 By Pepper Parr
September 14, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
How did this manage to happen?
Two of the more significant community events scheduled for the same day at basically the same time?
 Amazing Bed Race – doing its 6th Annual event – same day as the Terry Fox Run The 6th annual Amazing Bed Race on Brant Street in downtown Burlington, Sunday, September 20, 11am-3pm.
The Burlington Terry Fox Run course is a 5km or 10km loop long the beach and Spencer Smith Park. The start and finish are at the Pavilion at Beachway Park on Lakeshore Rd. Runners for 5km and 10km start at 9:00am. Everyone else starts at 10:00am. Registration opens for runners at 8:00am.
We have food, music, a raffle, balloons and tattoos, and even dog treats. Joins us for a run or walk and a great party atmosphere. It is a great day for a run or just a family day to remember Terry Fox and keep his dream alive.
The Amazing |Bed Race has people who formed teams, decorated a bed and race up Brant Street trying to beat a clock – it’s great fun
 Burlingtonians have been doing the \Terry Fox Run for 35 years. Raised close to $1 million. The Terry Fox isn’t so much great fun – it is a time of reflection and celebration for the thousands of people who show up – the way they have for the past 35 years.
It is a true pity that the two groups were not aware of the conflicting dates.
A person could cover both events – it would be a bit of a dash to get from one to the other.
Better planning would have made a difference.
 By Pepper Parr
September 14, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward brought her constituents up to day on the accident she was involved in that resulted in both whiplash and a serious concussion.
One SUV hit her van and forced her into the rear of another SUX. The driver of the car that hit Meed |Ward was charged with careless driving. The Meed Ward van was written off.
 Even at 95% recovery from a concussion Meed Ward will keep her council colleagues on their toes. Meed Ward explained that at the time she thought it was a “relatively minor accident, and I was more annoyed than anything. But the next day, at the urging of friends, I attended a walk-in clinic because I felt something wasn’t right. I learned I had sustained whiplash, and tissue damage in my back.
“Worse, I was diagnosed with concussion. The double impact had snapped my head forward and back with such force my brain hit my skull on both sides – a common injury for this type of motor vehicle accident.
“The result: headache, sensitivity to light and sound, extreme fatigue, nausea. The feeling like your head is full of sawdust.”
Meed Ward said – “There is no permanent damage in my case. And the only cure is rest, lots of it.”
Rest isn’t something Meed Ward is very good at – she was writing her constituency newsletter at 4:30 in the morning. She did however take the doctor’s advice after “she told me I could either rest over the summer and be fully recovered by the fall, or maintain my usual pace and delay my recovery by six months to a year. So I took the summer off.”
“I’m 95% recovered, with a few remaining physiotherapy and concussion appointments. I expect to be fully recovered very soon. The goal is to be symptom free while maintaining my usual work pace”
We will look forward to another of her requests for a recorded vote on an issue – this city council never tells the public how members of Council voted at Standing Committee meetings. They record the vote at a city Council meeting, which is where the actual decision is made but the way each council member actually voted is not recorded – so much for accountability.
 By Staff
September 14, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Dozens of art ventures will appear on the Old Lakeshore Road, immediately outside, adjacent to and across the road from Emma’s Back Porch the evening of Friday, September 18th beginning at 7 pm – the installations will be in place until just after midnight and then disappear just as quickly as they appeared.
It will be a Supernova – a now annual event that began in 2013 at the Waterfront Hotel where new ground was broken in the Burlington arts world.
Year two for what is known as No Vacancy, which is given a different title each year took place at the Village Square when 3500 people showed up. Fortunately the Fire Marshal wasn’t aware of the crowd – he might have shut the event down.
During the next few days the Gazette will tell you a little bit about each participant – there are about 20+ of them – all up for one enchanting evening.
We start with:
Teresa Seaton is working with Tomy Bewick
 Teresa Seaton creates highly original, dynamic Stained Glass for galleries and private commissions. Her uniquely sculptural work is a trademark; featuring multi layers of panels and glass with spun wire incorporated as a structural element and design accent. Teresa Seaton studied Graphic Design at Sheridan College and obtained the degree, BFA in drawing and sculpture from York University. Her career in design led her to positions as Senior Designer, Associate Creative Director and Creative Director with clients from Toronto to New York. Teresa studied the craft of stained glass with Paul Beatty and has operated as a full time artist since 2010. In 2007 she became chair for Art in Action. She helped define Art in Action Burlington Studio Tour as a go to cultural event that showcases many talented local artists and artisans and brings a growing number of art lovers to the community. In 2013 she opened her Studio & Gallery in Burlington. As well as giving her a place to showcase her own artwork she has opened her Gallery to other Canadian artists by showcasing them for two months at a time.
teresaseaton.ca/
Juliana LaChance focuses on avante garde themes
 Juliana LaChance is a Hamilton based painter specializing in original acrylic, multimedia art of contemporary, avant garde themes.
Her paintings and art have been exhibited throughout southern Ontario and her work can be found on instagram, facebook, tumblr, youtube.
She has produced four solo albums that you can listen to on her youtube channel by searching Juliana Lachance
She works in a small, cozy studio where she records, creates and paints her heart out in Hamilton, ON
julianalachance.com
Courtney Lee is a newcomer to this art form – works in water colour on Yuppo paper.
 Courtney Lee is a Toronto based Artist. She has only recently begun to paint professionally with her first show in the summer of 2014. She works in watercolour on Yupo paper, two materials that are both very demanding, but when combined have an organic chemistry that blossoms into something bold and playful. She pairs these bold, colourful paintings with layers of intricate geometric paper cuts creating an intriguing juxtaposition of colour and shape, in other words “contained chaos”. These paintings are an expression of her interest in natural science and the beauty found in organic forms. For Courtney, The ultimate example of these organic forms for is the nebula and the creation of stars in space. The geometric context that she gives these spontaneous paintings refers to her interest in sacred geometry (such as the Fibonacci sequence) which is the lens through which she tries to understand the mysteries of unexplored space.
