 By Pepper Parr
September 19th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Running for public office in these times means a web site, a social media presence, some money that isn’t already committed to something else, a couple of good pairs of shoes and the ability to go from door to door and convince people you have their best interests at heart and you know enough to be able to make wise decisions about a sector that you know relatively little about.
During our interview with Guy D’Alesio, a department head with the Halton District School Board, who has committed to resigning as a teacher at the end of December we learned two things:
 Guy D’Alesio: Don’t tell me no – tell me why. This man can get quite emotional about some things – students and the unmet needs they have and a statement he said he uses often: Don’t tell me no – tell me why.
He sees his strength as his ability to pull a group together and achieve an objective. Talking it through until the objective is clear and everyone is on board.
He wants to see more of the cultural events spread out through the city – asking does everything have to be downtown. He wants at least a part of the major events held in the northern, eastern and western parts of the city.
How he gets Sound of Music out of Spencer Smith Park is something many people want to hear about – Rib Fest has the same problem.
Transit – he likes what Uber can offer to resolving at least some of the getting around the city issues.
D’Alesio is a big supporter of the redevelopment of the Skyway arena but didn’t have a solution on how the $39 million undertaking is going to be met. He sees the walking track that will be part of the new structure is a must. Other than ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte who voted against spending every member of Council saw this as something the city was going to do.
D’Alesio sees Burlington as two cities – north and south of the QEW – few would disagree with him – but no one has put forward much in the way of viable solutions.
He leaves people with the impression that he has a solution but there wasn’t much of it put on the table during the extensive interview other than new solutions.
When Mike Wallace gave up his council seat to run for federal office Council decided to interview people to replace Wallace for the balance of the term of office. D’Alesio was interviewed by Rob MacIssacc. Guy appeared to like the look of city some time ago.
The D’Alesio family came out of Hamilton where his parents ran a grocery store. He has lived in the east end of the city for more than 32 years and claims that the worst traffic jams are in the Burloak area; he might get some argument from fellow citizens on that.
 Ward 5 boundaries After high school (Assumption and Aldershot HS) Guy D’Alesio attended Ryerson where he studied Mechanical Engineering, decided that was not a sector he wanted to work in and enrolled at the University of Guelph where his focus was on philosophy and history. He then attended Brock University where he earned his Teaching certificate.
D’Alesio was in no rush to file nomination papers. He was one of three people who showed up on the list of candidates on the day nominations closed. He had made the appoint back in July but was away for much of August.
The team that is going to get him elected is made up of family, friends and people from his football past. He was always involved in school sports events as a teacher
There are three children in the family: a girl and two boys.
Still an employee of the school Board, D’Alesio will need to take quite a bit of time off, should he be elected, if he is to take part in the orientation meetings that will begin the minute he is sworn in – some of the orientation will take place before that date.
Guy D’Alesio is one of three candidates running against incumbent Paul Sharman. Andrew Hall, one of the three, is a former student of D’Alesio.
 By Staff
September 19th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington, with the expertise of a Certified Wildlife Control Professional, have eliminated a second coyote identified by its victims in recent unprovoked attacks on humans in south central Burlington.
The City would like to thank the support of the Halton Regional Police Services (HRPS) who were present to ensure public safety and were ready to assist, if needed.
A third coyote of concern is still at-large.
In the past several weeks, there has been seven unprovoked attacks on humans reported to the City. Animal Services staff have played a key role in tracking the coyotes identified as being responsible for all of the attacks.
The coyote is described as having the same characteristics, a smaller sandy colored coyote, as the sixth and seventh coyote attacks on Sept. 10 and Sept. 17. The City is asking residents to continue to be vigilant in and around the areas noted on the updated map attached below and report coyote sightings using the form at burlington.ca/coyotes.
City of Burlington Animal Services staff have been conducting ongoing joint operations with the HRPS and the Certified Wildlife Control Professional in the areas of attack to track down and eliminate the coyotes. Residents may see this multi agency taskforce in their neighbourhood and it is critical that residents do not interfere with these operations.
 Map of coyote sightings and where rogue animals were killed
 By Pepper Parr
September 19th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Not what I expected.
I really thought every one of the 730 seats in the Performing Arts Centre would be filled and that after the viewing of the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, they would all flood into the large Family Room and mingle and chit chat.
The camera man from Cogeco thought the same thing.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward was the first to arrive and for a good fifteen minutes she was by herself tending to her email.
 Mayor Marianne Meed Ward was the first person to arrive at the Performing Arts Centre to watch the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II – she was one of ten people to do so. She is sitting – upper right corner. By the time the funeral started there was a total of ten people in the audience.
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte was the only other member of Council.
Meed Ward, who is an American by birth, is believed to have come to Canada at about the age of ten.
The funeral was quite something. It reminded all those who watched what a Christian nation the Monarchy sees itself as.
 The quality of the image was as good as it gets – there was one glitch when the signal was lost – lasted a couple of seconds. The service itself was quite formal.
For the first time since Henry the VIII there was a Roam Catholic taking part in the numerous prayers that were recited. The Archbishop of Canterbury pointed out that Westminster Abbey is where Elizabeth was baptized, Confirmed, Married, Crowned, attended her husband’s funeral, spoke to the Nation about overcoming the Covid 19 lockdown – and today she was celebrated as the Monarch who was no longer with us.
