 By Staff
June 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It is that time of year again – great music on the waterfront – a little mayhem with traffic. That’s what happens when tens of thousands of people arrive in town.
During the Sound of Music Festival, beginning Friday, June 17 at 3:30 p.m. to Sunday, June 19 at 6 p.m., Brant Street will be closed between Caroline Street and Lakeshore Road.
Routes 3 and 5
• Please go to the Bus Terminal on John Street or Brant Street north of Caroline.
Saturday, June 18
On Saturday, June 18, the Sound of Music parade will run from 10:30 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. During these times, there will be no transit service on Brant Street between Fairview Street and Lakeshore Road.
Routes 3 and 5
• Please go north on Brant Street past Fairview Street or south on Brant to the Bus Terminal on John Street.
• There will be no bus service on Drury Lane south of Woodward Avenue or on Caroline Street.
Route 4
• Please go north on Drury Lane above Woodward Avenue or south to New Street.
• Please flag or wave the bus driver along New Street.
Delays are to be expected.
Burlington Transit runs a Festival shuttle service will run a continuous loop approximately every 15 minutes from the north side of the Burlington GO station to the Downtown Transit Terminal (430 John St.) as follows:
Saturday, June 11: Noon to midnight
Thursday, June 16: 6 p.m. to midnight
Friday, June 17: 6 p.m. to midnight
Saturday, June 18: noon to midnight
Sunday, June 19: noon to 8 p.m.
Cost for the shuttle: $3 round-trip
Children 5 and under are FREE
Please note: Drivers do NOT make change.
Extended Transit Service
Friday June 17, 2016:
3 North at 10:30 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11 p.m.
3 South to Burlington GO station at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
10 East at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
Saturday June 18, 2016:
3 North at 10:30 p.m., 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
3 South to Burlington GO station at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
10 East at 11 p.m. and LAST BUS at 11:30 p.m.
 By Staff
June 16, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
We apologize for not getting this news to you earlier – it did not come to our attention until late this afternoon.
Looks like an interesting event – the organizers appear to have slipped a little in getting the word out to the media.
By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
At this point she has the right to be referred to as “The Honourable” – but Mary Eleanor McMahon has yet to get her calling card updated – it will be Eleanor McMahon for some time to come.
She arrived at the tea party she had scheduled for her seniors – well before she was appointed to Cabinet where she will serve as the Minister for Sport, Art and Culture.
 The Honourable Mary Eleanor McMahon -Provincial Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sports.
McMahon’s Mother stood with her as she was sown in – she had tears running down her face said McMahon. “I was worried about tripping over something.”
The oath was taken with her Bible in her hand – A Catholic Bible McMahon reminded people.
“I met with my deputy minister” said McMahon – “she is going to be great. I will get my first full length briefing on Thursday and then it will be me hitting the Briefing binders.”
McMahon has a couple of projects that will impact Burlington directly – “not going to tell you what they are” she said and then inadvertently mentioned a big one – I agreed to respect her “that was supposed to be off the record” request. It isn’t in the bag yet – but McMahon is pulling hard for this one. The history buffs will like it.
As for the tea party – it was a quiet event.
Small crowd but all the right well wishers were there.
 By Pepper Parr
June 15th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
I didn’t see the change – even though I was at the event where it was announced.
What I saw was an attractive corporate logo with a really catchy tag line;
Give brilliantly!
 The occasion was the launch of the tag line and the newly designed logo put together by Play advertising for the Burlington Community Foundation.
This was the organization that publishes a Vital Signs report on the health of the community.
This is the organization that manages a significant number of endowments created for some community based purpose.
This is the organization that hands out close to a million dollars each year to different community non-profit organizations.
This is the organization that hours after the flood of August 2014, went to work and 100 days later had just short of a million in the bank to hand out to peoples whose homes had been devastated.
I could go on – the word community appears in everything they do.
Thus it was surprising when a friend pointed out to me that word “community” had been dropped from the name – it was now to be the Burlington Foundation.
What?
 When asked for a comment and some clarity, president and CEO Collen Mulholland explained that “Burlington is, and always will be, a thriving community. The Foundation is an integral part — the fabric of the community — as Burlington’s sustainable giving foundation.
“We don’t feel it’s necessary to repeat the word community. We wanted to keep are refreshed brand name concise and memorable also using our new rallying cry and tag line, Give Brilliantly.”
“Hope this helps to clarify for you.”
It doesn’t – defining just who you are matters. Burlington Foundation could be a bank, a club a company that builds basements.
The Burlington Community Foundation tells me exactly what they do – and I applaud that heartily. Continue to Give Brilliantly – the community needs all the help it can get.
 By Pepper Parr
June 14th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Langenburg, Saskatchewan has less than 12 streets and is bisected by the Yellowhead highway – if there was ever a face that goes with the story – the one about the farmer’s daughter – this is one of the better ones.
