 By Adam Lumb
February 15th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The legal gambling age in Canada is determined by province. This means how old you need to be to gamble depends on where you live. However, it can also depend on what type of gambling you are partaking in. For example, there might be different minimum ages based on if you’re playing a casino game of chance or buying a lottery ticket.
In Ontario, the rules are strictly applied based on the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporate Act, 1999. This law has made the legal gambling age for Ontario residents clear for different gambling types. Let’s take a look.
Casino age in Ontario
You must be 19 years of age or older to play casino games of chance in Ontario. This includes slot machines, roulette, blackjack, and other game types. In fact, you must be 19 years of age or older to even go to a gaming premises like a casino, unless you are there for employment.
 Playing slots on line can be fun – exciting. Just know your limit Upon entering a casino in Ontario, you may be asked for a government-issued identification document featuring a photo to verify how old you are. This is a common practice at gambling premises across the province. If you are 21 years of age or younger, two identification documents may be needed.
Of course, there are a few other entry requirements that you need to satisfy as well. For example, you cannot appear intoxicated, nor can you be self-excluded from playing at the premises.
How old to play casino online in Ontario?
You must be 19 years of age or older to play at online casinos in Ontario. In recent years, playing online has become more and more popular across the country. There are lots of new Canadian online casinos launching that provide a fun and new experience.
However, the age requirement for Ontario players remains the same.
You will need to create a new account at these sites using your personal information. Make sure that what you provide is accurate.
Your account needs to be verified which will often require an identification document featuring a photo and your age to be uploaded.
If you are lucky enough to win, you may be asked for further verification documents when you request a withdrawal. Online casinos must follow strict anti-money laundering policies and other rules to comply with their licence obligations. Therefore, submitting the correct personal information when you sign up is very important.
Age to buy lottery tickets in Ontario
You must be 18 years of age or older to buy lottery tickets in Ontario. There’s a variety of different lotteries that are drawn over a week. You must buy your tickets before the deadline to be eligible.
Lottery retailers may ask for a government-issued identification document featuring a photo to verify how old you are. Any retailer caught selling lottery tickets to underage people can face significant fines.
You can claim lottery prizes lower than $1,000 at a retailer. Prizes under $50,000 must be claimed via mail, while anything from $50,000 or above must be claimed at the OLG Prize Centre in person.
Make sure to check your tickets to see if you have won. There have been several occasions when a winning ticket totalling millions of dollars has not been produced. However, many lottery tickets remain valid for several months after the draw so the prizes can be claimed.
Keep gambling fun
No matter how old you are, gambling is meant to be fun. Never gamble what you cannot afford to lose and be mindful of your activity.
If you think you are starting to lose control, ConnexOntario can help. There’s a variety of resources that they can help you to find and access in Ontario.
 By Staff
February 1st, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Mountainside Outdoor Pool has served the community well for over 50 years.
The City of Burlington is planning a future revitalization of this popular community outdoor pool. The renewal project is anticipated to begin after the 2021 summer swim season. The pool will remain open for use this summer, pending public health and provincial COVID-19 direction.
 Time for an upgrade. The ward Council is now a happy camper – he has delivered something for his constituents The City is inviting and encouraging all families and individuals who use the pool to take the online survey to help guide them with the style and themes of amenities and features planned for the new pool. The survey is open until Feb. 19, 2021: CLICK HERE for the survey.
Styles and themes of amenities in the survey include:
- Pool water spray features
- Climbing wall
- Water slide
- Shade structures
The revitalization will create an attractive, fun, active and welcoming multi-use outdoor swimming pool, that invites the community to participate and experience swimming and water play while encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle.
Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2021, with completion expected in the spring of 2022.
About Mountainside Outdoor Pool
Mountainside Outdoor Pool and Splash Park (2205 Mount Forest Dr.) is an important community hub and aquatic recreation destination in the Mountainside neighbourhood. The pool is well used and serves on average 27,000 participants in a wide variety of activities including recreational swimming, lap swimming and learn to swim lessons each summer.
 Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture explains what the City is doing and the timeline for the revitalization. “Mountainside Outdoor Pool is over 50-years old and has served the community and the city very well. It’s now time to revitalize it and make the needed upgrades, repairs and updates so it can be a community activity hub for another 50-years. By starting the construction in the fall, we can ensure people have another opportunity for healthy, active recreational swimming this summer, and weather and construction permitting, have it open for the 2022 outdoor swimming season.”
 By Staff
January 30th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
You have to give Oakville North Burlington Member of Parliament Pam Damoff more than a high five for giving the drive to get Terry Fox on the new five dollar bill more than the old college try.
The Petition she presented to the people at the Mint who will be printing the new $5 bill had 1251 Burlington signatures on it.
An announcement is due soon on who will be on the currency.
What the Gazette didn’t know was that Ms Damoff is a football fan.
Here she is speaking in the House of Commons yesterday:
 Pam Damoff taking the Polar Dip on a New Year’s Day – not this past year though. “Mr. Speaker, eight worthy candidates are being considered by the government for the new five-dollar bill, but one stands out from the rest: Terry Fox.
“I am proud to sponsor an e-petition initiated by Burlington resident and CFL Hall of Famer, Tony Gabriel, to have Terry Fox chosen to be on the five-dollar bill.
“In 1980, Terry embarked on the Marathon of Hope to raise funds for cancer research. When he came through Ottawa, he participated in a ceremonial kickoff at an Ottawa Rough Riders game. Tony told him there was not one person on the team that could possibly physically do what Terry was doing.”
