 By Anthony Lucas”
April 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
To ensure the best experience and winning outcomes, players should opt for the best-paying online casinos that guarantee the best payouts and biggest win rates. Casino brands like Yukon Gold, Golden Tiger, Zodiac Casino, Luxury Casino, and Captain Cooks Casino all provide the highest slot payouts in Canada, making them ideal choices.
Where Can You Find the Highest Paying Slots in Canada?
 Players can find the highest paying slots in Canada by visiting casino sites that are known to provide the best RTP slots. These include brands like Yukon Gold Casino, Captain Cooks Casino, Luxury Casino, Zodiac Casino, and Golden Tiger Casino.
Yukon Gold Casino is a player-favorite since it provides the best slot returns. It selects all the online casino games on its platform carefully and works with the best software provider so each game has the best win and payout rates.
The casino is also highly trusted due to its reputation for timely payouts. It ensures players can receive their winnings from its quick payouts and fastest payout slots by working with trusted and secure payment methods that players are familiar with.
Zodiac Casino is known for its large selection of online slots and Progressive jackpot slots. It ensures high payouts for each game through its highest rate guarantee. The “Highest Win Rate Guarantee” promises to deliver the most favorable win rates or Return to Player (RTP) percentages from the games provided by the casino’s software suppliers.
Players can choose from hundreds of video poker games with unique gameplay, features, bonuses, and payouts available through the casino’s website and mobile app.
Golden Tiger Casino aims to provide players with the largest game collection of high return slot machines. Players can choose from slot games they can find at other casinos or unique titles only found on this casino’s website. Golden Tiger Casino maintains a rotation of high payout slot games to ensure a unique gaming experience for its players.
Luxury Casino also offers high paying slot games, but it improves the player experience by providing unique bonuses and running various promotions regularly. Upon signing up, players can access hundreds of unique slot games where bets start at a few cents.
Once they start playing, players get access to bonuses like free spins, winning boosts, and mini games that increase their earnings significantly.
Captain Cooks Casino aims to replicate a similar experience to the one players get when playing slots in physical casinos. It has an easy-to-use platform that categorizes its games so players can find their favorites easily. The casino also participates in the Casino Rewards highest win rate guarantee where it ensures all the slot games on its platform provide the highest win rates.
Why Is Trust Important When Choosing a Casino?
When choosing a casino, it is crucial to pick a trustworthy one. Such casinos ensure player safety, responsible gambling tools, fantastic customer support, and fair gameplay.
The best way to know if a casino is trustworthy is to check user reviews. Players leave reviews of the various casinos they have experience with on review websites, and checking them can inform readers what they think of specific casinos.
Platforms like Trustpilot make it easy for players to leave such reviews and provide ratings for different casinos.
 Players can go through reviews of trusted Canadian casinos to see what others are saying about specific casinos and if they recommend any player-approved slots before making a choice. They should only pick casinos with consistently high praise for their payouts, customer support, transparency, and gaming experience.
Players should also check for mentions of payouts. These should be positive statements about how trustworthy a casino is regarding paying out winnings and its use of secure payment methods.
How Do RTP and Slot Payouts Work?
The RTP or Return to Player rate is a casino payout percentage that indicates how much of a player’s bet the casino returns as winnings. It is an average rate calculated over millions of slot rounds. The top slot casinos have very high RTPs, with their rates typically a few points higher than those at other casinos.
Since the RTP is the percentage of a bet that a casino returns, higher rates are better because they lead to bigger wins. RTPs also determine the house edge, the amount a casino keeps as its profit for each dollar players wager.
With higher RTPs, casinos that provide big win slots Canada keep less of a player’s bet, which means a larger amount goes to the bet and leads to better payouts.
Tips for Maximizing Slot Payouts
Players can leverage several strategies to maximize slot payouts. The easiest one is choosing high paying slot games with the highest win and RTP rates. They should also stick to casinos that provide a highest win rate guarantee so they can be assured of the best rates regardless of the slot game they choose.
To choose the right slots, players should check different casino platforms and User reviews websites. Casino websites display all the information players need to find high paying slot games.
Review websites also post information about these games and are an incredible source of reviews that tell players whether they should register and play at specific casinos.
Choosing the Best Canadian Casinos for Slot Payouts
Top slot payout casinos all provide games with the highest RTPs and win rates to ensure the biggest wins for their players. These casinos also use secure payment methods to ensure fast payouts and player data security.
The best casinos provide excellent customer service so players can find the assistance they need when they need it. Brands like Yukon Gold Casino, Zodiac Casino, Golden Tiger Casino, Luxury Casino, and Captain Cooks Casino stand out due to their exceptional slot gaming experiences beyond their high payouts.
 By Staff
April 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
At a Special Council Meeting earlier this year, the City’s new Short-Term Accommodation By-law which takes effect on May 1, 2025 was approved.
The key change introduced by this by-law is that operators of short-term accommodations are now required to obtain a licence to operate.
 Properties rented out for large parties frequently get out of control. City looks for a way to clamp down by requiring a license. If you own a property and rent it out for up to 28 consecutive days (for a total of up to 183 days per year) for a fee – such as through Airbnb or VRBO – the new by-law applies to you, and you must get a licence to operate.