Jess Moskaluke, born June 4, 1990 is a Canadian country pop singer. She released her debut studio album, Light Up the Night in April 2014, which includes the Gold-certified single “Cheap Wine and Cigarettes”
 Take me home – when she begins this piece on the West Stage at the Sound of Music on Saturday night – expect the audience to roar. In June 2011, Moskaluke won the Next Big Thing contest, sponsored by Big Dog 92.7 and SaskMusic. In September 2011, she won the New Artist Showcase Award at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. She was chosen to represent Canada at the Global Artist Party at the 2012 CMA Music Festival.
The people who promote artistic talent love to trot out all the awards and the billings they got – read them if that kind of thing works for you – better to take the fast route and go straight to her music. When she does Take me home – get close to the stage – this song has loads of emotion pouring out of those inviting green brown eyes.
She will be on the West stage of the sound of Music on June the 18th. Get there early with a comfortable chair. This one’s a charmer.
If you want a sample of what this Saskatchewan native is going to do to you – listen in.
Moskaluke’s debut single, “Catch Me If You Can”, was released on June 4, 2012. The song’s music video received regular airplay on CMT. It was followed by an EP, also titled Catch Me If You Can, which was released on September 4, 2012 by MDM Recordings and distributed by EMI Music Canada. Jeff DeDekker of the Leader-Post gave the EP four stars out of five, writing that “by using the full extent of her voice and also incorporating tenderness and fragility, Moskaluke is able to cover the complete spectrum of material.”
 This one’s a keeper – Jesse Moskaluke, came to us from the prairie – Saskatchewan Casadie Pederson of Top Country also gave the EP four stars out of five, calling Moskaluke “one of the best young talents we’ve seen in a long time.”[8] The EP’s second single, “Hit N Run”, reached the top 40 on the Billboard Canada Country chart in 2013. Moskaluke was named Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2013 Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards.[10]
Moskaluke released the first single from her debut studio album, “Good Lovin'”, in October 2013.[11] It became her first single to reach the top 20 on the Billboard Canada Country chart. The album, Light Up the Night, was released on April 15, 2014. “Cheap Wine and Cigarettes” and “Used” were both released as singles from the album in 2014.
 By Staff
June 14th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It’s not just in Spencer smith Park. It’s in the clubs as well.
Set out below are the locations for the Sound of Music Club Series today and tomorrow.
 The Queens Head – one o the six Sound of Music Club series locations.  The Dickens – will feature a couple of the Club Series performers Today and Wednesday.
 By Staff
June 14th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Karmel Sakran, a Burlington based lawyer who has served on the hospital board, runs a Wills Clinic each year and was the Liberal candidate for Burlington a number of elections ago, got a letter from a friend recently.
 Karmel Sakran doing the Terry Fox Cure for Cancer run The letter captivated Karmel. He explained: “… my friend describes her role as a Spiritual Care giver and how she recently had the experience of saving a man’s life on the Go Train. I will let the letter speak for itself. Enjoy!
You would think that someone from Spiritual Care would not have trouble answering the questions, “How do you work spiritually at work?” when the Wellness Coordinator asks, however, I was stumped until the Friday night GO train ride home.
 For those of you that regularly ride the GO Kartrain, you know that it is a bit of a strange environment. You can ride with the same people for many years and never actually meet them. At the end of the day, the cultural norm on the top deck of the train is quiet and silence but the alarm went for “Code 1033,” the code for a medical emergency and this time the emergency was in my car. I went down to investigate and a man had collapsed on the floor, not breathing, rapidly turning blue. Someone had started CPR and I took over compression as she tired. Others arrived as well. I heard the GO train personnel inquire who everyone was and it turns out we had someone from palliative care, someone who delivers babies, a dermatologist and me, a spiritual care provider.
I thought of all those family meetings where it was unknown what time the patient collapsed and how long he had been down for, so I looked at my watch. The time was 4:23. A minute into compressions and I was tiring already. How did I not know how tiring CPR was? I had watched the ICU team do CPR for hours, switching off every few minutes, never realizing how hard the work was and being reminded in the moment how important teamwork is. We began to switch off between trying to find a pulse and doing chest compressions.He was turning that awful colour between life and death.
Someone found a defibrillator and the baby doctor prepared to deliver a shock as she ripped open his shirt at 4:26. We heard her say “clear” and then he jumped underneath us. I heard the palliative doctor ask someone to find his name in his wallet and she began to talk to the patient. Talking to a dying patient is usually my job, but today, I heard someone else giving the spiritual care while we continued chest compressions stopping periodically so the palliative doctor could see if his heart was beating.
Suddenly he began to breathe. A cheer went up and we turned him on his side but the victory was only short lived. He stopped breathing again and we rolled him back to continue CPR. At 4:29 we gave him a second shock. In that second moment when we called “clear,” I looked up and I saw the faces of the people that I normally speak to- scared, overwhelmed by what they were seeing, panicked but I couldn’t provide the spiritual care it was someone else’s job to offer comfort and support. I placed my hands on his chest taking my turn at compressions from the dermatologist and this time I felt his heart punch back at my hands and beat to life again, like when I was pregnant and I felt the baby kick from within. It was like his soul was letting me know he was still there.
