burlington needs an Olympic-level pool For transparency, in addition to filling a complaint to Swim Ontario based on their unique interests, I have copied this email to City Council, the Integrity Commissioner, the Burlington Sports Alliance, and other relevant stakeholders. There is concern among many sports clubs in Burlington and beyond that the current situation, if not remedied, will set a precedent detrimental to their sustainability. While I am reluctant to involve myself in controversial matters, there comes a time when one must act in the best interest of children, families, and the community. Therefore, I respectfully repeat my request that this matter receive the scrutiny it deserves. Thank you in advance for your attention. I trust you will act in the best interest of our athletes, families, and the sport of swimming.
September 5th, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
The Performing Arts Centre has created a Burlington Local Participation Program These are events or opportunities that are local in every sense of the word. They are an addition to the MainStage and Community Stage events – and they are usually less expensive. One of the events that come under the program is the Nutcracker Suite; a traditional event in the GTA – not sure about other parts of the province. Nutcracker Youth Participant Program gives young dancers the opportunity to perform with a professional dance company. They will interact with professional dancers and gain invaluable performance experience as they dance roles in Ballet Jörgens Dance: The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition About the PerformanceHoliday magic is made year after year by Ballet Jörgen’s traditional treasure The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition. Created by acclaimed choreographer and Artistic Director Bengt Jörgen to Tchaikovsky’s well-loved score, this delightful classic is a favourite that brings magic to the holidays. Born from a collaboration with Kleinburg’s world renowned McMichael Canadian Art Collection, and with well over 100 costumes in richly coloured fabrics, The Nutcracker: A Canadian Tradition brings out the magic of Canada. 20th Century landscapes make up the stunning 30-foot backdrops, including Franklin Carmichael’s Church and Houses at Bisset (1931), Tom Thompson’s Snow in the Woods (1916), and L.L. Fitzgerald’s Trees and Wildflowers (1922). This is a beautiful Canadian work, and audiences are taken on Klara’s familiar, magical dream journey as she arrives in Canada and experiences winter landscapes filled with snowflakes, lumberjacks, Mounties, and creatures of the woods.
 Jörgen’s Ballet: Photo by Jim Orgill Audition Registration is Open! Saturday, September 27: 9:30am-12:45pm Dancers cast in the production will learn their roles over the course of the audition weekend & then rehearse weekly on Sundays. Detailed schedule with live updates available here. Performances Tuesday, November 25 – 7:30pm Wednesday, November 26 – 7:30pm *Please note that the Wednesday afternoon show is part of our Education Series, and is not on sale to the general public
September 4th, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
It was an interesting development this week as India’s Modi, Russia’s Putin and North Korea’s Kim exchanged hugs and kisses with China’s president Xi. This unlikely group of (mostly) autocrats represents almost half of the world’s population, rapidly increasing economic power, and an enormous collection of massive war machines, collectively surpassing that of the USA, the G7 and NATO. Only Donald Trump was missing. For the first time in five generations, America is no longer the global leader which can command the respect of the global community. And the prognosis is sadly negative for the western coalition of the democratically minded – as third world nations look to China for leadership and support in their development aspirations. Trump cancelling US AID may have been the icing on the cake. It’s only been a few months since the US presidency changed, but America has already changed more than anyone could have imagined. Trump has broken with tradition and the inviolable US Constitution to put American armed soldiers on America’s streets.  Masked police officers on the Street of America arresting people.  Masked police officers are detaining people until they can be deported. His deportation policy echos the early days of the third Reich, as even legal immigrants are snatched from their homes, workplaces and the streets to be sent to concentration camps at home and abroad. He has raged Putin-like revenge on his political opponents, though apparently not assassinated any yet.  The Gaza Strip left in ruins by the Israelis with almost complete support from President Trump. Trump stupidly attacked America’s neighbours, friends and historical allies in a unilateral and unprovoked economic war. And his abandonment of what little the US was doing to curb Russian aggression in eastern Europe has branded him as an unreliable security partner. And finally his support for the ethnic cleansing ambitions of the Israeli fascist leadership reveals a man whose moral status is bankrupt, which should not be a surprise to anyone. This should all be very troubling to us in Canada, who have long felt secure in the belief that America was a like-minded adult in a world that occasionally goes berserk. It is clear Canada should no longer rely on the US to help us defend our homeland. In the end, we’re on our own. In that vein, we should argue for America, Hungary and Slovakia, to leave NATO unless they change their perspectives. Canada needs to seriously rethink all of its policies regarding American military supplies and defensive arrangements, including NORAD. We need to build and buy Canadian. We must learn to defend ourselves. There will be a significant cost – and we are going to have to find a way to pay for it. It may require military conscription of some sort, a discussion we need to have. And we need to face the global confrontations sooner, including Ukraine. The lessons of the Second World War are there to instruct us. We should look to Scandinavia and Poland, of late, for inspiration. They know that good fences make better neighbours.