The by-law is designed to address housing availability, safety and common nuisances such as noise, parking issues and garbage. Owners will be required to submit certificates showing that the HVAC and electrical systems meet requirements prior to a licence being issued.
Owners will also have to sign a declaration to comply with the maintenance and parking plans, Building Code and Fire Code.
While these conditions may seem onerous to some, they became necessary when a number, not just a few, found that the peace and quiet they used to enjoy was no longer possible due to the reckless behaviour of people who rented houses for weekend parties.
For further details about licence requirements, and to submit an application, visit:www.burlington.ca/STA
 By Staff
April 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Chronic lateness can often feel like an inescapable habit because showing up late to meetings, keeping friends waiting, or missing deadlines can lead you to constantly apologise for being late. People all over the world struggle with punctuality, and while being late might seem like a small flaw, it can have dire consequences.
If you are looking to overcome the habit of chronic lateness, then you are in the right place, as we have discussed several strategies and tips that can help you overcome chronic lateness and help you build a habit of being punctual and on time.
Understand the Cause of Chronic Lateness
Before you can fix any problem, you need to understand its root cause. Chronic lateness stems from a multitude of reasons, including :
 Poor Time Management Skills- Overcommitment
- Perfectionism
- Procrastination
- Lack of Prioritization
- Psychological Factors
- Poor Habits
- Mindset Issues
Understanding what causes you to be late is the first step towards overcoming chronic lateness, and you should start by identifying the causes so that you can address them effectively to overcome chronic lateness.
After you have identified the root cause of chronic lateness, here are some actionable tips and strategies that will help you overcome chronic lateness and be more punctual.
Improve Time Management
The foundation of punctuality is deeply rooted in time management. If you are not good with time management, then you cannot overcome chronic lateness because you won’t be able to take control of your time. Improving your time management skills is very important, and this can be done by using digital tools to procure the Salah Timing Calendar and help plan your day, breaking down large tasks, making a routine and following it, and adding extra time to your schedule for unexpected delays or last-minute changes.
Change Your Mindset
Your mindset plays a very important role when it comes to punctuality, and you need to change your mindset and shift your perspective to overcome the issue of chronic lateness. To do so:
Aim for arriving early rather than being exactly on time. Leaving early for a meeting or event will cushion you against unexpected delays.
- Rethink the importance of punctuality in your mind and think of time as a form of respect for yourself, as well as for others.
- Visualize the benefits of arriving early, such as less stress, more confidence, and a better reputation, which can encourage you to be more punctual.
Address Procrastination and Perfectionism
Procrastination and perfectionism are two completely opposite things, yet both of these often hold people back and lead to them being chronically late. If procrastination or perfectionism is holding you back, then it is time to address these issues by tackling tasks early, setting deadlines, embracing imperfections, and focusing on completing tasks the right way instead of making them flawless.
Develop a Pre-Event Routine
 Developing a pre-event and consistent routine can help you stay on track and organized, and avoid last-minute rushes. You can create a pre-event routine by creating a checklist for the steps that you need to take before leaving for an event, setting alarms and reminders to remind you when it is time to get ready, and prepare the night before by laying out your clothes, packing your bag, and gathering any material that you will need ahead of time, including the Montreal Prayer Calendar, to reduce stress and save time.
Avoid Overcommitment
One of the major contributors to chronic lateness is overcommitment. People who overcommit are the ones who constantly have a habit of being late because committing to multiple things can make you overwhelmed, leading to chronic lateness and impunctuality. This can be overcome by setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks that align with your goals and values, and politely declining requests that don’t fit into your schedule or priority list.
 By Staff
April 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
On March 4, 2025, staff presented proposed Official Plan Amendment (OPA) No.4 to a Committee of the Whole Statutory Public Meeting through staff report DGM-13-25 Bronte Creek Meadows Proposed Official Plan Amendment No.4,in order to hear comments and questions from members of Council and the public. Staff continued to accept questions, comments and recommendations until March 18, 2025.
 City staff have reviewed and considered the feedback received, and are targeting bringing forward a Recommendation Report to Council for adoption of the OPA in May 2025.
Staff continue to be available to answer any questions about the project. Email newop@burlington.ca if you have any questions or would like to Talk to a Planner.
 By Staff
April 24th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
As people age, maintaining an active lifestyle becomes increasingly important. Seniors often face numerous challenges that can hinder their ability to stay active, such as mobility issues and social isolation. Long term care facilities offer specialized programs that support wellness and independence.
Aging is a natural part of life, yet it brings with it a set of challenges that can make staying active difficult for many seniors. Physical limitations, health issues, and the emotional toll of isolation are common obstacles. However, there are ways to overcome these challenges, particularly through specialized care settings that focus on holistic wellness, such as long term care facilities.
Understanding the Challenges of Aging
The journey into senior years often comes with a variety of hurdles that can impede an active lifestyle. Mobility issues are prevalent, making it hard for seniors to engage in physical activities they once enjoyed. Arthritis, joint pain, and decreased muscle strength can further contribute to a sedentary lifestyle.