The almost last event of the funeral was the singing of God Save the King. In my time, when we went to the movies the practice was for the audience to stand up when the Anthem was sung.
Not a single person stood to sing that Anthem this morning. I did, my Oath to the Crown at the age of 17 when I was made a part of the Royal Canadian Navy required me to do so and I did so proudly.
The last item was a Lament played by the Queen’s Piper who stood in a gallery high up in Westminster Abbey.
The pall bearers then lifted the casket, slowed marched it to the gun carriage where it was transported to the next event.
What does the total failure on the part of the citizens of Burlington to show up mean?
There were two rows reserved for the dignitaries. Someone thought they were going to show up.
Is this a sign of what the municipal election turn out is going to be?
By Staff
September 18th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
There has been another unprovoked coyote attack was reported to the City of Burlington from a personal residence on Lakeshore Rd. near Tuck Creek.
The unprovoked coyote attack occurred Saturday, Sept. 17 around 12 p.m. at a residence on Lakeshore Road east of the Roseland area. The victim was resting in the rear yard when a coyote bit her in the knee.
The victim was taken to hospital and treated.
The coyote is described as having the same characteristics, a smaller sandy colored coyote, as the sixth coyote attack on an elderly resident at a local retirement home on Sept. 10.
The City is asking residents to continue to be vigilant in and around the areas noted on the updated map attached below and report coyote sightings using the form at burlington.ca/coyotes.
City of Burlington Animal Services staff have been conducting ongoing joint operations with the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) and the Certified Wildlife Control Professional in the areas of attack to track down and eliminate the coyotes.
Residents may see this multi agency taskforce in their neighbourhood and it is critical that residents do not interfere with these operations.
Due to the fluidity of the situation, it may not always be possible for residents to be notified of the operations occurring in the surrounding community. It is important that crowds not gather during these operations. This is important for both the safety of residents and so crowds do not scare off the coyotes being tracked. The increasing challenge is that coyotes are no longer denning at this time of year and are more mobile.
The priority of this multi agency taskforce is to eliminate the aggressive coyotes based on our approved City of Burlington Coyote Response Strategy protocol.
The City of Burlington met with senior officials of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Provincial Services Division this week to gain expert advice on the current situation and confirm further immediate steps to deal with a family of aggressive coyotes in south central Burlington. MNRF staff experts shared that under no circumstances should coyotes be fed by humans. When people feed coyotes, intentionally or unintentionally, coyotes become familiar with humans, are no longer afraid of humans and show more and more aggressive behaviour, as is happening now in south central Burlington.
From what City staff shared with MNRF scientific and veterinary experts, the experts are convinced these localized attacks are coming from coyotes who have been conditioned to see humans as providing a food source. This learned behaviour creates an environment where wildlife is conditioned to be comfortable with direct human interaction and may come to depend on humans for food. Once a coyote crosses the boundary of acceptable interaction with humans, the coyote must be eliminated for public safety reasons, due to a situation they did not initiate.
Anyone attacked by a coyote is advised to seek immediate medical attention and report the attack to the Halton Region Health Department and to the City of Burlington Animal Services at animalservices@burlington.ca or 905-335-3030.
Municipalities are responsible for taking appropriate actions to manage resident coyote sightings, encounters and attacks and take appropriate action. If a coyote attacks a person, the City has a Council approved Coyote Response Strategy in place that is currently being followed to prioritize and deal with this situation.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward in prepared remarks said: “This is the news we were hoping we would never hear again. Our hearts go out to this 7th victim of a coyote attack. We are pulling in every resource we have with help from the Ministry to locate and eliminate the coyotes responsible for these attacks. We won’t rest until public safety is restored.”
 By Staff
September 18th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
October 4th, 6:30 pm
 Virtual meeting to be led by MAD along with the City of Burlington (Mayor Marianne Meed-Ward, Councillors Angelo Bentivegna and Rory Nisan) have arranged a virtual meeting on October 4th at 6:30 P.M. with all MAD supporters to cover the following:
1. Expected Ontario Land Tribunal Process and how MAD is going to participate
2. What the City is now doing on this application and how they will participate in the Ontario Land Tribunal Process
3. What MAD has done to date
4. MAD Call to Action
5. Questions from Supporters to MAD or the City
 Designed and sold to residents as a community built around a golf course. Developer saw a way to squeeze in 98 new houses and a mid rise tower – took the case to the Ontario Land Tribunal The organizers of the event want as many people as are able to participate in this call to both get the update as well show their support.
Details in respect of how to participate will be provided to everyone closer to the call.
This is a major issue: maintaining the integrity of a community matters.
Related news stories:
Last of a 4 part series on what the issue really is: flooding
The first three parts are appended to the 4th part.
 By Staff
September 18th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 Coffin being moved to Westminster Hall The City of Burlington invites residents mourning Queen Elizabeth II to take part in City organized tributes. Residents are invited to send a message of condolence through the National Electronic Condolence Book (bit.ly/3TWAcoN).
Residents may also sign a Book of Condolence in person at City Hall (426 Brant St.) from 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., until Friday, Sept. 16.
On September 19, the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) will host a public viewing of the Queen’s funeral. Doors at BPAC will open at 5 a.m. with the funeral scheduled to start at 6 a.m.
