city talk - spring 2015
TRANSCRIPT
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Emergency Management Team Welcomes New Co-ordinator
Page 4
Online Experience: Enhancing Customer Service and Staying Informed
Page 6
City’s 2015 Budget Focuses on Infrastructure, Cost-Effective Service
Page 23
News from Your Municipal Government
Spring 2015
Partnersteden City Celebrates 10-year Anniversary with Twin City Apeldoorn
Page 26
The royal palace “Het Loo” in Apeldoorn.
www.burlington.ca
Jim H
ong
Loui
e -
EEL
EXPLOREArt Etc. Gallery Shop
INSPIRE Exhibitions & Collection
CREATE Art Classes for all ages
•
Jim H
ong
Loui
e -
EEL
1333 Lakeshore Rd. Burlington, ON L7S 1A9 905-632-7796 • ArtGalleryofBurlington.com
Upcoming Performances
Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk May 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet May 20 at 8 p.m.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (KooGle Theatre Company)
July 16 - 26, 2015
Box Office: 905.681.6000 www.burlingtonpac.ca
Discover. Make. Grow!
www.bpl.on.ca
Enjoy some great summer activities Strawberry Social by the Lake: July 1
Pan Am Games Celebration: August 3, LaSalle Park www.museumsofburlington.com
INSPIRE Exhibitions & Collection
CREATE Art Classes for all ages
EXPLOREArt Etc. Gallery Shop
Not to be missed: The international exhibition Naked Craft June 20—Sept. 6, 2015
1333 Lakeshore Rd. Burlington, ON L7S 1A9 905-632-7796 ArtGalleryofBurlington.com
Spring 2015
In This Issue
Get Involved in Burlington's Strategic Plan 4 Emergency Management Team Welcomes New Co-ordinator 4 Opening up Government Through Open Data 5 New Transit Technology is Coming to Burlington 5 Online Experience: Enhancing Customer Service and Staying Informed 6 Burlington on Social Media: What’s not to ‘LIKE’? 6 Staff Profile: The Faces Behind www.burlington.ca 7
News from Burlington City Council
8 – 20
Flood Recovery 22 City’s 2015 Budget Focuses on Infrastructure, Cost-Effective Service 23 2015 Construction Projects 24 City Celebrates 10-year Anniversary with Twin City Apeldoorn 26 Who’s Made Burlington Accessible? Celebrate at the 4th Annual Burlington Accessibility Awards 26
If you have suggestions about articles that you would like to see in upcoming issues of City Talk, please send them to us at [email protected] or call 905-335-7600, ext. 7841.
City Talk is produced by the City of Burlington.
Contact: Communications Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7841 Fax: 905-335-7675
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address: 426 Brant St. P.O. Box 5013 Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
To learn which ward you live in... Visit www.burlington.ca
City Talk can be viewed on our website at www.burlington.ca.
4
Get Involved in Burlington’s Strategic Plan To help set priorities for the future of the City of Burlington, each City Council creates a strategic plan to match with the four-year term of council.
In 2011, the city undertook a comprehensive engagement with the community that included surveys, workshops, town hall meetings,
group workbook sessions and more. We learned what was important to the people of Burlington today and into the future—how much you love Burlington, what you want to protect and what you want to change.
The 2015-18 City of Burlington strategic plan is building on past
success while reaching for future goals. This is your strategic plan. It is your chance to tell council what's important to you. There are many ways to get involved, including joining the Insight Burlington panel and weighing in on Let’s Talk Burlington.
www.burlington.ca/strategicplan
Emergency Management Team Welcomes New Co-ordinator
www.burlington.ca/emergencyservices
The City of Burlington has created the position of Emergency Management Co-ordinator to help plan for emergency events and enhance communication with residents.
The city is pleased to welcome Mike O’Brien to the position. Mike comes to Burlington from the City of Brantford where he was the emergency manager for four years. Prior to that, he spent 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. He holds a Masters Degree in Disaster and Emergency Management and is the education chair for the
Ontario Association of Emergency Management board.
Mike’s focus is helping the city and its residents ensure everyone is prepared for a crisis or emergency.
Mike is part of the City of Burlington’s Municipal Emergency Management Team. The team plans, manages and oversees potential emergency situations in Burlington through the city’s emergency management plan, including public outreach and education.
From March 25 to April 15, the City of Burlington closed King Road from the base of the Niagara Escarpment to Mountain Brow Road to allow the endangered Jefferson Salamander safe passage during its annual migration to lay eggs.
The Jefferson Salamander is a national and provincially protected endangered species. The city has closed the same section of road for a three-week period since 2012 for this significant conservation measure that ensures the salamanders can cross safely from one side of the road to the other without the threat of traffic.
5City Talk | Spring 2015
Opening up Government Through Open Data
www.burlington.ca/opendata
The community asked and the City of Burlington listened. We are providing open data—unrestricted data provided through the city’s website—so interested users can perform their own analysis or develop new applications and programs.
Open data is one of the key pieces of www.burlington.ca
e-Government program. One of the most recent additions to the city’s open data catalogue is the application called Burlington Open Budget. In partnership with Socrata, the city has launched Burlington Open Budget, a pilot project to allow users to experience the budget visually and explore the city’s capital
and the and operating budgets.
Open Budget is an app intended to make government more accountable and finances more transparent. The charts, graphs and images are attractive and easy to navigate and understand.
To access Socrata and other data sets, visit www.burlington.ca/opendata.
[STS] Smart Transit System Project
[Realtime Info] [New Web and Phone Functionality] [Online Bookings] [Trip Planning] [Bus Stop Announcements]
New Transit Technology is Coming to Burlington Later this year, Burlington Transit users will be able to access real-time bus information and schedules from computers or smart phones using the city’s new Smart Transit System (STS.) The new system is part of the city’s commitment to the e-Government strategy.
With STS, transit users will have access to new online technology, such as a trip planning feature, and will be able to get
next-bus information, locate bus stops across the city and sign up for route-specific alerts and other transit news.
Across the city, bus stop signs will be replaced with new signs featuring unique stop identification numbers so riders can call or check their next bus arrival times using their mobile devices. These new signs will display the route numbers using that particular stop. On board, riders will be able to see and hear stops along the route through new visual LED display signs with a voice annunciation system.
Handi-van clients will no longer have to rely on direct contact through a dispatcher during office hours and will be able to manage many of their trip bookings online or through an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone system. Clients will also be able to receive automatic voice messages notifying them in advance when their scheduled trip is to arrive.
www.burlingtontransit.ca
6
Online Experience: Enhancing Customer Service and Staying Informed The City of Burlington recently launched the redesign of its website, www.burlington.ca. The purpose of the redesign was to create an even more responsive, informative, accessible and mobile-friendly site—all allowing greater connection between the city and residents.
Customer-focused Information
News and Notices
All media releases are posted in the News and Notices section. It is a great resource to check frequently because not all of the city’s news actually makes the news. When you subscribe to the page, you will be notified by email any time a new media release is posted.