 Long term care facilities offer specialized programs that support wellness and independence.
Social isolation is another significant barrier many seniors encounter. With age, social circles may shrink due to retirement, relocation, or the loss of friends and family. This isolation affects mental health and diminishes the motivation to participate in community activities or exercise programs.
Health concerns compound these challenges, with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease being common among older adults. These health issues require careful management and can limit seniors’ ability to partake in physical activities without specialized support or supervision.
The Benefits of Specialized Care
Specialized care facilities play a crucial role in promoting senior wellness by offering tailored programs designed to enhance physical fitness and social engagement. These facilities understand the unique needs of seniors and provide access to personalized exercise routines that accommodate varying levels of mobility and health conditions.
Nutrition is another vital component addressed by long term care settings. Balanced meal plans are crafted to meet the dietary requirements of older adults, ensuring they receive essential nutrients necessary for maintaining energy levels and supporting overall health.
Beyond physical health, these facilities emphasize social interaction by organizing group activities and events that encourage participation and community bonding. This helps combat loneliness and fosters a sense of belonging and purpose among residents.
Promoting Community Engagement
Community engagement is a powerful tool in enhancing the quality of life for seniors. Participation in group activities offers mental stimulation and fosters emotional well-being by reducing feelings of isolation. It provides a platform for building new friendships and rekindling interests in hobbies or crafts.
Engaging in community events also promotes physical health by motivating seniors to remain active. Whether it’s participating in group exercises or walking clubs, these activities offer gentle yet effective ways to maintain fitness levels suitable for varying abilities.
Moreover, community involvement encourages continuous learning and skill development through workshops or classes tailored specifically for seniors. This ongoing education keeps minds sharp and promotes lifelong learning, contributing positively to mental acuity and self-esteem.
Empowering Independence in Seniors
Specialized care environments empower seniors to retain their independence by providing individualized support catered to their specific needs. With access to resources like transportation services, medical assistance, and daily living aids, seniors are better equipped to manage their routines autonomously.
This empowerment extends beyond physical independence; it also encompasses decision-making regarding personal care preferences and lifestyle choices. By involving residents in planning their daily activities or meal options, these facilities foster a sense of control over one’s own life.
The supportive environment within specialized care facilities enables seniors to pursue hobbies or volunteer opportunities that might otherwise be inaccessible due to logistical constraints. This autonomy enhances their sense of purpose and fulfillment during retirement years.
 By Pepper Parr
April 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
If you thought Mark Carney became very interested in becoming the Prime Minister when it was evident that Justin Trudeau was in his way out the door – you have not be keeping up on the man and what he has been up to.
 Carney was talking to associates about becoming Prime Minister when he was being considered as the Governor of the Bank of England. At the time he was concerned that being the Governor of the British bank might not look all that good to Canadian electors.
Those who talk openly about Carney will say: “You probably couldn’t sit down and design a person who has a better set of tools to deal with economic anxiety,’ Liberal powerbroker Frank McKenna says of party leader Mark Carney.
 Hurricane Trump is an untamable force, but sensing where the wind is blowing and planning meticulously is the way Mr. Carney functions. Mr. Carney is so strategic in his approach to the world that for years he’s been a dedicated runner and careful eater, in part because he believes he needs to be in good physical shape to work at a certain level, with long hours and punishing travel. He has to be truly wrung out to abandon that and lay into some French fries or a bag of Doritos.
Hurricane Trump is an untamable force, but sensing where the wind is blowing and planning meticulously is the way Mr. Carney functions.
“If this were an ordinary election with ordinary issues, he would never be able to distinguish himself,” Liberal powerbroker Frank McKenna says. “But this is not an ordinary election. There really is one issue and one issue only, and it’s around economic anxiety.
Pretty much everyone who’s crossed paths with him comes away impressed by his intelligence, which has a distinct sifting quality: distilling, making connections, putting things in order.
He’s often charming and very funny. He can also be impatient, caustic or condescending when he feels like someone isn’t keeping up their end of the bargain; the phrase “doesn’t suffer fools” comes up a lot. When he was governor of the Bank of England, the Financial Times reported that staff called encountering this side of him “getting tasered.”
Some people see this as a function of how he absorbs information: asking question after question to peel an idea down to its foundations and figure out how it fits with what else he knows. It can read as a dominance move, leaving the person he’s questioning to feel like they’ve been stripped for parts, too.
And virtually everyone makes the same point about his career path: He gave up boatloads of cash when he left investment banking for the public sector.
It’s influence rather than money that drives him. Not power for power’s sake, but a seat at a table where he can make big calls that matter, because he believes he’s equipped to do so. Public policy offers that like nothing else can.
 Carney absorbs information: asking question after question to peel an idea down to its foundations and figure out how it fits with what else he knows. Mark Carney is one of four children: Mark, the third child, Brian, Brenda and Sean
Two to the boys went to Harvard, one to Notre Dame. Brenda went to the University of Alberta and then on to Vancouver where she earned a Masters degree in education.
The parents were educators, They saw education as a gift that opens doors.
