IN THIS ISSUE·      

I sincerely hope that everyone had a great summer and had the ability to enjoy some of the beautiful weather that our summer season brings. As we enter the fall season this year, many people get back into routines that the summer and COVID-19 had interrupted. Sports and recreation are all set to go this fall and with vaccination passports in place the hope is that the programs will not be interrupted again by the next wave as they all were last fall. 

Most city of Burlington programs and facilities are open again with COVID-19 restrictions and vaccination required. We are asking the public to please be patient with staff as we all learn the new processes of access to facilities and programs. My family is very involved in hockey programs so I will be at several ice rinks throughout the winter season as a coach, fan and participant.

In terms of returning to in person work within City Hall, we have deferred this decision until later this year. Many of city staff are working from home and are very comfortable doing so. We are looking at returning to a hybrid working model where some staff are working from home part time and in city facilities part time. As Councillors, we do have offices on the 7th floor of City Hall and many of us have been using them part time throughout the pandemic but not as they were used before. In-person meetings are still not permitted within City Hall so I have been doing some meetings at local coffee shops or at my fitness club on Plains road.

Some events are returning to my schedule as well. This past month I was fortunate to be invited to participate in the Tour d’Aldershot bicycle tour (see photos above) which was a 10km tour around Aldershot that was a fundraiser for Next Door social space. This is an annual fundraiser that assists them in preparing meals for those in need in partnership with Rolling Horse Bike shop located right beside them.

In other news, my office has unfortunately lost my wonderful assistant Tara Thorp as she has taken a position with the Burlington Fire Department. I’m certain that we will still see her at some future Ward 1 events but we wish her well in her new challenges.  As we go through the process of recruiting a replacement, there may be some delay in service requests so please be patient with us during this time. Please be sure to send urgent inquiries to ward1@burlington.ca so support staff can address them while I am attending committee or council meetings.

If you would like to stay up to date on news from both at City Hall and in and around Burlington, be sure to Like our Facebook Page, Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

To further protect Ontarians from COVID-19, the Province of Ontario will require people to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status to access certain businesses and settings starting September 22, 2021. Requiring proof of vaccination in these settings reduces risk and is an important step to encourage Ontarians to get their shot, which is critical to protecting the province’s hospital capacity, while also supporting businesses with the tools they need to keep customers safe, stay open and minimize disruptions.

In keeping with the provincial regulations and guidance, effective Sept. 22, 2021, individuals entering indoor facilities used for the following purposes (unless otherwise exempt, see “exemptions” below):

will be required to be fully vaccinated (as defined in the provincial guidance) and provide proof of vaccination, along with identification.

Individuals who anticipate the proof of vaccination requirement will impact their ability to participate in City-run activities they have registered for, can contact Customer Service at liveandplay@burlington.ca or 905-335-7738 (Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and weekends 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) to withdraw for a credit or refund.

For more information about what to expect at indoor City recreation facilities, view the Frequently Asked Questions at burlington.ca/coronavirus.

Visit Burlington's COVID-19 page for more information.

City of Burlington Council, Senior Management and Communications are updating the city's COVID-19 webpage daily. Many answers can be found regarding city services and outside resources. Residents are highly encouraged to visit and subscribe to this page to receive updates: https://www.burlington.ca/en/your-city/corona-virus.asp

Residents may visit the Community resource page which provides links to many resources from volunteering, donations, where to get support, applying for grants, mental health supports, and community resource mapping. Rather than repeat all of this information here, we encourage you to visit the page to find links to organizations that can help you:

To access this page and discover these many resource links, please visit https://www.burlington.ca/en/your-city/covid-19-community-resources.asp

If your issues are not addressed on the above page, please visit the City's COVID-19 FAQ page https://www.burlington.ca/en/your-city/coronavirus-covid-19-faqs.asp

Due to the daily updates from the provincial and federal government, information is constantly changing - if you cannot find the answers you are seeking, please contact City Hall at city@burlington.ca and staff will endeavour to get information for you.

Burlington is a City where people, nature and businesses thrive. City services may look different as we work to stop the spread of COVID-19. The City’s commitment to providing the community with essential services remains a priority. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at Burlington.ca/Enews

Please visit https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/Immunizations-Preventable-Disease/Diseases-Infections/New-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccines/Who-is-currently-eligible-in-Halton for more information on eligibility

Please visit https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/Immunizations-Preventable-Disease/Diseases-Infections/New-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccines/COVID-19-Vaccination-Clinics

Book an appointment online to be vaccinated at a Halton Region COVID-19 Vaccination Centre or call 311 if booking support is required. Please do not call if you are not currently eligible. 

