 By Staff
August 24, 2016
Burlington, ON
A trial for an animal rights activist charged with mischief for giving water to pigs that were in a sweltering truck on their way to slaughter began this morning.
 Anita Krajnc Anita Krajnc of Toronto faces jail time or a maximum $5,000 fine for providing water through the narrow openings of a metal trailer to the pigs as they were headed to Fearman’s Pork Inc. in Burlington, Ont.
Krajnc, 49, is part of the group Toronto Pig Save, which held a vigil outside the pork processing plant on June 22, 2015.
The comments being made by readers who are following a twitter news feed by CBC reporter Samantha Craggs are diverse to say the least.
Worth tuning into.
The protesters have been on the scene for a number of years – they are persistent. Fearman’s is taking a beating in the public relations world.
 That pig may not be human but the look in its eye says it is in serious distress. The charge of mischief is for giving pigs water in a sweltering truck while they were on their way to a slaughterhouse in Burlington.
Krajnc said her group stands on a traffic island at Appleby Line and Harvester Road once a week to “bear witness” to the animals going to slaughter at Fearman’s Pork Inc.
‘In legal circles, people are scratching their heads’ said lawyer Gary Grill.
On June 22, Ktajnc said, temperatures were high, and her group poured water through the holes. In court documents, Halton police refer to it as an “unknown liquid.”
The Halton police have had to manage calls from the slaughter house every week – at one point the protesters managed to actually get to what is called the hog chute – the spot where the pigs are off loaded from the truck into the plant.
On June 22nd, Krajnc said the driver got out and told them to stop, and she quoted a Bible verse at him about giving water to the thirsty.
“He said, ‘They’re not humans, you dumb frigging broad,'” she told CBC News.
The pork farmer who owned the pigs, Eric Van Boekel of Oxford County, contacted police the next day, court documents say. Police investigated and pursued the mischief charge. Punishment for the charge ranges from a fine to up to 10 years in prison.
 Anita Kranjc supporters outside the courthouse Gary Grill, Kranjc’s Toronto-based lawyer asked: “Taxpayers are paying for this.”
Grill said the question isn’t how he and co-counsel James Silver will defend the case, but how the Crown will prove that what Kranjc did was criminal mischief.
Kranjc, 48, said if she is fined, she will refuse to pay.
The trial continues.
By Pepper Parr
August 24, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The new web site is now accessible. Looks pretty good. The search engine is very good. More comment to follow.
The Halton District school Board announced with some fanfare that their new web site was now live – click to get to it.
They get an e for effort but they fail at the execution – the site doesn’t load.
It will – they will fix it. Usually things like this are tested, tested and tested again before going live.
 In their media release the board does say some functions may not be accessible to users. These functions may take 24-48 hours to deploy. “We appreciate the patience of parents/guardians, staff and community members as we work to get the website fully operational to provide an improved web experience.”
“The new website – which will use the same www.hdsb.ca web address – is designed with parents/guardians particularly in mind. The fresh clean look, designed by web developer eSolutionsGroup, will provide users with accessible content which is enhanced with photos of Board students and staff members.”
The new homepage uses the latest web design elements to effectively bring users’ attention to important updates. Remaining on the site is the popular Spotlight on Schools feature where the Board shares news on engaging learning experiences in schools. The new website will include video options as another way to engage users and assist in conveying the exceptional learning taking place in our 105 elementary and secondary schools. News releases will have a prominent place on the new website, keeping stakeholders up to date on Board decisions, changes and key events and dates taking place throughout the school year.
The homepage will allow user’s quick access to many popular topics such as Find my Local school, Report a Student Absence, Transportation and Program Accommodation Studies, plus get the most recent social media updates. There will be large sub-menus to make navigation faster, an improved search engine and a translation function.
Beginning in the design phase, the Board gathered input from school communities to learn what they wanted to see in a new website. Several parent and staff focus group sessions were held in various parts of the region to ensure many voices and opinions were heard.
Given the increasingly mobile world we live in, the new website will operate much better on smartphones and tablets, making for a better user experience.
The old web site was almost a disaster – upgrading what they had was one of the leading priorities for Director of Education Stuart Miller.
We will let you know how it works – when we see it.
By Pepper Parr
August 24, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
There is very little wind left in the “climate change is a plot to scare the world” argument. The federal government has instructed all its members to get into the community and ask for ideas on what can be done about managing the change we are going to see in our climate.
This summer taught us what it is going to be like when we get exceptionally hot weather over a longer than normal period of time.
Just how bad is it going to be?
The New York Times recently published a series of maps showing what NASA estimated the changes in temperature in the decades ahead.