Background links: America Collapsing Making US Foes Great Again Conspiring Against USA
September 4th, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Library reports on their Big Borrows stories which is now an annual tradition, as “we explore what Burlington readers are borrowing most from their public library. Now that our Kids Summer Reading Club is wrapped up for another year, it’s a great time to check our borrowing statistics to see what titles are tops with kids so far this year. Here’s what we found.” The BIGGEST Borrows There were 29 children’s titles borrowed at least 70 times, for a whopping 2,433 total borrows “We’re so impressed with the incredible enthusiasm our young customers have for reading this year! The breakdown of the most borrowed physical books (includes children’s fiction, graphic novels, children’s readers & pre-readers, and picture books) goes like this: five titles were borrowed 100 or more times; three titles were borrowed 90-99 times; six titles were borrowed 80-89 times; and 15 titles were borrowed 70-79 times—that’s 29 children’s titles borrowed at least 70 times, for a whopping 2,433 total borrows January through August! “And here’s the best thing: the kids exceeded last year’s numbers—by a lot. From January to August 2024, BPL members borrowed 37 children’s titles at least 50 times for 2,256 total borrows. In comparison, if we counted children’s physical titles borrowed at least 50 times since January 2025, they would number over 100, with nearly 6,800 total borrows. Wow! “Let’s take a look at the books that are inspiring these super-readers.” Top Children’s Fiction“Not surprisingly to us, Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series saw lots of check-out action, with Diary of a Wimpy Kid Double Down taking top spot with 125 borrows and Cabin Fever (tied with a Dav Pilkey graphic novel) at #3 with 103 borrows. Fifteen books by the author landed in the top 20 children’s fiction titles borrowed since January. “Respectfully removing Kinney’s titles from the list since they are always mega-hits with the kids, here are the most borrowed physical children’s fiction titles so far this year, each with 50 or more loans.” Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling The Wild Robot by Peter Brown Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling Geronimo Stilton. The Haunted Castle by Geronimo Stilton Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling Dork Diaries. Tales from a Not-so-Secret Crush Catastrophe by Rachel Renee Russell Diary of a Pug. Pug Blasts Off by Kyla May Dragon Masters. Power of the Fire Dragon by Tracey West Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling Dork Diaries. Tales from a Not-so-Happy Heartbreaker by Rachel Renee Russell The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling Magic Tree House. Soccer on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown
September 4th, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
While getting the Bateman Community hub to the point where the public can use the space has moved at glacial speed, the folks at the library have their act together.  Getting the books on the right shelves. Construction is almost complete on the relocated New Appleby Branch. Library staff are busy shelving books, creating displays, and preparing the branch for its upcoming opening day. A note on the name of the newest library. It is on New Street but it isn’t named New. The library ranch that is being replaced was known as the Appleby Branch. The addition to the library service that will be part of the Bateman Community Centre will be known as the New Appleby Branch September 15 is the first day of operations at the new branch at 5151 New Street. The branch will open at 9am, and you can enter through the front door of the community centre to access the library space. Starting October 1, the branch Program Room will be available to rent for interested individuals, non-profits, community groups or businesses. Check Out These Features
Sneak Peek! Row upon row  Book shelves clearly marked. We’re working hard to get the branch ready for opening day. Here’s a taste of what’s to come! Mark your calendar to visit New Appleby Branch starting Monday, September 15—we can’t wait to show you around your new neighbourhood branch!
By Gazette Staff September 4th, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON The Burlington Community Foundation (BCF) today announced a transformational gift commitment of $1 million from longtime Foundation supporters and Burlington residents Ralph and Susan Sgro.