At the age of 14 Mark wrote a Letter to the Editor of the local newspaper saying “While your paper does have the right of freedom of the press your personal views should be kept on the editorial pages.” In another letter. “Although your position may be the more popular one, that does not excuse your lack of responsible journalism.”
When Mr. Carney started at Harvard, he and Peter Chiarelli, another freshman from Ottawa, were assigned rooms on the same corridor. They had hockey, their home country and their middle-class upbringings in common, so they became fast friends.
Chiarelli, now an NHL executive with the St. Louis Blues, is a close friend who calls Carney cheap.
“His study notes were three different levels above everyone else’s study notes,” Mr. Chiarelli says. “It wasn’t a summary, it was substantive questions about what he was learning. So it was almost like he was answering the exam in his study notes.”
Chiarella describes Carney as disciplined and compartmentalized, a system for everything, and a bone-dry wit that snuck up on you.
After graduating from Harvard with an economics degree in 1988, Carney got a job with Goldman Sachs. He worked for the investment firm in London and Tokyo as an analyst in the credit risk department.
In 1991, he left for the University of Oxford to get his master’s and PhD, figuring that would be useful for the public policy career he eventually wanted.
 Mark Carney and his wife Diana Fox: She was a better hockey player than he was. He was co-captain of the Oxford Blues hockey team. Diana Fox, a player on the women’s team, caught his attention when she scored a hat trick over Cambridge. He and the British-born economist married in 1994, and would go on to have four children.
Margaret Meyer, official fellow in economics at Oxford’s Nuffield College, supervised Mr. Carney’s doctoral thesis, which examined how domestic competition might improve the national competitiveness of companies.
His was the longest thesis she ever supervised, and also one of the most quickly completed.
After Oxford, Goldman offered Mr. Carney a job in London, and he stayed at the investment bank for the next decade.
He returned to Canada to work at the Bank of Canada and was loaned to the Finance department to work on the G8 conference. He stayed at Finance until the spring of 2007, when Mr. Dodge the then Governor of the Bank of Canada, announced that he wouldn’t accept a second term as governor. Carney returned to the bank, then took over as Governor in early 2008.
In the fall of 2008, when the bottom fell out with the financial crisis, Carney’s arrival at the bank looked prescient. He had a wide network of financial market contacts, and they viewed him as someone who spoke their language when “the world was falling apart pretty fast,” as Dodge put it.
Carney uses the phrase: “Plan beats no plan.”
This means both that someone needs to take charge, and that picking a plan and running with it is better than dithering forever in search of the perfect plan while the crisis overtakes you. It’s something Mr. Carney learned at Goldman.
“At some point you have to make a decision – you’re never going to have perfect information,” he told The Globe and Mail when he was governor of the Bank of Canada. “People will make mistakes – that’s natural. The issue is not that things turn out wrong. The issue is you’ve made the effort and done the right preparation before you make the call.”
That has been the approach Mark Carney has taken to winning the current federal election.
His French language skills needed a lot of polishing. He polished.
 He learned how to politick on the job. He had little in the way of politicking skills – he got out on the stump and politicked.
The way he did his job while at Brookfield Assets has been a concern to many. The job was to get the best deal he could for the shareholders, and he did that quite well.
The Prime Minister chooses the members of his Cabinet – they serve at his pleasure. He will be a tough task master.
He will make mistakes, but based on what we have seen this man do so far in his career, he will serve the public well if he is elected.
Much of the content in this article was picked up from the Globe and Mail.
By Pepper Parr
April 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Toronto Star has a polling tool they call the Signal.
The dig into the data and produce information that will satisfy any political junkie.
You can place the cursor over any date and see what the seat projection would be for that date.
Set out below is the political party positions as of early this morning, April 25th.
What does that data translate to in terms of House of Commons seats?
Link to the site is:
https://www.voxpoplabs.com/thesignalcom/thesignal
Have fun! The Gazette has a long time reader who said he predicts a landslide Conservative win
By Staff
April 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington’s Mundialization Committee is inviting the community to take part in two free events to celebrate our city’s friendships with its twin cities — Apeldoorn, the Netherlands and Itabashi, Japan.
The events will mark two significant milestones — 20 years of twinning with Apeldoorn, and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Apeldoorn by Canadian soldiers at the end of the Second World War.
 Burlington Teen Tour Band at a previous event in Apeldoorn. The Burlington delegation to Apeldoorn will take place from Friday, May 2 to Tuesday, May 6; it will include representatives from the Mundialization Committee, Mayor Meed Ward, and senior City staff — the media release did not include the names of the full delegation – we will dig that out for you.
The focus is reported to be on commemorative events and ceremonies marking the liberation of the Netherlands and the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The delegation will join a remembrance ceremony at the Canadian war cemetery and take part in a silent walk to Oranjepark on May 4, followed by the Freedom Parade on May 5.
Canada Netherlands Friendship Day will take place at LaSalle Park Pavilion, 50 North Shore Blvd. E. – Saturday, May 24 – 10 – 11:30 a.m. – Event – 11:30 a.m. – Reception
Open to the public, the event will mark the 20th anniversary of Burlington’s twinning with Apeldoorn — a friendship rooted in a shared history, remembrance and the promotion of peace.