But it doesn’t stop there. You can also subscribe to city notices, which provide short, quick updates on
important information, such as snow clearing, service disruptions, recreational field closures and more.
You can find the handy News and Notices tab at the bottom of www.burlington.ca.
Newsletters
It is now even easier to stay informed about city meetings, events and engagement opportunities. On one page, sign up to receive information about city meetings, such as City Council, advisory committee and standing committee meetings, as well as events, festivals, recreation and more.
Pick which newsletters and updates you’d like to receive, and unsubscribe at any time.
For more information about www.burlington.ca, call 905-335-7600, ext. 7504, or visit www.burlington.ca.
Online Citizen Service Requests
The city accepts online service requests for potholes, traffic signs, traffic signals, street lights, graffiti and coyote sightings.
Visit www.burlington.ca/servicerequest to submit your request or to download the reporting app directly to your iPhone or Android.
www.burlington.ca/servicerequest
Burlington on Social Media: What’s not to ‘LIKE’? Are you on social media? So are we, and we’re using social media and our new website to stay connected with you, and all neighbourhoods in Burlington.
Our goal online is not only to connect with you and keep you updated on what’s happening around the city, but also to involve you in decision-making and get your feedback.
Connect with us:
City of Burlington: @cityburlington
Burlington Events: @burlevents
Burlington Fire: @burlingtonfire
Burlington Youth: @burl_youthvoice
Parks and Recreation: @burlparks_rec
City of Burlington, Ontario
Burlington Fire Department
Burlington Parks & Rec
YouTube
CityofBurlington
Burlington Fire Department
burl_parksrec
burl_youthvoice
7City Talk | Spring 2015
Staff Profile: The Faces Behind www.burlington.ca
www.burlington.ca/egov
The City of Burlington now has a website design that is responsive, accessible and mobile-friendly, everything a customer-first service model could demand.
When the city launched its redesigned website in February 2015—after more than two years of planning—its success was due to the team of people who made the redesign possible, including representatives from every city service.
But it was also due to the hard work, talent and dedication of web editor Lana Kosterewa and graphic designer and web specialist, Cameron Stevens.
As creative leads of the project, Lana and Cameron worked on the design of the website as well as the co-ordination of public engagement opportunities through focus groups, online discussion forums and surveys.
“Public involvement was a key factor and influencer in how we organized
information for our new site,” said Lana. “It was top-of-mind throughout the whole process.”
Both Lana and Cameron are also part of the city’s e-Government team, an initiative developed to enhance the community’s online experience. More than two-thirds of residents and 70 per cent of businesses surveyed said they prefer to carry out interactions and transactions with the city online. The city is listening and responding with the e-Government program.
Content "makes sense"
“We are always looking for ways to make interacting with the city much easier for the public,” Cameron said. “One of our key areas of focus with the new website was streamlining the content in a way that makes sense to residents.”
Lana has been with the city for nine years and has a background in web design as well as a degree in graphic communications management. When she’s not working, Lana follows her passion for designing custom invitations for weddings and events and supports her two daughters with their budding dancing careers.
Cameron has been with Burlington for two years and has a degree in design. When he isn’t working, he plays guitar and bass, rides bikes, designs posters for Canada’s parks and makes guitars out of cigar boxes.
Ultimately, the new design for the website was the result of effective collaboration between the city and the community. Lana and Cameron, with the backing of a city team and strong public input, created a site that’s customer-focused, easier to navigate, and uniquely Burlington.
8
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Message from Mayor Rick Goldring
Rick Goldring
@RickGoldring
Rick Goldring
www.burlingtonmayor.com
RickGoldring
Phone: 905-335-7607 Fax: 905-335-7708 Email: [email protected] Mayor’s Communications Assistant: Tina Depko-Denver Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7478 Email: [email protected]
Building Burlington: Where to Build in a City That is Built Out Connecting with you about intensification
www.burlington.ca/intensification
Intensification is a word we use at City Hall and around the community, but I have heard questions about what it means, especially as it applies to Burlington.
One of my priorities is engaging with residents on the topic of intensification.
To understand intensification, we need to understand what is driving our growth.
The Government of Canada has welcomed an average of 250,000 new immigrants per year since 2007.
Recognizing that Ontario is a prime destination for many newcomers, the provincial government released the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe in 2006.
This serves as a tool for municipalities to plan for the projected residential and employment growth of an additional 3.7 million residents and 1.8 million jobs in the Greater Golden Horseshoe by 2031.
As a result of Places to Grow, Halton Region developed the Sustainable Halton Growth Management Strategy to manage growth for the anticipated 780,000 people and 390,000 jobs in Halton by the year 2031.
What does this mean for Burlington?
A key question is: What does this mean for Burlington?
Our population is almost 180,000. The city and region determined it will grow to 193,000 by 2031.
In a city that is almost built out, where 50 per cent of our city is protected Greenbelt land, the next question is: Where do we grow?
One of the sites slated for intensification is the downtown core. This was established by the province as an Urban Growth Centre.
Our Official Plan also identifies other sites suited for intensification, such as Uptown located at Appleby Line between Mainway and Upper Middle Road. We are also looking to Urban Growth Corridors, like Fairview Street and Plains Road.
9City Talk | Spring 2015
As part of the Official Plan review, we are researching new opportunities for growth in the two provincially designated mobility hubs, Burlington GO station and Downtown Burlington, as well as the two city-identified mobility hubs around Aldershot and Appleby GO stations.
We are also reviewing intensification opportunities at the city’s aging retail plazas.
It is important to remember why we are building within rather than sprawling out.
Council, along with the province through its Greenbelt Plan, has been committed for decades to safeguarding our rural area, which makes up about 50 per cent of the land area of the City of Burlington. We are intensifying within Burlington’s urban boundary because protecting our rural land continues to be a priority.
What makes sense for Burlington?
Two questions I hear from some residents are, “Why do we have to grow?” and “Why can’t Burlington stay the same?”
If we take the federal and provincial policies out of the picture, what makes sense when it comes to residential growth for Burlington? Would we intensify regardless of growth policies?
I firmly believe shutting the door to growth through intensification is not a viable option for Burlington.
Since we are essentially at build out, halting residential growth within our urban boundaries means there would be little additional housing stock.
The low supply of housing could further increase residential real estate prices, making it even more of a challenge for our young people moving out on their own or our seniors looking to downsize to stay in the community.
Increased housing prices could lead to a decrease in the number of families in Burlington. This could impact school enrolment.
There could also be an impact on property taxes with little to no growth. Ten years ago we had three per cent assessment growth. Last year, we saw one per cent assessment growth and that is expected to fall to 0.5 per cent moving forward. As a result of a flat tax base, taxes could go up, services could be reduced or a combination of both.
We have the tools to manage our growth in a responsible way – in conjunction with community engagement. Let’s work together to continue to foster a made-in-Burlington approach to growth, creating a sustainable city for generations to come.
