 By Lou Frapporti
January 22, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
One of the greatest blessings in my life is the opportunity to meet so many incredible people working everyday, in myriad ways, to make their communities better.
 Kings Road Primary School students will open for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra performing at the Aldershot High School on February 12th.  A wonderful example of that is in the collaboration of two remarkable women, Kim Varian, the indomitable Executive Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and Kristy Henders, the inspirational principal of Kings Road Primary School. For those that aren’t aware, Kings Road is an island of inclusion in Aldershot bringing together a wide range of children from diverse backgrounds; a mixture of children whose families have lived in Burlington for generations with the children of newcomers to Canada. All learning in a modest little school with inspiring educators like Kristy. My periodic visits to King Road Primary School on behalf of Alinea Land Corporation‘s philanthropic work always leaves me inspired. I am privileged to call both Kim and Kristy friends.
Which is why I’m delighted to bring this collaboration to the attention of those who live in Burlington. On February 12, the HPO will perform at Aldershot High School auditorium to raise money in support of local elementary schools, particularly King’s Road’s STEAM initiative and the Halton Learning Foundation, helping to provide enhanced learning opportunities for local students.
The event is open to the public and I invite all in my network in the area to attend to support these children and in appreciation for the wonderful work of the HPO.
And to the many wonderful business leaders in the City of Burlington: while endowed with remarkable educators doing incredible work, King’s Road Primary School is under-resourced. Please consider supporting this event through a donation – even if you are unable to attend – or otherwise supporting Kings Road as part of your charitable programming.
 By Gazette Staff
January 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Rescheduled Date: An Evening with MPPs Natalie Pierre & Peter Bethlenfalvy
Please join us for our An Evening with MPPs Natalie Pierre and Peter Bethlenfalvy.
This very special event will take place on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 6:00pm.
 They don’t tell you where the event is taking place. They want to be sure that pesky journalists don’t show up asking questions. Send them your credit card number, and you will get a seat at the table. Your credit card will be hit for $500.
Those people who do business with the provincial government will pony up that $500
 By Gazette Staff
January 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Halton District School Board (HDSB) invites parents/guardians, students, staff and community members to share feedback as part of the budget development process for the 2026-2027 school year. Input can be provided through an online survey until Feb. 1 at 4 p.m.
The HDSB values its partnership with families, staff and the broader community and recognizes that meaningful input supports informed planning and responsible decision-making focused on student learning and well-being.
 Many would feel more comfortable if reading, writing and mathematics were included in this graphic. The HDSB is navigating financial pressures compounded by declining student enrolment. Demographic factors, including aging neighbourhoods and slower growth in some areas of Halton, have contributed to these changes. As enrolment is a key factor in how resources are allocated, fluctuations in enrolment affect available resources, while the cost of delivering high-quality education continues to rise.
To support transparency and understanding of the budget process, the HDSB hosted a budget information session on Jan. 19 where questions from staff, families and the community were addressed. A recording of the session, along with frequently asked questions (FAQs) and additional resources, is available on the Budget Input webpage of the HDSB website (hdsb.ca). Staff, families and community members are encouraged to review these materials and complete the online survey to help identify priorities and inform decision-making for the year ahead.
The budget development process aligns the allocation of resources with provincial expectations and the priorities set by the Board of Trustees in the HDSB’s 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan, while remaining fiscally responsible.
Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board said: “We value the engagement and perspectives of our students, staff, families and community members throughout the budget development process,” says “Your feedback is essential in identifying priorities and understanding potential impacts as we make informed, fiscally responsible, transparent and evidence-based decisions about how resources are allocated to support student learning and well-being. Our commitment remains unchanged – students are at the heart of everything we do.”
HDSB 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan
The 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan sets direction and prioritizes the collective actions of all students, staff, families and community members. This plan ensures our efforts as an organization are aligned and coordinated to support more than 65,000 students, 11,000 staff and the broader HDSB community. The six commitments identified in this four-year plan intersect and overlap to ensure that we take a cohesive approach to fulfilling its objectives.
Background resources
Budget and Financial Information
Budget Input Webpage
2026-2027 School Year Budget Development – Public Information Session
2026-2027 School Year Budget Development Feedback Survey
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 By Joe Gaetan
January 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
If you were willing to brave minus-10-degree weather on January 20 to attend the Focus Burlington event, you would have found a packed room – not with optimism, but with frustration.
Residents spoke passionately about not being heard when they delegate at Council. They spoke about a budget driven largely by staffing costs while many live on fixed incomes. They spoke about property taxes rising roughly 44% in four years. They spoke about wages and benefits for municipal employees outpacing those in the private sector. The grievances were real, measured, and deeply felt.
What you did not hear, however, were answers.
 Five member panel answered questions put to them by Stephen White. Not from the expert panel. Not in the form of solutions, timelines, or suggestions for change.
Panel members Alan Harrington, Brad Harness, Eric Stern, Mark Carr and Pepper Parr answered questions and responded to audience concerns.
No one explained how strong mayor powers – now embedded in Burlington’s governance – will result in anything other than more of the same if the same mayor is re-elected in 2026. No one addressed the issue or return of daytime Council meetings, a basic open government tenet and issue for residents who want to observe or participate.