The Book of Condolence will again be made available at BPAC on Monday, Sept. 19 for signing.
 By Staff
September 16th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Community organizations can now submit applications to the Halton Region Community Investment Fund (HRCIF) for 2023 funding. The HRCIF supports non-profit human service programs and initiatives that enhance the health, safety and well-being of Halton residents. Approximately $2.1 million is available for new grants in 2023.
Funding is available in single year and multi-year grants through two categories:
Category One: Provides up to one year of funding, for a maximum of $30,000. Non-profit, charitable or unincorporated community organizations can apply to fund short-term, small capital and/or innovative projects.
Category Two:Provides up to three years of funding to registered charities for programs and initiatives.
Organizations that meet eligibility criteria may submit one application in each funding category. The initial application deadline for both categories is Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 2 p.m.
Additional opportunities to apply for HRCIF funding will be available in 2023 for programs and initiatives that help respond to emerging community needs.
Virtual information sessions will be held for community organizations looking to learn more about the HRCIF and the application process on:
• Friday, September 23 from 10 a.m. to noon
• Wednesday, September 28 from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 4 from 6 to 8 p.m.
To learn more about HRCIF guidelines, upcoming virtual information sessions or the application process, please visit the HRCIF webpage on halton.ca or call 311.
 By Staff
September 16th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Some people have a problem with a surveillance society – where almost every intersection in cities has camera posted that are monitored 24/7.
 The technology is now at a point where anything anywhere can be under surveillance. Does it every get abused – Sometimes. Ontario Investing in Video Surveillance Systems and funding for new equipment and improved technology that will enhance police efforts to prevent crime, especially gun and gang violence.
The moment police mention gun and gang violence – the public all too often says – how much do you need?
The Ontario government is investing almost $1.8 million to help 20 police services across the province expand video surveillance systems and better protect communities from the threat of gun and gang violence.
The Region of Halton isn’t getting any of that money – it already has some of the most sophisticated technology – but they don’t appear to be making much use of street level cameras (CCTV)
The funding is being delivered through the Ontario Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Grant Program and will be used to replace outdated equipment, expand or enhance current technology, and install new or additional CCTV surveillance cameras in areas where gun and gang violence and correlated crimes, such as drug and human trafficking, are most prevalent.
“Our government is determined to provide police services with the tools and resources they need to keep Ontarians safe,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “CCTV surveillance systems are an important part of local police work to detect, prevent and deter criminal activity, especially in areas of gun and gang violence and other serious crimes. This funding will help police services strengthen CCTV capacity and improve crime prevention efforts to better protect communities.”
 By Pepper Parr
September 16th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
What a screw up.
The folks that make the wheels go around at the Performing Arts Centre put together a top notch season.
That one of the best bands on stage for the Season Opener.
 Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock, who formed the band Air Supply in 1975 Air Supply – the duo who have been playing together for more than xx years had made Burlington one of their three Canadian performances.
The event was close to sold out – 95% of the tickets were purchased – all they had left were singles spread out through the 730 seat theatre.
At 4 pm Tammy Fox and her team were advised that the gear Air Supply uses had not arrived. That was cutting it a little close – at 6 pm still no show from the cargo company.
The problem was with Canada Customs
 Chris Murphy – Sloan – came to the rescue. Fox was able to call in a big favour and have Chris Murphy of Sloan take to the stage and serve as the opening act.
The show was supposed to start at 7:30
After the Sloan performance at about 8 pm Tammy Fox had to walk out on the stage and announce that the event had to be cancelled and invited everyone to gather in the huge lobby and enjoy a free drink at the bar and meet Russell and Hitchcock and commiserate.
What a tough way to start a season.
The show will take place on Sunday at 2:00 pm – all the tickets sold will be honoured.
There were some cancellations – looking on the bright side – there is a chance for people to get tickets to a great duo that BETTER HERE.
On their Face Book page Air Supply had this to say:
 The Air Supply “Lost in Love VIP Experience” wasn’t consummated on the 14th – you can still have that experience on the 18th “.So here we were at our show tonight … Due to screw ups by our cargo company and Air Canada, our gear didn’t arrive at all … We went onstage and explained what happened … You all blew us away with how understanding you were … Tonight’s show has been moved to Sunday, September 18th at 2:00 pm and all tickets for the show will be honored for the rescheduled date … Once again, THANK YOU from the deepest part of our hearts, for your patience and understanding … It was nice to get to meet most of the audience in the lobby after the show and connect … We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday.”
Stuff happens. Check with the box office – some really good seats now available
Performing Arts Box office has extended their hours.
Call the Box Office: (905) 681-6000
By Staff
September 16, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Citizens are going to get a chance to at least see all the people who want to be Mayor, well almost all: William Tuck did not provide a photograph and it does not appear certain that he will attend
The Chamber of Commerce holds these events which are not actual debates.
Each candidate gets to say who they are and what they want to do as Mayor and then there are questing from the audience.
The questions are vetted by the Chamber of Commerce. So don’t expect any fire works.
Event starts at 7:30 breakfast is part of the deal and it s free.
Expect a pretty full house.
 By Staff
September 16th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Residents are invited to join local artists, cultural professionals and creative organizations to attend free, interactive in-person or online events and activities during the 13th annual Culture Days.