Jefferson Campbell-Cooper has been featured in Nuit Blanche Toronto twice
 From drawing to sculpture to performance, artist Jefferson Campbell-Cooper’s works navigate the changing world around us. His practice includes such projects as collecting recycling for the City of Toronto with home-made machines, transforming a tourist train into a subway using sound installation, and developing large-scale social mapping projects with the cities of Windsor, Kitchener, and Toronto. Campbell-Cooper has been featured in Nuit Blanche Toronto twice, and is part of the public collections of the City of Kitchener and the University of Guelph. Numerous residencies have led to site specific projects in New Mexico, the Yukon, Newfoundland and Connecticut. Exhibiting internationally, he most recently completed projects in Athens, and Geneva. He received his BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, and MFA from the Meadows School of the Arts, Dallas, Texas.
jeffersonsculpture.com
Mary Ma’s work explores landscape phenomenology.
 Working primarily in video projection, installation, sculpture, and sound, Ma’s work explores landscape, phenomenology, and moments of contact within collective experience. She has exhibited at the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival (Toronto), Place Gallery (Portland OR), and recently presented a solo exhibition at Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects (Toronto). Upcoming exhibitions include Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2015, and CAFKA’s 2016 Biennial in Kitchener Ontario. Ma holds a BFA in Sculpture and Installation from OCAD University.
More work can be found on her website at www.maryma.ca
Judy Graham is a multi-media artist who has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally.
 Judy Graham is a multi-media artist who has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally. Currently, her drawings can be seen at Artspace Gallery in Buffalo, N.Y. Judy’s projects have been reviewed in such publications as The Globe and Mail, The St. Catharines Standard, Now, and Artvoice. Ms. Graham teaches in the Visual Arts Department, Marilyn Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University.
There are more – tune in tomorrow.
 By Staff
September 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
 Are Burlingtonians fairly taxed – on reader doesn’t think so. The comments section of the Gazette usually has boisterous debate – several of them write far too long but those that participate in the comments return again and again.
This came in earlier today. A reader said:
Toronto Star, on September 5, published a Home of the Week. It is located in North York, 3,300 sq. ft, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. with a pool, and a toboggan hill. It sold for $1,729,000.
Taxes are $5,747. I have a small, frame, 1,509 sq ft bungalow in Burlington, assessed at $709,000 which pays $14,433 (including BIA and a commercial surcharge).
Even assuming that 1/3 of my tax is commercial, my Burlington property pays almost double the rate of a North York property valued at much more than double my valuation. This is crazy.
Why should it cost over 4 times as much here as in Toronto?
Interesting question. Our reader should pull the belt in another notch – you are likely to be taxed even more next time around,
 By Ray Rivers
September 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Each week between now and the day we all vote, October 19th, Ray Rivers is going to give Gazette readers his take on how the election is going. The week that was will appear every Monday morning.
This was the week of the the ‘Mansbridge Moments’, the CBC’s National program of interviews with the leaders of the three main parties, and the Green Party’s Elizabeth May. Much as with the candidate debates, a rarity despite this exceptionally long campaign, the winners and losers will be found in the eyes of the beholders.
 Stephen Harper – on the ropes today – but don’t sell this man short. I thought Mr. Harper looked tired, and resigned to the fact that his party has now dropped clearly into third place. A new air of humility, possibly him test-marketing the new Tory strategy, ‘Harper’s not perfect’, was in play. However, after his opining about the consequences of a Tory loss, one would be pressed to doubt his sincerity.. Mr. Harper has also parked his old campaign team and embraced a new hired gun to save his failing campaign. Perhaps that announcement alone was behind his strengthened numbers as the week closed.
The ‘Wizard of Oz’, as he is called is responsible for the winning campaigns of David Cameron in the UK and Tony Abbot in the Wizard’s own native Australia. He will have his work cut out for him to effect a mid-campaign correction for Mr. Harper, however. After all, this was a campaign meant to highlight the PM’s strengths as a man of principle, an accomplished economist and a purveyor of security. But that was before the Duffy fiasco, the economy hitting the skids, and the messy refugee crisis.
Topical columnist Margaret Wente has called him toast, what we do with stale bread. And Michael Coren took the time to write a column to let the world know that he couldn’t possibly vote for Harper because he is not a real Christian. After all Christians are supposed to steward the planet and pay regard for the meek who will inherit it.
 Seem by many as a smart strategic thinker who adds value to the House of Commons – and thinks she might end up holding the balance of power on the day after the election. Elizabeth May unveiled the most progressive policy agenda of the campaign. Free tuition, national high speed rail, the end of fossil fuels, and global leadership on climate change – what’s not to like? But then she knows she won’t be PM this time around. So she might as well be promising us perfect beauty and eternal life, oh and a place in Mr. Coren’s Heaven for the PM. May sees herself as a match maker, as a kind of Lava-Life or, dare I say, Ashley Madison; who can mediate the two left-wing parties into an unorthodox alliance – a same-sex marriage of sorts.
And Mr. Mulcair has sworn to wait for ever at the altar, though Mr. Trudeau would need to be dragged screaming. What unites these three opposition parties is their determination to end Harper’s reign. And they are not alone, the Bloc’s Gilles Duceppe and another sixty plus percent of Canadians feel the same way.
There are significant policy differences for the two leading opposition parties, despite agreement on restricting tax free savings, enriching the Canada Pension Plan, killing income splitting, and saving the environment. Still, though Mulcair is promoting his $15 day-care plan, the balance of his socio-economic program, so far, looks a lot like what Mr. Harper has been doing. His commitment to balance his first budget as Canada goes into recession, without even knowing what the real numbers are, looks a lot like risky business.
