Burlington Green film schedule - Why does so much food end up in land fills? May 5th

eventspink 100x100By Staff

May 3rd

BURLINGTON, ON

We all love food, so why are we throwing nearly half of it in the trash?

The Burlington Green people invite you to watch food lovers Jen & Grant take on quite a challenge.

BG bananaThis couple vowed to quit grocery shopping and to survive solely on foods that would otherwise be thrown away fir six months.

The film takes a glimpse into our standards for food production, and where this system is failing, leaving millions of pounds of food in the landfill, and half the world malnourished.

When: May 5, 2016, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ( doors open at 6:30 pm)
Where: Burlington Public Library (Central Branch), 2331 New Street
Admission: $5/person
*Complimentary refreshments courtesy of Goodness Me!

This event is part of the 2016 Eco-Film Festival presented by BurlingtonGreen, the Burlington Public Library and Halton Green Screens.

Future films on the program:

This Changes Everything
June 2, 2016 (join us for our AGM beforehand!)
Directed by Avi Lewis, and inspired by Naomi Klein’s international non-fiction bestseller This Changes Everything, the film presents seven powerful portraits of communities on the front lines, from Montana’s Powder River Basin to the Alberta Tar Sands, from the coast of South India to Beijing and beyond.

Interwoven with these stories of struggle is Klein’s narration, connecting the carbon in the air with the economic system that put it there. Throughout the film, Klein builds to her most controversial and exciting idea: that we can seize the existential crisis of climate change to transform our failed economic system into something radically better.

Flight of the butterflies
September 22, 2016

This film is about the remarkable Monarch butterfly migration, the most incredible migration on Earth, and the determined scientist who spent 40 years trying to discover exactly where the butterflies mysteriously disappeared when they flew south for winter.

The True Cost
November 24, 2016

This eye-opening documentary examines how the developed world’s desire for cheap, stylish clothes has led to the widespread abuse of the Third World sweatshop labourers who make them, the degradation of local environments, the waste produced, and what the fashion industry can do to change the situation.

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Art Gallery volunteers being treated to a PRIVATE performance - Haley to entertain 300 plus their guests.

eventspink 100x100By Staff

May 2nd, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Burlington has thousands of people who volunteer – and it could use an additional thousand tomorrow – there is no reason to be at home doing nothing in this city. Volunteers make the place work.

The Art Gallery of Burlington has 300 + volunteers and they wanted to find a way to thank them in a very special way.

They found a way – they are sponsoring a PRIVATE performance of the Hayley Marie Remple concert at the Performing Arts Centre.

Volunteers only –

The performance – named “An Evening in Paris” is a combination of superb flute playing by Hayley Marie interspersed by short gossipy videos of the men who composed the music she will be playing.

Remple has certainly done her research – she tells all kinds of little known facts about some of the greatest composers the world has ever heard.

While Beethoven is not one of the composers she will be playing – the video on him is a delight– Remple calls them Two minute Talks.

Try this one – it is a hoot.

 

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Summer recreational programs directory now on line - Registration for adults starts May 14

News 100 blueBy Staff

May 2, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

The Summer Live & Play Guide is one line and available in print now.

Registration for the recreation, fitness, sports and culture programs listed in the guide opens on Saturday, May 14 for adults 19+. Registration for all other programs is open now.
“We wait all year long for our great summer weather and now is the time to get out and play,” said Chris Glenn, director of parks and recreation. “The city and its partners have something for everyone with programs and events ranging from swimming lessons and splash pads to camps, concerts in the park, bocce ball and so much more, all offered at multiple locations around Burlington.”

Ward 3 Mountainside Pool update July 30Mountainside Recreation Centre is featured on the cover of the summer guide. Recently renovated, this facility features a 50-meter outdoor pool with a one metre diving board, a double loop waterslide, shade structures, and a splash park, set to open on June 18. The park area of Mountainside features two playgrounds, a skateboard park, a basketball court and nature trails. A virtual tour of Mountainside Recreation Centre and park is available online.

The Summer Live & Play Guide is the City of Burlington’s guide to recreation, sport and culture programs and events offered throughout the city. The online Live & Play Guide allows residents to view available activities and register for programs directly. The online guide is mobile-friendly and allows pages to be easily searched and shared through email and social media. To receive future copies of the online guide by email, subscribe to the Live & Play e-newsletter at www.burlington.ca/enews.

Hard copies of the guide, printed on recyclable paper identified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo, are available at City Hall, 426 Brant St., Burlington Public Library branches or any city recreation centre.

For details on how to register for summer programs and events, see page three in the guide or visit www.burlington.ca/play.

The Nelson pool will not be among the locations available for the summer program.

Nelson pool status.

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Someone is going to win a trip to Paris - after they have heard the Hayley Marie Remple performance.

News 100 blueBy Staff

May 2nd, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

There is an opportunity for you to travel to Paris – basically free.

Yes there is a catch – you have to attend the one night only Hayley Marie Remple performance at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre and buy at least one of the $2 raffle tickets.