Culture Days will take place from Sept. 23 to Oct. 16, 2022. This year, it is extending beyond its traditional weekend format to a more inclusive and interactive three-week schedule of programs and events.
Canada is ready for a re-emergence of arts and culture and so is Culture Days. As the world navigates to past norms and designs new solutions for everyday life, arts, culture, and expression play a vital role in a healthy, thriving society. This year’s theme RE: emergence, explores new ideas and innovation in arts and culture while committing to building tangible change in the sector and society. As we learn to live with COVID-19, the Ontario Culture Days Festival will offer a hybrid of in-person events as well as digital and self-guided programming. Attendees are asked to make sure they are following any municipal, regional, provincial and public health guidelines in their area. Ontario Culture Days has created event pages for attendees and ways to discover arts and culture across Ontario.
Angela Paparizo, Manager, Arts and Culture said: ““This year, Burlington artists and cultural organizations’ are offering residents and visitors creative and innovative events and programs. I invite everyone to see what Burlington artists and cultural organizations are offering during the 13th annual Culture Days. This is a great opportunity to see our local talent perform and showcase their creativity.”
Some of the events:
BPAC opens it’s doors for free performances and demonstrations in our Family Lobby and Main Theatre! General Admission seating – no ticket required!
From 12–4pm: Visit local performing arts organizations in the BPAC Lobby, including:
- Burlington Student Theatre
- Burlington Symphony Orchestra
- Burlington New Millennium Orchestra
- The Burlington Footnotes Senior Performing Troupe, Inc.
- Southern Ontario Lyric Opera
FREE Performances
Burlington Footnotes Dance Demonstration
1:30pm in the Lobby
The Burlington Footnotes will be doing a jazz dance called Some Silly 60’s Songs from their Gotta SING, Gotta DANCE! June show. They will also demonstrate a dance called Snap Clap and invite audience members to join them – it’s a lot of fun! Visit the Footnotes at their table for a chance to win a Footnotes bag filled with goodies.
Website: burlingtonfootnotes.com
Southern Ontario Lyric Opera Performance
2pm – 2:30pm in the Main Theatre
Southern Ontario Lyric Opera (SOLO), is a young, vibrant and dynamic Opera company with a dual goal of preserving and cultivating the multi-faceted art of opera for the dedicated aficionado, while also acquainting and educating those who are new to this exquisite and refined art form, through community outreach.
Under the baton of Founder and Artistic Director, Sabatino Vacca, SOLO made its debut in September of 2015 with “A Grand Night for Opera”, a celebration of opera favourites, at Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Since then we have mounted productions of La Traviata, Tosca, Rigoletto, Don Giovanni, a special concert featuring Adrianne Pieczonka, and more.
SOLO’s Artistic Director delivers opera presentations at Burlington Central Library, seniors’ residences, and to other local groups. Popular topics are “Opera 101” and dialogues focused on specific operas in SOLO’s repertoire. These events usually feature an artist who performs excerpts from an upcoming opera which has proven very popular for those in attendance as it gives them an opportunity to interact and ask questions, and to learn more about opera singers and their craft.
Burlington Symphony Orchestra Performance
3pm – 3:30pm in the Main Theatre
The Burlington Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Denis Mastromonaco, is celebrating 50 years of making music. We are a full-size community orchestra serving Burlington, Hamilton and the surrounding area. The BSO is proud to fulfill an important cultural role within our city and add to the vitality of our growing community. As part of Culture Days, on September 24th the full BSO will perform several light favourites including the Main Theme from Star Wars and the Colonel Bogey March.
Website: burlingtonsymphony.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/burlingtonsymphonyorchestra
Twitter: twitter.com/burlingtonSO
Burlington Student Theatre Performance
4pm – 4:30pm in the Main Theatre
Learn, grow and belong to the Burlington Student Theatre, established in 1979. Children and youth ages 4–18 can participate in a range of performing Arts opportunities. We offer programs year-round with 4 performances annually at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre and have produced over 50 performances since the Centre opening in 2011. All tickets on sale beginning November for all Performances at Burlingtonpac.ca. Our team of passionate professionals will help build self-esteem, confidence, critical thinking and transferable skills. This afternoon, members of the Senior company age 14-17 will perform “Cell Block Tango” from their musical Chicago, performed right here in May, 2022. We are grateful for the support of the Burlington Community.
Website: burlington.ca/theatre
Dates & Times
Sat Sep 24, 2022 from 12-4:30pm
Venue
BPAC Family Lobby
Main Theatre
Ticket Prices
 The hunt is on.
A crew of at least two people armed with rifles are in the Shore Acres area close to the Paletta Mansion out to kill the coyotes that are believed to have been terrorizing the community.
Police are in the area limiting access and ensuring the public is nowhere near.
The city has gotten serious – finally
 By Staff
September 15th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
This is a little short on the notice side but …
On Saturday, September 17th, Burlington Public Library will celebrate 150 years of service to the community.
The Library is marking its sesquicentennial with a big birthday bash at its Central Branch on New St.
“We are so excited to be able to celebrate with the community,” says CEO, Lita Barrie. “The pandemic put so many things on hold, and we are grateful that we get a chance to acknowledge this incredible milestone with a great big party.”
