 By Pepper Parr
November 17th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Taking a long look at the bigger picture and looking back at what the city has gone through in, as Executive Director Sheila Jones put it – a 609 day Journey – calls for a pause and the question – what’s next?
While we all seem to think that “normal” might be returning no one is set yet to bet real money on a date.
Once a month Council gets taken through a report the Emergency Coordination Group (ECG) uses to advise on what has been done, where the city is financially – tax collections are good and revenue losses as a result of the pandemic are stabilizing.
The city is still in a State of Emergency and no one is certain just when that is going to come to an end and what the process will be to get back to the normal we once knew.
A graphic was put up on the screen – this is where we have been.
 Just ups and then down – city hall has managed to keep the wheels on the wagon and on balance has done a good job. The wear and tear on staff has been significant. 
 By Staff
November 2nd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
 Jenna Morais, second-year forward at Carleton University. Burlington native Jenna Morais led the Carleton University Ravens to their first 2-0 start since 2010-11. The second-year forward had a goal and an assist in the Ravens’ home opener on Friday before scoring the game-winning goal on Sunday afternoon versus the University of Ottawa.
Jeremy Whalen, Assistant Manager, Digital Marketing and Communication at Carleton University in the Department of Recreation and Athletics popped us a note to tell us that Burlington native Jenna Morais led the Ravens to their first 2-0 start since 2010-11.
The second-year forward had a goal and an assist in the Ravens’ home opener on Friday before scoring the game-winning goal on Sunday afternoon versus the University of Ottawa.
Jenna Morais is a women’s hockey player.
By Staff
November 2nd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The Regional Municipality of Halton Medical Officer of Health amended Instructions that were issued on October 19th to include:a grace period of 12 weeks for children turning 12 years old, to allow a reasonable opportunity for their vaccination to be completed.
 Fully vaccinated – please. On October 19, 2021, Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health (MOH), Dr. Hamidah Meghani, issued a letter of instructions to indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities to implement vaccination policies that require all eligible individuals to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate in organized sports and recreational fitness activities in these settings.
The amended letter of instructions released today adds a grace period of 12 weeks for children turning 12 years old, to allow a reasonable opportunity for their vaccination to be completed.
Halton’s MOH, Dr. Meghani, reminds all residents that while Provincial regulations have recently changed to remove capacity limits and requirements for physical distancing in facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities, other important public health requirements remain in place. These include requiring proof of vaccination, screening, masking, contact tracing, cleaning/disinfection and safety plans to describe the measures and procedures implemented to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
Dr. Meghani also strongly encourages facilities (including facility operators and permit holders) to continue to implement physical distancing for all children 11 years and younger (who are not eligible for vaccination at this time) participating in organized sports and recreational fitness activities, or activities of any kind in which masking may be inconsistent.
To read Dr. Meghani’s amended instructions for businesses/organizations with indoor facilities used for Organized Sports and Recreational Fitness Activities or for additional public health information and guidance, please visit halton.ca/COVID19.
By Staff
November 1, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The City is encouraging neighbours to come together to maintain outdoor community ice rinks this winter. Applications for the Neighbourhood Rink program are available now at burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrink and are due by Nov. 12, 2021.
 Champions have started out on rinks like this – thousands of kids learned to skate at places like this. Create one in your community. Groups looking to organize a neighbourhood rink will need a minimum of six people from their community to maintain the rink. Volunteers who are approved to move forward with their rink will need to agree to the terms and conditions set out in the Neighbourhood Rinks program, agree to complete training and agree to keep maintenance records of the rink and provide their own water source.
City staff will install rink boards, hoses and tarps in each requested location and provide 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.
For more information, visit burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrink.
 By Matthew Major
October 31st, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Recently, the government has committed to investing around $5.2 million in three culture and recreation projects in Central Ontario and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).
The impact of Covid stretches far beyond our health and hospitals. All areas of the local community have been affected by lockdowns, and families, businesses and communities across the country have had to make big changes to their way of lives. As a result of this disruption, the Canadian and Ontario governments are working together to support people and communities by ensuring that local infrastructure is safe and reliable. At the same time, the government is also looking ahead to see what else can be done in these unprecedented times.
 Recently, Sven Spengemann, member of parliament for Mississauga—Lakeshore, announced a series of joint funding. This funding will be specifically for three culture and recreation infrastructure projects in the GTHA and Central Ontario. This announcement was made on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities as well as Ontario’s Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. The move will see businesses receive some bonus funding for Covid support, but as Bonusfinder Canada explains, there can be restrictions to watch out for.
Who is Paying for These Projects?
The Government of Canada will be spending approximately $2.8 million on these projects under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s Community, Culture, and Recreation Infrastructure Stream. The Ontario government alone will also be funding more than $2.3 million to these initiatives, while beneficiaries are investing a total of more than $1.9 million in their own projects.
Under the Community, Culture, and Recreation Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Ontario will contribute roughly $320 million over the next ten years, while Canada will invest around $407 million.
What Is the Money Being Spent On?
This announcement comes after a wave of infrastructure spending is planned for the country in the wake of the Covid pandemic. The government is hoping that with increased spending, communities will be able to return to normal much faster once restrictions have been lifted. This funding will aim to support the building of new facilities and upgrades to existing facilities. All of the projects focus on improving community infrastructure and also include recreational venues and cultural spaces such as museums, theatres and more.
 Upgrades to trail infrastructure in conservation areas in Caledon, Erin, Halton Hills, and Mississauga are among the projects that have been financed. They will improve public access to local greenspaces by better connecting trails with neighbouring towns and removing barriers. Trail improvements include the repair of four pedestrian bridges, the construction of three new pedestrian bridges, the expansion of paths by 2.8 kilometres, and the repair of 3.1 kilometres of boardwalk.
The Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre will also receive funding for the design, manufacturing, and installation of an indoor and outdoor children’s gallery, which will provide families with educational content to learn more about local history and culture. Upgrades to the Unionville Seniors Hub’s Community Centre in Markham will provide new programmes and services to meet the special requirements of seniors and their caregivers. These initiatives, once completed, will provide citizens with better access to recreation facilities for many years to come.
Spengemann had the following to say about the funding “Ensuring residents have access to quality recreation infrastructure is vital for community well-being and development. Today’s investment for three culture and recreation infrastructure projects in the GTHA and Central Ontario will provide residents with access to modern, reliable, and even more accessible recreation facilities”.
By Joseph Peters
October 28th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Canada features a diverse landscape in land-based casinos, ranging from small gambling halls in the midst of endless plains to skyline-defining complexes such as the Niagara Fallsview casino or the Montréal Casino.
Over the last few years, this diversity has grown with the rise of online casinos. These casinos offer players an unrivaled number of games, ease of access, and welcome bonuses. This has given rise to an explosive growth, that could lead to a combined 5-billion-dollar market by 2030. But does this growth rival the classical brick-and-mortar casinos or is the growth in gambling more than a zero-sum game?
The growth
Since the introduction of online casinos, Canada has seen a steady growth in its online casinos. The Kahnawake Mohawk Territory near Montréal was one of the first licenses for online casinos and is still a respected party among different licenses. Online casinos aren’t allowed to offer their services from Canada, but Canadians are free to play at offshore casinos.
 Mohawk Territory Casino just outside Montreal These offshore casinos have seen tremendous growth over the last few years. The COVID-19 virus undoubtedly helped, because as land-based casinos were struggling, profits for game developers such as Evolution rose by about 90% – a trend that slowed down, but still shows an impressive 51% growth over the first half of 2021.
Other reports foresee a similar growth. The Canadian sports betting industry is estimated at around 2.2 billion dollars for 2030, with the iGaming (online casinos) industry growing even more, with a projected total revenue of $2.4 billion. This means the average adult Canadian will spend $60 a year on sports betting and $75 a year on online gambling.
The benefits of online casinos mentioned above combined with the availability and the coronavirus means that more and more Canadian players are also visiting online casinos. These new players are often overwhelmed with the different options, welcome bonuses, and online-only games. A good gambling guide can help these new casino players capitalize on all the benefits of online casinos.
The threats and opportunities for local casinos
Although this growth of online gaming poses a threat to land-based casinos, it also provides opportunities. When brick-and-mortar casinos are open for business as usual, they can also incorporate online casinos to diversify their business. Nevertheless, local casinos need to step up their game to match the online casinos’ benefits.
First of all, online casinos are open and accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even to someone living right above a brick-and-mortar casino that never closes, pulling out a smartphone to play live roulette is more convenient. To combat this, land-based casinos need to focus on offering an unforgettable experience that players can never get on screen.
 Offer an unmatched in-person experience when a player visits a casino. A second benefit for online casinos is scalability. Online casinos can ‘effortlessly’ offer thousands of games without ever running out of physical space. Although brick-and-mortar casinos don’t have that advantage, they can (and have started to) implement some of the same one-to-many games. Offering blackjack where players share the same cards and make decisions on a console gives physical casinos a similar offering. These consoles could even offer an online version of the casino – merging the brand and reliability of the brick-and-mortar casino with the flexibility of an online casino.
Finally, online casinos are able to operate on better margins for players. Online slots, for example, often have a house edge under 5% – compared to around 12% for physical slots. Although shrinking the house edge may be an obvious solution, online casinos will always have the advantage here. The solution here is to offer an unmatched in-person experience when a player visits a casino.
Bonuses for new and existing players
One of the trickiest advantages of online casinos is the welcome bonus and other bonuses for existing players. These bonuses can sometimes double a player’s first deposit, giving them twice the money to play with. Although casinos have always offered comps, they can’t match the bonuses online casinos give out.
Especially players looking for a new online casino can really get a head start using these welcome bonuses. These bonuses can consist of free spins and/or bonus money that can be used to play the games. Similar bonuses exist for existing players, too.
Playing from home
Another advantage of online casinos is a logistic one. Players can play anywhere and at any time. Using a mobile website, players can use small breaks in the day (toilet breaks, waiting for the bus) to play their favorite games. In contrast, a physical casino requires a trip to the casino, parking, going around, and going back home.
Physical casinos will always be at a disadvantage. It can only serve those players that live close enough to the casino to make the trip worthwhile. Other players will flock to their online counterparts by default.
More game options
Even when land-based casinos use online casinos as an inspiration to broaden their offering of games, it will be impossible to truly compete with online casinos. These online casinos often partner with twenty or more game developers. Not only does it give players the chance to pick their favorite roulette version, it also allows for more competition, creating bigger and better games.
One example is the introduction of roulette games with huge multipliers. A usual roulette game offers the largest win of 36x a player’s bet. Online roulette versions can skyrocket this multiplier to 500x or even higher multipliers. Although the technology may be copied, it takes the scalability of hundreds of players to truly make this work.
By Staff
October 21st, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Online casino gaming is legal and available to Canadians, but what’s it really like? While there is a growing interest in online gambling all over the world, some people are still apprehensive about signing up to a site and trying it out themselves.
That’s understandable. After all, many people are also apprehensive of giving money to any online site. However, online casinos are usually incredibly safe and can be a lot of fun. Provided that you make sure a site is licenced by a reputable gambling authority such as the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority or the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, you can be sure the casino is safe and fair. Still, it’s a good idea to do some research before signing up to a site if you want to make sure you have a fun experience.
