Those fences along the Beachway didn’t last all that long – they certainly raised the hackles on the back of a lot of necks.
Some felt the city was a little heavy handed – but the rules were were pretty clear – Beaches were closed.
At a Special Meeting of Council on Wednesday, Council approved interim modifications to the City’s parks operations service, including the removal of the fencing currently in place at Beachway Park.
If the people in the center are all from the same family this would be legal. The rules are in place for a very good reason – they prevent the transmission of the virus.
The changes to the parks service also allow for temporary washroom facilities to be installed at Spencer Smith Park, Beachway Park and Burloak Park with enhanced service.
The fencing at Beachway Park will be taken down next week and the portable toilets and handwashing stations will be installed at Beachway Park, dependent on availability.
When walking along the beach, residents are reminded to continue to be vigilant about public health practices and provincial directives to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including:
• Maintaining 2 metre physical distance from anyone you don’t live with • Gathering in groups of 5 or fewer • Staying home if you feel sick • Washing and sanitizing hands before and after visiting the area.
The washroom facilities in the Pavilion on the Beachway are in terrible shape. They have been in need of an upgrade for some time – that work is not scheduled to start until September.
Access to washrooms
The washrooms in the pavilion at Beachway Park will remain closed as a result of pre-existing structural issues which are scheduled to be corrected with construction in September 2020. In their place, portable bathrooms and hand washing stations will be made available and cleaned by City parks staff on a regular basis.
The temporary washroom facilities at Spencer Smith Park, Beachway Park and Burloak Park will be installed once available from the supplier, approximately the end of June. The re-opening of other city park washrooms, with enhanced cleaning, will be phased in.
Beach maintenance and safety
City Council approved the hiring of students and temporary staff to assist with this important service and general parks maintenance. City parks staff will provide reduced beach maintenance, including grooming the beach and enhanced cleaning of washrooms. Please place waste in receptacles or take it home with you for disposal to help keep the beach safe for everyone.
Halton Region monitors public beaches to help ensure safe water quality for swimmers. Water quality testing at Beachway Park by Halton Region Public Health is currently not taking place. For updates and more information, please dial 311.
The resumption of City services and spaces is something everyone is looking forward to, but caution that it is vital to continue to do it slowly and carefully with the right precautions.
The city is asking for your patience and understanding as the City works to ensure it has resources and policies in place that align with Provincial regulations and the latest guidance from Halton Region public health to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
City pools and splash pads are still closed until the province loosens up the rules.
The gambling scene has certainly come a long way over the last few decades.
With the proliferation of online casinos and gambling platforms, the opportunities for high-quality and dynamic playing have never been greater. Although America tends to enjoy the more robust reputation for gambling possibilities – it is home to Las Vegas after all – there are actually a few key differences in gambling legislation that give Canada’s casinos a bit more freedom. That’s good news if you’re looking for an awesome online casino for Canadians that will present few obstacles to the gameplay. There’s no doubt that you can certainly find excellent gambling sites no matter where you are, but it’s a good idea to take a few minutes to understand the different laws that govern this activity in Canada and the United States.
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act
Back in 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIEGA) was introduced into US legislation under President Bush. Although it has since been clarified and it’s restrictions loosened, it initially served to prevent payments on various kinds of online gambling. Although in its current iteration it focuses mostly on determining how betting on sporting events can be done, it still causes some headaches below the border. Ultimately, it can make it difficult for players to use certain types of payment when playing at online casinos. The way it is implemented varies state-to-state, meaning that some places enjoy more streamlined access to online casinos.
Despite the fact that the UIGEA doesn’t necessarily prohibit online gambling, it can simply add another step and therefore acts as a big enough inconvenience to dissuade some players from taking advantage of all the online gambling opportunities that exist.
In Canada, on the other hand, there is no need to overcome these limitations. No federal framework governing the parameters of online casinos exists, and therefore they can operate more freelance and are only subject to the controls imposed by each jurisdiction. Overall, the lack of an overarching legal requirement makes it easier to transfer money directly to the gambling site of one’s choosing, using a variety of payment methods, and to be able to withdraw without hassle. With fewer impediments to account for, it provides a pleasant and coherent online casino experience.
You should still do your research
That being said, there are always going to be crooks out there ready to take advantage of a loosely governed situation, and it is therefore important to do a bit of research before deciding where to play. Keep in mind that having a gambling license is just the first step in running a fully legal operation, and in order to ensure that everything is being done above board, you should dig around a bit and see what you can find about the casino in question. If anything seems fishy, you’d be well advised to look elsewhere. There are plenty of great gambling opportunities that are 100% legal, so there’s absolutely no need to put yourself at risk.
The last word.
