Piano Series ends on the 26th - new season at Performing Arts revealed on the 28th.

artsorange 100x100By Staff

May 6th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The last of the 2018/19 Piano Series takes place on the 26th. A few days later the public will learn what the Performing Art Centre line up is going to be – that events takes place on the 28th.

Anagnoson & Kinton, one of the world’s finest piano duos, will be closing out the piano series on May 26 at 4:00pm.

The Piano was invented in the 1700s and is considered one of the most important instruments in Western music of all genres. Throughout the 2018/19 season, BPAC celebrated The Piano, presenting a four-concert series showcasing this magnificent instrument in distinct piano presentations, with some of Canada’s keyboard masters: music from Schubert, Ravel, Dvořák, and Stravinsky.

anagnoson_kinton_6-crop-u22919

Anagnoson & Kinton: talent of this caliber on the stage of the Performing Arts Theatre is one of the reasons the place was built.

With over 1000 performances throughout the duo’s 40-year history, Anagnoson & Kinton have been repeatedly met with great critical acclaim across North America, Europe, China, and Russia. In addition to traditional recitals, the duo has commissioned numerous compositions, expanding the boundaries of traditional piano-duos.

Music of this caliber and quality is seldom available in smaller cities.

The tub thumping for the 2019-20 season follows.

In the past there have been some pretty limp performances at which the forthcoming Performing Arts Centre program was announced. There was one season when it was positively embarrassing.

BPAC reveal - Ladies with program

Performing Arts patrons going over the offerings for the year ahead before heading for the box office.

The event could be a show in itself. The regular theatre goers – and Burlington has a lot of them – turn out in droves with their programs in their hands and wallets open to ready to book their tickets.

The full extent of the season offering is set out – some promotion and a bit of razz-a-matazz is what show business is all about.

Hopefully, the people who run the Centre will break out the mold that has prevailed in the past.

Show a little leg!

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Cherry blossoms at RBG bursting out all over the place - they don't last long - four to five days. Something worth going out of your way for.

News 100 redBy Staff

May 6th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It’s a sure sign that spring has finally sprung—Royal Botanical Gardens’ (RBG’s) flowering cherry (Prunus) collection is reaching peak bloom. The collection can be located at various areas of RBG with greater concentrations in the Arboretum and Rock Garden.

Banner

Once the blossoms are in full bloom – they last four to five days.

Cherry blossoms last an average of four to five days once in full bloom, so those wanting to experience the collection will have to act fast.

RBG records the flowering times of its cherries on an annual basis as part of a biological science known as phenology, an important tool in helping to track climate change.

In 2010, the Gardens added 34 trees to this collection, donated to RBG as part of the Sakura Project, an effort from members of the Japanese and Japanese Canadian communities to plant over 3,000 cherry trees across Canada. These trees are planted at both the Arboretum and Rock Garden sites.

Chefs at RBG’s Rock Garden Café are offering special menu items to mark the occasion. Visitors can sip cherry blossom tea and enjoy salmon poke bowl and matcha semi-freddo as part of their cherry blossom experience.

Collection of trees

Absolutely magnificent

One of the most iconic spring sights at RBG is the flowering cherry circle in the Arboretum. The trees planted in this circle are Prunus ‘Accolade’ and were accessioned in 1966. P. ‘Accolade’ is a spectacular pink semi-double flowered cultivar that has achieved the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Award of Garden Merit (AGM). These trees look most spectacular when viewed against the backdrop of a pure blue sky. Once the flowers begin to fade and fall the surrounding grassy area looks like it is covered in pink confetti.

For those that like to dig into the details – more than you may ever want to know appears below. Walking amongst those trees is to live for – don’t miss the opportunity.

Japanese flowering cherries within RBG’s collection are some of most treasured and appreciated of these trees. These cultivars have been bred for centuries in Japan and play a hugely important role in Japanese society and culture. The Japanese name the flowering cherry sakura and the art and celebration of viewing sakura is known as hanami (flower viewing) during the day and yozakura (night sakura) at night. The short-lived flowers are particularly important in Japanese culture as a symbol of the ephemeral and impermanent nature of life.

The colours of cherry flower petals can vary considerably with the colour of the same flower changing from first emergence through maturity to blossom fall. Typically flowers are darker in bud becoming paler as they age and expand. Seasonal conditions, climate and soil type can also all have an influence on the annual colour of flowers.

walking

What a great place for a Spring Wedding – can’t you just see a bride and groom walking down that path?