 Quality on-line gambling sites offer an opportunity to play in a demo mode to let you get a feel for how they work. Games
Games are one of the most important factors when it comes to playing at an online casino. They’re usually the main reason anyone signs up. There are lots of popular games available, including trending slot games in Canada and classic table games like Blackjack, Roulette and Poker. No matter what kind of games you like to play, online casinos usually have a huge collection to choose from. Before you play a game for real cash, most sites will also let you play in a demo mode. This way, you can try out a game, learn the rules and experience what it has to offer without risking your own money. It’s always recommended to play in demo mode before you make a deposit and start playing for real cash.
Bonuses
 Bonuses are one of the main ways online casinos attract new players. Most sites will offer at least a welcome bonus, which is a reward available to claim when you first join a site. Bonuses come in all different shapes and sizes, from small free spin offers to big matched deposit bonuses. Before you choose a Canadian casino to play at, make sure you take a look at the promotions page to see what’s on offer. You’ll also want to make sure you read through all of the terms and conditions carefully and determine whether it’s worth it. Although some casino bonuses might look great at first, they often come with restrictions that make them difficult to use.
Risk
Whenever you play at an online casino for real money, you’re risking your own cash for the chance to win some for yourself. Although it is possible to win big sums of money, there’s always the risk you might lose a lot too. Before you start playing, you should make sure you fully understand the risk and what it means. All games at online casinos have a way of seeing how much they will theoretically payback. This is known as the Return to Player (RTP) rate, and it’s shown as a percentage, for example, 95%. The higher the number, the less risk to you, although you can still win money from low RTP games if you’re lucky. If you want to avoid losing money when playing at an online casino, you should make the most of bonuses and set a budget for how much you’re going to spend each week or month.
Playing at Canadian online casinos can be lots of fun, but you should be sure to pick the right casino first. Choosing a good online casino is important, as it will let you play the best games while being fair and safe to use. Ensure that any casino you play at is licenced and has good user reviews online.
By Staff
October 20th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington will continue to follow the Provincial mandate and require proof of vaccination in City recreational facilities for all who are eligible for the vaccines.
City-operated services and facilities not impacted include:
- City Hall at 426 Brant St.
- Outdoor sports fields
- Diamonds, parks and playgrounds
- Burlington Transit
- Halton Court Services
 Parents can watch – but they must show their proof of vaccination papers. To enter a City facility, visitors will need to show a piece of identification with their name and date of birth and either:
• Show their vaccine certificate with QR code (paper or electronic), or
• Show their vaccination receipt (paper or electronic)
Parents and/or guardians may enter a facility for a maximum of 15 minutes to drop off and pick-up a participant for a program, without showing proof of vaccination. Parents who are required to stay in the facility for the duration of the program must be fully vaccinated.
All current regulations around screening, masking and physical distancing will not change based vaccine status.
To download your vaccine certificate, go to ontario.ca/get-proof.
 By Mark Maycock
October 19th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
If you weren’t yet aware, many things are going on in the area these days, and many residents are enjoying the autumn season.
Those who have been raring to go out can do so with more enjoyment if they visit the Royal Botanical Gardens – where there is an ongoing interactive exhibition on artwork.
 Seeing the Invisible at Royal Botanical Gardens The exhibition, entitled ‘Seeing the Invisible,’ is arguably the most expansive and ambitious exhibition the Gardens has to date. It features a range of contemporary and modern artwork complemented by AR or augmented reality technology.
What it is
We can’t deny the significance of this exhibition, especially since it uses AR technology, which is astounding in many ways. But what exactly is AR? AR or augmented reality is a technology that can add or augment any viewer’s perception of their environment. In most cases, the digital info is superimposed on a real-life setting, but this is fixed in a specific place. At the same time, the user or viewer moves around the environment or moves their gadget around the environment.
The exhibit itself was developed in partnership with other botanical gardens worldwide, and Seeing the Invisible was first launched on September 23 as a participating botanical garden among a total of 12 in various countries. It’s worth noting, however, that it’s the only participating botanical garden in Canada.
What you can expect
The exhibition features work from over a dozen global artists. Its theme expounds on the wonders of nature, sustainability, and the environment, delivering an exploration of connections and boundaries between nature, technology, and art.
 Hendrie Gardens at the Royal Botanical Gardens – a world class location You can engage with the exhibition once you download an app, and it fosters brilliant collaboration between audiences, institutions, and artists. It’s a great way to emphasize and showcase how art can bring people together. Once you’re in the app, you will come across 13 interactive and unique artworks, and these are all spread around the landscape of Hendrie Gardens. You can even take photos with the larger-than-life artwork, and you can essentially walk around the exhibit and listen to an audio plugin that makes your experience even more artistic and memorable.
The exhibit is now at Hendrie Gardens, and anyone can visit it from Thursday to Sunday. Seeing the Invisible runs until the 6th of November, and it operates between the hours of 10 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon.
The details
To attend, you can pre-register and buy a ticket, and when you purchase your ticket, you will have to choose your preferred time and date. There are six slots; namely, 10 am, 11 am, 12 noon, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 in the afternoon.
Tickets cost $24.50 for general admission and only $21.50 for senior citizens and students/youth, with ticket prices at $16.50 for kids aged 4 to 12 and only $2 for members of the Royal Botanical Gardens.
It’s good news for those who are still spending a lot of time at home during the pandemic. But if you want to make more of your time at home, you can also play in an online casino in Canada – who knows, luck may be on your side after you’ve been inspired by the gorgeous interactive technology and the artwork you’ve just experienced.
By Staff
October 19th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
This is one of those clear as mud messages from city hall.
 The Tansley Woods pool will be open on Wednesday. If you use the Tansley Wood Pool you might understand.
Updated: Tansley Woods Pool Closure
The issue will be resolved by the end of today (Tuesday, Oct. 19) and regularly scheduled aquatic programming will resume for Wednesday, Oct. 20.
