Ward 5 News Update - June 11, 2020 - City of Burlington
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Ward 5 News Update – June 11, 2020 Dear friends and neighbours, It is a delight to have warm weather again and see people getting out and about, in the parks and stores. Flowers are blooming, and my garden is looking better that it ever has. You may remember the Benjamin Franklin quote “out of adversity comes opportunity”. My own spin on that is “that you can’t have peaks without valleys.” We are all becoming more familiar with the technology that we had available to us before the pandemic but did not use so much. What a huge difference this technology is making in our daily lives, both professionally and personally. I have worked from home on and off for over 30 years and always appreciated not having to spend hours on the road commuting, and here I am again, only the experience is so much better with all the digital technology. Of course, I miss being with people in a social setting, but not so much for conducting business. It seems ironic to hear people talk about how we have a “new normal”, one that will incorporate COVID-19 safeguard practices routinely into our lives. Much the same was said following the failure of the global banking system in 2008/2009. How quickly all of that was forgotten as we have seen the amazing escalation of stock markets in the last 4 years, especially in the USA. People love to take risks, innovate, and evolve. This will apply to how much things will change post COVID-19. It seems unlikely that we will need COVID-19 safeguard practices forever, possibly until effective widespread vaccination has occurred. What will endure is our acceptance of technology as a way of life. Perhaps the silver lining in all of this will be the climate, because our air, streams and natural environment have certainly benefitted over the last 12 weeks by people being shut in. Change is inevitably coming. I am looking forward to making the best of it. I attended the Solidarity March on Thursday June 4 by joining the mostly young, energetic, crowd of Burlington students at City Hall. I was proud to be there. More on that below. There is much happening as the Province begins to reopen businesses, parks and many other services and activities we enjoy. This at the same time as the Province increases the number of people permitted in groups from 5 to 10. Obviously, our Public Health Care teams both locally and around the world have learned from experience over these last 12 weeks and are finding ways to incorporate some positive normal activity into our lives for the time being. In the same manner, activities at City Hall are beginning to pick up where we left off… albeit being done in different ways.
I hope you find the following information in this week’s news update informative and useful.
As always, if you wish to speak to me or just have a question or concern, please call my office 905-
335-7600, ext. 7591 or email me at paul.sharman@burlington.ca or paul@paulsharman.ca. If you
see me out and about, please say hi!
Stay well and regards,
Burlington Solidarity March
I have received a number of emails, Twitter comments and
Facebook messages/likes about the student event that took place
on Thursday June 4. The vast majority were supportive. There
were a number that questioned the appropriateness of the march
during the pandemic.
Some comments:
• The students had planned to march peacefully 6 feet apart
wearing masks, gloves, or sanitizing their hands.
• I doubt that this group of young people have any desire to
catch or spread the disease to each other any more than any of
us. When you look at the picture above, most people in
attendance maintained social distancing.
• In principle, the occurrences in the United states and its
politicized systemic discrimination are so horrific that a peaceful,
COVID compliant, walk along a Burlington street by a number of
young people may help us gain perspective on how they would
like to see their future. Based on what we have seen in the United States, we should all have
been out marching.
• In Burlington, generally, drive by parades are permitted as is walking. If you go to any park or
path such as Centennial Multi-Use, Burlington Beachway, Burloak Park or even Hamilton
Beach, there are people walking in large numbers maintaining social distance. If you shop at
Costco, people line up and walk behind each other.
• Police officers were present.
• For reference Canadians have the right to hold protest gatherings under the Canadian Charter
of Rights and Freedoms. It takes precedence over an emergency order.
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The City of Burlington does not enforce or interpret the Freedom of Expression of the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as views on sensitive issues can be viewed in very different ways.
When protesting occurs with signs on City property, and during a protest if signs are with the
protesters City staff do not intervene. If protesters signs are left on City property, they are removed.
If a protest is on private property without authorization from the property owner, the property owner
has the right to ask protesters to leave the property.
Signage:
• Wording and/or graphics on signage and the protest itself is not enforceable through
municipal bylaws
• The content/signage and protest are protected by the Freedom of Expression rights
guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - freedom of expression,
freedom of assembly and freedom of religion
• Signs part of an active protest that are not left unattended, and the sign is not stuck into the
ground, there is no bylaw enforcement action
• Signs part of a protest that have been left unattended or staked into the ground are subject to
bylaw enforcement.
Police will only get involved:
• If the protest or protestors become violent or aggressive to preserve the peace
• If the protest causes traffic issues
• To prevent criminal offences or offences against persons and property
New Street – Walkers Line to Burloak – Resurfacing
Construction has begun on New Street from Walkers Line to
Burloak Drive as well as Shane Court, Patrick Place and Bower
Court.