Cherry flowers are divided into four different groups which are based upon the number of petals. Whilst nature isn’t always perfect and variations occur as a rule:

• Single flowers have five petals
• Semi-double flowers have between 10 and 20 petals
• Double flowers have from 25 to 50 petals
• Chrysanthemum flowered cherries have more than 100 petals

The scientific name for flowering cherries is Prunus. The genus Prunus is in the Rosaceae or rose family. This family not only includes roses and flowering cherries but other notable ornamental plants such as Chaenomeles (Flowering Quince), Crataegus (Hawthorn) Fragaria (Strawberry), Malus (Crab apple) and Pyrus (Pear). As well as flowering cherries the genus Prunus also encapsulates plums, peaches, apricots and almonds. The Rosaceae family, as a result is one of the most economically important crop families.

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Bfast give transit A+ and B+ on their report card. Not a C in sight.

News 100 yellowBy Collin Gribbons

May 6th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Bfast Transit group logoTransit users in Burlington are happy with the improvements made over the past year and eager for more changes scheduled for the year to come. That’s the main takeaway from Burlington’s Fifth Annual Transit Users’ Forum, held May 4 at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre.

Audience with JE

More than 100 people packed the room at the Seniors’ Centre on Saturday to listen to the good news and celebrate the tremendous strides that are being made in the city’s transit service.

Another capacity crowd of more than 100 packed the meeting room as bus riders heard Mayor Marianne Meed Ward promise more improvements over the coming years. In addition to the mayor, five of six city councilors attended the meeting, showing support for a bigger role for transit as the city grows.

transit-report-card-2019-wThis year’s transit report card, an annual feature where riders vote on various aspects of the system, reflected the new optimism, with a much improved overall grade.

“You are the reason why transit is better in this city,” Meed Ward told the attendees.

“We have made some incredible strides forward on transit” in the 2019 city budget, she said. She thanked Council members for their support for free transit for low-income riders and for supporting an 18-month pilot project that will see seniors travel free in off-peak hours. “We’re going to make it permanent,” she stage whispered.

“We want people to be able to choose transit because it’s the best way to get around our city. We are not there yet,” she said.

“But the bottom line is that none of these changes would have happened without your advocacy. And along the way we’ve had some bumps. So I’d say, ‘Just hang in there. Keep advocating. Keep talking about transit.’ You did. You never stopped. And because of that, we’re here today with such great news. And there’s going to be more. We’re not done. This Council is just getting started in making sure that transit is the transportation option of choice.”

She thanked BFAST (Burlington for Accessible, Sustainable Transit) for activism on behalf of transit.
“You have been in the trenches advocating for a long time, when it wasn’t a very popular message,” she said.

Not there yet

Doug Brown, chair of Bfast, wants to see a bus schedule with routes that work for people and not the current bus route set up in place. It doesn't work claims Brown.

Doug Brown, chair of Bfast, wants to see a bus schedule with routes that work for people.

BFAST Chair Doug Brown praised Council’s new commitment to transit but reiterated Meed Ward’s sentiment that “we’re not there yet.” He pointed out that Burlington would still be below the GTA average municipal per-capita contribution to transit after this year’s budget increases.

He said BFAST rejects the recommendations of a transit consultant hired by the old Council that the city must choose between coverage of all areas and more frequent service on main routes. “Burlington needs both,” he said.

He also asked that the city meet its own long-established transit-service standards for frequency and availability.

Brown once again urged that the city examine transportation as a whole, rather than isolate elements like roads, parking and transit. He pointed to studies by Waterloo Region and the Canadian Urban Transit Association that showed transit can save cities money on road work and bring huge returns on investment for the local economy.

Burlington Transit Director Sue Connor outlined improvements that will begin in September, including more frequent, improved service.

Keep in touch
She asked users to keep in contact through the transit system’s customer service line and make suggestions for improvement. “We do take that feedback and we do look at it. We make service changes about six times per year so there are opportunities to change something that’s not working right.”

Stolte + Connor +

Shawna Stolte, Councillor for ward 4 and a bigger advocate for transit than many realized sits with Director of Burlington Transit Sue Connor during the 5th Annual Bfast Forum.

More than half of the meeting was given to the users themselves as they made comments and asked questions to a panel made up of Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte, Connor, BFAST Steering Committee member Glenna Cranston and Burlington bus driver Slawomir (Swav) Ozog.

Stolte said that after she was elected, she was researching other transit systems and came across an American article featuring the significant improvements made to transit in Brampton, where Connor was director at the time.

“We are so lucky to have Sue [Connor],” she said. “And what I am personally committed to, and I know the rest of Council is, is to working hard with Sue and to making sure that our Burlington Transit system is also one that eventually gets written about in articles across North America as a premier, leadership public transit system that’s working well for everybody.”

Doug and Colin Bfast

Doug Brown, on the left, and Collin Gribbons – wearing smiles – not always something seen at BFast events in the past.

Questions and comments came thick and fast on everything from electric buses to getting younger people to ride transit to service problems. Stolte noted that Connor took pages of closely written notes from the session.