Due to an unplanned maintenance issue, Tansley Woods Pool will be closed effective immediately (Friday, Oct. 15, 2021) until further notice. Staff will reach out to impacted customers and renters. The facility is still open for non-aquatic programming.
Update: The issue will be resolved by the end of today (Tuesday, Oct. 19) and regularly scheduled aquatic programming will resume for Wednesday, Oct. 20.
By Alex Windsor
September 28th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
While the digital revolution has put many industries to the test, others like public services have thrived, such as the police who can take notes electronically when on duty. The development of new and emerging technologies has seen the success of the gambling industry skyrocket in recent years. Today, it is thought that 76% of Canadians take part in some form of gambling activity, whether that be a national lottery, visiting a casino or playing online.
 Toronto – capital of Ontario – the province with interesting and exciting sports gambling locations. In many countries across the world, gambling has traditionally been a taboo subject that has been frowned upon. As a result, many places including Canada have had restrictive gambling laws that have prevented the industry from growing. Yet, as attitudes towards gambling have become more progressive and laws have been altered to reflect this, the gambling industry is once again beginning to thrive in Canada.
Below, we’ll take a look at the thriving gambling scene in Ontario and investigate some of the best land-based and online gambling places where people can go to enjoy their favourite casino games.
Gambling law ambiguity across Canada
There are many different gambling laws and regulations in Canada. Canada’s first forms of legal gambling appeared in 1969, in which a variety of landmark casinos were developed. These casinos brought tourism and a steady economy to cities across Canada after years of gambling being illegal.
 For the citizens of Ontario, online gaming complements the already thriving gambling scene. By the early 2000s, online gambling was growing rapidly as more and more households gained access to computers. However, the law states that any casino venue operating in Canada must be licensed by the regional authorities. Since many online gambling providers were operating from another country, this meant that they weren’t bound to the laws set by the Canadian authorities.
This loophole has meant that up until today, Canadian citizens can enjoy gambling at online venues, as long as the provider is offshore. This grey area in the law means that Canada is missing out on a significant economic opportunity as they do not benefit from online gaming taxes or fees from licenses at all. However, for the citizens of Ontario, online gaming complements the already thriving gambling scene.
The best casinos in Ontario
As the most populous province in Canada, Ontario has a thriving gambling scene with some of the nation’s best Casinos. The most popular casinos include:
Shorelines Casino – Thousand Islands
The Shorelines Casino chain has three casinos located in Ontario, however it is their Thousand Islands venue located on the outskirts of Gananoque that is one of the most popular. The venue is home to over 450 slot machines and various gaming tables for visitors to enjoy.
Shorelines casino are well-known for hosting various table games from blackjack, roulette to a variety of poker games including 3-card poker and ultimate Texas Hold’em. Those who want to get in some practice online before trying their luck at the casino can try real money poker at 888 Poker. Players will get a chance to hone in on their strategy and practice their poker face before going up against the big players at Shorelines.
Casino Rama Resort
Located near Orillia, Ontario, Casino Rama Resort is known as one of the region’s best casino resorts. Guests to the resort can benefit from a fully serviced hotel, a spa and health club, and a top-class casino with over 2,200 slot machines and 6 gaming tables.
Best of all, the casino resort is just a 90-minute drive from Toronto, making it an ideal weekend getaway from the city.
Elements Casino – Brantford
Elements casino offers a great variety of popular games, including over 500 slot machines and over 55 table games with Blackjack, Texas Hold’Em Poker and Roulette amongst the offerings.
Sports betting in Ontario
On the 27th of August, single event sports betting became legalized and was officially launched across Canada. Currently, there are 71 casinos in Ontario that now offer sports betting and in addition, Ontario has now made single-game sports betting available online through the Ontario lottery and the gaming Corporation’s PROLINE website.
 The gambling scene in Ontario will now be able to thrive as the industry continues to grow While this is a monumental moment for Ontario’s gambling scene, residents of Ontario are also able to take advantage of the many offshore online casinos available to them. The move to legalize sports betting in Ontario means that several sports betting vendors in the Northern US could now be looking to expand into Ontario, offering even more variety in the region.
The future of gambling in Ontario
The recent easing of restrictions for gambling across Canada means that the gambling scene in Ontario will now be able to thrive as the industry continues to grow. These changes demonstrate the appetite for gambling across the region, in which many northern American influences are moving into the Ontario region. From sports betting vendors to US casino chains, cities like Toronto are becoming even more of a hotspot for betting shops and casinos.
However, online gambling is more popular than ever, meaning that the footfall to physical gambling venues could decrease over time – as can be seen in countries like the UK. As technologies become more affordable, many people are opting for the convenience and freedom that online gambling brings.
Overall, over the past year, there have been many positive changes across Canada that support the growth of the gambling industry. As Canadians views of gambling become more progressive, it will be interesting to see how the market develops and whether physical casinos will stand the test of time.
Here is how Bryana tells us about the event:
 The Cosgrove family It’s rapidly approaching that time of year again…Terry Fox Run time! Team Casey has been participating in the Terry Fox Run event since 2011, so this will be our 10th year anniversary! In that time, Team Casey has raised almost $65,000 for the Terry Fox Foundation in support of cancer research….and I wanted to thank EVERYONE who has participated, donated, and supported us these last several years! Together, we have made such a difference in both raising needed funds and raising awareness (with our awesome presence we have brought to the event!) about the need for finding a cure.