 Note that the American do not use the metric system of measurement.
Heidi Cullen, chief scientist for Climate Central, an environmental research group and the author of “The Weather of the Future” points out that 14 of the 15 hottest years have occurred since 2000
Based on the map data, the number of 100 degree plus days will skyrocket making working or playing outdoors unbearable and sometimes deadly
“The quality of the food we will be able to grow and the impact on our water supply will only get worse”, she said.
It is not going to be a pretty picture.
 By Pepper Parr
August 23, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
As we move into the fall and the workings of the city take on a more business-like manner much will be said about the Strategic Plan and how it is going to guide and direct the growth of the city.
 Burlington Director of Planning Mary Lou Tanner And make no mistake the operating word will be growth. City Director of Planning told council that her department was going to build “Bold, Smart and Beautiful.”
One of the four pillars that hold up the Strategic Plan is the City that Moves – which covers everything from more opportunities to walk to the places people want to shop and visit, changes in road lane configuration to accommodate bicycles (see the story on that issue – it has close to 50 readers aroused enough to make comments) and improvements on the public transit file.
Transit, which somehow fell out of favour with this council some time ago and was basically starved for financial resources
 Doug Brown and Susan Lewis look over a 1982 copy of the city’s bus schedule. Doug Brown who knows as much about transit as anyone in this city maintains that “since Burlington Tranit’s inception in 1975, Burlington has never had a first rate transit system. The transit system was good enough in 1982 to attract my family to Burlington. Among the systems good points at that time were: $0.70 fares that were also accepted by the Lakeshore GO bus within Burlington; 15 minute daytime service on the major routes; and a first class terminal on Elizabeth St.
“Since the late 80’s, the under-funding and micro-management of Burlington Transit by City Council, combined with City growth, has led to a long series of service cuts, fare increases, and a reduced ridership base comprised largely of those who do not have access to a car (youth, seniors, low-income, disability).
“I think ridership is probably the best indicator if how well the system is performing. In the mid-80’s the transit modal shore hit a peak of 7% Since that time, ridership has declined to the present 2%. The Ontario Municipal Board has imposed a requirement in our Official Plan that ridership reach 11% by 2030.”
While knowledgeable citizens argue the merits of the public transit system employers have to deal with the hard reality that they are having some difficulty attracting the labour they need due to poor transit service.
When the employers have a problem they go looking for solutions.
Enter the Burlington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC). The minds over there are being applied to the transit problem – especially as they relate to some of the larger employers along the North and South Service roads where transit service is sort of skimpy.
 Burlington Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Frank McKeown The BEDC formed an Employer Advisory group and is working with three different employers (they weren’t identified) to come up with a pilot program.
Anita Cassidy, Manager, special Projects acknowledged that the BEC is working on several possible pilot programs that will get announced in the fall. “We are working on bringing a pilot forward with three different employers” said Frank McKeown, Executive Director of BEDC.
Burlington has the distinct disadvantage of having one of the highest public transit ticket prices in the Greater Toronto Hamilton market area. It is also one of the few city’s that doesn’t use all the gas tax money from the federal and provincial governments to improve the transit system.
It will be interesting to see what the BEDC comes up with in September – something had to be done and transit couldn’t seem to make anything happen on their own.
By Staff
August 23, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Rick Goldring has been re-elected to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Board of Directors, Large Urban Caucus. The election was held at AMO’s 2016 Conference in Windsor last week.
 Rick Goldring on the night he was elected Mayor of Burlington in 2010. Goldring has served as chair of the Large Urban Caucus for the past two years. His new term will run from 2016-2018. The AMO board sets policy for the municipal organization that represents the interests of towns and cities across the province. Some municipalities (there are 444 in Ontario) have chosen not to be members of AMO.
In a statement released by the Office of the Mayor said: “An ongoing priority on the AMO agenda I will be focused on is sustained, predictable infrastructure investment for municipalities. Addressing this minimizes the impact on property taxpayers.”
AMO’s key advocacy priorities are focused on achieving fiscal sustainability for municipal governments, advancing federal, provincial partnerships for infrastructure and strengthening municipal legislative authority to advance local economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.
Municipalities will hold their elections in October of 2018 under a significantly different set of rules including changes on how people running for public office finance their campaigns.
 By Pepper Parr
August 23, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
With a name like “No Vacancy” what was one to expect at an event that ran for just a couple of hours at the Waterfront hotel when it was first put on in 2013.
A murder mystery perhaps?
What the city got to see was some ground breaking art – described as “installations” which Jim Riley describes as a “three dimensional art form that is often specifically designed to use the walls, floor and space of a room as a sculptural artwork itself. The artist uses objects, video, sound or other material to create the artwork. The audience enters in to the space and becomes part of the actual artwork as opposed to passively looking at one sculpture, one painting one video or other singular artwork.”