The doctors confirmed he had pulses, stronger pulses this time. Rolling him onto his side again it was 4:34. His colour returned, his eyes fluttered open. Oxygen arrived from somewhere and paramedics arrived on scene just as he was waking up. There was a sense of exhilaration that together we had saved this man’s life- the woman who went running through the train looking for doctors and found the strange collection of people to help, the person who donated her scissors to cut open his shirt, those of us that pounded on his chest and shouted in his ear to keep breathing, those that held elevators and doorways, went running for the defibrillator or just silently prayed- together- a crazy team that journeyed together differently today.
As I reflected on the events, I realized that in many ways the hospital is a strange collection of strangers, a collection of people journeying together, never knowing what the day will bring.
 I realized that being in rounds and family meetings had made me the accidental student as I heard over and over again what made the different at the beginning of a cardiac arrest to the final outcome. We must all be accidental students in our journey together, always learning from one another. Today, I reflected on all the people that I watch day in and day out use their hands to work to save a patient. How differently it felt to put my hands on a patient for medical treatment than to hold a hand to comfort. How lost for words I am to describe the feeling of seeing another human being shocked and pounded back to life and to have been a small part of that.
Today as we journey together, I’m reminded once again of the precious commodity of time that is given to each one of us to make each moment count. After he was taken away by EMS, a woman, in tears, explained, that the man collapsed after seeing her struggling up the stairs with her suitcase feeling panicked at being caught in rush hour. Seeing her struggle, he carried her suitcase up to the platform. She worried that the act of kindness may have cost him his life- perhaps it saved him because it put him in just the right place. I am more deeply aware that we are strange strangers on a journey but we don’t have to be estranged from one another, especially in crisis.
So today as I think about what the day will bring. I hope that I can live in deeper spiritual appreciation and with deeper reverence and awe for all those who place their hands onto their fellow sojourners in care. I hope that I can live with heightened awareness and hope for the strangers and companions that are all around. I hope that I can see with more compassion the struggles that each person carries in their work. In the end, to work spiritually is to remember that we journey together.
Pretty good way to start a week!
 By Pepper Parr
June 11th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
If you like to paint (… and who doesn’t?) said the notice from the Friends of Freeman Station then please join us for our next Saturday Volunteer Work Days —
SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2016, from 8am to mid-day
And again the following weekend:
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016 – from 8 am to mid-day
You will be joining a bunch of guys who just like to get out of the house and do something – get their hands on some tools and make something or repair something.
 The Station Master’s office – knots in the pine are sealed – and the walls are ready for their first coat of paint. Twenty five years from now you will take your grandchildren on a tour and show them the job that you did. You may not have been inside the Freeman Station. It is going to be a large part of the pride of the city when it is complete – and here is an opportunity for you to be part of that pride.
 The Waiting Room – it is ready for its first coat of paint.
By Pepper Parr
June 10th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
One of the pleasures of walking along Lakeshore Road is experiencing the breeze coming in off the lake, seeing the horizon stretch to the edge of the earth and from time to time see a ship heading for the canal and into Hamilton harbour or leaving the bay and heading for destinations unknown.
 A stroll along Lakeshore Road offers a view of the pier and the lake and the ships that steam in and out of Hamilton harbour. But what is that bit of screening on the right hand side? During the year there are various events that take place –Canada Day; the Rib Fest, Children’s Festival and the annual Sound of Music.
For those moving about the city and walking along Lakeshore road the music can be heard and one can, normally, look at the crowds and plan to drop in on what is for the most part a fee free event.
But things are changing with the Sound of Music – and there are now ticketed event. Sponsorships doesn’t appear to cover all the costs.
That’s business – the volunteers that make the Sound of Music happen each year have to manage the event as best they can.
 Long stretches of screening block the view of Spencer Smith Park and the lake. What are people doing behind that screening – and why is it place ? The park and the lake are public – totally public. But putting screen up so that people can’t see the lake because there is a ticketed event taking place? Where do they get permission to do that?
The view of the lake is public – who lets a screen go up.
There are fences to prevent entrance into ticketed events – that’s acceptable but a screen to block the view?
 By Pepper Parr
June 10th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
What is it about a city that can have hundreds of people out planting trees but can’t manage to pass a bylaw that would prevent people from cutting down a tree on their property just because they didn’t like the tree anymore?
This weekend there will be a crew out on Colonial Court doing some tree planting
 More than 100 people turned out in the Beachway to plant trees. Last weekend there were was a small crowd planting trees in the Norton Park in Alton.
The week before that there were close to 100 people doing a GreenUp in the Beachway where thousands of seedlings are being planted as part of a multi-year program that will give some stability to the sandy soil that much of the park is made up of.