Features of the event include:
- Welcome messages from Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Mr. Harman Idema, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Elizabeth Witmer, former Deputy Premier and Past Chair, WSIB
- Performances by the Burlington Teen Tour Band and Enchorus Children’s Choir
- A special exhibit of artwork created by Burlington and Apeldoorn elementary school students
The Itabashi, Japan relationship events will take place Saturday, May 10, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
 The Sakura Festival will take place at the Performing Arts Centre in the Family Lobby.
The spring arrival of the Japanese cherry blossoms at Spencer Smith Park always highlight Burlington’s 36-year friendship with our twin city, Itabashi, Japan.
Features of this event include:
- Performances by Burlington’s Do Kon Daiko Japanese drumming group and internationally renowned taiko group Nagata Shachu
- Karate, aikido and iaido demonstrations
- Suzuran odori (traditional dance) performances
- Yosakoi dance by Sakuramai Toronto
By Pepper Parr
April 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 Rendering of the 409 development Same site – different owner.
This development was originally filed by Reserve Properties Ltd. project for 401, 403, 405, 409, 411 and 413 Brant St., 444, 448 and 450 John St. and 2002 and 2012 James St. It is now in the hands of 409 Brant Street Limited.
This tower is on the south-east corner of Brant and John Street. On the north-east side of John the 27 story tower has residents
The corner of each building is cut away to give people a wider sense of what is across the street and to take away the sense that you have 27 storey rising above you.
Public art is expected to be in that open space for each building.
This developer is asking to have the zoning modified from what was previously approved as follows:
Reduce the parking rate to 0.74 parking spaces per residential unit (overall number of parking spaces),
Reduce the parking stall dimensions,
Reduce the second-floor height from 3.8 metres to 3.7 metres,
Reduce setbacks to the parking structure and
Increase the overall building height from 65m to 66 m to make room for a mechanical penthouse.”
 The reshaping of the east side of Brant Street  This is the tower opposite City Hall on the north-east corner of Brant and John. While this is a new application for the same development. All of the items that will be permitted in their previous approved application do not change. They have asked for some additional zoning amendments for specific items in the development.
Public Engagement will be in the form of a Statutory public meeting and recommendation report on May 13, 2025, 9:30 a.m. – it will be a Virtual Meeting held in hybrid format.
What will happen to Kelly’s Bake Shop – sooner or later the wrecking ball will take it apart
By Pepper Parr
April 24th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The library has taken up a lot of the news space.
Their participation in the CBC Ideas program this evening is worth listening to – your library is part of a national discussion on what democracy means and how libraries are part of communicating that story. CBC IDEAS at 8:00 pm this evening.
Now on to the federal election, the national leaders and the candidates at the local level.
 The Click on feature has been disabled. You can access that level of detail at 338Canada.com
Our decision to focus on just the Conservative party and the Liberal party will offend many. It is a matter of resources – we just don’t have the time to cover candidates from other political parties other than giving them a polite mention.
More than 7.3 million people voted during the four day weekend with two million voting on Good Friday; highest vote ever recorded in one day.
Citizens are clearly engaged and the race gets tighter each day.
We will publish a piece on both Pierre Poilievre and Mark Carney and then publish a piece on Karina Gould and then Emily Brown.
The statement by President Trump early this morning on his view that Canada should become the 51st American state sharpens just what the election issue is about.
And then leave it to the people who make a point of voting to cast their ballots and wait for the results on the 28th
 By Staff
April 24th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington Public Library leaders are speaking out about the role of libraries in democracy as part of a new CBC series, Ideas for a Better Canada.
 The episode airs on CBC News Network and CBC Gem today, April 24, and focuses on intellectual freedom. The series is hosted by journalist and bestselling author Nahlah Ayed. In it, she interviews guests from across the country about the health of our democracy and local solutions that can inspire national change.
“Burlington Public Library was honoured to be one of four stops in this cross-Canada series on the future of our democracy,” says Lita Barrie, CEO, Burlington Public Library. “In our increasingly polarized society, there’s a unique role for the Library to protect our freedom to read and bring together people and ideas to build community.”
 A capacity crowd took part in the recording of a CBC IDEAS production on democracy in Canada and how it is practiced at libraries across the country. In the Burlington episode, Barrie and Director of Service Design and Innovation Meg Uttangi Matsos speak about how the Library supports your freedom to read by providing uncensored access to information and resources. The episode also features Ira Wells, journalist, academic, and author of On Book Banning, to discuss the rise of book bans and challenges across North America.
“The freedom to choose what information you access and form your own ideas and opinions is crucial to democracy,” says Barrie. “When members of the community can discover and explore a breadth of topics and perspectives, civic engagement thrives. It’s our responsibility as a Library to uphold that access.”
The episode was recorded at BPL’s Central Branch last month, live in front of an audience of more than 100 community members. The series is produced in partnership with the Samara Centre for Democracy. It can be listened to for free on CBC Radio or watched on CBC Gem.
 By Staff
April 24th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The energy was electric at Burlington Public Library’s Central Branch during this year’s Burlington Grand Battle of the Books tournament. Teams brought their A-game to a fun-filled morning of fierce (but friendly!) competition, cheered on by proud families, enthusiastic friends, and dedicated coaches.