Doesn’t sound all that exciting when explained – you had to be in one of the rooms back in 2013 to appreciate what was being done.
No Vacancy put on a second event in 2014; it was one of those boffo – close to over the top events that was presented at the Village Square and given the name Cirque
The third year was put on at Old Lakeshore Road where the audience wasn’t as robust. Up until the 2014 event the group that put on the event did so without anything in the way of financial support from the city.
In 2015 and in 2016 a grant of less than $5000 each year was made available.
Each No Vacancy event is given its own unique name. The group has chosen MoonGlade for the 2016 that will take place in Brock Park, at the rear of the Art Gallery on Lakeshore Road and some space inside the gallery.
There will be 17 different individuals installing their work.
There will be a pop up arts gallery, live entertainment and a collection of food trucks.
 Xiaojing Yan is a Chinese-Canadian artist born in Nanjing, China, who currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada Among the installation artists will be Xiaojing Yan who is returning to the No Vacancy list.
 A collection of ceramic spoons arranged to form a bridge – installation art at its very best. Xiaojing Yan is a Chinese-Canadian artist born in Nanjing, China, who currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada. Xiaojing Yan received a B.F.A in decorative art from Nanjing Art Institute, China, in 2000, and an M.F.A in sculpture from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA, in 2007. The central themes running through her work concern immigration, identity, cultural difference, and transmigration. Often using traditional Chinese materials and practices within the contemporary aesthetic.
Yan’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Canada, China and United States.
Her work was included in the featured project at Art Toronto 2014 and the featured exhibition “Beyond Geography” at Art Toronto 2012. Recent solo shows include “Hybrid Vigour” at The Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Canada(2015);”Cloud Cell” at the Red Head Gallery, Toronto(2015, 2012), “Innocence & Experience” at Lonsdale Gallery, Toronto(2014), “Red and White Melody” at TRUCK Contemporary Art in Calgary (2014). In September 2017, Varley Art Gallery in Markham, Ontario will present her solo exhibition. And in November 2017, Suzhou Museum will present her first solo museum exhibition in China.
 Xiaojing Yan was one of the artists that contributed to perhaps the most attractive collection of bike racks in North America Yan has been in many public and private collections including the most recent permanent collection “Cloudscape” at Seneca College at Newnham Campus, Toronto, Canada (2013).
Yan is the recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the 2013 Mandarin Profile Awards. Additional information on this installation artist can be found on her web site: yanxiaojing.com
By Staff
August 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The successful prescription drug drop off awareness campaign run by the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) – Drug and Morality Unit (DMU), along with local partner pharmacies is transitioning from police facility drop off locations to locally based community pharmacy locations.
Expired or unused medications (prescription or over the counter) can be returned to any pharmacy in Halton. By responsibly dropping off your unused / expired medications to local pharmacies, you’ll not only ensure they’re disposed of properly – you’ll also keep them out of the wrong hands, preventing abuse, accidental ingestion and protecting our environment in the process.
The current police facility drug drop off collection bins will be removed August 31st 2016. The HRPS-DMU thanks their local community pharmacies for their support and looks forward to future proactive and preventative initiatives.
By Staff
August 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Milburough Line will be closed for traffic between Derry Road and Kilbride Street
from Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 at 6 p.m. to Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016 at 7 p.m. for Union Gas construction activities.
 A Union Gas pipeline is being built across the top of Burlington – it will involve a number of road closures. Please follow the detour route:
1. From the north, traffic will be directed east on Derry Road to McNiven Road, then south to Kilbride Street and west to Milburough Line.
2. From the south, traffic will be directed east on Kilbride Street to McNiven Road, then north to Derry Road and west to Milburough Line.
If you need more information please contact:
Susan Cudahy
Community Liaison
Union Gas Limited
Phone: 289-237-0068
scudahy@uniongas.com
By Staff
August 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Mayor Rick Golding uses a number of media to reach the citizens he governs. In an article he posted to his blog on the city’s web site he had the following to say on the decision made to put parts of New street on a Road Diet.
A road diet is when parts of a road used for vehicles is re-purposed and used for bicycle lanes
This summer, Burlington City Council supported a staff recommendation for a one-year pilot for bicycle lanes on New Street between Walker’s Line and Guelph Line.
As you are likely aware, the majority of council (6-1) supported this decision. It was our team of transportation experts that recommended what is being called a ‘road diet’. Simply put, that means taking New Street from four lanes to three lanes (two travel lanes and a centre left turn lane), with bike lanes separated by painted buffered lines on each side.
