 About two years ago Brenda Heatherington was hired to run the Performing Arts Centre which was under construction when she had her first business cards printed up.
One of her objectives was to introduce Burlington to performances it had not seen in the past. Quality programs were available in Hamilton and Toronto, which is where parents would go year after year with their children to see the Nutcracker.
Heatherington wanted to introduce Burlington to the classics and to bring in popular groups she would use to develop an audience in Burlington. How is she doing so far? Too early to tell – creating an audience is a slow process that requires an ability to read the interests of the community and at the same time know when you can push them a little and offer something they’ve not been exposed to before. That takes time, it means taking some risks and hoping you get it right more often than you get it wrong. The public tends to remember just the clunkers – not the productions that do close to sold out business.
Heatherington is going to need three full years before the city is convinced she got it right. During that time funding requests will be higher than city council is prepared to swallow and that’s when the tension between city hall and the Performing Arts Centre becomes measurable.
Heatherington relies on box office sales and feedback from the public. She never has any difficulty with the naysayers, who describe the building as a “nice to have”. She doesn’t get too many occasions to hear from the people who try something for the first time and leave the building pleasantly pleased.
A few weeks ago Walter Byj wrote us and asked if he could review the Nutcrakcer that was coming to the city. BAJ had absolutely no experience reviewing and knew nothing about ballet – all that became evident when he submitted his review which appears below with very little editing.
Byj’s efforts reflects the growth of different audiences in Burlington for artistic productions that have not been available until the Centre opened October 1, 2011 when Royal Wood took to the stage for the first “tickets for sale event. Prior to the first performance, Denise Walker, the first person to appear on the stage thanked the public during two “Thank you Very Much events when the public got a chance to tour the building, have a drink and chat with friends at tables set out in the Family Room. It was the first part of the soft launch the theatre board decided to use to introduce the public to the place.
By Walter Byj
BURLINGTON, ON December 19, 2012 How does a sports fan prepare when planning to attend his first ballet? Being open minded would be the first step followed by some preparation. The initial step would be to know exactly what a ballet is. You would not ask a novice to watch a sporting event without first describing a brief overview of the sporting event. The same can be said when attending an artistic event. So, it is time to learn something about ballet.
 A classic Christmas performance that has introduced millions of children to the world of ballet. The word ballet originated with the Greek word ballizo which means to dance, to jump about. Ballet originated in the 15thcentury in Italy during the renaissance. The style then spread to France and Russia and evolved into a performance or concert dance which is intended for an audience. There is much more background, but this is a good start. Next, you would need to pick a ballet. Well, being the Christmas season, there is a ballet that is synonymous with the Christmas season, The Nutcracker. The name is familiar as it is advertised annually in the entertainment pages and some of the music has become a Christmas standard. Also, the music was written by a musician that we have all heard about, P. Tchaikovsky. Now that I have determined the title of my first ballet, I then need to pick a location. Although it is playing in Toronto during the Christmas holidays, I opted to attend the performance at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre which featured the State Ballet of Russia performance of the Nutcracker. It was close to home, 15 minutes away, and the parking was free.
 The soldiers were smartly dressed in the uniforms strutting about the stage. I am now sitting in the theatre which by the way is quite pleasant. An intimate theatre with 718 comfortable seats, it offers everyone good sightlines. The curtain is now rising and the first act is to begin.
Having read the program prior to the beginning of the show, I am aware of the story that envelopes the ballet. That is a good thing as there is no speaking during the performance and you need interpret what is happening via the dance moves. This is like watching a live silent movie in colour. And speaking of colour, there is plenty of that both in the sets and the costumes. I could go into great detail as to the story in the first act, but I prefer a quick overview. It takes place in a rich man’s house with a bunch of kids being entertained by a magician. He brings to life a number of mechanical dolls who dance for a bit until their mechanism is exhausted. He then presents another toy, an ugly nutcracker that only the resident girl (Masha) seems to enjoy. After the frivolity has ended and everyone goes home, the little girl of the house, Masha falls asleep and has a very strange dream. Her mansion is attacked by a horde of mice that are lead by the Mouse King.
 The drama, the melancholy – somehow we never tire of the performances – and when we see enough of them we get to the point where we can be critical and compare. The Performing Arts Centre is growing just that kind of audiences. But do not fear, the mice are eventually driven away by the Nutcracker and his army of tin soldiers although it was a great thrown shoe by Masha at the Mouse King that helped the Nutcracker claim victory. In fact, he was so happy and grateful that he turned into a handsome prince and Masha changed from a young girl into a beautiful lady. Shortly thereafter, the first act ended.
The second act is comprised of celebratory dancing which encompasses Spanish, Chinese and Russian dancers. It is here where the Sugar Plum Fairy appears.
However, as daylight approaches, Masha awakens and is now a little girl again and her prince has vanished. The ballet is over.
 A tug of war over someone’s affections? Did I enjoy The Nutcracker? I did. Was it worth attending? It was. The music was entertaining in a peaceful sort of way. There is no doubt why the music of Tchaikovsky has lasted for over 100 years and will continue so for the next 100 years. It is easier to comment on the quality of the music as I hear various types of music on a constant basis and am able to discern what I believe to be good music. As to the actual performance of the dancers, it is much more difficult to comment as this is the only ballet that I have seen. Is this troupe as good as the Bolshoi Ballet? I don’t know. I am not sophisticated enough at this moment to observe intelligently. Did they put on a show that I enjoyed? Yes they did. Did the rest of the audience enjoy the performance? It appears that they did although one member of the audience was spending a certain amount of time on her smart phone. Was she bored or was she texting everyone as to how great the show is?
 Millions of little girls around the world dreamed of being a Sugar Plum Fairy – and then there they were on the stage of the Performing Arts Centre. Would I go to another ballet? It is hard to say, maybe Swan Lake, another Tchaikovsky ballet.
This production was slightly less than two hours including intermission although I have read that some performances can be up to two and half hours. This performance timeline is appropriate for a novice as any much longer might start to be monotonous. If the Nutcracker comes around again next year, by all means do attend. It is a unique event and any new experience is an experience worth having.