This project will include the following works:
• Repair of the storm sewer and improvements to the storm drainage;
• Minor traffic signal improvements;
• Repair of the sidewalk and curb and gutter; and
• Resurface the roadway.
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Project Schedule and Temporary Lane Restrictions
Construction Start: May 2020
Construction Completion: November 2020
New Street works including the road widenings, curb and sidewalk repairs as well traffic signal
improvements will be completed weekdays during daytime hours. The removal and replacement of
the asphalt surface on New Street will be completed at night.
Work on Shane Court, Patrick Place and Bower Court will be completed weekdays during daytime
hours.
The roadworks will progress from east to west over the project duration. Traffic signal work will be
completed in advance of the roadworks. Single lane restrictions will be in place in the area of the
active work. Sidewalks will be closed where
work is being undertaken.
Additional Project Information:
Please review the project website at www.burlington.ca/new. As new information becomes available,
it will be added to the page. “Subscribe to the page” to receive update notices.
Project Map
Project Contacts:
Inquiry/Concern Contact Contact Number
Road construction inquiries Jason Forde 905-220-6682
Construction Inspector jason.forde@burlington.ca
All other inquiries Marc Daffre 289-208-2606
Contract Administrator marc.daffre@burlington.ca
4
DesJardines Park Improvements
City staff will be renewing the playground and installing a new splash pad at DesJardines Park.
Construction is expected to begin in August 2020.
The proposed improvements include:
• New playground area design
• Replacement of existing playground equipment and swings
• Installation of new engineered safety surfacing around the playground and swings
• New playground perimeter curbing and transition curbs for accessibility
• New splash pad area
• Installation of shade structure
• Drinking fountain with pet bowl
• New asphalt pathways
• Installation of new waste receptacles and bike racks
• Additional shade tree planting around playground perimeter
View a rendering of the improvements to the DesJardines Park playground and splash pad.
Since the park amenities are currently closed due to the City of Burlington’s COVID-19 emergency
procedures, we ask that you continue to respect the closures for the health and safety of your family
and neighbours, city employees and contractors working in the park. If emergency measures are
lifted during park construction, the playground area will remain closed and fenced off with signs
posted
For more information, please visit www.burlington.ca/desjardinesplay.
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Ontario Permits More Businesses and Services to Reopen in the Coming Days
The Ontario Government has announced that it is moving forward with a regional approach to Stage
2 of reopening the province.
Effective Friday, June 12, 2020, the province will increase the limit on social gatherings from five to
10 people across the province, regardless of whether a region has moved to Stage 2. Additionally, all
places of worship in Ontario will also be permitted to open with physical distancing in place and
attendance limited to no more than 30 per cent of the building capacity to ensure the safety of
worshippers.
Public health unit regions allowed to move into Stage 2 on Friday, June 12 include:
• Algoma Public Health
• Brant County Health Unit
• Chatham-Kent Public Health
• Eastern Ontario Health Unit
• Grey Bruce Health Unit
• Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
• Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
• Huron Perth Public Health
• Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
• Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
• Middlesex-London Health Unit
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
• Northwestern Health Unit
• Ottawa Public Health
• Peterborough Public Health
• Porcupine Health Unit
• Public Health Sudbury & Districts
• Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services
• Renfrew County and District Health Unit
• Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
• Southwestern Public Health
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit
• Timiskaming Health Unit
• Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
The following Regions are not included in the Stage 2 Reopening plan and will remain in Stage
1 at this time:
• Durham
• Haldimand-Norfolk
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• Halton
• Hamilton
• Lambton
• Niagara
• Peel
• Toronto
• Windsor-Essex
• York
At the beginning of each week, the government will provide an update on the ongoing assessment of
these regions, and whether they are ready to move into Stage 2 at the end of the same week. Please
click here to learn more.
Businesses and services permitted to reopen with proper health and safety measures in place in
regions entering Stage 2 include:
• Outdoor dine-in services at restaurants, bars and other establishments, including patios,
curbside, parking lots and adjacent properties;
• Select personal and personal care services with the proper health and safety measures in
place, including tattoo parlours, barber shops, hair salons and beauty salons;
• Shopping malls under existing restrictions, including food services reopening for take-out and
outdoor dining only;
• Tour and guide services, such as bike and walking, bus and boat tours, as well as tasting and
tours for wineries, breweries and distilleries;
• Water recreational facilities such as outdoor splash pads and wading pools, and all swimming
pools;
• Beach access and additional camping at Ontario Parks;
• Camping at private campgrounds;
• Outdoor-only recreational facilities and training for outdoor team sports, with limits to enable
physical distancing;
• Drive-in and drive-through venues for theatres, concerts, animal attractions and cultural
appreciation, such as art installations;
• Film and television production activities, with limits to enable physical distancing; and
• Weddings and funerals, with limits on social gatherings to 10 people.