There are a few key things to note as we measure data and carefully listen to residents during the bicycle lane pilot project on the two-kilometre stretch of New Street:
 The current New Street lane configuration is on th left with the “road diet” on the right. This is a pilot project scheduled to last one year. Our staff will be tracking detailed data and we invite feedback from everyone using that stretch of the road.
The pilot is a litmus test to see if the painted lanes result in a positive experience for people who want to ride their bicycles, while causing a minimal impact for drivers who also need to get where they are going in a timely manner.
The pilot aligns with strategic planning – Transportation, health and environment
A key direction of our new Strategic Plan, which identifies priorities for the next 25 years, is a City That Moves. We want to increase the percentage of people using alternative transportation including cycling on a regular basis and not just for recreational purposes. The car has a 50 to 60-year head start when it comes to our city. A large part of Burlington was built when land and gas were plentiful and cheap. We are now trying to retrofit our city with more options than driving. Another key direction of our new Strategic Plan is A Healthy and Greener City.
 Mayor Rick Goldring Halton Region recently released an Active Transportation Health report, which was discussed at Halton Region’s health and social services committee meeting on Feb. 8, 2016. The report states 39 per cent of Halton residents, aged 12 and older, were inactive during their leisure time in 2013/2014. The report recommends using active transportation, including cycling, to improve health. (Read more here: https://www.thespec.com/news-story/6306140-halton-residents-aren-t-getting-enough-physical-activity-halton-report/). Furthermore, 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions produced in Burlington is from automobiles. There are significant opportunities for a greener, healthier city with a wider variety of transportation opportunities if we start investing now.
The timing is appropriate for this pilot project
 The city held a public information meeting on the project – it was not hugely attended – almost as many staff on hand as here were taxpayers. The decision to proceed with the project was approved by city Council on a 6-1 vote. Councillor Sharman voted against the idea. Does he have the best political antenna? This is an ideal time for the pilot to be done as this section of road is scheduled for resurfacing in 2017. This means there will be no cost to revert the lanes if the pilot is determined to be unsuccessful by staff and ultimately, council, or keep the new lane configuration when the road is resurfaced.
Meanwhile, city staff has assured me New Street west of Guelph Line will be reopen to the public in mid-August before the pilot starts east of Guelph Line. There will still be ongoing works on the boulevard (sod, driveways) but this will be limited to minor lane closures. All work will be done on this section prior to Labour Day weekend.
We will be watching the pilot closely
I live by New Street and as such, take it every day, at different times. I will experience first-hand the traffic delays, if indeed there are any.
The key measurement for me will be the impact on the automobile driver. If there are significant traffic issues as a result of this new configuration, we can simply repaint the road. This one-year test allows us to see if New Street is the right place for bike lanes.
Staff will be collecting data on travel times and residents are invited to share their feedback at any time to mayor@burlington.ca. My office will share this information with council and staff.
The pilot is a more direct route offering more destinations than the bike path
The multi-purpose pathway from Burloak Drive to Martha Street is good for recreational cycling. However, it is a busy mixed use pathway that includes not only cyclists but walkers, skateboarders, walkers with dogs and young children. A friend of mine broke his wrist after a young child darted in front of him causing him to slam on the brakes and fall. This means it is not ideal for people cycling along the pathway for transportation, especially when travelling at higher speeds.
The pathway is also not useable when it is dark as the average light from a bicycle is not bright enough and does not shine far enough to create a safe ride. The pathway is not lit at night. There are also numerous crossings where vehicles have the right-of-way. Furthermore, the pathway does not provide meaningful connections to the many amenities right along New Street.
The Mayor does indeed use New Street regularly. It will be interesting to see if he chooses to take the bus and experience whatever delays there might be.
The Gazette recently wrote a piece on the debate that was taking place and suggested that the public needed to give the city staff the time they needed to complete the pilot. That article brought in more than 35 responses several of which added valuable information to the debate.
This is an issue that has aroused the public, one reader advised us earlier today that “I noticed yesterday that someone had written WTF across the signs on New St promoting the road diet. I went back this morning to take a photo for you, but the signs have been removed. Work is underway.”
And so is the debate.
By Staff
August 22, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is attempting to break the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for the Largest Human Letter by forming a giant J in Spencer Smith Park.
 The Brant Hospital Foundation is going to attempt to put 2,167 people in the space shown in the graphic and win the Guinness Book of Records title for the Largest Human Letter by forming a giant J in Spencer Smith Park. Bring your friends, family and co-workers and be a part of history! Plan to arrive at Spencer Smith Park at 12 noon for on-site registration.