There was no discussion of how reserve funds are increasingly repurposed for major events, such as the FIFA Caravan, while residents are forced to submit Freedom of Information requests just to see the letter of intent – a document that other cities, such as Chatham, provide freely and transparently.
There was no meaningful reflection on whether Burlington’s council structure still serves the community, despite the recent ward boundary review resulting in only minor adjustments – effectively locking in the status quo for years to come.
And critically, there was no acknowledgement of how the City will ensure we never again experience a situation like the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays (BAD) bid – a process marked by confusion, delay, and a troubling lack of clarity around governance and accountability.
There was also no reckoning with the growing trend of pre-announcing events – such as the Sound of Music festival or the FIFA Caravan – long before the final decisions has been made. That practice undermines trust, raises false expectations, and begs a simple question: what happened to engagement?
What happened to respect – when Councillors scroll on their phones instead of listening to delegations?
What happened to transparency – when budget increases are framed in ways that minimize their apparent impact?
 What happened to open government – when it takes months just to consider reviewing an RFP process that clearly failed public confidence?
The Focus Burlington event revealed something more important than any single budget line: a widening gap between City Hall and the people it serves. Residents are not merely upset about money. They are upset about process, access, accountability, and being treated as an inconvenience rather than partners in governance.
Listening is not the same as hearing. And hearing is not the same as acting.
Until Council – and the Mayor – are prepared to move beyond carefully curated responses and into genuine reform, Burlington will continue to host rooms full of frustrated residents, and panels full of explanations that go nowhere.
Democracy does not fail all at once. It erodes quietly – incrementally. The voices in the room on January 20 were not angry – they were warning us.
The question is whether anyone in power is prepared to listen.
If you are interested in changing things by running for office, the next Focus Burlington event to be held in February is just for you.
Joe Gaetan is a frequent contributor to the Gazette. He attended the first Focus Burlington meeting
By Gazette Staff
January 21st, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a very cold night.
 Despite the weather, a small group showed up for the first public event Focus Burlington put on. Using the theme: Beyond the Ballot Stephen White took the audience through a series of questions put to a four-member panel. The questions are set out below.
The two-hour event didn’t manage to get to all 10; questions from the audience were varied and, for the most part, very much to the point.
 I wasn’t a huge audience but it was respectful enough, and they had a lot to say. They were looking for answers to issues that just couldn’t be answered.
Interesting, the maniac south of us wasn’t mentioned once.
The audience wasn’t very happy with the performance coming from the City Council.
Budget issues and what the audience thought their city council wasn’t doing for them dominated.
Alan Harrington spoke of the need to get people involved, saying there wasn’t much hope for a change with the current Council.
Brad Harness, publisher of the Burlington Independent, acquitted himself rather well. While he has yet to formally announce, he will run for the Ward 2 seat that Lisa Kerns is expected to vacate to take a run at becoming the Mayor of the City. No formal announcement yet.
Mark Carr, a former member of City Council (Ward 6 when it was a 17 member Council saw merit in what was being done at Regional Council. He didn’t get much in the way of agreement on that point.
Pepper Parr, publisher of the Burlington Gazette told the audience that the biggest problem the city has is “assessment”; new homes are not being built which means the tax revenue stream can’t keep up with the amount of money the city is spending.
It is that issue, the amount the city is spending and the tax increases that follow that broughtFocus Burlington into being.
 Left to right: Alan Harrington, Brad Harness, Eric Stern, a Focus co-founder, Mark Carr and Pepper Parr A chartered accountant in the audience said he was stunned when he learned that the budget book is more than 600 pages long.
Another resident said she was finding Burlington too expensive to live in and expected to have to move at some point..
The one issue that pervaded almost everything was the lack of meaningful engagement. No one spoke about how well things were going at City Council . There wasn’t any praise for even one of them.
1: When you look back on the past four years of the Burlington City Council, what story does their record tell? If you had to assess their overall effectiveness—not intentions, but outcomes—how would you evaluate their performance and why?
2: What decision or initiative best represents the strongest leadership shown by the current mayor and council over the past four years—and what lasting impact will it have on Burlington?
3: Where do you believe the mayor and council fell short of public expectations, and what lessons should future councils take from that shortcoming?
4: What do you think has been the most significant or impactful decision, action or moment in the life of this mayor and council during the past four years?
5: Looking ahead to the next four-year term, what are the most critical challenges facing Burlington—and how prepared is the next mayor and council to address them realistically?
6: Public scrutiny of municipal spending continues to Based on what you’ve observed, where are the greatest opportunities for smarter spending, cost control, or service redesign—without compromising quality?
7: How do you expect provincial policies and decisions under the Ford government to shape—or constrain—the priorities and autonomy of Burlington’s next mayor and council?”
8: As you assess Burlington’s political landscape, where do you see the greatest potential for change—whether through new voices, tighter races, or shifting voter priorities?
9: Municipal voter turnout remains a challenge across How well do you think Burlington engages its residents in civic life—and what concrete steps could meaningfully increase participation and trust?”
10: For someone in the audience contemplating running for municipal office, what advice would you give them in preparing their policy platform or organizing their campaign?
By Gazette Staff
January 20th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 There are people who can’t get enough of Trivia contests or get to a karaoke event where they can sing their hearts out.
Each to his own
The Compassion Society has scheduled a Trivia event that will take place at the Legion Hall on February xx.