Connor herself promised that she would take the comments to a meeting of transit staff in the coming weeks.

Attendees also paid tribute to Mike MacDonald, a transit activist and BFAST member who passed away recently.

This year’s forum was endorsed and supported by 14 community organizations.

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What did you do on Earth Day? Edge Imaging took care of part of the planet.

News 100 greenBy Staff

May 2nd, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Climate change and how we are going to change the way we behave as inhabitants of this earth has become the issue for many companies that want to position themselves as socially responsible.

edgee staff 1

The Order Processing Team at Edge

For Edge Imaging, the Canadian school photography company, located in Burlington taking care of this planet is something they have been doing for nine years.

They use Earth Day as the occasion when every gets outdoors and picks up trash in the vast green space around its Burlington office. The company has created a tradition around involving its executives and employees in keeping the Earth clean, and it celebrated Monday for the ninth year in a row.

Edge full team

It was “All hands on deck at Edge Imaging on Earth Day.

“Being eco champions isn’t just something Edge talks about. We take it seriously and we know it’s on us to keep our space green and healthy,” says Edge Imaging CEO, Dan Boudreau. “This is why environmental sustainability is a main pillar in our corporate social responsibility platform. It’s good for the planet and our team gets to have some fun.”

Edge has a strong eco-oriented culture, and ensures that its actions line up with its values. All photos are printed on recycled photo paper, using a printer with a 100% carbon-neutral manufacturing process. In 2015, they were inducted into the Burlington Hydro Conservation Hall of Fame for retrofitting their head office and photo lab with sustainable light sources.

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Parks and Recreation sets out Summer Play programs - invites residents to sign up for ParticipACTION and help Burlington get designated as one of Canada's Most Active Communities.

eventspink 100x100By Staff

April 30th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

We are finally through April and heading into what might prove to be a chilly May – but June is going to be real summer weather – RIGHT?

Now that we are dealing with Climate Change and not weather it is difficult to know what is coming our way.

Parks and Recreation is taking the view that the weather will be great and gearing up for a Month of Play (June) and asking Burlington residents and staff to “Walk the Talk” and sign up for ParticipACTION’s “Community Better Challenge” to incorporate physical activity where they live, work and play. The nationwide challenge will recognize and celebrate community achievements, crowning regional winners and ultimately appointing one community with the designation to be Canada’s Most Active Community.

Join us on May 6 as we rally our city around this exciting movement to get active in a Public Art Walk with Mayor Marianne Meed Ward. Meetup will be at Civic Square, City Hall at 10 a.m.

two programs

Don’t forget to sign up for the challenge on ParticipACTION’s website. Download the app and begin to track your active minutes beginning May 31. Every minute counts….

Park Play Experience Fund
The Park Play Experience Fund is a one-year funding program that can provide up to $1,500 to bring people together and encourage our community to get outside and play in City of Burlington parks, trails and open spaces. The deadline for submissions is May 27, 2019. For more information and to complete an application, visit burlington.ca/parkplayfund.

Let’s Get Walking Burlington!
“Burlington Walks the Talk” is a community program designed to inspire neighbourhood walking groups and encourage Burlington residents to walk together. Start a walking group for your neighbourhood today. Check out the “how to guide” and promote and invite others to join you on the City of Burlington Walk Meetup Calendar. The first 10 groups to register their community walk meetup will receive 10 Walk the Talk t-shirts. Learn more about the program and about upcoming walk meetups at burlington.ca/walkthetalk.

play street - pool

Play Streets
The Play Street program is designed to inspire residents to come together and promote community play! The program offers the opportunity for weekly, local street closures to encourage the use of neighbourhood streets for safe, active play and social interaction between neighbours of all ages. For more information and to complete an application visit burlington.ca/playstreet.

Backyard Pool Owner Safety Clinic
Two dates to choose from, Saturday, May 4 or Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Tansley Woods Pool from 10 a.m. to noon. This clinic will provide pool owners with the tools necessary to stay safe in and around the water of their backyard pool. Participants will received a backyard pool safety kit. Register online at burlington.ca/play.

gift card - pop up

Pop Up n’ Play
Popping up in City of Burlington parks throughout the spring, Pop Up n’ Play is a play experience where children can explore, create, imagine and play in their own way. Choose from, After School Pop Up n’ Play or Pop Up n’ Play Fitness editions.
See schedule at burlington.ca/popupnplay.

Give the Gift of Play
Not sure what to give your Mom on Mother’s Day? Give the gift of PLAY! Recreation gift cards are now available in any denominations and can be used to pay for memberships, registered programs or admissions to variety of programs. Gift cards are available at all recreation facility locations during regular customer service hours. Learn more: burlington.ca/giftcards.