A huge congratulations to Sacred Heart of Jesus (Junior) and St. Raphael (Senior), who claimed top honours in their divisions after thrilling matchups with John T. Tuck (Junior) and Ascension (Senior). And a BIG thank you and applause to all the readers and participating schools that took part in Battle this year—your hard work, team spirit, and love of books were truly spectacular!
 These are the members of the 2025 winning Junior Team: Sacred Heart of Jesus; they also won in 2024.
The Junior Teams were: Ascension, Burlington Christian Academy, Charles R. Beaudoin, Florence Meares, Frontenac, John W. Boich, John T. Tuck, Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Anne, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael.
 Members of the Senior Team from St. Raphael; known as The Page Turners. The Senior Teams were from: Ascension, Burlington Christian Academy, Charles R. Beaudoin, Florence Meares, Frontenac, John W. Boich, John T. Tuck, Sacred Heart of Jesus, and St. Raphael.
The teams now go on to the Regional Battle of the Books Championship against other Halton teams at Halton Hills Public Library in May!
By Staff
April 23rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
FAST FACTS:
Number of staff FTE – 140
Number of books on shelves – BPL’s Collection totals 345,352 items – 305,662 physical items on the shelves
Number of videos on shelves – DVD’s comprise of 11% of BPL annual checkouts.
How many people hold a library card – 93,322 Active Library Card holders (i.e used within the last 2 years)
By Pepper Parr
April 23rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
 It was the finals for the Battle of the Books; a public library program that started with twenty schools and was now down to the finals for the Junior teams – grades 3 to 5 and the Senior’s – grades 6 to 8.
John T. Tuck and Sacred Heart of Jesus were the semi-finalists in the Junior teams
St. Raphael and Ascension were the semi-finals in the Senior level.
Sacred Heart of Jesus won the Junior level for the second year in a row.
 Battle of the Books judges: from the left Deepti, Jamie and Sarah. It was not an easy task. More detail tomorrow with pictures of the winners.
Great to watch the kids collaborating to come up with the answers to the questions.
 By Jen Carera
April 23rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Canadian Football League (CFL) is once again striving for inclusivity and gender diversity in its operations. KPMG’s Women in Football program announced its selection for 2025.
This year, nine experienced women were selected – one for each CFL team – to work alongside football operations staff in a four-week internship. For Burlington sports fans and future professionals, this initiative means a great deal: football has long been a male-dominated sport where women have been underrepresented. This initiative is looking to close the gender gap.
 Girls playing soccer in Burlington The “Women in Football” program has enabled the CFL to reach new target groups and increase spectator participation. In a field traditionally associated with masculinity and toughness, this initiative marks a forward-looking change: the focus is now primarily on competence, dedication, and new perspectives that actively promote the growth and development of the game. The selected participants not only get the chance to demonstrate their skills in a professional environment, but also help to break down outdated structures.
Since the start of the program, there has been a significant increase in viewer participation — female fans in particular find this inclusive approach more appealing. Interest in betting on CFL has also increased in parallel. The betting industry has adapted to this development: Bets can now be placed on all nine CFL teams. This creates an interesting addition to the familiar NFL markets. Fans have the opportunity to bet on various types of bets, such as point spread, moneyline, or special bets. Bets can be placed both during the regular season and during the playoffs and the traditional Grey Cup.
With such positive feedback, the CFL continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to building an inclusive, diverse, and accessible professional environment. By fostering a culture of collaboration, respect, and equality, the league strives to create a workplace where every voice is heard and ideas are evaluated on their merit, regardless of background. This approach not only strengthens team dynamics but also reflects the CFL’s role as a progressive institution in Canadian society.
In keeping with these values, the CFL’s Women in Football program opens up new opportunities for women to enter and succeed in professional football. This initiative opens the doors for qualified and motivated women to participate in the development of football and make a significant contribution to the growth of the sport across the country.
The program is anchored in four key pillars. The nine participants begin by immersing themselves in the day-to-day operations of their team, where they gain essential knowledge and insights through observation and guided mentorship. They are then encouraged to translate this learning into action. This means contributing directly to the tasks and objectives of their role. Constructive feedback supports their development, helping refine both technical skills and strategic thinking. Last but not least is preparation, which ensures that participants leave with not only experience but also the tools, connections, and confidence to pursue their future career opportunities in football or related industries.
 Mentoring is critical. The program is supposed to help the nine participants enhance their skills beyond the field. Through business-focused mentorship, each participant is matched with a mentor who provides ongoing guidance in leadership, communication, and career development. This approach exposes the nine women to professional sports and corporate dynamics and helps them build a well-rounded skillset that can support a variety of future roles.
Meanwhile, residents in Burlington are concerned about the declining participation of girls in club sports. According to The Rally Report, girls across the country are significantly more likely to drop out of sports than boys. The nationwide study, which surveyed girls ages 6 to 18, found that one in three girls quit sports by late adolescence. In comparison, only one in ten boys stops playing sports by the same age. Even more disturbing is that up to 62% of teenage girls in Canada no longer play on a team.