Everyone, regardless of where they live in the province, must continue to follow public health advice,
including to practise physical distancing, wear a face covering if physical distancing is a challenge,
wash hands frequently and thoroughly, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. The Chief
Medical Officer of Health and health experts will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation to
advise when public health restrictions can be gradually loosened or if they need to be tightened.
For questions about what is currently able to open during Stage 1, or what will be open or impacts to
your business or employment when we enter Stage 2, call the Stop the Spread Business Information
Line at 1-888-444-3659.
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Additional Resources
• Learn more about Stage 2 of reopening Ontario
• Learn more about A Framework for Reopening our Province
City Council approves modifications to the City’s park operations, including the
removal of fencing at Beachway Park
At a Special Meeting of Council on June 3, Burlington City Council approved interim modifications to
the City’s parks operations service, including the removal of the fencing currently in place at
Beachway Park. The changes to the parks service also allow for temporary washroom facilities to be
installed at Spencer Smith Park, Beachway Park and Burloak Park with enhanced service.
The fencing at Beachway Park will be taken down next week and the portable toilets and
handwashing stations will be installed at Beachway Park, dependent on availability.
When walking along the beach, residents are reminded to continue to be vigilant about public health
practices and provincial directives to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including:
• Maintaining 2 metre physical distance from anyone you don’t live with
• Gathering in groups of 5 or fewer
• Staying home if you feel sick
• Washing and sanitizing hands before and after visiting the area.
Access to washrooms
The washrooms in the pavilion at Beachway Park will remain closed as a result of pre-existing
structural issues which are scheduled to be corrected with construction in September 2020. In their
place, portable bathrooms and hand washing stations will be made available and cleaned by City
parks staff on a regular basis.
The temporary washroom facilities at Spencer Smith Park, Beachway Park and Burloak Park will be
installed once available from the supplier, approximately the end of June. The re-opening of other city
park washrooms, with enhanced cleaning, will be phased in.
Beach maintenance and safety
City Council approved the hiring of students and temporary staff to assist with this important service
and general parks maintenance. City parks staff will provide reduced beach maintenance, including
grooming the beach and enhanced cleaning of washrooms. Please place waste in receptacles or take
it home with you for disposal to help keep the beach safe for everyone.
8
Halton Region monitors public beaches to help ensure safe water quality for swimmers. Water quality
testing at Beachway Park by Halton Region Public Health is currently not taking place. For updates
and more information, please dial 311.
The resumption of City services and spaces is something everyone is looking forward to, but we must
continue to do it slowly and carefully with the right precautions. We ask for your patience and
understanding as the City works to ensure it has resources and policies in place that align with
Provincial regulations and the latest guidance from Halton Region public health to prevent the spread
of COVID-19.
9
Your Library is getting ready to welcome you back inside—in the safest way
possible
Burlington Public Library launches its first phase of gradual reopening at
two branches, Central and Tansley Woods, on Tue June 16. Both
locations will be open limited hours for holds pick-up only, where you can
enter the branch to collect and check-out the library items you reserve.
Aldershot and New Appleby branch customers will pick-up their holds at
Central, while Alton, Brant Hills, and Kilbride customers will pick-up holds
at Tansley Woods. As of June 16, open hours at Central and Tansley
Woods are Tue-Thu 11 am to 7 pm, and Sat 9a m to 5 pm. If you need
help reserving library items through the online catalogue, call us at
905.639.3611 ext. 1202, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Visit
bpl.on.ca for all reopening details.
Burlington Public Library Service Notice
Residents invited to attend free online mental health and resiliency presentation
from Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe
Resiliency and mental health are two very important aspects connected to a pandemic (or any
emergency) that can determine how well individuals can overcome the stresses and uncertainty of
any situation. Burlington residents are invited to attend an educational online talk from Dr. Robyne
Hanley-Dafoe on June 18 at 7 p.m. There is no cost but participation is limited to the first 500
participants. To register, please email getinvolved@burlington.ca by June 16 at 4 p.m. Participants
will be emailed the Zoom Meeting link on June 17.
Anyone who misses the live online presentation will be able to view the recording later at
burlington.ca/coronavirus.