Mama Mia

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An exceptional setting for a Mother's Day event. Saturday May 11th

eventspink 100x100By Staff

April 25th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Finding something new, interesting and different for Mother’s Day can be a challenge.

The people at Ireland House have been offering a unique experience at Ireland House Museum.

Ireland House Tea Tour Mothers Day

A different way to celebrate – Mom will enjoy the tour of the kitchen in the lower level of Ireland House.

The Mother’s Day Tea & Tour will serve premium tea, traditional sandwiches and desserts, followed by tours and demonstrations on the hearth at the historic Ireland House.

Select from one of 3 seating times (11 am, 1 pm or 3 pm). Tickets are $40/person. A maximum of four people can be seated at your table, not recommended for young children.

Once your booking is processed, a museum representative will contact you to confirm your table arrangements. Tickets are non-refundable.

Click to book tickets:

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Death is not a medical event. It is a social process and talking about it won't kill you.

eventsblue 100x100By Janet Gadeski

April16th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The title of the talk that is to take place at the Library on New Street on Thursday, May 2 from 7 to 8:30 pm certainly catches the eye.

“Death is not a medical event. It is a social process,”

kathy-kortes-miller

Kathy-Kortes-Miller – author.

Kathy Kortes-Miller. A social worker and palliative care specialist, speaks from systemic and personal experience.

Kathy’s book, Talking About Death Won’t Kill You (ECW Press, 2018), came out of that journey. Its helpful chapters include strategies and tips for becoming better informed; talking openly with family members, especially children; sharing with co-workers, creating compassionate workplaces for yourself and others; working through personal and medical decisions; making your values and wishes clear in an advance care plan; managing and benefitting from digital communications, including social media; and considering medical assistance in dying.

Death book coverShe has earned a reputation for managing this topic with expertise, empathy, and humour. If you’d like her to tell you more about preparing for death and dying, join her at Burlington’s Central Library, Centennial Room, from 7 to 8:30 pm on Thursday, May 2. There will be plenty of time for your questions. Copies of the book will be available for sale too. The event is co-sponsored by the Burlington Public Library and Carpenter Hospice with the assistance of The Different Drummer in support of The 100% Certainty Project.

To register for this free event, go to https://attend.bpl.on.ca/event/1666855. See you there!

Burlington resident Janet Gadeski is a former board member of The Carpenter Hospice. An avid reader, she represents the Hospice on The 100% Certainty Project’s working group, a project dedicated to helping people talk about and prepare for dying, death, and bereavement.

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Breakfast Bash has set a $68,000 target for their on-line auction. Help make it happen.

eventsgreen 100x100By Staff

April 16th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

There is a program delivered to many schools in Halton Region: Food for Thought.

Food for Thought is a Region wide program that works with elementary and high schools to ensure that every student has access to a proper breakfast.

The program takes place every day of the week at 130 schools across Halton and feeds more than 27,000 students a week.  They have over 2,100 volunteers (including 930 students) and dozens of community partners who all work together to feed students in their communities.

For the first time ever, Halton Food for Thought is hosting an online auction as part of our annual Breakfast Bash!

Breakfast bash

Some amazing items have been donated by community partners and corporations. All proceeds for the online auction will go directly to support the 2019 Breakfast Bash goal of $68,000.

Please send us a message if you have anything you can donate!

You won’t want to miss this event!

Auction items will be added shortly, and bidders will have a week to preview before the bidding starts.

Bidding will start at 9 am on Wednesday, April 24! This portion of our Breakfast Bash event will only be run on Facebook.

Any items not securing a minimum bid online will be transferred to the Silent Auction at our Breakfast Bash on May 3rd.

The Food for Thought story.

Link to the Facebook page

 

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A happier Bfast will be holding their 5th Annual transit event.

News 100 yellowBy Staff

April 15th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

These are happier days for the BFAST (Burlington for Accessible Sustainable Transit) people. They finally have a Director of Transit services who understands transit and wants to bring about changes.

BFAST has struggled for a number of years just to be heard. They bore the brunt of past Directors of Transit who were just plain incompetent.

A transit staff member said recently that “our Directors tells us every week that a large part of our job is to make this council look good”.

BFAST event 2019

So far they are doing that part of their job quite well – and this city council is providing them the funding they need to create a transit service that people will use.

BFAST announced today that they will be holding their 5th Annual Transit Users’ Forum that will take place on Saturday, May 4 at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre. It will be the fifth annual such gathering sponsored by more than a dozen community organizations in Burlington.

The forum starts at 10:00 a.m.. Doors open at 9:30, and a continental breakfast will be served.

Transit riders will also have a chance to discuss service issues with drivers, who will participate in a panel discussion, and to vote on an annual transit report card.