There will be 25 tables of eight people with impressive prizes for the winners
 Providing a $50 gift card for the first place winners. 1st place $50 gift card for Squire’s Gastro Pub for each member of the winning table
3rd place $10 gift card for Crème de la Crème for each member of the third place winners.
 Providing a $10 gift card for third place winners. We are waiting for confirmation of the organization behind the second place winners.
 By Gazette Staff
January 20th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
On one of the coldest days of the year, Ontario Parks announces they are now receiving applications for summer j0bs.
Build your skills, make new friends and gain valuable work experience while working in some of Ontario’s most beautiful locations.
 Job opening at Provincial parks across the province. Applications are now open for summer positions at parks across the province including:
gate attendants
maintenance workers
Discovery rangers
View all opportunities on the Ontario Parks hiring map and learn how to apply on the Ontario Parks website at: OntarioParks.ca/careers
Every summer, Ontario Parks hires 1,600 students. By applying early, students will give themselves the best opportunity to secure their preferred job.
By Gazette Staff
January 20th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Families, students, staff and community members are invited to attend the upcoming Director’s Panel Series: A More Human Vision of AI on Monday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. Each session in this series explores issues and themes impacting students and education today. Sessions are led by Director of Education Curtis Ennis and Human Rights & Equity Advisor Pardeep Singh Nagra. Throughout the year, panelists featured in the Director’s Panel series may also include HDSB students, staff, parents/guardians and subject-matter experts.
The upcoming session in the series will be:
 Artificial Intelligence: What is it going to do for us and what is it likely to do to us? A More Human Vision of AI
Monday, Jan. 26 from 6 – 7 p.m.
This will be a virtual event with the livestream linked on the HDSB website (hdsb.ca).
Registration is not required.
A More Human Vision of AI explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is showing up all around us and why it is essential for schools, students and families to approach its use with intention, responsibility and a strong sense of humanity. Join us for a conversation featuring industry thought leader Kulbir Colin Singh Dhillon, writer of Soulful AI, to examine how we can ensure emerging technologies reflect humanity rather than replace them. Together, the panel will explore what it means to use and live alongside AI in ways that prioritize empathy, ethics, creativity and purpose so that as technology advances, our humanity advances with it.
Those interested in attending the event are invited to submit a question related to the topic before the session through this Google Form.
 Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board explains: “This session invites our community to come together and consider how we thoughtfully respond to emerging technologies and their impact on learning.” Adding that “As digital tools and artificial intelligence become more prevalent, it is important that students are supported to think critically, act ethically and use innovation with intention, ensuring technology reflects our humanity rather than replaces it. Through this conversation, we will explore how we can support critical thinking, creativity and purpose so that students can engage with new tools in ways that prioritize responsibility and meaningful connection.”
By Gazette Staff
January 19th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
When ski mountaineering makes its Winter Games debut next month, its arrival will reflect the decades of history, bureaucracy and regional influence that determine which sports the world sees on the Olympic stage.
Though it may only now be reaching the radar of sport enthusiasts across the globe, Brock University Assistant Professor of Sport Management Taylor McKee says the endurance sport, also known as “skimo,” is deeply rooted in European alpine culture.
 The terrain is treacherous at times, but always beautiful when there is an opportunity to pause and take it all in. Ski mountaineering combines uphill climbing and downhill skiing, with athletes using specialized lightweight equipment to ascend snow-covered mountains before racing back down technical alpine terrain.
The sport, which emphasizes endurance and technical skill, is rooted in mountaineering tradition rather than stadium-based competition.
McKee says sports “very rarely” appear on the global stage without a robust history backing their climb.
Whether a sport is included in the Olympics also depends largely on bureaucracy, he says, as a sport must have an international governing body, national federations and the capacity to organize international competition.
“It takes years to create an International Federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC),” he says. “While The IOC governs the Olympic Games, for the most part, the administration of the sport is really governed by their international federations.”
But meeting those formal requirements is only the starting point, especially for the Winter Olympics, which follow a different philosophy than the Summer Games.
 This is the downhill part. The Winter Olympics did not begin as a global showcase, but as a Nordic alpine festival rooted in Western Europe. That legacy continues to shape today’s Olympic program.
“The Winter Games are still very rooted in Swiss, French and German tradition, it’s not Canadians or Americans setting the agenda,” says McKee. “If it involves skiing, mountaineering or alpinism in general, it’s going to get some Olympic attention because of the core values of the Winter Olympics themselves.”
That context helps explain why ski mountaineering fits naturally within the Winter Olympics ecosystem. Particularly, McKee says, when the Games are hosted in alpine regions as is the case this year in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
“It’s not so much that ski mountaineering fever is taking over the world,” says McKee. “It’s very important to a core group of people who carry a lot of influence in the way that the Winter Olympic program is put together.”
Those dynamics have become even more pronounced as the Olympics have evolved into a global media enterprise. Since 1984, McKee says, the Games have operated in what historians describe as the “rocket fuel era.”
“Every square inch of it has a sponsor,” he says. “How have they succeeded in the last 40 years? Because of big business.”
The private sector’s involvement transformed the Olympics into a broadcast-driven event, where audience appeal now matters alongside athletic tradition.
“It is very much about locating an audience,” says McKee. “‘Is this compelling content?’ is a question that’s being asked in IOC circles these days.”