Presentation: Everyday Resiliency in Times of Uncertainty
The events in these first few months of 2020 have been an incredible test of our resilience. Our
existence has been stripped down to the essentials. We are in a global fight to protect and manage
our health. This global crisis will change the world forever, and each of us will inevitably be
transformed by the experience. This pandemic will be taught in future history classes! As with all
seasons and events of challenge, how we respond is crucial. In this remote learning event, Dr.
Hanley-Dafoe will present her work on resiliency that includes the five core competencies from a
global perspective. Dr. Hanley-Dafoe will discuss how to best navigate personal and professional
10resiliency in times of uncertainty through stress performance, targeted focusing and value alignment.
She will also introduce the Resiliency Trajectory Model to serve as a tool for seeing resiliency in
action. The information is researched informed, readily available, and is grounded in wise practices.
Her aim is to facilitate knowledge mobilization that is relatable, accessible, sustainable and realistic.
The information presented here may not be radical, but it is ultimately practical for the everyday
resiliency we all need right now.
About Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe
Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe is a multi-award-winning psychology and education instructor who
specializes in resiliency, navigating stress and change, leadership, and personal wellness in the
workplace. Described as transformational, engaging, and thought-provoking, Robyne’s keynotes
provide practical strategies grounded in global research and case studies that help foster resiliency
within others and ourselves.
Mental Health Resources
Other mental health resources can also be found online at burlington.ca/COVID19resources.
Adopted Official Plan Update: Recommended Policy Modifications
The “Taking a Closer Look at the Downtown” (Scoped Re-examination of the Adopted Official Plan)
project team has released recommended modifications to the downtown policies in the Adopted
Official Plan. These policies will guide development in downtown Burlington to the year 2031.
The recommendations are outlined in:
• Recommended modifications to Downtown policies and mapping;
• Staff report (PL-16-20);
• Final report by planning consultants SGL Planning & Design;
• Technical studies that were completed as part of the Re-examination project.
11These documents are available on the Taking a Closer Look at the Downtown project page on the
City’s Get Involved website.
The recommended policy modifications come from a re-examination of the downtown policies in the
new Official Plan that Council adopted in 2018. In accordance with the August 2019 Public
Engagement Plan for the project, these recommended policy modifications have been informed by:
• extensive public engagement;
• technical studies;
• analysis of the existing downtown; and
• the need for City policies to conform to regional and provincial policies and plans.
Next Steps
July 2020: The City will share two more documents:
• Financial Impact Analysis concerning the recommended policy modifications, and
• Draft Downtown Burlington Placemaking and Urban Design Guidelines for public review.
Aug. 28, 2020: Deadline to submit comments on these documents so the project team has time to
consider the feedback in advance of the Sept. 30 Committee meeting.
Sept. 2020: The project team will release an additional appendix to the staff report PL-16-20 that was
published in June. This appendix will provide project updates and a response to all feedback that was
received prior to Aug. 28.
Sept. 30, 2020: City Council will consider all reports at a public meeting of the Community Planning,
Regulation, and Mobility Committee on Sept. 30. This meeting will include a presentation from City
staff and the project consultants. The public will have a chance to delegate.
Oct. 7, 2020: Council will consider the Sept. 30 recommendations at a Special Council meeting on
Oct. 7. Council will decide whether to endorse the recommended policy modifications and submit
them to Halton Region for inclusion in the Region’s approval of the new Official Plan that Council
adopted in Apr. 2018.
Public Engagement
Residents with comments on the recommended policy modifications should submit their comments by
Aug. 28 so the project team has time to consider the feedback in advance of the Sept. 30 Committee
meeting.
Questions and comments can be directed to the Project Team at
• newop@burlington.ca
• 905-335-7600, ext. 7787 - Leave a message and staff will call you back during business hours.
Staff are monitoring voicemail and will respond as soon as possible.
12• City of Burlington
c/o Alison Enns
Community Planning Department
426 Brant St.
P.O. Box 5013
Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
Members of the public can also delegate at the Sept. 30 Committee meeting. Learn more at
www.burlington.ca/delegate.
Project #Noisemaker Aims to Target Loud and Unsafe Vehicles and Aggressive
Driving
The Halton Regional Police Service has received numerous complaints from across the region
regarding loud and unnecessary noise from motor vehicles which have been modified by removing
the mufflers or modifying the exhaust system.
It has been observed through recent proactive enforcement that this unnecessary noise is often found
to be accompanied by other illegal vehicle modifications, unsafe vehicle conditions and aggressive
driving behaviours.