Engaging with you on intensification
As a result of a staff direction from City Council, the City of Burlington is developing a communication program to provide community engagement, dialogue and participation with Burlington residents about why and how we will transition redevelopment in urban areas of the community.
An online survey was posted in March, with more engagement opportunities coming soon.
I invite you to connect with the City of Burlington about intensification through upcoming engagement
opportunities that are part of our communication initiative.
As mayor, I also welcome invitations from community groups, service clubs and organizations to come speak to you on this issue. Please contact me at [email protected] or call 905-335-7607 with your requests.
What are some of the benefits of intensification?
• Makesefficientuseofscarce land resources.
• Isaviablealternativeto urban sprawl.
• Fosterswalkable neighbourhoods, decreasing reliance on the car and preventingincreasedtraffic backlogs.
• Increasesthenumberof residents in an area, providing the population base for augmented transit service levels.
• Moreefficientuseoflandcan impact housing affordability by reducing the land component of housing costs.
• Bringsnewfamiliesinto existing neighbourhoods, filling school classrooms and making use of existing park and playground facilities.
Subscribe to Mayor Rick Goldring's free digital monthly newsletter at [email protected]
10
Ward 1 News Councillor Rick Craven
RickCravenWardOne
Rick Craven
@RickCravenWard1
Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7587
Fax: 905-335-7881
Email: [email protected]
Councillor’s Assistant: Kathi Laufman
Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7863
Email: [email protected]
Changes to Waterdown Road The provincial government has given its final approval to the widening of Waterdown Road north of Highway 403.
This controversial plan had been stalled for several years while the province ruled on appeals. The city will now move ahead with detailed design and the necessary land acquisitions. We are anticipating construction of the new road around 2019. The new road will be paved as if it were four lanes but will be lined for only three lanes until (and if) traffic volumes justify four. There will be one lane north, one south, and one turning lane.
South of the 403, work is already underway to widen the road. Waterdown Road is being reconstructed from Plains Road to Masonry Court and will be closed for many months. Cooke Boulevard is the detour route.
When the work is completed, there will be two lanes northbound and both a right turn lane and left turn lane southbound at Plains Road. This project also includes a number of improvements to the intersection to make it safer and more attractive.
Townsend Reconstruction Update There will be a delay in the planned reconstruction of Townsend Avenue. The city needed to receive a permit from the province by April 21 in order to complete the work this year and to do most of it during the summer while Glenview School was closed. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure the permit in time and have had to defer the project to 2016. The resurfacing of Shadeland Avenue, Forest Glen Avenue and Ascot Place are not tied to this permit and will be proceeding this year as originally planned. Construction will begin in July to coincide with the fisheries window of the creek.
Bellview Street and Crescent Both of these roads will get new water mains, sanitary sewer improvements and resurfacing this year. The work is expected to start in June. For further information, contact Jeff Thompson, Project Manager, 905-335-7600, ext. 7669, or email jeff.thompson@ burlington.ca.
Major Development Proposed near GO Station Adi Development Corp. has filed an official application with the city for site plan and subdivision approval for a housing development on a three-hectare piece of land bounded by Masonry Court, Waterdown Road and the GO station. The proposal is for four, six-storey apartment buildings plus 324 townhouses for a total of 733 residential units. Staff tell me that such a proposal is allowed, and even encouraged, under the city’s Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw, although there remains a variety of outstanding questions and concerns. City staff will review the proposal, and I will host a public meeting later this year to discuss the development in more detail.
Bell Motel and Former Foo Ho Site The new owner of these properties has advised the city of his plans to redevelop these sites together. Melrose Investments wants to build a six-storey “modern” style condominium building with 178 units and 3,000 square feet (279 square metres) of retail/ commercial space along Plains Road. The rear of the property would have
11City Talk | Spring 2015
a series of three-storey townhomes. The developer has not filed any formal applications with the city yet but expressed a desire to do so in 2015 with construction in 2016. When (and if) the city actually receives a formal application for this development, I will host a neighbourhood meeting to show the plans to nearby residents.
Jaggard’s Florist Location
Dawn Victoria Homes has applied to demolish the existing buildings at this location and construct a three-storey commercial building along the front of the property with two four-storey stand-alone residential buildings at the back of the site. These residential buildings would include 24 stacked townhouses. City staff are currently reviewing the proposal, and I plan to host a public meeting about it soon.
Hospital Expansion
Recently, I hosted two public meetings to discuss the expansion plans for Joseph Brant Hospital. (One was at the nearby Brant Centre Retirement Home.) Construction has now begun on the major part of the expansion, including a new seven-storey tower. Work is expected to continue for about three years. Congratulations to all the citizens, volunteers, leaders and donors who are leading this important project.
Public Art in Aldershot In the latest effort to “dress up” Plains Road, plans are in the works for a piece of public art. The artwork will be located on the north side of Plains Road in the vicinity of the new JAZZ condominium project under construction adjacent to Maplehurst School. The City of Burlington, Branthaven Homes, the Aldershot Village BIA (Business Improvement Area) and a community committee are behind the initiative. An open competition will be held to get proposals from professional artists across Canada. Fundraising is well underway with a $75,000 goal. Contributions are welcome. Check it out at www.burlingtonpublicart.com/ donations.
Upcoming meetings and events
Tyandaga Community Drop-in Wednesday, May 6, 2015 6:30 to 8 p.m. Indigo in Power Centre No appointment required Drop in to talk with Councillor Craven
Aldershot Community Honour Roll Thursday, May 28, 2015 7 p.m. Reception Fern Hill School, North Service Road Tickets are $25. Call 905-526-1501
Hager Creek Neighbourhood BBQ Saturday, May 30, 2015 Noon to 2 p.m. Clifton Green
Tyandaga Land for Sale
My office has been receiving a lot of calls about the open space at 2100 Brant St. The current owner is selling the 27-acre (.11 square kilometre) parcel, south of Havendale. Potential developers have been making the rounds at City Hall. The land is
currently zoned “R2 Low Density”. I will keep the Tyandaga community fully advised as this matter evolves, and you can be assured that we will hold a neighbourhood meeting to discuss any development proposal.
Ward 2 News Councillor Marianne Meed Ward
mariannemeedward
Search: Marianne Meed Ward
@mariannmeedward
Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7588
Fax: 905-335-7881
Email: [email protected]
Councillor’s Assistant: Georgie Gartside
Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7368
Email: [email protected]
Can residents and developers work together on intensification? Residents in Ward 2 have had many years of dealing with redevelopment projects that add new housing units to our neighbourhoods, and on many occasions these proposals have created conflict between residents and developers about the best way to intensify.
Is there a way to collaborate together and achieve planning peace, meeting
the goals of our Official Plan and Zoning documents and the needs of both residents and developers?
Yes! It is starting to happen, and we hope to see more of it. Let me give you several recent examples.