 Tony Gabriel and Pam Damoff beside the Terry Fox marker on the Burlington waterfront. This gave Terry an emotional lift. The Marathon of Hope made Terry Fox a household name and a Canadian hero. Over $800 million has been raised for cancer research in Terry’s name.
As Tony would say, let us get Terry in the end zone. It is time to put him on the five.
By Staff
January 28th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The crack of the bat that can be heard even if you are seated way up in the bleachers of a large ball park, a sound that North Americans just love to hear.
Given the way we have had to live our lives for the past year, taking in a ball game would be nice. Being able to sit with friends with a beer in one hand and a hot dog in the other is something to look forward to and might aid us in getting through the current lock down.
The Burlington Oldtimers Slo-Pitch has begun to promote their summer league offering; we assume they believe the lock down will be lifted by then. Running from the plate to first base wearing a mask doesn’t sound all that appealing.
The teams play on Wednesdays at 10:30 am at Sherwood Park where there are four diamonds – if that much space is needed.
Like everyone else they will be watching for changes from the provincial government on what people can do. The moment there is even a hint the games can take place the Slo-Pitch people will be onto Teresa Campbell, their contact at Parks and Recreation, looking for approval to start the season.
If you had previously registered and paid for 2020 then there is no further action required by you.
However, if you had previously requested a refund of your 2020 registration fee then the league treasurer will reach out to you closer to when the season is anticipated to start.
JOIN US!
Become part of something special in your community. Let’s face it, what better way is there to get a little exercise on Summer nights! Get your friends and relatives to join too.
• Men’s 35+ league
• Way too many games… PLUS two tournaments!
• Twice a week
• All games in Burlington with short fences 🙂
• Best people ever
The league asks newcomers to do a self assessment in order to fit them into a team. It is brutal.
 Looks like there is room for everyone in this league.
 By Staff
January 28th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
It was one of those bleak winter days that often follow a snow storm.
Close to blistering cold but not cold enough to freeze Lake Ontario water and not cold enough to keep those barking mad surfers out of the water.
The photo offering today shows someone pushing through the water hoping to catch a decent wave.
Not for the faint of heart.
 Photo by Helene Dube
By Staff
January 23, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Play equipment lending and other outdoor activities are available now.
There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor, active, and fun winter play with the City of Burlington. Dress appropriately, stay safe and enjoy a winter wonderland!
 Snow shoeing – great winter fun. Play Equipment Lending Library is available with winter-play equipment such as snowshoes, glow in the dark soccer, snow play kit, tug of war, and horseshoes and is intended for use by one family at a time. A list of play equipment is available HERE
• Equipment can be borrowed, starting Jan. 14.
• $50 deposit is required at the time of booking
• Play equipment is available for pick-up and drop-off only at the Brant Hills Community Centre, 2255 Brant St.
• Late and administration fees may be deducted from the $50 deposit
The outdoor ice at Burlington Rotary Centennial Pond is open. Located at the Waterfront at Downtown Burlington – the rink is open most days from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and skating is free; however, online, pre-registration is required and can be booked no more than 25-hours in advance.
To accommodate as many community members as possible we ask that they only book one skate per day. The rink is very popular and capacity is reduced for COVID-19 safety. If you cannot come to the rink at your reserved time, please cancel your time so the next group can have an opportunity for fun and activities.
Anyone having difficulties with registering or cancelling their reservation time, please email Customer Service at liveandplay@burlington.ca.
To pre-register, visit burlington.ca/skating.
For up-to-date information on ice conditions at Burlington Rotary Centennial Pond, please call 905-335-7600, ext. 8587. To learn more about the pond’s features and rules, visit, burlington.ca/pond.
 By Alex Gramantin
January 21st, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
With the world coping with a pandemic and people in many countries in a lock down situation or restricted on which commercial operations are actually opening and operating, millions of people are shopping on-line.
Some method of paying for what you buy on-line is needed.
Let’s start with the obvious, using your credit/debit card to make transfers and online payments is pretty annoying. Constantly having to log in and typing your card information is a hassle, and it’s not that safe for various reasons. Thankfully, there are loads of online payment systems and e-wallets you can use in Canada.
There are a lot of them, so many in fact that it may be hard to choose which one is better and more convenient. I’ve set out below the most popular payment systems for Canadians and given you the pros and the cons based on my experience; you will then be able to determine which one suits you best.
 PayPal Canada
Want a payment method that doesn’t use any of your information with the store you’re purchasing from? PayPal Canada is perfect for those wanting a secure banking option that will ensure that no one can get to your actual banking details even in PayPal casinos in Canada. Better yet, you don’t need to replenish your PayPal e-wallet, it automatically uses money from the bank account linked to it. There are over 6.4 million PayPal users in Canada, and yes – it does work with the CAD currency.
Pros:
-Extremely fast, and easy to use
-No transaction fees
-Downloadable e-wallet
-Plenty of discounts with various retails
Cons:
-Long withdrawal times (3-4 days)
-Business account use charges
-Accounts get frozen randomly
GooglePay is in the process of revising their logo
Google Pay Canada
Google really is dominating the world, and now you have an option to make payments via Google Pay. Canadian users can use this system on the website, or download a mobile app (Android Pay) that is beyond easy to use. Using Google Pay, you will have the opportunity to earn cash back, gain reward points, and have a secure experience with scam and fraud protection. A little over 12% of Canadian residents happily use this payment method for online shopping, quick transactions, and thousands of available retails in the region.