“Where past forums were dominated by pleas for greater funding, this year’s meeting will focus on sustaining and improving the service. A significant increase in the transit budget, approved by the new City Council, has opened the door to a better transit service in Burlington,” said Doug Brown, chair of Burlington for Accessible, Sustainable Transit (BFAST), the lead organizer of the event.

“We were extremely pleased with the budget increases that transit achieved in this year’s city budget,” said Brown. “City Council’s decision means that Burlington is on the way to providing support for transit that at least meets the average of comparable communities. We are very optimistic about the future of transit in Burlington.”

“Transit is an essential building block for an inclusive and environmentally-friendly city,” Brown said. “Everyone benefits from an improved transit system, including drivers.”

Sue Connor at mike

Sue Connors, Director of Transit

This year’s meeting will be co-sponsored by Burlington Transit, which will also provide logistical support for the event.

There was a time when the transit service neglected to provide transit service that would get people to their event.

Can transit fans expect to see the Director of Transit behind the wheel of one of the big buses?

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Good Friday Road Race on April 19, will result in road and lane closures.

eventsgreen 100x100By Staff

April 9th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The 46th annual Good Friday Road Race on Friday, April 19, 2019, will result in road and lane closures.
Streets will reopen as soon as possible following the completion of the final race. Vehicles parked illegally in the event area will be tagged or towed to allow emergency access.

gfrr_road_closures_2018

Same route and road closures as 2018.

Road closures

• 8 to 11:30 a.m. – Fairwood Place, in the area directly in front of Aldershot School will be closed to traffic with local access to residences maintained, subject to race delays.

• 9 to 11:30 a.m. – North Shore Boulevard West from Fairwood Place to Unsworth will be closed to through traffic.

• Local access to residents within the closed area will be maintained, subject to race delays. Through traffic on North Shore Boulevard West will be detoured at LaSalle Park Road and at Plains Road West.

Traffic lane closures
All other streets on the race route will have one lane open for local access.
Resident access

Urgent access assistance: residents can get access to or from their homes to cross the race route, subject to race delays, by contacting the road marshal from the race committee at 289-795-7391 in advance or on race day. An escort vehicle will be sent to escort your vehicle through the closed section of the course, subject to race delays.
Emergency Services access will be maintained at all times along the event route.

Supervision and route management
Halton Regional Police Service will direct traffic at major intersections and event marshals will help runners and motorists at multi-residential driveways and on side streets.

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Art in Action puts out a call for high school artists to take part in scholarship competition.

artsorange 100x100By Staff

April 9th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Art in Action is an organization that assists artists towards becoming entrepreneurs, by encouraging a social community for artists within Burlington. As well, Art in Action provides exposure for the artists within the Burlington community. Art in Action organizes and promotes a weekend Burlington Studio Tour on the first weekend of November, where juried participants showcase their work to the public in their own studio locations.

ArtInAction2018-SquareLogoThis self-guided tour is free for the public to come and enjoy. Other events include a gallery exhibit with work from all the artists in early fall. For more information check out our community sponsors and our artists at www.artinaction.ca

Annual Scholarships:
In 2012, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Art in Action we initiated an annual scholarship to encourage young artists in Burlington pursuing a post secondary education in the fine arts. We were able to offer 2 scholarships of $1000.00 each to two Burlington students. In 2013, 2014 and 2015 we presented one Scholarship of $1,500.00, and in 2016, 2017 and 2018 we presented one Scholarship of $1,000 to a talented student.

The $1000.00 scholarship is to be awarded to the most deserving student and presented at the school’s commencement ceremonies. The student is invited to participate in an exhibit at the Art Gallery of Burlington in the fall, the Burlington Studio Tour the first weekend of November and will receive media attention.

Art in Action winner 2018

From the left: Karen Hartman ( Principle ), Hannah Doherty ( Art in Action Scholarship Winner ), Hershell Thompson and Lori Fyfle ( Visual Arts Teacher ).

Criteria:
The student must graduate from a Burlington High School in the school year 2018/2019, and intend to pursue a future career in the Arts, studying at the post secondary level in an arts focused program. The jurors are looking for originality, creativity, concept and execution.

Past Scholarship winners can be found at: https://artinaction.ca/scholarships/

For more information contact: Darlene Throop scholarship coordinator for Art in Action at darlene.throop@gmail.com 905 332-0348

 

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Golf tournament to support Adult Day Programs in long term care homes.

eventsred 100x100By Staff

April 9th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

If you’ve taken your golf clubs out and are getting ready for the season – make a note of the Willow Foundation’s annual golf event.