By creating a foundation for women to rise to positions of influence, the CFL and KPMG are setting an example of how meaningful change can take place in sports culture. Not through symbolic gestures, but through structured, targeted programs that empower participants.
For aspiring sports professionals in Burlington, especially women who have graduated with degrees in kinesiology, sports business, or coaching, initiatives like this are inspiring. It’s not uncommon for graduates to look uncertainly at the professional leagues because they don’t know how to break into this seemingly narrow world. With its program, the CFL is making it clear that women are not only allowed access to the professional leagues, but they are also supported. The program shares its structured approach that rewards achievement and passion, and gives young women the courage to invest in themselves.
 This is what the Canadian Football league is all about. It doesn’t get better than this. Despite progress, women’s participation in sports remains insufficient. In cities like Burlington, where youth sports are an established part of community life, the Women in Football program has planted a seed and raises important questions about how local programs can be made more inclusive and supportive for girls as well. A study by BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation shows that physical activity has a positive impact on teenagers’ self-confidence.
Furthermore, sport plays a crucial role in building resilience and leadership skills. These qualities are essential for future career success. This means that ensuring that girls stay in the game is not just a matter of equity, but an investment in the social and economic future of the whole community.
As the CFL prepares for a competitive season on the field, programs like this are ensuring that behind the scenes, the attitude towards female leadership continues to evolve. Slowly but surely, Canada’s fields are becoming more inclusive, more dynamic, and more reflective.
 By Staff
April23rd, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The MAD people (Millcroft Against Development) called it a community gathering – not a demonstration. They hoped Premier Ford wil show up – unlikely.
 When (and if) the development of 98 additional homes is completed, the pond will no longer be needed and will disappear. They have announced a change in location – changed to the Millcroft Mill on the corner of Country Club and Upper Middle
Fences are up; surveillance is installed. Trees could be coming down soon. The developer is setting the stage to get started on building as soon as they complete the conditions of the OLT decision from June 2024.
He is already crossing the finish line, hoping we have given up.
Join us on Saturday, April 26 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm for a Community Assembly
 By Staff
April 23rd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Bruce Trail Conservancy advises that a controlled burn will be taking place at the site of Fisher’s Pond located off Cedar Springs Road in Burlington on Wednesday, April 23.
Smoke may be visible in near-by areas.
By Staff
April 23, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Library sent out the following statement a number of months ago:
“We live in an era of eroding democracy where polarization is increasingly fracturing our sense of a shared reality” adding that “ there’s a growing sense that our political system prioritizes short-term gains over the long-term health of our democracy.”
The CBC program, IDEAS decided to host a series of cross-Canada discussions that focus on local solutions with the potential to inspire national change.
Moderated by Nahlah Ayed, the discussions were to take place in Burlington, Charlottetown, Edmonton and Nanaimo, BC.
 Lita Barrie (CEO, Burlington Public Library), Sabreena Delhon (CEO, The Samara Centre for Democracy), Meg Uttangi Matsos (Director, Service Design & Innovation, BPL), Nahlah Ayed (Host, CBC’s IDEAS), and Ira Wells (Professor, University of Toronto, critic & author). Local innovators/thinkers/storytellers in each community came together for conversations that explore the next chapter of Canada’s democracy. In Burlington that included library CEO Lita Barrie and Ira Wells, a Professor, University of Toronto, critic & author).
The program will be broadcast on CBC’s IDEAS on Thursday April 24th at 8:00 pm
The series is part of CBC Collab fund and in partnership with the Samara Centre for Democracy.
Libraries are a target in the culture wars raging across the continent. Yet they define themselves as a place to give all people access “to the widest possible variety of expressive content.”
As upholders of intellectual freedom, can libraries remind Canadians what democracy is all about, and which values are still worth fighting for?
By Olivia Sabell
April 23rd, 2025
BURLINGTON. ON
Online casinos have been a revelation in the gambling world since the beginning of the 21st century. Canada has been one of the strongest global economies throughout this period. Still, it wasn’t until recently that Canadian provinces warmed to regulating and taxing online casinos.
 In Canada casinos are regulated by the province they are located in with Ontario having the best regulations. It has been a global surge that has pulled many countries along with it. Unlike the UK, which was one of the first countries to regulate online casinos nationally, Canada’s provincial and fractured regulatory landscape meant that the rise of online casinos has taken a different trajectory.
It’s essential to distinguish between the federal regulations in Canada and the provincial bodies that oversee gambling competitions, including online casinos, but also encompass other gambling games, such as lotteries and sports betting.
Over the last decade, this has shaped the casino market in neighboring America rather than their European counterparts. Today, we will look at some nuances in the Canadian casino market and how they have affected the current market.
A changing landscape
In the late 1980s, Canada created a new landscape for land-based casinos. The first land-based casino opened in Winnipeg and became an entertainment venue featuring restaurants, hotels and other amenities.
A few years later, Montreal got in on the action. Although the first online casino emerged just a year after that, many within the casino industry were skeptical that the internet had a lasting place in the gambling world.
In the 1990s, few people had home PCs, and internet connections were slow and extremely expensive. It was a digital world of message boards and bookshops – the internet wasn’t the ubiquitous presence we see today in modern society.