Since the inception of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, sport inclusion has never been permanent.
While ski mountaineering is on the Olympic program for 2026, there’s no telling what 2030 and beyond will hold, McKee says.
Sports, he adds, routinely move in and out of the Games. Tennis, golf and lacrosse, for example, have all disappeared and returned over time.
The fluidity challenges the idea that Olympic status defines legitimacy.
“To get in the Olympics is a bureaucratic question and a marketing question these days, as much as it is a question of sport legitimacy,” McKee says.
A sport’s absence often reveals regional priorities rather than participation or skill, he adds.
“If the sport doesn’t resonate in Austria, Germany or Switzerland, the path to the Winter Olympic program is a difficult one.”
McKee favours a broader understanding of what the Olympics represent in the modern era.
“It’s still an entertainment product,” he says. “We as a sporting public need to be less precious with what we consider to be an Olympic sport or not.”
 Brock University has a Sports Management program, thought to be the only one in Canada. They have focused not only on the sports but on the business side of different sports. Brock, founded in 1964, opening its first classes in September of that year with 127 students, though the groundwork and community efforts began earlier, stemming from the Allanburg Women’s Institute‘s initiative in 1957. The university was officially chartered by the province in March 1964 and named after Major-General Sir Isaac Brock
In 1964, the Bill Davis government introduced a Department of University Affairs within the Ministry of Education. In the same year, the provincial government founded Brock University , the University of Guelph and Trent University.
Brock has succeeded in creating something that is much more than a niche.
– 30 –
 By Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence Canada
January 19th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO)’s Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) confirms the planned path of destruction for Highway 413 across the headwaters of the Credit and Humber Rivers and Etobicoke Creek. This decision will have significant social, environmental, recreational and archeological impacts.
The EIAR, released on December 1st, details how this six-to-ten lane highway will pave over 300 hectares of forests, meadows and wetlands, including 14.8 hectares of provincially significant wetlands, 36.2 hectares of significant woodlands and five significant valleylands. A further 500 hectares of natural areas surrounding the preferred route will also be lost, not only during construction of the highway, but through operation and maintenance.
The EIAR also confirms that the Government of Ontario is steadfast in pursuing a Highway routing that ignores key scientific advice, including the extensive documented presence of key species at risk. The highway would pave over the Main Humber River valley crossing—the largest remaining critical habitat for the endangered rapids clubtail, western chorus frog and redside dace.
This study demonstrates that the Government of Ontario continues to pursue one of the most ecologically damaging routes despite the government’s own consultants cautioning that this will increase the risk of non-approval for environmental permitting by the federal government. The MTO and the Ontario government insist on pursuing a route that avoids lands owned by influential developers just outside of the ecologically sensitive Nashville Conservation Reserve, despite a chorus of voices calling to avoid this area due to endangered species, key critical natural areas and its high archeological potential.
It is clear the Ontario Government is continuing to prioritize the interests of wealthy developers at the expense of Ontarians and the health of our environment.
Background:
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- Construction of Highway 413 is estimated to cost between $14 and $18 billion.
- Despite the enormous financial costs and ecological impacts of the proposed highway, the Ontario government continues to suppress public participation rights.
- Over a year ago, through Bill 212, the Ontario government eliminated public appeal rights for Highway 413 afforded under the Environmental Bill of Rights.
- This pattern continues with the EIAR review: the MTO only provided Indigenous communities, municipalities and the public with just over a month to review and provide comments on the technical report and schedules that number over 1700 pages.
The upside to all this is a saving of 15 minutes in driving time, according to the provincial government.
 By Pepper Parr
January 19th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Joan Little left us earlier this month, on the 13th of January.
 Joan Little: September 7th, 1933 – Tuesday, January 13th, 2026 We first met each other at the media table that used to be set up in the Council Chamber during the Goldring era.
She was a columnist with the Hamilton Spectator and I was the sole staff member of the Burlington Gazette.
Joan had more than 20 years of media experience and knew where all the bones were buried. She was an honest, compassionate voice.
Before becoming a columnist for the Spec, Joan was a member of Burlington and Halton councils for 15 fun years. in those dats it was a 17 member Council that often sat until well after midnight.
She also served on Conservation Halton and the Niagara Escarpment Commission.
She was the campaign manager for Walter Mulkawich when he was first elected as Mayor.
From 1997 on, she enjoyed being a regular freelance columnist for the Hamilton Spectator on Burlington issues.
Joan lived a full life.
There was an occasion when she met a gentleman who lived in the same building. A relationship developed. Joan began to wear some make-up and there was a ‘giddy-up’ in her step.
Any mention of the changes that were taking place in her life at the time brought a smile to her face. One morning, the new friend knocked on her door with a copy of the Spectator in hand asking Joan, in as she put it, a challenging manner, about the content of the column. He didn’t like what she had written. Joan delivered some choice words. The gentleman moved out of the building shortly after.
 I had to stand across the street from the flag poles and salute a colleague and a good friend. I was in touch with Joan two days before she passed to talk about doing an article on her experiences as a columnist.
She told me at the time that she was going to have to move into accommodations that could provide the care she needed. Joan found that her eyesight was failing, making it very difficult to continue as a writer.
We would often have lunch – I would bring along the “fully loaded” hamburgers she loved and spend several hours talking about the changes that were taking place in our lives.