Online gambling is legal in both Canada and the United States, and both countries offer plenty of legal online casinos to choose from. Due to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which exists exclusively in the United States, it can be a little bit more difficult to transfer and withdraw funds for certain types of gaming. As it stands, there is no equivalent legislation in Canada so it presents a more economically flexible environment in which to explore the world of online casinos and gambling. Nevertheless, it is also advisable to research a specific casino before playing.
It started on the 25th when the weather was great – that Beach was either just too tempting to stay away from or there are a lot of people who are hard of hearing and can’t read.
On the 28th, Thursday, the city decided they would take strong steps and put up fences to keep people off the beach.
People want to be near the water – it’s the lake and beach that make much of what Burlington is all about.
The province mandated that Beaches were to stay closed period.
Many appear to have thought that if they respected the six foot social distance rule they were Ok – they weren’t.
The Premier of the Province has taken part in a media event every week day for some weeks. We expect that he will be on TV again on Monday – maybe that rule about beaches being closed will be relaxed.
It used to be people, people, people – for almost as far as the eye could see along the Beachway. Province said No and the sound has fenced off the area.
There are a lot of people who aren’t happy with those Beaches being closed.
The Mayor isn’t one of them. When asked why, she is reported to have told other media that they can look to the FAQ section on the city website for the details.
Mayor Meed Ward presiding over a virtual city council meeting
The Mayor’s statement is reported to read: “Unfortunately, despite announcements and signage asking people to comply with the Provincially-mandated beach closure, last weekend, we saw a high volume of users on the beach who even when approached with educational measures by our bylaw team, still refused to leave,” reads the statement.
“Our options at this point are either: to issue a high volume of costly tickets; to accept increasingly higher numbers of COVID-19 in Ontario as we have seen since May 10; or to put up a fence.”
Public beaches across Ontario are currently closed following the provinces Emergency orders.
Burlington’s elected Council meets in different ways.
Sometimes in Workshop mode where the procedural rules are thin – the objective is to exchange ideas – there is usually a speaker making a presentation involved.
Council also meets as a Standing Committee; there are three of those
EICS: Environment, Infrastructure & Community Services Committee CPRM: Community Planning, Regulation & Mobility Committee CSSRA: Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee
The Standing Committees is where the real debates take place.
Usually there is a Staff presentation, delegations and opportunities for Council members to ask questions. This interaction allows staff to get a better sense of what the community thinks – frequently changes are made during the meeting so that the report can go to Council for approval.
Then they meet as a Council where they pass bylaws that approve action that will be taken.
Four people in the Council Chamber – was the air conditioning shut off.
Monday evening the seven elected members met as a Council in a virtual setting, no public in the Council Chamber and other than the Mayor, the Clerk and two administration staff the room was empty.
The Mayor strutted her stuff and zipped through the agenda in very short order. There were no delegations.
Then there was discussion on support for organized sports and what kind of use the parks can be put to.
The parks are open but there are limits as to just how they can be used.
The province has a rule – no more than five people congregating and those people should be people who live together in the same house.
When the question as to how this applied to private swimming pools the conversation came close to being silly.
The province has the five people rule; Burlington has a six foot social distance bylaw. “How” asked Councillor Sharman “are you going to apply that to a private swimming pool when there are three people who are members of a family and two who are not.”
The idea of a six foot rule applying to a swimming pool is a stretch – good luck with that one.
Sharman added that his understanding of the provincial five people rule was that the members of a family (say three people would count as one – allowing five friends to join the group – making it five
Crowding got out of hand in one Toronto park. In two weeks we will know if virus infections increased. If they do we will know where and how the contamination is spread.
Not so said Heather MacDonald the Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility who had earlier said “We consider a group of five to be five people who live in the same house”. Later adding that “we interpret what the province has told us it is to be”.
Sharman did not have a follow up question.
Clearly a need for better communication on this issue
Mayor Meed Ward cleared it up when she wondered what the difficulty was in figuring out what five people was. If you have two children and a parent and an additional two children who ate not part of the family – that is an acceptable group of five. That’s the provincial rule.
In Burlington members of a family can walk side by side – others have to be six feet away.
Councillor Angelo Bentivegna wanted to know why the skate parks were open but the Bocce Ball courts were not open.
That was easy: Chris Glenn explained that the actual bocce balls would have to be wiped clean after each use and that wasn’t possible – just didn’t have the staff to do it.
The City has created Park Ambassadors – teams of two people who roam the parks to explain to people what they might be doing might not be permitted.
There are two such teams – they are staff people who have been pulled from their normal duties and sent out into the sunshine to try and ensure that there is some order in the parks
The Beaches are closed. The Splash Pads are closed. The Public Pools are closed.
Chris Glenn seemed to suggest that it might come down to putting out garden type hoses for kids to use to cool down.
Keeping people six feet apart in parks was described as a problem by Councillor Kearns. She wanted to know what Burlington was going to do to ensure that Burlington doesn’t experience what Toronto experienced.