Eiffel tower

The Eiffel Tower

Should your ticket be drawn – and you must be in the theatre when it is drawn at the end of the performance – you will have won a trip to Paris put together by DH Tours.

On bench - white dress - flute

Hayley Marie Remple will be at the Performing Arts Centre May 12th

The idea came out of one of those late in the day conversations – Mary Mazur, Executive Assistant to the AGB CEO Robert Steven were going over details of the Evening in Paris event that is scheduled for mid May when Robert asked: “Wouldn’t it be great if we could raffle off a trip to Paris the night of the concert.”

DH tour with TICOThey approached DH Tour who said they would be happy to support the AGB with a trip. And what a trip it is going to be.

Return flights from Toronto to Paris
Return transfers from Charles de Gaulle airport to/from hotel
6 nights, central, 3 star hotel in Paris with daily continental breakfasts
Hop-on/Hop-off city sightseeing tour, 48 hour pass
3 day Metro Pass
2 day Musee Pass
All hotel taxes and service charges
All Air taxes
Paris maps and information package.

The concert is part of a month long five province tour Hayley Marie is doing. She has performed in southern California, Germany and France

Hayley Marie Remple scheduled at Performing Arts Centre.

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Prints of the Michelle Van Maurik white peonies painting will be available for Mother's Day at the Seaton Gallery.

eventspink 100x100By Staff

May 2, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

There are a number of events planned by various organizations for Mother’s Day.

Teresa Seaton is currently hosting an exhibit of Michelle Van Maurik’s  work at the Gallery until the end of May.

While the original of her “White Peonies” is not part of the exhibit there are now copies of a limited edition print available at Teresa Seaton Studio and Gallery on May 7th.
White Peonies was exhibited by invitation at the SNBA Canadian Delegation, Louvre, Paris.

Maurik white peonies LouvreSizes will include:

Giclee Canvas Print
Size: 24″ X 30″ (same size as the original painting) Limited edition size 100
Size: 16″ X 20″ Limited edition of 200

Giclee Museum grade watercolour paper
Size: 16″ X 20″ Limited edition size: 200
Size: 11″ X 14″ Limited edition size: 200

Michele will be at the Gallery on Saturday May7th from 2 pm – 4pm for signing.

Related links:

Setting up an exhibit.

Teresa Seaton Studio & Gallery
654 Spring Gardens Rd. Burlington ON L7T 1J1
Thurs – Sun, 11am-5pm
Mon – Wed, by chance or appointment
Cell (905) 510 5030

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The sweet subtle sound of a flute and some of the best gossip you are ever going to hear about giants in the world of classical music.

eventspink 100x100By Pepper Parr

April 29th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

A young musician who got hooked on history from her music teacher in high school is going to take to the stage of the Performing Arts Centre May 12th and put on a performance that is a combination of her playing her flute and film clips about the composers who wrote the music she plays.

The film clips are not going to be dry or dusty history explains Hayley Marie. The music during the period of time she is focused on – 1870 – 1910 was boisterous, ribald and vibrant and has been with us for more than 100 years.  Titled “An Evening in Paris” the performance entertains and informs – you will see classical music a lot differently when you walk out of The Centre.

Eyes with evening in parisThe classical music we know today came out of that period when Debussy, Ravel, Saint Saens,Faure, Wido rand Satie were both writing and performing.
France had taken a terrible beating during the Franco Prusian War during which there was a 135 siege of Paris forcing people to eat horsemeat. France was prostrate on the world stage.

It was out of that terrible defeat that France rose politically, economically but most importantly culturally.

The world saw the first of the Impressionists –Renoir and Monet were painting during this period. And the music just flowed.

Hayley Marie ties together both the music and the story behind the men who wrote the music. It is fascinating – gossip at its very best. She has a fierce interest in preserving the human side of classical music fired by a desire to show how these musical giants interacted with the society they were a part of – it wasn’t’ always a pretty picture.

On bench - white dress - flute

Hayley Marie Remple

Concert goers in the Paris that Hayley Marie Remple talks about was not polite society. Applause was loud, displeasure resulted in booing and throwing fruit at a performer. Patrons were known to jump up on their seats and shout. Fisticuffs were not unusual – Passions of people who were fully informed about the music they were listening to rose quickly – and everyone had an opinion.

The composers were real people with real problems, some had significant addictions and some had personal lives that would rival anything you read about Mick Jagger or Elvis Presley.

Hayley Marie, a Governor General Award winner and three time performer at Carnegie Hall walks on to a stage to present a performance that is part of a month long five province tour.

Remple has performed in southern California, Connecticut, Montreal and Winnipeg. In 2009, she completed her first concert tour of Germany and France.

A century after the deaths of these towering composers scholars are still studying their work and music The France she is going to reflect built the Eiffel Tower and created the statue of Liberty that was given as a gift to Americans.

May 12th – 7:30 pm

Performing Arts Centre

Tickets $35

Box office

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Art Gallery can take their show on the road - Trillium grant pays for the van and part of the costs of running the community outreach program.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

April 27, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

They are taking the show on the road – now that they are the proud owners of a Ford van. The Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) can expand its reach into the Halton community thanks to a three-year, $225,200 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The grant has provided the capital to purchase a van for community outreach and other projects.