During one conversation, there was a point at which Joan couldn’t remember something that was said at a Council meeting. She slipped into the spare room she used as an office and burrowed through the filing cabinet that held every document from every council meeting she covered.
Hopefully, we can talk to the family about saving those documents.
When she was really active as a columnist, we would exchange thoughts; with her deep background she was able to put events in perspective.
Media today is not what it was when Joan Little began to write her very popular column. She knew and spoke frequently with all of the senior people at City Hall. In the past four to five years, Joan found it difficult to get through to people – the city had created a communications team that became a barrier.
Joan also had serious run-ins with Mayor Meed Ward, who took complaints to the Spectator editorial people. That sort of thing didn’t take place before the pandemic.
The role and standing of the reporting media have changed over the last decade or so.
Joan, with total respect and considerable courage, reported what she saw and believed. She was attacked by special interests; but she held her ground and the City was better for it.
Rest in Peace my friend.
 By Fredrik Stougaard
January 19th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Ontario’s regulated online gambling system has been in place for several years now, but confusion still lingers about how it actually works. For Burlington residents, the topic usually comes up not as a policy debate, but as a practical question about legality, safety, and where the rules apply.
The province’s approach is different from most of North America. Instead of a single government-run platform, Ontario opened the door to private operators under strict oversight, creating a competitive but tightly regulated marketplace. That framework matters because many digital entertainment habits now overlap. People move between streaming services, mobile games, and interactive platforms with ease, and gaming is part of that broader digital shift.
1. How the iGaming system works
 Ontario’s online gambling model launched in April 2022 with two key regulators at the centre. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) sets the rules and enforces compliance, while iGaming Ontario manages the commercial relationships with private operators.
Rather than running games itself, the province licenses online casinos in Ontario that meet strict technical and financial standards. This open-market approach has drawn dozens of operators into a single, regulated system, giving residents more choice without abandoning oversight.
 Slots remain the most popular casino game due to the fact that they are easy to play, offer many different themes, are not expensive, and come loaded with a variety of exciting bonus features. 2. Built-in consumer protections
One of the biggest differences between regulated and unregulated platforms is the level of protection required by law. Licensed operators must verify customer identity, monitor play, and meet technical standards that are regularly audited.
The creation of the regulated market has been effective at pulling activity away from offshore sites. A 2025 AGCO-commissioned study found that 83.7 % of Ontarians who gambled online used regulated platforms, a dramatic change from pre-regulation estimates. The remaining grey market shows why continued public education still matters.
Ontario also introduced province-wide responsible gaming tools, not always available at offshore operators. These include self-exclusion programs that apply across all regulated sites, not just a single operator, and clear rules around advertising and bonuses.
Enforcement is not theoretical. In January 2026, the AGCO issued a high-profile fine against a major operator for failing to meet reporting obligations, reinforcing that compliance is actively monitored. For residents, that oversight is the main safeguard when engaging with digital platforms that involve real money.
3. Economic and municipal implications
The regulated market has also become a meaningful economic contributor. In the 2024–25 fiscal year, Ontario’s online gambling sector generated CA$3.20 billion in gross gaming revenue.
 While this revenue flows to the province rather than directly to municipalities like Burlington, it supports public services through general government funding. The scale of the market helps explain why the province prioritises keeping activity within a regulated framework instead of letting it drift offshore.
 Millions in gambling revenue collected by the province is used to fund public services. The funds go to the Trillium Foundation; they pass the funds along to community organizations. Competition among licensed operators has also driven investment in technology and customer support, reinforcing the stability of the system rather than relying on a single public platform.
4. Where regulated options are found
For residents, the practical takeaway is simple: legal online gambling in Ontario only exists through AGCO-registered operators. These platforms are required to display licensing information and follow provincial standards.
Anything operating outside that framework does not offer the same protections, even if it appears polished or familiar. The persistence of unregulated sites is why the province continues to emphasise awareness, not just enforcement.
Understanding where regulated options are found helps residents make informed decisions, even if online gambling is only an occasional activity.
Closing thoughts
 For Burlington residents, Ontario’s online gambling rules are less about promotion and more about clarity. The system is designed to channel existing demand into a safer, transparent environment, backed by regulation and enforcement.
Knowing how the framework works, what protections exist, and why the province structured it this way makes it easier to navigate digital spaces with confidence. In a landscape where online services blur together, that clarity is the real public benefit.
 By Gazette Staff
January 19th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Why was notice of an online information session on Burlington Arts and Culture Grant sent out on a Monday for an event that is taking place Monday evening?
For those who missed the announcement:
Burlington Arts and Culture Grant (BACG) provides grants to local artists, multicultural groups, and arts and culture organizations to foster creativity and enrich how Burlington residents experience and engage with arts and culture. The program recognizes and supports diverse identities, perspectives, languages, cultures, and artistic practices.
The maximum grant awarded will be $7,000, and applicants must meet specific requirements.
Online applications will be accepted until Monday, Feb. 2, and fund projects that take place between April 2026 and March 2027. To be eligible for BACG funding support, applicants must be Burlington based and one of the following:
* An individual artist or arts and cultural collective (defined two or more artists, performers or cultural professionals that exhibit high achievement in arts and culture programming)
* An incorporated not-for-profit arts and culture organization or a charitable arts and culture organization
* A multicultural group that fulfills a significant role in the Burlington community through the arts and culture.