The Appleby Line tree planting activity runs from 10 – 2 on the 11th – gather at 103 Colonial Court – Burlington.
Mayor Goldring’s private tree bylaw initiative seems to have ground to a halt – there was some traction in the Roseland community a few years ago but it didn’t get much beyond a community committee level. In a Roseland Community Organization report Don Baxter said:
At the Community Services Committee of Council, in 2012 – yes 2012, a positive recommendation was approved to accelerate a study regarding the potential of a Tree Protection By-law on private property within Burlington.
Roseland Community Organization supported this recommendation, and made a presentation to Committee to that end. This action by RCO was brought about by a growing concern about the alarming rate at which mature trees are being brought down in our community. In a recent memo, one resident quipped, “We will soon need a by-law to ban loud sneezing or else another tree will come down in Roseland.”
At the Committee, there were a number of key issues that need to be carefully considered in the staff research, including:
Effectiveness – will the by-law stop unnecessary removal of trees? What has been effectiveness of such by-laws in other jurisdictions? Some of the presentations and concerns raised at Committee dwelled on this question – should we take away property rights for something that may not do the job? While no regulation can be totally effective for this kind of situation, can we at least introduce a “second sober thought” into the process before a century old tree is taken down?
Different Needs – will the by-law deal with the different situations that arise around trees, including:
– Where a developer clears a site of trees before proceeding to apply for development approvals, and thereby, avoiding tree protection through the site plan process?
– Where the home owner a large lot takes the trees down prior to making a land division application to ensure the preservation of trees does not become either a neighbourhood or a site plan issue
– Where the home-owner who, for no reason other than their personal preferences, decides to remove a significant tree
 These apple trees were cut down because the apartment building to the south and the church to the north didn’t like the way geese were attracted to the apples and were pooping on the roadway. Promises were made to plant different trees – nothing yet. Obviously there is no intent to stop all tree removal particularly where safety is an issue, but there should be a process where these issues are raised prior to the tree coming down – too often our wake up call is the early morning sound of chain saws, and by then, it is too late to do anything.
Liability – There were concerns that a Tree By-law may increase the liability of the City. Of course trees are a liability in that sense. The absolute safest route would be to take all trees down, but that is why we have risk management. The municipalities who already have tree by-laws have same insurance companies as Burlington, and they will advise the City on how to address this issue. The City already deals with risk management for trees on public property, so this new by-law could be an extension of that approach.
Budget – Implementation of a Tree By-law will generate costs but does this mean taxes will need to be increased? Perhaps, but the more managerial approach would be to decide if this is a needed service? what priority level does it have in relation to other services? and then, set a tax rate needed to generate the revenues required to deliver necessary services. Burlington is not on the edge of a fiscal cliff, and it has exercised sound fiscal management in the past.
Sustainability – While the focus of the Committee discussion was on the Tree By-law for private property, there were a staff review proposed on a broader range of tree issues. Much of the tree loss in Roseland is on public property for trees that are becoming hazards. The issues are ones of both maintenance and replacement procedures, and possible role for more community involvement.
The city was “studying the “feasibility” of a private tree bylaw. That was in 2012 – The study was one of the 40 recommendations included in the city’s revised Urban Forest Management Plan, approved by city council in 2012.
The plan recognized the many benefits trees provide to the community and their importance to current and future generations, according to a press release issued by the city.
 Residents in Alton turn out to plant 400 trees in Norton Park. “Burlington’s urban forest grows predominantly on private property” said Cathy Robertson, director of roads and parks maintenance in the release. “We realize that the residents and other stakeholders who own or manage land in the city have the greatest ability to influence our urban forest. However, we also realize that there is a broad range of opinions on this subject.”
The feasibility study will include a variety of engagement opportunities for affected stakeholders to actively participate in developing options and alternatives that provide a balance between the ability to use and enjoy private property, and the desire to protect trees.
The city did conduct a citywide telephone survey, along with a number of online surveys and a community workshop.
The idea has gotten nowhere and isn’t going to go anywhere until there is a change in the makeup of the current city council – the will to pass such a bylaw just isn’t there.
 Will streets in the Roseland community begin to look like this – with trees trimmed back to stumps for “public safety”? Meanwhile several thousand people spend their time planting new trees – the residents of Roseland must look at some of those towering trees in their community that have been around for close to 80 years and wonder if they are in any better shape than the two willows that were cut down in Spencer Smith Park earlier this week.
Much of the value of homes in Roseland is directly related to the canopy of trees. The picture set out below is of Belvenia – image that street without those trees? How much would their loss reduce property values.
 The value of the houses on this street is determined to a large degree by the tree canopy. So where do things stand now? There is a 184 page staff report gathering dust where these report go to die. The Executive summary read thusly:
This report has been prepared to provide a summary of the Private Tree Bylaw Feasibility Study. Based on council discussions at Development and Infrastructure Committee on May 27, 2013, recommendations have not been included. However, the report provides options for council’s consideration and advises which ones are supported by staff. Unless council approves one or more options at this meeting or provides direction for staff to take no further actions related to these options, it is staff’s intent to bring a supplemental report with recommendations for consideration at the next meeting of Development and Infrastructure Committee in September 2013.