Brenda Heatherington has a new customer. How many more Walter’s does she have? She knows and in time the rest of us will know if Heatherington and her staff have managed to develop the several audiences that exist in the city but may not know what it means to have a professional, high quality performing arts centre in their city. Walter Byj knows.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. December 18, 2012 The province released a statement earlier today setting out, from their perspective, just what the issues are in the current labour differences between the province and the Elementary School Teachers Federation of Ontario as well as the Ontario Secondary Students Teacher’s Federation.
The province is just one side of the story. We have had email from several dozen parents with view points but there has not been an article they could comment on.
Here is the province’s position as sent to us by the Liberal Party of Ontario.
Appreciate that the Liberal Party is in the midst of a leadership contest and that the candidates will jockey for position and favour from those that have registered as members of that political party. It will be interesting to see what we get in the way of comment from the teaching profession.
I will bet a decent lunch that we hear from Cory Judson within an hour of publishing.
 Elementary school students in the public system have shut down schools for a day as they rolled out their strike action across the province. Do they have a tenable issue?
Since 2003, we’ve worked together with our teachers to raise student achievement — test scores and the graduation rate are way up and our schools have been called the best in the English-speaking world. When people talk about excellence in education, Ontario is part of the conversation along with places like Singapore, Finland and South Korea. This progress for students and parents was achieved in partnership with teachers — and that’s why we raised teacher pay and improved working conditions more than any previous government. Here’s what you need to know:
- Thirteen years of NDP and PC governments left Ontario’s teachers under appreciated, undervalued and underpaid. When we had the privilege of forming government in 2003, we made a commitment to improve teachers’ working conditions. And we did.
- Prior to 2003, teacher compensation had not kept pace with their contributions in the classroom. That’s why over the last nine years, teacher salary rates have increased by 22 to 25 per cent.
- Prior to 2003, teachers did not have enough prep time. That’s why over the last nine years, teachers have been provided four hours of paid prep time outside the classroom, up from about 2.5 hours.
- Prior to 2003, teachers did not have the support they needed to provide individual attention to our students. So we hired 13,400 more teachers to make class sizes smaller and 11,745 support staff to help. There are also 4,500 more specialist teachers now working in elementary schools, helping with music, drama, art and physical education.
- As some teachers now engage in one-day legal job actions aimed at our government, it’s important to note that the legislation they protest is the same legislation that will protect their wages, prep time and jobs for the next two years.
- The recession has left Ontario with a deficit, and the global economy is still uncertain, so we need to make wise choices, while protecting these gains in education. We choose to increase spending in the classroom and keep full day kindergarten while freezing teacher pay for two years.
- In February 2012, as we sought negotiations with teachers on a new collective agreement, we asked for a two-year pay freeze and an end to the practice of paying out up to 200 banked sick days upon retirement. It was a tough negotiation with one union taking their leave from the table after less than an hour of negotiating, never to return.
- Others persevered and the government reached negotiated Memorandum of Understanding with our Catholic and French teachers and some support staff. And as the school year got underway, we introduced the Putting Students First Act, Bill 115, which is based on these negotiated agreements.
The Hudak PCs have been clear — they’d cut full-day kindergarten, firing teachers and sending 4- and 5-year olds home. The NDP would give teachers a pay raise — they can’t say “no” to their union supporters, and that means they’d have to take money out of the classroom.
For the past nine years we’ve supported our teachers with real tangible things that they asked for — higher pay, more professional development time, better working conditions and increased time to prepare. We made things better for teachers and that’s made things better for students.
Now — as Ontario families and businesses work hard to overcome a tough global economy — we need to be fair to all Ontarians in recognizing what we can’t afford right now. And our government looks forward to working with teachers on the goals we share: building an education system that’s better for our students, better for our teachers and among the best in the world.
That’s the provincial governments position – what’s your take on all this?
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. December 18, 2012 New Year’s family fun that is out of this world. Residents of all ages will have plenty to do at the city’s annual New Year’s celebrations. The City will host two days of fun that is out of this world. Central Park will be overrun with spaced-themed fun on Monday, Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. and the celebrations continue at Tansley Woods Community Centre on Tuesday Jan. 1, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Both days feature Spaced Out!—a show by Kristi Heath and Greg Tarlin, as well as the Mad Science Fire and Ice Show. Families are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite space characters.
 More than enough for the kids to do on both New Year’s eve and New Year’s Day in the city The New Year’s Eve excitement begins at Central Arena with a Tim Horton’s free skate (wristband policy in effect to maintain safe capacity levels), and continues in the auditorium making alien slime with Mad Science, and over-sized board games for all to enjoy. The event will also feature an outdoor showing of E.T. Extra Terrestrial™ on a 25-foot screen. Bundle up and bring a lawn chair for this unique winter experience at 8 p.m. The evening concludes with a countdown to fireworks at 10 p.m.
 If it’s noise you want – it’s noise you’ll get. Children know how to celebrate the New Year as well as adults – and the city is providing a lot for them to do. The celebration continues on New Year’s Day with an afternoon of free fun and entertainment. Join us in the pool for the Tender Choice Foods free swim, in the gym for soccer with Burlington Youth Soccer, mini-golf with Putting Edge and in the preschool room for more crafts with Momstown. Visit community sponsor and vendor booths and face painting stations throughout the facility and play with games, puzzles, balloons and more.
For more information, including the full program schedule, Email festivalsandevents@burlington.ca or phone 905-335-7766 if you have questions.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON. December 18, 2012 The Burlington Animal Shelter is hosting “A home for the holidays”, an event to promote cat adoption this holiday season.
There are too many cats and kittens at the the Burlington Animal Shelter. The managers thought this would be a good opportunity to place at least some of the feline creatures in loving homes.
Provided the person getting the pet as a gift really wants the animal and providing they know how to and are prepared to care for the pets – it could be a very good idea.
 How did these guys get those balls off the Christmas tree? The city is making it a little easier to adopt at this time of year by reducing the prices significantly. Adult cat adoptions are $34.60 including taxes and kitten adoptions are $91.92 including taxes.
 You could probably get both kittens – the one on the right is certainly ready to leave the animal shelter. In 2011, there were 218 cats adopted from the Burlington Animal Shelter. This year, 321 stray cats have entered the shelter and only 210 have been adopted. That is a lot of stray cats to find homes for.