Mulcair didn’t have a good answer for how he’d get his agenda, including abolishing the Senate, past a potentially hostile Senate. And he hasn’t even got a lick of NDP in the red chamber to plead his case. Then there is the 50.1% vote he claims he’d accept for Quebec’s separation. A legacy of the Layton era, maintaining this promise is disingenuous to Quebecers and the rest of Canada, given the decision of the Supreme Court and his own history fighting against separatism.
 NDP leader Tom Mulcair asks a question during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, on Monday, May 14, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick) Unlike Mr. Harper he was upbeat and positive in his Mansbridge monument, something one would expect from someone leading in the polls. But he seemed to smile too much, likely to compensate for criticism of bearing a too-serious, almost dower, natural pose. But at least the smiling did detract from the fur on his face, which every woman I know thinks he should shave. But he was articulate, thoughtful and engaging enough to make people want to like him, even if they’ve never trusted his party before.
Mr Trudeau was enthusiastic to the point of being almost bouncy. It is hard not to think of the ‘not ready’ ad the Tories have been running, but then we should understand that his age is but a stone’s throw from that of Obama, JFK or his own father when they were first elected. And Mr. Harper, who became PM in his mid forties, is the proverbial pot calling the kettle.… Recall that though PET governed us sternly throughout the FLQ crisis, he also played – for example, doing those famous pirouettes or that ‘fuddle cuddle’ thing..
Trudeau promised to reverse the growing concentration of power in the prime minister’s office, a trend his father had initiated in order to improve the work of government. The alternative is a government which runs the risk of contradiction and in-fighting. While Harper is a control freak, it is the cloak of secrecy and reign of terror he has cast over the entire public service that is so damaging. Demoralized and overworked staff are behind the recent failures in the immigration department, for example.
Like Harper, Trudeau’s not perfect. He miscalculated in offering limited support for the Tories’ police state legislation, Bill C-51. It was a political gamble which cost him support both within and outside of his party, possibly one of the reasons for his decline in popularity after having led the polls for most of last year. He claims he’ll fix that though.
 The country watched as another Trudeau headed towards the leadership of a political party He is bold, and boldness is on the other side of stale toast. Voters want change in this election. Ms. May could be the outlier of that change, but Trudeau is a close second, staking out some new ground by offering to re-balance the income tax act in favour of the middle class. He has gone where no one else has gone by embracing a deficit needed to build badly needed infrastructure and grow the Canadian economy out of its recession.
As a consequence his party has bounced back and is now firmly in the second spot of this tight three-way race. Apparently Mr. Mulcair has more goodies up his sleeve and both opposition leaders are promising a fully costed policy platform before balloting time. And then there will be all that new wizardry from the Harper camp.
 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:
Christian Thing to d Toast
Mansbridge Moments Polls The Wizard of Oz More Wizard
Harper Not Perfect
 By Pepper Parr
September 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The city’s Development and Infrastructure Standing Committee won’t be holding a day time session this time around – there doesn’t appear to be all that much happening on the development side of things – is that good news? Because there are all kinds of projects in the works.
The agenda for the Standing Committee meeting, which takes place t 6:30 pm on the 14th is as follows:
On the Consent Agenda there are the following:
Report recommending approval of a variance to the Sign By-law to permit a fascia sign at 3365 Fairview Street.
Report recommending dissolution of the Flood Disaster Relief Committee.
 The city doesn’t want the public feeding these critters – staff report has some recommendations – will the public go along with them On the Regular Agenda there is the one item:
Report recommending options regarding the feasibility of a by-law prohibiting the feeding of wildlife.
That issue will draw some views that see this problem quite differently – it is a problem that needs serious consideration. Councillor Dennis and Burlington’s MPP Eleanor have weighed in on this one
There are then two Public Meetings. These meetings are required when the city wants to make changes to its Official Plan – the public is given a clear opportunity to express their views.
There is a report on the city-initiated housekeeping amendments to Zoning By-law 2020. This is not easy reading and for the most part it doesn’t matter – until you have an issue with city and they tell you that there was a change in the bylaws way back when – didn’t you know about it? Lawyers will get you through that kind of mess.
Statutory public meeting and information report for a proposed Official Plan Amendment for 4880 Valera Road.
And that is about it for this first cycle of city council Standing Committee meetings.
There are some concerns with the rather weak agenda.
Has the city manager figured out what it is he wants to do now that he has warmed the chair he sits in for five full months?
 James Ridge – the current city manager has yet to give any sense as to the way he plans to run the city. He brings a much different and an as yet understood style to the job. James Ridge has a management style that is considerably different than his two predecessors. Both Jeff Fielding and Pat Moyle served as city managers with a style that was open and transparent for media.
James Ridge doesn’t see his job in the same way making difficult to understand how he [plans to communicate with the public. He has not made himself available to media; on those occasions when we have been able to ask him questions at the end of a council session he has chosen to be curt with an economy of words that is – how shall we put his – disarming.
Other than that he shipped his pets to Burlington buy air freight rather than drive across the country with them, we know very little about James Ridge. He has yet to make a public comment.
He appears to have decided to join himself to the Mayor at the hip – the administration of the city is distinctly different than the political direction – the politicians come and go – the administration is there forever – ensuring that the doors open every morning and that the streets are cleared of snow and leaves and that the parks are in the shape the taxpayers expect.
There is a respectful distance required between the office of the Mayor and the office of the city manager.
Usually a city manager sets out a work plan and explains to city council in a public setting what and how he expects to perform his duties. This city council has yet to see such a document.
We do know that the production of a Code of Conduct for city council has been punted to the city manager who is expected to somehow fit this into the Strategic Plan that is languishing between various dates on the calendars that determine when Councillors can meet.
The next reported date for a Strategic Plan meeting is October 19th – the public should not expect to get a chance to comment on whatever comes out of the political process before the end of the year – at which time this council will have completed one quarter of their term of office.
The Strategic Plan is expected to inform the review of the Official Plan which is having its own problems getting out of the gate.
People within city hall consistently talk about Burlington’s vibrancy – if there is any such thing in this city it has yet to find its way to the 6th floor where the James Fridge rules the roost.