Heather MacDonald mentioned the idea that had been used in San Francisco where large circles were painted that would hold five people.
Will Burlington see social distance circles painted in park grass ?
Mary Battaglia, Director of Roads and Park Maintenance told Council that if circles were painted on the grass in Burlington she would have to hire people to do the work and added that she didn’t have budget for that. Also the circles would have to be repainted in two weeks.
One Council member wanted to know what she thought of the Vancouver idea where there were circles painted on the grass. Mary explained that in time the grass would grow and eliminate the circles and she didn’t have the budget to paint new circles.
Director of Parks and Recreation, Chris Glen and his sidekick Rob Axiak said they were working up ideas on how the sports fields could be more effectively used – one would have thought that would have been given the attention needed back in early April.
With the warm, Ok hot weather, people will want to be outdoors. The children are no longer in school and while some might be doing a bit of school work – it’s outdoor for most. To do what?
City hall is working furiously to open leash-free dog areas and most City park parking lots by end of day on Friday, May 22, 2020.
Dogs have been waiting for months to be able to do this legally. City expects their owners to adhere to the six foot rule.
Toronto made the move – Burlington is feeling the pressure from the dog owner community – the plea from the city is to encourage everyone to follow public health directions and Provincial orders to physically distance themselves a minimum of six feet to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The bylaw officers have had a very difficult time getting people to keep their dogs on short leashes and to not congregate – they clearly don’t understand dog owners and dog owners clearly don’t take all that well to bylaw.
There was one day last week when a reported seven tickets – with a potential $750 fine – were given out in a single day.
Not hard to figure why the guy in red is out for a walk.
All City-owned leash-free dog areas, parking lots and tennis courts are scheduled to be opened by end of day Friday, May 23 with the exceptions of:
1. The west parking lot at Spencer Smith Park (ongoing construction) 2. LaSalle Park Marina parking lot (ongoing construction) 3. Lowville Park parking lot (continued crowd management)
Residents are encouraged to leave their cars at home when visiting a park. Walk, bike or roll to your neighbourhood park. City Multi-use Sports Fields
Congregating is lovely – just adhere to the six foot rule. Our failure to do that gives the virus opportunities to spread itself every where.
The Province announced today that multi-use sports fields (such as baseball diamonds and soccer fields) can be opened. Families can now enjoy our publicly accessible sports fields (areas not locked and enclosed with fencing) with members of their own household for casual play. Only family members from the same household are able to be within six feet of each other. The City of Burlington will provide further information regarding our sports fields by Friday, May 23.
In the meantime, organized group sports are still not permitted due to Provincial emergency orders. Requirements need to be in place by provincial sport organizations before permitted field use can be re-introduced. The City will work in collaboration with local sport organizations and as the specifics are provided, an implementation plan will be finalized.
Provincial emergency orders remain in effect that limit the number of people in a gathering to five. If sports fields are used for casual purposes they are to be used at resident’s own risk; the City has not maintained or inspected sports fields during the pandemic.
The number of infections in the Region are increasing regularly – that is because the virus is amongst us in the community and being passed from person to person. Don’t be the person that picks it up from someone else – maintain that six foot distance.
By Provincial order, park amenities, including all washrooms and playground equipment remain closed.
City hall has provided more information on the decision to close city hall that was heard at a Standing Committee; that committee recommendation will go to Council on Monday of next week.
“Following the Provincial and public health directives, the City of Burlington is cancelling all City-run summer programs. This includes activities such as summer camps, recreation programs, festivals and events, swimming and skating drop-ins that were originally offered in the Live & Play Guide.
“Organizations and residents are asked to please be patient during this time as we expect it will take 4-6 weeks for staff process these cancellations. Residents who paid for these programs using a credit card will be refunded to that same credit card if possible. All other payment methods will receive a credit to their Recreation accounts. Following the processing of cancellations, cheque refunds will be issued based on specific email requests. Please email liveandplay@burlington.ca for cheque refund requests, and be sure to include your full mailing address.
“As restrictions from the Province and Public Health are lifted, the City will implement a redesigned or modified program where possible.
“Any programs available will be advertised. To be notified of any new programs, visit and subscribe to burlington.ca/play.
Facility Rentals
Not this summer.
“All facility rentals up to and including Sept. 7, 2020, including arenas, pools, community centres, schools, sport fields and picnics are cancelled. Renters who paid by credit card will be refunded to that same credit card if possible. Others will receive a credit on account. A confirmation will be emailed once the rental cancellation has been processed.
“Requests for future booking dates are not being accepted until further notice.
“For questions about facility rentals or rental refund requests please email rentals@burlington.ca.
“For more information and FAQ’s on summer closures, cancellations and refunds visit burlington.ca/coronavirus.
“The City is monitoring the situation closely and will work with local organizations to determine any modified programs as we are able to.
