By Pepper Parr
October 5th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The last of the ward level debates that have been organized by ECoB – Engaged Citizens of Burlington, took place last night at the East Plains United Church.
Locking the doors didin’t help – people just kept coming in through a side door.
The number of people who wanted to get in was so big that the doors to the building were locked; Didn’t matter. Here is what one of the ECoB helpers had to say.
The audience was riveted at times and used the sheet with the short bios to follow who was sating what.
“Well that was one for the books.
“People were banging on the locked doors demanding to be let in !
“Other people came in a different way and then went to the locked doors and opened them for them.
“We gave up.
“Who would have thought that East Plains United Church would have been the “IN”
place to be tonight.”
It was packed. And it was a good debate.
There was one comment that defined the community. “No one who lives in Aldershot ever says they live in Burlington.”
It was a fun debate. The candidates were serious, no one got booed and there was a sense of humour that was in place throughout the evening.
ECoB arranged for the debate to be videoed – The link to that debate is HERE.
The Gazette will report on the debate at length during the evening.
The stage wasn’t wide enough to squeeze in al the candidates. The 11 performed well.
Resident culture needs to change. We should all be saying that we live in Burlington. Yes, Burlington Wards have different needs and it is the responsibility of the ward councillor to bring those to Council, but ultimately every councillor should be voting for what is best for Burlington as a City, and the residents as a whole. Make your vote count…..
Brodie … never had an issue with Mr. Craven, He was always very helpful the few times I spoke to him. If Ms. Worsley is like him … I voted for the right person 🙂
“No one in Aldershot ever says they live in Burlington.” No one in Tyandaga ever says they live in Aldershot. A great divide- are residents of Tyandaga, who may pay high property taxes, represented by councillors with an interest in other than Aldershot?
Was at the debates last as well; unfortunately you may have just voted for 4 more years of Rick Craven. A vote for Worsley is a vote for Craven.
“”There was one comment that defined the community. “No one who lives in Aldershot ever says they live in Burlington.” ” … I live in Maple area and associate myself with Burlington not Aldershot.
I attended the meeting and was amazed at the number of people. It truly is a wonder to see so many people interested and exercising their democratic rights. I left just after 8:30 to beat the rush. I found the questions a little repetitive. Lots of questions were related to public transit, which I personally think is fine today. I took it all the time to the Go Station.
I had already prior to the meeting told one of the candidates that I would support them but after hearing Judy proclaim she will fight to have Maple area made part of Ward 2 again … I’ve changed my mind. I voted online this morning.
If the ECOB people read this thread … thanks for putting on these debates.