By Pepper Parr
June 10th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Fine Arts Association (BFAA) in collaboration with the Art Gallery of Burlington, is presenting three exhibitions to celebrate its 50th anniversary
The public opening reception for all three exhibitions will be Wednesday June 15, 5pm-7pm.
There are three different and separate exhibits; one of which opened on June 1.
Burlington Urban & Rural
June 16 – September 5, 2016 Lee-Chin Family Gallery
A multidisciplinary exhibition, Burlington Urban & Rural explores Burlington’s surrounding landscape and history from a rural and urban perspective; be it social, architectural, cultural or environmental.
The Gazette has been given an exclusive peek at one of the pieces in this exhibit; a series of painting with a bar separating each that has hand lettering explaining the relationship of the paintings. It is titled: Progress. There perhaps should have been a question mark after the title.
This is a distinctly different Bateman. In the past the public has seen finely detailed painting of animals or serene natural setting. The “Red Fox” sold at the recent AGB Auction is an example of his natural settings work.
Progress is a statement, a derisive statement, a damning statement, in which Bateman shows us what we have done to ourselves through the use of three paintings with hand lettering relating one to the others. Ouch!
Is there more of the Robert Bateman work in the exhibition that opens June 16th? We hope so – having someone with the authority and social clout Bateman has just might move the saving our heritage dial in a different direction.
 Robert Bateman’s “Progress” Power of Passion
June 16 – August 14, 2016 RBC Community Gallery
This exhibition features the work of BFAA artists, past and present, who achieved solo gallery shows at the Art Gallery of Burlington.
Presidents’ Wall
June 1 – July 25, 2016 Fireside Lounge
Featuring the works of past Presidents of the Burlington Fine Arts Association.
 By Staff
June 10th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
They are still in the basement and they are still in the game.
The Burlington Bandits will be playing twice this weekend:
Upcoming games
Friday
Burlington at London, 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, June 11
Toronto at Burlington, 1 p.m.
By Staff
June 10th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
Up up and away in a beautiful balloon.
 This Saturday, June 11th from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at Mohawk Park on Kenwood Ave, Mayor Rick Goldring and Councillor Paul Sharman will rise from the ground in a tethered hot air balloon – part of the MorganMerry Experience Annual Yard Sale in support of SickKids Foundation through Children’s Miracle Network.
You can ride in the RE/MAX hot air balloon (weather permitting). The balloon will be tethered to allow passengers a secured ride, up and down. Each ride is $2 per person, with proceeds going to SickKids Foundation.
What if someone cuts the rope? Will the Mayor and the Council member just fly off into the wild blue yonder?
By Staff
June 9, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The city wants citizen input on designing an age-friendly future for Burlington. They are hosting three discussion forums for the community to share its thoughts, ideas and suggestions.
Feedback provided at each session will be used to help develop the city’s Active Aging Plan, which aims to help keep older adults active, healthy and engaged in their community.
 The Mayor discuses an issue with a senior citizen at a ward 4 meeting. “If you are a resident 55+ or the care partner, friend, neighbour or family member of someone 55+, who cares about building an age-friendly future for Burlington, the city encourages you to attend one of these forums,” said Rob Axiak, the city’s manager of Recreation Services.
“The discussion forums are your opportunity to tell us what you think would help to make Burlington a city that reflects the needs of its older adults. Your input is instrumental in helping the city to design the Active Aging Plan.”
 Mayor Rick Goldring has his membership application processed at the Seniors’ Centre. At each forum, a brief presentation about the Active Aging Plan will begin the session, followed by small discussion groups focused on five key areas:
• Recreation and leisure
• Information and communication
• Accessibility, diversity and inclusion
• Volunteering and employment
• Transit and transportation
A speaker’s corner will also be set up at each forum to help capture ideas on video.
The Active Aging community forums will take place on the following dates:
Tuesday, June 21 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Tansley Woods at Schlegel Village – in the Town Hall room
4100 Upper Middle Rd.
Wednesday, June 22 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Geraldo’s at LaSalle Park Pavilion
50 Northshore Blvd. E.
Thursday, June 23 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Burlington Seniors Centre
2285 New St.
Refreshments will be served.
Residents who require assistance with transportation to one of the forums can contact 905-335-7888, ext. 6343.
There is more information about Burlington’s Active Aging Plan on the city web site: CLICK HERE
By Pepper Parr
June 7th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather could not have been better.
The lake was resplendent.
And there were three or four dozen of the elected and the movers and shakers in the city gathered at the Discovery pond
We had all been invited because were “friends” of the Burlington Community Foundation – the organization that stepped up and did the heavy lifting when we were hit with that disastrous flood in 2014.