 Designed by Hamilton architect Charles Mills and built in 1906-1907 on the west side of Brant Street, south of Ontario Street. Its construction was funded by a $1000 donation by John Waldie, Burlington’s first Reeve and former Member of Parliament. Waldie had moved to Toronto after the death in 1884 of his wife Mary Ann (and the mother of their 13 children), following childbirth. As the founder of the Victoria Harbour Lumber Company, Waldie became immensely wealthy, building a Rosedale mansion for his family, but he did not forget Burlington. On opening day, the new library was stocked with 6,000 books, purchased by Waldie. The Library was demolished for the construction of a new Town Hall in 1964., 150 years of history
The library was founded in 1872 when villagers and public-school trustees joined forces to establish a public library service.
It began in a Central Public School hallway, where villagers could stop by for an hour every Friday afternoon to borrow a book.
Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the townspeople, the growing collection soon became too big for its location. For many years, local folks took turns hosting over 2,000 books in their homes and businesses until the first permanent library site opened in 1907.
Since then, the system has grown to seven branches across the city and offers programs, books, and community space to more than 100,000 members.
Bring the whole family
The celebration will run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. this Saturday. It will feature live music, games, treats, and more. Formal remarks will take place at 11 a.m.
Attendees will also have a chance to contribute to a community art project that will be installed on the third floor of Central Branch later this year.
Where and when:
2331 New St. Burlington
Saturday, September 17th
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
By Staff
September 15th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Lakeshore Public School Community information Meeting
Sunday September 18, 2022
3:30-5:30pm
Location: TO BE DETERMINED.
Jane Cooper-Kelly, Lakeshore Public School Ratepayers Association
The meeting will apparently not be held on school property – liability issues
By Staff
September 15th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
 When you see the coyote – report what you saw. It was made very clear during the Council Standing Committee yesterday that Animal Control know where the coyotes are wandering about is important information
The help the public with this important information gathering the city has created a form that can be filled in.
That form can be accessed by clicking HERE.
You can also call Animal Control – Burlington Animal Services at 905-335-3030.
 By Pepper Parr
September 14th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
The general public knew very little about Tim Commisso when he returned to city hall as City Manager after retiring from the same job in Thunder Bay and spending a bit of time in the private sector.
One of the tasks he has as city manager is ensuring that the organizational structure is such that the needs of the city are met with the organization he creates.
That structure is something that evolves. In the past two years the staff compliment has ballooned – the Planning department is close to double what it was when this term of Council was elected.
We had a situation this past week when four Statutory meetings took place on the same day.
The Executive Director Sheila Jones was tasked with putting together the structure that will serve the city for at least a decade.
The size of the organization grew and the relationships between the different parts are set out so that staff understands the reporting structure.
Commisso found that he had to reduce the number of direct reports and created a series of Executive Directors that took much of the interaction with department directors off his desk.
 This is what is in place now and what the city manager wants to add to the organizational structure. Commisso is supported by some very talented people who created the outline and presented the charts that are set out below.
 This is the core of the administration that has been endorsed by city council and will be put in place going forward. He did say that he had know idea how Sheila Jones created the charts and left it at that.
 Customer relations is getting much more attention – that doesn’t seem to have made any different to the level of citizen engagement.
 With everything being digitized – the Information Technology department had to begin shifting its focus and bringing indifferent levels of expertise; cyber security being one. Oddly – except for ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns and to a lesser degree Paul Sharman had much to say.
In his opening remarks Commisso put it this way: This is a report about “finalizing are putting in place a further sort of evolution of our organizational design, which Council would have gotten a peek at somewhat back in 2019. When we moved to what essentially is a bit of a hybrid structure.
So, with that, actually, I would like to say that organizational design really serves multiple purposes but it definitely is the foundation for accountability in the organization from Council down to the you know, the employees; I use health and safety as the best example The city and council is ultimately accountable for health and safety under provincial law, but it really transcends back down to every employee. It is important said Commisso “to have the organizational design, replicate and as much as possible aligned with your business processes; that is really the key in some respects.”
 Endorsed – there will be major changes in the level of bylaw enforcement staff
 Endorsed by Council – expected to be a view of what the administration will look like in a decade Executive Director Sheila Jones explained that what started in 2019 with evolving the organization continues today with what we call designing and evolving our organization. Because evolution is just that it’s adapting and changing to the environment in which we find ourselves and so this report highlights the changes we believe are necessary in three areas.
“The first area is to evolve our focus on our residents experiences and engagement. And we see that there are synergies in bringing together the areas of corporate experience, corporate communication and engagement and the office of the city clerk as a service group with the title of customer relations and engagement. We can see how residents connecting with the city whether it is just for information or it’s to conduct a transaction to provide their input to participate in an advisory committee or interact with you committee and council.
“Our residents will benefit from an enhanced collaboration and integration of the services provided through these three departments under the leadership of an Executive Director Community Relations and engagement and this is simply fulfilling what was identified back in 2019 when Tim first proposed the organizational structure for an evolving organization.
“The second area is to evolve our Information Technology Service to build out the id to Burlington Digital services. Our world and our work have become more digital. We saw this even more so throughout the pandemic when we were forced apart yet we still had to be connected. And knowing this we understand digital is more than just information technology. Digital transformation involves delivering better outcomes enabled by technology and the use of data to support the core mission of the city. It means to genuinely transform and redesign services and citizen experiences. So this transformation is key for the city to harness the best of technology today and in the future.