Each cat adoption includes: Age appropriate vaccines, Dewormed/ de-flead, Microchip, Bag of food, Pet insurance for 6 weeks, Complimentary vet exam and a cardboard carrier to take the creature home in. Santa does not deliver pets.
“The holiday season is a great time to adopt,” said Kristina Cooper, animal care and licensing attendant. “Residents will be spending more time at home with their families and can help their new pet get accustomed to their surroundings.”
Adopters giving homes to older cats will also get a better idea of what their personalities are like. Kittens, although cute, can be quite a handful for most families or individuals.
Top five reasons to adopt an adult cat:
1. They have matured to a quieter and more loving version of their younger wild selves
2. Less supervision needed around the house
3. They are already used to household life and living with people
4. They are more likely to sleep when you are out of the house, leaving your furniture intact
5. An adult cat adopted from a shelter will most likely be house trained, spayed or neutered and have up to date vaccinations making the adoption process worry-free.
 The older cats tend to have that almost desperate look to them – and yet once they have a new home they settle in very well. This one has lovely colouring. View animals available for adoption online . For more information on pet adoption please visit the city’s website or contact the Animal Shelter at 905-335-3030.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 18, 2012 This woman takes no prisoners. She is tough, very tough. Smart as well and not that hard to look at either.
Her name is Sandra Pupatello and she wants to be the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, and if she succeeds she will immediately become the Premier of the province – no glass ceiling for this lady.
 Liberal leadership candidate Sandra Pupatello met with local members this week. Burlington Provincial Liberal Party president Roland Tanner, centre, ensures that the candidate gets to meet everyone. She was in town Monday evening to meet and greet local Liberals. They gathered at Sotiris on Harvester Road. Monday night being American football night, may have been behind the turnout – which wasn’t bad, but it didn’t suggest these guys are really excited about Pupatello.
Kathleen Wynne was in town the week before and she managed to meet and greet local Liberals at their Christmas Party. Wynne has certainly been no great friend to Burlington in the past. She jerked both the city and the Region around considerably during the Niagara GTA discussions.
 Ward 1 Councillor Rick Craven hands out his business card to Liberal leadership candidate Sandra Pupatello Pupatello gives a good speech; she is direct and you get the sense that you do not want to tangle with this woman.
Gary Carr, who in a previous career was Speaker of the provincial Legislature said he had to “name” Pupatello on two occasions. Naming a member of the Legislature means they have to leave the chamber, sort of like being sent out to the woodshed.
Pupatello says that only happened once. In the event that she wins the leadership contest Tim Hudak will not know what hit him.
Pupatello told the audience that she is a fiscally competent Liberal. She said she is prepared to spend when there is money in the bank and, she pointed out, when the tax money was rolling in the Liberal government was very good to the teachers in the province.
“You conked us on the head in the last election and we have heard what you had to say” declared Pupatello.
“Trust and respect are more important than anything else” said Pupatello “and you know where I come from. With me, what you see is what you get.”
The leadership candidate admitted that there are some challenges with the teachers but for Pupatello the prime issue is jobs and getting the Ontario economy back on its feet. Can she do the job? The power brokers in this province seem to think so. When Pupatello spoke to the Economic Club in Toronto recently she got a standing ovation because she was speaking their language.
Sandra is Italian. When she speaks she tends to round off her words and will say “goin” rather than going. She is impressive, this woman doesn’t shy away from anything.
While part of the McGuinty Liberal team she served as Minister of Community and Social Services, Minister of Education, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues, Minister of International Trade and Investment and Minister of Economic Development and Trade.
She chose not to run in the 2011 provincial election and instead went into the private sector where she worked with Price Waterhouse as their director of business and global markets.
 Does Liberal leadership candidate Sandra Pupatello want to ring Councilor Craven’s neck or does she want to recruit him? “Eight months ago I did not know I would be seeking the leadership of the Liberal Party” but that is what I am doing today”. Oddly though Pupatello didn’t come right out and ask for support. Everyone knew why she was there – but she didn’t ask for their support.
She did say that she didn’t want to see an election right away. She said she didn’t think Ontario wanted another election right away but did say that Ontario needs a majority government. “Nobody wants an election but if we get hustled into one, then we will fight for the majority the province needs.”
The lady will be a tiger on the campaign trail.
Strong enough to sweep the province?
Strong enough to deliver the Burlington seat?
Were there potential candidates in the room last night?
 By Margaret Lindsay Holton
BURLINGTON, ON December 18, 2012 The internet is changing us. It permeates nearly every aspect of our conscious lives. It is altering not only the way we think, but the way we perceive the world: past, present, future and dream-time too. Cumulatively, this is both a good and a bad thing.
But now is not the time to digress on a strident polemic ‘pro’ or ‘con’. Rather, in the short term, (and since you’re here anyway), consider these viral internet Christmas ‘treats’. To be sure, none would have the success they have had without our perpetual ‘clicks’ or ‘hits’. — Ho Ho. Surf’s up. (Remember to adjust your audio as you skip the adverts … )
 Author Margaret Lindsay Holton spent hour upon hour finding the gems that are set out below. I’m not sure why she included those terrible chipmunks in her selection but there are others that are superb. Enjoy Christmas Lights: GANGNAM style. 2 million hits, and counting. (Don’t shoot the messenger!)
Amazing Grace: Christmas Lights. Another festive folly at 23 million hits.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: an adapted Pachabel’s Canon. Visuals include a few cheesy velvet paintings, but hey, who cares, it has near 4 million hits.
Again, Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Nutcracker Suite (like you’ve NEVER seen or heard it.) Not as well known, but still pretty impressive at 250,000+ hits and climbing.
‘Santa Baby’ by The Good Lovelies (audio only) from Kingston Ontario. Obscure, with 4,000 hits, but delightful just to listen to their lovely harmonies.
Chipmunks Christmas: Jingle Bell Rock (audio only.) Ok, ok, it’s a stationary cartoon, but it’s still had 3 million hits. (Clearly many miss these delightful little animated high-pitched rascals…. )
 The internet certainly lets you get all the Ho!, Ho! Ho! you could ever want. Is there more? Christmas Carols by the Westminster Abbey Choir. Lovely choral arrangement with 118,000 hits. Not much of a visual, but again, this majestic music does impress, even on the web.