This event is free but you do need a ticket.
You can get that ticket by clicking HERE:
You do have to bring the ticket with you so that the hospital foundation can accurately measure the number of participants for the world record attempt. They will be scanning digital or printed tickets at the event and ask you to please bring your printed ticket or an electronic ticket on your smartphone.
When you arrive at the park you will be given a rain poncho to be identifiable as a participant and be assigned to a numbered section.
Participants will be asked to enter the formation upon arrival, and will remain there until the record attempt is complete and verified by the Guinness World Records judge on site. Water and snacks will be provided, and there will be live entertainment throughout the day including a DJ and emcee on stage to keep participants informed.
The current record for this category in the Guinness Book of Records is held by Dell Computers, who formed the slanted E in their logo with 2,166 people. We require 2,167 people to break the record. For the safety of all participants, the first 3,000 people to register at Spencer Smith Park will be permitted to be a part of the Guinness World Records Official Attempt.
 An architects rendering of the new entrance to the Joseph Brant Hospital which will now face the lake. The entrance will be off Lakeshore Road with the new parking lot just to the west of the hospital. This all happens Sunday, 2 October 2, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (EDT) at Spencer Smith Park. There will be all kinds of sign showing you where to go.
This is an exciting and really innovative idea – can Burlington do it?
The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation is responsible for raising funds for the hospital – they are currently well into the raising of $60 million for the re-development of the hospital that is taking place now on Lakeshore Road.
 By Staff
August 22, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
While most of us were sound asleep early this morning, at approximately 12:30am, Police responded to a reported break-and-enter in progress at Tamarack Lumber at 3269 North Service Road in Burlington.
During the police response, the two accused persons attempted to flee and were arrested near the scene. Two suspects, also believed involved, managed to make good their escape and are currently being sought.
Police located a stolen flatbed trailer (that had been stolen from a business in Toronto) the accused were in the process of loading a quantity of lumber onto.
Accused #1:
Klejton NDOJA (36 years) of Toronto
Accused #2:
Leondardi DEMOLLI (38 years) of Toronto
Both men have been charged with
• Break and Enter
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (over $5000)
They are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Milton on September 14th 2016.
The investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Vince Couce of the 3 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 ext. 2307 or Detective Constable Frank Trasmundi at ext. 2335 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Pepper Parr
August 21, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The number is reported to be between 8,000 and 12,000.
And it was huge.
 It was wall to wall – with the crowd stretching far into the western part of Spencer Smith Park But it was more than that – it was the looks on people faces and people who mouthed the words to many of the songs.
It was hot.
When Gord Downie first appeared on the giant screen he was in a passageway hugging and greeting the members of his band. The last performance of the Man Machine Poem tour as about to begin and the crowd of 6000 in the Kingston venue went wild.
 He gave it everything he had and went through three costume changes during a performance to be remembered for a long long time. And then he began to do what he does best – entertained an audience and took them back to better days.
At one point he came close to lecturing the Prime Minister who was in the audience which seemed OK especially when he said Justin had 12 years in office ahead of him
The aboriginal community has always been a concern and a passion for Downie – and he directed the Prime Minister to do something about that as the Prime Minister stood quietly with a look of both awe and respect for the man on the stage. “We are going to figure it out” said Downie.
 There were very few open spaces like this – these didn’t have all that good a line of sight. Some media reported three encores – I thought there were more than that, closer to five. As he left the stage during one of the encores he said: “Have a good life.”
The Tragically Hip music is not the genre I prefer and I didn’t know very many of the songs. I was there to report on the event – and it was amazing – he did three costume changes – each into a different metallic coloured suit and a different hat with feathers. A blue suit, a maroon suit and a gold suit; he was resplendent.
 The audience of between 8,000 and 12, 000 listened quietly and during the closing numbers stood to applaud an incredible performance. He kept pulling up his trousers – as if they didn’t fit or he had forgotten his belt; maybe it was the equipment attached to his waist.
What was amazing for me was the size of the crowd; perhaps the biggest Spencer Smith Park has experienced. It was a well behaved crowd – and the expected plumes of thick white smock with that identifiable pungent odour wafted over the crowd at the base of the screen.
The simulcast into Spencer Smith Park happened when the ward 2 councillor for the city and the Burlington Downtown Business Association approached city council and asked them to match the $12,500 that the BDBA had raised. Council said yes and the team that made it happen got into gear.
 The technical part of the performance went off without a hitch. They arranged for a small trench to be dug to bury a TV cable feed, along with a back up. The equipment that made the technically flawless production happen sat under a tent humming away with one at the controls – the technology was superb. Andie Porecki , president of the Sound of Music said everything technically had gone perfectly.