This year’s event, given our continued unusual circumstances, will be a separate event from the usual run we have done in the past. This year’s event with be a baseball game and a BBQ at Casey Cosgrove Field! Here are the details:
 Date/Time: Sunday, September 19th at 6:00pm
Location: Casey Cosgrove Baseball Field (the ball diamond right behind Nelson High School)
BBQ: There will be a BBQ with hamburgers and hot dogs, drinks, and chips with all proceeds going towards the team donations
What to Do/Bring:
-
 They filled each other’s lives If you would like to play baseball, please send me an email at teamcasey19@gmail.com by September 16th to guarantee your spot…otherwise, you may still be able to play but there will be no guarantees (but it will be very likely)
- Bring any baseball equipment you may have if you want to play
-
 One remarkable human being. Bring a chair to sit in while you watch if you don’t want to sit in the bleachers
- Bring your appetite…all proceeds from the BBQ will be going towards the team donations
- Consider donating to Team Casey at www.terryfox.ca/teamcasey
- Most importantly….Bring your smile!
Even if you don’t want to play, please come out and watch some ball and have some dinner….we would love to see you!
Play ball!
 By Staff
September 8th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington will open online registration for fall swimming lessons and aquatic leadership programs beginning 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18.
Programs will be viewable online at Burlington.ca/recreation on Friday, Sept. 10.
 A Burlington resident doing a well executed crawl. To register on Sept. 18, go to liveandplay.burlington.ca. There is no in-person registration.
Aquatic leadership programs are those that can lead a person to becoming a lifeguard:
• Airway Management
• Bronze Cross, Medallion and Star
• Swim Instructor
• National Lifeguard Certification
All City programs will continue to follow public health guidance, including physical distancing, capacity limits and wearing masks or face coverings. All swimming lessons are low ratio to ensure physical distancing. Caregiver support is required in the water for participants enrolled in Parent and Tot levels up to and including Swimmer 3.
Individuals participating in an in-person program will be required to fill out the mandatory health screening form at Burlington.ca/screening before each session.
• Individuals who have questions or require assistance can email liveandplay@burlington.ca or call 905-335-7738 between 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends.
• Recreation fee assistance funding is available to resident individuals or families who need help to pay for City of Burlington recreation programs. For more information or to apply, visit burlington.ca/feeassistance. You can also leave a confidential voicemail message at 905-335-7738, ext. 8501 and staff will return your call to assist you.
By Karina Rybay
September 3rd, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Playing casino games is a great form of entertainment. Not only do you stand the chance of winning fantastic prizes, but you can also have fun playing the various games that are popular online. Canada is home to some top online casinos, like www.pinkcasino.com/en-ca/.
Pink Casino is an excellent newcomer to the Canadian online casinos market. LeoVegas is the owner and operator of this casino, which was established in 2020. Apart from Pink Casino, there are many other fantastic online casinos. Here is a short overview of the top four.
 There are a number of quality on-line casino gambling locutions Check them out. Frank Casino
Frank Casino has been online since 2014 and is available on your desktop or mobile device. You can play a wide variety of casino games from top developers. There’s also a sportsbook for you to place bets on your favorite sporting types. Apart from these, you also have the option of playing in the live casino with interactive dealers. Frank Casino offers a variety of bonuses and promotions to add to the fun.
Yeti Casino
Established in 2017, Yeti Casino offers a massive portfolio of fun casino games. You’ll find the best gaming developers on the list of game providers. Yeti Casino is available in English and French, and you can get support in both these languages. You can also play on both your desktop or mobile device.
Yako Casino
Yako Casinos offers near-perfect integration across various platforms. You can switch from desktop to mobile seamlessly. The casino also offers an extensive portfolio of popular games from big names in the igaming world. The site is secure, and the casino has third-party safety testing certificates, indicating that the casino is fair. Customer support is available in live chat or email format and you also have the option of contacting the casino via its hotline.
Betsafe Casino
Betsafe Casino is a well-known brand among online casinos. With a track record for safety and security since 2006, Betsafe offers excellent games along with a sportsbook. Betsafe also provides incredibly high withdrawal limits of up to $50,000 per day, which you can make on any one of a long list of payment methods. Customer support is available in a variety of languages, however, French isn’t on the list.
You can have fun playing with any of these top online casinos. Each has a unique offering in terms of website design and feel. These online casinos also offer fun bonuses and promotions for loyal players, adding to the entertainment value. If you’re looking for a new hobby, give online casinos a try.
 By Max Bowder: Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
August 20th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
With students heading back to school in the fall, parents are also looking for extra curricular activities their children can take part in.
Parents are searching for programs that offer social connection, a sense of normalcy and fun in an environment that puts safety first.
Scouts Canada which is a non-profit youth service organization that helps children of all ages get in touch with nature, have great adventures, learn outdoor skills and care for the environment as well as be good and helpful members of their community.
“Scouts Canada is a youth serving organization, each section … is designed for the age group kids get to choose what interests them and then help lead their own adventures,” Andrea McLoughlin, customer service.
 Getting Scouters outdoors where they understand nature and lean to care for the environment. The organization has operated for close to 115 years and currently has 50,000 youth participating all around Canada supported by 12,000 volunteers.
Scouts Canada did not shut down during pandemic with the exception of putting a short hiatus during emergency breaks and continued to operate while in the pandemic although needing to scale back in person activities, put mandates in place and have virtual programs.
Scouts Canada has had great success in its programs with no reported transmissions of covid-19 cases.
They have ensured the health and safety of the scouting community by implementing a 5-stage reopening plan which provides members and families with clear easy to follow guidelines to ensure safe in-person adventures.
Some provinces are even in Stage Five, which effectively lifts internal restrictions for all Scouting activities while deferring to all municipal and provincial public health restrictions.
Some of the guidelines includes indoor gatherings up to 25 people and outdoor gatherings up to 50 people, cohorts (Patrols) of a maximum 8 youth, and overnight camping allowed in cohorts only, with tents or shelters preferred, Face coverings and physical distancing are required.
 Orienteering – learning to use a compass and know where they are in the woods and the direction they need to go – a great Scouting experience. “Our mission really is creating well rounded youth who are active members of the community, who care about the environment, who have faith and life skills … who can take on any adventure and be prepared for it,” said youth program specialist Siobhan Ward.
