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June 24th, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON No word yet on who the four Commissioners set out in the most recent organization chart the city released last week We however now know that the City Clerk will report to the Corporate Solicitor; that being Blake Hurley The reporting structure for the Clerk position is not prescribed in the Municipal Act.
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June 24th, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
As Toronto prepares to host one of the world’s largest Pride events on Sunday, June 30th, Metrolinx wants to remind customers to plan ahead and consider taking transit to this month’s festivities. Customers can also take advantage of the Metrolinx $10 weekend day online passes that allows you to GO wherever you want. Riders can also transfer for free with One Fare between GO Transit and TTC.
Since 2014, Metrolinx has introduced a Pride-themed GO Bus design each June to celebrate and commemorate Pride Month. This month, we unveiled a new look for the 2024 Pride GO Bus. The custom-wrapped, double decker bus has been in service since June 1, and can be spotted on June 30th alongside our dedicated Metrolinx employees participating in the Toronto Pride Parade, as they did last year.
The designer of this year’s wrap is Tim Singleton, a senior integrated design specialist at Metrolinx’s Marketing division. He explains that the inspiration this year’s design is a testament to the richness and diversity of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, drawing the colour palette from the Pride Progress flag.
June 23rd, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
The Conservation Halton Board has announced the appointment of Chandra Sharma as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer. Chandra will begin her term with Conservation Halton on September 9, 2024.  Chandra Sharma new Chief Executive Officer Chandra will begin her term on September 9, 2024. Sharma has spent over two decades supporting the mandate of Ontario’s conservation authorities. In her current role as Chief Administrative Officer of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Chandra has successfully led transformative initiatives to advance strategic planning with sound performance measures, strengthen government and stakeholder relations, and enhance long-term financial sustainability while reducing reliance on municipal levy. She is also a member of both the Canadian Institute of Planners and Ontario Professional Planners Institute and serves on the Board of Conservation Ontario, the umbrella agency representing Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities. In previous senior leadership roles held with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Chandra saw to the effective development and implementation of cross-sectoral watershed management programs in Canada’s largest urban centre, with a continuous focus on strategic partnerships and community engagement. The naming of Chandra Sharma as Conservation Halton’s new CEO follows a three-month long selection process and Canada-wide search. Recruitment began after predecessor Hassaan Basit announced in February that he would be joining the City of Burlington as City Manager—a role which he assumed in April 2024 following an outstanding career at Conservation Halton spanning almost 20 years. Incoming CEO Chandra Sharma will work closely with Conservation Halton’s interim leader, Barbara Veale, to ensure a smooth transition of duties. Barbara Veale is Conservation Halton’s Senior Director of Watershed Management and Climate Change and has been serving as Acting Chief Administrative Officer since April 2024. ABOUT CONSERVATION HALTON Conservation Halton is the community-based environmental agency that protects, restores and manages the natural resources in its watershed. The organization has staff that includes ecologists, land use planners, engineers, foresters and educators, along with a network of volunteers, who are guided by a Board of Directors comprised of municipally elected and appointed citizens. Conservation Halton is recognized for its stewardship of creeks, forests and Niagara Escarpment lands through science-based programs and services. You can visit the website at www.conservationhalton.ca
June 23rdm 2024 BURLINGTON, ON “We were worried this stunt would be pulled by Premier Ford and the Ontario government… This is a manufactured crisis and we feel it’s an abuse of power,” (Jason Ash – Save Ontario’s Science Centre) This Science Center fiasco is clearly weighing on Mr. Ford’s conscience. And like the bully he is, he has gone to great lengths to try to silence criticism…..
The science centre had been an important part of our children’s education and a great attraction for visitors. It’ll be a different experience when it re-opens in its much more limited capacity at least four years from now. “I read the report; it says nothing about closing the Science Centre,” (Elsa Lam, editor of Canadian Architect Magazine).
Background: Outrage –
June 22nd, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre met with the team at Burlington Able Sail to hear more about the $81,700 Capital grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). “Able Sail has been doing a fantastic job giving people of all abilities and cognition the chance to experience the fun of sailing,” said Natalie Pierre, MPP for Burlington. “This grant from the provincial government’s OTF Capital fund will allow Able Sail to purchase a new purpose-built boat and specialized equipment that will enhance accessibility, safety and encourage people of all physical abilities to enjoy summer on the water.”