Please visit this page to sign up for COVID-19 vaccine updates sent to your inbox: https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/Immunizations-Preventable-Disease/Diseases-Infections/New-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccines

more info: https://investburlington.ca/covid19/

Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Guarantee -

Businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19 can access guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs. Learn more here. 

Helping small businesses create and enhance their online presence to reach more customers through the $57 million Digital Main Street program. More information can be found here: https://digitalmainstreet.ca/

Burlington Economic Development is also leading a Digital Service Squad (DSS) in Burlington to help get more businesses online. Information on Burlington DSS can be found here: https://investburlington.ca/covid19/

The Digital Service Squad is part of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association’s (OBIAA) newly introduced Digital Main Street program. The Squad is composed of trained specialists who will introduce you to the digital tools and technologies businesses need today to stay competitive and grow. These resources are particularly important with the advent of physical distancing and mask laws.

There are a number of programs available in Ontario to help low-income energy consumers. You can learn more at oeb.ca/billhelp.

The City of Burlington will observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, Sept. 30 as a holiday. To mark the importance of the day, City of Burlington administration buildings will be closed.

We encourage residents to visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website for educational materials and event opportunities.

The Animal Shelter at 2424 Industrial St. remains closed to the public due to COVID-19. To report an animal control-related emergency, call 905-335-3030 or visit Burlington.ca/animal.

Burlington Transit will operate a regular weekday schedule on Sept. 30. For real-time bus information and schedules visit myride.burlingtontransit.ca.

Many service payments are available online at Burlington.ca/onlineservices.

Court administration counter services at 4085 Palladium Way will be open and operating with skeleton staff on Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Telephone and email services will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at: 905-637-1274 and burlingtoncourt@burlington.ca.

With the exception of the skeleton staff operations on Sept. 30, telephone payments are available at 905-637-1274, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. All in-person services are available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday. Many services are also available by email at burlingtoncourt@burlington.ca or online at Halton Court Services.

Drop-in recreation programs and rentals will run as scheduled on Sept. 30. Visit Burlington.ca/dropinandplay or follow @BurlingtonParksRec on Facebook and @Burl_ParksRec on Twitter for the latest updates.

Please note: In keeping with the provincial regulations and Ministry of Health guidance, effective Sept. 22, 2021, individuals entering indoor City facilities used for sports, recreational fitness activities, meetings, and events, will be required to be fully vaccinated (as defined in the provincial guidance) and provide proof of vaccination, along with identification (unless otherwise exempt). To learn more, visit Burlington.ca/coronavirus.

Construction of the new pavilion at City View Park is ongoing. Please see the updates below

Construction Update:

The facility is partially complete with key milestones as follows:

For more information on the park, please visit https://www.burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/City-View-Park.asp

-------------------------------

Late this summer, the City of Burlington is making improvements to the park and playground at

Maplehurst Park, 1066 Joan Drive.

Park improvements will include:

• removal of existing playground equipment and safety surfaces

• expanded playground curb area

• accessible transition curb-ramps

• new playground equipment and swings - design based on ‘Love My Playground’ survey results

• new engineered wood fibre safety surfacing at playground and swings

• new and additional seating at playground area

• new asphalt pathway through park from Maplehurst Ave. to Joan Dr.

• bollard and trash receptacle at Joan Dr.

• bike racks

Construction to make the playground improvements at Maplehurst Park is expected to begin in mid-August and take six to eight weeks to complete depending on weather conditions. The new playground equipment is scheduled for installation in October. To ensure public safety during construction, the playground area will be closed and fenced off with signs posted. Thank you in advance for your cooperation during construction.

During the construction at Maplehurst Park, please visit the following playgrounds in your area:

• Maplehurst PS – 481 Plains Rd. E.

• Aldershot Park – 1071 Gallagher Rd.

• LaSalle Park – 50 North Shore Blvd.