“Any opportunity to re-open facilities or resume programming following health directives including physical distancing or reduced group sizes will be posted to the City’s website and social media.
Probably not this summer either
Parks
While City of Burlington parks were never closed for walk-through traffic, residents can now enjoy a few more activities in their local City of Burlington parks and green spaces with members of their own household including:
• Playing catch, kicking a soccer ball and flying a kite • Sitting on a blanket, grass or lawn chair • Exercising and stretching on a yoga mat, but not in a class • Letting young children run and burn off some energy
“We are asking everyone to remember they have a role to play in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
The Mayor explains: “I know this news will be disappointing to our community; however, we need to continue to stay apart for now to protect ourselves and each other. Public health and safety need to continue to come first. I know our City staff are working on alternative programming that can be done virtually, so watch for that news.”
Chris Glenn – Director of Parks and Recreation.
Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation Services tells his side of the story: “Summer programming is our busiest time with some wait lists forming as early as January. Please be patient as we process credits and refunds. These can take time but be assured that everyone who needs a credit or refund will get one. One of our adaptations to the COVID-19 physical distancing is our virtual programming. I encourage everyone to access our free virtual programming which can be found at burlington.ca/activeathome. There are golf tips, cooking lessons, crafts and more.”
Four to six weeks to process a refund for a cancelled programming is a real stretch.
Weekend Indoors: How Burlington Residents Can Create a Stylish Night Out from the Comfort of Home and get caught up on some entertainment and political gossip.
By Claire Nash
April 21st, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Another weekend – during which you will be home-bound.
It doesn’t have to be a grim weekend.The weekend is almost here. It may not yet be time to get out for a walk in a park – but you can get creative and spend home time doing fun things.
Check out these three innovative ideas for creating a night out on the town right at home, so you get the best of all worlds over the weekend.
Think creatively when you set up a bar.
Turn Your Kitchen into a Cocktail Lounge
Hesitant to hit the bar? You can create your own state-of-the-art cocktail lounge right at home. Start by gathering up the essential home bar ingredients, making sure to grab any flavors and mixers you can’t live without. You don’t want to get stuck with a boring combination, so plan your purchases ahead of time to suit your tastes. Likewise, pick up some tried-and-true cocktail snacks to munch on like cornichons, mixed nuts, or candied fruit.
Once you’ve gathered all your necessities, break out your most lavish cocktail glasses to give your drinks some flair. This is important, as it means the difference between creating a cocktail lounge atmosphere and settling for a kitchen counter vibe. After that, simply don your fanciest garb and get to mixing. You’ll have to be your own bartender, but you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your drinks will come exactly the way you like them.
Host a Casino Night on the Couch
Missing the casino? A night at your favorite venue can be a thrilling way to pass the time on the weekend. Of course, you don’t have to head outside to get your game on. Thanks to Canada’s friendly iGaming laws and a plethora of web-based venues, it’s easy and safe to create a casino night right at home. Online casino providers like Unibet offer the full gambit of games and sports betting options to choose from, so you’ll find something to fit your preferences no matter what you like to play.
Create a Movie Theater Cinema at Home
You can’t drive downtown to CineStarz Theater? But you can create a home cinema experience that’s worth staying in for. However, you should keep a few tips in mind to get the optimal experience.
In need of some cinema entertainment? There’s no reason to pay big bucks for the theater when you can have your movie night at home
Make it personal – give your theatre a name.
Set the scene by rearranging your furniture. You can organize everything to have a bit more space around the coffee table for snacks, or you can create classic movie rows for your audience. Either way, make sure the screen is viewable from every seat in the house.
It’s also a great idea to put out some classic cinema treats for your fellow moviegoers to enjoy. Popcorn is a tried-and-true munchie that gets everyone in the mood, but you can go all-out with nachos, extra-large iced sodas, or anything you like. Food is a major aspect of the movie theater experience, so pick your refreshments wisely.
Ready to have the perfect night out indoors? If you’re willing to put in a bit of effort, you’ll be able to create that perfect cocktail lounge, casino, or movie theater experience without leaving the living room. All you need is a bit of imagination, and you’ll be on the road to home-based bliss in no time flat.
Some people worked during the long weekend – the Food Bank crowd certainly did.
Parents looked for interesting things to do with their children who had difficulty understanding and asking “why not?”
Ashley Worobec, part of the Coping with COVID19 and the kids team, reports on how things are working out in her household where two children get their education by computer.
Worobec is a chiropractor at the Burlington Sports and Spine Clinic, and an avid runner; she has competed in a number of major marathons.
As she was getting ready to settle into the long weekend she heard of an Ultra 24-hour endurance test:
Six people ran 8km in our own neighborhoods, every four hours, starting at 7pm Friday night. So that was 7pm, 11pm, 3am, 7am, 11am, and 3pm for a cumulative total of 48km in 24 hours.