The funding will allow the purchase of a new purpose-built sailboat, a new Coach/Safety power boat and an electrical assist system for the sailboat to allow for Joystick or Sip and Puff control while sailing. Thanks to this specialized sailing equipment, Burlington Able Sail will be able to improve their accessibility and provide safe, reliable access to outdoor recreation for people with physical and cognitive limitations. “This funding is a tremendous boost to the continuing operations of Burlington Able Sail” said Jim McDonnell, President of Burlington Able Sail, acknowledging that this funding goes a long way to provide affordable recreation for persons living with disabilities.  The front row included, left to right, Ed Daniels and Liz Rideout, both Volunteers, Jim McDonnell, President, Burlington Able Sail, Thomas Fletcher and Enuri Dissanayake, both Staff. In the back row, Ian Groves-Pagnotta, Staff, Tom France, Operations Manager, Burlington Able Sail, Keegan Shea and Owen Vince, also Staff. Burlington Able Sail has provided sailing and sail training for persons of all ages and with a wide variety of cognitive and physical limitations for over 20 years in partnership with LaSalle Park Community Marina, Burlington Sailing and Boating Club, Canada Summer Jobs, Rotary International, and many others. “Whether it’s helping people learn new things, connect with their community, or simply have fun, organizations like Burlington Able Sail deliver experiences that make a difference,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “That’s why grant support through the Ontario Trillium Foundation is so important. This funding will help ensure they remain at the heart of the community for decades to come.” The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
June 22, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
Latest from City Hall on the new organization chart. “As we work through these changes, we’re clarifying some terminology internally. Here’s how we’ll refer to these areas going forward: “Divisions are external-facing service areas. We have 4 of these, including Public Works, Development and Growth Management, Legal and Legislative Services, and Community Services. Each Division is led by a Commissioner. “Departments reflect corporate services, including Finance, HR, Digital Services, and Strategy, Performance and Risk. They are led by the CFO, CHRO, CIO, and CTO respectively. “The Head of Corporate Affairs is an administrative role that oversees a number of departments, roles, and functions within the CAO’s office. These include Communications & Engagement, Government Relations, and Internal Audit.” Some observations on the clarification.  Mayor Meed Ward keeping a close eye on new CAO Hassaan Basit at the podium. The CAO, known more colloquially as the City Manger, and the only person City Council gets to hire or fire. A bit of clarification on that – the Mayor is the only person who can fire the City Manager, because she has Strong Mayor Power. The critical missing parts – who are the Commissioners? No names have been released to date, despite several requests. A concern that many have is the city does not have that many people on staff with the experience and qualifications that would be needed by whoever is going to be serving as a Commissioner. Poaching these people from some other municipality? That would raise more than eyebrows. It appears getting this new org plan in place is being done on the fly. We know that it has been in the works for some time – for just how long is not yet clear. This new organization has yet to be discussed at Council; they would (one hopes) have been advised. Staff at City Hall have the summer to get used to the structure and figure out who works with who and how do they work when two departments are involved. While the decisions are in the hands of the CAO he does have a Mayor with Strong Mayor Powers to deal with. The form of engagement that Burlington uses has been more than a concern for Gazette readers. We note how Hassaan Basit has kept all those “functions within the CAO’s office”. That could be good if it turns out to mean that he wants to bring about a change in the way City Hall staff engage with the public. While he was President and CAO at Conservation Halton Basit looked for and found ways to engage the public. It will take a few months to see if that practice is going to be part of what he brings to City Hall. Getting information to the public on this new org setup has been wobbly – let’s put that to a part of the learning process for the Communications people. Learning just who the Commissioners are going to be is the next step.