Willow Foundation logoThe Willow Foundation raises funds annually to support several ongoing programs at Halton Region’s Long-Term Care homes and Adult Day Programs in these locations:

Allendale—Milton
Post Inn Village—Oakville
Creek Way Village—Burlington
Adult Day Programs—Milton, Georgetown

Tournament takes place at Crosswinds on May 16th.

Crosswinds

Crosswinds

 

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Bach and Debussy renderings at A Different Drummer on the 14th

eventsred 100x100By Staff

April 8th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Ian Green on piano and Ryan Scott on the recorder at A Different Drummer on Sunday April 14 – 3.00 pm

Ian Green Ryan Scott Drummer 14thTwo nationally acclaimed performers, Ian Green and Ryan Scott, rendering in their marvelous piano and woodwind a wide-ranging, bountiful concert, featuring Bach, Debussy, stirring Celtic pieces, sublime original compositions and more.

Refreshments, and a chance to meet the artists, happen right after the performance.

Tickets are $15, $10 for students.

To reserve, please contact us at 905 639 0925 or diffdrum@mac.com. Thank you!

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United Way Halton Hamilton raises $10,875,000 in 2018 campaign.

News 100 yellowBy Staff

April 4th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It was the third Celebration event for the Halton Hamilton United Way since its reorganization.

uwhh group

It was a full house with congratulations handed out to hundreds of people. Photo by Alecia Korkowski

They announced that they has raised more during the 2018 drive than the new organization had ever raised before: $10,875,000.

The hall at the Burlington Convention Centre was full, and at times really, really noisy with everyone chit chatting at once. Chris Mei, the man from the Weather Network, who served as Master of Ceremonies, showed how to get the noise level down in some very imaginative ways.

200,000 people were helped through the 80 community agencies that the United Way supports and that one in every four people get some form of help from the United Way every year.

The evening was the occasion to recognize the corporate donors and the individuals and organizations that make the United work the way it does.

There was one slightly jarring event – one of those Oh Dear situations.  At different points in the evening, people were asked to stand and be recognized: volunteers were asked to rise from their seats; people who had taken on leadership roles were also asked to rise – much applause.

The MC had mentioned earlier that one in every four people had either been helped by the United Way or were close to someone who had been helped.

When the MC asked those in the audience who had been helped by the United Way in the past to rise; a couple of seconds of silence and then one or two people rose, they looked around and then others began to rise but it wasn’t anywhere near that one in four number.

There were politicians on hand from Milton, Oakville and Halton Hills – not a soul from Burlington.

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Event to celebrate Mothers takes a bit of a twist: performance contains mature language.

eventspink 100x100By Staff

April 18th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Mother’s Day is taking on a different meaning at the Performing Arts Centre this year.

The first clue is the warning at the end of the media release: This performance contains mature language.

Girls Nite Out is an all funny, all female troupe consisting of some of Canada’s top stand-ups and comedy improvisers. After over ten years together, these comedic superstars are still making people laugh and on Mother’s Day they will be delighting BPAC audiences.

Individually they have won Canadian Comedy Awards, performed on Second City stages around the world, and been featured on TV (NBC, CBC, The Comedy Network) & radio (CBC). But trust us; you’re going to want to see them all together!

Girls nite outGirls Nite Out stars Elvira Kurt, Jennine Profeta, Diana Frances, and Karen Parker. You will remember Elvira Kurt from our 2018/19 season launch, but she is also a Canadian Comedy Award and Cannes Film Festival award-winning stand-up comic and a The Second City veteran. Her credits include: Baroness Von Sketch Show, Iron Chef Canada, The Great Canadian Baking Show (Canadian Screen Award nominee), Master Chef Canada, The Debaters, Degrassi, George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, Cook’d, Popcultured with Elvira Kurt, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Ellen DeGeneres’ HBO special, Just For Laughs, and, of course, Elvira’s unforgettable stint on both of CBC Radio’s hit show, ‘Q’ and, ‘q’.

Jennine Profeta is a performer, writer, corporate workshop facilitator and MC/host. She has performed with The Second City (National Touring Company, Theatricals) across Ontario and aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. As a writer, Jennine has penned scripts for television – Ollie The Boy Who Became What He Ate (CBC), Opie’s Home (TVO), Gemini and Genie Awards, and CBC Radio, and waxed poetic for Chatelaine, Today’s Parent and Best Health magazines.

Diana Frances is an award-winning improviser and comedy writer. Originally from Vancouver, she now calls Toronto home and is a writer on Corner Gas: The Animated Series (Comedy Network,) Still Standing (CBC), and The Beaverton (Comedy Network). Diana has been nominated for 8 Canadian Comedy Awards for ‘Best Female Improviser’ and has entertained our Canadian troops in Bosnia, Egypt, Israel and Afghanistan.