“The third area is to evolve our bylaws service by housing it with Building and Bylaws as a department of its own. This proposed change raises the profile of the services needed to offer enhanced community protection through a different service model, be it in Animal Services, bylaw, law, compliance and enforcement and in business licensing. The outcome is to have a proactive measures through services aligned with our city’s customer experience strategy. Evolution is change and it’s imperative to not only survive, but to thrive. And so we are welcoming of committee’s questions and comments about this report before you.
“We’re able to do the change relative to the new Executive Director for Community Relations and Engagement based on the redeployment of an existing complement. There’s would be no budget impact.”
 Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna asked “when we talked about budget, there’s going to be a presentation so we will just receive and file this one.
What will it show? Improvements? efficiencies in revenue producing in the bylaw when you’re talking about being active and proactive. In terms of the bylaws and licenses that means we’re going to get more people more boots on the ground. Getting more licenses for $500 or whatever. More dogs off leash fines as you know with more boots in the ground. Will that be part of the budget in terms of an increase?
It was explained to the Councillor that there are no budget impact from this report and there won’t be any budget increase.
With respect to the information coming forward, you will be receiving two reports in December one with respect to bylaw enforcement and that will give you an overview about what we anticipate that new department to look like for your consideration in the budget and when we bring forward the budget, we will be bringing forward the business case to support that. That business case would include not only the dollars and the funding required to put those boots on the ground as you refer to them, but it will also be inclusive of those resources that are required in the corporate support services. Because every time we hire an individual, it’s not just the boots on the ground. We do need to support those folks with in some respects the back office. You can anticipate in that business case we’ll be identifying what the outcomes are and what are we anticipating that we should be getting for this service enhancement for which there will likely will have to fund it in some way.
That’s likely a tax increase or a tax part of our tax base. So you will be seeing that information coming forward.
When you look at possible enhancements like this, you’re investing in a in a future model of proactive and that ranges from compliance, licensing, ensuring that all license holders do have the proper licenses in place, looking at antiquated bylaws and make sure they meet today’s regulations, today’s requirements, and today’s community’s needs.
Mayor Meed Ward commented that “It’s a monumental undertaking to review an entire organization and see how we can structure ourselves to deliver and you’ve done that really well. I’m looking forward to seeing how it actually translates into better customer service because that’s what we do this for.”
 Executive Director Sheila Jones. Jones said: “ I think it’s very important that we’re presenting this type of information in a public forum. This is really our greatest asset and largest expenditure in our budget sometimes, which is our human capital. This is truly what let our city run. And I think it was really amazing to see slide two of the PowerPoint presentation which puts the center of what we do and why we do it right there in the middle. Parent, resident customer, neighbor, Senior Community client, renter business owner, the list goes on. So when we see what that wraparound support looks like from the current and future state, we know that we’re anchored and delivering that service to those groups. This was no easy feat. It reminds me a little bit of the spaghetti looking bus routes at the beginning of this term, and now they’re all linear and beautiful. And it reminds me of the mishmash of the organizational chart that we started with resulting in far too many reports to city manager.
Commisso ended the conversation with the comment: “I just want to credit Sheila for finding those charts and I’m not sure where she got them.
With no more comments coming forward they called the vote: It carried.
 By Pepper Parr
September 15th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Much of the Standing Committee meeting yesterday focused on the coyote problem.
 Executive Director Sheila Jones – will be on top of every decision made as the city moves into over-drive to find solutions to what is described as a crisis.  City Manager Tim Commisso has gotten the message – there is a crisis and all hands are going to be on deck to resolve it – and it is going to be expensive. We were told that this was the number 1 issue facing the city administration. Those words came from City Manager Tim Commisso and Executive Director Sheila Jones.
Stephen White, who delegated yesterday on just how serious the problem is would not argue with those statements – he just wishes they had been made and acted upon more than a year ago when he was trying very hard to get the ear of the administration.
What became evident during the meeting was that the problem we are facing is one that we brought on ourselves.
People have been feeding the coyotes and as a result rogue coyotes are not as afraid of human beings as they are naturally.
While it is difficult to know how many people are actually feeding the animals – and let us be clear – coyotes are animals – they are not pets.
They need to be controlled in a way that deters the behaviour we are now experiencing.
The city is looking into higher fines (the current find is $150) and talking about a fine that is a minimum of $5000 and a maximum of $100,000
Extreme – yes. The death of a child will be seen as a tragedy and that is a possibility.
The city now has full time support in tracking down what is believed to be a second rogue coyote.
What was also learned is that it is important for people to report their sightings of coyotes. Call Burlington Animal Services at 905-335-3030 to report where you saw a coyote
It is important for the people working at solving this problem and changing the behaviour of the animals is to know and understand any changes in the patterns of their behaviour.
 Six attacks on people to date. The belief is that there is a second and maybe a third coyote attacking people. Where are the coyotes? Where are the attacks taking place.
 Representative was before Council for close to two hours with two messages: Stop feeding the coyotes and report when you see a coyote. Have the movements of the coyotes ? Without data we don’t know. That data has to come from the public.