AGB - Vanpresentation

The van will let the AGB staff take pieces from the various collections into the community; especially schools and seniors homes.

The AGB van was unveiled on Wednesday at a media event with local MPP Eleanor McMahon, who has been an advocate for arts and culture in our community, and Bill Allison, an OTF volunteer. Also in attendance were Robert Steven, President and CEO, and Anne Swarbrick, Foundation Chair.

We wondered if AGB president Robert Steven or Foundation president Anne Swarbrick would be given the keys and be tooting about town – nope – the insurance contract allows just six drivers – and the top dogs don’t count.

“The Art Gallery of Burlington is an absolute gem in our city, and one of my favourite attractions in Burlington,” said Eleanor McMahon, MPP for Burlington who tried her hand on one of the looms the weavers guild has some time ago – McMahon won’t be giving classes – not for a while.

AGB presentation McMahon

Burlington MPP Eleanor McMahon did most of the talking at the van presentation. She almost suggested she would be quite happy taking art lessons at the AGB – on a full time basis Ms McMahon?

She is a fan of the AGB though and was able to help them stick handle their funding application. “This Ontario Trillium Foundation grant will provide people who wouldn’t ordinarily be able to visit a chance to connect with the AGB and our city’s vibrant arts community, as well as support aspiring artists and museum workers beginning their careers.”

Along with the van, the grant is also helping with two special projects focused on different areas of outreach within the community, including Art-On-the-Go, an initiative to bring arts education directly to schools, seniors’ homes, and community festivals.

AGB OTF presenter

Bill Allison, an Ontario Trillium Foundation volunteer with more than nine years of service presented a plaque – the check arrived several months ago..

Funds are also being used for the Artistic and Gallery Experience Mentoring Program, which provides opportunities for high school students interested in a career in the arts to be mentored directly by artist educators and other art specialists.

Save the news feedThe Ontario Trillium Foundation is the leading grant making foundation in Canada. Most of their funding comes from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. You may not win with you Loto 6/49 – but the community does well with the Trillium Grants.

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The pipes will fill the air with that lonely, plaintive sound at the Lowville United Church on Sunday.

eventspink 100x100By Staff

April 27, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Rob Missen is inviting people to an afternoon of music from the land of purple heather. It will be a pleasant afternoon of time well spent – but more importantly – the event I being held to raise funds for the second annual Lowville Festival that will take place in the summer.  And that is significant. What Missen and his team are doing is creating events that are out of the downtown core – in countryside. Check the link at the bottom of this piece – to see what you missed last year.

Come ye from the hills, from the mills, from the glens, and from the fens! The Lowville Festival – “a festival of all the arts for the artist in all of us”- and Lowville United Church are presenting a special benefit concert at Lowville United Church on Sunday May 1st at 3:00 pm.

THE HEATHER IN THE HILLS is a salute to the words and music of Scotland. The concert will feature the songs and poems of the immortal Robbie Burns, as well as selections from the musical Brigadoon and other popular Scots songs.

Lowville United churchThe featured performers include Festival Co-Director Robert Missen; Carol Ann Thomson, the new Music Director at Lowville United; Wayne Strongman, former Conductor of Hamilton’s Bach-Elgar Choir and Conductor of the new Lowville Festival Choir; Stuart Laughton, Founding Member of the Canadian Brass and leader of the new band Radio Dial; Peter Skoggard, notable Burns scholar and reciter; Michael Mulrooney, Music Director of Tansley United Church and well-known musical theatre conductor and pianist; and three recent graduates of the Sheridan College Musical Theatre Program, Kate Madden, Andrew MacNaughton and Gregory Solomon.

Special Guests for the afternoon are the 78th Fraser Highland Pipe and Drum Corps, which has recently taken up residence at Lowville United.

All of the artists are donating their services. There will be reception following the concert which will feature tea and Eileen Missen’s legendary shortbread. All proceeds will go towards helping to defray the costs of the 2017 Festival and the outreach programmes of Lowville United Church.

On May 1st, the Lowville Festival will announce its programme for the 2016 festival, to be held between July 22-24 in various locations in and around the historic hamlet of Lowville in beautiful North Burlington.

“The mists of May are in the gloamin’ and all the clouds are holding still”. Come celebrate spring in the majestic highlands of north Burlington!

Related article:

The Lowville Festival

THE HEATHER IN THE HILLS: THE WORDS AND MUSIC OF SCOTLAND
SUNDAY MAY 1ST AT 3:00 PM
LOWVILLE UNITED CHURCH
GUELPH LINE AND BRITANNIA ROAD
TICKETS $25
AVAILABLE AT THE CHURCH (905-335-0911), DIFFERENT DRUMMER BOOKS & AT THE DOOR

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Animating the city - how could we do that? What would the younger people do if they were given the space and support to show off the city as they know it?

SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

April 26th, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Our waterfront is used by thousands of people – on really nice weather days there are close to people traffic jams.

The city makes great use of the space for festivals – these are organized events that are for the most part free but they don’t reflect much of the colour or culture of the city.

Sound of music - from stage

Great audience – but a passive audience.

The Sound of Music draws thousand who are passive attendees – they listen to the music.  Those on the stage are, for the most part people from out of town who are here to advance their music profile and provide what is basically free entertainment.

Rib Fest draws thousands who sit and eat and listen some music.

Has been

The sand castle competition was popular but the city cut the program – it won’t be held this year.

The Children’s Festival has events that children take part in but there isn’t any animating of the space by the children.

Surely there is room for events that are small in nature that give groups or collectives an opportunity to express their creativity.

A pop up play, a scavenger hunt for kids; wouldn’t it be something to see the gymnasts doing their routines in Spencer Smith Park?

There was a time when the eastern end of the Beachway was home to Joseph Brant – what must that part of the city been like in Brant’s time?

How would one express that dramatically? Great opportunity for the Museum people to do something at Brant’s house; they already do wonderful work at Ireland House where some of the most creative small community events take place.

Something to think about.

Toronto has created an Animating Our Waterfront, which is a pilot program that will provide funding to individuals, organizations, collectives and groups to support free arts and cultural programming in selected parks and public spaces developed by Waterfront Toronto over the last decade.

Cirque - juggler

The Cirque – one of the No Vacancy programs that took place in the Village square knew how to animate their event. All it takes is some imagination and and a little Chutzpah

The objective of this program is to host arts and cultural programming that celebrate these new public spaces and invite Torontonians and visitors to enjoy them. For the purposes of this program, “arts and cultural programming” includes the presentation of dance, music, theatre, visual arts, performance, literary and media arts, community- engaged artwork, cultural celebration, and any combination of the above. They are looking for projects that include themes like place-making, civic engagement, education, health and wellness, and environmental issues are encouraged.

Why couldn’t Burlington do something like this?

Save the news feedThe Love My Hood funding might be one of the ways to help pay for things like this.

 

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Sustainability at the ground level - walking tour of Spencer Smith Park and the Beachway May 8th.

eventspink 100x100By Pepper Parr

April 26, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

The city’s Sustainable Development Advisory committee is getting out into the community and showing citizens what sustainability is like at the ground level.
The advisory committee often gets bogged down in writing reports and commenting on projects the city has sent them for review.

They produce an impressive annual report which unfortunately didn’t get much attention after it was submitted – copies are sent to the library and that’s about all the coverage the document gets.

The SDC, acronym for the Sustainable Development Committee are getting out into the community and sponsoring a Jane’s Walk through Spencer Smith park and the Beachway early in May – the 8th

Spencer Smith PArk from the west

The Spencer Smith Park we know today – pictures of what it used to look like are in the background articles.

The story of how the city recovered land along the edge of the lake and created one of the more impressive parks in the province – giving people wonderful access to the lake is one of Burlington’s crown jewels.

Spencer Smith

Spencer Smith

Few know who Spencer Smith was and what he means to the city. Mark Gillies, one of the Gazette’s from time to time contributors, did an excellent profile of Spencer Smith – there is a link to that profile below.

It will be interesting to hear what the Jane’s Walk guide has to say about the way the waterfront was developed to what it is today.

The walk will move into the Beachway – a part of the city with a rich, colourful and controversial history. It was never a “tony” part of town – it had a railway line running through it and at one point it had its own small newspaper.

It was once a robust community with hundreds of homes that were on leased land that the city eventually took ownership of – the leases were brought to an end and the homes got to meet a wrecking ball.

werb

Beachway homes – they never want to leave – will they eventually be forced out?

There are still some 25+ homes in the Beachway – occupied by people who have been there for generations and want to remain in the community. Other residents are hanging in looking for a better offer from the Region which has a mandate to buy every property on what they call a willing buyer – willing seller basis.

While this war of attrition goes on between the region and the residents the Region’s planners are working up plans for a massive series of parks that will – if it ever comes to pass – will be the envy of communities across the province.

Beachway - Full park

The remake of the Beachway community is massive in both concept and scale – it will be decades in the making and what the planners are thinking today might be quite different than the end result. The pier is a pimple when compared to the park plans.

Most people in Burlington have no idea what the Region has planned for them – after the first announcement when the early thinking was made public, the Region went to ground – not a word from them in the recent past.

Will the Jane’s Walk shed any light on what is being done? Not likely.

Jane’s Walks were created to remember Jane Jacobs, an American who moved to Toronto in the xxx and became part of a group of activists who wanted to see better development in that city with more citizen input.

Hopefully the SDC will be true to her principles.

Janes walk Sustain adv commSave the news feedJacob’s, who would have turned 100 years old this year, upended the fields of city planning and architecture with her 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities. She was described as the most influential urban thinker of all time. Jacobs once said: “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody”?

The walk will begin at 1 pm – gather at the Compass in the park.