Colleen Mulholland, President and CEO of the foundation, took to the podium said we must have an idea about why we’re here. “But first”, she said “I’d like to ask you to turn to your right. The person next to you might trust us to manage their family’s endowment that funds much- needed health services.”
“ Now turn to your left, there might be a non-profit leader who helps ensure that at-risk Burlington youth get the counselling services they so desperately need.”
We were being taught the importance of helping each other. “You are all brand ambassadors because you trust us to make change happen.”
Mulholland went on to explain that “17 years ago, a small group of people took action. They saw a need for something greater than themselves. Rallying together, they created our city’s first-ever home for sustainable giving and gave us our name – Burlington Community Foundation.
Almost two decades later, said Mulholland, we’re now most commonly referred to as BCF. Each and every day, we still follow a path our founders would recognize, making vital connections between charitable giving and thousands of local community members.
Our sole purpose has been consistent from the start. We help Burlingtonians give with confidence. Whether it’s your first or 100th gift, we take the guesswork out of giving.
We were all brought together to see the new Burlington Community Foundation brand and to hear from the people who give and the people who receive
Our vision explained Mulholland, inspires us to inspire others. We thought about what the act of giving itself – why do people give? How does giving make people feel? What can we do to make giving easier?
At some point in life, leaving one’s mark becomes important for many people.
The new logo has three waves represents the positive ripple effect that starts at the exact moment when someone decides to make ANY gift of ANY size. And as the center for giving in Burlington, we help strengthen the ripple effect of your giving.
Along with the logo is a new tag line: Give brilliantly!
Two simple words that speak to why we’re here and what we do. Every day, we help people give brilliantly – to make the most of their giving by building legacies, addressing vital community needs and supporting areas of personal interest.
At that point a large round version of the logo was floated on the Discovery pond.
In closing, we understand the difference we make is greater when people work together…and that’s why we are calling upon each and every one of you to help Burlington Foundation make some bigger waves starting today.
Tim Hogarth can tell you quite a bit about giving. It was his dad, the late Murray Hogarth who formed the Burlington Community Foundation. He was active in the Hamilton Community Foundation and flt that Burlington was ready for its own. He wrote the first cheque and has been writing cheques every since.
He passed that habit along to his sons. Tim expressed the habit when he said giving is part of my family’s DNA. Before Burlington had a community foundation, my father Murray saw the opportunity for one organization to take the guesswork out of local giving.
 Like many donors, he had a deep need to give and saw that a new community foundation could be the start of something big for Burlington. From day one, the Foundation provided our family with tangible and meaningful ways to leave our mark right here, in the city we are so proud to call home.
Two years ago at BCF’s annual gala, I had the pleasure of seeing my parents, Diana and Murray Hogarth, be honoured as the 2013 Philanthropists of the Year. My parents were honoured to be recognized for their outstanding community leadership, volunteerism and consistent financial gifts within Burlington.
For decades, my family has made giving a priority. It’s something that I grew up with…as well as something that every Hogarth family member proudly instills in every generation.
Burlington Community Foundation understands how important it is for every gift to make a real difference. We trust BCF to collaborate with community leaders, agencies and other organizations to ensure that our family’s gifts and grants directly impact people’s lives.
We also trust BCF to make gifts of any size that will amount to real change in the lives of Burlingtonians. I’ve seen first-hand how passionate and generous Burlington donors are – and I know that the Foundation is poised to make even more change in our great community.
The organization got to see the new branding – we also got to see how the Community Foundation works and the people who sit at the board room table and work to have the endowments grown and the funds put where they are most needed.
It was another milestone in the life of the community. Not something you see all that often.
By Staff
June 7th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The sound of music will be in the air for much of the summer.
People will be able to enjoy concerts at the band shell beside the library from June 19 to August 14; performances start at 7:30 pm on Wednesday and Sunday.
Residents are invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a variety of music for all ages. The first concert of the summer will feature the Burlington Teen Tour Band and Junior Redcoats. A complete list of scheduled performances is available at www.burlington.ca/concerts
The season of summer music will begin with a joint performance by the Rich Harmony Choir and the United in Song Gospel Choir who will perform at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre Choir at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 19.
The free community concert is in support of the Partnership West Food Bank. Attendees are kindly asked to bring a non-perishable food item. Space is limited and seating will be arranged on a first come first served basis.
The June lineup looks like this:
 Sunday, June 19 – Burlington Teen Tour Band & Burlington Junior Redcoats
Over 150 musicians on stage as the Burlington Junior Redcoats join the Burlington Teen Tour Band to open the 2016 Summer Concert Series.
Wednesday, June 22 – Swingline
A little big band of local based musicians playing the big band standards and more.
Sunday, June 26 – Sinatra Celebrations
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birthday of the Chairman of the Board. A special Sinatra show by Jim Heaslip and the 12/4 Swing Orchestra.
Wednesday, June 29 – Burlington Top Hat Marching Orchestra
By Pepper Parr
June 7th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a decision that the public didn’t have much of an opportunity to say anything about.
