It is just under a month away but registration for this event is going to fill up very quickly – you will want to register now if you’d like to attend.
This struck the Gazette as one of the more interesting ways to promote the history of the city – and if anything is history in Burlington it is the Freeman Station.
Pauline Grondin – the year is 1920 and she is at the Burlington Junction station in Freeman.
On Saturday, November 19th, well-known professional storyteller Pauline Grondin will again work her magic as she relates, first-person, her story of life around Freeman Station.
The year is 1920, and the Burlington Junction Station in Freeman is a vibrant hub of community comings and goings.
Pauline will bring history to life for us as she relates what’s happening around the village. (A bit of gossip here and there?)
Waiting for the train.
The Friends of Freeman Station invite you to join them at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre for “Breakfast at the Bistro,” beginning at 8:30 AM for a delicious meal followed by Pauline’s enchanting presentation.
Reservations are required, seating is limited, breakfast is only $ 6.18 per person, tax included, it’s all for a great cause, and a good time will be had by all. Nostalgia guaranteed, tears optional.
Book early! Registration is required. Limited seating, and typically sells out well in advance.
To register, log onto: https://secure.burlington.ca/recexpress/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp
and enter the code “345506” in the TTR Barcode Search field to pull up Breakfast at the Bistro – Pauline Grondin – 345506
The Hamilton-Burlington Junior League Annual House tour will be taking place November 11 to 13th.
There are three homes on the tour this year: two in Burlington and one in Ancaster.
Designer creates a focal point in a home for the Holiday Season
Jackie Cracknell and her colleagues were given one of the Burlington homes to get ready for the event. The home, a 2400 sq. ft. 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house that undergone a significant renovation. Located in the east end of Burlington the home will be open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, 10:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Jackie said the challenge in preparing a smaller home for a tour is keeping the flow of patrons moving smoothly so that they can view everything in their own time, but not have areas of congestion.
This home provided great opportunity in that the interior has been completely restyled and has some interesting design features that will allow the decorators to showcase the beautiful renovation that has taken place.
She added that “most of the decorators in this home have worked on the tour before and know exactly what is required to wow our patrons.
Those that are new are given information from previous tours so that they know what is expected. Our role as house reps is to ensure that the decorators follow the guidelines and also to liaise between the homeowners and decorators so that everything runs smoothly.
The most outstanding transformation in the renovation of this home is the kitchen – it really is the heart of the home and a wonderful light space to enjoy, with some very special design features. I think it highlights that fact that you can really incorporate some wonderful features in a home that may not be as large as some of the others on the tour – bigger is not always better!
The decorators of this home include House of Fraser Décor, Megan & Megan, Welcome Home Interiors, Details Interior Design, Hudson Interiors and Marquis Cavalier Dreamstore.
Tickets to this always popular event – this is the 34th Annual Tour the Junior League has done, are available at: CLICK HERE
Hours: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, 10:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The address for each of the homes is printed on the tickets you receive.
From left to right: Dianne Brown, Fonda Loft, Jackie Cracknell,Liz Vandenberg, Annette Hamm, Cate Banfield, Karyn Glibbery, Roseanne Grego-Venneri, Sarai Spzak, Barb Oliver, Jane Tynan-Byrd, Iris Hughes. Middle: Anne-Louise Watts, Kathy North-Ross, Wendy Powell Front: Rachel Griffiths, Emily Stewart
The Junior League is looking for people who would like to serve as volunteers at the different house tour locations. This is an opportunity to learn more about the Junior League – sort of a toe in the water approach. Diane Brown would love to hear from you. info@juniorleague.ca
The field has been re-graded, gravel screen laid down between the bases, the pitcher’s mound is no longer a place for water to gather, and home plate can actually be seen.
Pitchers mound and a level field – a bunch of boys made it happen.
There are new benches, the back stop has been replaced and safety fences were installed where the players sit waiting their turn on the field.
The rehabilitation of the ball diamond at Lakeshore Public school got done because a bunch of boys saw an opportunity with a grant program the city announced awhile back.
The getting of the grant for the Lakeshore school ball diamond was driven by Griffin Gervais, a grade five student who depended on his Mother to get him to meetings.
The ball diamond was in pretty rough shape: The grounds needed a serious leveling out – they had little rises and small shallow spots. The bases needed bags that were properly anchored – third base is currently a small hole that collects water.
The back stop is close to being ready to fall down. And the benches are kind of crappy.
Billy the Bandit poses with Griffen Gervais, MP Karina Gould on the left and ward Councillor Marianne Meed Ward.
The project got started when Griffen met Burlington’s MP Karina Gould and asked her if she could help him do something. Gould was about to explain the intricacies of Canada’s separation of powers when Ward 2 city Councillor Marianne Meed Ward happened along, heard about the problem and said she was pretty sure what Griffin and his buddies wanted to do was possible under a program that was being rolled out by the city’s parks and recreation department.
The city had created a Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund that could put up as much as $5000 into a project that is designed to improve a community. The Parks and Recreation people were overseeing the program which meant a lot of paper work
The city had set aside $50,000 for the program last fiscal year and went into communities to talk up the program.
More than 200 people showed up on a bright sunny Saturday.
The objective wasn’t to just improve facilities but to help community’s work as communities where people would gather together and work on a common objective.
It was an amazing day with over 200 people coming out to celebrate. Evelyn Quist, Lakeshore Public principal took part in the festivities.