Pros:
-Lots of rewards and promotions
-Widely accepted online
-No transaction fees
-Charges in CAD
Cons:
-Not as widely accepted in physical retails as PayPal
-Only accepted on smartphones with NFC
-Isn’t compatible with mobile voice assistants
 Instadebit
If you want to feel the lightning speed power transactions, Instadebit CA is going to blow your socks off. This payment system is incredibly fast, and offers instant transactions, hence the name. The company serves thousands of Canadian users, as it quickly proved to be a highly convenient online financial system. It’s very similar in structure to most other online payment methods, and can be used for various digital payments except this one happens to be extremely popular in the online gambling world. Making an Instadebit account is as easy as ever, and depositing to online casinos couldn’t be speedier. There are currently over a hundred legal Instadebit online gambling sites for Canadians.
Pros:
-Incredibly fast transactions
-Fast online casino deposits
-Quick online casino withdrawals
-Quick registration process
-Accepted on many Canadian casino sites
-Secure payment system
Cons:
-Doesn’t work with some CA banks
-Can only be tethered to one bank
-Lack of anonymity
My take on what is available:
Whether you’re shopping online, depositing money to friends and family, or gambling online – there are plenty of options. You will find dozens of online payment systems in Canada, but make sure to always read reviews and weigh out the pros and cons before linking your bank details.
PayPal, Google Pay, and Instadebit are all reliable. They have their differences but they are all secure options with quick transactions, and no excessive fees.
Alex Gramantin is a consultant who is located in Europe. He consults for an international clientele on internet based payment services.
By DENIS GIBBONS
December 11, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Nothing good occurs during a pandemic, yet some of its side effects could bring positive changes.
The NHL, for instance, has decided to create an all-Canadian division for the 2020-21 season so that players do not have to cross the U.S. border, potentially leading to a spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets will play only in their own group.
 I’m suggesting they take things a step further and award the Stanley Cup to the champion of the Canadian division.
Only the goals scored by Canadian players should count, except those scored against Canadian goalies, which would not!
However, the goalies who surrendered those goals would issue a coupon entitling the shooter to one free penalty shot.
That shot, if successful, would count as a goal.
Canadian networks, alone, should have the rights to telecast the games. And to steal a page, in reverse, from Donald Trump’s notebook, commercials should promote just Canadian-made products.
Before the season starts in January, each of the seven Canadian clubs would be allowed to draft five Canadian-born players from the rosters of the other 24 American teams. In return, each American club losing a player would be compensated with their choice of either two Europeans or three Americans.
That is deemed to be fair market value, according to the results of the last two Olympics and last two World Cups of Hockey, all of which have been won by Canada.
The champagne, traditionally sipped out of the Cup, would be replaced by Canadian Club whiskey, for those who imbibe. Tee-totallers could use maple syrup harvested from a Canadian bush.
Let’s make this a genuine Canuck Stanley Cup final by having the final series played in Ottawa, the nation’s capital, where the Ottawa Silver Seven defeated the Dawson City Nuggets to win Lord Stanley’s mug in 1905.
  Much has been written about the 1905 Stanley Cup Challenge when the Silver Seven played host to the Nuggets, a team with no league that traveled 4,000 miles from the Yukon by dogsled, ship and train to compete for the Cup.
It took them a month and, naturally, exhausted, they suffered humiliating losses by scores of 9-2 and 23-2. One-eyed Frank McGee, who lost the use of his left eye during an amateur game for a local Canadian Pacific Railway team scored 14 goals for Ottawa in the second game.
Sadly, McGee was killed fighting during the First World War in France. He was among the original inductees of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.
Since the Dey’s Rink, which hosted the 1905 games, no longer exists, I recommend the series be played in the ornate Aberdeen Pavilion, the steel and glass structure at Lansdowne Park that was the site of the 1904 Stanley Cup challenge, also won by the Ottawa Silver Seven.
The pavilion was designated a national historic site because it is the only large-scale exhibition building in Canada surviving from the 19th century.
There are plenty of good reasons to exclude American teams from competing for the Stanley Cup.
When the Cup first was awarded to the Montreal Hockey Club in 1893, it was designated for Canadian amateur teams only. That was 24 years before the NHL even began.
Professional clubs did not become eligible to compete for the Cup, which was donated by Canada’s Governor General at the time, Lord Stanley of Preston, until 1906.
Besides Lord Stanley, who was born in England, authorized the construction of an outdoor rink on the grounds of Rideau Hall and was a benefactor of the Ottawa Hockey Club.
Two of his sons, Arthur and Algernon, were teammates of James Creighton on the Rideau Rebels team.
It was Creighton who organized the first official indoor game of hockey at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal in 1875.
Lord Stanley’s daughter, Isobel, participated in the first recorded women’s ice hockey match, which took place on the Rideau rink on February 10, 1891.
This old blusterball welcomes the comments of all readers of The Burlington Gazette.
Denis Gibbons, a former editor of the Burlington Post has written frequently about hockey at both a local and international level. He learned to speak Russian at McMaster University and served as a translator during several of the international contest.
Related news story:
He was once an alter boy
 By Pepper Parr
December 7th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Why the city could not say they were grateful for the initiative and the money that the Burlington Seniors’ Community Initiatives (BSCI) put up to refurbish a bus shelter and install the fittings to make it heated is hard to understand.
What we got was notice of a photo opportunity where the Ward Councillor, perhaps even the Mayor, will strut their stuff and talk about the how great the city is.
The Burlington leadership team, referred to as the BLT, will also be on hand for the photo op.