Lindsay had an unmistakable enthusiasm for life that brought people together. Her deep love for the arts and the Burlington community remains a hallmark of her life and an enduring part of her legacy.  Lindsay (Sgro) Bridge “Through ‘Lindsay’s Loves,’ charitable causes that she championed will continue to be supported, with a special focus on providing children and youth with access to art programming,” Susan said. The fund will also support well-being for families and children. A dragonfly, the symbol of this legacy fund created by the Sgro family in Lindsay’s honour, beautifully reflects her spirit. Dragonflies represent change, inspire creativity, keep dreams alive, and remind us that anything is possible. “BCF guided us through this journey with compassion and thoughtfulness,” Ralph said. “They took the time to understand our vision and provided the support and structure we needed along the way. Through BCF, we were connected with many meaningful organizations that can now be supported through the Lindsay’s Loves Fund.”  The Sgro family The Sgros, retired owners of McDonald’s Restaurants in Burlington and Waterdown and current owner, their son Ryan Sgro, have long been generous supporters of charitable causes. Since 2007, the Sgros have been fundholders at BCF, with Susan serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors for six years, including a term as Chair from 2004-2006. In 2014, the couple was named Philanthropists of the Year by the Foundation. “We are honoured to receive this gift from the Sgro family and partner with them to honour the legacy of their beloved daughter, Lindsay,” said Megan Tregunno, Foundation CEO. “Thanks to their generosity, numerous children will benefit from access to activities that Lindsay loved.” The fund is expected to provide its first grant later this month.
September 4th, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Municipal spending seems to be a problem across the province. Niagara Region councilors voted down the largest ever grant request for a developer in the upper-tier municipality’s 55-year history — a $40-million request through the City of Welland. The request was made to build luxury condos which would have cost local taxpayers for many years.
“The denial of this request is a victory for Niagara taxpayers. It’s still very concerning watching a number of members of regional council support this project, in light of homeowners and businesses who have watched property taxes rise at multiples of inflation year-after-year while homeowner incomes have been rising at just the inflation rate (or less). As we see the number of people falling into arrears with their property tax increases, some tone deaf politicians continue to support giving millions of tax dollars to developers to build luxury homes. “The support by council members is despite the KPMG study which noted there was no evidence these grants/incentives generated any additional revenue for the municipality. Despite this some members of regional council continue to support these grants. Mayor Sisco, who has been a strong supporter for these grants, noted his internal finance staff were able to show these incentives generated a 220% return on investment. I”t is interesting and concerning the contrast between KPMG’s independent findings of no benefit and the city finance department’s findings of a 220% return. The City finance department is not independent and has a vested interest in seeing the development go forward. Mayor Sisco’s statement about a 220% return clearly lacks credibility. His vote in favour shows a shameful disregard for the people’s hard earned property tax dollars. “Mayor Sisco was the deciding vote in the largest ever property tax increase for the City of St. Catharines. Maybe before we start providing incentives/grants to developers for luxury homes, we should get our own internal finances under control. Maybe the Mayor of St. Catharines can have his finance staff figure out how to come up with a zero-budget increase for a change.” Burlington has its own issues with taxes that rise well above the rate of inflation.
September 3rd, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
In their 2024 Customer Satisfaction Survey, Burlington Public Library staff learned that one of the most common requests related to Library space was a need for quiet study or work areas. The request got turned into something real: an online system to book free meeting spaces at BPL.  Opens on the 15th of September Starting September 15, the existing workspaces will switch from first-come, first-served availability to online booking, allowing you to reserve your spot in advance. And we’re adding three brand-new spaces at our relocated New Appleby Branch! The work spaces include: Central Branch
New Appleby Branch – Relocated branch opens September 15
Tansley Woods Branch
Workspaces will be available to book up to seven days in advance. Due to the high demand for these spaces and to ensure equitable access for all library users, bookings are limited to four hours per week. If you require more time, please consider our room rental service, with rooms available at all branches for a small fee. New Workspaces at New ApplebyThe relocated New Appleby Branch in the Robert Bateman Community Centre (5151 New Street) will open on September 15—and we’re thrilled to welcome you to our new branch! Check out the photos below for a sneak peek at the new meeting rooms that will be free to book starting September 15.  Meeting Room A, near the entrance of New Appleby Branch.  A view of Meeting Room B, which will seat up to eight people. How to Book Free SpaceThe new booking system will make it easier and more convenient to access free workspaces for individual quiet study, virtual meetings, phone calls and group collaboration. To learn more, check out our web page on free workspaces.