June 21st, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
Kelso Cove Waterpark opens on June 29th at the Kelso Reservoir! Conservation Halton is celebrating summer with the opening of a new inflatable waterpark that is a 50′ x 170′ island offering visitors the chance to bounce their way through 26+ features and obstacles all under the watchful eyes of our NLS certified lifeguards.  It’s an inflatable park set in the reservoir water. In addition to Kelso Cove Waterpark, visitors can plan a full day of fun at Kelso Conservation Area including boat rentals, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, picnicing, challenge course (including aerial ropes, climbing tower and archery), and more! The waterpark will be open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm with timeslots throughout the day to book, the last being at 5:00 pm. To avoid disappointment, it is recommended to prebook your visit online in advance. This new attraction is one of many exciting things to do at Kelso Conservation Area! In addition to Kelso Cove Waterpark, visitors can plan a full day of fun at the park including boat rentals, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, picnicing, challenge course (including aerial ropes, climbing tower and archery), and more!
June 21st, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
We learned yesterday that there were significant changes to the way staff are being organized. The title of Executive Director will no longer be used. That has been replaced by Commissioners – there are four of them. We have yet to learn the names of these Commissioners. We reported earlier that there would be nine Commissioners, that was the information we were given. When we received the org chart set out below – the number of Commissioners is just four with five other units headed up by a Chief. We don’t yet know who the person is behind the title.
First news from City hall – wasn’t totally correct
June 21st, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
Things are getting interesting at Burlington’s public libraries. Phrases like “quiver in anticipation” now appear in some of the media releases. There appears to be a new spokes person – Lady Paperback, who is promoting the offering of 100 extra digital loans of the Bridgerton novel that fans have been buzzing over since Netflix released its most recent season of the hit show. The Library will offer the bonus copies of “Romancing Mister Bridgerton”—the fourth novel in author Julia Quinn’s wildly popular regency romance series—starting June 21. They made the announcement in a cheeky social media video, inspired by Bridgerton’s sleuthing narrator, Lady Whistledown. Dearest Gentle Reader, It appears that the latest instalment of the Bridgerton television series has set the ton abuzz with excitement—Burling-TON, that is.  “… quiver in anticipation…” So much so, in fact, that bibliophiles in our fine city are clamouring to read the novel that inspired much of this season’s tempestuous plot between Miss Penelope Featherington and Mr. Colin Bridgerton. Reliable sources tell this author that more than 50 of you have requested a copy of Romancing Mister Bridgerton since Netflix dispensed its most recent masterpiece. You do love a passionate romance! What scandal. Fear not, however, dear readers. I, unlike Lady Whistledown, would never reveal the names of those who seek to get their hands on this titillating tale. While you quiver in anticipation of season four, might I suggest a frolic through the Library’s historical romance collection? You’ve plenty of time for reading whilst Shondaland crafts its next eight episodes. See you in the stacks. Yours truly, Lady Paperback There is now a Reignited Interest in the Bridgerton Books. Burlington Public Library welcomes renewed interest in books sparked by the popularity of their television and movie adaptations. It’s a chance to introduce more people to the love of reading. “People have strong feelings about books versus movie and TV adaptations, especially if they’ve read the book first,” says Elise Copps, BPL’s Director of Communications and Engagement. “But we see it as a chance to connect with folks who aren’t already avid readers. When a series or film based on a book surges in popularity, it creates a wonderful spin off of interest in the book.” The Library has seen this phenomenon with titles and franchises including Bridgerton, of course, The Hunger Games, Where the Crawdads Sing, and many others. Get Fast Access to Romancing Mister BridgertonThe extra digital loans of “Romancing Mister Bridgerton” will be available on eBook and eAudiobook for BPL members starting June 21. Library cardholders can access them first come, first served, on the Library’s eBook platform, OverDrive and on OverDrive’s app, Libby. Readers can also branch out beyond Bridgerton with a full list of regency romances, curated by Library staff.
June 21st, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
Starting tonight on June 21, Lakeshore West train service will be temporarily modified until end of service on Sunday, June 23 for critical track work that will bring faster, more frequent service across the network. During this weekend, Lakeshore West rail service will only run hourly between Union Station and Oakville GO.
Service between Oakville GO and West Harbour GO will be replaced by GO buses and the following Niagara Falls GO service adjustment will also occur during this time:
GO Bus connection times will also be adjusted and there may be longer than usual wait times. Customers are encouraged to check schedules before travelling. For more information about Lakeshore West line service adjustments, click HERE.