Karen Parker is a three-time Canadian Comedy Award winning/Dora nominated actor and an alumna of The Second City Toronto. Selected film and television credits include: Designated Survivor, People of Earth, Baroness Von Sketch Show, Hemlock Grove, Beauty & The Beast, The Firm, Saving Hope, Being Erica, The Jon Dore Show and Instant Star.

Comedic legend Norm Foster calls Girls Night Out “[f]unny, smart and energetic. This show was everything I like in my comedy.” This is a performance you don’t want your mom to miss! Make sure to get your Mother’s Day tickets now as seating is very limited. Show Sponsor Amanda Steene Cosmetics & Cocktails will be on site offering a selection of custom lipsticks for sale, so come early and really treat your mom!

Sunday, May 12, 2019, 7:30pm
Limited tickets remaining.
This performance contains mature language.
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
Community Studio Theatre
440 Locust Street, Burlington, ON, L7S 1T7
Tickets:
$49 Regular
$44 Member
Group pricing available
*All prices include tax and fees.
To Purchase Tickets:
Online: www.burlingtonpac.ca
Over the Phone: 905.681.6000

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Using data to tell your story.

News 100 redBy Staff

April 1st, 2019

Burlington, ON

 

CDH STORY HEdWith information coming at you faster than a mile a second – it is a challenge to keep up – and an even bigger challenge to get the attention you want.

cdn GRAPHICS PARTS

There are all kinds of graphics tools that can help you make a point.

Strong graphic presentations are part of that “a picture is worth a thousand words” phrase. The trick is to know just what kind of graphic to use.

Community Development Halton is running a class on Letting Data Tell Your Story.

In this workshop you will:

• Understand the changing demographics of Halton based on Our Halton 2018 series
• Discuss where to find specific data, how and when to use data
• Learn how to start building a data culture in your organization
• Discover what data to collect and the application of it.

TED HILDEBRANDT, Director of Social Planning at Community Development Halton, oversees the acquisition and analysis of data, including the publications of Halton Social Profiles, Community Lens, and the Our Halton 2018 series. Ted also works with other nonprofit organizations addressing their specific issues such as diversity, poverty, and housing affordability. Ted will be the class presenter.

cdh GRAPHICS - DATERegistration at cdhalton.ca/events ; Limited space available.
$50 CDH Members; $60 Non-members
Contact: office@cdhalton.ca or 1-855-395-8807

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Tale of two cities: Oakville and Burlington and how they face the same problems with some very different results.

eventsblue 100x100By Pepper Parr

March 20th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Engaged Citizens of Burlington (ECoB) has moved into a new phase of its growth.

ECOB logoThey have amped up the energy on the engaged side and will be holding the first of their Inform Series; these will be debates, discussions – events that inform people on critical issued.

These are not intended to be dry, dusty, stuff, boring events. The first will take place on June 13th, in the Community room of the Performing Arts Centre and will feature a discussion between Mayor Rob Burton and Burlington’s Marianne Meed Ward with a Tale of Two Cities story line.

Red jacket at city hall

Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward

Burton Rob - glancingf left

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton

The two cities, in some ways very similar, in other ways very different.

Over the last decade, Burlington, it is fair to say, has seen division over the direction of council, and the implications of intensification for different areas of the city.

Oakville, like Burlington, has to meet provincial targets for intensification. Yet it has not seen the major changes to its downtown that Burlington is seeing. Nor has it seen, so far, the strength of citizen opinion that has arisen in Burlington.

Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with the mayors of Burlington and Oakville, as they consider the contrasting experiences in each city, and what we can learn from the other.

Don’t miss what promises to be a fascinating evening!

Location: Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Studio Theatre
Date: June 13th 2019, 7-8:30pm
Cost: Free (Tickets must be obtained in advance, first come, first serve)

Tickets are limited! Sign up today to make sure you don’t miss out!

Register HERE for tickets.

 

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Student art to be on display at New Street Education Centre.

News 100 redBy Staff

March 19th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Every year for the past 15 years the Halton District School Board has showcased the artistic talent of Kindergarten to Grade 8 students The presentation fills the Brock Room at the New Street Education Centre on 3250 New St, Burlington.

The popular event will showcase the artistic talent of Kindergarten to Grade 8 students, with various styles of artwork displayed including paintings, sculptures, puppets, paper maché, crayons, pastels, ink, fabric, 2D and 3D pieces.

Sculpture - curvy

From the hands of an elementary school student.

Circuit city

Student took a discarded circuit board and turned it into a statement about where people live.

The exhibit pieces are selected by teachers to highlight art curriculum expectations. The purpose of the Elementary Art Show is to showcase student artwork and hopefully inspire and encourage others to pursue creative endeavours.