If you see them – report it.
Council debated a number of issues. There will be more bylaw officers. Getting that issue on the table was a little awkward – this council cannot bind the next council to any decisions they make. Hiring by law officers takes time.
Council heard a delegation from a Coyote Watch who was at the podium for a couple of hours. More on that in a separate report.
For the moment:
Don’t feed the coyotes – you will be ticketed and even taken to court and face very significant fines
And report what you see. Burlington Animal Services at 905-335-3030.
 By Staff
September 15th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
If you are new to the world of online casino gambling, then you probably have many questions. Let’s start with the fact that online casinos work basically just like regular physical casinos but with no actual machines.
 Your casino can be on you cell phone or in a home setup with all kinds of technology. There are three differences only. First, you get entertained from the comfort of your home without anybody bothering you while you are just trying to enjoy the game. Second, online casinos have a massive selection of slots, spins, games, and bets that no physical casino in the world can offer you. And third but not least, nowadays, with the development of the blockchain culture, you can play in online casinos with cryptocurrencies.
If you are a newbie, you probably already know these things. However, it is very possible that you are struggling at this point. You most probably have already dropped some online games, lost some money and now you are just questioning whether the whole thing was such a great idea. Here are some frequent questions of the newcomers and their answers to encourage you in this online journey.
Is it possible to always lose in an online casino?
After a few losses, it is only natural to feel stupid. It is natural that you might feel like this was a bad decision. It is possible that you feel like a win is not really possible at this point. What is important to remember is that statistically, it is absolutely impossible to always lose. You have to do two things. First, make enough effort to use your fully stacked patience. After this comes the second step – keep rolling online. The more you roll the better the chances or at least this is what statistics claim to be the case.
 Can math make a difference – it can – but seldom all that much of a difference. Can Math help me win in an online casino?
Saying math we mean different statistical assumptions. It is true that maths can be helpful to some extent. It can show you what are the chances of winning. It can also show you what is the best moment to come in the game with a roll. However, it is no secret that statistics are based on patterns and reactivity whereas, simply put, gambling is not exactly it. It is more of a destiny’s play – some days you are lucky, and on other days, you are just not. In all cases, you are always welcome to play the games of destiny online.
Tips for best winning chances playing online casino
At this point, you probably feel desperate to have even tried your luck. However, here are some tips on how to improve your winning chances for a reward, a bonus, and why not even the actual jackpot. Online casinos offer you all the comfort to win every perk in the world with literally not going out of your place and still having your money safe from any fraud risk. You can even do some bets on the go through the online mobile versions of the websites with no download activity required.
Know the rules
If you want to earn a lot of money from gambling in online casinos you should probably look up to the games that insist on serious attention. If we have to be honest, attention is key, but what is even more important is that you should know what is going on in the game.
This is not possible without actually studying the rules. We know that the desire for a win might be burning, but without knowing the rules of the game all that is going to happen is that you will surely lose money in online casinos unless some magic happens.
After studying the rules and knowing what you have to do in a game, it is very important to practice. You might want to jump into the deep waters of the serious games, but you can wait a little longer and try some demo versions of the games where you play with fake money so that you can earn real money a few days later.
Observe the game
 This is a scene from a movie – Oceans Eleven – a great gambling movie – there is always someone watching. It is important to understand that online casino gambling may be just entertainment for you, but after all, this is somebody’s business. Thinking of that the point of having a business is earning money and online casinos just like physical ones earn money from your losses.
There are professionals behind the scenes in these casinos who study the clients’ patterns and change the patterns of winning so that the clients may lose. The strategy here is: you find the strategy of the clients, and then observe how the winning patterns change. This is how you make a prediction on what your strategy has to be just to be one step ahead of the winning strategy change.Math time
There are some statistics created online for most spins and slot games. All you have to do is to research them and understand them. Having this knowledge, your chances of winning and having a successful payout improve dramatically.
Take a break
When it comes to serious games in website casinos, it is very important that all these statistics and predictions that you make take a lot of effort and energy. In this sense, it is absolutely okay if after a few games you feel tired. Here comes the discipline factor. You have to decide whether you would like to satisfy your ego and continue playing unsuccessfully, or you would take a break and start winning in online casinos later.
 VIP Programs
It is important to know that most licensed online casino websites have VIP packages. They offer great advantages as loyalty rewards. They offer games that are believed to be easier to win and many perks. Some of them might be a faster withdrawal process, a bigger welcome bonus, or a weekly bonus for your rolls during the weekend, for example. These VIP programs in the casinos can offer you a pattern of “Lose four games, and the fifth one is on us” where if you lose the fifth time, you do not lose, but if you win, the reward is all yours.
Online casinos may be a lot of fun, but they can be a trap as well. It is important to have good financial management skills so that you do not end up losing money that you do not have.
 By Cirillo Ambrosi
August 29, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Studies indicate that over the next few years, online casinos will become increasingly popular in Canada. According to the Canadian Gambling Association, there will be a considerable increase in the number of Canadians who gamble online, from 3.8 million in 2020 to 5.4 million by 2022.
According to the survey, average online gambling expenditures will increase from $385 in 2020 to $481 in 2022. Since it’s far simpler to bet online than it is to visit a traditional land-based casino, convenience is a significant issue for many Canadians.