Consider the 2267 Lakeshore Rd. project approved in March. Initially proposed as a five-home redevelopment of a single-family lot, the project was modified to four homes, then to three homes following
extensive community consultation. The result was a collaboration that required compromise from both sides – the developer had to give up some units, the residents had to accept an extra unit - but ultimately, a compromise that everyone could accept, including staff and council.
For the first time in a very long time, an application for a rezoning was approved that had the unanimous support of council, staff, residents and the developers.
Elsewhere, two projects in Ward 2 are being proposed with the goal of fitting within the existing Official Plan and Zoning.
730 and 760 Brant St.
12
13City Talk | Spring 2015
The first is on assembled land at Locust Street, Elgin Street and Blathwayte Lane. A developer is proposing a four-storey residential condo with underground parking and retail at grade along Locust. There are plans to relocate a historic building on the property to elsewhere in the downtown. The plan was modified from the initial six-storey proposal to fit within the existing OP/Zoning following extensive community consultation.
View of The Saxony at the corner of Blathwayte Lane and Elgin Street.
The second is the proposed redevelopment of 730 and 760 Brant St. The owners plan to demolish the existing building at 730 Brant St. and 24,000 square feet (2,230 square metres) at the south end of 760 Brant St. and create a new four-storey building with 145 residential units, as well as seven commercial units along Brant Street. The property would also include an outdoor community garden for residents and amenity areas with seating.
The developer could build six storeys but is only proposing four, and is also modifying the plans to fit within Official Plan and Zoning regulations, with only minor variances potentially required. In both of these cases, developers voluntarily met with residents at my request before submitting applications, to get community input early on. (On a side note, in almost every instance since I joined council in 2010, developers
have aceepted my request to meet with residents to get public input before submitting applications. It’s a huge step forward in collaborative community planning!)
These projects show it's possible to have great development and intensification in and around downtown Burlington that respects our existing planning documents. Residents welcome this kind of change and would like to see more developers following suit, rather than bringing plans that exceed current planning provisions by two, three or four times. It’s also possible to bring development applications forward that will be supported by residents, staff, council and developers.
We need more of this, and to that end I am working with planning staff, major landholders/developers, local residents’ groups and the public to host a series of community consultations on how we want the downtown to develop and grow for the future.
Upcoming meetings and events
Drop-in Session Drop-in sessions provide an opportunity for residents to stop in and meet with me in person to share concerns, comments or suggestions. No appointment is necessary
Thursday, May 7, 2015 7 to 8 p.m. Burlington Public Library Central Branch Café 2331 New St.
Keep up with news in your community by signing up for the Ward 2 newsletter at www.ward2news.ca
Time to suggest changes
We are currently in an Official Plan review, and now is the time to suggest changes and make modifications if required, instead of site-by-site between the five-year review period. The consultations will provide an opportunity to review the existing Official Plan/Zoning for downtown, hear from developers about their plans for their properties, hear from residents groups and individuals about their vision for growth in the downtown, and hopefully come to some shared consensus that can be embedded into the plan.
That consensus would then be included in any updates to the Official Plan/Zoning, providing some degree of certainty until the next review
(mandated every five years) for developers about what they can do with their land, and for residents about how their neighbourhoods and the downtown will grow and change.
I hope this process will become a model of collaboration on development and intensification.
It’s a big goal, but it’s worth a shot. We won’t be any worse off than if we simply did nothing. We must try to move beyond conflict development to collaborative development.
Watch for details on how you can participate in these consultations.
To get updates on developments in progress, and other community news, sign up for my monthly newsletter or visit Ward 2 news.
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Ward 3 News Councillor John Taylor Serving Brant Hills, Mountainside, Kilbride, Lowville, Mount Nemo and the rural communities west of Walker's Line.
@JohnTaylorWard3
Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7459
Fax: 905-335-7881
Email: [email protected]
Councillor’s Assistant: Sheri Wainman
Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7565
Email: [email protected]
Celebrating a Newly Renovated Mountainside Recreation Centre After 10 years of planning and 18 months of construction, a newly renovated Mountainside Recreation Centre officially opened on Dec. 15, 2014. I am very happy to welcome back the community to this new and improved city facility.
The revitalization project, which began summer 2013, brings together Mountainside’s aging arena and pool house building to create one recreation complex that provides year-round activities to the community.
The scope of this project included:
• Architecturalupgradestothe outside of the building
• Advancedice-makingrefrigeration systems
• Anewspaciouslobbyconnecting the two buildings with a warm viewing and concession area
• Improvedpedestrianwalkwaysand increased parking
• Newarenadressingrooms • Twonewmulti-purposecommunity
rooms
• Aninsulatedandupgradedicepad, which includes new dasherboards and vision windows for players
• Refurbishedpoolchangerooms.
Along with this construction project, the city has made other improvements to Mountainside Park over the past few years, including a new playground, a splash pad, a multi-use court and green space improvements.
To celebrate the completion of the renovations, a grand opening was held on Jan. 2, 2015. More than 450 people attended the event, which included an open house and free public skate.
Feedback from the community about the new facility has been overwhelmingly positive. Thank you to those who have taken the time to call
15City Talk | Spring 2015
or email with your thoughts. “Warm,” “inviting,” “comfortable,” “bright” and “modern” are just a few of the words the community has used to describe the new centre.
Next steps
Over the next few weeks, the warmer weather will allow for work on the final pieces of the Mountainside renovation project to be completed. This includes final repairs around the pool house and to the exterior of the building.
Work to improve the health of the woodlot in Mountainside Park is also underway. About 155 dead or dying trees were removed in March to eliminate the risk of falling trees injuring those using the wooded areas and trails.
Recognizing the importance of this woodlot to the community, a replanting initiative is planned. About 5,500 saplings will be planted, all grown from native seeds collected from trees growing in Halton parks. There will also be a special planting of 20 white oak saplings grown from
seeds from the 260-year-old heritage white oak tree on Bronte Road, next to Halton Regional Centre.
You are invited to take part in the replanting of the Mountainside woodlot during a community celebration on May 23, 2015, at Mountainside Park. Please join us for a planting event from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. followed by a community barbecue. Your efforts will help maximize the health and sustainability of the woodlot for future generations to enjoy.
Please contact Sheri Wainman at [email protected] for more information or to register for the Community Celebration Replanting Initiative and Barbecue.
Maintaining our City’s Infrastructure In February, City Council approved the 2015 operating budget, which saw a 3.64 per cent increase in the city’s portion of property taxes. Among the highlights of this year’s budget is the first annual allocation of $1.75 million in new funding dedicated to the repair and renewal of our city’s aging infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and storm sewers, as part of a 20-year program to eliminate our $150-million infrastructure deficit.
The city is focused on infrastructure renewal as part of its long-term financial plan, with 73 per cent of the 2015 10-year capital budget ($574 million) dedicated to ensuring our infrastructure is well-maintained.