Sara MacDonald, Mabel Watt, Lily Rendulic, Katherine Wood, Ashley Worobec and Kathryn Mercanti.
The six – Sara MacDonald, Mabel Watt, Lily Rendulic, Katherine Wood, myself, and Kathryn Mercanti. The women were known locally as “Mums Who Run”. Worobec wasn’t part of the group but an opportunity to get out and run was something she couldn’t resist.
Everyone completed the run. “What an experience!” exclaimed Worobec.
Got a note from my favourite long distance runner – Ashley Worobec. She said:
“I have just gone and done something crazy. I have registered for a “virtual” ultra-marathon that starts at 7pm tonight.
“The way it works is that you must complete 8km running every 4 hours for 24 hours. Myself and a handful of other running friends are taking on this challenge (each in our own neighborhoods to abide by social distancing rules) and we start at 7pm tonight.
Ashley in a training run when the weather was much nicer.
“That means:
7pm- 8km
11pm- 8km
3am- 8km
7am- 8km
11am- 8km
3pm- 8km
“That’s 48km in 24 hours, which is more than I’ve ever run before!
“But at a time like this, a challenge like this seems PERFECT. ”
A 101 year tradition is about to take a hit – the Inter County Baseball League is going to have to basically cancel their season.
Many of the communities that have a ball team have closed their ball parks.
The Barrie Baycats have been the IBL league leader for the past few years
The COVID-19 has had an incredible impact on every aspect of society and sports is no exception and after a century of continuous operation, The IBL and all its teams are resigned to the fact that a traditional IBL season in 2020 is not possible.
Several of the municipalities where The IBL has teams have already stated that those ball parks will be off limits until at least Canada Day.
The IBL is still hopeful that the pandemic is brought under control in the coming months and that some sort of modified IBL season is possible.
The crack of the bat as it meets the ball may not be heard this season.
What that season might look like is pure conjecture at this point. We do know there is no hope for a full season and playoffs like The IBL and its fans have experienced for 101 straight summers. We also know that some teams have already made the tough decision that they will not be playing this year.
All teams, including those that are still holding out hope for some baseball this year, realize that the prospects of a season of any kind seems unlikely and would only move forward with the full blessing of the province, medical officers of health and our municipalities. We realize a lot of good things would have to happen for us to have some baseball this year including the absolute safety of our players, umpires, volunteers and fans.
This is consistent with Baseball Ontario’s current direction and hope for a season in 2020.
At this point, The IBL can say in confidence that we will not have baseball of any kind before July 1; that the majority of teams, while realizing IBL baseball this summer may seem unlikely, are hopeful of playing a modified season; and that some teams have already resigned themselves that they will not operate in 2020.
Finally, to our fans, players, umpires, sponsors, volunteers and all the people past and present who have a relationship with The IBL – stay in, stay healthy, stay safe and hopefully, we see you all at the ball park as soon as this is over and it is safe to do so.
Earlier today, the City of Burlington activated its Crisis Management Team (CMT) to coordinate City efforts to protect public and staff from the spread of COVID-19, while maintaining essential City services to the community.
To aid efforts in reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the community, the City of Burlington has made the decision to close all City recreation facilities for a minimum of three weeks, as of this evening.
With the recreation facility closures, the following services will be suspended: March Break programming, arenas, pools and community centres, including the Seniors Centre.
All City organized large public meetings and gatherings are also cancelled, with the exception of Committee and Council meetings at City Hall.
The CMT will be reviewing internal City meeting guidelines and issuing an update on Monday, March 16. City Hall will remain open for business with enhanced health and safety protocols for staff.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said: “In light of the current situation with COVID-19 and the rapidly changing updates from healthcare professionals and our partners across all levels of government, I certainly understand and share the concerns of residents related to attending programs and events at City facilities.
“We are evaluating things daily — and sometimes multiple times during the day — and will always put residents’ health and safety first. The decision to close City recreation facilities for next three weeks and cancel programs including March Break, does not come lightly, but in meeting with our Crisis Management Team, we feel it is a necessary one. Please continue to look after your health, follow the advice of healthcare professionals and support one another. Let’s always be our best through these trying times.”
Tim Commisso, City Manager
Tim Commisso, City Manager added: “At the City of Burlington, we understand the decision to close recreational facilities will have a significant impact on individuals, families and communities.
“We are also very aware that this needs to be done as a precaution to help keep people in Burlington stay safe and aid in containing the spread of COVID-19. We continue to work closely with Halton Region Public Health and make our decisions based on the latest scientific evidence on COVID-19. We thank our residents for their understanding as we continue to address this challenge together. We will continue to share City updates daily with the public.”