June 21st, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
Any opportunity to involve young people in what is taking place in the community has to be welcomed. Like everything else this one has an acronym: – the MPP’s Youth Council (MPPYC).It’s a youth council spearheaded by Effie Triantafilopoulos, the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Oakville North – Burlington.
How it can be non-partisan when it was formed by the sitting member of a political party is a stretch but at least the members are involved. The group’s initiatives include: Community Service Projects: Engaging in various community service activities such as tree planting, elderly care initiatives, and fundraising efforts for local charities. Leadership Workshops: Hosting workshops focused on leadership development, communication skills, and teamwork. Youth Forums/Discussions: Facilitating discussions where young people can express their opinions on local issues and propose solutions. Advocacy Campaigns: Initiating campaigns on topics such as mental health awareness, education accessibility, and environmental sustainability. Networking Events: Organizing social events and mentorship programs to connect young people with community leaders and professionals. Educational Initiatives: Collaborating with schools to provide resources and workshops aimed at supporting academic success and career development. The MPPYC is currently recruiting members for the inaugural cohort. Eligible candidates must be high school students in Oakville North – Burlington. The application period is open from June 1 to September 30, 2024. Click HERE for MPPYC membership application form. Arthur Chao is the Founder and President of MPPYC
June 20th, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
What happens when you ask Burlington City Council for a zero percent tax increase, does the sky fall? I learned recently that City council has decided that existing taxpayers are going to pay for services required by people who will be moving into new homes and condominiums in the not too distant future. Council has pledged to build 29,000 homes by 2031 when the population will have grown the city from 200,000 to 265,000 people. That’s a lot of community centers, arenas, cricket fields, and bike lanes. Yes, bike lanes because the stated policy is no road widening to handle increases in traffic volumes. You can listen to the comments made by Hassaan Basit, our new city manager, Click HERE as he describes the chicken and egg problem council has solved by building out services now, before the population increases. It runs to four minutes + but if you want to understand why taxes are going to increase – this is an important read. My question is: “if we pay, in advance through our property taxes for these new services, will we get a rebate when the development charges roll into the city coffers? We’ll pay for the new services and then learn to love gridlock as Burlington becomes Toronto without the subways. Should existing residents be forced to pay for services for new residents? The mantra in Ontario has always been “growth pays for growth”, meaning development charges and property taxes from new housing pays for services for new residents. “Growth pays for growth” is a slogan often repeated by municipal members of council in Ontario and used to justify Development Charges. It is a guiding principle indicating an intent to make buyers of new homes pay for the cost of expanding municipal services to their location, rather than making existing homeowners (and voter base) pay for it through increased property taxes and user fees. It is related to the principle of “benefiter pays”, meaning infrastructure costs should be paid by those who will use and benefit from the installation of the services.” Mayor Meed Ward was in the practice of saying growth does not pay for growth. Before everyone comments on how Doug Ford cut the development charges, and there were cuts to those charges for affordable and attainable housing, city hall is building out services well before developers are building housing. Look at the Bateman community center, a $100 million-plus investment. If the Alinea project at Appleby and Fairview adds 25,000 new residents as reported here does that make Sherwood Park or developer-provided land within walking distance, a more logical place for a community center? Google Maps estimates the walk time from Appleby and Fairview to Bateman at 25 minutes. With over 25,000 people living near Appleby and Fairview the drive time may be even longer. Want to hit the gym on the way to work, good luck, you’ll be stuck in traffic. My point is, if the city had waited for the population to increase, there may have been a more logical location for a new community center. School Boards won’t build a school until enough children are in the neighbourhood. Are we, existing residents, willing to accept housing first and services second or are we willing to accept