Please visit the City website for updates at: burlington.ca/maplehurst-play

For questions about this project, please contact Kim Napier at kim.napier@burlington.ca

Keep up to date with the City’s road closures and temporary lane restrictions at https://bit.ly/2SwQ1Hi (you can even subscribe for email updates). You can also view the Road Closures and Restrictions Online Map at https://bit.ly/3fnO216

Melissa Morgan

426 Brant St., Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6

melissa.morgan@burlington.ca

905-335-7600 Ext. 7788

A private land owner has made an application to change the Zoning By-law designation for the property located at 1600 Kerns Road. The location of the subject property is shown on the Location Sketch above. The application proposes the rezoning of the property to facilitate a retirement home having a height of four storeys with one level of underground parking and comprised of 123 units. The proposed development also contemplates commercial uses at grade. The subject lands are currently designated ‘Neighbourhood Commercial’ in the City of Burlington Official Plan (1997), as amended and ‘Local Centres’ in the New Official Plan (2018). The applicable zoning of the subject lands is ‘Neighbourhood Commercial (CN2)’ Zone. A site-specific exception (‘CN2- XXX) Zone’) has been proposed with amendments which include, but may not be limited to, matters related to permitted use(s), setbacks, height, parking and landscape buffers. The portion of the lands associated with the Natural Heritage System are proposed to be rezoned to ‘Open Space (O2) Zone’ and dedicated to public ownership.

You are invited to attend a Statutory Public Meeting under the Planning Act to consider the staff information report concerning the above mentioned applications. As not all technical comments have been received, and given the complexity and scale of the applications, Burlington Community Planning Department staff will be recommending that Council direct staff to continue to review and process the applications. Due to COVID-19, this Statutory Public Meeting will be conducted virtually. Only the chair of the meeting, along with a clerk and audio/visual technician, will be in Council Chambers, with all other staff, members of council and delegations participating in the meeting remotely.

Meeting Date – October 5, 2021

Time: 1:00 P.M.

Location: Online at www.burlington.ca/calendar

How to Obtain the Staff Report:

The staff information report, which provides a description of the applications and updates on the technical review that is underway and public comments received to date, will be available for public review on Friday, September 24, 2021. The purpose of the report is to update all members of Council about the development proposal and recommend that Council direct staff to continue to review and process the applications. The report will be available on the City’s website at www.burlington.ca/calendar by searching for the meeting date for the Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee. If you require a hard-copy of the report, please email the Clerks Department at clerks@burlington.ca to arrange pick-up.

Speaking at the Meeting (Delegation):

You are encouraged to register in advance of the meeting in order to speak to Committee. Please register online at www.burlington.ca/delegation or contact Jo-Anne Rudy, Committee Clerk at (905) 335-7600 Ext. 7413 or jo-anne.rudy@burlington.ca.

Speakers are limited to a maximum of 10 minutes each and are webcasted online. Also, if you have presentation materials, they must be submitted to Ms. Rudy by Noon the day before the meeting to allow for their distribution and review by all members of the Committee. Please note the content of all submissions is considered to be public and will be posted to the city’s website. Since this is a Statutory Public Meeting, you do not have to register in advance in order to speak, although it is encouraged. During the course of the statutory public meeting, those who decide to address Committee can do so by emailing clerks@burlington.ca who will provide the virtual meeting access codes and instructions to enter.

Viewing the Live Webcast:

The live webcast of the meeting can be accessed on the City’s main webpage at www.burlington.ca by clicking the ‘Live Stream’ link at the top of the page. The live webcast can also be accessed on the City’s website at www.burlington.ca/calendar by searching for the meeting date for the Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee and clicking the ‘Video’ link

Future Notification:

No decisions about this application have been made yet. The staff report prepared for this Statutory Public Meeting includes a recommendation to continue processing the application. If Committee approves staff’s recommendation to continue processing the applications, a recommendation report for approval, refusal or modified approval will be presented to the Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee in the future. Notice of a subsequent recommendation report will be sent to the following people: 1) People who submitted written comments to the Community Planning Department on the application; 2) People who speak at this Statutory Public Meeting on October 5, 2021; and, 3) Those who submit a request to be notified of this future meeting date. To be added to the list of people to be kept informed about this development and upcoming meetings, or if you have questions about these applications, please contact Melissa Morgan, Planner II, at the phone number or email address provided above. Please note: If you do not include your name and address with written comments about the applications or speak at the Statutory Public Meeting, you may not be able to appeal the decision of Council to the Ontario Land Tribunal or appear as a Party to any future Hearing about this issue.