By Pepper Parr
September 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Community and Corporate Standing Committee will meet on Tuesday September 15th at 1:00 pm in the afternoon and again at 6:30 if required.
Standing committees have a procedure they follow. There is a Consent Agenda which consists of Reports of a routine nature, which are not expected to require discussion and/or debate. Any council member can ask that an item be pulled from the Consent agenda for discussion – if not they are all passed in one vote.
For the Community and Corporate Standing committee the following are on the September 15th consent agenda:
Report recommending approval of Burlington Inclusivity Advisory Committee 2015 work plan and providing the 2014 annual report.
Report providing the City of Burlington’s financial status as at June 30, 2015.
Report providing information regarding insurance litigation as of July 31, 2015.
Report recommending approval of a Municipal Capital Facility Exemption for the Aldershot Library By-Law.
Report providing information regarding the operating budget performance as at June 30th.
From time to time a standing Committee considers Confidential Matters which are usually Human Resources issues or property sale and or acquisition issues.
Confidential reports may require a closed meeting in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001. Meeting attendees may be required to leave during the discussion.
 Air Park matter is before the city again – to be discussed as a confidential legal matter this time – something is up. The list this time around is extensive:
Confidential legal department report providing an update regarding the Ontario Municipal Board hearing for 374 Martha Street.
Confidential legal department report providing an update regarding Burlington Airpark.
Confidential legal department report providing quarterly litigation update from May 1 to July 31, 2015.
Confidential finance department report providing the status of the reserve for contingencies as of July 31, 2015.
Confidential appendices A and B of finance department report providing information regarding insurance litigation as at July 31, 2015.
Confidential memorandum from Councillor Craven’s office regarding proposed acquisition of land by the municipality.
Confidential and consent matters make up the bulk of the agenda – all there is left is a Report providing the state of the downtown report and recommending approval of core commitment performance measures.
 The ADI application to put up a 28 storey structure is now before the OMB – city has some information they want to talk about behind closed doors – why? The one item on the agenda that isn’t either a consent matter or a confidential matter is a report providing the state of the downtown which recommends approval of the core committeemen performance measures.
This could be a short meeting for the public. The gazette will provide background on several of the confidential matters
By Staff
September 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington’s Liberal candidate Karina Gould has invited the whole city to travel with her to Hamilton and listen to former Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Liberal candidate for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Rally for Real Change this Sunday, September 13th, at the Sheraton Hotel downtown Hamilton.
Doors will open at 1:30 pm. This event is free, they just ask that you register your attendance in advance.
 If you’re interested or need a ride, Gould says people will be meeting at her campaign office at 12:30 pm to head over together. Please e-mail info@karinagould.ca to confirm if you will meet us at the campaign office before the rally.
“Friends,” said Gould “this is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the Liberal campaign thus far and to continue to build momentum in our community for the last five weeks of this election.
“I have been working hard for the past year and I can see that hard work paying off with the number of signs around town and the positive and encouraging reception I’m receiving at the door.
She adds: “If you still need a lawn sign, you can order one”. Gould will take you on as a volunteer as well.
 By Pepper Parr
September 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Deciding to run for public office is driven by a vast range of emotions and ambitions. Some plan for years and have a clear idea as to where they want to go, what they want to be and what they would like to do when and if they get there. Some get there and stay far too long.
And for some – there is a phone call: “Would you consider being the candidate?”
Vince Fiorito got such a call and decided to step up to the plate. The following is the letter he wrote to Green Party officials and friends.
My name is Vince Fiorito. I will be the Green Party Candidate for Burlington. I am still completing the registration process. I have the required 100 signatures. I still require confirming letters from Elizabeth May and my auditor. Then I am ready to file my nomination papers with Pat Barr, Burlington’s Returning Officer.
 Vince Fiorito pulling up a fence that had been trampled into the ground by trespassers along the GO train tracks. Several months after his finding the fence down – it still hasn’t been put back up properly. I believe I was selected to be the Green Party Candidate primarily because of my environmental activism. Two years ago I founded a Halton Region Conservation Authority award winning stewardship group to clean the trash out of an urban ravine in Burlington, known as Friends of Sheldon Creek Watershed.
https://www.facebook.com/sheldoncreek
I am an environmental activist because I subscribe to a growing international movement to recognize The Rights of Nature.
I suppose I am a politician now, but until I was contacted by the Green Party last week to be their candidate in Burlington, I considered myself to be an environmental activist.
I expect that the Good People of Burlington will want to know more about their Green Party choice in the 2015 Federal Election.
For the record, I am NOT ambitious for power. I am ambitious for change. I believe our political system has become dysfunctional and unrepresentative because the decision making power has become concentrated in the hands of too few people.
When I beat incumbent Mike Wallace in this election, I intend to create citizen advisory committees, consisting of citizens from Burlington who are honest, reliable and hardworking, one for each Government Ministry and one for the PMO. Each committee will consist of 6 or 8 trustworthy people with impeccable integrity who will be involved in my entire decision making process from beginning until the end. In general, I will respect the will of the committees and vote accordingly in the House. My power will come from appointing people to the committees, casting the deciding vote in the event of a deadlock as well as dissolving and reforming any committee with new members if I believe that committee has become tainted, corrupted or dysfunctional. Other than that, I will respect the will of the committee and vote accordingly, even if I disagree with the committee’s decision.
 Fiorito comes across a piece of rusted equipment thrown into the creek – he has taken refrigerators, vehicle tires by the hundreds our of Sheldon Creek The Halton conservation Authority named him a Steward of Sheldon Creek. I call this decision making process Distributed Democracy. I feel this decision making process will fairly represent the Green Party’s vision of their MPs representing their constituency first and the Green Party second.
The results of Citizen Advisory Committee votes will be available to the public. The committee will be nonpartisan. My expectation is that my future political rivals will likely rise from the ranks of these committees. I will appoint people to these committees based on their qualifications and merit, not their political affiliation. My only stipulation will be that everyone on these committees will balance the Rights of Nature with the Rights of People when they make their decisions.