Background:

Spencer Smith – Part 1 by Mark Gillies

Spencer Smith – Part 2 by Mark Gillies

The struggle over the Beachway homes

The plans to turn the Beachway into a park.

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Award winning artist will perform at both the Performing Centre and the Art Gallery of Burlington in May.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

April 23, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

This is different – an artist – an award winning artist, coming to town and doing performances at both the Art Gallery Burlington and the Performing Arts Centre and then offering to give lesson to aspiring flute players.

Eyes with evening in parisHaley Marie is a woman from Winnipeg who is a flautist; a Governor General Award Winner, was awarded a full scholarship to McGill and Yale, performed with Yale orchestra has performed twice at Carnegie Hall and then when she graduated she had her own show, tours Europe, teaches in California.

Haley Marie _Portrait_0421

Hailey Marie – flautist.

She then opened her own production company which presents classical music using film and live music. She found that audiences loved finding out the “dirt” on the composers she played so she made her performance both historical (film) and live music.

Her show “An Evening in Paris” covers a period from 1870 – 1910. Paris was not supposed to recover from the war. It is a comeback story, and everyone loves a comeback story.

It is a show that covers art, music, history.

The story of Haley Marie on itself is amazing. Paris is another story of itself.

Haley Marie will be performing at BPAC on May 12

She will b doing a private performance for AGB on the 13th and giving the Master flute class Saturday May 14, 10 – 12

There is more to tell about this event.

Click on the link to get a taste of what is coming to town.

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Burlington Green Clean up gathering moves to an outdoor location - smart move.

News 100 blueBy Staff

April 23rd, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

The weather cooperated; the 11,000 people who signed up were still doing so at close to midnight on the Friday for the Saturday event during which those thousands helped Clean Up the city.

There were 181 locations where people were picking up trash recorded.

Instead of the usual gathering at city hall – people gathered at Central Park in front of the band shell where Turtle Jacks once again served burgers to the hungry environmentalists.

BG Outdoor view 2016 cleanup

The gathering after the Clean up took place in Central Park this year. smart move – plan is to hold the get together outdoors every year.

BG proud grandparent - Sharman

This is what a proud grandparent looks like -Councillor Paul Sharman, the only member o Councillor we say wants his granddaughter to look into the camera. The Mayor arrived later to say a few words.

BG singer outfoor cleanup 2016

Music was part of the event – look for additional performers next year.

The decision to move outdoors was a welcome one. There was all kinds of room and while the crowds were not great the move was a wise one.

In time gathering outdoors on the Clean Up day will be the place to be.

BG girl under sign 2016

It was warm enough to be in short sleeves

BG button maker

BurlingtonGreen volunteer makes badges from art work created bu the kids.

There were displays and activities in the library where kids could have their unique badges made and other could colour.

There was a room set up with a video and Vince Fiorito was on hand to show people how to make seed bombs.

There were fewer speeches this year – and that has to be a blessing.

Burlington has to have one of the most impressive turnouts when it comes to volunteering at this significant event – kudos to the BG board for making this happen each year.

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Burlington to co-host Canadian Craft Biennial Conference with Toronto - Deadline for submission is May 15th

News 100 blueBy Staff

April 23, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

The Art Gallery of Burlington in collaboration with Craft Ontario, is organizing the first Canadian Craft Biennial to be held August 19 to October 29, 2017 in southern Ontario.
The deadline for submissions for this event is May 15th, 2016

The event which will take place in Toronto and Burlington on September 15 and 16, 2017

AGB logo with colour graphicThe biennial will include a two-day conference (one day in Toronto and one day in Burlington), as well as a national exhibition, and an Ontario emerging craft maker exhibition.

The conference will be presented with multiple partners in both cities. The AGB is inviting proposals for the Biennial Conference sessions. The theme of this inaugural biennial is Can Craft? Craft Can!

The AGB is looking for a broad range of sessions engaging with contemporary craft issues and approaches. These could deal with academic, technical, historical and creative research, and community or political engagements. Within the context of Canada’s 150th anniversary, we seek to explore topics such as, but not limited to:

• Identity of Canadian craft
• Pattern as methodology
• Craft narratives
• Sustainability and sustainment
• Creative performativity
• Craft and learning
• Craft and social engagement
• The place of the amateur
• Making knowledge through tacit discourse
• Labour re-imagined
• Practice-lead research in craft
• Craft and the digital
• Indigenous perspectives on craft
• Craft curation and criticism

The hope is these sessions will also reflect the interdisciplinary concerns of our diversified Canadian craft community. Proposals for session formats include, but are not limited to panel, round-table, Pecha Kucha, Ignite and interactive sessions.

Anton RexxxAs part of this inaugural Canadian craft biennial international ceramist, Anton Reijnders, has been invited to present recent work in a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Burlington, as well as to conduct a professional workshop and deliver the conference keynote address. Canadian makers and curators/writers will be given the opportunity to participate in a ten-day residency. The making residency will be centered at the Art Gallery of Burlington, while the writing residency will be under the direction of Studio Magazine.