What are some of the factors fuelling the growth of online casinos in Canada?
Wide Variety of Games
 Since there is fierce competition among Canadian online gambling service providers, it is more important than ever for operators to deliver the most incredible games and draw in new customers. As a result, Canadian players have access to a wide variety of casino games.
Compared to conventional land-based casinos, Canada casinos online provide a considerably more comprehensive variety of games. Numerous well-known software development businesses may contribute thousands of games to a gambling site’s gaming library.
Additionally, the range of games at online casinos available to Canadian gamers has dramatically enhanced their gaming experience. If you’re interested, you may play hundreds of fantastic games at numerous online betting sites. Prepare to have fun because some of these online gaming platforms may even offer freebies as a welcome incentive.
Great Bonuses and Other Online Casino Incentives
The abundance of bonuses and promotions offered by Canadian online casinos is another factor in their popularity. While rewards might take many different forms, they all have the same function. These bonuses offered by online casinos draw in new customers while luring returning ones.
Welcome bonuses are typically far more enticing and generous. New players are often welcomed with sizable sign-up and first deposit incentives. However, before you can cash out some of these bonuses, you must meet specific wagering requirements.
As long as a casino values its patrons; it will provide daily reload bonuses, unique incentives, weekly cashback, and adaptable loyalty programs. The majority of online casino bonuses in Canada are welcome bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, and free spins.
Multiple Payment Modes
To meet the demands of all players, Canadian gambling companies typically provide a range of payment methods. Credit and debit cards, digital wallets, bank transfers, and crypto-currency are some of them. Every player has a preferred payment method, and they search for it in the list of choices each time they sign in to an online casino.
Additionally, no casino wants to turn away potential customers just because they don’t accept their chosen payment method. MasterCard, Visa, and PayPal are the three payment methods that Canadian players utilize the most frequently.
The variety of options makes the transaction process easier for Canadian online gamers. All financial transactions are carried out with the highest level of security possible because of data encryption technology.
Gambling enthusiasts first search for venues that accept their preferred payment option. Each time, players look for solutions like PayPal and others that are readily available. Therefore, in the fiercely competitive gambling market, the availability of a wide range of payment mechanisms influences the choice of a site favorably.
Integration of Crypto and Blockchain
In the future, cryptocurrencies might contribute significantly to the funding of online gambling companies. This is because these payment options have many benefits, making them incredibly practical in the online gaming market.
Leading online gaming sites now accept crypto. Due to its benefits, a growing number of players are choosing Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and other cryptocurrencies. Both online gambling operators and players gain from the use of virtual currencies.
Playing with virtual currencies offers players privacy and anonymity. It’s also an affordable solution. This approach does not include any banks or financial institutions. Therefore, cryptocurrency exchange takes only a few seconds to complete.
New gamblers are drawn to online gambling by the transparency that blockchain creates. Keeping track of all game purchases and transactions ensures legality and reduces the possibility of fraud.
Convenience
 One of the main elements promoting the expansion of online gaming sites in Canada is accessibility. Provided you have an internet connection; you can play an endless number of games anytime, anyplace. Any conventional land-based gambling establishment cannot match this degree of flexibility.
The internet has also gotten better and more effective recently. With the introduction of 5G technology, the online gaming market has grown more. Because 5G networks will connect almost everything, including people, things, and gadgets, they are ideal.
Large volumes of data may be securely transmitted by devices across these networks, providing the best possible online gambling experience. Players can play whenever and wherever they choose if they have a dependable internet connection.
Growth in Mobile Casino Gaming
Budget phones, smartphones, tablets, and other mobile gadgets are frequently utilized for online gaming thanks to advancements in mobile technology and online resources. These gadgets are perfect for spinning the slots reels on tiny monitors. Each machine has access to the same set of features simultaneously, keeping graphics and animation.
You can access it using a smartphone after registering an account on the online webpage of a Canadian online gaming site from a PC. You may play while on the go for work, on vacation in the mountains or at sea, at the workplace, or in the comfortable setting of your home because the gameplay and your accolades are saved simultaneously.
Enhanced Security
Canadian online gaming sites have effectively deployed all of the most recent security measures, including data encryption, blockchain technology, and two-factor authentication. These security procedures ensure the maximum level of protection for online gamers. This is why many Canadians sign up for accounts at online casinos daily, feeling secure about their finances and personal and financial data.
In addition, unlike conventional brick-and-mortar casinos, internet players can play for free as long as they like before wagering real money—but only if they think the casino platform is reliable.
This does not, however, mean that unscrupulous black hat hackers are no longer a threat. Each gamer should take all necessary safety measures to protect themselves from data phishing scams.
By Pepper Parr
September 14th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Well – here is a decision that will keep the Monarchists very happy.
 Hearse bearing the Queen as it is about to enter Buckingham Palace Not only will everyone be able to watch the funeral at the Performing Arts Centre – the Mayor said she was going to be there.
But every employee of the city will get the 19th of September as a paid holiday.
Turns out that the collective Agreements the city has with the unions requires that they get the day off as a paid holiday.
Cost to the public purse $244,000
I asked the people at the Performing Arts Centre if their bar would be open. Thought it right and proper to hoist a pint to the Queen.
Bar will not be open.
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