More than 1,000 students, teachers, parents/guardians, and community members are expected to visit the Elementary Art Show to tour the works of art over the course of the three-day exhibit. Professional artists from the Art Gallery of Burlington will demonstrate different artistic techniques such as pottery, weaving, spinning, photography, fine art and more. The artists will provide students with hands-on opportunities to show them how art can have a place in their future.

Rebecca MacRae

Rebecca MacRae, Instructional Program Leader – The Arts

“Elements and Expressions displays the self-expression, imagination and artistic mindset of our young Halton artists,” says Rebecca , Instructional Program Leader – The Arts for the Halton District School Board. “The pieces in this exhibit show the range of art disciplines the students explore with their visual arts teachers. Through the creation of art, students explore their ideas and imaginations and connect to their own realities.”

Student artwork will be on display during the following times:

• Tuesday, March 26 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 27 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Thursday, March 28 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• Friday, March 29 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

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Glen Eden to close for the season on the 17th.

sportsgold 100x100By Staff

March 14th,, 2019

MILTON, ON

 

Glen Eden hills

The slopes at Glen Eden.

If Glen Eden has announced the final day of ski and snowboard operations for the 2018-2019 season Spring weather cannot be far behind.

The slopes at Kelso will close Sunday, March 17, 2019. Snow conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly. Lifts will run from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm each day until the 17th.

To help make the most of the remainder of the ski and snowboard season, Glen Eden will be accepting all season passes and offering $25 lift tickets from now until close on Sunday.

Glen Eden usually opens around Christmas and closes near the end of March Break. This year, the Glen Eden season started on Saturday, December 22, 2018.

glen_eden_ski_snowboard_area_2_159582

By the end of the season she was quite a bit better.

Glen Eden is currently offering Early Bird pricing on 2019-2020 season passes and lessons until Sunday, April 7. Early Bird is the best available pricing of the year. At this special rate, the 5 Day x 7 Night Pass pays for itself in four visits and the Weekday Pass pays for itself in just two visits.

For more information visit the Glen Eden website, www.gleneden.on.ca, or call 905-878-5011.

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Best Casino Action In Toronto Area

News 100 redBy Fred Anderson

March 12th, 2019

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Toronto is one of the most famous cities in the world and the most populous city in the whole of Canada.

There’s a lot to see and do while in Toronto, with the CN Tower, Casa Loma, Toronto Islands and the Royal Ontario Museum all worth of any person’s time. What’s perhaps lesser known about Toronto is that both residents and visitors have a huge choice when it comes to casinos, whether it may be playing blackjack at PartyCasino or roulette at land based venues. In this instance, we will focus on the land-based casinos which are not only special in their own way, but very popular with both locals and visitors.

casino-rama-resort

Casino Rama

Casino Rama Resort
Casino Rama is more than just a casino, it’s a resort, with events, gaming, fine dining and more all in the one place. It’s gaming where Casino Rama excel though, especially with their superb range of slot games. There are in excess of 2,500 slots on the gaming floor, with these ranging from traditional games right through to progressives, ensuring there’s always something for everyone to enjoy.

As well as slots Casino Rama has a fantastic range of table games for players to enjoy too, but it’s the progressives which are really catching the eye right now. Games such as Blazing Blackjack, 5 Card Hand Bonus and Bad Beat Jackpot, all have jackpots well into their thousands, making them an exciting proposition for players.

Fallsview-Casino-Resort-300x200

Fallsview Casino

Fallsview Casino Resort
Fallsview Casino Resort is believed to be one of the biggest gaming facilities in the whole of Canada, with Elegance at the heart of everything they do. Like Casino Rama, there’s a lot going on at Fallsview, combining great gaming with fantastic shows and music. They’ve also got some amazing dining opportunities for visitors too, with the exotic as well as quick and comfortable food catered for.

When it comes to gaming Fallsview have you covered, regardless of your preferences. There are slot games aplenty with over 3,000 state of the art machines on site. With betting starting from as little as 1 cent, there are slots for everyone to enjoy. And, if slot games aren’t to a player’s taste, they could always check out the various table games and poker.

casino-niagara

Casino Niagara

Casino Niagara
Casino Niagara is all about fun and that’s great news for visitors. Unlike the other two venues mentioned in this list, Casino Niagara is simply a gaming and sporting hub, with some brilliant dining opportunities on site too. It’s the ideal place to visit if you’re looking for some entertainment, and if you love sport, even better.

Gaming at Niagara is something that everyone will enjoy, whether they like their slot games, table games or tournaments. There are over 1,700 slot and video poker machines at Casino Niagara which are spread across two gaming floors. The themes of the slots vary from movies and TV right through to celebrity-based slots, so there’s always a game or two for everyone. Casino Niagara also has all the table games a player could ever dream of, with blackjack and poker featuring amongst others. Casino Niagara has it all, and then some.

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