Registration for January to December 2022 Scouting opens on September 1 for existing members, with registration for new members starting September 15th. New members who join before 2022 will benefit from free participation in Scouting for the remainder of 2021.
Executives of Scouts Canada worked fast to go in different direction when covid slowed them down in March but when members turned to virtual meetings, they came up with new strategies which they say came organically despite not meeting in person for almost a full year and ran incredible programing.
Scouts Canada also sponsors the Program No One Left Behind which subsidizes costs for families experiencing hard ship.
“Providing a safe environment for young people in Canada to connect with their peers and get outdoors is our number one priority this fall,” said Executive Commissioner & CEO, Andrew Price.
 Chopping wood, learning to light a camp fire and how to put it out properly. Before they do that the marshmallows get roasted. The virtual programs still give children the experience of scouts Canada even from their houses by giving kids exercises and explore their local communities.
Scouts Canada is looking for volunteers to help fill a number of rewarding roles including running Section meetings, as well as positions focusing on finance, administration, teaching first aid and outdoor skills, leadership, communications, fundraising or property management.
Adults of all ages can sign up at https://www.scouts.ca/volunteer, Scouts.ca/Join
 Max Bowder is a second year journalism student at Sheridan College. He is part of a team with the Gazette on the Local Journalism Initiative funded by the federal government. Before enrolling at Sheridan Max volunteered in a community in Argentina where he worked with young people. He is a Burlington resident who helps out on the family farm in Milton.
 By Dink Delorme
August 17th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Fans religiously waiting for a new iteration of the famed PES franchise will not see a PES 22.
The 26 years of football and competing with the FIFA franchise is over.
Konami shut down the PES and created a new game. The silver lining is that the new game eFootball will replace PES in the fall – it will be free-to-play. What will be free for the fans on start is still unknown, and so are the possible upgrades and items you can buy with in-game purchases.
 Major change in the way a brand is being marketed – free to everyone. Will Konami Just Change the Name of the Game?
Huge Japanese game developer was synonymous with “real” football, while fans of the PES franchise mocked FIFA.
Konami developed a strong brand from the football game and sold a ton of merchandise and millions of PES games. Knowing that Konami produces hundreds of video slots, it’s weird they didn’t make the PES slot game.
The title and monetization are not the only things changed for the new eFootball game. The upcoming football game will be the first for Konami on Unreal Engine 4. So far, they have developed PES on Fox Engine, which they created for the Metal Gear Solid game franchise.
The most significant change in game play will come on a rebuild one-on-one system named Motion Matching, where all players will have unique reactions and some of their signature moves.
What More We Know so Far
The Unreal Engine-powered eFootball will be a free game available for most systems, including PS5, PS4, Xbox Series x, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC. In addition, the game will supposedly have cross-platform play, and after the release, there will be eSports tournaments.
In the game trailer, we saw Lionel Messi speaking about his passion for football. After that, Konami brought more big names to the game and used motion capturing on former Barcelona and Spain national team star Andres Iniesta. Gerard Pique is another player showcased in the trailer.
PES had problems with licencing clubs and players throughout its illustrious past, and for eFootball, we know there will be Manchester United, Barcelona, Arsenal, Bayern and Juventus. The Italian club will be exclusively in eFootball and will not appear in Electronic Arts FIFA. Another two Seria A clubs will be solely on eFootball: Napoli and Roma.
There is no information about other clubs and leagues, which leads us to monetization.
What Will Players Get in a Free-to-Play Game?
All biggest licenced clubs will be available at launch to the players. However, some speculate eFootball will come out as a barebone game, and you will have to pay for additional game modes, like career and others.
 The game will probably have a battle pass system that offers rewards. For example, match Pass will enable new items or unlocking certain things in-game. In addition, there will be an option to buy the items without finishing challenges.
In the eFootball official reveal trailer, we saw little game play from the match. Still, plenty of close-ups focused on facial expression and natural player movement in various attacking and defending situations.
By Staff
August 16th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Parks and Recreation will open online registration for fall Adult, Youth and pre-season Aquatic Leadership programs beginning Saturday, Aug. 28.
 Adult registration will open at 9 a.m. and Youth and pre-season Aquatic Leadership program registration will open at 11 a.m.
Programs will be viewable online at Burlington.ca/recreation on Aug. 20, 2021.
Swimming lessons and additional Aquatic Leadership programming will be announced in September.
All City programs will continue to follow public health guidance when required, including physical distancing, capacity limits and wearing masks or face coverings. Individuals participating in an in-person program will be required to fill out the mandatory health screening form at Burlington.ca/screening before each session.
Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture said, hopefully: “Another season, another great set of recreation choices for residents to participate in for fun, exercise, learning or social opportunities. Our catalogue of programs is always changing to add new and interesting options on top of our traditional favourites that you’ll see every season.”
By Norbert Fraught
April 16th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
The methods available for making deposits and withdrawals is undoubtedly one of the most integral parts of the iGaming industry. Keep reading to check the most popular payment methods in Canada.
Online gambling is an activity that is becoming more and more popular in the Canadian market over the past few years. One main reason for this is the increased level of convenience and easy access that online casinos and sports betting sites bring players, allowing them to engage in their favorite pastime from just about anywhere at any time.
 Deposits and withdrawals methods are an essential aspect of online casinos that often influence players’ choice of where to play. Of course, to play free slots no download, or just about any casino games for real money from the comfort of your own home, you will have to transfer money into your casino account. This is why deposits and withdrawals methods are an essential aspect of online casinos that often influence players’ choice of where to play. Thankfully, Canadian players have access to a plethora of payment methods that are fast, secure, and readily accessible for making deposits and withdrawals at online casinos.