In Burlington some communities work very well – in others the cohesion needed to make a place work as community hasn’t developed. The Matching fund is intended for a project people want to see done in their neighbourhood.
It was a pretty rough looking ball diamond before Griffen Gervais and his buddies got started.
Proud parents – Griffen Gervais with his Mom Carrie and Dad standing in front of the new backstop.
Griffin project is going to come in at about $11,000 – they applied for the full $5000 from the city and fund raised to pull in the balance.
The community was expected to raise half of the amount needed. That half could be cash, or in kind materials. Any work that people did on the project was counted at the rate of $17.02 for each hour worked. 50% of any professional services that were needed could be included in the budget.
Denise Beard, Manager Community Development, made sure her staff did everything they could to make it work – including finding the insurance coverage needed.
Carrie Gervais, Griffen’s Mother rounded up the quotes needed from the Board of Education. They included $200 for a party in the park to celebrate their success which is all part of the city’s objective. They want people to come together, work together to make their neighbourhoods better places. Related story:
In no specific order: Sawyer Cobham. Scott Rose, Griffen Gervais, Kayden Maslanyk discuss the problems with their ball diamond. They set to work raising the funds to rehabilitate the diamond which was official last Saturday.
There is quite a bit more to the story of the roll-over of that tractor trailer on Wednesday carrying 180 pigs to the Fearmans slaughterhouse.
It took Burlington 35 years to create a memorial to Terry Fox’s remarkable attempt to run from coast to coast raising funds for cancer. He died of cancer before he could complete the run.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 5 million members and supporters has asked the City of Burlington to erect a 1.5 metre “tombstone memorial” at the intersection of Appleby Line and Harvester Road. City spokesperson Donna Kell has said it would get back to PETA in a couple of days.
Fire fighters, police officers and Fearmans staff do as much as they can to get the pigs out of the trailer; 42 to 48 of the pigs are reported to have been killed in the accident. It is not clear if any of the pigs were sent to the slaughterhouse assembly line and entered the food chain.
At the same time the Ontario SPCA is appealing for witnesses as it investigates how the pigs were handled leading to the death of 42 animals.
Deputy Chief Insp. Jennifer Bluhm said initial reports suggested two veterinarians responded quickly after the truck carrying the pigs rolled at 7 a.m. Wednesday of this week.
The SPCA, which has fielded “numerous” calls of concern, is still probing the incident to decide whether charges are warranted.
Bluhm said “within the next few weeks we should have a better understanding of what caused this and how it was handled and whether or not there were things that should have been handled better or differently,”
Mayor Rick Goldring with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne during Rib Fest several years ago.
Lost in all this is the relationship the city of Burlington has with the hog business. Every year for the past 20 years a Rotary club in Burlington (the city has four of them) sponsors a Rib Fest that has been exceptionally successful in the past where thousands of people fill Spencer Smith Park to chow down racks of ribs – the meat comes from Fearmans.
Ribs are a great fund raiser for a Burlington Rotary.
Rotary is very proud of this event. More than 175,000 people attended the festival in 2016; more than 150,000 pounds of ribs were sold over the course of the four-day event and more than $3 million has been raised for local community organizations and charities over the last 19 years.
The Rib Fest is great for Rotary, very good for the city of Burlington and good business for Fearmans.
Now that there is a bit of a crisis it would be nice to see all the beneficiaries of the pork business at the table working out solutions that will prevent this type of thing in the future.
The Rotary and the “save the animals” crowd have a lot to say to each other.
Fearmans is a major employer in Burlington and a heavy hydro user as well.
Mayor Goldring reading a Proclamation about Burlington becoming a Compassionate city.
Burlington city council, and the Mayor in particular, got four square behind the creation of a “Compassionate Charter for the city. The Mayor went so far as to read out a Proclamation on the city being a compassionate place.
The “save the animals” crowd would like to see that Charter extended to the animals as well.
The SPCA is asking witnesses to call 310-SPCA to provide contact information for follow-up.
Sofina Foods Inc., which owns Fearmans Pork Inc., said Thursday it continues to co-operate with all parties during the police investigation.
“Once they are available, we will review the findings to determine next steps,” spokesperson Daniele Dufour said.
Halton Regional Police hadn’t yet said Thursday what caused the transport truck driver to lose control at the intersection of Appleby Line and Harvester Road.
Dozens of emergency responders — including Health Canada, Ministry of Transportation officials, firefighters and police — helped get the pigs “safely and humanely” off the truck, police said.
But an agency that specializes in animal law is calling for cruelty charges against the slaughterhouse. Witnesses just outside the Appleby Line plant were disgusted to see injured pigs suffering for hours in the sun without medical attention, said Anna Pippus, a lawyer with Animal Justice.
Animal Justice has pointed to video footage showing pigs being hit with paddles to force them out of the truck.
Injured pigs were stunned with a captive bolt pistol before being taken into the slaughterhouse. The bolts penetrate animals’ skulls and brains, Pippus noted.
It wasn’t clear how many of the 42 pigs died as a result of the crash or were put down because of their injuries, police said.
Dufour said the injured pigs were too badly hurt.
“Except for the hogs that died in the accident, the other hogs were seriously compromised and could not be saved. In all cases, all proper and regulatory procedures were followed in collaboration with the authorities.”
Animal rights advocates, however, don’t buy that, and are outraged the slaughterhouse didn’t allow them to take injured pigs to be rehabilitated in their care.