 The enormity of it all hits Downie – this is the last performance Downie played with is audience and at the close of one of his encores he thanked the audience for “keeping me pushing”
Two things struck me – the pain in his face at times; the howls that were almost primal and then his ability to shift into a lighter mood.
 You sat where you could; police patrolled an event that didn’t have a spot of trouble. The officers did wear Tasers however. At the end of one of the encores a member of the band appeared to have to lead him off the stage – didn’t matter – he returned.
At the second to last encore, the moon that was in the eastern sky was muted by drifting clouds; some of the audience was beginning to pick up their chairs and head for home. The concert was well past the 11 pm finish time.
Like the Spring break up on some rivers – the winter ice did not want to let go. No one wanted it to end.
 By Staff
August 20, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A heavy rainfall event passed through upper portions of Conservation Halton’s watershed overnight with some areas receiving depths of over 50mm. Creeks within this area experienced rapid responses from this rainfall, however, levels have now receded. This intense rainfall resulted in localized urban flooding of some streets and low lying areas.
 Heavy rains in the northern part of the city have swelled creeks resulting in some flooding – remind the kids to stay away from the edges of some fast flowing water. Conservation Halton is asking all residents and children to stay away from watercourses and structures such as bridges, culverts and dams. Elevated water levels, fast flowing water, and slippery conditions along stream banks make these locations extremely dangerous. Please alert children in your care of these imminent dangers.
Conservation Halton will continue to monitor stream and weather conditions and will issue further messages, as necessary.
Conservation Halton will issue an update to this Watershed Condition Statement – Water Safety Statement only if significant changes in the forecasts occur. This Watershed Condition Statement will be in effect through to Sunday, August 21, 2016.
By Staff
August 20th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a close to perfect evening – not even a hint of rain.
The folks that live downtown and those that made themselves aware of the free Jazz events on the Plaza at the Performing Arts centre began to take up seats as early as 5:30 pm for a 6:30 performance – they knew that the seats get taken up quickly.
This is the second year of what is turning out to be a very popular event.
 Barbara Lica, charming both an audience and a microphone. Good music, Barbara Lica, Romania’s gift to Canada took to the platform and never failed to delight. The cash bar was open.
 Barbara Lica, a night light lyrical voice. The Jazz part of the Centre’s summer program end next week when Vincent Wolfe & the VegasNorth Seven will be playing.
The fall program really doesn’t begin until very late in September when the Centre celebrates five years of existence – they are bring Royal Wood back for this occasion.
An opportunity to listen to a growing artist and to take a look back at what the Centre has given the city that gave so much to get it built.
The audience has grown, putting a management team in place has proven to be more of a challenge than many expected. The arts are different – not like running a factory.
There have been three Executive Directors during the five years of existence.
 There wasn’t seat to be had – some people sat on the other side of the street to just listen. What the general public doesn’t see or hear much about is the elementary and secondary school programs.
The Centre has an 11 performance program for kindergarten to grade 8 specifically curated for young audiences to be more than just regular, old field trips. Instead, they are unique cultural excursions that nurture the development of creative students and who in turn build creative communities. And tickets are $10 each.
Among the school program offerings are: The Lightning Thief, I.aM.mE Dance Crew, Peter Rabbit Tales, Brown Bear, Brown Bear and other Treasured Stories plus The Spirit of Harriet Tubman.
There are also workshop’s for students.
By Pepper Parr
August 20, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A national newspaper recently said that God Downie, lead singer of the Tragically Hip, was attending his own wake.
 This evening tens of thousands of Canadians across the country will listen during the last stop of an immensely successful cross country tour – sold out at every stop – comes to an end in Kingston, Ontario – their home town.
Downie was told by his oncologist, who will be in the audience tonight that his brain cancer is terminal. In the 1980’s Terry Fox ran through Burlington as part of his Marathon of Hope – he wasn’t able to complete the run – but since that amazing effort on his part millions has been raised to pay for the research that has to be done to beat back cancer.
 Gord Downie – performing. Tonight, perhaps millions will listen to that final concert. Will those listeners be generous enough to pump additional millions into cancer research as Gord Downie once again gives it everything he has?
That’s what that concert this evening is really all about – our chance to show who we are and what we can do.
Think about passing along the price of a good dinner in a fine restaurant to the cause.
Donate to
There is a free shuttle bus service from the Burlington GO station to the John street bus terminal – a short walk to Spencer Smith Park.
CBC is running an hour of Olympic’s coverage before the concert. The Hip concert will begin at 8:30.
You can donate online.
There will be people on site accepting cash donations.