In this article, we will be looking at some of the most popular payment methods that gambling enthusiasts use to make deposits and withdrawals at online casinos in Canada.
Interac
Commonly referred to as the national debit card for Canada, Interac is one of the most popular, safest, and reliable payment methods that Canadian players use to deposit and withdraw funds at online casinos. It is a Canada-exclusive interbank network that links participating Canadian banks and other financial institutions for the purpose of electronic funds transfer and transactions. Simply put, Interac is a payment service that allows Canadian players to fund their casino account directly from their bank or credit union accounts. In addition, this payment method provides an extra layer of protection for players online since there is no need to share sensitive financial information. Over the years, Interac has launched many branded services, and the two most popular ones you will find in most casinos include:
Interac e-transfer Service
Interac Online
Reasons for its Popularity
As we have mentioned before, the number of online casinos featuring the Interac payment method is on the rise, and it has become the first choice for millions of Canadians. However, this popularity doesn’t come solely because it is a local service but is based on several reasons. Below are some of these reasons:
Interac is available for both deposits and withdrawals. Many popular payment methods are usually only exclusively for deposits, and players would have to find another method when they want to withdraw. The flexibility of Interac makes it a neat and valuable method.
Depositing money with Interac into an online casino is instant. But, on the other hand, withdrawal through Interac is also fast and almost instant.
With Interac, you can use the Canadian dollar and don’t need a currency converter.
Interac is relatively safe and secure, which means that your financial information remains private.
Interac is not expensive. Depending on your bank and casino of choice, it may cost little to nothing to fund your casino account through Interac.
 The way you remit and receive funds from your sporting activity is important. Mastercard
Perhaps the most popular payment method for funding online casinos in Canada and the global market is the credit/debit cards payment method. And when it comes to credit/debit cards, Mastercard is one of the oldest and most reputable ones you will find online. When you go online to gamble, you will find that almost all online casinos accept deposits and withdrawals through Mastercard.
Reasons for its Popularity
Here are some of the reasons why Mastercard remains one of the most popular payment methods for players in Canada:
Mastercard allows high limits transactions, meaning that players can deposit or withdraw huge amounts of money at any time.
Due to its popularity, Mastercard is available at virtually every online casino that caters to Canadian players.
Mastercard provides top-rated safety measures such as fraud detection technology, secure code password protection, and others to keep players safe from intruders.
With Mastercard, deposits occur instantaneously, and though it may take a while depending on online casinos, withdrawals are also fast.
Mastercard ensures that their services are only available at licensed and legit online casinos.
VISA
With roots dating as far back as 1958, Visa is arguably the oldest, largest, and most used payment method in the digital world today. It is considered one of the most reliable and easy-to-use credit/debit card payment methods for making deposits and withdrawals at online casinos in Canada. Like the Mastercard method, almost every online casino worth its salt accepts Visa.
Reasons for its Popularity
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that Visa is only prevalent in the Canadian market because it happens to be one of the oldest forms of online payment method on the market. On the contrary, it is popular because it offers a wide range of benefits to its users.
Some of these benefits include:
Visa gives its users access to credit.
Visa provides deposit and withdrawal transactions with little to no fees from casinos.
Visa provides fast transactions for both deposits and withdrawals. Deposits are instant, while withdrawal may take some extra time.
As one of the most well-known payment methods globally, Visa is security conscious, and its services come with the best security measures, making transactions safe and secure for players.
Ecopayz
Ecopayz is a global payment solutions provider that offers instant, safe, and reliable payment services to Canada and the international market. Established in 2002, Ecopayz is one of the longest established e-wallets in the world. Like most e-wallets, ecoPayz acts as a gateway between your bank account and your online casino account, allowing you to fund your account without providing your financial information effortlessly. With two decades of experience in the financial industry, ecoPayz is an experienced player in the digital payment industry, offering its services to more than 155 countries and supporting more than 50 currencies. So naturally, many casinos in Canada support this payment method, and it is among the most popular options you will find in Canada’s online gambling market.
Reasons for its Popularity
Ecopayz has been providing payment services to casino players in Canada for many years now. Below are some of the reasons why it is very popular:
You can use ecoPayz for both deposits and withdrawal transactions, which is not the case for many banking methods.
Transactions at casinos using ecoPayz are quick and easy, with deposits occurring instantly and withdrawals being instant up to a few hours.
Using Ecopayz adds an extra layer of protection for players as their financial information is never shared when players pay online.
Ecopayz uses the latest security and fraud protection technology.
By using electronic operational and physical security measures, ecoPayz protects players against viruses, spyware, and attacks from hackers.
Paysafecard
Rounding up our list of popular casino payment methods in the Canadian market is the world’s most popular online prepaid payment method, Paysafecard. Paysafecard is a prepaid online payment method that provides shoppers and online casino players with 16-digit PIN code vouchers, which they can use to make payments online. Customers can buy these vouchers from local sales outlets that sell them. They come in these amounts in Canada: 10, 30, 50, 100, 150, 0r 250 CAD. Naturally, the card also works with online casinos, and you will find that tons of online casinos support this method as a means of processing payment transactions.
The best part about the Paysafecard payment method is that it is entirely independent of bank accounts and credit cards and does not require you to provide your personal information. The only downside is that you can only use the Paysafecard for making deposits and cannot use it to make withdrawals.
Reasons for its Popularity
Here are some of the reasons why Paysafecard is popular in the Canadian casino market:
The Paysafecard does not require players to provide any personal, bank, or credit card information.
The prepaid principle of the Paysafecard guarantees absolute security when you are making deposits online.
Depositing with Paysafecard is quick and easy.
Paysafecard does not give the means of overdrawing funds, thereby giving players some form of forced control over their spending.