Project grants are awarded for a term of one year, and applicants can apply for one project per year. The maximum amount awarded for each grant is $7,000 and applications are judged based on project and artistic merit, Inclusion and community impact, and project Delivery.
Link to the application forms:
 The Arts and Culture community in Burlington is vibrant and active.
By Gazette Staff
January 19th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Burlington, Ontario—Calling all artists and book lovers, young and old—Burlington Public Library’s annual Burlington Bookmarks Contest is underway! Every year, local residents are invited to break out the crayons and markers and design a bookmark based on a literary theme.
 This year, your challenge is to create a design inspired by a book you love.
How It Works
Entrants must live, work, or attend school in Burlington. Pick up a paper submission form at any Burlington Public Library branch or download one online through BPL’s contest web page. You can create your original hand-drawn artwork using markers, crayons, pencils, pastels, or paint. Your design will be considered as long as it stays inside the bookmark outline.
Submit your bookmark at your local branch or upload it to the library’s website by February 23, 2026, to be considered. Finalists will be chosen in five age categories, and their designs will be posted online for public voting from March 4 to 11.
Spread the Love of Reading
 These are winning entries from the 2023 challenge. What do the winners get? The joy of spreading the love of reading! The five winning bookmarks will be professionally printed and available at all BPL branches for customers to enjoy in their next great read.
Follow Along Online
Keep tabs on the contest by checking the library’s website and social media channels (@BurlOnLibrary) for contest updates and voting.
If you want to make sure you get your hands on one of this year’s winning bookmarks, keep a close eye out! The free bookmarks will be available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Burlington Bookmark Contest web page
By Lydia Kelso
January 19, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Crash games are a unique category of instant-win titles popular in Canada. These games at Casino Swiper Canada have a multiplier that grows from 1.00x upward until a random collapse called the crash occurs. You have to decide when to exit the round to get a payout before the game ends.
About Crash Games
 A crash game involves a curve or an object that has a certain trajectory. The general mechanics of a crash game involve a curve or an object that has a certain trajectory. The object is linked to a multiplier, and you place a bet before the game begins. The reward depends on your bet multiplied by the coefficient on the screen, but only if you withdraw before the round ends.
Probably Fair algorithms determine the result of every round. This technology uses a server seed and a client seed to create a hash. You can check this hash after the round to verify that the casino didn’t change the outcome.
Most versions include a social panel where you see the bets of other participants. Many games at sites like Casino Swiper Canada also have live chats where you can communicate with all other players who participate.
General Gameplay and Rules
Every player at sites like Casino Swiper Canada places a bet before the round starts. The multiplier begins to increase as soon as the countdown for placing wagers hits zero.
You win if you click the cash out button before the crash. You lose your entire stake if the game stops before you act.
Most titles have an auto-bet tool for repetitive wagers. These tools help you manage a strategy over many rounds. But the most important tool is definitely the automatic withdrawal, as it lets you determine the number of the multiplier at which the game collects your win.
How to Play Step-by-Step
You can learn the basic process in a few seconds because the interface is simple. You may also check out the demo mode, as most crash games at Casino Swiper Canada and similar sites have it.
 The funds appear in your account immediately if you successfully exit before the crash. Follow these steps to start your first round:
- Select your stake amount in the panel and press Bet.
- Wait for the next round to begin.
- Watch the multiplier rise on the screen.
- Click the Cash Out button to collect your win.
The funds appear in your account immediately if you successfully exit before the crash. You can repeat this process as many times as you want, but be mindful and gamble responsibly.
Tips for Beginners
Success in crash games doesn’t mean winning every round. It means reducing the risk of huge losses.
Beginners may use these tips to play at Casino Swiper Canada:
- Use the auto cash out tool and set small multipliers (under 1.5).
- Check the history of previous rounds on the sidebar to understand the more common multipliers.
- Place small wagers to extend gameplay without big investments.
- Don’t try to win back what you lost after a bad streak; it’s best to try another time.
- Set a budget for your session before you start, and don’t exceed it.
 Are these randomly generated numbers? These strategies help you play the game longer and prevent large losses. It’s vital to remember that no pattern guarantees a win because the results are random.
 By Lily Davis
January 19th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
Live dealer games offer an engaging and interactive experience that mirrors the excitement of a physical casino. These games bring players together through real-time action and social features, creating a vibrant online community. With cutting-edge technology, the vegashero platform ensures seamless and authentic gameplay for all users. For those seeking dynamic gameplay, vegashero casino remains a top choice.
Live dealer games are revolutionizing the online casino landscape by blending the convenience of digital gaming with the immersive qualities of traditional casinos. Players enjoy a unique gaming experience that includes interaction with professional dealers in real time. This combination of digital access and live engagement offers a compelling alternative to visiting physical casinos. Additionally, at vegashero casino, players find an ideal blend of convenience and authenticity.
The social aspect of live dealer games
 Live dealer situations adds authenticity and excitement, as players can witness each card shuffle and dice roll unfold in real time. Live dealer games create an environment where social interaction thrives, replicating the communal atmosphere of brick-and-mortar casinos. Players have the opportunity to engage with dealers and fellow participants through chat features, fostering connections and shared experiences. This setup allows players to feel part of a larger community, enhancing their overall enjoyment of the game.