September 3rd, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON  City Hall wants to hear from you. The City since 1998, this biannual survey helps Burlington staff and Council measure and improve quality of life and services and programs in the City. Burlington residents are invited to share their thoughts on life in the City. How to give your feedbackThird-party researchers will contact a statistically relevant sample of homes in each ward. A total of 750 telephone surveys will be completed, with a combination of land and cell phone numbers randomly called. The caller ID for the survey will show the text as “BurlON Survey”. Residents are also invited to complete an online version at Get Involved Burlington. This online survey gives residents whose telephone numbers were not chosen an opportunity to provide input. Residents are encouraged to take part online. The survey results will provide the City of Burlington and City Council with valuable insights on items such as:  Yes – just how will the results of the survey be used? And can we know who is doing the survey? Satisfaction with City services and quality of life in Burlington Value of City services for property taxes Preference on municipal property taxes: to increase, decrease or maintain How survey results will be usedCity of Burlington residents share their feedback in many ways year-round. The Community Survey is one important source of feedback that helps inform City business plans, communication initiatives and public engagement programs, budget and spending decisions, and strategic focus areas. The Community Survey also provides the opportunity for benchmarking and to monitor progress of community responses compared to previous years. The most recent Community Surveys were completed in 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. The Community Survey is now conducted every two years. 2023 Community Survey Results Key Highlights
The full 2023 results and results of past Community Surveys can be found at Burlington.ca/CommunitySurvey. The running of a survey has to be put into context. The tax increases for the past four years shown below, set out how much it has cost for the services that are provided. If people are prepared to pay for the services they are getting, they should at least know what it is costing.  A 44% plus cumulative tax increase is hard to swallow when inflation is at just over 2%. The city has some explaining to do as to why this was necessary.
August 3rd, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
 The Naval Ships’ Memorial Monument in Spencer Smith Park was unveiled on May 14, 1995, marking the 50th anniversary of VE Day and honouring those lost at sea during the Second World War. The monument was funded by public donations and is dedicated to the memory of Canadian naval and merchant navy personnel and ships lost during the war. The Armed Services are recognized annually – Remembrance Day was created for that purpose. The Merchant Marine will be remembered today at a short ceremony at the Memorial in Spencer Smith Park. The statute of a seaman stands atop the memorial. On the north side there is a list of all the merchant ships that were lost. These are the ships that carried the supplies that Great Britain relied upon to feed the British people during the war. Seventy-five ships were lost.  The names of the merchant ships lost during WWII are listed on the north side of the monument.
September 3rd, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Andrea Grebenc had some cogent comments on why school board trustees are needed and what they have done, but, other than pressing the local MPP to urge the government to leave well enough alone there wasn’t much in the way of concrete steps parents could take.  Natalie Pierre speaking in the provincial legislature. The problem is that Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre is part of the problem. Photo ops and toeing the party line covers the job she does. She doesn’t really have the support of the community – squeaked in by less than 50 votes during the April election. During the Grebenc interview we expressed some concern about nothing in the way of a statement from the HDSB trustee chair. Grebenc explained that the Board doesn’t meet in the summer and now meets just once a month. Fair enough, the Board will meet sometime, hopefully soon. We asked if Grebenc planned on delegating on the mater. She explained that the rules are that you can delegate on issues on the agenda. There is provision to waive that rule but the trustees have to approve a request to delegate by a majority vote. One would think that as a former Board chair they would permit a delegation. The trustees serve on a number of committees – the audit committee, one that Grebenc has never served on. There is a Discipline Committee – they review decisions on suspending a student on behavior issues. Why have trustees not spoken up? They fear repercussions and they don’t want to have to put up with social media blow back.  Grebenc serving as Chair of the School Board. Grebenc also explained that the province determines what the budget is going to be. Once the board has a budget they decide what they can do and what might have to be cut. Salaries eat up more than 80% of the budget – not much left to squabble about. Two areas where the trustees in Burlington have been effective is special education and French immersion. There was a major battle to get additional funds allocated to Special Education and the baord view prevailed. One of the really strong programs is the Baccalaureate program. It is a very popular and well attended program in Oakville. Burlington has its version of the program but it isn’t as well attended as the Oakville offering. We have already reported on our efforts to get a statement from current Chair Amy Collard. Other than saying there had not been a response Collard had nothing to say. What was particularly disappointing with the Collard response is how effective she was when the Board decided that two of the five high schools had to be closed.  Amy Collard staring at then Director of Education Stuart Miller when the Board was debating the closure of Burlington high schools. Collard was withering in her questioning of the Director of Education Stuart Miller. She managed to have the decision to close Bateman High school moved back by to years. For reasons that I’ve been able to discern Amy Collard just gave up and it looks as if the government has given up on the concept of school board representing the interests of the community. School Board and City Council are as local as you can get. Once you loose it – it will be very hard to get it back. The Minister of Education doesn’t see it that way. Education Minister Paul Calandra calling the way school boards operate a “very old model” and promising to announce changes before the end of the year. He has already started looking at other options, including getting rid of elected trustees. “The work they’re doing right now, they will not be doing in the future — there is absolutely no way,” Calandra told the Toronto Star in an interview. “The model just has to be updated, one way or another.”  Paul Calandra: “..school boards operate a “very old model”. He added: “any change that I do make with respect to trustees, it will be accompanied by a very robust mechanism” for parents to “have their voices heard if there is an issue that they need to have addressed with their child in the school.” The revamp “is all about making it better for students, parents and teachers,” he said. Critics warn that eliminating elected trustees won’t solve any problems — and could create a whole set of new ones. They point to places like PEI or New Brunswick, where trustees were reinstated after public outcry, or Nova Scotia, where they are set to make a return after the education centres that took over their work left families feeling shut out of the system. This story isn’t over.