‘O Holy Night’ by Carrie Underwood. Guaranteed to send shivers down your spine, with the added bonus of sing-a-long script (… pity about the ‘devine/divine’ typos though.) The poor script and visual design may explain the surprisingly meager 124,000 hits.
A ten minute cosy wood-crackling fire with 2.5 million hits. (Time now for you to supply the Hot Rum Toddies or spiked egg nog.)
 Let us not give Santa all the credit for the Season. There was someone amongst us long before the sales people invented Santa Claus. There is a real reason for the Season Why all this ‘feel-good’ webby Christmas fuss? Well, seriously, there was this child born approximately 2012 years ago. The Story of Jesus Christ: Full Length Movie (2 hours). With a paltry 214 hits.
Draw your own conclusions …
Merry Christmas One and All.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 17, 2012 HalTech, one of those catchy names that governments are using to let you know they get it and that they understand. This latest one links the Region of Halton with Technology, which as everyone knows is the sector that is going to save our economic bacon – everyone knows the teachers aren’t going to do it for us and we seem to have forgotten about the automotive sector which was once the engine of the province’s economy and therefore the economic engine of the country.
HalTech is new to the Region but in their short lifespan they have managed to network like crazy and, under very difficult circumstances, held the 2012 Halton Entrepreneurship Week that was a success and an example of how people with an entrepreneurial bent can pull things out of the fire when they have to.
 Karen Sievewright President of the Region’s Innovation Centre, HalTECH, spoke at a Sheridan College Applied Research and Innovation event. Karen Sievewright was given a sheet of paper with absolutely dismal numbers on it and pulled her staff into an office and said – ‘Team – hits the phones – these numbers are not what I have in mind’ and within the ten days she had left before the event was to take lace Sievewright and her team goosed their registration to a very respectable 120+ people.
Gumption they’ve got. Now do they have a future and just what is it they are going to do for the economy of the Region?
Anything that has a link to the provincial government has several layers of bureaucracy attached to it and HalTech is no different. They are part of the Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE) which is a collaborative network of organizations across Ontario, designed to help entrepreneurs commercialize their ideas. HalTech is one of 14 Regional Innovation Centre’s (RIC’s) that want to attract the innovators, the technology-based businesses, entrepreneurs and researchers and connect them to services , and programs that will help them get their ideas beyond just talking about it and struggling to find a way to get the thing off the ground to the point where it has been launched, has revenue and can employ people.
 Ralph Benmergui, a former Stand Up comic, has gone legit and is telling community college academics how to get innovation and creativity into the classroom. For those that have launched their business, HalTech can help them get to their next level. If it is about technology and entrepreneurship then Karen Sievewright and her team want to talk to you.
How do they help? They start by asking a lot of questions to get a sense of just where you are with your project and then direct you to the help you need.
You have someone who is prepared to invest in you? What do you need to know before you accept the investment? What is written on the Term Sheet (and if you don’t know what a Term Sheet is )– you do have to meet with HalTECH people)
HalTech can help you find the mentor you might need.
The have three EIR’s (Entrepreneur’s in Residence), people who know what entrepreneurship is all about and can serve as a guide for you. The HalTech people are not there to hold your hand but they are there to move you along and give you the support that your bank is never going to give you.
They aren’t banker’s either and they aren’t going to write you a cheque but they can direct you to people who do write cheques and they can tell you who you need to talk to and the questions you need to ask.
HalTech wants to talk to entrepreneurs in three groups: Growth companies – those with existing revenue who need support to expand their sales.
Pre-revenue companies – those that have developed their products and business innovations but need to acquire their first three to five customers and Start Ups those who need help with the basics of launching a new business and navigating the grant and application process.
Julie Lukkarila runs the Client Services Liaison part of the operation. Her role is to gather basic information and then plug you into the appropriate people at the right level.
The Regional Innovation Centre concept is certainly on the right track. But a good idea and solid execution of the idea and delivering on the promise fits into that “between the lip and the cup” category; one does not automatically mean the other will follow.
 It was a standing room only event when Ralph Benmurgi spoke to faculty at Sheridan College recently about innovation and creativity becoming the driving force in the new economy. Ontario fully understands the economic challenge it faces; moving the province’s economy from the days when the automotive sector was the engine for the province and the province was the economic engine for the country . Well – those days are gone aren’t they? Now it is all about APPS – if you’ve got an APP, you’re part of the new economy. The problem is that there are hundreds of people developing APPS with very few making a living at it.
Sievewright and her team have a huge challenge in front of them. Having the right people on the team is the first and most important step. If we can round up enough of the directors who guide the HalTech operation in the next year we will ask them how they think this challenge can be met.
Your part in all this, if you’re of an entrepreneurial bent and have an idea that is more than some scribbles on the back of an envelope, is to get in touch with the HalTech team – they’re there to help. You can reach them at info@Haltech.ca
HalTech is new and they need clients just as much as the budding entrepreneur – so if you happen to have something that is hot, has some sex appeal and on paper at least looks strong – give them a call – quick – they are hungry and need a winner as badly as you do. That’s call a win-win. Go for it.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 17, 2012 The number is getting to a level that indicates success is not far off – Burlington is at the 65% level in its drive to reach $2.1 million for the Burlington/Hamilton United Way 2013 Fund raising drive. There is now $1,360,141 in the bank account for use in the Burlington community in the year we will be going into
 Len Lifchus shows CHCH TV personality Sean Cowan how you wrap a Christmas gift Last week United Way staff worked a gift wrapping counter at the Burlington Mall with local celebrities. Traffic was consistent, people stepped up and watched United Way president Len Lifchus show CHCH television personality Sean Cowan how to properly wrap a gift. He is a nice boy – he got it eventually.
The United Way however didn’t get what it should have gotten and could have gotten from the gift wrapping event – the donation box was sitting on a shelf behind everyone working at the counter. These things have to be right out front where people can see them and use them.
The task for the United Way for the next month is to be kind but relentless in its drive to pull in the funds that will be needed come January when staff have to decide who will get how much for the year they are going into.
The need is real and it has never been possible to raise as much as is needed.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON December 16, 2012 The event doesn’t take place until January but you need to reserve your space BEFORE Christmas – and the event has nothing to do with the Season. But the event will be of great interest to many parents.