For more information about this matter, including information about appeal rights, contact Melissa Morgan, Planner II, using the contact information above . If you wish to be notified of the decision of Council to approve, refuse, or approve with modification these applications, or of any subsequent Ontario Land Tribunal appeal of this matter, you must submit a written request to the Clerks Department to the attention of Jo-Anne Rudy, Committee Clerk.

1062 & 1074 Cooke Boulevard

MacNaughton Hermsen Britton Clarkson Planning Limited (“MHBC”) and RAW Design are hosting a pre-application community meeting to discuss the proposed redevelopment of the properties located at 1062 and 1074 Cooke Boulevard. The two sites that are being considered for redevelopment are shown on the map attached.

October 20, 2021 , 7:00pm to TBD

1- 647-558-0588 

The Subject Lands are located within the Aldershot GO Station Major Transit Station Area. The proposed concept for redevelopment of the Subject Lands currently includes two high-rise residential buildings with heights of 30 storeys to the south and 32 storeys to the north, connected via a shared podium with a height of 6 storeys. The development will be constructed in two phases. Phase one includes a total of 366 units with 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units provided. Phase two includes a total of 396 units with 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units also provided. Overall, the development includes a total of 762 residential condominium ownership units.

The community meeting will provide an opportunity for the project team to present an overview of the current proposal and gather input from the community before submitting any formal development applications. It will also provide an opportunity for the project team to response to questions regarding the proposal and the process.

The meeting will be held using a zoom webinar format. Burlington City Staff will provide an overview of the development application review process and explain how the public may participate as the development process advances. The consulting team for the project will provide an overview of the proposal and there will be an opportunity for questions and input of comments.

Additional comments, questions, and feedbacks can be directed to info@mhbcplan.com

To review all current Ward 1 development projects, including an option to subscribe to the page for updates, please visit https://www.burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/ward-one.asp

To further protect Ontarians from COVID-19, the Province of Ontario will require people to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status to access certain businesses and settings starting Sept. 22, 2021. Requiring proof of vaccination in these settings reduces risk and is an important step to encourage Ontarians to get their shot, which is critical to protecting the province’s hospital capacity, while also supporting businesses with the tools they need to keep customers safe, stay open and minimize disruptions.

more info: https://www.burlington.ca/en/Modules/News/index.aspx?feedId=0b11ae3a-b049-4262-8ca4-762062555538&newsId=30a0b658-abfc-4e73-8028-07c3a15aa21b

more info: https://www.burlington.ca/en/Modules/News/index.aspx?feedId=0b11ae3a-b049-4262-8ca4-762062555538&newsId=3c1283ab-650e-4603-9b23-38b8aa058bfc

more info: https://www.burlington.ca/en/Modules/News/index.aspx?feedId=0b11ae3a-b049-4262-8ca4-762062555538&newsId=d8caedad-58a7-4119-be63-9e6b30540a47

The latest Take Action Burlington blog post at TakeActionBurlington.ca promotes the virtual public launch of Climate Resilient Burlington: A Plan for Adapting to Our Warmer, Wetter and Wilder Weather.

On October 27, please join us as we launch the Climate Resilient Burlington (CRB) project. Learn more about the project and hear from our keynote speaker, David Phillips, Senior Climatologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada as he presents “Weather and Climate: It’s Not What Our Grandparents Knew.”

To stay up-to-date about the development of Climate Resilient Burlington, please register on the CRB page at getinvolvedburlington.ca/crb. 

more info: https://takeactionburlington.ca/2021/09/28/home-comfort-upgrades-webinar-registration-now-open/

more info: https://www.burlington.ca/en/Modules/News/index.aspx?feedId=0b11ae3a-b049-4262-8ca4-762062555538&page=2&newsId=0f679a5f-046f-40fd-a025-c3940ac3bae2

Despite this tragic loss, Captain Baigent is channeling his grief into action by making a public appeal to “Sound on and share”: asking everyone to ensure their sound is on by testing their smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and sharing the message for others to do the same

more info: https://www.burlington.ca/en/Modules/News/index.aspx?feedId=0b11ae3a-b049-4262-8ca4-762062555538&page=2&newsId=76c5ab19-dcf2-4e24-b7cc-42ef81de763d

Visiting Library Services was a home delivery service for people unable to get to the library due to health, mobility, or home care issues. Because VLS supported some of Burlington’s most vulnerable residents and heavily relied on senior volunteer labour, we suspended VLS in March 2020 as a precaution to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The safety of our customers, volunteers, and staff was—and is—our top priority at all times. 