September 2nd, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
They are back to school starting tomorrow. Students don’t always look where they are going and drivers have to get used to more people crossing streets and on their bicycles.  At crosswalks – this is a very dumb thing to do. To the parents: remind your children that walking and looking at the cell phone can be very dangerous.
September 2nd, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Bruce Leigh is a frequent commenter on the Gazette. He recently said the following in response to an article we published on an individual who was expressing an interest in running for office. A link to that article appears below. You quote a potential maybe candidate as saying:- “I do think – as I said in our meeting – that our Representative Democracy is meant to elect representatives, not leaders.” That was the original concept of our democracy. But with the advent of party politics at federal and provincial government levels the elected representative is above all chosen because of the party’s policy platform and so must toe that line whether or not the constituents like it or not At municipal government level the councilor is the true representative not being party affiliated. The Mayor is the elected leader.  Kearns. “She does not take up fights on behalf of constituents if they do not align with her beliefs or more importantly to her, with her career path.” I tend to agree with your maybe potential candidate in the case of Ward 2 Councilor Lisa Kearns. She does not take up fights on behalf of constituents if they do not align with her beliefs or more importantly to her, with her career path. How representative is Focus Burlington of the city’s 190,000 residents? How many residents are signed up as members of Focus Burlington? Just because a few residents get together and form a group and then become noisy that does not make them representative of residents as a whole. It’s noise should be no more valuable than a single individual’s noise. In the article underneath a photo, there’s a caption that says “Delegations don’t feel they are heard”. That feeling is probably there because the vibe coming back from City Council is that they’re doing what they are required to do (i.e listen to residents’ delegations) and then they will do what they want to do.  Delegates feel they have a valid argument or position and when it is not accepted they get upset and say they are not being heard. But also delegates are like most humans. They feel they have a valid argument or position and when it is not accepted they get upset and say they are not being heard. Just because you or I get up and make a delegation which is then not accepted or acted up on by Council does not necessarily mean Council did not hear us. Wayne’s comment here exemplifies this. “Note that when citizens speak up and see little to no adjustment from City Hall, apathy sets in.” Just because you take and voice an opinion does not make it the right position nor are you necessarily representative of the majority of residents Wayne, you have options. Stand to be elected for office, or volunteer to work for someone standing that you can support, Sharon, you want MMW and a majority of Council replaced. Easy to say. Have you identified who you would replace them with? Are you going to stand for election? Standing on the sidelines whining is not an option if you really want to make change happen. If the 2026 election turnout is a repeat of the 2022 election (26%) and the majority of Councilors are re-elected it would seem to say residents are not as bothered by decisions made at City Hall as you are. Newslink:
September 2nd, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
“Trustees are not ceremonial figures,” said Grebenc, who served eight years as trustee and four as chair. “They are elected officials with legislated responsibilities under Ontario’s Education Act — responsibilities that directly affect students every day.” Trustees’ core duties include prioritizing student achievement and well-being, developing and monitoring policies, exercising fiduciary and resource stewardship, overseeing the Director of Education, representing and communicating with their communities, and serving on mandatory committees such as Special Education and Audit. “These responsibilities translate into real decisions — from ensuring resources reach children with special needs, to holding boards accountable through audits, to shaping policies that reflect local community values,” Grebenc added. Trustees Hold Governments Accountable Trustees have repeatedly brought forward community voices when government announcements lacked evidence. In 2019, Halton trustees raised alarms about the government’s plan to move 25,000 children with autism into public schools with almost no notice and no resources. Their advocacy sparked protests and forced the province to back down. That same year, when the province proposed larger class sizes and mandatory eLearning, Halton trustees organized one of the largest community consultations in Ontario. Nearly 7,000 parents responded, overwhelmingly rejecting the plan. The report was cited in Question Period, and the government scaled back its proposals. “This is a clear pattern,” said Grebenc. “The province makes sweeping changes without evidence, and trustees are the ones who analyze the local impact on schools, student achievement, and well-being. Without trustees, these changes go unchallenged.” Concerns About Unelected Supervisors Grebenc also raised concerns about unelected supervisors appointed by the province to oversee boards.  