The opportunity comes from the Halton Red Cross’ Youth Action Council. Peter Hodgson, Chair, Halton Area Branch Council, Canadian Red Cross asks: “If you are a young person, are related to a young person, was once a young person, wish you are a young person or once saw a young person” , then this invitation is for you! Sign up now and join us on January 12th. And spread the word to your friends and family.
 Red Cross Halton Youth Action council presentation. “Many of us have either been directly or indirectly affected by bullying:, said Hodgson. The Canadian Red Cross RespectED Program aims to prevent abuse, bullying, violence and sexual exploitation.
We are the Canadian Red Cross Halton Youth Action Council. We support RespectED and we would like to invite you to our event to raise funds for this program. How can YOU help? Come to our Movie Matinee!
The movie: Ice Age: Continental Drift, which will be shown at the Silvercity Oakville Cinemas; 3531 Wyecroft Road, Oakville, Ontario – Saturday January 12, 2012 – 9 am – 12 pm
If you’re interested please email Andrew.little@redross.ca to confirm attendance, or for more information
This is a Youth inspired and organized initiative. Please support us, as we support RespectED, which supports us all.
So here is what this is about. The kids came up with the idea; they chose a movie that is popular, a little out of the ordinary, certainly not one of those action packed – how many people got killed? – films that are box office smashes. Instead the kids picked an exceptionally well done animated film about something interesting, highly entertaining and at the same times reflects on just where are we going with global warming and how did the continents get formed anyway?
If you’ve got a kid in the house that has gained the capacity to be thoughtful about others – let that young person meet with other young people who hold similar interests.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 15, 2012 They opened in September and held their first fund raising drive last weekend – and expect to have pulled in more than $10,000 – the value of the items that were set out for the Silent Auction amounted to something over $18,000 which is a pretty impressive sum for a new school in a new community, one that still has muddy roads and construction equipment littering some streets.
The Alton Village Public school set out in the northern end of the new community pulled parents into the school gymnasium on a Saturday afternoon and in a few short hours they had achieved their objective.
 With more than $18,000 worth of product to choose from there was something for everyone. The Alton Village Public School expects to raise $10,000 from the Silent Auction. It was perhaps the first time everyone in the community with children in the school pulled together as one. Many took part in the choice of name for the school but that event wouldn’t have had as many children running around and having a good time.
 Mother checks her raffle tickets to see if her number has been called. Not this time. The organizers of the event made good use of raffle tickets as well as 50/50 draws.
 Ross Gligic in the centre with Principal David Purcell handling the microphone get ready to announce there are five minutes left to the Silent Auction at Alton Village Public School.  Her name is Mia and she thinks she can top up the bidding for the exclusive use of a parking lot for the school year. The coup for this crowd however was the idea to auction off a parking spot on the east side of the school that would be reserved for the school year to the person who wrote down the highest amount. Ross Gligic kept pressing others interested in the parking spot by upping the bid by hundreds of dollars at a time – this item wasn’t going to go cheap.
 Hockey sweaters were a big attraction at the Alton Village Public School Silent Auction School principal David Purcell, served as the chief microphone, calling out the winning raffle numbers as both children and parents scanned the numbers on the tickets they held.
 Just call it a melt down – it had been a long day and this one had reached her limit. Mommy slowly, patiently and successfully talks her down. Overall it was a good day for a new school – with just one incident that caused everyone to pause. Someone couldn’t find their daughter and the principle called out the name of the child and the room went strangely silent until the child was found.
The gymnasium wasn’t huge, the school was in a safe neighbourhood, there were all kinds of parents around – this was a very safe place – the safest of places – wasn’t it? We don’t live in that kind of world anymore do we?
 Waiting patiently to see if he won a draw. Successful Silent Auction at Alton Village Public School. Perhaps in this safest of places we can learn to look out for each other, be aware of the differences and be a kinder society.
 The Alton Village School got off to a great start – let’s see what principal Purcell and his staff do in the next couple of years.
The school has much more ethnic diversity than most I’ve seen in the city. The colours didn’t matter – it was a room full of people there to support the school that was educating their children. In Burlington on that Saturday afternoon it was a nice place to be.
 By Staff
BURLINGTON, ON December 13, 2012 A uniformed patrol officers responded to an intrusion alarm from a commercial business on Morris Road and found three suspects loading scrap metal into a van. The suspects all fled, but were captured following a brief foot chase.
 A father took his son on a field trip to teach him how to steal scrap metal; both were arrested. Pathetic A little digging around revealed that the suspects had cut open a locked gate to gain entry into a business compound, then cut a hole in the fence of the adjoining business. The suspects then broke into a storage trailer and stole scrap metal and fabricated metal products related to the business.
All stolen product was recovered and valued at approximately $1500.
ACCUSED:
• Bruce MacInnis – 48, Bruce MacInnis, Jr. and Sheldon Kendall – 50 were charged jointly with yrs
• Break and Enter (two counts)
• Possession of Stolen Property
• Possession Of Burglary Tools
All three had Toronto addresses.
That father and son team is pathetic.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 11, 2012 They are going to do things a lot different in the evolving Alton Village Community. While the community has a name and is in the process of getting a new high school, library and community centre that will be the envy of other parts of Burlington, the community is still evolving and figuring out how they are going to live their lives.
These are not going to be “slow poke” people. They are younger, affluent, technically literate and innovative.
 There was a time when many Alton Village residents drove along roads like this. Today most of the community is built out and there is a very healthy community working out how it is going to evolve. Their Alton Village Public School fund raiser is one example of how they are going to do things differently. They are holding a fundraiser for the Alton Village Public School this Saturday and are, get this, auctioning off a private parking space for a parent right beside the school. Now that is cool and that is innovative. The group putting this event together don’t say if they talked the principal out of his/her parking spot or not.
 This sign can have your name on it – for a parking spot beside the school on the east side – all you have to do is enter the highest bid. will the snow be cleared for the winner as well? The auction is for one RESERVED PARKING SPOT to the highest bidder (Obviously to a Parent of the school only). Privileges last the entire school year, with a sign mounted on the wall with your Family Name on it. No more rushing, fighting traffic, looking for a spot…. just pull in on the East Side of the school, park and go!