that we’ll pay for the services, for new residents, now instead of waiting for new residents along with their development charges and tax dollars? In the linked video above the Mayor asks staff:  Mayor Meed Ward asks: What a zero budget would do in terms of cutting service, or elsewhere, cutting capital, drawing down reserves and … Would people still want it knowing what that would mean. “So we had a delegate and several pieces of correspondence suggesting that we get to zero increase and I’m wondering whether staff can tell us what that would do because there are certain things that we’re committed to for example union contracts, that’s about half our staff, things have to go up for that, there’s inflationary pressures and so forth, so there are some costs that we’re committed to or you know we’re legislated to do so right away we’d be looking at cutting somewhere. Would people still want it knowing what that would mean, I don’t know if it’s possible for you to simulate what a zero budget would do in terms of cutting service, or elsewhere, cutting capital, drawing down reserves, I’d be interested to at least be able to share that with the committee because they have asked us and so we can say this is what it would be are you still on it, they may be, some may well be, they have other suggestions for where they’d like to cut.”  City Manager Hassaan Basit “we are not a zero percent growth municipality that’s the simple answer.” Basit started his response with “.. it can be done, however we’re then going to get back into the sky is falling narrative because then it actually will be falling”. Basit made it clear: “we are not a zero percent growth municipality – that’s the simple answer.” Burlington accepted the province’s housing pledge. The province’s Building Faster fund will provide Burlington with money if the housing targets are met. The fund is providing $400 million a year, for three years, to the 29 communities that accepted the pledge and achieved over 80% of their annual target. As of February 2024 here is how Burlington was doing:
After Basit spoke, not a single councillor challenged the sky will fall narrative. Whose interests are our elected officials representing? In the private sector ideas like a hiring freeze, or a no consultants policy, might be considered but in Burlington the sky will fall. We’ll have to wait to see what services will be cut, leaf collection, snow plowing, close the community centers … Thankfully water, sewer and garbage collection are still with Halton Region. Here is an example. The live and play plan presented to our council on June 10th, 2024 is available here. The plan calls for a re-imaging of Central Park. The plan appears to be to tear down all the existing structures and build new ones.
I can’t find the costs associated with this plan. The community is asked for input without the costs being front and center. If Central Park is going to be reimagined through development charges then it might be something to think about, if Central Park is going to be reimagined through tax increases on existing residents then it might be something to not think about. Pages 129 through 144 of the Live and Play Plan outline millions of dollars in external consulting costs, for many projects, but excludes construction estimates.
The engagement plans I have seen never start with – this project is expected to cost. Another complaint, engagement plans rarely have a do-nothing option. My last two questions: What happens if all the new development takes much longer to materialize than our visionary council has imagined? Who is leading the way we grow – city staff, council, or the electorate? Actually the province has determined the rate at which the population is going to grow. It is the city that determines how much money it has to raise through taxes to pay for that growth.
June 20th, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
Conservation Halton advises that up to 25 mm of rain has fallen over the past hour in isolated areas within our jurisdiction. Environment Canada has issued Severe Thunderstorm Warnings throughout Halton Region, citing that heavy downpours with total rainfall amounts in excess of 50 mm are possible this evening.  Water levels in watershed creeks will rise significantly. Caution around the edges of creeks – especially with children. Widespread flooding is not anticipated, however fast flowing water and flooding of low-lying areas and natural floodplains may be expected. Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to keep a safe distance from all watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks continue to make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers. Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream and weather conditions and will issue an update to this Watershed Condition Statement –Water Safety message as conditions warrant. This Watershed Condition Statement will be in effect through Saturday June 22, 2024.