“I did not understand for the life of me why an injured and otherwise useless, as far as they’re concerned, animal couldn’t be released to sanctuary,” said Steve Jenkins, who owns an animal sanctuary in Campbellville.
Anita Kryncj being placed under arrest for obstructing the police.
The “save the animals” community would appear to have some momentum in raising their public profile. The leader of Toronto Pig Save was arrested on the accident site for obstructing the police and is at the same time faces a charge of “mischief” under the criminal code. What is normally a small matter for the criminal courts has taken up three days of a trial that is now scheduled to last five days.
The Toronto Pig Save group has been watering pigs in transport trucks at the intersection of Appleby Line and Harvest Road during the blistering hot summer days – the same intersection where the transport truck rolled over earlier this week.
This didn’t go down very well with at least one parent.
“The Punch” photograph – a signed Odor baseball and Jose Bautista jersey.
Minimum Bid – $150
The picture, the signed baseball and a jersey – they raised $500 for BOMBA – was it appropriate asks a parent?
The silent auction ran for the duration of the Blue Jays – Rangers series – that was just three games wasn’t it?
Well that auction ended and they realized $500
The parent that contacted the Gazette explained that the BOMBA – Burlington Organized Minor Baseball association – administrator sent an email with a link to the auction.
“My 6 year old son has played baseball for the past couple years. I think to promote to baseball players fighting and being punched in the face and then using this incident to raise money for any youth sport is in very bad taste and judgement.
There is a boisterous group of people that use the comments section of the Gazette fairly regularly. There are those that don’t yet understand civil discourse and tend towards comments we don’t publish. There are also those who make a significant contribution – one of those came in yesterday and we want to share it with a wider audience.
By Steven White
October 12, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Over and above the dubious value of this entire project (the reconfiguration of the traffic lanes on New Street) is the unmistakable fact that it points to the differential input that various groups and organizations had into this project.
Clearly, the overwhelming majority of ratepayers did not support this initiative and that was made obvious prior to the July vote. Despite this, the Mayor and most of Council went ahead and supported it anyway. The Cycling Committee and the folks from Share the Road wanted it, and their vocal support for this measure ensured its passage. The rest of the City now gets to live with the consequences, including a project that is badly designed, bike lanes that won’t be used six months of the year, and a communication process that is sadly lacking.
The original traffic lane configuration is on the left, the pilot project is shown on the right.
The Cycling Committee is no longer a consultative or educational forum but rather, an advocacy group for cycling and cyclists. This raises bigger questions. 1) Where is the consultative forum in this City for pedestrians, or motorists, etc.? 2) Why is it that one group or one entity has a disproportionate input into the decision-making process? and 3) Where is the Committee to discuss the broader issue of traffic congestion in Burlington?
Not only does the Cycling Committee have a Councillor attending their meetings (i.e. Jack Dennison), but they also have attendees from City Hall who seem hell bent on promoting bike lanes regardless of the expense or consequences. Read the Minutes of their meetings and it becomes evident that there is information shared with the Committee that the average citizen is not privy to. Fair? Hardly.
As a taxpayer I bitterly resent subsidizing advocacy groups. Advocacy groups should not have exclusive, privileged or special access to decision makers, and clearly in this process they did. Education is one thing, advocacy is completely different. (N.B. Read the July 19th Minutes of the Cycling Committee (page 1) and the Chair is admonishing members not to indulge in advocacy).
As part of the many changes at City Hall it’s time to seriously re-think consultative and advisory committees, and this is one group that should be disbanded post haste.
Editor’s note: On the several occasions I have driven the stretch of New Street between Guelph Line and Walkers Line – there was very, very little traffic disruption – there was just the one cyclist seen during a rush hour. What the Gazette is seeing is a lot of comment from people who are unhappy about the pilot project and basically nothing from the city in the way of information. We must add that when a public meeting was held there were very few people at that meeting who were opposed to the pilot project.
There are people in Burlington who don’t know just where the Freeman Station is now located – it’s right beside the Fire Station HQ on Plains Road – and last Saturday more than 800 people toured the station – it was the first time since 1988 this historic building was open to the public
The Grand Trunk Railway station first opened in 1906 and was the spot on the railway line where fruit and farm produce was shipped out of Burlington to locations around the world.
It took years but the Freeman Station finally found a home – now it needs the last piece of its funding to complete the restoration.
The station has had at times a tortured history – it was saved from the wrecking ball when a group of citizens refused to let their city council sell what was left of the building for kindling.
It got moved from its original location when the space was needed for railway track expansion and was parked beside the fire station until a real home could be found.
That real home turned out to be yards away from the fire station.
A group of dedicated volunteers has worked for the past two years on making the space presentable for visitors.
They welcome anyone who wants to take part in the rehabilitation of this historic structure.
Station gets moved to its new home and is prepared for the concrete basement that will be poured beneath it.
They have set a very high barrier for themselves – the Grand Re-Opening of the station July 1st, 2017 – the day Canada celebrates is sesquicentennial – our 150th birthday.
If anyone can make this happen – it will be the crew that shows up regularly to nail down, sand and paint the planks and walls that have been restored.
They are about $250,000 shy of the budget they need to complete this work.
The time has come for city council to put a sum of money into the 2017 budget so these people can complete the job they started back in 2011.