Starts in front of City Hall on Brant Street at 10:05 am and travels
Waiting at the finish line.
north to Baldwin,
west on Baldwin,
south on Hurd,
east on Blenheim,
south on Locust,
east on Elgin,
south on Brant,
They come by the thousands; numbered bibs show the count.
west on Lakeshore,
turnaround at Maple,
east on Lakeshore to Burloak,
north on Burloak,
turnaround at Spruce,
west on Lakeshore,
North on Brant to Finish.
Crossing the finish line.
Bus route detours in effect
Burlington TransitRoutes 2, 3, 4, and 10
HSR 11 downtown
Oakville 14A along Burloak Drive
xxx
Road Closures
6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Brant Street from Maria Street to Elgin Street
Ontario Street from Brant Street to Locust Street, and James Street from John Street to Brant Street.
9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Lakeshore Road from Brant Street to Maple Avenue.
9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Brant Street, Lakeshore Road to Elgin Street – access to Bunton’s Wharf via Locust Street.
9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Lakeshore Road from Brant Street to Burloak Drive. Burloak Drive from Lakeshore Road to Spruce Avenue for turnaround – access to Old Lakeshore Road from the west maintained with delays.
9:55 to 10:45 a.m.
The streets along the route west of Brant Street will experience intermittent road closures.
Resident Access
Residents on Lakeshore Road or on side streets impacted by the road closure have the following options:
Residents on the north side of Lakeshore Road are able to use the westbound lane, but expect delays.
Residents on the south side of Lakeshore Road will have restricted access and are encouraged to make alternate arrangements.
If your residence is within the road closure and you have to access your vehicle during the race, please park on side streets north of Lakeshore Road.
In case of an emergency, call 9-1-1.
Supervision
Police will be at major intersections and traffic islands. Event marshals will be available at minor intersections and major multi-resident driveways to inform
drivers of event details and road closures. Race notices were delivered to all residents, religious centres and businesses along the race route.
There was some really good snow which helped make the December, January and February, 30/60 Winter Play Challenge the success the city believes it was
Residents were challenged to participate in the 30/60 Winter Play Challenge where individuals, families or groups had to complete 30 activities in 60 days. The team that completed the most activities and had the most points won a grand prize.
The challenge encouraged the community to get outside and play.
That is an impressive snow fort – word on who the family is or what part of the city they are located in. Kudos to them for participating.
There were 101 activities that teams could complete. Activities included things like building a snowman, hiking, making an indoor fort and making a meal together. One team completed all 101 activities. In total 34, teams of 2-6 members participated.
One of the activities was “write City Hall”. One family took them up on it.
“Firstly, we would love to thank you for the opportunity to enjoy such a fun game. We are truly blessed to live in such a great city.”
“I love the variety of things that I’ve done during this challenge that never would have occurred to me to do! I also really love that it kept me thinking “what can I do today” every day which really helps to stay active in the winter months.”
That looks like a conga line – before the heavy snow hit the ground.
“You have also inspired us to explore further! We got a map of Burlington which shares all the parks and our goal for 2020 is to visit and explore each one at least once!”
Terry Milewski, Supervisor of Marketing and Sponsorship said: “This was our first year running this program in the winter and we are overwhelmed with the success of it. We even had to add more activities because the participants loved it so much, they breezed through all 30 original activities. We’re so happy people found this such a worthwhile and fun event. We are looking forward to starting up another challenge this summer.”
Overwhelmed with just 34 teams is a bit of a stretch but it is a good start and certainly worth building upon.
Soccer, tennis, football and baseball are sports that have a following. Hockey has stood the test of time.
Soccer has been a favourite across the globe, with cricket, football, tennis and basketball also achieving international fame. The interesting part about hockey is that while there are just a few countries that play the sport, yet its fandom is universal.
Fans go wild when their team scores.
As a sport, hockey has everything going for it. The action inside the rink is fast, confined, and thrilling. The teams and the players have a celebrity-like persona that results in fans worshiping them.
Hockey is a regular in the betting world, giving it a stamp of approval that makes it an international sport worth watching. The collection of great NHL moments shown below is something you will want to watch again and again.
Year-Round Activity
One of the main reasons for NHL being a highly bet-worthy event is its year-round activity. There are competitions, such as the tennis Grand Slam Wimbledon, that take place for a few days every year and gather up quite a following. However, when it comes to lucrative sports betting, it is always nice to invest in something that goes on for a long time. In the case of the NHL there is the regular season followed by intensely played play-off series.
Even during the off-season, there are opportunities to bet on player transfers and trades. With so much activity going on, there is something or the other for punters to wager on when it comes to the NHL.
Excellent Coverage
It’s one thing to have year-long happenings, but a completely different one when it comes to coverage of a sport by bookmakers. When it comes to the NHL, all the leading bookmakers are onboard. Bookies tend to cover each and every game of the season with equal enthusiasm. Moreover,sites such as Canada Sports Betting feature the latest NHL oddsfrom the most prominent online bookies along with tips and predictions to help punters decide on the best bets. The kind of coverage given to the sport makes it easy even for first-time bettors to make money from the NHL, especially when you count in the welcome bonuses that bookies give to their new customers.