The huge willow trees just a couple of yards to the west of the bottom of Brant Street in Spencer Smith Park were deemed to be unsafe.
 It was a small meeting – the weather kept most people away. The size didn’t detract from the significance. The massive willow tree in the foreground will come down and at some point in the future the gazebo will get rebuilt to make it fully accessible. The force driving that decision was the Sound of Music – they are apparently going to be holding events in that part of the park and the idea of a branch falling into a small crowd is something that sent shudders through the legal department.
The city has too many law suits on their hands as it is – so the branches of the tree had to come down. How many of them? All of them with the trunk of the tree left for someone to perhaps carve something out of at some future date.
 An aboriginal drummer took part in the celebration of the Spencer smith willow trees that were scheduled to be cut down today. There is an opportunity to do something interesting – look at the size of that tree trunk
Seventy cuttings are going to be taken and replanted immediately in some secret location and at some later date they will be replanted elsewhere in the city. So the planting of the willow trees some seventy years ago by a Burlington merchant named Spencer smith who had a shop on Brant street will live on.
Burlington is adding to its history.
Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward invited people to gather at the base of the tree and hold a small celebration. Weather was a factor and as Meed Ward and her husband Pete and their dog walked to the park they glanced at the heavy grey rolling clouds Meed Ward decided they would continue with the event.
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward gives the Spencer Smith willow a hug – later today the chain saws will dig into the bark and bring down all the branches leaving just the trunk that is expected to be available to someone to carve. Instead of gathering at the base of the tree everyone gathered in the gazebo – it was tight and it didn’t last all that long.
There was an aboriginal drummer to bring some dignity to the event.
The evening ended with Meed Ward giving the willow tree a last hug.
 By Pepper Parr
June 6, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a pretty large community endeavour – plating hundreds of trees in a reasonably recent development.
 Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster announced the community event and the weather worked for her; a load of people turned out to plans hundreds of trees – and it all happened without the member of council even making an appearance.
It as hard work – but by the end of the day there was an outstanding little forest in the making in place. The kids doing he job will look back on those trees for years to come and take great satisfaction knowing they put them there. Her husband appeared to have been on hand digging holes to plant a tree – or at least the man in the picture looked like Lancaster’s husband.
As for the Councillor – she was at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual conference that took place in Winnipeg. Lancaster, Mayor Goldring, Councillors Sharman and Meed Ward represented Burlington at the three day event. Lancaster will surely tour the planting later this week and marvel at all the really good work that was done.
 The trick now is to ensure that these trees are watered regularly during the first year and properly supported while they find their own legs. Might she wonder as she walks amongst the planted trees – that maybe they don’t need her on hand at all. The citizens can do it all by themselves – frightening thought for any politician.
Credit does go to the Council member and her staff for getting it off the ground and making all the parts come together.
By Pepper Parr
June 6th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It has been a busy couple of weeks for Robert Steven and his crew at the Art Gallery of Burlington.
They sponsored an event that took place at the Performing Arts Centre; held their AGM and then pulled off a reasonably successful art sale.
 Patrons reviewing the art that was up for sale. The prices were great for the buyers. The annual Art Sale is a critical part of the fund raising the gallery must do to remain viable and offer the full range of some impressive programming.
Art Sale chair Cheryl Miles Goldring mixed thing us up a little and had all the art in the one room and the bidding done in a separate room. There was a pleasant light jazz combo playing for much of the evening. The schmoozing, and the networking were going full tilt.
 John Duffy, designer of the Art Gallery of Burlington logo, and his wife chat up a friend The art gallery crowd brings a different level of sophistication to their events – the mix in a different way than the theatre crowd.
The Art sale had some surprises – they had an auctioneer, Rob Cowley, who had sold a Lauren Harris (Group of Seven) painting for just under a million dollars a few days before but he wasn’t able to pull very many impressive numbers from the Burlington crowd Friday evening.
 A possible buyer taking a close look at a piece of art. There were some very disappointing prices drawn from the audience that basically filled the bidding room. A number of pieces were withdrawn when they didn’t reach the reserve.
 “It’s Been a Long Day” by Helen Griffiths went for a disappointing $900. A Helen Griffiths went for a disappointing $900 and an E. Robert Ross was pulled when it didn’t come anywhere near the reserve.
The Bateman did ok – but the price wasn’t outstanding.
There appeared to be someone in the room who either has a lot of bare walls or was there as a dealer picking up some art work at very good prices.
One wondered if the event was an opportunity to get some very good art at close to bargain prices for those in the Burlington community or if it was an annual event where people paid close to top prices to raise funds for the work the gallery does.
It looked like the former last Friday at the AGB. One wonders what might have happened if some smart tour operator brought in a busload of people from say the Annex in Toronto or the Beach community or perhaps North Toronto – served them a private dinner at Spencers and then walked them across Lakeshore road to the AGB and an opportunity where some very very good art was available at hard to believe prices.