If you live close to one of the parks listed below and have children that want a real Canadian experience – listen up. There is an opportunity to get out of the house at night and do something only real Canadians get to do – and that is water an outdoor rink and freeze your buns at the same time.
The 10 city parks that have a water supply suitable for winter watering:
• Brant Hills Park (2 rinks possible) • LaSalle Park • Sherwood Park • Bridgeview Park • Nelson Park • Tansley Woods Park • Central Park • Orchard Park • Ireland Park • Sheldon Park
Residents can suggest other park locations provided the site is suitable and they are willing to take on the water supply at their own expense.
The city is encouraging neighbours to come together this winter to maintain a natural outdoor ice rink in their local park. Applications for the Neighbourhood Rink program are available now on www.burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrink.
Here is how the program works
Applicants can choose from 10 city parks that have a dedicated water supply or another local park without a water supply.
City staff will then install rink boards in each requested park. As the colder weather arrives, each neighbourhood group will flood the rinks to get them ready for a first skate.
Groups looking to organize a neighbourhood rink will need a minimum of six people from their community to maintain the rink. Applications are due by Nov. 1, 2016.
For more information, visit www.burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrink, email skating@burlington.ca or call 905-335-7600, ext. 6454.
The city is encouraging neighbours to come together this winter to maintain a natural outdoor ice rink in their local park. Applications for the Neighbourhood Rink program are available now on www.burlington.ca/neighbourhoodrink.
“Neighbourhood rinks provide a great opportunity to get active in your community and to get to know your neighbours,” said Chris Glenn, the city’s director of parks and recreation. “While the mild weather we had last year posed some challenges, we are optimistic that this winter will bring just what we need to build outdoor spaces that are fun for the whole family.”
Nice quote – what the media release didn’t do was tell anyone which parks people can put a natural ice rink in.
Sort of fundamental – you’d think.
The Gazette will dig that out for you.
Here is how the program works
Applicants can choose from 10 city parks that have a dedicated water supply or another local park without a water supply. Applications to build outdoor rinks in parks that do not have a water supply will be considered where the neighbourhood group is willing to manage the supply and cost of water needed to maintain the rink.
City staff will then install rink boards in each requested park. As the colder weather arrives, each neighbourhood group will flood the rinks to get them ready for a first skate.
Groups looking to organize a neighbourhood rink will need a minimum of six people from their community to maintain the rink. Applications are due by Nov. 1, 2016.
Has the creation and declaration of Proclamations by the Mayor gotten out of hand?
At the city Council meeting last Monday the mayor issued 20 proclamations and Declared that a specific day was being named as the day to celebrate whatever was being celebrated.
Eight of the proclamations were for events that had already passed.
Are these proclamations not “photo-ops” – part of the process of keeping your name before the public?
Should politicians not be known, recognized and rewarded for the quality of the work they do?
They had every reason to be smiling. Councillors Meed Ward and Lancaster pose with five members of the Friends of Freeman Station after the Council meeting that approved the entering into of a Joint Venture that would have the Friends moving the station and taking on the task of renovating the building.
Councillors Marianne Meed Ward and Blair Lancaster don’t do coffee all that often but they deserve gallons of credit for the way they joined forces and made sure that the Freeman station for to stay alive. They made that happen.
Here is what our Mayor read out at Council Monday evening. You decide.
The effort to create a bigger sense of compassion for each other is noble and is certainly worth proclaiming.
Terry Fox Day – September 18, 2016 Franco Ontarian Day/Jours de Franco-Ontarien – September 25, 2016 National Coaches Week – September 17-25, 2016 Legion Week – September 18-24, 2016 Culture Days – September 30-October 2, 2016 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month – September 2016 Doors Open Burlington – October 1, 2016 National Seniors Day – October 1, 2016 Hospice Palliative Care Day – October 8, 2016 Gift of Giving Back Day – October 12, 2016 Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day – October 15, 2016 Workplace Bully Awareness Day – October 18, 2016 United Nations Day – October 24, 2016 Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator Day – October 26, 2016 Compassionate City Week – October 2-8, 2016 Fire Prevention Week – October 9-15, 2016 Ontario Public Library Week – October 16-22, 2016 Local Government Week – October 16-22, 2016 Spiritual and Religious Care Awareness Week – October 17-23, 2016 Teen Driver Safety Week – October 19-25, 2016 National Occupational Therapy Month – October 2016
It wasn’t that good a deal but it was the only deal on the table and the people running the Friends of Freeman Station (FoF) were afraid, perhaps, that the city would walk away from the table and the structure they wanted to save and rehabilitate would be gone for ever – so they took the deal.
Sitting on some “cribbing” with a sign badly in need of several coats of paint, the Freeman Station gets ready for its big move.
The Friends of Freeman have spent $300,000 on moving the station the couple of hundred yards from where it was behind the fire station to a small piece of land next to the fire station.
They did get some money from the city – but it wasn’t “fresh money” it was money committed for one project and given to the FoF.
The structure was moved about 100 yards and settled into the space so that a basement could be poured.
The first chunk of change was $20,000 the city had budgeted to get rid of the structure, given that FoF were about to save the building it was appropriate that they get those dollars; the second bit of cash was $25,000 that was contributed by the Molinaro Group as a Section 37 payment. These are sums that a developer gives the city under a section of the Planning Act, in exchange for additional height or density on a project.
Molinaro had agreed to pay the city $25,000 for additional density on their Strata high rise on Maple Avenue. Ward 2 Marianne Meed Ward managed to get the city to give the funds to the FoF.