Save the news feedProposals should include a 200 word description of your session theme, name(s) and contact information as well as a 3-page CV of the convener(s). If you already have in mind potential presenters for your session, please provide their names and professional affiliation.

Send your proposal to Denis Longchamps at denis@agb.life by May 15, 2016.

Selected session conveners will be notified by May 31, 2016. Proposals for papers for each session will then be circulated.

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Guilds will display their work at the AGB until May 22nd

News 100 redBy Staff

April 23, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

The annual exhibition that celebrates the Guilds at the Art Gallery of Burlington begins to day and will run through to May 22nd.

pottery AGB DeweyThe guilds which include the Fibre Arts Group, Burlington Fine Arts Association, Burlington Handweavers and Spinners Guild, Latow Photographers Guild, Burlington Potters’ Guild, Burlington Rug Hooking and Craft Guild, Save media that mattersand the Burlington Guild of Sculptors and Woodcarvers will be showing their work.

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Aldershot Arena is closed until Tuesday April 26th at 4pm.

notices100x100By Staff

April 22, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Trudging along to a practice on a Saturday morning.

Aldershot Arena
Aldershot Arena is closed due to unforseen maintenance issues.
Getting it - yellowThe Arena is expected to re-open Tuesday April 26th at 4pm.

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Whiskey and a coiffeuse of my own - this was going to be a good day.

SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

April 1, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

The phrase “he got a haircut” has little to do with the the world of hair salons.  It usually means there was a financial matter that didn’t work out the way you wanted it to work out.

I was at the point where I was in desperate need of a real haircut – I was beginning to look like something out of an orchestra that played classical music.

I trotted over to my usual “salon” and while I would have liked to have gotten the young lady that does my hair most of the time – the length was so bad I would have settled for anyone.

Walked in – and the place was empty – I’m in luck I thought – all the stylists are in the back yucking it up. No so. There wasn’t a stylist to be found – just a receptionist answering the phone.

Would you like to make an appointment she asked – “No. I replied I am here to get my hair cut.” “Well everyone has gone home – they left at one o’clock:, I was told.

Now there was a time when merchants closed on Wednesday afternoons but that as a long, long time ago – well before most of the woman who work in the salon I frequent were even born.

I needed my hair cut today. Hmmm.

I walked out the door and across the street to my favourite variety store where Omar continues to sell me lottery tickets that don’t pay off. He insults me by asking if I want to add Encore to what is a losing situation to begin with.

I complain to Omar that my favourite hair salon isn’t operating. You are in luck Omar tells me – there is a place a couple of doors over that will cut your hair for $10 if you’re not too fussy.

So off I go. I walk in – nice enough place and they are packed.

Kristen hair salon

Kristen – my coiffeuse.

Rob the owner is sympathetic – he looks at my head of hair and clearly sympathizes and asks me what he can do for me.

“A whiskey would go down very well just about now”, I explain. “I can do that for you” and he disappears and returns with a generous portion of whiskey that he didn’t ruin with ice.

Meanwhile, the receptionist takes down the vital information – she doesn’t give me hers – and asks – “what else can we do for you.”

I explain what I like done with my silver locks and she looks at her list and tells me that Kristen can handle me and with that a leggy lass walks over and asks me to sit down so she can run her hands through my hair to get a sense of what she has to work with. I am liking this new place.

Good whisky and a coiffeuse of my own named Kristen.

She is chatty in a really nice way and constantly asks me if I am getting what I want. We carry on our conversation through the large mirror on the wall where the eye contact isn’t exactly complete but we are able to exchange information. Sort of like the way the kids these days chat with their friends on their cell phones – they never get to actually see each other.

With the job done Kristen holds up the mirror – I’m happy, she’s happy. She takes off the cape thingy she had draped over me and walks me to the reception desk and proceeds to book my next appointment. First telling me when she is available and writing everything out on a card.

This is service – the haircut is ok – need a few days to see how it looks.

Do I book another appointment or do I go back to the shop that wasn’t open on a Wednesday afternoon?

The Scotch did the trick – will they pour me another couple of ounces the next time I drop into Teo’s on Brant Street.

 

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Despite the financial failure of the Test Kitchen - the Pop Up idea appears to have caught on - two locations are interested.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

April 20, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

It made slipping downtown for lunch an experience – it was what the Downtown Business Association saw as oxygen for the core of the city – the Test Kitchen was the place to be – you needed a reservation much of the time

The prices were almost too good to be true – turned out it wasn’t true – the owner shut the two Test Kitchen locations down quite quickly and can’t, apprently, be found.

Those $10 lunches – beverage included may have been a mistake – it was worth $15 at least – and perhaps whoever occupies the space this season will come up with a better business model.

Test kitchen - Pop Up from the store side

They call them Pop Ups – a locale that just pops out of almost nowhere. It expands the capacity for the restaurant and it has a sense of being outside and yet private. The Test Kitchen was the place to be – then it disappeared. Financial problems?