The real-time action is pivotal to this interactive environment. Unlike traditional online games that rely on algorithms, live dealer games utilize actual dealers to facilitate gameplay. This aspect adds authenticity and excitement, as players can witness each card shuffle and dice roll unfold in real time. The dynamic nature of these interactions keeps players engaged and invested in their gaming sessions. This real-time element is one of the reasons vegashero casino has gained popularity among players seeking genuine casino experiences online.
Benefits of live dealer games
One significant advantage of live dealer games is their ability to offer a more authentic gaming experience. The presence of real dealers enhances trust and transparency, as players can see the actions taking place rather than relying solely on automated systems. This transparency builds confidence among players, making them more likely to return for future sessions.
Moreover, live dealer games provide an immersive experience that closely mirrors the thrill of being in a physical casino. Players can interact with dealers who guide them through each game, offering tips and insights along the way. This level of personal interaction adds depth to the gaming experience, making it both educational and entertaining. At vegashero casino, players can explore various live dealer tables tailored to different preferences.
Community building through live dealer interaction
 This game enables interactions between players and dealers, these games cultivate a sense of camaraderie among participants. The community aspect of live dealer games cannot be overstated. By enabling interactions between players and dealers, these games cultivate a sense of camaraderie among participants. Players from various locations converge on platforms, sharing strategies and celebrating victories together.
This communal element is particularly appealing as it connects individuals who might otherwise never meet. Through shared experiences in gaming sessions, players form bonds that extend beyond individual games. The sense of belonging fostered by these interactions contributes significantly to player retention and satisfaction.
 By Chris Ashby
January 18th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
What is a CMA and Why Every Seller Needs One
If you’re thinking about selling your home, you’ve probably heard the term “CMA” thrown around. But what exactly does it mean, and why is it so important? A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is one of the most valuable tools in real estate – and understanding it could be the difference between pricing your home perfectly or leaving money on the table.
What is a CMA?
A Comparative Market Analysis is a detailed report that estimates your home’s current market value by comparing it to similar properties that have recently sold, are currently for sale, or were listed but didn’t sell in your area.
Think of it as your home’s “market snapshot” – a real-time picture of how it stacks up against the competition.
Unlike an automated online estimate, a CMA considers the unique features of your property, local market conditions, and recent trends that only a trained professional can properly evaluate. It’s not just about square footage and bedrooms – it’s about understanding what buyers are actually willing to pay for homes like yours right now.
The Three Types of Properties in a CMA
A comprehensive CMA examines three categories of comparable properties, or “comps”:
Why Every Seller Needs a CMA
Pricing your home correctly from the start is crucial in any market. An overpriced home tends to sit – and the longer it sits, the more buyers assume something is wrong. This often leads to price reductions and ultimately a lower final sale price.
On the other hand, underpricing means leaving equity on the table that took years to build.
A well-prepared CMA helps you find the pricing “sweet spot” – where your home attracts strong buyer interest while maximizing your return.
Beyond Just Price
A good CMA offers more than just a suggested listing price. It can reveal market trends in your neighborhood, highlight which features buyers value most, and suggest improvements that could increase your home’s appeal. You might discover that homes with updated kitchens are selling for significantly more, or that properties with certain layouts are moving faster.
The Professional Advantage
A true CMA combines data with expertise. It accounts for:
- Your home’s condition and improvements
- Local market dynamics
- Seasonal effects on pricing
- Buyer expectations in your specific area
- Style, layout, and intangible property characteristics
 Be as fully informed as possible when you are selling. This blend of analytics + real-world insight is something no algorithm can replicate.
When You’re Ready to Sell
A CMA is the first step toward a smart, confident sale – and it’s something I provide as part of my service. If you’re curious about your home’s current value, want a clearer understanding of your neighborhood’s trends, or simply want to plan ahead, I’d be happy to prepare a personalized CMA for you.
Chris Ashby is a real estate professional
By Gazette Staff
January 18th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The full report can be found HERE
 Our roads, sidewalks, buildings, shipping canals, dams and agricultural practices have eliminated many natural landscape features that would otherwise slow rainwater’s path across the land and absorb it deeply underground. Stormwater systems are too outdated and undersized to handle the new normal of rain events.  Melting icebergs accelerate climate change by reducing Earth’s reflectivity (albedo), causing the darker ocean to absorb more solar heat, triggering a self-reinforcing warming cycle. This also destabilizes ocean currents and polar vortex, affecting global weather, disrupting fisheries, and adding freshwater to oceans, raising sea levels and potentially altering ocean chemistry.
 By Ray Rivers
January17th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
 Could the colour be the reason the model isn’t selling? At least their electric vehicles (EVs) are coming. And Doug Ford is making a fool of himself again, ranting about something he knows so little about. First of all, 49,000 EV’s a year is less than 3% of Canada’s total new car sales. Second, Canada doesn’t currently produce any fully electric cars, except for one obscure Dodge sports performance car which nobody seems to be buying.
So, Doug Ford is wrong again. Ontario based vehicle manufacturing will not be impacted by these imports. But then isn’t this the same Doug Ford who spent his first term trying to indirectly kill EV sales. Didn’t he end the purchase subsidy; tear out the GO parking lot EV chargers and remove the requirement for EV charging wiring in new homes.
