By Pepper Parr
October 13, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
There is something about former Toronto mayors and the city of Burlington – we keep inviting them out to talk to us.
A couple of years ago Toronto’s Tiny Perfect Mayor, David Crombie visited the city to talk to the then Waterfront Advisory Committee. Mayor Goldring, then in his first term, did not make a practice of attending those meetings but with Crombie speaking the Mayor chose to sit beside him at the table.
The last Toronto Mayor who came to Burlington was well received but not really listened to – what will we do with David Miller when he speaks?
Crombie got the Waterfront Advisory Committee all excited with what was possible – but before any of the ideas got off the ground the city sunset the committee – they did manage to get two things done – a solid look at the way Windows on the Lake were created and they did get something into the Pump House in the Beachway.
You wouldn’t know it – but this is public property and anyone can walk out to the end and look over the lake. City will now put signage indicating that the land is public. Great views.
The disappointing part about the Windows on the Lake was the loss of a significant piece of land between the two Windows the city is going to gain. A piece of the city’s heritage was lost forever.
Former Mayor of Toronto David Miller is going to be in town November 3rd to speak at free community event called Take Action Burlington. The event is a joint initiative between Mayor Goldring’s Inspire Burlington Series and the City of Burlington and will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
The focus is reported to be on what individuals, businesses and community leaders can do to continue to work towards fostering a healthy, green community. Miller who is now the CEO and president of World Wildlife Fund Canada, will be the keynote speaker.
Mayor Goldring will give a presentation on environmentally sustainable projects and initiatives in the City of Burlington.
Interactive exhibits from green-minded community groups will be on display before and after the presentations.
One of the stronger traits behind what Mayor Goldring does is his consistent commitment to the environment – he did slip up when he let the turbine get taken out of the pier design, but he has been an admirable advocate for the environment. While he was not in Burlington when the micro WORDS was unveiled at Burlington Hydro recently that initiative was very much in the Goldring view of the world.
Current Green Party candidate Vince Fiorito points out that Goldring was a federal Green candidate who pulled in 3500 votes when he ran – which in Burlington is a number that has yet to be exceeded – Fiorito doesn’t expect to do that well.
A piece of our heritage lost forever.
When David Crombie was in town he pointed out that there was a time when Burlington was the leader in the development of a waterfront trail through the city. Crombie probably lost weight when he learned that Goldring went along with the sale of public land that bordered the lake – even though city staff recommended the property be either kept by the city or leased.
We shall all wait to hear what David Miller has to say to us – and then wait a little longer to see if the Mayor heeds any of his advice.
Are there panda bears in our future?
With Miller being the CEO of the World Wildlife Fund and the Mayor returning from a trip to China – is there perhaps a pair of pandas in Burlington’s future – with maybe a zoo somewhere in the Escarpment? This city could certainly use some good news – any news would be nice.
I think what you are saying here is that Meed Ward totally misrepresented and manipulated the facts here on her social media. I’d like someone familiar with this file to offer up the truth. For sure the private property owners were victimized and publicly defamed….Meed Ward will remain forever silent on that one!
Yes, and you will not get the true story from MMW.
The story is actually quite fascinating and needs to be told with objective accuracy. The people of this city need to know what type of unique waterfront issue this was, how the decisions were made, and how the local politics turned everything inside out at the expense of private property owners who became victims by doing the right thing.
Mr. Rusin,
I find your comments intriguing.
Nowhere in all the Gazette reporting on the Water St issue or on Meed Ward’s social media was this info reported.
Are you implying that this propertyy was actually “created” by the property owners (with the full written authorization of the MNR and the City)? ….and if so, maybe there was another recommendation from City Staff to sell the property that was significantly more compelling than a Park’s Dep’t recommendation?
Just wondering.
PS I’m not holding my breath for MMW to offer the truth here.
Dear Editor,
Your picture with accompanying caption implying that this particular piece of waterfront as being lost forever is incorrect and misleading. The property area that was transferred or sold by the city was no less than 4 feet under water and part of an eroding shoreline at the base of a steep embankment. There was no tableland at this location until after the owners paid for a shoreline protection retaining wall and backfilled to current grade. You really should try to tell this story with a more fulsome set of facts and accuracy; a story that started way back in about the Year 1989.