The Halton Regional Police will be initiating Project #Noisemaker. The region-wide project was
launched on June 10, 2020 and will run until October 31, 2020. Project #Noisemaker aims to address
concerns of motor vehicles with illegal modifications, unsafe motor vehicles, and aggressive driving.
As part of Project #Noisemaker, Officers from the District Response Teams and Regional Traffic
Services will collaborate with partner agencies to conduct inspections through an Operation Wreck
Check; will target illegal street racing activity through Project ERASE (eliminate racing activity on
streets everywhere) enforcement dates, and will partner with Municipal Enforcement Officers to
conduct enforcement of the Town of Oakville's motorcycle noise by law.
13The Halton Regional Police Service remains committed to road safety through prevention, education
and enforcement initiatives.
Anyone with enforcement concerns is asked to fill out an online form available on the Halton Regional
Police Service website here: https://www.haltonpolice.ca/services/reporting/trafficcomplaints.php
Application for tenth cannabis retail store in Burlington received by the Alcohol
and Gaming Commission of Ontario: Written comments due to Province by June
18
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has received an application for a tenth
cannabis retail store in Burlington called Nova Cannabis. The proposed location at 2485 Appleby Line
Unit G1 is now up for public comment.
Written comments about the proposed location will be received by the AGCO until Thursday, June 18,
2020 and may be submitted online at www.agco.ca/iAGCO. The AGCO will accept submissions from:
• A resident of the municipality in which the proposed store is located
• The municipality representing the area in which the proposed store is located and/or its upper-
tier municipality.
Comments submitted to the AGCO should relate to the following matters of public interest:
• Protecting public health and safety
• Protecting youth and restricting their access to cannabis
• Preventing illicit activities in relation to cannabis
After June 18, the AGCO will consider all written comments and available information to decide
whether the application for the proposed store location will be approved.
City seeks 12 local artists for small public art projects
The public art program is continuing its annual Local Artist Program this year. The program
commissions local artists to create a variety of small to medium scale artworks throughout the
community. The City is inviting local artists to submit their design ideas that will be installed on traffic
control signal boxes throughout the city later this year.
Artists are encouraged to submit artwork that focuses on inspiring and uplifting the community during
these challenging times. This artwork will form an urban art gallery that can be experienced by
residents while still practicing appropriate social distancing.
14Artists wishing to apply to this project can get help to prepare their application and learn how to
transfer their artwork/designs into a digital format. These educational opportunities will be offered via
videoconference and email to make sure appropriate social distancing is practiced.
For deadlines and more information on how to get application help and/or apply, please visit
www.burlington.ca/publicart.
Timeline:
Deadline Activity
July 6 to Aug. 10 Application assistance available upon request
Aug. 21 Application deadline
Successful artists selected; enter into a contract with the
By Sept. 4
City of Burlington.
Project development: Artists work with Public Art staff to
Sept. 8 to Oct 6 refine designs, finalize artwork concept and create
digital artwork file.
October through November Installation and online project launch (date TBD)
National Doughnut Day
Did you know that National Doughnut Day is celebrated annually on the first Friday in June? It was
first created in 1938 by The Salvation Army in Chicago to honour those who served doughnuts to
encourage and cheer up the soldiers during the First World War. Since then, doughnuts have
symbolized The Salvation Army’s long history in caring for and providing dignity to those who come to
them in their darkest hour.
In 1938 Salvation Army "lassies" who made the doughnuts were the only women outside of military
personnel allowed to visit the front lines. As the doughnut gained popularity it was reported that some
pilots even dropped notes asking for doughnuts for their troops.
15Last Friday, June 5, I had the pleasure of spending some time at the Salvation Army Community and
Family Services Unit in Burlington, meeting with community members who were delighted to receive
a doughnut with their groceries.
From L to R:
Major Doug Binner, Laura Foster Oros, Program Coordinator and Councillor Sharman
COVID-19 Links and Resources
• For further COVID-19 information, including where to get tested, please visit Halton Region
Public Health www.halton.ca/coronavirus
• Residents can stay informed at www.burlington.ca/coronavirus as well as on our social media
channels: @cityburlington on twitter and facebook.com/cityburlington
• Questions about the cancellation of Recreation programs can be directed to
rentals@burlington.ca or liveandplay@burlington.ca or 905-335-7738
• Government of Ontario: www.ontario.ca/coronavirus
• Government of Canada: www.canada.ca/coronavirus
• World Health Organization: www.who.int
• Joseph Brant Hospital: www.josephbranthospital.ca/covid-19
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