The people who raised the money were at one time the operators of many of the services that were provided at the Seniors Centre.
 The Bistro, the heart of the Seniors’ Centre. The Bistro, which is a very profitable operation, was an idea the seniors came up with.
They were unceremoniously pushed out when the City Manager at the time sent one of his threatening letters telling them their time had come to an end.
There is a reason for the bus shelter being across the street from the entrance to the seniors’ shelter where the bus could pull up – no one has said just what that reason is.
Hopefully the recognition of Burlington Seniors’ Community Initiatives contribution towards the purchase and installation of the City of Burlington’s first heated transit shelter is full-throated and heartfelt. Not a lot of respect of the one group for the other.
Will there come a time when the seniors get to have more direct involvement in their affairs?
 Regional Chair Gary Carr getting a workout on a piece of equipment while Mayor Meed Ward does her Hallelujah while peddling away on equipment paid for by a senior citizen group. BSCI put up the money for the sports equipment at Burloak Park; they recently put $5000 into the Meal Bag program at Wellington Square and paid for some much needed PPE at another church – the Baptist church got funds to do an upgrade of their kitchen.
Hopefully some of that remarkable history will get a mention at the photo op on Friday: 1:15 pm at Transit Stop 45 on Burlington Teen Tour Band Way.
 By Ella Wilson
December 3, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Canadian gaming is developing and new online clubs keep opening every season. Recently, residents of this country prefer to spend more time at casino online, despite the fact that there are quite a lot of land-based clubs in Canada.
Bao Casino Canada – check them out HERE
The site is a unique online playground that invites users to plunge into the world of endless excitement and good luck. Do you want to participate only in legal gambling? Then welcome to Bao Casino Canada!
Casino features
 Modern Canadian online casino gamers are not so easy to surprise. Today, people are used to getting only the best entertainment and sophisticated customers of Canada will not agree to anything less! This is the reason why Bao Casino has become so popular among Canadian players. Here, any client receives only the most popular games and slots from famous developers of the world. Among the software providers for Baocasino are: NetEnt, Play’n GO, Quickspin, Yggdrasil Gaming, Evolution Gaming and many other popular companies.
Users of the Bao playground get only the best gambling service here. This best Canadian online casino is absolutely safe for playing real money mode, because it has an official document that gives the right to work – the license of the Curacao gambling Commission. The gaming club offers a wide range of games and slots. You find here classic games, progressive video slots, table games, and so on. Also, Bao casino has an optimal loyalty program, which gives each user excellent rewards and prizes.
The interface of Baocasino Canada is very simple and clear even for a beginner. Its design is created in a bright and attractive style.
The main color here is purple. An external view of Bao gambling platform has a positive effect to players, without irritating the eye with an abundance of contrasts. You won’t find anything superfluous in casino design. There are no elements that would distract from the main thing – a successful game.
A collection of games and slots
 Video games collection – this is the main criterion, according to which advanced Canadian players choose a platform for entertainment. At Bao online casino, each user gets a real drive and cool emotions, because there are more than 2000 different games and slots available to play. In order to become a full member of the site, a gamer should register on the Bao website.
The most popular entertainments at the Bao club according to reviews of active gamers:
- Slots and new games at the Bao casino;
- Table games;
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In order to find entertainment to your liking, you need to start testing different slot machines presented at the online casino Canada real money website. Over time, you will find out which video slot is most interesting for you. And don’t forget about the profitability of the slot machine! Remember that the higher RTP rate is, the more profitable a game will be.
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Sometimes it happens that you have a question that is not in the frequently asked questions tab. In this case, you should contact Bao support. You can do this via a chat in the lower-right corner of any page. You can also get help by clicking a support button in the Information tab. You will go to the contact form to send a message.
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The uniqueness of the Bao casino platform is that here you can also make a deposit using cryptocurrency with the following methods: BTC, BCH, LTC, ETH and DOG. These deposits are processed through the crypto exchange’s website.
By Staff
November 27, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Will Ontario’s Land Based Casinos Ever Get Ahead of the Online Competition?
 There is something so very exciting when you are a space where people are having fun and excited about gambling – hard to have that experience online. Canada continues to witness exciting growth in gambling revenue. As you’d expect, Ontario, the most populated province in Canada, was the most significant contributor, generating around $2.36 billion net profit annually. Furthermore, a large proportion of this was from online gambling.
What’s the Current State of Gambling in Canada?
Canada suffers a slightly confusing situation with regards to online gambling and the law. This is because online casinos are neither fully legal nor illegal. Instead, there are no clear laws that actually define online betting there. Separate policies exist for every single province. If this wasn’t bad enough, additional regulations are also in place for Native American tribes. As a result, inter-province agreements usually need to exist when an operator in one area wishes to provide services to someone in another.
Casinos throughout Canada are separated into either being part of their home country, or foreign/offshore. Province licensed casinos are entirely legal and offer sites written in both French and English. These sites also accept Canadian dollars, in addition to PayPal and other forms of payment. Foreign casinos which target Canadian residents aren’t really supposed to, as they’re not licensed in Canada itself. Nevertheless, many offshore casinos attempt to entice players by including the Canadian dollar as a currency option.
While playing at these sites isn’t problematic, banking options can be. Laws exist that restrict the movement of money from Canadian to foreign accounts. Nevertheless, this alone hasn’t affected access to foreign online casinos.
What are the Best Land Based Casinos in Ontario?