How do you get in on this? Make your bid this week on the bid-sheet on display during any of the four Holiday Concerts (Tuesday to Friday) or at the Silent Auction on Saturday. Highest Bidder wins the spot. The winner will be announced at the Silent Auction; bidding is open up to Saturday at 3:00 PM.
Our Burlington is in the final edit of a five part series on the Alton Village community written by Gordana Liddell, a resident of her part of the community since the time when there was no grass on the lawns. Watch for it.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 11, 2012 The United Way keeps coming up with ways to raise the $7.1 million they need to meet the needs of those who can’t get by on what they earn. For some it is that simple – they can’t afford to live.
While the poor struggle or those experiencing a difficult time struggle most of the rest of us are out there spending; buying Christmas gifts and getting ready for that time of year merchants depend on to meet their revenue targets.
Many of us will be at the Burlington Mall this weekend buying something for someone else. We might be getting a special gift for someone we seldom see and would like to make it just that much nicer. Wrapping up a gift real fancy takes time – so get someone else to do it for you.
On Thursday, the 13th, local celebrities will be at the Burlington Mall wrapping gifts for you. They smile at you, you smile back at them. You might even ask for an autograph if you’re so inclined.
When the gift is wrapped someone will ask you for some money, you give it to them it goes to the United Way and they give it to someone else.
Pretty simple business model.
So there you are – you can be part of a process that distributes the wealth and at the same time give a gift that will make someone happy.
At the Burlington Mall on Thursday the 13th of December from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – not all at the same time, but certainly during the day the following “celebrities” will be on hand to wrap your gift.
Burlington Mall
• Local media celebrities confirmed to date:
o Connie Smith, Always Good News
o Melissa Forsyth, KX 94.7 fm
o Sunni Genesco, K-Lite fm
o Lesley Stewart, CH Morning Live
o Hamilton Tiger-Cat Player(s)
o Annette Hamm, CH Morning Live
o Nicola Jones, CH Morning Live
o Nick Dixon, CHC News
o Shawn Cowan, CHCH News
o Linda Rourke, Cable 14
o Kate Lane, Cable 14
o Diana Matheson, Olympic Bronze Medalist
Thursday the 13th of December from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – keep it in mind.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 11, 2012 They were never described as the smartest people in the room; police arrest suspect in cell phone robbery cases because the culprit thought he could use the phone and not get caught.
It wasn’t a “cold case” just the kind of plodding detective work that police do as they track down people who take things that don’t belong to them.
As part of an ongoing investigation by the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau police were able to arrest one person involved in robberies that took place October 5th and October 6th.
A 17-year-old Hamilton youth has been charged with two counts of robbery and one count of possession of stolen property. A cell phone belonging to one of the victims was recovered. Does this suggest the thief used the cell phone that was stolen? That was a smart move. The identity of the youth is protected under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Efforts continue to identify the remaining two suspects.
Anyone with information that would assist in the investigation is asked to contact the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 x2315, Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-TIPS(8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637(crimes).
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 10, 2012 If there was ever any doubt as to where the students stand on the government’s Bill 115 – there is little doubt any more in Burlington.
Students from MM Robinson; Lester B Pearson, Nelson High and Robert Bateman were at one point during the day out on the streets demonstrating.
 More than a hundred students from Lester B. Pearson High school walked out of their classrooms and gathered at the intersection of Upper Middle Road and Headon Rd where they waved their placards and encouraged passers by to honk their horns. The students are protesting the loss of time teachers traditionally spend on extra-circulars like sports, the debating club – anything outside the classroom. They want all this time back and, if the students from Lester B. Pearson are to be believed they are out on the street until Christmas – which is just ten school days away.
 Two police cars kept station at Headon Road and Upper Middle Road as students protested the loss of their extra-curricular time at school. We have seen student demonstrations before in Burlington but this is the first time we have seen a police presence. It was also nice to see senior school staff on the streets as well; watching over their students, and doing their best to keep them in line.
 It was pretty clear what this group of students wanted to say. Senior staff from Lester B. Pearson watched over the crowd of more than 100 students that took up station on the north and south sides of Upper Middle Road.  Neither traffic lights nor the flow of traffic seemed to bother this student which is probably why police cars were attracted to the scene. These are high school students; they get rambunctious and noisy and at times lose a bit of their common sense. They are all good kids upset with what they are not getting.
Some teachers are blaming their union for getting them into this predicament. Others are hard line union types and do not want the government trampling on their rights.
That’s a battle the students don’t have much time for; they want their clubs and other organizations to be there for them.
There are a lot of parents upset as well.
Bit of a predicament for both the teachers and the school administrators – but this could become one of those “teachable moments”.
What if the senior school staff asked all the students to gather in the auditorium and asked if they would accept the support of the school staff for their demonstration IF the students would enter into debate and discussion on the issue.
Have someone set out just what the issue is from a teacher perspective?
What is the government doing? Do they have a right to do what they are doing?
Do the students have a case? What is that case?
Let the students demonstrate, teach them something about the history of public demonstrations.
There are opportunities here to teach and at the same time let the students express their views.
That’s what a professional teacher would want to see. I saw at least two professionals out on the streets with their students.
Asked how long this would last and what it would take to get the students back in the classroom one senior staff member commented: “Some freezing rain would help”
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 9.2010 This from a parent that does not want her name used for fear that her children will be treated unfairly by their teachers – how did we get to a situation where teachers and parents are on different sides of an argument with the kids stuck in the middle. Sounds like a messy, emotional, irrational divorce doesn’t it.
“And btw the teachers are telling the students it’s the union not them AND they will be teaching units that students will miss if they attend the walk-out. Always nice that the teachers have the leverage to walk out when they want but not the other way around. No wonder students are frustrated.”
Our parent, a well-educated, informed and successful business person actively involved in the evolution of our community goes on to say:
 In a free society anyone can stand up any time anywhere and say what they think. Can parents who want to talk about the plans teachers have to walk out of their classrooms really do that in Burlington? “Someone needs to remind teachers that with e-learning their days are numbered. Teachers count on the fact that parents need “baby-sitters” for their kids so they need the education to happen within walls that keep the students safe. With e-learning it won’t take someone long to figure out how to fill the gap between child care, socializing, tutoring, education and bring them all together. Only the best educators will be in demand – the rest can go retire.”