There was about $8000 in a trust account that was also given to the FoF.
They have put every penny they raised in both cash and in kind to very good use. During the Open Doors event on Saturday they had counted 250 visitors and the afternoon as far from over.
The outside of the structure is basically done – work on the inside is underway.
The structure is owned by the city, it sits on land that is leased from a corporation headquartered in Kentucky.
The 2.5 acre piece of land is landlocked – the only way to get a road to it is from the fire department parking lot.
The current lease is good until 2019 – at some point the land will have to be purchased. That lease is a Joint Venture situation where the FoF are on the lease on behalf of the city.
The mess with the proposed wave break at the LaSalle Park arena has made the city realize that their Joint Venture policy is in need of an upgrade.
What was basically scrap is being turned into a valuable building that will add to the history of the city. The value of the building will be upwards of half a million dollars – which goes on the city’s balance sheet.
The FoF have done a great job – but it isn’t over yet. They are going to need an additional $200,000 – and it should come from the city.
Early telephone with a headset.
The Mayor is reported to have told the FoF that when the need is needed – he will be there for them. Let us hope that he comes through for them – they deserve it.
During the Open Doors event the public got to see what is becoming an impressive collection of railway artifacts. While taking some pictures one of the FoF volunteers mentioned that the delivery book would show what had come to Burlington from Eaton’s – and the high school student looked surprised and asked – What is Eaton’s? We shuddered.
Every piece of freight -large and small was entered into a delivery book.
The collection is superb – but it does need some help in the way in the way it is being presented. The creation of the way artifacts are displayed is now an art form. Some of that expertise is going to be needed – but let’s get the structure completed.
The structure has a full basement that at some point will have a full blown model railroad set up.
At some point the FoF volunteers want to lay fifty yards or so of railway track and, with a gleam in their eyes they will tell you about the steam engine they really want to put on that railway track. Given the success these people have had – expect to see an old steam engine on the property at some point.
Telegraph keys – used to send messages in Morse Code. That was the way messages were sent up and down the railway line before telephones were introduced.
The FoF have sought provincial and federal funds/grants but do not qualify for various reasons; one of which is that they don’t own the building.
Also some grants require that people wait for the funding to arrive before starting a project, and the FoF didn’t time – they had to move the building because the fire department needed the space.
All they could do was get on with their own fund raising – and they have come up with $300,000
Those guys over at Burlington Hydro know how to make the system work for them.
Last Saturday the city held an Open Doors event. Dozens of places around the city opened their doors – the Fire Station, Freeman Station, and the Union Burial Grounds to name a few. Hundreds of people poured in.
How do you compete against attractions like that?
Don’t compete – put you tent up on another day.
Thinking like that explains why we pay the hydro people the big bucks.
Burlington Hydro is holding their Open House this Friday at the Hydro office on Brant Street from 10 am to 2 pm.
Activities are taking place in different locales on the property: EVs along the front – displays and exhibits in the back garage – charity BBQ, bucket rides, and equipment on the back lot. North parking lot will be used for visitor parking.
One of the several EV’s that were available for a test drive at a recent historical auto show. Four or five EV will be available for test drives at the Burlington Hydro Open House.
The EV cars will be lined up at the front of the building.
Plug n’Drive brings 4 or 5 EVs that people will be able to test drive through the neighbourhood.
I’d heard about it; drove by the place hundreds of times, knew what it was but had never had a chance to actually go into the place.
It was the Union Burial grounds on Plains Road established in 1848 by ten pioneer families who were members of the Methodist Union.
A brick wall, first built around 1882 to enclose the Union Burial grounds, now needs both renovation and repair
The chief architectural feature is the fine brick wall surrounding the 138-by 104-foot burying ground. The wall was built around 1882 by brick mason Jabez Bent. There are also fine wrought iron gates at the front and side. The memorial markers commemorate some of the earliest pioneers in this area.
The site was originally farm land owned by Asahel Davis, a Methodist, a community who wanted burying grounds separate from those established by the Anglican Church at St Luke’s and St John’s. Religious differences were a big deal in those days.
The Ghent’s were prominent farmers in Burlington. Both Thomas and hos wife Elizabeth rest in the Union Burial grounds.
The families holding plots in the Union cemetery were major contributors to the early growth, prosperity, and well-being of Nelson and the Village of Wellington Square which are parts of what we know as Burlington today.
The Baxter’s, the Crosby’s, the Cummins’s, the Davis’s, the Fisher’s, the Gage’s, the Galloway’s, the Ghent’s, the Kerns’s and the Pearl’s – the families whose names identify many of our strrets created their own cemetery.
It is quite run down these days. The families moved on and there aren’t that many descendants of its founders around to continue to manage and maintain this historic burial place.
The brick wall is, sadly, in need of restoration. The wrought iron gates and original name plaque also date from 1888. The grave markers are invaluable historic records and also merit preservation. This cemetery feels especially unique given it’s setting of urban development.
“The families who created this cemetery came to Canada during the American Revolution. They were British and chose to remain part of the British Empire in North America. The Americans were in the process of creating their own country, there were just 13 colonial states at the time, who didn’t want the British imposing taxes on them. Out of the struggle between the Thirteen Colonies and their mother country emerged two nations: the United States and what would later became Canada.
The smaller markers recognize members of the family – several for children that died at a very young age.