June 20th, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON The detail in this article is not correct. An org chart was released by the city earlier today that sets out the structure more clearly. We will revise thus article once we get more information from the Communications people at City Hall. City hall has released a new corporate structure
New corporate structure changes the title of Executive Director to Commissioner. The title Director will remain. Nine divisions have been created with a list of all the departments that will be in a Division. The responsibilities are also set out in detail. There are no new positions created at the Commissioner level. Pay-bands for these roles remain within the City’s established compensation framework – this has not changed. The Head of Corporate Affairs is a senior administrative role that will oversee Communications & Engagement, Government Relations, and Audit – areas which were spread across multiple departments in the previous organizational structure. Burlington’s leadership team remains at headcount neutral, meaning all roles are repurposed from existing positions, including retirements and other vacancies. The compensation quoted in these postings is comparable to other senior executive roles on the market today. Our non-union compensation system is aligned to the 65th percentile of the market for comparable municipalities. This ensures we continue to attract and retain talented staff.  Hassaan Basit, Chief Administrative Officer Chief Administrative Officer The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is responsible for providing corporate leadership for the general management of the corporation as well as participating in the overall stewardship of the municipality. The CAO reports directly to Council and oversees the following City departments and divisions. There are nine Divisions in the City of Burlington Corporate structure Burlington Digital Services Division Burlington Digital Services Responsible for internal technical support, including:
Burlington Digital Services also manages the City’s:
Community Services Division Customer Experience Responsible for:
Fire Responsible for:
Recreation, Community and Culture Responsible for all matters relating to:
Transit Responsible for managing:
Corporate Affairs Division Communications and Engagement Responsible for our brand and reputation management. Their roles include:
Government Relations Responsible for:
Internal Audit The City Auditor is independent of the City of Burlington administration and reports directly to City Council through the Audit Committee, ensuring its work is completed freely and objectively. Audits typically answer questions around:
Development and Growth Management Division Building Responsible for:
Burlington Land Partnerships Responsible for:
By-Law Compliance Responsible for:
Community Planning Responsible for:
Finance Division Finance Responsible for financial and accounting management including:
Human Resources Division Human Resources Responsible for:
Legal and Legislative Services Division Legal Services and Halton Court Services Responsible for:
Legislative Services Responsible for:
Public Works Division Engineering Services Responsible for managing:
Facilities, Assets, Sustainability Responsible for:
Roads, Parks and Forestry Responsible for the maintenance of:
Transportation Services Responsible for the delivery of various road-related services. These services include:
Transformation Division Corporate Strategy and Business Improvement Responsible for:
Risk Management Responsible for:
June 20th, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
Starting June 24 through to August 18, set your own weekly reading goal and strive to achieve it. This year, read a galaxy of books and discover new adventures along the way!  Frances Hanemaayer, Manager, North Branches, holds a reading tracker participants receive with they register for BPL’s Summer Reading Club “When kids keep reading during summer vacation, they’re ready to jump back into the school routine in September,” says Lita Barrie, BPL Chief Executive Officer. “Setting a reasonable goal and achieving it is a great way for young people to build confidence in reading skills and in themselves.” Rewards & Prizes Galore Although reading a good book is its own reward, participants can visit their nearby branch every week with their Summer Reading Club (SRC) passport and check-in with Library staff. Share what you’ve read to receive a weekly giveaway prize and a chance to win a gift card to a local Burlington business. Plus, every check-in gets you entered into the end-of-summer grand prize draw. Reach the halfway point of SRC, and you’ll receive a voucher to make a free button in the Library’s MakerSpace. Stay Engaged with Weekly Staff Picks To keep the momentum going over the eight-week program, we’ll send out freshly curated Staff Picks booklists to participants every week, along with a friendly reminder to check-in. These selections are sure to keep young readers and parents engaged and motivated. “Summer Reading Club is an excellent way to reinforce a positive reading habit while also making the most of all the free programs for kids throughout the summer,” Barrie adds.
June 20th, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
Where does all the money you spend on lottery tickets go? A lot goes to the winners, some goes to the people who operate the Trillium Foundation and the rest is in a fund that gets distributed to community projects. Able Sail in Burlington is one of the recipients and on Friday there will be a small presentation ceremony during which MPP Natalie Pierre will speak about the donation.
The motto “If you can breathe, you can sail.” This program offers an opportunity for people with physical disabilities to go out on the water and enjoy sailing! They are open to any person aged 7 and up with a physical or cognitive disability. They are well equipped to give people who have suffered from stroke or trauma or debilitating diseases such as MS an unforgettable experience. The Able Sail team is well-educated and we have adapted boats as well as custom equipment to transfer participants from wheelchairs into sailing boats. The format is for One-hour sessions. 1 or 2 sailors per boat, depending on their skill level. Fee Schedule The first trial session is free. The rate for each sailor is $220 for the season. Able Sail operates out of the LaSalle Park Marina  “un-tippable and unsinkable”. The program focuses on the Martin 16 sailboat, which is equipped to cater to physically/cognitively challenged people of all ages. The boats are extremely stable and can be sailed with either a companion instructor in the stern seat or solo by individual sailors who have attained enough experience to “go it alone”. The Martin 16 is a keelboat design; easy to maintain and stable in all conditions. The Martin is famous for being “un-tippable and unsinkable”. Sailors who want to advance their skills from casual day sailing to racing are taught the fundamental of sailboat racing under the tutorship of our trained crew. This is one of those Trillium initiatives that make the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation a worthwhile part of the community. Know that when you buy a lottery ticket a lot of the money works its way back into the community.