Our parent with the post graduate degree continues: “Another bee in my bonnet – the latest trend by teachers – the students mark each other’s work since the teachers don’t want to spend their evenings marking (guess that counts as extra-curricular).
And that was where this parent left it adding: “Please don’t use my name, I don’t want it to impact our two kids.”
OK – off my soapbox. Thanks for letting me vent.
Our Burlington, a newspaper on a web site, allows any reader to respond instantly. The response we got from a person we presume to be a teacher elicited the response above from a parent with two young people in high school.
“If I can respond in a civil manner to the comment on your article I will – but right now her comment “we have agreed to a wage freeze due to a situation we didn’t create” is just far too annoying. They certainly weren’t offering to help when the rest of us in the private sector were struggling from 2009 to 2011. They were nicely protected by their collective agreement.”
There will be more in the way of comment.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 8, 2012 Parent of elementary school students are ticked over the now more than probable possibility that the people who teach their children will go on a one day strike.
The province’s high school students are “mad as hell and not going to take it anymore” and plan to take their own actions.
 Will Nelson high school students be on the streets next week? The social media within the high school sector is abuzz with plans to just not walk into the high schools on Monday of next week. There is no one spokesperson for the movement; there doesn`t appear to be a focus but that`s the way today`s youth works; they have their own network that runs beneath the radar screen. They organize themselves differently.
But what if all the high school students at Nelson High and Robert Bateman High on New Street just lined the sidewalks holding hand written placards saying we won`t be students until you guys behave like teachers!
 Could Robert Bateman students join Nelson High students in a city wide high school students walkout? Imagine seeing two groups of a couple of hundred students asking that teachers just do the job they are paid to do, rather well paid we might add.
 High school students have taken to the streets in the past to make their point; in this situation the Robert Bateman High School made their point. Could be interesting. If you see crowds of students on the sidewalks on Monday – honk your horn in support, This mess within the educational system has to be resolved – teachers do very, very well and need to understand the economic reality the province faces.
The McGuinty Liberal government was very good to the educational system when times were better. Class sizes were reduced; all day kindergarten was put in place. McGuinty was an “educational” Premier. Time for the teachers to take a break and let someone else stick their snouts in the trough.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 8, 2012 The Burlington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) has named Pasquale Paletta as the 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year.
Paletta founded Paletta International, a Canadian-owned and family-managed company, in 1951.
 Pasquale Paletta, named Burlington Economic Development Corporation’s Entrepreneur of the year for 2013. “I am very thankful and honoured to be named the 2013 Burlington Entrepreneur of the Year,” Paletta said. “Burlington has always been home. Burlington has grown together with me and I look forward to our future growth and continued partnership with the city to continue its growth and achieve our combined dreams. I hope I can do more for Burlington.”
Paletta came to Canada as an Italian immigrant after the Second World War and moved his family to Burlington in 1964 and started a 10,000-square foot meat packing plant.
Today, the family has a facility of more than 200,000 sq.ft. and exports to more than 17 countries worldwide.
The family is believed to be the largest holder of undeveloped lands in Burlington and has in the past number of years fought the city on almost every development project it has started.
 Paletta International head office in Burlington His family has developed thousands of residential units, constructed more than 500,000 sq. ft. of buildings, developed hundreds of acres of property for retail and employment, farmed thousands of acres and expanded into film, media and entertainment.
Over the past eight years, BEDC has inducted the following acclaimed business people into Burlington’s Business Hall of Fame: Harry Voortman (Voortman Cookies), Mark Chamberlain (Trivaris), Michael Lee-Chin (AIC Ltd. /Portland Holdings), Michael DeGroote Sr. (Laidlaw/Republic), Ron Joyce (Tim Horton’s), Murray Hogarth (Pioneer Petroleums), Ron Foxcroft (Fox40 International) and Reginald Pollard (Pollard Windows Inc.).
Each year a call for nominations is sent out to the business community. Then a nominating committee made up of BEDC board of directors chooses the entrepreneur by using stringent evaluation criteria.
“We have been very fortunate to have had some of Burlington’s most successful entrepreneurs inducted into our Business Hall of Fame, Mr. Paletta is an ideal choice for this significant accomplishment,” said Alf Zeuner, chair of the BEDC’s board of directors. “It was with great interest to review the achievements of all nominees. Making the decision of the final recipient was not easy as Burlington is home to many outstanding entrepreneurs.”
The award will be presented at BEDC’s annual signature event, which will be held on Thursday, June 6 at the Burlington Convention Centre.
 The Paletta International head office operation is massive and includes the poultry packing operation as well as administrative and property management divisions. The Paletta interests were instrumental in an attempt to bring the Hamilton Tiger Cats to Burlington and make the city their “home” town. Mayor Goldring, new to the office of Mayor at the time didn’t champion that idea.
Several of the Paletta developments before the city are tied up in differences of opinion or before the Ontario Municipal Board.
Angelo Paletta, Pasquale Paletta’s son, was one of 35 people chosen by Mayor Goldring to be part of the group involved with the Mayor in defining the dream for Burlington.
The Paletta family donated a large sum to the restoration of a mansion on Lakeshore Road now known as the Paletta Mansion.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 7 2012 In the world of journalism you are supposed to cover the story – not become the story. And becoming the story when a handful of the city’s finest are involved can get a little sticky.
 A posse of Halton Regional police greet visitors to Tansley Wood on Friday as they spread the Lock it or Lose it story to area residents. The Halton Regional Police Service announced it was launching its ‘Lock it or Lose it’ campaign at the Tansley Woods Community Centre. Deputy Chief Andrew Fletcher was to be on hand along with other Senior officers, District personnel, Police Cadets and Auxiliary Police.
I had a couple of things I wanted to talk to the Deputy Chief about so I drove over to Tansley Woods, parked my car and headed for the lobby of the building and noticed that there were police officers going from car to car. “Those miserable buggers”, I muttered to myself, handing out parking tickets.
Went into the building chatted with the deputy Chief and then headed back out to my car to pick up my camera and noticed there was a police officer standing beside my car writing up a ticket. I broke into a trot to catch the police officer’s attention and ask why I was being given a ticket – there was no sign saying I could not park.