“Those that left the colonies became known as The United Empire Loyalists who wanted to remain faithful to the Crown and wished to continue living in the New World. Therefore, they left their homes to settle eventually in what remained of British North America.
For many years after those people would put the letters UE after their names – United Empire. Many of the markers in the Union Burial ground have those letters on the stones.
“The Loyalists came from every class and walk of life. Some depended on the Crown for their livelihood and status and had considerable wealth and property. Many were farmers and craftsmen. There were clerks and clergymen, lawyers and labourers, solders and slaves, Native Americans, college graduates, and people who could not write their own names. Recent immigrants from Europe also tended to support the Crown.
“They had little in common but their opposition to the revolution. Their reasons for becoming Loyalists were as varied as their backgrounds. Some had strong ties with Britain: others had simply supported what turned out to be the losing side. Local incidents, fear of change, self-interest, political principles, emotional bonds – one or any combination of these influenced their decision to remain loyal to the Crown. The common thread that linked these diverse groups was a distrust of too much democracy which they believed resulted in mob rule and an accompanying breakdown of law and order. The Reverend Mather Byles mused, “Which is better – to be ruled by one tyrant three thousand miles away or by three thousand tyrants one mile away?” Loyalists believed that the British connection guaranteed them a more secure and prosperous life than republicanism would.
“Historians estimate that ten to fifteen per cent of the population of the Thirteen Colonies – some 250,000 people opposed the revolution; some passively, others by speaking out, spying, or fighting against the rebels. Approximately 70,000 Loyalists fled the Thirteen Colonies with roughly 50,000 settling in British North America.
“Of less practical value than land and supplies, but of more lasting significance to the Loyalists and their descendants, was the government’s recognition of the stand that they had taken. Realizing the importance of some type of consideration, on November 9, 1789, Lord Dorchester, the governor of Quebec, declared “that it was his Wish to put the mark of Honour upon the Families who had adhered to the Unity of the Empire…” As a result of Dorchester’s statement, the printed militia rolls carried the notation: U.E., alluding to their great principle The Unity of the Empire.
“Those initials “U.E.” are rarely seen today, but the influence of the Loyalists on the evolution of Canada remains. Their ties with Britain and their antipathy to the United States provided the strength needed to keep Canada independent and distinct in North America.
“In the two centuries since the Loyalists’ arrival, the myths and realities of their heritage have intertwined to have a powerful influence on how we, as Canadians, see ourselves. Truly, the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists not only changed the course of Canadian history by prompting the British government to establish the provinces of New Brunswick and Ontario, but it also gave them special characteristics which can be seen today. Perhaps the most striking of these is the motto on the Ontario coat of arms: Ut incepit Fidelis sic permanet that is, “Loyal she began, Loyal she remains.”
One of the people telling the story of the Union Burial grounds on Saturday was Stephen Davis, a surveyor who works for the Region; his descendants are buried on the grounds.
“We restored the rear wall and we will re-build the west wall. Trees planted too close to the wall grew and pushed over the brick work. It is a lot of work and we don’t have that much time – we are busy raising our family’s and some of the families buried here have moved on” said Davis.
Davis is working on some ideas on how young people can develop an interest in their ancestry and take part in the rehabilitation of a significant part of Burlington’s history.
Anishinaabe speaker, educator, and musician Eddy Robinson brings a wealth of knowledge and personal experience to the national conversation about Indigenous communities in Canada. He will be speaking at the Crawford Lake Conservation Area on Saturday, October 15, 2016 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Increasing media coverage of the challenges faced by Indigenous communities in Canada leaves many of us with questions about how such disparity can exist in our own country. Eddy will use his remarkable gift as a storyteller and teacher to bring this workshop to life and make the issues engaging for workshop participants.
Crawford Lake, it is a meromictic lake meaning that it does not receive the same atmospheric disturbances as other bodies of water, so the water remains calm almost all the time. And this makes for some great photos and clear water to take a look at fish and other interesting features. A boardwalk surrounds the lake, so it is quite accessible to almost everyone.
Come early for this remarkable workshop and you can explore the 15th century reconstructed Iroquoian Village and rare meromictic lake located onsite. Explore the past and then learn about our collective present, so we can make a more inclusive future.
“Through stories and song, Eddy works towards a day when the power of knowledge, inclusiveness and sharing of First Nations cultures helps our nation and all its’ people become connected and stronger.”
Tickets for the October 15 workshop at Crawford Lake are $25 per person (plus HST), you can purchase tickets online through the event listing at www.conservationhalton.ca/events.
Eddy Robinson, Indigenous Speaker, Artist, Musician & Activist was born to the Missanabie Cree First Nation, but born and raised in Toronto. Eddy didn’t enjoy an easy childhood as an Anishinaabe youth in the big city. His father, a Residential School survivor, left the family when he was just three years old and he subsequently endured years of abuse from an alcoholic parent. It was during these early years that he was first exposed to a heritage that he now credits with saving his life.
Eddy Robinson, Indigenous Speaker, Artist, Musician & Activist was born to the Missanabie Cree First Nation.
Eventually ending up in the care of his grandparents, Eddy found himself on the same path of violence and addiction that dominated his childhood. He credits a Catholic priest at the Native Peoples Parish in Toronto for first encouraging him to seek out his roots. He pointed Robinson to a traditional Anishinaabe Vision Quest/Fasting ceremony that would begin his journey towards sobriety.
