Ward 2 Councillor closes out her Ward level meetings

By Pepper Parr

June 17th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

The Ward 2 Community updates are usually decently attended events.

Councillor Lisa Kearns would take the people who showed up – it averaged about 50 people, through what had happened and what was going to happen.

She was always very detailed.   Her constituents were never shy about asking touchy questions.

On Tuesday, I thought some people would show up to see if she had anything to say about the election.

The attendance did improve and there were a number of calls from those taking part in what was both a live and a Zoom call presentation.

The turnout was disappointing.  That didn’t stop Kearns from going through her presentation and answering questions.

Kearns made her ward event as both Zoom calls and a live event.  People could attend or ask questions live during the call.

She is the only Council member who does these regular meetings.

At the end of each meeting, she will give out the date for the next meeting.

She didn’t do that Tuesday night because she wasn’t sure if there was going to be another Ward level meeting now that the city is into an October election race that is getting interesting.

Three people are running for the Office of Mayor: Kearns, the current Mayor and Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan – which means two of the seven Council seats will have new members.  Add in the resignation of Shawna Stole in Ward 4 and things do get interesting.

Summer is a slow time for Council.  The rules that apply to Council members running for re-election limit what they can do.  Kearns isn’t certain that she will be able to hold another Ward level meeting before the ballots are cast.

The Gazette had questions for Kearns.

Rainer Noack displaying his King Charles III medal

We wanted her to comment on what was happening to the Student Theatre program. “I can’t comment on that” she said. We followed up with: Rainer Noack  is no longer with the Student Theatre, do you know why?  “I can’t comment on that either.”  Rainer Noack has directed and overseen the youth-focused performing arts program since it began in 1978.

Something is up – the word we have is that it had to do with behavioural issues.

Lisa Kearns saying “Thank you” to her constituents and explaining that the meeting might be her last as a  Ward Councillor.

We asked Kearns if the current tax levy number for the 2027 budget is at the 5.8% increase level?

Kearns said it was somewhere between 5.9 and 7%.

This is a working number; something that will be debated fiercely.  Our interviews with candidates have every one of them saying they are for “fiscal prudence” and “not more than inflation”.

Kearns set the standard for communicating with ward residents.  For this to possibly be the last one she would hold as a Ward Councillor is disappointing.