June 20th, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
Few people understand just what the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) is in place to do. It gets described as an unelected body that consistently fails to respond to what some people in a community want. Understanding the rules will help in understanding the decisions the OLT makes. The Millcroft decision disappointed just about everyone in that community. There were two community groups who were involved as participants. Unfortunately the two groups could not work as one which resulted in the Member admonishing one of the groups for using data that was shaped to create an impression that was not correct.  Three lawyers representing the parties; two community groups that couldn’t agree on what the issue was – all focused on a community built around a golf course. The developers won – but there is a heavy price in what they are required to do when they start construction of what is now 90 homes – not the original 98. In making a decision with respect to an OPA, ZBA, and PoS appeals, the Tribunal must have regard to matters of provincial interest as set out in the Act. The Act requires the Tribunal’s decision be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020 (“PPS”) and conform to the applicable Growth Plan which, in this instance, is a Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2019 When hearing Appeals related to Burlington the Tribunal has to first briefly summarize the policy scheme in regard to the previous OPA 117 and the new OP 2020 and the in-force-and-effect OP 1997. Burlington’s most recent Official Plan is itself stuck at an OLT hearing that was brought about when more than a dozen developers appealed the Official Plan that was put in place by the current city council At a recent hearing the Member said the following: (In the OLT world the person making the decision is referred to as a Member of a Tribunal) “For the benefit of the members of the public that are here today, I would like to make a couple of general statements about the way the Board reaches its decisions. We can’t make decisions with our hearts, because once you do that, you make bad decisions. We do not make decisions arbitrarily because to do that, you need the wisdom of Solomon and very few people have that. What we do is get the facts which are obtained from the evidence or any reasonable inference that can be drawn from that evidence and then apply the law of the land, including approved government policy. Whatever decision we arrive at doing that is the one we are obliged to give.” What this comes down to is the quality of the evidence that is given and how it stands up to both examination and cross-examination. Each side then looks for the best witness they can find or afford. Good lawyers know how to ask the questions that will get the answers they need to make their case. At times not asking a question is the path taken. All a Member can do is make a decision based on what they hear. Unfortunately the rules the OLT have in place make it very difficult for media to report in depth. We are not allowed to record what is said, we are not allowed to use any of the visual material unless we obtain permission to do so – and we are required to get that permission BEFORE the hearing starts. Given that we don’t know what is coming it is hard to be specific when asking for visual material. In a future article we will give you examples of how strong legal talent can impact a decision made by a Member. Related news stories:
June 19th, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
You read about an older trusting soul who loses a lot of the money they had in the bank to someone who tricked them into passing along banking information or getting duped into a scheme. The police have not managed to catch many of the criminals. Royal Bank of Canada did a survey and found that fewer Canadian seniors 55+ feel comfortable identifying when they are being scammed (65%), since last year (71%). With AI resulting in more sophisticated fraud attempts and less time and resources to recoup any lost funds, their top concern is unauthorized access to online accounts/personal information (89%), followed by identity theft (87%) and having their email/social media account hacked (84%), according to a recent RBC survey. Adam Evans, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer at RBC, made the following points in a media release: What should seniors be doing? Identify a Trusted Ally – Speak with a close friend or family that can help you with security/technology questions. Avoid Unknown numbers –Don’t pick up a call or answer a text if you don’t recognize the phone number or set phone to accept call from contacts only.
Do not disclose personal information – Remember to never disclose any personal information or banking to strangers or unverified persons including PIN, One-Time Passcodes, and answers to digital banking Personal Verification Questions (PVQs) Keep your mobile device secure –– Smartphones are smart, but they’re not always secure. Remember to install updates when they become available, uninstall unused apps, and always factory reset your device before returning it for service. Develop an action plan – If something bad happens you should know exactly what steps to take to restore your privacy. This can include changing all of your passwords, contacting your bank or credit company, or asking a trusted ally for help dealing with the situation. What is the worst ongoing scam at this time? In 2023, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) reported that the grandparent/ emergency scam was one of the top 10 frauds based on dollar loss, at $11.3M.