There will be two stations on site where credit card donations can be made.
Give till it hurts – cancer does hurt – ask Gord Downie.
Joseph Brant Hospital Cancer Clinic
Canadian Cancer Society – Halton Branch
This event came out of an initiative from ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward and the Burlington Downtown Business Association who proposed that the city match the $12,500 the BDBA put up.
By Staff
August 18, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
On August 16th 2016 at approximately 6:50 pm, police received a report that a bike had been stolen in the area of Pearl St. and Pine St. in Burlington.
At approximately 7:00 pm, a plain clothes officer observed a male suspect riding the stolen bike along Spencer Smith Park.
 Bicycle thief steals second bike at the Inland Water research station in an attempt to escape. Police followed the suspect to the Burlington Lift Bridge where officers confronted him. The suspect discarded the bike and fled on foot towards the rear of the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters.
At approximately 7:20 PM, the suspect was observed riding another bike out of the parking lot of the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters. The suspect had attempted to change his appearance by wearing a hat and changing his clothes.
Police confronted the suspect a second time and he again discarded the bike and fled on foot into backyards along Lakeshore Road. The suspect entered one of the homes in order to hide from police but was confronted by a homeowner. The suspect then fled out the rear door where he was immediately arrested by awaiting officers.
The same suspect was also wanted in connection to a residential break and enter that occurred on Lakeshore Rd. on July 18th 2016 where two cell phones a wallet and cash were stolen.
Bradley Lionel MARK (34 years old) of No Fixed Address was arrested and held for bail charged with the following offences:
Theft under $5000 (X2)
Mischief
Unlawfully in a Dwelling
Break, enter and Theft
Anyone with information is asked to contact D/Cst. Mark Urie of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2338 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
Bradley clearly did not want to get caught
 By Staff
August 18, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The IBL semifinal between the first-place London Majors and fifth-place Toronto Maple Leafs is scheduled to begin Friday, Aug. 19 at Labatt Park in London.
 The Majors haven’t played since sweeping Guelph on Aug. 9, while the Leafs are coming off a Game 7 win over Brantford in 10 innings on Wednesday night.
The semifinal schedule is as follows:
(1) London Majors vs. (5) Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 1: Friday, Aug. 19 at London; 7:35 p.m.
Game 2: Sunday, Aug. 21 at Toronto: 2 p.m.
Game 3: Tuesday, Aug 23 at London; 7:35 p.m.
Game 4: Wednesday, Aug. 24 at Toronto; 7:30 p.m.
Game 5: Friday, Aug. 26 at London; 7:35 p.m.
Game 6 and 7: TBD
The Barrie Baycats are playing against the Kitchener Panthers where the Baycats are up to games.
Prediction: It will be London Majors against the Barrie Baycats with Barrie taking the prize. We have been wrong before.
By Staff
August 18, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
Late last night, shortly after midnight, three youths were gathered near the splash pad area behind Alexander’s Public School on Sutton Drive in Burlington when they were confronted by three black males armed with knives.
The youths were robbed of their personal belongings including I-phones.
The suspects are described as:
Suspect #1: Male black, 6’0” – 6’3” tall, no facial hair, wearing baggy clothing, specifically a dark coloured hoodie, grey sweat pants, and armed with a silver 4” flick knife.
Suspect #2: Male black, 5’7” – 5’9” tall, very thin, 1-2 gold teeth, shoulder length black dreadlock style hair, no facial hair, unknown clothing.
Suspect #3: Male brown, 6’3” tall, very thin, unknown facial hair wearing a neon green Nike hat, a grey sweater, grey sweatpants.
Investigators do not believe this incident is connected to a stabbing that occurred in the same community several hours earlier.
Anyone with information is asked to contact D/Cst. Alan MacEwan of the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 Ext. 2349 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).
 By Pepper Parr
August 18, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A little less anxiety over the announcement that New Street traffic lanes are going to be re-configured from the two lanes each way to one lane each way, a centre turning lane and two buffered bike lanes on each side of the road would seem to be in order.
Road marking removal will take place starting August 22 to prepare the roads for lane-painting, which will begin on August 26. The road is expected to be ready on August 27.
Existing configuration on the left – planned configuration on the right. Gazette commentators are getting themselves all wound up with some rather silly comments. Those rocket scientists have concluded the pilot project is going to be a traffic disaster.
Extensive maps showing the possible options for bike lanes on New Street were on display at a public meeting in May at Bateman High school. No one really knows how this pilot project is going to work. It will run for a year and the evidence will tell the transportation department if what they tried worked or didn’t work.
All these comment, some of them downright silly, add little to the discussion – wait for the results.