Massive following
Sports has always been about getting people together and having a passionate and fun time. NHL does precisely that, with everyone from kids to the elderly following their favourite teams throughout the season. Since there is such mass following, it makes betting on NHL games a lot more exciting. Adults wanting to wager on games can discuss and debate players and team statistics with friends and family, and make sports betting a fun affair with rewards that everyone can enjoy.
The storied Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
In the end, the cherry on top of the NHL cake is the Stanley Cup. Whether you look at it from a betting point of view or just as a fan, the euphoria of an entire season culminates into one massive event that has everyone excited. Not only does this further adds to the sporting allure of the NHL, but also ends everything with a bang, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the start of the next season.
One of Burlington’s finest, a young hockey player who came out of the Eagles, went on to play for Guelph in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and is now minding the nets for the World Junior Hockey tournament being played in Czechoslovakia.
Those pads were made for Daws and this World Junior Hockey Tournament.
In the game against the United States during the preliminary round Nico Daws was brilliant – Canada took that game 6-4. The team plays Russia later today.
Daws says he is up to the challenge before him.
Burlington-native Nico Daws had never participated in a single Hockey Canada practice before getting the call to this year’s world junior team. After being passed over at the 2019 NHL entry draft, Daws went on to post outstanding numbers (.939 sv% in 20GP) this season for the Guelph Storm in the OHL.
Daws finished his pre-tournament by stopping every shot he faced in 30 minutes of play time against Finland on Monday and may have stolen the starting role for Canada at this year’s tournament.
Daws turned 19 during the pre-tournament practices – his parents are with him in Czechoslovakia.
Daws didn’t let this one get away from him during a practice game.
The Team Canada coaches have nothing but praise for Daws – who sounds more than up to the challenge he faces.
Team Canada has won the world Juniors 17 times however the game has changed and the Canadians have to change with it.
The stunning sixth place finish last year is something these young Canadians don’t want to see repeated.
We could be looking at another great one, this one minding the nets for Canada in Czechoslovakia.
Glen Eden will be opening the hill and spinning the lifts on Friday, December 20, 2019!
Lifts will be running from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm, which are the regular hours of operation during the season, weather permitting. Glen Eden will be closed on Wednesday, December 25 for Christmas Day but will be open on Boxing Day.
It is anticipated that Updraft Chair and Ridge Chair will be running and that Twister, Challenger, Sidewinder, Slow and Easy and Nighthawk, as well as both Learning Centres, will be open.
Another devotee who will be at Glen Eden on opening day is Travis Gerrits, former Olympic freestyle skier from Milton. Gerrits wants to be there for first tracks but he won’t be taking that first chair. Instead, he will be walking up the hill, carrying his skis, as inspired by the “earn your turns” philosophy on skiing and snowboarding.
One of the most popular spots to ski and snowboard at Glen Eden are the terrain parks, located on Nighthawk and Falcon.
There’s no better place to hang out after school or work and you won’t find a community like the Glen Eden terrain park at any other hill. This season, there will be some brand new features in the terrain park, many of which will be available on opening day.
Staff working to have as many lifts as possible running and as much terrain as possible for opening day
“The team at Glen Eden has been working around the clock to make sure we can have as many lifts running and as much terrain open as possible for opening day,” says Craig Machan, Senior Manager, Kelso/Glen Eden. “We are so excited for opening day, the upcoming season and the opportunity to provide a great skiing and snowboarding experience for everyone who visits!”
“We are so proud to be able to offer an opportunity for the members of our community to ski and snowboard with their families at a hill that is affordable, approachable and close to home,” says Hassaan Basit, CAO, Conservation Halton. “The team at Glen Eden always works so hard to make each season the best that it can be, so I know that this is going to be another great season!”
Promo Cards
New this year, Glen Eden has introduced four Promo Cards to their offerings. Off-Peak is loaded with 5 lift tickets, Prime Time is loaded with 3 lift tickets, Youth Triple Play is loaded with 3 lift tickets for youth and Stay Tuned is loaded with 5 ski or snowboard tunes. (Season pass holders receive a discount on Promo Cards, so members can buy them for friends and family.) Click here for more information.
It’s a little like learning to walk – once she gets the hang of it there will be no stopping her.
Lesson Programs
For those that are new to skiing or snowboarding, Glen Eden is a great place to get your start with lesson programs for all ages and skill levels. There are a number of options, including Christmas Camps, Group Lessons, Semi-Private Lessons and Private Lessons. Click here for more information, or call Visitor Services at 905-878-5011 (ext. 1221).