In June, staff will be presenting a financial report that will update the infrastructure repair plan and deal with two important issues: namely, whether to borrow $20 million to accelerate the popular “shave and pave” resurfacing program. This would prevent roads from deteriorating further to the much more expensive (eight to 10 times) reconstruction phase. In addition, staff will evaluate whether to add an additional $350,000 per year to the infrastructure reserve to better allow additions and enchancements to renewal projects.
Mount Nemo Heritage Conservation District Study On Feb. 17, the first public consultation meeting for the Mount Nemo Heritage Conservation District Study (HCD) was
held to discuss the consultant’s work to date on the study and to gather input from the community. The study is looking at the lands and properties in the Mount Nemo Plateau area to determine if there are significant and unique community landscapes and characteristics.
Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting on Feb. 17. Answers to the questions raised at the meeting can be found on the city’s website at www.burlington.ca/mountnemostudies.
Later this year, another public consultation meeting will be held with the community to report back on the consultant’s findings, their suggested recommendations for the area and whether to move forward with a plan to implement the findings.
www.burlington.ca/mountnemo
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Ward 4 News Councillor Jack Dennison Serving residents who live in the area bounded by Lakeshore Road, Upper Middle Road, Appleby Line and Guelph Line.
@jackdennison4
Phone: 905-632-4800, ext. 211
Fax: 905-632-4041
Email: [email protected]
Councillor’s Assistant: Francine Grimshire
Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7512
Email: [email protected]
Message from Jack Welcome to your Ward 4 section of City Talk. With summer just around the corner, there are many great initiatives highlighted here for Ward 4. Please read about all the great things summer brings, from road improvements to cycling seminars and fantastic events, such as the Wards 4/5 Car-Free Street Festival. I look forward to seeing you in our community this summer.
Budget The 2015 Budget includes a 3.64 per cent increase in the city’s portion of property taxes. When combined with Halton Region and the boards of education, the overall property tax increase is 2.08 per cent or $18.10 for each $100,000 of residential urban assessment. Visit my Ward 4 March News Update on my web page to learn why I did not support the budget, along with the fact that I regularly hear from Ward 4 residents, including seniors on a fixed income, who ask me to help keep our taxes down. On a positive note, I was pleased to learn that we added an additional 1.2 per cent to infrastructure renewal, in particular minor road reconstruction so we can resurface more roads sooner so they do not deteriorate and become now-needs for complete restoration, which costs as much as 10 times more. For more details, see Shave and Pave to the right.
By the time you read this article, City Council will be in full swing with the Strategic Planning process. Strategic planning information can be found at www.burlington.ca/strategicplan.
What’s Happening in Ward 4 • PalmerDrive–ApriltoOctober,
Centennial Drive to Walkers Line.
Minor reconstruction, including: pavement replacement, new curbs and gutters, sub-drain and spot repairs to sidewalks and storm sewers. Halton Region is replacing the watermain from Centennial Drive to Headon Road.
• ShaveandPave
• ArdenCrescent • BennettCourt • BraemoreRoad • BreckondaleCourt • ClarePlace • CorrineCourt • ElmhurstCrescent • EmpressCrescent • FeatherstoneCourt • GlenAftonDrive • HarringtonCourt • MarciaPlace • RexwayCourt • VickersCourt
Planning and Building
• 1100WalkersLine–Building construction is underway for a six-storey office/retail building at 1100 Walkers Line. Separate permits will be required for each tenant space.
• CogentPower–801LaurentianDr. Cogent Power has grown from a small niche manufacturer of steel components to an integral part of the North American supply chain for electrical steels for power generation equipment, motors, power and distribution transformers and specialized magnetic components. All are critical to the generation and distribution of electrical energy. Current work is underway for the construction of a new one-storey industrial building (80,000 square feet, or 7,432 square metres) for the purpose of manufacturing and warehousing, including 465 square metres of office space. This new addition will ultimately result in 55 new jobs.
• MaranathaHomes–3260-3306New St. The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) appeal of this project was withdrawn and the Official Plan amendment and zoning bylaw have been approved. A revised site plan was submitted on March 26 and reviewed by staff. Draft site plan approval will follow.
• ParkCityCondominiums-4030 Upper Middle Rd. Staff are reviewing this four-storey, 172-unit apartment application, which is phase one of a larger development.
17City Talk | Spring 2015
between New & Fairview Street
Supported by
Car-Free Street Festival (Appleby Line) brings the community together by allowing families, neighbours, artists, performers, non-profits, and businesses to interact, engage and re-imagine spaces normally used by cars. Take to the streets and leave your car behind!
Join us for this FREE family festival!
Visit www.carfreestreetfestival.ca to learn how you can become involved in this great community event.
Rest and Relaxation for Tansley Woods Area Residents
Left to right: Gunnar Dohrendorf, Liesel Dohrendorf, Vera Jandricic and Karen Driver. Standing beside Jack Dennison is Richard Liskauskas.
The Tansley Woods Long-Term Care facility council requested the installation of a few benches along Itabashi Way. Thanks to the city’s Parks and Open Spaces team, three benches have been installed and now provide a wonderful place for people to rest and relax. One of the benches was kindly donated by retirement home family members as part of the City of Burlington Park Amenities Recognition/Celebration Program.
The 20th Burlington Area Kub Kar Fun Day featured 136 local Cubs racing their hand-built custom cars on Feb. 28 at Nelson High School.
Scout Leader Ed Lawrence presents a winner's certificate to third-year Cub Victoria Syrecki from Burlington’s 27th Orchard Cub Pack.
Upcoming meetings and events
Upcoming Drop-ins Let’s chat! Whether it’s to ask questions, provide input on city matters or just to say hello, mark your calendar for the following drop-ins:
July 8, 2015 and Sept. 9, 2015 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cedar Springs Health, Racquet and Sportsclub 960 Cumberland Ave.
Visit www.burlington.ca/ Ward4 for my latest news updates.
Bike Safety - Spin into Spring Bring the family and learn more about rules of the road, bike sharrows, and the roles and responsibilities of both cyclists and motorists. The Cycling Committee has been hosting FREE, fun, educational seminars at various Burlington Public Library branches throughout April and May. Visit burlington.ca/cycling to learn more.
Upcoming Bike Seminars
Saturday, May 2 from 1 to 2 p.m. (Central Branch)
Saturday, May 9 from 1 to 2 p.m. (Alton Branch)
Saturday, May 16 from 1 to 2 p.m. (Alton Branch)
Sign up is required. Please call Central Library at 905-639-3611, ext. 1321 to register.
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Ward 5 News Councillor Paul Sharman
PaulSharmanCouncillor @PaulSharman1
Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7591
Fax: 905-335-7881
Email: [email protected]
Councillor’s Assistant: Rosemary Fitzpatrick
Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7454
Email: [email protected]
This edition of City Talk is important to me both as a Councillor and as a resident. I have children and grandchildren who live in this city and want to ensure they have a bright and vibrant future. My plan is to stay in Burlington for my retirement and to live in my home as long as possible. I believe many people feel the same. That is why it is so important for the City of Burlington to maintain a high quality of life for all citizens of all ages.