After I beat Mike Wallace in this election and after he has had a 6 month vacation, I intend to offer him a seat on one of my citizen advisory committees, provided he can pass a vetting process.
I will act as an honest broker to offer the citizens of Burlington an opportunity to participate in the democratic decision making process and transfer to my constituency real decision making power. I feel this offer to share power with the community will capture the imagination of the Burlington electorate.
I expect that once my decision making process becomes more widely known, it will generate a lot of discussion. To be clear, I am offering the citizens of Burlington real political power. In theory a citizen of Burlington on the Finance Advisory committee could cast the deciding vote on a House non-confidence motion that would dissolve the Government of Canada.
 Vince Fiorito, wondering how a piece of equipment this size ended up in the Sheldon Creek – and wonders how he is ever going to gt it out of the creek. The only Green Party policy with which I disagree is Proportional Representation. I agree that the First Past the Post system is broken. I support a ranked ballot system instead because I feel it would be more fair to candidates who run as independents. Other than that, my viewpoints completely align with the Green Party’s platform.
Regardless, I will always represent the will of Burlington first.
Environmentally,
Vince Fiorito
Green Party Candidate for Burlington
The Gazette has interviewed Vince Fiorito a number of times – he is certainly committed to the environment. it is not our place to endorse any candidate at this point in time other than to say Vince is one of a kind; a unique human being doing what he believes in. One can’t ask for much more than that.
Our practice in past elections has been to follow a specific candidate and tell their story – we did that with Carol Gottlob in the municipal election and we will be doing that with Vince Fiorito in this federal election – telling the story of his trials and tribulations as he goes about trying to get himself elected to the House of Commons where he can advocate for the environment on behalf of the people of Burlington.
For a city that cannot get a private tree bylaw passed – Vince has his work cut out for him
By Staff
September 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Choristers in the region are invited to audition for the Burlington Civic Chorale Singers. Rehearsals begin in September and are held Tuesday evenings from 7:15 pm to 9:30 pm, at St. Christopher’s Church, 662 Guelph Line, Burlington.
 The Burlington Civic Chorale is a mixed-voice community choir formed in 1994 through the collaboration of founder Dr. Gary Fisher and Mary Jane Price, former organist and music director at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, Burlington, Ontario.
Their repertoire encompasses classical literature from the 16th century to the present; folksongs; opera choruses and vocal jazz.
2015-16 is our twenty-second season! We couldn’t have done it without some help along the way: grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the United Way, the Toronto Foundation, and the former Halton Healthy Foundation; our loyal patrons and members; and local businesses who support us generously.
Please contact Gary Fisher at 905-632-2085 or Email: glfisher63@gmail.com or visit www.burlingtoncivicchorale.ca
 By Pepper Parr
September 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The last time your city council met was July 15th- they meet again three times next week – on Monday at 1:00 pm as a Committee of the Whole where it looks as if everything is going to be talked about in a closed session.
 They should return to the Council Chamber all tanned and rested. Now to make wise decisions on your behalf. There is to be a presentation by General Manager Scott Stewart, Allan Magi, Executive Director of Corporate Works and Ron Steiginga, Manager of Realty Services.
The agenda says they are talking about Downtown Real Estate. The city owns a considerable amount of real estate in the downtown core – parking lots, city hall, the Art Gallery and a number of other lots here and there.
The practice is to review these holdings and determine if there is anything Council wants to do that is Strategic in nature.
Steiginga did his best to acquire a small piece of property adjacent to the Art Gallery – the owner of the property was too long in the tooth to bite that bait that Steiginga offered.
The deal Steiginga got for the city on the sale of the waterfront road allowance between Market and St Paul isn’t one that he will be remembered for – but that ship has left harbour. The public will watch with some anticipation for the Windows on the Lake that are to be created on the land the city didn’t sell.
 The public will get to walk along this space which will become a Window to the Lake – the obstacles you see in this picture were not put in place by city – they were put in place by property owners who didn’t want the public to enjoy public land. That day is now over. There was some encroachment on city land by a private driveway – it looks as if that has been resolved.
One hopes that the Mayor is not foolish enough to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony and go for another of the photo ops of which he is so fond when the first window on the Lake is opened.
The first meeting on the Monday looks like a pretty tame event.
By Pepper Parr
September 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There is more to the Advanced Manufacturing hub the ¨Prime Minister announced with great fanfare in Burlington recently. The City’s Economic Development Corporation has been working on the project for some time; their approach is to do away with the fanfare and let the results of their efforts speak for themselves.
“When we have something to say that is relevant” said Fran McKeown, Executive Director of the not for profit organization “you will hear from us”.
 Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaking to a hand picked Burlington audience. The Gazette got a note from Tony Araujo, Vice President – Testing, Paragon Systems, Concord, ON. Here is what he had to say:
I read your story on the Prime Minister’s announcement of a new “Advanced Manufacturing” hub for Burlington and was shocked that the Conservatives would do this again! I’m already fighting the last “investment” this government made in London’s Advanced Manufacturing Park.
In March 2015, Industry Canada’s FedDev Ontario gave Fanshawe College an $8.1 million gift to set up a for-profit commercial testing lab on land provided to the college for free by the City of London. The Canadian Centre for Product Validation (CCPV) will compete head-to-head with existing private sector testing labs throughout Ontario using students as labour.
FedDev Ontario’s own analysis of Fanshawe’s CCPV business plan even concluded that it would “adversely affect” the existing 30 private sector testing labs that “currently serve Ontario industries quite well”.
$8.1 million is bad enough. $100 million will be the death of my business and the 32 jobs that we currently have in Vaughan.
As a small business person, I expected this kind of crazy policy from the NDP, certainly not from the Conservatives.
Is it any wonder the electorate thinks that the Conservatives have lost touch with their values?