Auctioneer Rob Cowley, started every offering by mentioning a suggested price and then immediately dropped it a good 25% and then struggled at times to get to get that price. He didn’t succeed all that often. The auctioneer was skilled – it was the audience that had forgotten why it was there.
 “Cows in a row” by Janice Ykema The “Cows in a row” by Janice Ykema was shown at $800 with the bidding starting at $500fetched $600. Cowley sensed that the room wasn’t going to go much higher and quickly moved on to the next piece.
There were a few points at which the bidding got vigorous. A piece that started at $800 got worked up to $1100 – with the comment from the auctioneer “killing you isn’t he” bringing a chuckle from the audience – the eventual buyer wanted the piece badly enough.
The Anna Kutishchev “Warm evening” had a suggested price of $2200 with bidding started at $1200 – no takers so the auctioneer dropped it to $1000 and then managed to get the selling price up to $1400 – along the way he did have to remind one bidder that he “couldn’t read your mind”.
 Fibre Art done by the Burlington Fibre Arts Guild. The Rebeca out on the pier. A large piece of fibre art by that Guild placed the Rebecca sculpture outside the art gallery on the pier. It had a suggested price of $2500 – bidding started at $1000 – then skipped along rather briskly through $1200 – then $1400 – then $1500 – to $1600 – then to $1700 – $1750 – $1800 – $2000 – you could feel the tension – dare I ask for $2100 asked the auctioneer – and he got it – and it was sold – the audience burst into applause. It was the only sale that drew any applause.
That pier is solidly embedded in this city’s DNA.
The E. Robert Ross landscape didn’t get anywhere near the reserve and was withdrawn.
 Brian Darcy “Summer reflections” The Brian Darcy “Summer reflections” didn’t get any traction either and was withdrawn
The most brisk bidding was for a modern acrylic piece “Sentinel Falls” done by Joel Masewich was suggested at $6000 – bidding was started at $2000 – the auctioneer had no idea what this audience was going to pay for a piece of modern art. He soon caught the sense of the room and managed to get it up to $3200.
The Bateman piece – always the object of a lot of attention. Robert Bateman has been donating a piece of his art to the gallery for the past 38 years.
 Bateman’s Red Fox As I watched the bidding I had this feeling that the community was going to embarrass itself and let the work go for a pittance. It was suggested at $10,000 – bidding started at $500 and was sold for $7000. Barely acceptable.
The total take for the gallery wasn’t available – I wasn’t able to keep a running total.
By Pepper Parr
June 4, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Ciarán Downes, one of the six men that play under the band name Oh Geronimo, said that for an unrepresented band he felt they had done well in being named one of the top 25 bands in the region by CBC’s Searchlight for talent.
The group is made up of – Ciarán Downes- Vocals, Guitar Kyle Robertson- Vocals, Guitar, Banjo Andrew Donofrio- Guitar Drew Mattiacci- Drums Cole Mortillaro- Bass Stuart Mitchell- Vocals, Guitar, Keys, Percussion
 Ciarán Downes, Kyle Robertson, Andrew Donofrio, Drew Mattiacci, Cole Mortillaro and Stuart Mitchell. Burlington got bundled in with Hamilton (they always do that to us) in the creation of 23 regions – with one winner coming out of each region and two other bands chosen by popular vote.
As part of a process that stretched the search out for a longer period of time there was a top 25 in each region then a top ten and then a top five
 Ciarán Downes  Oh Geronimo didn’t make it beyond the top 25 level in their region but that didn’t seem to matter to the crowd at The Dickens last night.
This year’s CBC Searchlight competition was described as “incredible, with so much amazing talent across the country.” It was a tough decision for the industry panelists.
Oh Geronimo won with their “Arctic Shores”. Here is what the panelists had to say: “Oh Geronimo’s ‘Arctic Shores’ had me simply for the first bars of harmonies, then I started paying attention to the lyrics and then this solid, banging guitar riff hits. And then boom, the song was over! Didn’t feel like an almost 4 minute song, which blew me away. I’d see them live anytime.”
 The crowd at Dickens Friday night loved Oh Geronimo – pretty good band to move the beer a lot of beer.
There were more than 2,000 acts submitted with songs, ranging from hip-hop to rock to country to folk-indie, showcasing diverse talents from coast to coast to coast.
This year’s Searchlight competition had a big twist: the top four finalists vied for the grand prize on a prime-time televised broadcast on CBC-TV, competing in front of a live audience and our celebrity judging panel.
Musicians also had the chance to have their entries heard by a Searchlight industry panel, which included music programmers, journalists, label representatives, managers, radio/TV hosts, publicists and more.
But, in the end, one act was named Canada’s Searchlight winner. Desirée Dawson, from Surrey, B.C., was crowned Searchlight champion. She appeared at the CBC Music Festival in Toronto on Saturday, May 28, and will receive $25,000 from Yamaha Canada Music and a Career Booster Package from Canadian Musician magazine worth over $25,000.
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