It was the idea that took hold – the place had a buzz to it. There were several counters where you got squeezed in with other people and you didn’t mind. The servers were superb – the presentation was pure New York, New York – and those prices. The portions were small – which was probably in the best interest of most of us.

Pop Up locations were a good idea and the city I going to ride that band wagon as far as it can – with rules and regulations of course – this is being run by city hall.

Council wants to:
Authorize the Director of Planning and Building to approve pop-up patios within the downtown based on the evaluation criteria; and amend the Licensing Agreement to include conditions related to securities, signage and removal protocol.

Test kitchen - inside 21 tables

Inside the Pop Up – held 21 tables.

The Test Kitchen operated a seasonal “pop-up” patio on two on-street parking spaces in front of their business from May to October 2015. Then they disappeared.

The patio was full of patrons from Monday to Friday during the lunch hour period, it created a buzz in the downtown and was successful in animating the downtown, added more “feet on the street” and there were no safety incidents nor formal complaints reported to staff.

Staff, with input from the BDBA is of the opinion that there are approximately 17 restaurants in the downtown that are able to satisfy the requirements for a pop-up patio.
Despite the evident success, the BDBA survey of those 17 restaurant owners/operators in late Spring 2015 found no existing restaurant owners/operators interested in constructing a pop-up patio in the near future.
So much for the entrepreneurial spirit and perhaps the most telling point in trying to understand why downtown is so dull. The late Jane Irwin once described the city as “Borington”

Staff has identified three issues to be addressed for future pop-up patios:

1) Securities should be collected prior to the operation of the pop-up patio in case any City property is damaged during construction, operation or removal of the pop-up patio;
2) Signage limitations on the exterior of the pop-up patio (e.g. no product advertising); and
3) Requirement for pop-up patio to be removed on date set out in the By-law or else RPM to remove pop-up patio and invoice the restaurant owner/operator for the removal costs or draw on securities.

That securities problem suggests the city got stiffed by the owners of the Test Kitchen

Staff is only aware of two downtown businesses interested in a pop-up patio for the Summer of 2016.

Pop up locations

Interesting graphic – it does show the location for two restaurants interested in creating a Pop Up – what is also interesting is that green line around city hall. Dos the city not own the property in the lower left corner?

Staff is proposing to create a formalized application process for pop-up patios and sidewalk patios beginning in 2017. This process would include a deadline for applications, an internal staff circulation, licensing agreements, application approvals and inspections once the sidewalk and pop-up patios have been built. Staff will bring a report to Council outlining this process by Q4 2016.
Future pop-up patios will be asked for a $1,500 security.

Pop-up Patio Evaluation Criteria
Location Criteria
Applications for a maximum of 10 pop-up patios in the downtown will be considered in the context of following criteria:

– Permitted only on street with existing on-street parking
– Permitted only on sites that have inadequate space to construct a conventional sidewalk patio while maintaining a minimum 2 m clear path
– Permitted only where the pop-up patio can be located directly in front of the business
– Must be located at least one parking space away from an intersection
– Proposals will be assessed in accordance with vehicle volumes, sightlines and visibility to the satisfaction of the Director of Transportation
– Proposals must not obstruct underground utility access, electrical transformer vaults, utility boxes, parking meters, loading zones, transit stops and other infrastructure
– Proposal must avoid conflicts with existing pedestrian crossings Design Standards
– Proposals must have a flush transition at the sidewalk and curb to permit easy access and avoid tripping hazards
– The sub-structure must accommodate the crown of the road and provide a level surface for the patio
– Proposals must have a slip-resistant surface
– Proposals must be designed for 100 pounds per square foot
– Patio, including entrances, must meet accessible design standards
– Gates must swing in to the patio space and not obstruct the sidewalk
– Fending to define the space and be capable of withstanding at least 200 feet of horizontal force
– Proposal must have vertical elements that make them visible to traffic, such as flexible posts, bollards or landscape planters
– No umbrellas or other treatments can extend into the sidewalk or travelled portion of the road
– Patios must be buffered using a wheel stop at a desired distance of 4 feet from the patio to ensure visibility to moving traffic and parking cars
– The patio must provide a 30 cm buffer between the fenced edge and the limit of the parking space
– Lighting and signage will be subject to review and will be designed and installed in such a way as to not create a visual or physical distraction to travelling public in the sidewalk or road.

The folks as Joel’s sounded as if they liked the idea – they said: “While we are in support of the concept and of our neighbour’s business operations and the draw that Test Kitchen has to downtown, the patio had its strengths and its downfalls.  We monitored its traffic and listened to the feedback of downtown customers. Losing parking spots has to be weighed out with maximum productivity. There were many times that the patio sat empty.

“Our compromise would be that such patios could open for Sound of Music Festival weekend, with respect of positioning as to not block traffic to the traditional sidewalk sale activities that occur at this time. We would also advise that the patios close directly after RibFest and not be extended in to the month of October.”

Joelles-1024x869

Admittedly there as no snow – but that really wasn’t a good enough excuse to do nothing to decorate a store front during the Christmas Season. This was the store front that forgot Christmas was here last December.