 Auxiliary police officer Voorberg tucks a notice under a car windshield as Deputy Chief Andrew Fletcher makes sure it gets done right. Both were taking part in the Lock it or Lose it Campaign that was launched at Tansley Wood Friday morning. Then I realized where I had gone wrong. I was attending an event where police were telling the public to not only lock there cars when they parked but to put anything valuable under the seat or in the trunk and not leave them out in the open, where thieves could smash the window and grab your stuff.
 The wife wants to know what the police notice is about; the purse, a gift from her had been left on the front seat of my car. The wine glass belongs to the wife. Breaking into a car in broad daylight at Tansley Woods was a bit of a stretch but it does happen as Auxiliary police officer Voorberg politely told me when he handed over the warning notice.
The “Lock it or Lose it” initiative is an important public service. It is first a proactive crime prevention program that encourages drivers to take precautions to protect their vehicles and vehicle contents from theft, particularly during the holiday season.
“Our police service is joining police services across Ontario this holiday season in urging motorists to lock their vehicles and ensure valuables are not left in plain sight,” said Deputy Chief Andrew Fletcher. “The Lock it or Lose it campaign is about police working with our community to ensure we all take precautions so that crime doesn’t ruin the holiday season.”
Under ‘Lock it or Lose it’, police officers examine parked vehicles to confirm they are locked and that no valuables have been left in plain view. Officers place a small notice on vehicles checked indicating what safety precautions were neglected and offering some simple prevention tips for drivers to protect their vehicles against theft.
In 2011, 82,411 vehicles were stolen in Canada. The good news is that auto theft was down nationally by 12 percent, with Ontario down by 9 percent. Unfortunately, Ontario auto theft still amounted to just more than $93 million in 2011. This cost is passed onto the consumer.
Since January 1st, 2011 to December 1st, 2012, there have been 4261 reported incidents of theft from motor vehicles in Halton Region. The vast majority of these thefts were preventable if motorists had secured their vehicles and valuables.
Thieves recently went through the Orchard community stealing anything they could find in cars that were not locked.
Gotta learn to put my purse underneath the seat or in the trunk of the car. The purse was a gift from the wife and as you can tell by her picture – this is not a woman to trifle with.
 By Pepper Parr
BURLINGTON, ON December 7, 2012 – Today the city launched a video called “We’re Growing in Place” to help educate and engage residents about its Official Plan review project. The video has a nice upbeat piece of music that Councillor Taylor expects to be whistling along to for the next few weeks.
The video exceeds anything the city has posted in the past and was done by True Essence Media. Keep that name in mind if you want something truly creative. Kudos to whoever at planning chose these people.
 Alan Gummo, Manager of Policy and Research That’s the good news; the bad news is that the planner who has headed up the Official Plan Review, Alan Gummo is leaving his post. Gummo brought a different set of lenses with him and we were beginning to see a much different approach to the reviewing of an Official Plan (OP), something the city has to do every five years but something that is often done rather poorly in many municipalities.
The word “disappointing” was used by one senior city hall staffer when asked to comment on Gummo’s departure. Nothing was said about where Gummo is going or why he chose to leave at this time. Tough lick for Burlington; Gummo was going to do a superb job.
The purpose of the video is to let the community know what the Official Plan is; why it matters and to encourage public participation. The video features interview clips with Burlington residents, inspiring imagery and digital animation.
 It’s sometimes difficult to get people to tell you what they think. The city’s Planning Department went into the community and posed very specific questions: what do you think about? Here are some of the responses. An Official Plan is a statutory document required by the province that describes a city’s land-use strategy over the next 20 years. It addresses the location and form of new housing, industry, offices and shops as well as anticipated needs for infrastructure.
 Planning staff put together charts and posters to advise, educate and inform the public. An Official Plan review isn’t a sexy subject but it deserves more attention than it is getting. An Official Plan has to adhere to a number of provincial Policy Statements and sets out the vision, the direction we want to grow in. Zoning by-laws are the rules that the city uses to create and allow the growth that is set out in the vision.
The zoning by laws, and there are more than you want to know, are in place to reflect the Official Plan. Zoning by laws get changed. There is an H zone, it stands for hold – it’s a place holder.
Many people get severely upset when they see a zoning by law being changed; they are supposed to be changed to reflect the changing nature of the city. Our planner, Bruce Krushelnicki, surprisingly, has all his hair and it isn’t solidly grey yet – it should be with the pounding he often has to take at city council committee and public meetings.
 Planners asked what people wanted to see in their Official Plan – not sure this is what they expected. Guess one has to be careful what they expect. Planning isn’t all that complex but it does have some fundamental rules that apply and as Krushelnicki points out again and again: the Official Plan trumps everything locally. The bylaws are put in place so that builders and developers can do their work within the Official Plan.
But time after time people appear at Council to speak against a change that is taking place without fully understanding the relationship between the Official Plan, which goes through a continual process of amendments and the zoning levels applied to every blessed square inch of the city.
Krushelnicki hired Alan Gummo to oversee the OP review; the two go back some distance. The decision to leave that review of the Official Plan at this stage can only be seen as a disappointment and a loss to the city. We were in the process of seeing a significantly different approach to the review.
Burlington has a very smart planner; a lot of people don’t agree with Bruce Krushelnicki, usually because he has chosen not to see things their way, but for the most part , he is fair, direct, honest and passionate about what he does. He tends to get beat up by just about every delegation that appears before council.
He’s urbane, actually speaks Latin and would probably love it if the rest of the world used the language as well. He also knows the best tailor in town.
Krushelnicki knows when and how to delegate, both at the most formal level and at the staff level. This province has a number of young planners who spent time in a Krushelnicki session (they are often more like seminars) learning how planning is done.
 Kirk Koster, founder of BurlingtonGreen, looks over parts of the current Official Plan. It’s not exactly bed time reading. Gummo was to take the city through an Official Plan Review the likes of which this city has never seen before. He assembled a team of young people who would bring an open, fresh look to new ideas and approaches. Gummo found upon doing a thorough review of the Official Plan that the word neighbourhood never appears in the document. The word is a major part of the city’s Strategic Plan. Gummo realized that there was a serious disconnect and arranged for a special council workshop to look at just what we meant by neighbourhoods. It was an interesting exercise and shed fresh light on how we see neighbourhoods. With Gummo turning in his security pass the city has lost a mind that was going to do it differently. Andrea Smith is serving as Acting Manager of Policy and Research
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