Online casinos, of course, quickly proved to be a challenging, disruptive market for the traditional industry. The cost of accessing the internet decreased dramatically and the speed of connectivity soared, bringing tens of millions of people online within just a few years.
The global market’s interconnectivity meant that the best online casinos in Canada were companies establishing a presence in several other international markets. It became such a crowded and competitive market that experts started compiling reviews and assessments of the sites they believed stood out in this growing, saturated market.
Navigating local regulation in a global market
While the internet has introduced a range of innovations, it has proved to be a regulatory headache for governing bodies that look to provide oversight. Instrumental social media companies have shown just how difficult it can be to provide broad policing and taxation to markets that span dozens of countries, and online casinos have faced a similar fate.
By the early 2010s, propped up by the success of the online gambling market that had emerged in the UK, lobbyists and influential figures in online gambling were tirelessly searching for ways to get online casinos into the North American market, the biggest continental market.
Although the federal laws oversee the gambling market and its legality, they have devolved the regulatory powers to 13 different provincial governing bodies. While most of them are similar, it’s always a good idea to check the legality of online gambling in your province before you decide to sit down and play a casino game.
A rise in convenience
 As soon as online casinos proved to be an alternative that was just as secure and as reliable as a land-based provider, interest in this new form of gambling soared. There was a time before the advent of the internet when Canadian casino gamers would have to pack a bag, head down to the airport and fly to the US to scratch their gambling itch. However, online casinos meant Canadians could do this without leaving their homes. As soon as online casinos proved to be an alternative that was just as secure and as reliable as a land-based provider, interest in this new form of gambling soared..
Generally speaking, though, Canadians have only been able to access legal and regulated online gambling markets since this century, when regulatory changes allowed some of the world’s biggest sports betting companies to set up shop on Canada’s digital shores.
However, in the mid-2000s, a black market emerged in Canada, with millions of dollars’ worth of bets placed with offshore companies. This market forced the hand of regulators to some extent, as it was simply too difficult to police. Regulating, taxing and cycling these funds into community development projects became the only viable route.
The smartphone era
If online casinos weren’t convenient enough, the mid-2010s saw the rise of gaming apps and mobile gaming. Those who played at online casinos on their home PCs or laptops now had an even more convenient option: playing on the move via their iPads, tablets or smartphones.
This rise wasn’t unique to the Canadian market. Smartphones have transformed everything about our lives; we’re sure you don’t need us to tell you that. Online casinos simply surfed the crest of the wave that presented a fresh opportunity for their casinos to expand, and the rise in usage among Canadian customers was a microcosm of what was happening in the global iGaming market.
As the competition heated up, online casinos searched for ways to incentivize these promotions, offering free spins, matched deposits and other cost-effective promotions to get people to their sites ahead of the competition.
Final thoughts
 VR gaming could well be the next technological advance that takes the sport to new heights. Although Canada opted for a provincial and localized approach to regulation, many trends that resulted in the rise of online casinos are attributed to the broader pull of the global market. Countries like the UK pioneered their digital legislation in the early 2000s, creating a foundation whereby online casinos could launch their brands into the international market.
The UK tax base soared, generating tens of billions of pounds over the subsequent decade. Canada is a little behind in this curve, but the numbers are equally promising, especially if we combine online casinos with sportsbooks and lotteries as part of the complete market.
This trend will likely continue to adapt to technology over the next decade. It may take the form of VR gaming, further integration of AI, or casinos focusing on the rise of digital payment options; it could also be a combination of any of these aspects.
However, now that the sector has an appropriate regulatory framework and the number of Canadians accessing online casinos continues to rise, expect to see quick changes and serious growth over the next decade as it begins to take shape in a legal market.
By Staff
April 22nd, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Planned (weather dependent) operating dates for the 2025 outdoor pool season.
The planned operating dates are as follows:
Facility Operating Dates
 Nelson Pool & Splash Park Nelson Pool & Splash Park
(4235 New Street)
Saturday, May 24 to Tuesday, September 2
*to accommodate a PA day for HDSB
Mountainside Pool & Splash Park
(2205 Mount Forest Drive)
Saturday, June 7 to Sunday, September 21
 LaSalle wading pool LaSalle Wading pool
(50 North Shore Boulevard)
Saturday, June 14 to Monday, September 1
Extended Outdoor Pool Season
This year, the City is extending the outdoor pool season by opening earlier and closing later.
This change aims to improve access, maximize the use of our beautiful outdoor amenities, and make the most of warmer weather and higher temperatures. If the weather conditions are unfavourable, we reserve the right to close the pools earlier.
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By Anthony Lucas”
Players can find the highest paying slots in Canada by visiting casino sites that are known to provide the best RTP slots. These include brands like Yukon Gold Casino, Captain Cooks Casino, Luxury Casino, Zodiac Casino, and Golden Tiger Casino.
Players can go through reviews of trusted Canadian casinos to see what others are saying about specific casinos and if they recommend any player-approved slots before making a choice. They should only pick casinos with consistently high praise for their payouts, customer support, transparency, and gaming experience.