There are usually several sides to every story.
 By Staff
September 11, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
With a model that does work, the Halton Regional Police will now refine what has been working very well and in 2016 roll the Fugitive Friday program out to Oakville and Milton.
 Christian Stuart Drennan has ties to Burlington, Hamilton and Oshawa. He is wanted by the Halton Regional Police for a number of of offenses he is believed to have committed – including not appearing in court after having been given bail. It is week 21 of the “Fugitive Friday” – Halton Police Looking for Christian Stuart DRENNAN. They are reaching out to the public to help locate wanted persons and hold them accountable for their actions.
There are numerous people who continue to evade the police and the court system and continue to live out in our communities while having a warrant for their arrest in place.
Every Friday, the Burlington Offender Management Unit will share information on a wanted person in hopes that the public can assist in locating the individual.
We will share “Fugitive Friday” information on our website and via social media through Twitter @HRPSBurl and @HaltonPolice.
In this edition of Fugitive Fridays the 3 District, Burlington Offender Management Unit is searching for Christian Stuart DRENNAN, 43 years, from Burlington.
It is alleged:
In May 2015, the accused was located in a semi-conscious state revving the engine of his car on a street in Burlington after a concerned citizen called police.
Police investigation revealed the accused was in possession of a quantity of Marihuana, Morphine and Ritalin.
The accused was arrested, charged and was scheduled to re-attend court in September 2015 which he failed to do and a warrant was issued for his arrest
He is wanted by Halton Regional Police for:
Possession of a Schedule I
Possession of Schedule II
Care or Control – Impaired
Fail to Re-Attend Court
DRENNAN is described as 5’10”, 165 lbs, brown eyes and brown hair. He has a tattoo of a “Lion” on his right upper arm and a scar on his forehead.
DRENNAN has ties to Burlington, Hamilton and Oshawa.
Anyone who has information that would assist investigators in locating him are encouraged to contact D/C Bulbrook – Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau – Offender Management Team at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2346 or 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
September 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Route 1 bus Detours in Downtown Hamilton Sept. 11 – 14
 Beginning Friday, Sept. 11 through to Monday, Sept. 14, Burlington Transit’s Route 1 will detour in downtown Hamilton during the James Street Supercrawl.
Detour Information
Friday, Sept. 11 from approximately noon to 5:30 p.m.:
• Regular routing to York Boulevard and Queen Street
• Right at Queen Street
• Left at Main Street
• Left at John Street
• Left at King Street
• Resume regular routing
Friday, Sept. 11 (at approximately 5:30 p.m.) through to Monday, Sept. 14 (at approximately 1 a.m.):
• Regular routing to York Boulevard and Queen Street
• Right at Queen Street
• Left at Main Street
• Left at John Street
• Left at Cannon Street
• Resume regular routing
By Pepper Parr
September 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There will be shovels in the ground the first few days of January – and Jeff Paikin will start the next, and biggest phase of his career as a developer.
The three structure Bridgewater project, initially approved in 1985 and justified as a “landmark” project for the city, will rise to 22 storeys under the direction of a man whose first development project was a done more than 25 years ago, which was about when the city approved the project he is going to move into as a resident.
 The hotel has had an additional floor added to it – shovels are scheduled to dig into the ground first thing in 2016 – now there is a photo op for you! Paikin will be at the front of a project that will change forever the look and feel of the waterfront forever.
How this came to be is one of those extraordinary stories of drive, energy and a lot of luck that came about because Paikin decided to go for luxury and quality in a city he loves
There will be a Christmas party for the people who have bought about 60% of the units in the Bridgewater project. Paikin says he needs to be at 62% sold to have the financing he has arranged kick in.
Paikin said he would buy another unit if that’s what it takes to get past that magic 62% number. “Were at 60% with five in the pipeline” he said rather proudly.
 The view of the lake from a passing car will be brief – the opening is reported to be 50 feet wide – not much more than a glimpse. What Burlington now knows as the Bridgewater project isn’t something Paikin started and how it ended up in his hands is an amazing story.
Paikin was developing town homes for twenty years.
He was doing custom renovations, moved into high end luxury homes but “land supply changed the market” and Paikin could see that condominiums was where the growth was going to take place.
The day of the small bungalow market that resulted in the sprawl Burlington how has to contend with was a thing of the past.
The first project Paikin took on had 49 units – then 101 units then a 134 unit project – the progression was consistent. The 246 unit Vibe was followed by the 400 unit Mint.
Paikin focused on quality finishes and customization. He sees himself as “in touch with the market” and very much a people person.
Paikin is a big man – tall, imposing and available to anyone who wants to talk to him. This isn’t a developer who hides nor is he a man who suffers fools easily.
His office is in Hamilton, a stones throw from the GO station but his home and his heart is in Burlington where he doesn’t get upset at the profile the city has in the rest of the province – or the country for that matter. He believes Burlington’s objective is to maintain and protect the lead that it has – and in the eyes of Jeff Paikin Burlington has a great lead over other cities.
The Bridgewater project consists of three buildings – all are part of the project Paikin’s New Horizons corporation now controls. The hotel will now be a Marriott – it was originally going to be a Delta and open for the Pan Am Games – that date got missed.
The project has been littered with missed dates – Paikin sounds confident that the breaking ground in January is going to happen.
 The buyers for the priciest condo property in town will be treated to a smash of a Christmas party – then the wrecking ball rolls in to level the space. The sales office will be taken apart sometime after the Christmas party for those who have bought units.
How Jeff Paikin actually got the units is due in no small measure to the way the people at Mayrose Tyco think. In the agreement they put together with the Mady Group, the original builder’s, there was a “reputational risk” clause that allowed them to back out of the agreement if the reputation of the builder was at risk.
Mady ran into some problems with projects in Markham, Scarborough, Waterloo, Barrie and Kitchener – and sought protection from creditors – Mayrose Tyco invoked the reputational risk clause and according to Paikin asked him if he would take over the project – which he did.