Burlington is changing in many ways. Many people are aware of the changes.
For example, the city has gone from being one of the fastest growing municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area to now one of the slowest. Burlington has essentially used up its available undeveloped land (other than the greenbelt, which is protected from development). In essence, Burlington is built out.
Add to that the great wave of home value increases that has moved west into Burlington from Toronto over many years; the projected Halton population growth of half a million in the next 20 years; and that the Hamilton economy and building starts are recovering after 30 years of stagnation. All of this, coupled with the Province’s Places to Grow policy requiring “intensification”, means there will be an increase in the number of
more affordable homes, condominium buildings and smaller homes on smaller lots as well as the continuing redevelopment of existing properties.
Intensification can be seen in Ward 5 along Appleby Line and Upper Middle Road.
In addition, the amount of income the City of Burlington receives from businesses versus from residential property taxes has declined in the last 10 years as manufacturing plants have closed and remain empty. Most Burlington residents travel outside the city for work. This means that the city needs to find ways to become more attractive to companies to move here and to increase the number of jobs and amount of property tax payments from businesses.
Lakeside Shopping Village in Ward 5 is an example of local businesses closing in our area.
Another really significant change is that many of us will be retiring in the course of the next 20 years, in effect doubling the proportion of the population that is over the age of 65 years. This means that the city must increase spending on services for older adults, including transit and infrastructure, to accommodate the kind of challenges we frequently encounter as we get older.
The Burlington Seniors’ Centre and Burlington Transit offer programs and services for older adults in the city.
It also means that there may be a requirement for a bigger hospital in addition to what is presently being built at Joseph Brant Hospital. There
19City Talk | Spring 2015
will certainly be a need for satellite healthcare facilities. That leaves the question about whether the province will fund it all or will there need to be yet another “special tax levy”?
A really big change is that city-owned buildings, roads and other infrastructure are aging and in need of maintenance and redevelopment. This has caused a funding gap, and the city needs to find an additional $150 million on top of regular annual spending requirements.
Although council has begun to set aside funds every year to pay for and close the gap, it comes at the same time that many people are retiring and becoming dependant on a fixed, and often smaller, income. It may be that council needs to increase the amount of money it is socking away sooner.
Add to this that Burlington is the best mid-sized city in which to live in Canada, according to MoneySense Magazine. In other words, the city is becoming increasingly attractive to homeowners, especially wealthier people who are likely willing to bid higher prices for a home in Burlington versus somewhere else. That will impact house prices across the city, making existing homeowners wealthier and making it more costly for newcomers. It will be cheaper to live somewhere else. This is especially true because the city is built out.
When you consider all these factors, what, if anything, should council be doing to add, change or increase services offered by the city? How will that impact budget allocations? All of this means that there is pressure on the municipality to reduce costs, increase taxes or find other ways to increase revenue.
Upcoming meetings and events
Ward 5 Town Hall Meeting Wednesday, June 10, 2015 7 to 9 p.m. Appleby Ice Centre, Arena A (Front Arena) Multi-purpose room 1201 Appleby Line
In 2014 and 2015 budget considerations, staff presented a 20-year financial tax rate simulation. It showed that the City of Burlington’s annual spending and tax rate increase are likely to be about twice the rate of inflation throughout the next 20 years.
In this term of council, beginning in 2015, Burlington has to decide what its priorities are in the context of what we already know is going to happen, as described above. That work has already started with the new Strategic Planning process. It is of critical importance that Burlington citizens join the conversation.
Finally, you might ask what this has to do with Ward 5? The answer is everything mentioned above has a significant impact on Ward 5. I will, however, deal with more specific Ward 5 issues in the next edition of City Talk.
Communication with residents is of utmost importance to me. Please contact my office should you wish to receive my monthly newsletter through email or by mail. You can also like me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
Best wishes for the spring.
between New & Fairview Street
Supported by
The City of Burlington is working with the community to promote safe, active and healthy lifestyles. A Car-Free Street Festival brings families and neighbourhoods together by making the streets come alive with activity.
What to expect?
• BurlingtonTeenTourBand,1:30p.m.• Activitiesforallages• KidZone• BouncyCastles• PonyRides• LiveMusic• Marketplace• LocalBusiness/OrganizationBooths• Demonstrations
All are welcome to this fun,FREE event!
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Ward 6 News Councillor Blair Lancaster
BurlingtonWard6 @BlairLancaster
Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7592
Fax: 905-335-7881
Email: [email protected]
Councillor’s Assistant: Julie Kirkelos
Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7480
Email: [email protected]
burlington
Once again, the City of Burlington and friends will host a Ward 6 Car-Free Street Festival on Saturday, May 30. Palladium Way will close from 1 to 4 p.m. to accommodate all the fun family activities, including bouncy castles, live music, face-painting, food trucks, giveaways and much more.
www.facebook.com/ward6carfree www.twitter.com/@CarFreeWard6 www.w6carfreefestival.ca
Spring Cleanup The spring street sweeping program has begun along with a spring roadside debris cleanup to collect papers and other trash that was buried in the snow during the winter. Sod repairs needed, due to sidewalk plow damage, are also underway. Staff will provide an annual winter control report for the May 11 Development and Infrastructure Committee meeting.
TrafficCalming Many residents have communicated their concerns regarding traffic and would like to see traffic calming measures in a number of locations in Ward 6. A report was approved by Burlington City Council on March 23, which will help city transportation staff to provide timely and effective service as it relates to the safety of our roadways.
I’m pleased to announce that on March 16, Halton Regional Police Services introduced a program called Operation RISC (Reducing Intersection Safety Concerns). The project is focused on increasing public safety by maximizing police visibility at high-traffic intersections throughout Burlington. It will run throughout 2015.
I will be holding a Ward 6 town hall meeting on traffic safety at Haber Recreation Centre, Community Room #1, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30. City staff and police will be in attendance to help explain the measures we are taking to ensure our community is safe.
Proposed CN Intermodal Facility in Milton On March 19, the Canadian National Railway Company (CN) formally announced it plans to move forward with a proposal to build a $250 million intermodal and logistics hub adjacent to its main line in the Town of Milton.
The facility would be about 2,900 metres in length and have the capacity to handle four trains per day. Once completed, the terminal would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Both Halton Region and the Town of Milton are working together to develop a co-ordinated municipal planning and regulatory response to the CN proposal.
For more information about the proposal, visit www.halton.ca.
21City Talk | Spring 2015
Union Gas Hamilton to Milton Pipeline Union Gas has announced a pipeline expansion project slated for 2016. The new pipeline will run through Ward 6 between the existing Union Gas Hamilton Valve Site located near Highway 6 and Carlisle Road and the existing Union Gas Milton Gate Station located south of Derry Road, between Ontario Street and Third Line.