Other notable mentions include:
MuchBetter
iDebit
Instadebit
Neosurf
American Express
By Clair Wood
August 12th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Gambling dates back to long before written history. The earliest dice date from around 3000 BC! Despite gambling stretching back for millennia, acts of gambling are still prohibited in various countries today, and many people believe there should be tighter restrictions in countries where gambling is legal. While the vast majority of people who enjoy gambling do so sensibly and only ever bet what they can afford to lose, purely as a form of entertainment, some gamblers become addicted and experience mental and financial problems. Many forms of gambling are legal in Canada. One area of concern for some is online casinos. Let us take a closer look at the good and the bad of online gambling in Canada.
The Legality of Online Gaming
Various forms of online gambling are legal in Canada, but the legislation surrounding online casinos is rather complex. In basic terms, casino operators cannot operate on Canadian soil but domestic players can legally play a wide variety of online gambling games like roulette and blackjack offered by offshore operators such as the excellent Casinoroom.com.
 Some Canadians believe a good option would be to make homegrown online casinos legal in the country so that tighter regulations and rules could be implemented. The Bad
A recent Canadian Atlantic Lottery Corporation report states that gambling has the ability to cause harm. Furthermore, the Responsible Gaming Council has recently stated that there should be a link to outline whether gambling addictions stem from specific paths. The report included an outline to help deploy frameworks and strategies that will assist gamblers in knowing when to stop. Unfortunately, neither report was published in full publicly. But we do know some of the concerns that the reports raise.
One of the biggest concerns is the ease of access that gamblers have to online casinos. Issues about mental health are also raised. Other highlights include the suggestion that young people, particularly males, are at high risk of facing gambling problems and that patterns of addiction could lead people to substance abuse. The reports also call for Canada to follow the United Kingdom’s approach to credit cards. In April 2020, the UK’s Gambling Commission banned the use of all credit cards for any form of gambling, both online and offline. The reason is simple: when people have access to credit, they could gamble more and potentially become addicted and also much more easily fall into debt.
The Good
While all of the above concerns are very valid and need to be carefully considered, there are already rules and programs in place in Canada to help prevent people from becoming addicted to gambling or running into financial problems because of their gambling. Though whether more could be done is still up for debate. Some Canadians believe a good option would be to make homegrown online casinos legal in the country so that tighter regulations and rules could be implemented.
Regardless, the conclusions and recommendations on the above reports state there is no evidence that online gambling poses a big risk that leads to problematic gambling. It does seem that only a few players are at risk in comparison to the huge number of people who simply enjoy playing casino games and betting online. Furthermore, the Finance Minister has pledged that online gambling funds forwarded by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation will be used to support people with mental health and gambling addiction problems. So, some good is undoubtedly happening in Canada due to raising awareness about the risks of gambling.
How to Win It All
Whilst everyone likes winning, it should not be your one and only purpose when gambling online. If it is, it could lead you down the path to obsession and addiction. Most people simply enjoy the many gambling activities that are available online, from sports betting to playing roulette. If you win, it is a bonus.
By Isaac Talmer
August 11th, 2021
BURLINGTON, ON
Online gaming is a major phenomenon today. Its audience base and unparalleled revenue growth challenge other forms of entertainment, such as the film, music, and traditional sports industries. According to Newzoo, its global market was worth $152 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $196 billion in 2022.
 Online gaming’s is going through undeniable and unstoppable growth. Many factors and key figures contribute to online gaming’s undeniable and unstoppable growth. Yet the most notable of them all is mobile gaming, known as the largest gaming platform responsible for $68.5 billion from the $152 billion revenue in 2019. That along with 2.4 billion people playing mobile games, it is certainly the future of the gaming industry.
So, the more important question now is, who leads the present and future of mobile gaming? Let’s have a look at the five biggest players in the world. Read on about their background and developed games, and see whether or not they are available on the best esports betting site.
1. Activision Blizzard | California, U.S.
Founded in July 2008, Activision Blizzard is a Santa Monica-based video game holding company that owns and operates studios like Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and High Moon Studios.
In just a decade, they have produced best-selling and globally renowned video games. Ranging from the first-person shooter (FPS) and massively multiplayer online role-playing (MMORPG) to free-to-play puzzle matches, all of these are available on various platforms, including mobile phones. To give you an idea, below are some of their notable works:
● Call of Duty
● Candy Crush Saga
● Crash Bandicoot
● World of Warcraft
● Hearthstone.
2. Tencent | Shenzhen, China
With a market worth $44,263 million, China is the home to some of the world’s largest video game companies and most number of video gamers. Hence, it’s called the ‘Games Industry Capital of the World’.
After the Chinese national government lifted the ban on video game consoles in 2015, conglomerates like Tencent Holdings dominated the mobile gaming market with titles like Arena of Valor and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) port. The latter’s Chinese mobile versions topped the global mobile gaming chart by revenue in 2020.
3. Google | California, U.S.
Of course, we wouldn’t want this list to miss out on Google. The multinational tech company has covered almost every aspect of the tech industry. They have their own app shop, namely, Google Play, where users may download programmes similar to those found in Apple’s app store.
4. Supercell | Helsinki, Finland
Supercell was one of the world’s leading mobile gaming companies in 2019, where they were valued at an impressive $10 billion. Albeit being a fairly new name in the industry in 2010, their astonishing growth was due to their most notable titles like Clash of Clans and Hay Day.
 Nintendo has been around for a long time – and have been deeply involved in the gaming business. 5. Nintendo | Kyoto, Japan
Nintendo remains a major powerhouse in the gaming sector since their inception in 1889. They continue to venture into the new scene by annexing their classic and best-selling games into mobile gaming applications. Examples include Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Super Mario Run, and Dragalia Lost, among others.
This 2021, however, the news reported that they are bringing Super Smash Bros. and Splatoon into esports at the high school level.
While you may not find them at the best esports betting site, they are certainly a much-awaited project.
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