Prior to the call from Mayrose Tyco, Paikin was thinking about building a new home in Burlington. His wife wanted something near the lake, Jeff wanted something that wouldn’t require much of a claim on his time.
 They will see this from Hamilton – architects rendering of the Bridgewater project at night. He liked the look of the Bridgewater project – he and his wife looked at the plans and decided that would be home for them. It was going to be the perfect empty-nest home for him and his wife.
Then he got a call in January: did he want to build the project?
The original builder, Markham-based Mady Development Corporation, had run into financial problems with projects – Paikin took over Mady’s position in a development partnership on the 0.7-hectare, block-long property between Elizabeth and Pearl streets just east of Brant.
Paikin was now pumped “The design is so fantastic and the location is probably the No. 1 location in all of Ontario, if not Canada, as a place to live.”
Prices start at about $400,000 and climb to about $3.5 million.
Paiken now has half of the top floor as his home – all he has to do is get the place built –
 The 22 storey structure that is due to be built on the waters edge will forever change the look of the city. For the better? Paikin says the transition from Mady to New Horizon on the Bridgewater project was fast and seamless. Burlington Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward learned of the Mady problems one day and the next learned that New Horizon had stepped in.
The project has been deemed a “landmark” in Burlington’s official plan which some take to mean” “Any future development on Old Lakeshore Road or across the street needs to defer to the landmark and not overwhelm it.”
 What a great place to make a sales pitch for a condominium that starts at $400,000 One hopes Burlington has a stronger position than that when they oppose the ADI Development at Lakeshore and Martha that is now before the OMB.
 There are people in the city with fond memories of the Riviera – wonder where the sign went? The site, in what has been designated the Old Lakeshore Road precinct, was once home to an ice cream shop and the Riviera motel, which was built in 1964 and changed very little before it was demolished in 2012.
The approvals for the Bridgewater date back to about 2006 – as a project it was first approved in principle in 1985
By Staff
September 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
That we even have a World Suicide Prevention Day is painful – we shudder when we hear the words and try to brush away the thought when we think of families we know that have experienced a loss.
The Burlington Community Foundation (BCF) Mental Wellness Alliance is sharing information in an effort to raise awareness and discuss suicide prevention.
Some of the difficult truths about suicide in our communities include:
– Suicide is the 2nd cause of death in young people
– 1 in 5 Ontarians experience mental health problems and addictions
– 1 in 4 teens and young adults in their 20’s will experience mental health issues in Ontario
– 71% of family physicians ranked access to psychiatrists in Ontario fair to poor
– Youth and families can wait for months or up to 2 years for services
– Joseph Brant Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic reports:
– 16% increase from 2010-11 to 2011-12 in case load
– 31% increase for the average wait time for assessment – 47 days
 As outlined in BCF’s Vital Signs Reports, mental health issues are growing. To address this imminent need BCF launched the Mental Wellness Alliance in April 2015 by bringing together a diverse and knowledgeable group of over 55 leaders from a broad cross-section of mental health perspectives. These include practitioners, policy makers, program service delivery organizations, civic leaders, interest groups, partners, caregivers and individuals living with mental health issues. The participants are from Halton Region through to Hamilton. BCF is leading the efforts and recognizes these “communities” are interconnected from both a needs and delivery of programs/services perspective.
Brian Hansell, co-chair of the BCF Mental Wellness Alliance knows all too well how devastating suicide can be. His son Paul lost his life to suicide in December 2010. To help ensure that other families don’t face the same tragedy and to do something in memory of Paul, Brian founded the Paul Hansell Foundation. Its mandate is to promote programs aimed at the mental and emotional wellbeing of youth.
By Staff
September 10th, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
 Mayor Golding will take part in the Kick off for a campaign to increase the use of alternate forms of transportation – and less use of cars for short trips. The process has begun – the attempt to change the culture in the city and leave the car at home and choose active and alternative transportation instead is now a challenge from the office of the Mayor.
Billed as the Think Outside the Car Challenge, it will run from September 15th to – October 30th.
Many of the trips people take in Burlington are within a very short distance and are the ideal distances to cycle, walk or hop on a Burlington Transit bus. These alternative modes of transportation not only promote a healthy lifestyle but also save money on the cost of gas, parking and have very little impact on our air quality.”
To participate in the challenge:
1. Ask a friend or family member to take a photo or video of you using alternative transportation when you would have normally taken your vehicle. Share on social media using #ThinkOutsidetheCar.
2. Challenge three friends, family members or co-workers to choose alternative transportation instead of using their vehicle.
3. Be part of the change.
Campaign Kickoff Event
On Tuesday, September 15th , students at M.M. Robinson High School will be part of the kickoff event.
 Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon has been a strong Share the Road advocate – she now wants people to make more use of bikes and public transit. Eleanor McMahon, MPP Burlington and Danijel Ozimkovic, Transportation Technologist at the City of Burlington will be talking part in the event.
“Travelling by car is very popular in Burlington,” said Vito Tolone, acting director of transportation at the City of Burlington. “Ninety per cent of all trips within our city are made with an automobile. If we are going to reduce traffic congestion and create a greener city, the entire community needs to work together and consider other forms of transportation.”
By Staff
September 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
Each year the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) holds the Rising Star Talent Competition. They have been doing this for 29 years.
The final round of competition took place this past weekend at the CNE’s International Stage inside the Enercare Centre, where spectators witnessed the best of the best among more than 100 contestants who competed over 17 days of the Fair.