The exisiting natural gas pipelines between Hamilton and Milton are at capacity. The expansion will ensure a reliable supply of natural gas for our community. Construction will begin in the spring of 2016. No disruptions for Burlington residents are anticipated. I am meeting with Union Gas representatives and will provide any updates through my newsletter and website.
Visit from Rotary President
On March 24, I was pleased to welcome, along with Mayor Rick Goldring, the President of Rotary International, Mr. Gary Huang from Taiwan. President Huang represents 1.2 million Rotary members in 34,000 Rotary clubs worldwide, including four locally. During Mr. Huang’s visit, I also had the pleasure of meeting with the Rotary exchange students and guided them on a tour of City Hall.
Apeldoorn Citizen Delegation Trip The first week of May is an important week to Canadians and members of the Dutch community, marking the liberation of the Netherlands during the Second World War. Canadians have been revered for the past 70 years by the Dutch community for the sacrifices they made in liberating the Netherlands.
On May 9, many communities in Canada will be celebrating this important victory. I have been honoured to take part in the City of Burlington’s recognition event for the past five years. This year, I have the opportunity, along with Mayor Rick Goldring, members of our Mundialization Committee and Burlington citizens, to attend the 70th anniversary celebrations in the Netherlands.
Closer to home, the City of Burlington and the Royal Canadian Legion will have celebrations taking place. We invite you to participate by bringing photos of your loved ones who served in the Second World War. This day is especially important to me as my husband and I will be remembering his grandfather who served in the Second World War, Frank Nelson Murray. We will take his medals and letter of honour from King George VI to our Apeldoorn visit.
Upcoming meetings and events
Citizen Delegation Apledoorn Visit, Apeldoorn, Netherlands April 30 – May 10, 2015
Parking 101 - Public Information Session Wednesday, May 6, 2015 7 to 9 p.m. Tansley Woods Community Centre
Ward 6 residents are invited to join Councillor Blair Lancaster for a drop-in session Thursday, May 21, 2015 6:30 to 8 p.m. William’s Coffee Pub, 2050 Appleby Line
Ward 6 Car-Free Street Festival Saturday, May 30, 2015 1 to 4 p.m. Palladium Way (between Walkers Line and Appleby Line)
Ward 6 Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Safety Tuesday, June 30, 2015 7 to 9 p.m. Haber Recreation Centre Community Room 1
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Flood Recovery www.burlington.ca/flood
Work to assist residents affected by the Aug. 4, 2014 flood in Burlington continues to be one of the city’s top priorities.
Distribution of relief funding
The distribution of financial assistance to families that suffered losses and damages during the flood has begun. The Burlington Community Foundation Flood Disaster Relief Claims Committee has reviewed all 310 of the claims submitted by residents.
Many of the families who have received payments have expressed their sincere appreciation to those who donated funds to the relief efforts. A total of $905,000 was raised by the Burlington community and matched two to one by the provincial government for a total of about $2.9 million.
Flood mitigation study
The city’s study to look at flood mitigation, vulnerability and priorities is well underway. Led by the engineering consulting company, Amec Foster Wheeler, the study is examining the flood event and Burlington’s storm water management system.
Areas of focus for the study include:
• Datacollection,suchashistorical flooding data, storm sewer infrastructure and maintenance records
• AnassessmentoftheAug.4,2014 rainfall event
• Areviewofflooddamagecaptured through eyewitness accounts, photos and video
• Thefloodvulnerabilityofproperties located near creeks
• Thefloodvulnerabilityofroadsand overland water flow routes.
As part of the study, 16 locations across the city have been identified as areas being assessed for future flood mitigation work. More areas may be added as the study continues.
The 16 areas identified in the study to date include:
• AshlandDrive • AuburnCrescent • AyrPlace • BeaufortDrive • BennettRoadHydroRightofWay • BrantStreetatCavendishDrive • BridleWood • BristolDrive • DriftwoodPark • GrenallenDriveHydroRightofWay • HadfieldCourt • IngersolDrive • ItabashiWay(2120) • MullinWay • OvertonandKirkburnDrive • ShoreacresCreekatHwy407
An update on the city’s study is to be provided at the May 11 Development and Infrastructure Committee meeting.
Halton Region study
The first phase of Halton Region’s Basement Flooding Mitigation Study is now complete. The study focused on seven priority areas in Burlington with homes that have experienced multiple floods during previous rain storms, including the August 2014 storm.
On April 1, Halton Regional Council supported moving forward with projects that will enhance Halton’s sanitary sewer system: up to $3.2 million on various infrastructure improvements and $1.65 million for a voluntary Downspout Disconnection Program, to disconnect downspouts from the sanitary and storm sewer systems.
The second phase of the study, which extends to the rest of Halton Region, is well underway. The study’s final report will be available in the summer.
You can sign up for automatic updates about the study or receive newsletters as the study progresses by visiting halton.ca/floodstudy.
To learn more about flood recovery activities, visit www.burlington.ca/flood and www.halton.ca/flood.
23City Talk | Spring 2015
City’s 2015 Budget Focuses on Infrastructure, Cost-Effective Service The City of Burlington's 2015 budget was approved by City Council in February with an increase of 3.64 per cent. When combined with Halton Region and the boards of education, the overall tax impact is 2.08 per cent, or $18.10 for each $100,000 of residential urban assessment.
Focusing on priorities, such as renewing our infrastructure, cost-effective service delivery and more funding for extreme weather events, the budget strives to find a balance between the short and long-term needs of the city.
2015 is the first year that the city used a service-based approach to
the budget rather than the traditional departmental approach. The service-based approach provides the public with greater insight into how the city invests tax dollars, and represents a more transparent document.
To further improve and increase transparency, an Open Budget web application tool (app) provides the public with a user-friendly, interactive platform to explore and better understand where city dollars are being invested.
For more information and to view the budget, visit www.burlington.ca/budget.
Joseph Brant Hospital Redevelopment in its Final Phase The redevelopment of Joseph Brant Hospital is now in its final phase. The Ministry of Health recently announced $371 million for the project, with the hospital raising $42 million of its $60 million to match the City of Burlington’s $60-million contribution.
When construction is complete in 2018, Joseph Brant Hospital will feature 172 acute inpatient beds in the patient tower, a new emergency department, a larger cancer clinic, nine new operating rooms and expanded medical, surgical and outpatient services.
www.josephbranthospital.ca
Burlington Community Gardens
Located at Amherst Park, Central Park and Francis Road Bikeway, the City of Burlington’s three community gardens are open for planting from May 1 to Oct. 25, 2015.
This is the fourth growing season for the gardens with a new community garden planned for 2016.
Currently, there are a total of 76 plots available, plus six raised, accessible plots suitable for persons with disabilities. Plots are assigned by lottery each year.
www.burlington.ca/communitygardens
Happy Birthday to Public Involvement in Burlington The City of Burlington and the community celebrated two important public involvement anniversaries this spring.