There is no shortage of land-based casinos in Ontario with 44 establishments existing there. On the Trip Advisor website, Caesars Windsor, the Niagara Falls View Casino, and Casino Niagara are the three casinos with the highest ratings. Here is a little more about each one.
Caesars Windsor. This casino promises a range of exciting gameplay thanks to a robust selection of slot and table games on offer. Players are promised an exhilarating experience each time they spin a reel, roll a dice or anticipate their next hand. The casino even offers a rewards system where players don’t have to use all their free slot play at once at one machine.
Niagara Falls View Casino. When a player steps onto the casino floor, they’re promised a feeling of excitement and energy as they navigate the 200,000 square feet area which is the size of three football fields! With over 3000 slot machines and 130 table games, players will never be short of new experiences here!
Casino Niagara. There’s plenty of fun and excitement to be experienced at Casino Niagara. The gaming floor is 95,000 square feet, and with two floors, there’s no end of choice, from slot machines to a range of different card tables, plus many others.
 One of the greatest tourist attractions in the world. The Niagara Falls is a popular tourist hotspot with hotels and resorts boasting luxury casinos for their guests.
Despite Losing Out to Online, Land Based Casinos are Now Fighting Back
This year, land-based casinos in Ontario generated $200 million. While this may sound impressive, it is not. As last year, the figure stood at $2.3 billion. The main reason this has happened is due to the competition from online casinos. It’s generally accepted that online casinos are more convenient than land-based ones and that they offer a better choice of games. A lot of sites do spoil their players for choice with many offering a range of casino games such as an online baccarat game as well as roulette and slot games. Online casinos also tend to have better bonuses and promotions for their players too. Moreover, players don’t feel the pressure to dress up, like they may do when attending an actual casino, and they may not feel as pressured to spend large amounts of money.
However, the state of land-based casinos hasn’t helped either. Some facilities are worn out, and money laundering was known to be rife. Yet, tax contributions from these establishments remained impressive.
Now, private operators will take over from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp (OLG) in the greater Ontario area. New casino projects have been planned, such as the Parq Vancouver resort, as well as a full revamp of the existing Niagara casino. Which will include upgrading its appearance and investing in new gaming options such as a sportsbook. The Kingsway Entertainment District is yet another scheme that, amongst other amenities, will also include a casino.
While all this does sound positive for land-based casinos, it still needs to be considered that international companies will be allowed to operate legally in Ontario, which will create even more competition when new brands eventually launch.
Could Ontario Online and Land-Based Casinos Ever be Considered Equal?
Ontario and Canada are witnessing impressive growth in online gambling, while revenues from land-based casinos have somewhat stagnated. It is expected that online casinos will continue to grow, mainly thanks to online casinos being legalised in different provinces. Equally, it will be interesting to see how land-based casinos will perform in the near future, considering their past impressive performance, and the recent changes that could allow them to compete better with online casinos.
 By Nick Ostergaard
November 27th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Five good reasons why you should exercise regularly
 Losing weight, being healthier and more productive are some of the more obvious reasons why you should start exercising. But people often find it hard to stay motivated just by the thought of maybe losing weight and becoming more healthy in general. Often more people need even more persuasion – and this is where we enter the picture. Because in this article we present you our five top reasons why you should exercise on a regular basis. These reasons could also possibly help you maintain your motivation to exercise and work out. You see, there is much more to exercising than just physical health.
Reason no. 1: It will give you more energy and make you in a better mood
Exercising might not always feel absolutely amazing in the moment – on the contrary it often feels exhausting and overall not good. But if you think about the last time you exercised – how did you feel afterwards? Good, we presume. The feeling you get after finishing a run, a work out or a training session can sometimes feel similar to the feeling of winning the bit jackpot at an online casino or – some even say – it’s similar to the feeling of being in love. No matter what, it’s hard to compare the feeling of finishing a workout to something that feels just as good. And this feeling – some call it the “runner’s high” will give you more energy in your everyday life and will also boost your production of endorphins which will make you in a better mood. Not just after finishing your workout but in general – if you keep on exercising. Over time this will also reduce depression and axiety levens in your head and body.
Reason no. 2: Exercise reduces stress
Are you feeling stressed? Then go for a run, a walk or go to the gym! Exercising decreases the body’s own production of the stress hormone Cortisol in the bloodstream. This means that exercising will also reduce the possibility of you being stressed or even being diagnosed with stress. As mentioned before exercising will also release endorphins that will improve your mood and automatically reduce tension and stress signals in your head and your body.
Reason no. 3: Exercising will boost your immune system
Studies have shown that just 45 minutes of cardio training five days a week is enough to keep a cold away. This will also help decrease the risk of developing life-threatening diseases such as heart disease, strokes, cancer and diabetes by up to fifty percent. This alone should be reason enough for everyone to start exercising on a regular basis. Exercising will also lower your blood pressure and levels of cholesterol in your body. A study made at the University of British Columbia actually shows that exercise can also have an impact on your ability to remember – regular exercise will expand the hippocampus which is the area of the brain that is “in charge” of learning and verbal memory.
Reason no. 4: You will sleep better at night
Working out will exhaust you and make you tired, which is pretty obvious. But it does not only have an affect on the day of your workout. Regular exercise will also have an impact on how you sleep in general. When you have been physically active, it will be easier for the body to relax and fall asleep. This being said, you should not work out right before your bedtime, because exercise causes your body to produce adrenaline which will make it harder for you to find peace and fall asleep.
Pssst. Better sleep is not the only bedside perk that exercise can give you. Exercise actually increases blood flow to the genitals which will heighten your sex drive. In pace with you having more energy and feeling and looking better because you started exercising – this is what we would call a win-win situation.