Glen Eden also offers a beginner lesson program, known as Discover Skiing and Snowboarding, which teaches the basics of stopping and turning. Discover is available at the beginner hills on a “first-come, first-serve basis” but bookings should be arranged for larger groups. For groups of 20 or more people, please call 905-878-5011 (ext. 1278) at least one week in advance.
The City has begun the installation of the new floating wave break at the LaSalle Park Community Marina. The new wave break will provide better protection for the boats, docks and public who use the marina. The current wave break is at its structural end of life and does not provide adequate protection against larger waves from storms.
The sailors had to learn to share the space with the swans and public had to learn to stop feeding the swans.
The belief (hope?) is that the new wave break will prevent the damage boat owners have experienced in the past.
Construction will begin Dec. 2, 2019. During the installation, the marina parking lot will be used for housing the construction equipment and materials. Parking at the marina will be limited. To ensure public safety, when the wave breaks and other materials are delivered to the area, there will be no public access to the parking lot during delivery. Visitors are advised to use the parking in the upper lots at LaSalle Park; the marina area is accessible from the park.
The Marina has 219 docking spaces and is protected by a floating wave break. The Burlington Sailing and Boating Club and the Able Sail program offer sailing programs at the Marina. In addition, the City has a public boat launch at the Marina that is protected by the floating wave break.
Former LPMA President John Birch
The decision to install a new wave break was contentious; the debate ranged back and forth for a number of years. The issue was whether or not to build a permanent wave break that was expensive and thought to intrude on the habitat of the Trumpeter Swans who had taken up residence in the park. The city opted for a wave break that is expected to last twenty years.
City Council decided to put up the needed funds and drew down dollars from the Hydro Reserve fund to pay for the $4 million cost.
In the process the President of the LPMA, John Birch, lost his job.
We can tell you about at least one bum that was sitting in the stands at the Grey Cup game in Calgary on Sunday.
Ron Foxcroft watched the Tiger Cats get defeated by the Winnipeg Bombers. It was not a scene he expected to observe.
The Tiger Cats had a magnificent season – won every game they played on their home turf and went out west expecting to bring the Grey Cup back to Hamilton for the first time since 1999 when they defeated the Calgary Stampeders.
Losing at the Grey Cup level hurts.
But it wasn’t to be – it didn’t even come close. 33 to 12 for the Bombers who took control early in the game and never let it go.
Foxcroft was convinced that if the game had been played in Hamilton it would be a sure thing. He thought the game down to the wire would be won in the trenches during the last minutes.
Foxcroft said he has “watched every playoff game since 1957” and like many, if not most Canadians, he is a fan of the Canadian Football League where he sees Hamilton as his favourite.
“Winnipeg played a better game today and that’s why they’re champions,” said Ticats coach Orlondo Steinauer, who held a lengthy team meeting after the game.
Ron Foxcroft blowing a Fox40 whistle to get the photographers attention.
Hamilton came into the game as the favourite after compiling a CFL-best 15-3 record and finishing atop the East Division standings. The Ticats were also 2-0 this season against the Bombers.
It was a tough loss for everyone – but the game goes on and you look forward to the next season which will begin in May.
Foxcroft, ever the champion in his own right, had presented the game referees with rings and a Fox40 whistle the day before the game took place.
That young deer that got stranded on the not frozen enough pond at Royal Botanical Gardens tells us that we are close to being able to create neighbourhood ice rinks.
The City of Burlington is encouraging neighbours to come together to maintain outdoor community ice rinks at their local park this winter.
Applications for the Neighbourhood Rink program are available now at burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrink and are due by Dec. 1, 2019.
There is something so very Canadian about being out on an ice rink set up by neighbours where everyone can take part. A lot nicer than any indoor rink.
Applicants can choose from nine City parks that have a dedicated water supply or another local park without a water supply. Groups looking to organize a neighbourhood rink will need a minimum of six people from their community to maintain the rink.
City staff will install rink boards and hoses in each requested park and provide a tarp (or voucher for a tarp) and a training manual with tips on ice maintenance. As the colder weather arrives, each neighbourhood group will flood the rinks to get them ready for a first skate and then maintain them throughout the winter.
Neighbourhood rinks are open to all community members to skate for free.
Chris Glenn, Director of Parks and Recreation
Chris Glenn, Director of Parks and Recreation lauds the program run by his department. He said: “A neighbourhood rink is a great way to get outside and play with your neighbours during the winter months. A key new feature we’ve included this year is a tarp. It sounds simple but we heard from many of last year’s groups saying a tarp will do wonders to keep the rink in better condition as we go through freeze-thaw cycles. Early forecasts are calling for a long, cold winter which hopefully means a long time for everyone to enjoy the great Canadian pastime of outdoor skating and playing outside.”
By Staff
In Canada, on the other hand, there is no need to overcome these limitations. 