Andrea Grebenc: “Education is a government service meant to be comprehensive, effective, and equitable.” “The supervisors currently in place overwhelmingly come from financial and legal backgrounds, not education. They are paid exorbitant amounts, yet deliver no clear outcomes or benefits over the democratic system already in place,” said Grebenc. “Education is a government service meant to be comprehensive, effective, and equitable. With a calculated 30 per cent return on investment, weakening the system through political appointments should concern every Ontarian.” Trustees Defend Communities Trustees are often the most effective line of defence against short-sighted provincial priorities. The province has already shown interest in selling off prime school land to developers without considering long-term needs. “Eliminating trustees would not solve Ontario’s education challenges,” said Grebenc. “It would silence local voices, weaken accountability, and turn schools into political assets rather than places of learning. Trustees fight for students, families, and communities. Without them, public education would lose its vital connection to the people it is meant to serve.” We will be interviewing Grebenc later today. When she was Chair of the HDSB she was very effective.
September 2nd, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Students in the Region of Halton return to classes tomorrow. Today, the teachers are working on a Professional Development day. The Halton Wentworth (Hamilton) students returned to class today. I’ve never understood why teachers take time at this critical point in the school year – but they do. Attached to this article is the school calendar for the HDSB. In August, we published a piece from Brock University on the bullying we are seeing in schools. There is a link to that article.
Parents now need to look for signs that their children are facing new and different pressures. Social media has changed the way they interact with each other. It is now so terribly easy for one child to hurt another with words they type out. The academics have taught us how to recognize the signs – use what we have been taught. It is more important now than ever before that we keep ourselves open to our children; listen to them, let them know that you are there as a parent. I often hear parents say “My child is one of my best friends” – children have dozens of friends – they have just the two parents. Be a parent first. Links: Brock University on how to combat bullying
September 2, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Mark Carney never actually promised that he’d get rid of Trump’s tariffs. He said he’d deal with Trump and build Canada-strong but he knew that Trump was determined to apply tariffs on all of America’s trading partners. And Carney has conceded that some level of American tariffs on Canadian goods and services is inevitable. He also knows that coping with this massive trade disruption we’re experiencing is going to be challenging. And it may be even worse next year. The USMCA agreement which still allows Canada to export most goods tariff-free expires next year. And given the US president’s feelings about tariff-free trade, the chances of a renewal are slim.  The choice of re-building our economy or becoming the 51st state. So it is up to us to reinvent the Canadian economy, turning the clock back to a time when Canada was largely self sufficient in how we earned our livelihood. Those would be the days we made things like white goods, guitars and pianos, textiles and leather clothing. Those were the days before we allowed Brian Mulroney and subsequent political leaders to sell us out to the Americans. And now we face the inevitable – the choice of re-building our economy or become the 51st state. There was a reason why Trump used that phrase. If tariffs are good for big economies, like the USA, they are even more important for the sustainability and perseverance of their smaller neighbours, like Canada. In fact, as Mr. Trump will find out eventually, big economies benefit even more from greater access to international markets. But that door is rapidly closing for him as he alienates his allies and friends,  Realigning the Canadian economy is going to take time. We will be a stronger, more independent nation. Carney’s decision to take down most of the retaliatory tariffs is a recognition that, with a few exceptions, they dampen economic activity in the short run. It’ll take time for the result of policies geared towards import substitution to kick in. In the meantime Carney’s job is to stick-handle the economy and the tenuous relationship he has with Mr. Trump. Leader of the opposition, Mr. Poilievre, has voiced his concern that it looks like retreat. And our PM has made significant concessions to American negotiators in the hope of getting a deal in Canada’s favour. His plan is to cooperate rather than resist. But the puck is still on the ice. Elbows up.