Reason no. 5: You will become happier and gain more confidence!
Exercise increases the level of happiness-enhancing substances in the brain which automatically will make you happier. Actually the rush of happiness after a workout can last up to 12 hours after you finish working out! Also, training and exercising will make you change the perception you have of your own body, and, combined with everything mentioned above, will make you more confident and positive towards your body. Losing weight, feeling happier and becoming more fit will make you feel better in your own body which will also help increase the physical feeling of being well and happy.
Remember, the more you exercise, the easier it gets. Exercising regularly and making it a habit will make it feel like fun – which will make the benefits you gain from it even more evident. So what are you waiting for?
By Pepper Parr
November 27th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The pandemic is hurting a lot of small business people.
Some of the claims being made by landlords border on the egregious.
The Elliott Sports Medicine Clinic is going through a very difficult period – they have managed to pivot and get back on their feet – the problem now is the lawsuit for very close to a million dollars.
$947,701.20 to be exact.
This from a landlord they have been with for 19 years.
Their rent each month was $12,800. The negotiations that stared at the end of March to renew the lease which was coming to an end in October had not gone well.
 Erin MacLean In March, with everything locked down Erin Maclean and her partner reached out to their landlord to discuss the problem they faced.
Everyone in the services or hospitality sector was scrambling – things were very tough.
One of the most successful hospitality venues, Emma’s Back Porch, chose to declare corporate bankruptcy and walk away from what the owner saw as a dire financial future.
Elliott Sports Medicine found themselves in much the same situation. Suddenly they could no longer conduct their business – they laid off the ten staff and began to wonder what they could do – what were their options ?
They immediately met with their landlord and laid all their cards on the table.
The landlord at first appeared amenable. The lease was due for renewal in eight months. MacLean was taken aback by the rent increase that was being asked for – $17,000.
“We reached out to our landlord in the middle of March being open, honest and upfront about our position due to Covid. We had been with this same landlord for 19 years – we expected to be able to work with him”, said MacLean.
“By that time we had laid off all of our employees and were effectively closed as a business and had no idea what the future held.
“We were never late or delayed in paying our very high rent anytime over the past 20 years.
“Rent relief was not something our landlord was interested in – unless the lease we had was renewed.
“The landlord wanted a rent increase to $17,000 a month and personal guarantees.
“After many, many long negotiations we decided not to renew the lease but to look for a new location.
 They gave their notice – didn’t realize that the lease had been renewed. “We gave notice on June 4, 2020.
“We learned then that our landlord had taken the position that because we had not given six months’ notice the landlord decided to take the position that our lease was automatically renewed until 2025.”
In the middle of May (during negotiations) MacLean received a letter from the landlord demanding all the rent due be brought up to date; they were forced to pay, using borrowed money, for the almost three months they were closed.
“On June 4th we gave our landlord written notice of our final decision to stay in the premises until our lease expired on October 4th 2020.
“We moved on October 2nd having fulfilled and paid our lease in full.
“After some time, we were served with a claim that was filed with the Superior Court of Ontario in Toronto for $947,701.20 plus 18% interest per annum. The landlord as Plaintiff could have chosen the Superior Court in either Milton or Hamilton (anywhere in the province actually) – the Toronto choice would appear to have been strategic.
The corporation suing the clinic is 1100 Walkers Line Inc., which appears to be owned by Kamisa Investment Inc.; both are owned by a “prominent” businessman.
The 1100 Walkers line property a six story office building just off Walkers Line, has an interesting history of its own.
The land on which the office tower, completed in 2015, had been purchased by the City of Burlington for $5.4 million.
 The owner of this property had plans to develop it beyond the single storey structure. His plans did not fit with the developing IKEA Plans. That red line is where Tuck Creek flows.  This is where IKEA wanted to relocate their Aldershot operation. They were going to build a bigger store and add quite a few head office jobs as well. The city went along with Official Plan and zoning changes. The Conservation Authority would not go along with the parking plans close to Tuck Creek. The green line is Tuck Creek. The sale was a complex transaction. The owner of the property back in 2014 wanted to tear down a two story building and put up a larger building. An application was submitted to the planning department.
 City needed the piece outlined in red if the IKEA development was going to work.
 Property owner got to keep the balance and put up a six storey building. For reason which are not clear to this day the city moved to purchase the property because at the time IKEA was working through an application to move their operation from Aldershot to a property on the North Service Road west of Walkers Line.
Tuck Creek ran between the 1100 Wellington property and the land IKEA wanted to build on.
Also – at the time the Ministry of Transportation had concerns with the ramps that led off Walkers Line which was reaching a capacity point.
For Erin MacLean they are now in a new location running the business as well as we can with the Covid limitations.
The only difference is someone wants a million dollars from us – which we don’t have.
Related news story:
Property has a colourful history – and an astounding price
By Pepper Parr
November 25th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
There was ice on the pond this morning – not thick enough to hold anyone up – but winter is here and that means skating and shinny hockey.
 City is providing boards and tarps this year The city has a program to support outdoor neighbourhood ice rinks available now; Burlington Rotary Centennial Pond to open in December.
The City of Burlington is launching the annual Neighbourhood Rink Program where neighbourhoods maintain outdoor community ice rinks at their local park this winter. Applications for the Neighbourhood Rink program due by Dec. 2, 2020.