The power of the Dewegun (Drum) has opened the door to other aspects of his culture. A member of the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business (CCAB) Eddy established his First Nations owned and operated business Morningstar River in 2007 to address the societal need for Indigenous education and displays of authentic culture. Eddy is a noted Anishinaabe artist, musician, activist and educator, and is a member of the National Speakers Bureau.
Crawford Lake is located at the corner of Guelph Line and Conservation Road (formerly Steeles Avenue) 15 km north of the QEW, and 5 km south of the 401 in Milton. The pristine waters of Crawford Lake have drawn people to its shores for hundreds of years. The rare lake, with surrounding boardwalk, is nestled in lush forests atop the stunning Niagara Escarpment where visitors can watch soaring turkey vultures glide through the Nassagaweya Canyon.
You can step back in time and explore the 15th century Iroquoian Village that has been reconstructed on its original site at Crawford Lake. The spirits still sing in the longhouses where tools, animal hides and the smell of smoke let you experience the rich history of Ontario’s First Peoples. Crawford Lake’s Customer Service staff can be reached by telephone at 905-854-0234, ext. 221, or by e-mail, crawlake@hrca.on.ca.
What does 2334 people gathered together in the shape of a J in Spencer Smith Park look like?
You saw it here first in the Gazette.
An additional 1039 people could have filled those empty patches. There is an opportunity for those who didn’t take part to do the right thing with the Paletta Matching $5 million campaign goes into high gear.
Was the reason for falling short of that 3373 + 1 target because of the weather?
There were a number of hearty souls who braved the rain – and it was raining when the first 700 people showed up,
Or was there some other reason – it would be useful for the hospital to fully understand why we didn’t exceed the target.
Is support for the hospital a mile while but just an inch thick?
They will say of course it isn’t – it’s a mile wide and a mile deep. The Gazette doesn’t share that view. It could be and should be a mile wide and a mile deep.
That it does not appear to be so is a serious issue for this community.
Medicine is science; science is based on facts and evidence. It would be worth the while to look at the evidence.
The 2334 total was nothing to sneeze at – but when you look at that magnificent J – there are a lot of empty patches aren’t there?
Why?
The objective was to get 3373 + 1 people inside that yellow rope so the person in the cherry picker could verify the count – we have no idea how they did that.
In a media release the hospital Foundation said:
The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation kicked off its “Join the J” fundraising campaign yesterday in Spencer Smith Park with over 2,334 people forming a giant J. In large part due to significant rain, the attempt fell just short of the goal of breaking a Guinness world record for creating the largest human letter.
However, the Foundation’s primary goal of raising awareness for the start of its fundraising campaign was met and those in attendance had a good time, learned about the campaign, and the new Joseph Brant Hospital.
“We were on track and expected to set the Guinness record today, but not surprisingly the weather kept a number of community participants away,” says Anissa Hilborn, president, Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation. “The real goal of engaging people from across our community to launch “Join the J” in a unique way was definitely met. We are encouraged by the support from so many members of our community.”
The “Join the J” campaign will run until the goal of $60 Million is raised. The Foundation recently announced they have raised $50 Million to date, and with the Pasquale & Anita Paletta Family Match Challenge hope to raise the remaining $10M before the new Hospital opens in 2018-2019.
It was a great time for the kids – rain and rubber boots plus a nifty poncho – that was all they needed to make a day of it.
“We had planned for a number of factors, including the weather, but you can’t always anticipate how people will respond in these situations,” adds Hilborn. “The event was still fun, and we want to thank all those who made the effort, and our sponsors and partners including TD, Hill’s Video, Access Storage, City of Burlington, Super Save Group, Bell Media, Burlington Mall, Kernels Mapleview Mall, Access Printing and Attridge Transportation. Everyone has been very supportive and we look forward to their continued support as we have many more events and initiatives planned for the months ahead.”
When David Vollick was accepted by city council in 2011 as the Town Crier there was just the one condition – that he not look to the city for financial support.
Glenn Gillespie, a Beachway resident meets Town Crier David Vollick.
Vollick wasn’t asking Council to pay him to do the job but he did point at that the people getting the benefit of the Crier usually pay a small stipend to cover the cost of cleaning the elaborate uniform he wears. As Dave pointed out ”it costs $50 to have this uniform cleaned and pressed.”
It continues that way. The city will frequently ask Vollock to appear – which he does. Doesn’t get a dime.
Last Sunday Vollick appeared once again as the Town Crier at the “Join the J” event at Spencer Smith Park. It was raining a bit and the grounds were muddy.
Town Crier David Vollick reading a message to Council in December of 2011.
We bumped into Glenn Gillespie, a Beachway resident who intends to stay in the home he owns despite the desire of the Regional government to buy it.
While introducing Glenn to David mention was made of the cost of cleaning the Town Crier Uniform. It took Glenn all of 10 seconds to offer to pay for the cleaning.
“I will arrange for my company to pay the cleaning bill for you” offered Glenn – which David willingly accepted.
Despite pouring rain – hundreds showed up and waited for a process to be counted.
It was raining steadily as people began to enter the park – the sun did make an appearance – it could have shown itself earlier.
The grass at Spencer Smith Park was squishy and had begun to turn muddy – that didn’t prevent those hundreds from growing into 1000, then into 2000 and finally into 2334.
But it wasn’t enough.