 Ready for loading into containers heading for Canada. These Chinese cars, if they are as good as we hear, might help stimulate the EV market which has fallen off the cliff – some 43% decline so this past year. And that would help us meet our carbon emission targets painlessly. That sales decline is largely due to three factors. First, the federal subsidy, which at $5000 was more symbolic than a real incentive, ended this year.
 The Donald Trump effect. Second, there is virtually every US regulatory initiative to go electric has been halted in Trump’s new drill-baby-drill America. Tesla, whose EV sales had made it a household brand name and woken up the rest of the industry, crashed once Americans saw Musk in full Trumpian DOGE action. And embarrassed Canadian Tesla owners then lined up to disown their EV’s in response to Trump’s economic war.
Third, and perhaps most important is the challenge of on-road charging. Charging at home is typically plug and go – easy peasy and cheap. And to charge a Tesla at a commercial pump, you just plug-in and the charger automatically debits your bank card held on your account and regulates the charge to protect your battery and auto… and wishes you a nice day. But for non-Tesla owners it’s an uncomfortable bun fight when you travel.
Security is the biggest question mark with Chinese vehicles. Chargers require access to your car’s info system to regulate electron flow and to establish payment. That means they typically interact with your personal account information. Chinese cell phone systems had been banned here only a few years ago for that reason.
The answer is to develop a single charging network with tight regulatory guard rails to protect us all. Trudeau had given every new EV owner $5000. He would have been smarter to have used that money to build a national secure and reliable charging network across the country. It’s still not too late to do that. Perhaps Mr. Carney should add that to his wish list of big build projects.
 Canola being stored, ready for shipment come March 1st. Some Canadian canola farms are more than 2450 acres in size. This is big business. This deal – tit-for-tat tariff trade restriction removal – with China is a win-win. It’s a win for the canola and pork producers and a win for those folks wanting to affordably buy their way into the clean car crowd. But most of all its a big win for Canada and its future. After all China has never threatened to invade or annex Canada.
There is much we may not like about the Chinese approach to human rights but then we just need to look at what is evolving south of the border. And the USA used to be Canada’s best friend and ally. China’s BYD has apparently made vehicles for Stallantis. We can only they will start building EV’s in the recently retooled empty Chrysler Brampton facility.
 Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
 By Gazette Staff
January 16th, 2026
BURLINGTON, ON
The Ontario government is investing up to $8 million to support planning for 16 new and expanded primary care teaching clinics across the province to connect 300,000 more people to primary care. This investment is part of the government’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan to connect everyone in Ontario to primary care by 2029.
 The development of skills to effectively work with patients takes time and proper funding. “These new primary care teaching clinics will further protect our health-care system by training the next generation of primary care clinicians, right here in Ontario,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This builds on our government’s unprecedented investments in primary care that will ensure anyone who wants to connect to a primary care clinician can have reliable access to primary care, no matter where they live.”
Each teaching clinic will receive up to $500,000 to support planning work. In partnership with Ontario’s medical schools, these clinics will train family medicine residents in a team-based model alongside other health-care professionals, such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants and registered nurses. These clinics will offer training that combines direct patient care with hands-on learning in team-based environments, all while providing primary care for an additional 300,000 people. Initial teaching clinics are targeted to open in 2027-28, with further expansion to follow.
“Hands-on learning is critical to ensuring our health care students can hit the ground running and provide exceptional care upon graduation,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “The new and expanded primary care clinics will not only equip our future doctors and nurses with the skills they need to thrive, but also connect more people in Ontario to compassionate health care, close to home.”
This funding is part of the government’s broader investment of up to $300 million – part of the $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan – to build new and expanded community-based primary care teaching clinics in areas with high rates of unattachment. In addition to funding planning grants for 16 new and expanded teaching clinics, two new primary care teaching clinics at Toronto Metropolitan University will bring the total to 18 clinics. Together with other historic investments in new medical school seats, creating over 130 new and expanded primary care teams and adding nearly 20,000 new physicians to the health-care system, these initiatives are helping to connect Ontario families to primary care, beginning with clearing the Health Care Connect waitlist as of January 1, 2025. As of this week, that waitlist has been reduced by more than 75 per cent.
 Investment in critical infrastructure will strengthen team-based primary care in Ontario. “This investment in critical infrastructure will strengthen team-based primary care in Ontario,” said Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team. “These new teaching clinics will train the next generation of family physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other health professionals to work in teams while delivering vital care to patients who currently lack access.”
| Medical school |
Primary Care Teaching Clinic Site Location |
| McMaster University |
Milton |
| McMaster University |
Niagara |
| NOSM University |
Thunder Bay |
| NOSM University |
Sudbury |
| NOSM University |
Sault Ste. Marie |
| NOSM University |
Timmins |
| NOSM University |
North Bay |
| Queens University |
Oshawa |
| Queens University |
Kingston |
| Queens University |
Belleville |
| University of Ottawa |
Central Ottawa |
| University of Toronto |
Scarborough (two sites) |
| Western University |
London East |
| Western University |
Sarnia |
| Western University |
Woodstock |
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government continues to take bold and decisive action to grow the province’s highly skilled health-care workforce and ensure people and their families have access to high-quality care, closer to home, for generations to come.
There is a lot of fluff in the provincial government’s announcement, but the fact that this program is now real and live is good news.
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