  

We deeply regretted that we could not safely provide library items to homebound customers who were not online and have since come to the realization that we need a different way to serve the most vulnerable people in our community while protecting us all. The pandemic caused us to recognize that we are not equipped to handle in-home delivery and seek a reliable, sustainable solution that reduces risk.  

  

To this end, we established a new routine that works well for our homebound customers and gets them the library books and movies they want. To replace the social connection provided by our delivery volunteers, we are encouraging both VLS customers and volunteers to get involved with Acclaim Health’s Friendly Visiting program. Acclaim Health has provided essential home care support in our area for over 90 years and specializes in handling the needs of isolated seniors. In partnership with the Acclaim Health Team, we will train their volunteers to provide library-related help as part of their visit.  

  

We are confident that our decision to retire Visiting Library Services is the right one; it has paved the way for an improved and safer service model and an exciting new community collaboration.  

  

For questions, please contact info@bpl.on.ca

more info: https://www.burlington.ca/en/Modules/News/index.aspx?feedId=0b11ae3a-b049-4262-8ca4-762062555538&page=2&newsId=a1f75e5f-1f2a-403e-bab3-a11510811f2c

A healthy and green city is a top priority for the City and a mature tree canopy is one of the many ways we can work to achieve this goal. Burlington residents can now submit an online request form to join a list for a free tree to be planted on the right-of-way in front of their house, on City property.

Each request will receive a site visit to ensure the right type of tree is planted to ensure the tree will have the best chance of survival.

more info: https://www.burlington.ca/en/Modules/News/index.aspx?feedId=0b11ae3a-b049-4262-8ca4-762062555538&newsId=77618d21-0e99-4a12-98c4-dd8cf44d2f17

You can register for updates on city projects, participate in surveys, provide feedback, get engaged and have your say. The platform has tools including surveys, polls, mapping, discussion forums, storytelling and more. We look forward to hearing from you.

Our office is regularly updated on Community Support Fund recipients and we were thankful to receive this update regarding another successful event!

On September 11, 2021, 60-70 David Court area community members joined for a social distanced Hot Buttered Soul Court Party including music, dancing and snacks. They opened the court party this year up to the extended courts and streets in the Aldershot area where other friends live, and successfully hosted a live performance from "Hot Buttered Soul".

If you have community event photos you would like to share, please email to ward1@burlington.ca

September 11 also included another neighbourhood BBQ, hosted by neighbours in the Clearview area. Residents shared that it was great fun to meet friends both old and new and enjoy time together. And of course the magician and foam party were the hits of the afternoon.

Thanks go to all who were able to provide donations to the Burlington Food Bank.

If you have community event photos you would like to share, please email to ward1@burlington.ca

The Partnering Aldershot Seniors Committee puts out a regular newsletter (sample above) to update local seniors and other interested recipients of programs and other information which could be useful to have onhand. If you are interested in receiving these regular updates, please contact AldershotSeniors@gmail.com

As a member of the Board of Directors for Ward 1's own Royal Botanical Gardens, I meet with a team of dedicated individuals, aimed at serving Burlington and beyond.

We meet roughly every 3 months, with the Annual General Meeting occurring in June.

For more information on the Royal Botanical Gardens, please visit www.rbg.ca

Tourism Burlington is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors who represent various sectors of the Tourism, Industry and Business sectors in the City of Burlington. The Board meets September to November and February to May on the 3rd Thursday of the month, with the Annual General Meeting held in May of each year.

For more information on Tourism Burlington, please visit www.tourismburlington.com

The Aldershot Business Improvement Area (ABIA) acts as a voice for Aldershot business while providing a professional approach to improving business opportunities for its members, enhancing its commercial profile and relationships with the community and the City of Burlington while building a strong local economic engine for Aldershot.

The ABIA identifies Aldershot as a distinct community for shopping, dining and doing business. Established in December 2004, we continue to partner with other Aldershot groups - The Aldershot Community Honour Roll, Partnering Aldershot, Alderfest Community Festival and others to build support for approximately 250 retailers and service professionals.

For more information on Aldershot Village BIA, please visit www.aldershotbia.com

I have committed to sharing frequent updates via social media channels. I would love to connect with you there to be able to share day to day information. If there are specific items you would like me to address, send me a note!

You can find me at the links below.