Background link:
September 1st, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
 The situation is workable sometimes, but messy. Since single-event wagering got the green light in 2021, the market has shifted fast—maybe faster than regulators planned for. What looked like a simple yes to betting turned into a maze of provincial rules, fees, and enforcement styles that don’t always match. Some provinces opened doors. Others kept the locks on. International platforms are left threading a needle between licenses, gray zones, and gaps in national policy. The situation is workable sometimes, but messy. Provincial licensing: the operational maze Did the paperwork, paid the checks, and got in. Not cheaply, and not casually. Here’s the crux: every province plays by its book. Different taxes, different audits, different “do this, not that.” Ontario is the clear outlier with a structured, open program for private operators. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM—names you’d expect—did the paperwork, paid the checks, and got in. Not cheaply, and not casually. Elsewhere, the approach is entirely unique. British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec—government-run platforms rule the roost, such as PlayNow and Espacejeux. This forces a choice for sport betting canada operators: try for limited, pricey licenses where they exist, or risk the awkward “is this allowed?” lane in provinces without them. Getting coverage across the whole country requires managing several playbooks at once. Gray market use and uneven enforcementPlenty of Canadians still click into offshore sites. The legality of these sites varies depending on who you ask. They’re not explicitly authorized by provinces, and federal rules are not exactly crystal clear either. Some regulators push hard. Others appear to have bigger worries. That limbo cuts both ways. Players may get weak consumer protections or no real dispute process. If money vanishes, getting help is difficult. Operators, on the other hand, may face reputational hits and possible penalties later—even if enforcement today feels light. It’s a risk calculation, not a free pass. Consumer protection isn’t one-size-fits-all
Age checks add to the complications. In some provinces it’s 18, in others 19; cooling-off periods and deposit limits also shift by province. That means duplicate systems, more cost, and fewer economies of scale than operators might expect in a unified market. This is annoying. For now, it is necessary. Sports integrityOn match-fixing and integrity, Canada mostly relies on general fraud and conspiracy laws. That likely covers many scenarios, but not all, and it leaves operators guessing where the hard lines are. Compared with places that spell out sports bribery and data misuse in detail, Canada is lighter on specifics. So platforms build their own playbooks: data monitoring, suspicious bet alerts, cooperation with leagues. This approach works to a point. Lower-tier events and cross-border competitions are trickier, where the signals are fuzzier and oversight changes. The lack of a uniform standard makes “good enough” hard to define.  Advertising:these can change from province to province and, occasionally, mid-season. Marketing rules and age checks: moving targets Advertising is another patchwork. Celebrity endorsements, bonus offers, placement rules—these can change from province to province and, occasionally, mid-season. Brands trying to grow quickly may find themselves rewriting campaigns more than they expected. Verification follows the same pattern. Different legal ages, different proof, different timelines. The tech can handle it, but seamless onboarding takes a hit when every region tweaks the checklist. Now, many apps are available on both Android and iOS.  The entire industry is regulated by provincial authorities in Canada, adding layers of complexity to the compliance process. What this all adds up to
September 1st, 2025 BURLINGTON, ON
Whenever the ADI Development Group is in the news, it usually isn’t a pretty story.  Early rendering of Nautique, an ADI development. This time, it was a court case that they won. They are permitted to buy out their partner, Morgan Investments Group Inc. (MIG) MIG partnered with ADI to get the Nautique, a development through the final stages of development at Lakeshore Road and Martha. That development was a pivotal item that resulted in high rise towers being developed south of Fairview in the city. Denise Baker, a lawyer with one of the best law firms in the development business convinced the then OMB that a transit station on John Street was part of a transit system that was needed to justify a high rise tower. The transit station was not much more than a transfer point where passengers could transfer from one bus line to another and purchase bus tickets. The city has since closed the station and will, at some point in the near probably, tear it down. Baker did a superb job – my only regret was that I wasn’t in the room to hear her plead the case. The Nautique decision was one of the events that brought an end to Rick Goldring serving as Mayor.  The development ran into every possible problem: the pandemic didn’t help. A Superior Court Judge recently ruled that Adi Development Group can buy out its business partner on Burlington’s Nautique waterfront condo, for about $18.4 million. It was a bitter battle for control of the site. The Morgan Investments Group Inc., an investment firm led by Nigel Morgan, and Adi Development Group, led by Tariq Adi, came together in 2014 to build the 25-storey, 254-unit project. Unit sales did not go particularly well. The project also made headlines in late 2022.  