In April 2013, City Council approved Burlington’s first community engagement charter. In April 2014, City Council approved the Charter Action Plan that gives city staff a roadmap to public involvement.
www.burlington.ca/getinvolved
Burlington Community Gardens
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2015 Construction Projects
1 Walkers Line Bridge (1.7 km north of Britannia Road): Bridge rehabilitation
2 New Street (Martha Street to Guelph Line): Road resurfacing
3 Plains Road East: Minor road reconstruction
4 Waterdown Road (Plains Road to Masonry Court): Road reconstruction
5 Lakeshore Road (Maple Avenue to treatment plant): Road reconstruction
6 Townsend Avenue: Storm sewer work
7 Edinburgh Drive (Maplewood Drive West to Maplewood Drive East): Road reconstruction
8 Palmer Drive (Centennial Drive to Walkers Line): Road resurfacing
9 Corporate Drive (Ironstone Drive to Appleby Line): Minor road reconstruction
10 Spring Gardens Road: Shoulder stabilization
11 Brock Avenue (Elgin Street to Ontario Street): Road reconstruction
12 Pinedale Avenue: Phase 2 minor road reconstruction/resurfacing
13 Daryl Drive: Minor road reconstruction
14 Ireland Drive: Minor road reconstruction
15 Bellview Crescent: Road reconstruction
16 Britannia Road (Willowgrove Trail to Guelph Line): Gravel footpath and lighting construction
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City Celebrates 10-year Anniversary with Twin City Apeldoorn www.burlington.ca/mund
This year will mark the 10th anniversary of the twinning of Burlington and Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.
In 1984, a Mundialization Committee of volunteer citizens was formed in Burlington to pursue twinning with another country. Through the committee, an official twinning agreement was signed by the mayors of Burlington and Apeldoorn on May 6, 2005.
Apeldoorn is the Netherlands’ 10th largest city (population 180,000), and is the location of one of the Royal Family palaces, Paleis Het Loo.
The cities of Burlington and Apeldoorn have developed a close friendship in many ways, including:
• Culturalexchangesbetweenofficials, citizens and students
• SecondWorldWarliberationby Canadian troops
• AnnualCanada-Netherlands friendship day celebrations.
Mundialization is the act of a city or local authority declaring itself a “world citizen” and being aware of global issues with a sense of shared rights and responsibility.
Who’s Made Burlington Accessible? Celebrate at the 4th Annual Burlington Accessibility Awards The City of Burlington’s Accessibility Advisory Committee is celebrating Burlington residents, organizations and businesses who are outstanding champions of accessibility in Burlington during the Burlington Accessibility Awards on Tuesday, June 2 at 2 p.m. at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Sarah Harmer, singer/songwriter and activist from Burlington, is this year’s keynote speaker.
The awards recognize community leaders who have made significant contributions to increase access and participation for people with disabilities.
Nominations were accepted from March 24 until April 24.
Award recipients must be residents of Burlington; organizations and businesses must be located in Burlington, or
have had an impact on accessibility in Burlington in eight categories.
Keynote speaker, Sarah Harmer. Photo by: Dustin Rabin
Inspired by Bell’s Let’s Talk campaign encouraging everyone to talk about mental health; Burlington Community Foundation’s recent Mental Health Roundtable Series; and the current shift in public understanding that mental wellness can be part of everyday conversation, this year’s theme is Mental Wellness. Ms. Harmer will address mental wellness and the importance of
accessibility for people with disabilities and share some positive personal stories.
The awards ceremony is part of the city’s National Access Awareness Week celebrations.
National Access Awareness Week was created to challenge all Canadians to promote better community access for people with disabilities. It was established in 1988 in response to a request from Rick Hansen following his Man in Motion World Tour.
To register to attend this free event or for more information, please visit www.burlington.ca/accessibility or contact Judi Lytle, accessibility co-ordinator, at 905-335-7600, ext. 7865 or [email protected].
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JUNE
D-Day Memorial Service Thursday, June 6 Spencer Smith Park Naval Ships’ Memorial Monument Phone: 905-639-7255
Moon in June Road Race Saturday, June 6 Downtown Burlington Phone: 905-467-1301
Burlington Kite Festival Sunday, June 7 Brant Hills Community Centre 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Let fun take flight! Build a kite* or bring your own to help fill the sky with colour. Kite flying demonstrations, entertainment, and vendors for free outdoor family fun! *Kite building materials available while supplies last.
Phone: 905-335-7766 www.burlington.ca/kitefestival
Sound of Music Kick-off Concert Saturday, June 13 Spencer Smith Park Phone: 905-333-6364
Sound of Music Festival Thursday, June 18 - Sunday, June 21 Spencer Smith Park Phone: 905-333-6364
Pan Am Games Torch Relay Friday, June 19 Downtown Burlington Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7704
Concerts in the Park Every Sunday & Wednesday from June 24 – Aug. 16 Central Park Bandshell Phone: 905-335-7600, ext. 7947
JULY
Canada Day 5K Race Wednesday, July 1 Spencer Smith Park Phone: 905-639-8053
Canada Day Celebrations Wednesday, July 1 Spencer Smith Park Noon – 10 p.m.
Happy Birthday Canada! Bring your national pride and celebrate our great country. See if you can find 100 things to do to celebrate Canada’s birthday at this Top 100 Festival in Ontario. Food, shopping, free activities, and great entertainment.
Noon Park activities begin 1 p.m. Opening Ceremonies 3 p.m. Headliner Performance 10 p.m. FIREWORKS!
Phone: 905-335-7766 www.burlington.ca/canadaday
Strawberry Social Wednesday, July 1 Joseph Brant Museum Phone: 905-332-9888
Saturdays in the Street July 4 – Aug. 22, Saturday only Downtown Burlington Phone: 905-333-9868
Biggest Little Night Thursday, July 9 Brant Hills Community Centre Phone: 905-335-7720, ext. 6437
presents
Movies Under the Stars Thursdays at dusk, July 9 to Aug. 20 Phone: 905-335-7766 www.burlington.ca/movies
AUGUST
Sandcastles Festival Saturday, Aug. 8 Beachway Park 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Join us for a day of fun at the 8th annual Sandcastles Festival, including the annual sandcastles competition. By registering, you will be given a sectioned-off area to sculpt your masterpiece. Great prizes in all categories!
Phone: 905-335-7766 www.burlington.ca/sandcastlesfestival
presents Children’s Festival Sunday, Aug. 16 Spencer Smith Park 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Join us as we celebrate sports! Interactive games, play zones, vendors and food. Entertainment happens throughout the day.
Phone: 905-335-7766 www.burlington.ca/childrensfestival
For more information on how to host, volunteer or support an event in Burlington, please contact the Burlington Festivals and Events Office at 905-335-7766 or [email protected].
Remember to add your event or check event listings at www.burlington.ca/calendar.
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