Modifications have been made to the program to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The City of Burlington will work with your group to support your neighbourhood rink by:
* Providing, installing and leveling of 15 cm high rink boards (approximate size of the rink is 11x24m)
* Providing a tarp and hoses
* Providing a training manual including tips on ice maintenance
Applicants who apply will be responsible for:
* Organizing a working group of at least six community champions to help maintain the rink
* Providing water and filling and maintaining the rink
* Arranging to have shovels available so that snow can be cleared from the rink
* Ensuring that physical distancing is maintained at three metres unless the other skater(s) are from your household, and City of Burlington signage stays intact
Neighbourhood rinks are open to all community members to skate for free. Anyone using the rinks must ensure proper physical distancing, follow the limit on gatherings to ensure three-meter distancing from those not within your household, keep the number of skaters to 25 or less and avoid overcrowding the rink.
For more information, visit
By Staff
November 23rd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
The very popular Tim Horton’s Free Skate program lost the donut maker’s sponsorship and, due to Covid rules, rink time was limited to 10 people on an ice pad for an hour, was what residents were looking at.
 Tim Horton’s advised the city today that they would now sponsor the 65 skate sessions. Expect the number of sessions to increase now that the sponsorship is back in place.
The Tim Horton’s people were concerned with the number of people who would be on the ice pad at the same time. With that issue resolved they were back at the table.
This Covid world has everything changing often.
You will have to register for one of those time slots. They will be spread around the different rinks in the city
By Staff
November 16th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Didn’t the Coughlan pool just open?
 The upgrade to the facilities was exceptional. Angela Coughlan Pool service will be disrupted for one week starting Monday, Dec. 7 through to Friday, Dec. 11, and on Dec. 14 to Dec. 15 from 5 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Follow-up maintenance from the recent pool upgrade is necessary to ensure that the pool is in proper working condition.
Maintenance is scheduled from 5 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Evenings and weekends are not impacted.
Daytime programs before 4:30 p.m. will be cancelled:
• Lap Swim
• Leisure Swim
• Combo Swim
• Learn to Swim (extended to another week)
 Photograph was taken before the upgrades. Alternate swim times are available at Tansley Woods and Centennial Pool and additional morning lap swims at Tansley Woods will be offered.
For aquatic programming information and alternate pool options, go to www.burlington.ca/swimming.
By Staff
November 12th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Fire pits in some of the public parks?
It was on the agenda and the city is taking a very serious look at them for the winter months
 A skin of mulled wine will make this a real winter event. Corporate Service, Strategy and Accountability Standing Committee Chair Rory Nisan suggested people invest in marshmallow companies – there will be a run on them if and when the fire pits are actually put in place.
The Parks and Recreation took a bunch of ideas and ran them by council – budget be damned – the Councillors liked what they heard and wanted more information.
The free skating time that was sponsored by Tim Hortons isn’t on this year. They advised the city back in March that they would not be sponsors this year.
The city is looking seriously at 17 free skate event and six Sticks and Pucks event without a sponsor.
The home grown hockey rinks are on again – the city will supply the wood and this year they will provide tarps as well.
They are also looking at some artificial ice making machines..
Council is determined to do everything they can to give people places to go outdoors and plenty of things to do.
By David Burke
November 12, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Have You Heard of ‘Kid Poker’? What it Takes to Become a New Daniel Negreanu
Canadian poker sensation Daniel Negreanu is a phenomenon at the card table. Winning his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) golden bracelet at the tender age of 23 earned him the nickname ‘Kid Poker’ – and many more successes followed that early triumph. He is the third biggest money winner in tournament history, amassing an eye-watering $42,000,000 in winnings across the course of his career.
Early years
Daniel Negreanu was born in Toronto in 1974, the son of Romanian immigrants who moved to Canada to give their kids a better life. At a very young age he started to hustle in pool halls and play poker in his hometown, honing his skills. He found he was blessed with a way with numbers, and excellent probability skills, a crucial attribute for a budding poker star.
He left high school and immediately started playing cards full time, taking money from much older and more experienced players, building a tidy bankroll in the process.
He gravitated towards Las Vegas with his winnings, only to lose everything. After coming back to Toronto and rebuilding he tried his luck again and again, returning from the Vegas Strip empty-handed, until one day his luck changed.
Hours of Practice and Dedication
In 1998 he announced himself to the world stage by winning his first WSOP gold bracelet, the youngest ever to do it at 23 years old. Over the years five more bracelets would be won – including in a bumper 2004 where he made 11 final tables and won almost $4.5 million, becoming the WSOP player of the year. 2013 saw him named WSOP player of the year for the second time, the only player to achieve that feat.
Negreanu puts his success down to more than just luck. After his initial Vegas setbacks, he dedicated himself to the game, studying and playing for hours on end, working on his theory, tactics, gameplay and bluff technique.
Regarding the actual amount of practice and dedication you need to become a good poker player, he once mentioned in his blog – “Yes, you may become the best player in that game, but until you have proven you can be, let’s assume you are still in the learning phase and shouldn’t expect to jump out of the gate and be the best player at the table. Based on what I’ve heard, the best players in that game may make as much as $30 an hour.
Deduct 30% from that, if all goes well you can target $21 an hour. To make the math easier, let’s just make it $20 flat per hour. Since our goal is to make $100,000 a year, now we can have a rough idea of how many hours we actually need to spend at the table playing poker. That comes to 5000 hours a year playing. If we break down that further, that comes to 417 hours a month, which breaks down to over 100 hours a week!
This is before we even add all of the study hours required to be in line with our vision statement. For every 10 hours of play, you should add at least two hours of study time. Add on another 1000 hours a year of study, which boils down to 14 hours a week.”