Anissa Hilbourn, president of the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation,
When Anissa Hilbourn, president of the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation, came up with the idea, the record – 2165 – was held by Dell Technologies
As the hospital Foundation was doing all the prep week for the event – which was to fill the shape of a J with at least 2166 people, Queen’s University, which was celebrating its 175th anniversary decided to go for the record and put thousands of people inside the shape of a Q.
They did that at Richardson stadium in Kingston – 3373 people formed in the shape of a Q
The hospital Foundation had a much different challenge in front of them – 2166 was really do-able for Burlington – 3373 was a much different situation.
The curl of the J started in the east and worked its way westward in Spencer Smith Park.
The length of the line of people was impressive and …
… and it kept on going and going and going.
2334 people who will be wearing an orange armband – they did their best to make history. They didn’t because you were not there.
The crowd began to assemble before noon even though it was raining – not a downpour but certainly a steady falling of rain.
The challenge was to text, to tweet and to telephone and drag your friends out.
At about 12:15 the sun broke through and it looked as if it just might be possible. The Master of ceremonies kept encouraging the crowd to text everyone they knew. “Get the message out” he implored people to do. He called out to those living in the condominiums across the street from the park to “come out – the sun is shining” – but it wasn’t enough.
The end of a disappointing day but only in terms of the numbers. The people who were there didn’t see the day as a failure. The hospital they were supporting was a km or more to the west.
The Guinness World Book of Records official announced that the number of people inside the J that stretched almost the full length of Spencer Smith Park was 2334.
We told you about the changes being made at the eastern end of Spencer Smith Park that included the destruction of the existing gazebo and the creation of a walking path.
The drawing set out below wasn’t available to us at the time – with that drawing we can give you a bigger picture of the change that is being made.
The Naval Memorial will be at the left side with a new gazebo that will be a bit bigger and accessible in the centre. The stairway from Lakeshore Road will be right behind the gazebo. The land on the right hand side was a bit of a bowl that collected too much water – that will be leveled out
It’s quite comprehensive and all things being equal it will leave us all with a more functional park that will pull the pier, that neat little mini beach tucked in at the base of the pier and the Naval monument plus the new gazebo into one grouping.
Fine work on the part of city landscape planner Ingrid Vanderbrug and those she worked with.
We won’t get to see the finished look until the spring but it should work well.
What isn’t clear is how this upgrade to the east end of the park will fit into the plans being talked through for increased development on the land the Waterfront Hotel currently sit on.
If there is ever a new Waterfront Hotel built you can bet it will have a more attractive design on the street side – and that it will reach a lot higher into the sky.
There were discussions about tearing down the existing hotel and putting up something in the 30 storey range and adding one and perhaps two structures to the south of the hotel on land that Conservation Halton has a lot of control over.
The last we heard was that the thinking was to orient new development on that land so that it looked west along the Naval Promenade.
Should such a development take place the upgrade to the park and the setting for the new gazebo becomes almost an extension of any hotel development.
A view of the east end of Spencer smith Park looking west – before the gazebo was torn down and the willow trees removed. This is the view that guests in a new Waterfront Hotel would have – if that development ever takes place.
The New Street bike lanes and the impact they are having on traffic.
Drove west on New Street Wednesday evening at just after 5:00 pm.
Had to come to a full stop at Dynes and Woodview – the stop didn’t last more than 15 seconds, not long enough for the blood pressure to rise.
Did not see a single cyclist on either side of the street on the trip west.
I doubled back and saw one cyclist on the south side of the street as I drove east.
Device that counts the number of cars that pass by – same thing can be used for bicycles.
What I didn’t see at all was those little boxes with a thick wire coming out of it to count the number of cars and or cyclists that pass and wondered ….
How is the city going to know if the pilot is a success or not if they don’t do constant counts?
Wasn’t the success of the pilot going to be based on evidence and not just the rants and raves of those who think the pilot was a travesty?
The pilot project was a decent idea – bu if data isn’t collected regularly – then it is just plain dumb.
Our poor Mayor at times feels he is being accosted by his peers at the Y where he exercises – they, according to the Mayor, gang up on him asking why the bike lanes were installed.
The time to gang up on the man is when ballots get cast in 2018.
Finally, work has begun on the two Windows on the Lake – one at the foot of Market Street and the other at the foot of St. Paul.
St. Paul window – workers putting in posts that will be part of the barrier system.
These two delightful little locations were an opportunity for people to sit at the edge of the like and enjoy some peace and quiet.
View if the Market Street window seen from the foot of the street.
The two pieces of land were always city property but for the longest period of time they weren’t all that accessible and there was no seating.
St. Paul Window seen from the foot of the Street.
View of the Market street Window – it is the smaller of the two but will be a really pleasant place to sit quietly and talk with friends.
Getting them set up as Windows on the Lake was a long arduous process that stretches back more than four years when a now disbanded Waterfront Advisory Committee did a survey of just how many windows to the lake existed.
Location of the Market Street and St. Paul Street windows on the Lake. The property in between the two was sold the abutting land owners.
At least they are under construction – not much opportunity to make use of them this year – next spring people can sit on property that the city neglected for the longest time.
There is an additional window to the lake at the bottom of Green Street that has yet to be given some attention.
By Pepper Parr
The 10 city parks that have a water supply suitable for winter watering:
Burlington Hydro is holding their Open House this Friday at the Hydro office on Brant Street from 10 am to 2 pm.