The Gazette would like to see Joel’s do a lot more to animate Brant Street during the Christmas season. The past two years they did basically nothing.

The people at Structured Creations, a couple of doors south of the Test Kitchen said:

• The patio was well used and had no negative impacts to business
• The patio created a buzz in the area around their office; people were interested in looking into what they do; it led to approximately 100 people per day looking at the office
• They also used the patio often after finishing work with clients or contractors to go for a bite on the patio
• They had no issue with the patio taking up two parking spaces; clients and contractors came by frequently, but they would park up or down the street and walk; did not receive any complaints about parking and had no issue with the arrangement
• They support the pop-up patio in that location and additional ones on Brant Street
• They suggest future pop-up patios be designed the way the pilot pop-up patio was designed; the patio was tastefully done, with no banners or signage
• There should not be any signage or banners on pop-up patios
• For safety reasons, future pop-up patios should have a concrete abutment because the patio is right up against the road.

City council will give the final word at its May 9th meeting. This will be a go.

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Andy Griffiths wants to win a spot on the CBC Searchlight contest - needs your vote - BEFORE 3 pm tomorrow.

News 100 redBy Pepper Parr

April 19, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

Andy Griffiths is looking for a way to break out of the market he currently has – he gets gigs in the region – but hasn’t yet found whatever it takes to get recognized and given the bigger stage he deserves.

Griffith-at-the-microphone-300x221Last summer – at the Lowville Festival – Andy showcased his new approach to music – he appears to be aiming at a younger market – the kids with his “Our Cat Flash”
Griffith has a temperament and folksy tone that appeals to the younger set. He doesn’t take himself too seriously and seems to really enjoy yucking it up with the kids – and the kids certainly like his act.

There aren’t any groups or individual singers who market to the kiddie crowd – Sharon, Lois and Braum don’t exists any more.

Griffiths might have found a niche market that isn’t that small – heck if “Walk on the Earth” could get from Burlington to a world stage – why can’t Andy Griffith.

Save media that mattersGriffiths got himself into the CBC Searchlight competition and he would really like you to slip over to the Searchlight web site – listen to his sound and vote for him.

There is just one day left to get in there and vote – “You can catch my entry in the CBC Searchlight contest – CLICK Here and you are in.

Voting closes on Wednesday April 20th – 2:59 pm

Background on Griffiths

 

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Mayor will get to sign a letter supporting the LaSalle Park Marina search for breakwater funding.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

April 19, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

It took several hours but the Community and Corporate Service Standing Committee did agree to recommend that council authorize the Mayor to write letters of support for loans and grants the LaSalle Park Marina Association wants to apply for.

Councillor Jack Dennison (Ward 4) wants the letter to be strong and forceful – it will need to be – the Marina Association is looking for $12 million.

LPMA-Option-B-preferred

The option the LaSalle Park Marina Association hopes is chosen through the Environmental Assessment. The design will add 100 slips plus 20 available for transient use and more significantly provide a solid barrier that will allow fish stocks to return and breed and put an end to the wave agitation

John Birch, Executive Director of the LaSalle Park Marina Association , has been toiling for a number of years at getting a permanent breakwater built for Burlington. In his delegation to council last night he pointed out that Bronte has a marina that was paid for by the federal government, Kingston got a large chunk of federal money as did a number of other municipalities in the province. It is Burlington’s turn, said Birch.

It may well be – but it is going to be a tough.

Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward was the only member of Council to vote against the writing of a letter. Her argument was that city council has not yet voted on whether or not they want to approve a expanded marina.

Trumpeter swan - magnificent creatures that many think need the marina space at LaSalle Park to survive the winters. Nonsense according the Marina Association.

Trumpeter swan – magnificent creatures that many think need the marina space at LaSalle Park to survive the winters.

Meed Ward felt that a letter at this time was premature and inappropriate. One citizen wondered how council would react if Birch was able to raise the funds needed – would the city be able to see beyond all that funding and make the best decision for the city.

Birch points out that Burlington is a waterfront community – he got that part right.

The Trumpeter Swan Coalition, they don’t want the expanded marina built and point out that a waterfront community means making space for not just boats but for the swans as well.

Save media that mattersThere were some very good delegations made – the Gazette will report on these in more depth at a later date.

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Sound of Music has put out a call for volunteers - Saturday at the HiVE

News 100 redBy Staff

April 18, 2016

BURLINGTON, ON

It is probably the biggest event that takes place in the city. Its pumps millions into the local economy and it’s been around for years.

It has a culture all of its own – and happens because hundreds of people volunteer to do all the hard work.

Sound of music - from stageIf you want to be part of an organization that makes a difference – the Sound of Music Volunteer Open House takes place on April 23 at the Halton HiVE from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

The HiVE is located at 901 Guelph Line, which is on the south east corner of the Guelph Line Harvester Road intersection – acres of parking.

You should be able to slip up to the volunteer event after chowing down a couple of those Turtle Jack burgers at the Clean Up event that takes place at Centennial Park right in front of the band shell

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