The early marketing included prices that will not, if ever, be seen again. After complaints from buyers that they were asked to pay more than they originally agreed for units, and told they would have their purchase agreements cancelled if they refused, Adi Morgan Development Group (Lakeshore) Inc. paid a $60,000 penalty and $2.6 million to purchasers as part of a settlement with the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA). The dispute landed in civil court earlier this month, with the two parties disagreeing even on whether the project was completely finished, and each one looking to buy out the other and end the relationship. The parties were deadlocked and unable to make decisions on, among other things, the price of the remaining 54 unsold units. The building faced COVID delays and then the collapse of the condo market. Morgan’s camp thought the units were overpriced, Adi’s said they had responded to the market with a good pricing strategy.  The ADI brothers. They were new to Burlington in 2000. Their first development on Guelph Line was a low-rise structure that proved to be popular. Morgan’s legal team had asked for a “shotgun” sale, a mechanism where one or more of the shareholders buys out the shares of another. Morgan had also wanted to see Adi replaced as the exclusive listing agent, and to add a third board member. In the August 27th decision, Justice William Black ruled that Adi could buy out Morgan, for about $18.4 million. The justice found there was oppression on both sides, a legal term that basically means they were unfair to each other — Adi said Morgan bought out a loan without his knowledge to gain the upper hand, and Morgan said Adi did not share enough financial information and decision-making with him. “This was a just outcome and a spectacular victory for us,” said Justin Nasseri, one of Adi’s lawyers. “ADI has steered the ship to safety. Its focus will be on homeowners and customers and delivering value to them while we sell the balance of the units,” he added. Morgan Investment Group declined to provide a comment on the decision. On the justice’s finding of oppression, Nasseri said Adi “acted in good faith and ethically at all times.” The unravelling of the relationship in court offered a glimpse behind the scenes into the tough conversations developers are having across the GTA, as the condo market falters. The Toronto-area average condo price dropped to $615,000 in July, the lowest in four years.
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By Gazette Staff
By Gazette Staff
By Pam Pitz
Some of the following issues fall within Swim Ontario’s jurisdiction and unique interests. However, the comments and nuances contained in my separate communication to Swim Ontario, ]which are shared below, are important for the City to consider, since municipal pool allocation decisions directly affect fairness, community impact, and the long-term viability of Burlington based programs. GHAC’s actions may be inconsistent with the usual Swim Ontario sanctioning protocols for regional expansion and for hosting meets outside a club’s traditional home base.
Residency Requirement: At the time of renewal, 79% of BAD’s swimmers were Burlington residents—slightly under the 85% target but within historical fluctuations. Reduced pool time has since forced enrolment down from nearly 400 to 163 swimmers, although this number fluctuates, especially in the face of uncertainty. GHAC, by comparison, had only 28% Burlington residents yet was reportedly given months of flexibility to improve its numbers. Applying the residency rule unevenly disadvantaged BAD while benefiting GHAC.
Swim Meet Sanctioning: Nelson Pool has been awarded to GHAC for an outdoor swim meet— historically a BAD signature event (14+ years), drawing clubs from across Ontario and beyond (e.g. Newfoundland and Mexico). It serves as a key fundraiser supported by hundreds of Burlington volunteers and is a source of tourism for the City. GHAC’s efforts to secure this event, despite Burlington not being its traditional home base, appear to be a further calculated step in consolidating its presence in the City. If sanctioned by Swim Ontario, this would severely undermine BAD’s ability to sustain its operations.
By Gazette Staff
By Ray Rivers
Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
By Gazette Staff
By Gazette Staff
These funds will support a new donor-advised fund, the Lindsay’s Loves Fund, created in honour of the Sgro’s late daughter, Lindsay (Sgro) Bridge, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 44.
In a report from the PTA we learn that”
Former Halton District School Board Chair Andréa Grebenc is warning that recent signals from Education Minister Paul Calandra and the Premier about removing elected school board trustees would silence community voices, weaken accountability, and widen the opening for inequities and privatization in Ontario’s education system.
By Pepper Parr
The students in our schools face a much different social environment and challenges that didn’t exist a decade ago.
By Laura Fuerte
Without a single national standard, safety rules jump around. Ontario leans heavy on responsible gambling tools, audits, and clear disclosures. Other provinces, especially where government platforms dominate, may apply a simpler set of checks—some would say too simple. The result is that international platforms end up building different versions of the same product just to stay compliant.