You can bet that the transportation people will be monitoring this very closely and reporting regularly to the city manager. The city manager will certainly keep council advised; maybe he will find a way to share the data the city collects with the taxpayers.
No one knows if the pilot will work – can we not wait for the evidence before jumping to conclusions?
One hopes that the members of council don’t fold on this one and pull the plug before there is a decent chance to see if it works.
Here is a sampling of the comments that have come in – and it isn’t over.
“Utterly incredible and unbelievable! At a time when this City faces major problems with transportation gridlock a major east-west thoroughfare gets cut to one lane in each direction. Get behind a school or city bus and your commute will be extended significantly.”
“Shame on this Council for their lack of perspective, and shame on our Mayor for lacking the leadership and the guts to stand up to the bicycle lobby at City Hall who are intent on pursuing their agenda despite widespread community opposition. Kudos to Councillor Sharman for being the sole voice of reason, logic and common sense on this pathetic Council.”
“Wonderful- no more bikes in the car lanes! Now the bikes have more options finally- Burlington bike paths, Burlington sidewalks and the new bike lanes! Looking forward to improved snow removal and synchronized lights for bike safety. Next- running lanes? Shake your heads! Check out where the bike lanes are in Amsterdam”
“What on earth are they thinking????? The congestion at rush hour will be crazy. We already can’t move in Burlington, they keep building and building. Would like to see the study plan for this. Lakeshore does not work either by the way. Lived in Burlington my whole life, time to move.”
“It is finally now official, this is a City being run by incompetent Councillors and staff. They should all hang there head in shame.”
“Unbelievable! A main corridor being reduced. I understand Burlington’s obsessiveness but to take a full lane divide in 2, well it is an attraction for cyclists to run 5 or 6 abreast. Afterall, they run 2 and 3+ currently.”
Related article:In May
New Street to be narrowed.
By Pepper Parr
August 18th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
The Dispatch side of the Regional Police communications unit is quite different than the Intake side.
The Intake people deal with whatever comes to them – the dispatch people are closer to the action. They come into the picture when the Intake side is unable to resolve an issue.
The job is a little more exciting on the Dispatch side – a dispatch operator can pull up a screen and see exactly where the patrol cruisers are in the community she is handling (the vast majority of the comm-unications staff are female).
Their is a GPS system in every cruiser.
 The Dispatch operator for Oakville keeps her eyes glued to the monitors in front of her as she communicates with officers in the field. There is a Dispatch operator for each community: Oakville, Burlington and Milton – Halton Hills is included in the Milton operation.
The Dispatch people can be in instant contact with every unit of the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS).
They are basically the connect point for every police officer in a vehicle on patrol.
Dispatch can be linked to the Marine unit in Oakville and patch them into police cruisers that are on a scene at the pier in Burlington.
The Dispatcher is basically a tool, a resource for the front line police officers who rely on them for information and at times direction.
 Shift supervisor works form this station – count the monitors she has in front her – that plus three mice. Dispatchers, like the Intake people are monitored all the time by the shift supervisor who can listen in on any operator.
The tension is a little higher on the Dispatch side.
During my time with this unit I sat with Nicole and Sam; both women had parents or relatives who were in the police service who suggested they give it a try.
It involves shift work which doesn’t work for some people.
It also calls for a lot of training and you become part of the unit by being smart and quick. There wasn’t all that much going on when I sat in with the Dispatchers – but when it gets hectic – everything rests on their shoulders.
They give definition to what is meant when we say “multi-tasking”.
There are several woman who have been with the communications unit for close to 35 years.
Sam decided to drop out of university – it wasn’t what she wanted to do – she likes the pace and the rush that comes from those occasions when there is a situation that is very active with several police cruisers involved in an action.
Nicole managed a tanning salon – these are ordinary people who happen to have that collections of skills and ability that makes them good listeners who can adapt to a changing situation quickly.
None of the communications people are sworn officers – they are all civilians doing a critical job and overseen by a staff sergeant.
The training is rigorous and everyone is cross trained and moved from task to task during a shift; any operator can do any job. A full time trainer is part of the unit.
The significant changes in communications technology adds to the need for constant training.
 New police headquarters, yards away from th current office, is scheduled to open in July of 2017 In July of 2017 the communications unit will move to the top floor of the new police headquarters where they will have a lot of new equipment and some new furniture. Staff Sergeant Dave Cross who oversees the unit points out that some of the furniture is more than 25 years old.
Migrating from one location to the other is going to be something of a logistics challenge – which the unit will handle with considerable aplomb – that’s what they do.
Related article:
Civilian operators keep the flow of critical information constant at police communications unit
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