 The Talent Competition is one of the longest standing talent competitions in Ontario, long before the popularity of TV shows such as “Idol” came along. Contestants are judged on their natural ability, audience appeal, stage presence and the quality of their performance. 2015 Winning Contestants of CNE Rising Star Competition
Junior (aged 6-12):
 Grand Champion: Brooklyn Slade, 12-year-old dancer(Milton)
1st Runner Up: Emma Wright, 11-year-old singer (Meaford)
2nd Runner Up: Lauren Salt, 12-year-old dancer (Burlington)
3rd Runner Up: Allison Lee & Daniel Tamburro, 7-year-old dancers (Aurora)
4th Runner Up: Detention, Hip hop dance group (St. Catharines)
5th Runner Up: Alyssa Almeida, 11-year-old singer (Mississauga)
By Pepper Parr
September 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The second in a series on the Burlington trustees on the Halton District Board of Education.
Burlington has four seats on the 11 member Halton District School Board. All are female; one was acclaimed.
Each had their own reasons for running. Some had a clear objective others were a little more nonchalant about public service.
The three new board of education members were somewhat overwhelmed with the steep learning curve but have for the most part have settled in. None however has yet made a significant mark on what the board does. There have been issues: The Pineland school concerns; French language classes, starting times, using the schools as voting stations – each Burlington trustee has participated in the discussions – but our reporter Walter Byj, wasn’t able to point out anything significant in the way of a contribution from any of the new Burlington trustees on policy and the thinking as to how the schools should be run.
The one thing this current board did do was put in place a system that records every vote that takes place – the public knows in an instant how a trustee voted on any particular motion, which is more than one the public gets to know about how members of city council votes.
Both Walter Byj and I jointly interviewed all four Burlington trustees. Three were first time members of the Board – Amy Collard is serving her second term – she was acclaimed in both elections.
 Andrea Grebenc – a woman seldom at a loss for words. Andrea Grebnec ran as a trustee when she found she didn’t like the way the Alton school boundary review was handled. Now that she is on the Board she has concerns with triple stream schools. She is also a strong believer in parents being able to have all their children in the same elementary school. she thought that at one point she would have three children attending three different schools.
Grebnec did some of her elementary classes at a Catholic school and then attended Lester B Pearson. Her Father taught at MM Robinson; her Mother was a librarian.
We leaned from Grebnec that the Burlington trustees never caucus – but are nevertheless described by Grebnec as a collaborative team – a term she uses to describe the full Board.
Grebnec give current chair Kelly Moss full marks for the nurturing and support she was given as she learned the ropes. She doesn’t give Burlington’s ward 3 Councillor John Taylor any marks – says she has never heard from the man even though she was elected by voters in ward 3. So much for city – board of education cooperation.
Andrea, who covers wards 3 and 6 has a solid working relationship with city Councillor Blair Lancaster. “I once did some one-one-one work with her on personal grooming – so we know each other quite well.”
 Andrea Grebenc – trustee for wards 3 and 6 – when she gets going – there is no stopping her. Board issues for Grebnec? The web site –“ it doesn’t work – close to impossible to find anything – even though you know it is in there somewhere” says Grebnec, who has a background in IT. She thinks the website the board has in place now is what they “created originally and just kept adding to the thing.”
We have yet to come across anyone who has anything good to say about the web site – David Euale, the retiring Director of Education, told the Gazette that $100,000 has been allocated for an upgrade to the web site – which is nice. The disturbing thing is that an institution responsible for the education of our youth – people who will be going into a world where the flow of information and the use of information is foundational – does not itself have a useful web site.
Whoever the trustees decide to hire needs to be on top of this kind of thing. The communications people within the administration need a sound talking to for permitting such a lousy system to be in place.
 Andrea Gebenc, trustee for wards 3 and 6 explains a point she wants to make during an interview. Grebnec wants to see more walking and bicycle use; she wants to “get the kids out of the cars”. She maintains that the boards, perhaps unwittingly, have been telling people to drive to school. “we tell them how the traffic circle works, we tell them where they are to drop off their kids – we are telling them they are bad parents if they don’t drive their kids to school. Grebnec wants to see a change in the culture and has advised her colleagues that she will be bringing a motion to a future board meeting suggesting changes.
Grebnec points out that there is a lot of fear in the community about just how safe our children are – “safe streets have children on them” she adds and when children are on the streets with other children they play – which is a large part of what childhood is all about.
She talks about walking school buses – which amounts to a bunch of people who might normally take the school bus – walking to school as a group instead.
 Trustee Andrea Grebenc talks with Gazette education reporter Walter Byj about the job she got herself into when she wanted to see some changes at the school her children attend. There is a feistiness to Andrea Grebnec. Now that she has a year of service as a trustee behind her – I think the community is going to hear more from her.
To follow – short profiles on Richelle Papin and Leah Reynolds, the other two first term Burlington school board trustees.
We will follow that up with a look at what Amy Collard has been doing on the school board.
Related links:
Choosing the new Director of Education
 By Pepper Parr
September 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
This popped up in my email box – can you imagine a bank asking you what you thought of a change they were making .
That never happens – which was the first clue that the email was the first step in an attempt to get into my identity and rummage around my bank account to see if there was something they could steal.
I’ve not had an account with the CIBC for at least ten years – so there is nothing to learn about me there.
Somewhere along the way someone who makes their living taking what isn’t theirs from people
If you see this one – click on delete, quickly.
The cheek!
Changes to the Electronic Access Agreement
We’ve changed the Electronic Access Agreement.
We wanted to check it’s OK with you.
The following is a summary of the changes made to the Agreement effective as of August 1, 2015
Part I “Terms and Conditions for CIBC eDeposit” is new and applies to your use of the new CIBC eDeposit feature within CIBC Mobile Banking.
Part K was amended to add new definitions to explain the meaning of the following terms: “CIBC eDeposit” and “Images”.
Section 56 “Exclusive Jurisdiction” was removed.
Section 70 “Governing Law” was amended to clarify its meaning and add new information.
What do I have to do?
If You agree with the changes we’ve made, please click on the link below:
https://www.cibc.com/ca/agreement-2015-confirm.aspx
You must use your Bank Card and Password to access Online Banking. You may also be required to answer your Personal Verification Questions when accessing Online Banking.
If you do not agree to a change in this Agreement, you must immediately stop using Online Banking
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