It’s important to remember that it is always Ok to question, pause and not act. A great rule of thumb is to take a few seconds and think about what is going on – taking that pause and questioning the situation can lead to quickly realizing that something doesn’t add up. And if it doesn’t feel right – it probably isn’t.
June 19th, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON
This came in from the media people at Metrolinx: They list the GO lines that they expect will have problems with the tracks because of the heat wave we are dealing with. They listed Barrie Line; Stouffville Line and Lakeshore East. They did not show Lakeshore West (that’s us). We reached out and asked if this was correct?  GO Lakeshore West line – tracks don’t soften and the heat wave doesn’t impact the service. The response: “That’s right – currently, there are no impacts to Lakeshore West rail services due to the extreme heat. If anything changes we will keep you posted.” How does that happen? Are they using a different kind of steel for the Lakeshore West line? Does the heat wave stop before it gets to Oakville and Burlington? Whatever – this is their story and they are going to stick with it. None of the following applies to us. During prolonged periods of high heat, rail tracks have the potential to soften and expand that require us to run trains at slower speeds. To ensure the safety of our customers and crew, slow orders are issued along the network which also reduce the risk of track damage. As a result of ongoing heat patrols and slow orders, the following trips have been impacted: Barrie Line: Union Station 12:54 – Aurora GO 13:44 – Customers can take a GO bus from Union Station Bus Terminal running express to Rutherford GO, and making all stops north to Aurora GO.
Stouffville Line: Union Station 14:12 – Mount Joy GO 15:07 – Customers can take a GO bus from Union Station Bus Terminal running express to Unionville GO, and making all stops north to Mount Joy GO.
Lakeshore East: Union Station 15:20 – Durham College Oshawa GO 16:22 trip has been cancelled. Please consider taking the 14:50 or the 15:50 train departing at Union Station.
Kitchener Line: The Bramalea GO 15:22 – Union Station 15:59 train will not stop at Etobicoke North GO today due to weather related track conditions. Customers at Etobicoke North GO are encouraged to use local transit. We know that heat-related delays can be frustrating for customers, however we must take proactive measures to ensure the GO Transit network operates safely in all kinds of weather conditions.
June 19th, 2024 BURLINGTON, ON We received the following from Councillor Shawna Stolte: I would appreciate it if you could correct your article regarding my attendance at the Appleby/Fairview Alinea meeting earlier this week. I was in attendance for the second half of the meeting and had many good conversations with area residents. The room the meeting was held in was small and I would have recognized both Shawna Stolte and her Father. However, if she maintains she was there I will take her word for it.
The public pre-consult meeting on what is being called Appleby Go West held earlier this week turned out to be a lot of unhappy people stunned at the size of the development.  Alinea Land Corporate statement.  The Planning consultants were there to explain the development and gather public reaction.  People had a lot of questions – few, if any, came away with a clear understanding of just what the site would do to the community they live in. The staff from Korsiak were on hand to explain what each of the more than a dozen poster boards meant. My conversations with Korsiak staff left me with the view that they were on hand to explain and leave with initial reactions to the proposed development. It was hard to find even one person who liked what they were looking at. Burlington has taken on a commitment to add 29,00 households by 2031. This project would get them a big chunk of the commitment. However Burlington is at the 3% of the commitment level. Federal and provincial funds began to flow to the city once they reach certain levels. There were a lot of people asking a lot of question. There was nothing on whether this was a condominium development or a rental development. There were no floor plans. There is a web site for the development that has some additional material that we have included in this story.  It’s massive. Is Burlington ready for something this big? Mayor Meed Ward was on hand along with Councillors Bentivegna, Nissan and Sharman. Kearns and Galbraith had no good reason for attending – we did not see Stolte, however others have said she was there with her Father.  The Fearman pork processing plant is in the immediate area; it doesn’t appear on this illustration.
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