Sounds like a lot, right? That was exactly what he did – made his time serve one goal – becoming the best out of best.
For anyone tempted by Negreanu’s success, this time commitment should be seriously thought through. However, if you have made the decision to follow in his footsteps, some professionals suggest practicing online. Websites like LegalBetting go into details on advantages of online poker versus the real-life version and give potential players a choice of online casinos renowned for their focus on poker. The beauty of hubs for online poker like this one, is that they let you practice different variations, for example on Legalbetting there is Texas Holde’m and Omaha, and even information on tournaments.
Following Negeanu’s advice, budding poker professionals should practice on as many poker variations as possible, and could even make use of the tactic and strategy needed or other games available online, such as Baccarat and Blackjack. Anything that serves brushing up your tactique. Negreanu even advises playing chess, as he once said: “Playing chess can make you a better poker player because it forces you to think several moves ahead. That kind of intense mental exercise develops a deeper level of thinking than is typically encountered when playing poker.”
It’s easy for players to practice chess online. There are plenty of spots out there, such as Chess.com, where, other than learning about the game of chess, fans can find Negreanu’s matches as well as watch others playing live.
By Pepper Parr
November 3rd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Parks and Recreation is scrambling to stay ahead of the wave – a wave that keeps changing its shape and direction.
 Chris Glenn, on the right, leads the Parks and Recreation department as Director. On his right is Denise Beard. Director of Parks and Recreation Chris Glenn told council on Monday that his staff was preparing some ideas that they would be running by the Regional Public Health Unit and the other Halton municipalities hoping to be able roll out a slightly different set of rules that would allow for more recreation and program improvements that are Stage 2 compliant. The Region of Halton is in Stage 2 of its Emergency Control Group mandate.
Several council members and the Mayor said they were getting questions from residents asking why some of the recreational programs were changed – they wanted to see real data behind the decisions that were being made.
Glenn explained that he was working to make sure he was compliant with what the Medical Officer of Health was prescribing.
Behind all that trying to pull together was the threat of being pushed back to stage 2.
Glenn wants to see less of the sports that call for a lot of exertions – hockey was one example and move the effort to having physically softer programs – like yoga.
The objective was to permit recreational activities that kept people apart and not exerting themselves all that much.
More when the Parks and Recreation department comes back to the Standing Committee.
 By Nicole Gaskin
October 28th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
As the world reverts to a kind of “normal”, many cities’ industries that were shut down for many long months have finally made a comeback. Burlington has officially welcomed its entertainment industry back, with facilities and establishments in the area, and those surrounding it, opening their doors to the gaming masses once again. Burlington has many opportunities for gamers who crave to have the in-person experience that they have been missing for so long, at some of the most prestigious casinos and venues that are located nearby.
 Facility is now open: operating 7 days a week, between the hours of 10 am to 2 am. – buffet is superb. The Elements Casino Mohawk is situated in Milton, Ontario, for those who don’t mind a short journey to experience the prestigious offer in store. As of the 19th of October, the facility has gone back to operating 7 days a week, between the hours of 10 am to 2 am.
The casino features more than 900 of the most popular slot titles such as Vegas riches and progressive jackpot machines.
For most gamers, the longing is not just for the gaming experience, but also the culinary wonders that they have been deprived of.
The Elements Casino Mohawk offers an all-you-can-eat buffet that boasts cuisine from all over the world, boutique restaurants, and shuttle service for those who reside within the Milton area.
The casino is still adhering to strict safety protocols but will be back to its usual operating hours for all to enjoy.
 Grand River casino is a short drive from Burlington. Elements Casino Grand River
The Elements Casino Grand River is a bit further from Burlington than Elements Casino Mohawk and is situated in Elora, Ontario, but is well worth the trip. Especially for players who enjoy slots machines in its various forms. This location boasts hundreds of slot machines that range from vintage-styled to cutting-edge offerings. The numerous slot machines can be found on a beautifully designed, and spacious, gaming floor. There are table games and other gaming options on offer from 10 am to 2 am, with the casino operating seven days a week.
The casino venue offers a range of dining options that are designed to satisfy almost every kind of palate, with refreshment and food services set to resume normal operations as well.
Delta Bingo and Gaming
The Delta Bingo and Gaming hall in Oakville is part of an expanding franchise that currently runs an impressive total of 20 Bingo and Gaming halls in Canada and America. Delta is one of the most trusted and reputable bingo hall brands in Canada today, having celebrated its 53rd anniversary this year. Delta is known for its frequent jackpots and promotions, which has made them the bingo brand of choice in North America. The facility features ample seating, tables, and space to ensure that the operators can adhere to safety protocols as Bingo-lovers make their way back to one of their land-based halls.
Other Forms of Entertainment in Burlington
While land-based casino gaming is a luxury that many people believed they would not be privy to for a very long time, there are those who would still prefer to stay indoors. For these players, there are many sites that highlight the best gaming sites to try from the safety of one’s home.
 Axe throwing has become a popular and safe sport. For those gamers who are interested in more of the traditional style gaming mediums such as arcade-style games, arcade locations in the Burlington area will join casinos and also be opening their doors this month. Other recreational entertainment and gaming operations such as Bubble Force Corp, Viking’s Landing, The PaintBall Nation, the Golfer’s Academy, and Bad Axe Throwing have begun to consider joining the likes of the gambling industry but this move is subject to governmental approvals, especially since these entertainment forms tend to be done in teams or within proximity to others.
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