Ward 5 News Update - August 6, 2020 - City of Burlington
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Ward 5 News Update – August 6, 2020 Dear friends and neighbours, It has been almost three weeks since my last news update. I would love to report that all has been quiet around City Hall and the Region so far for the summer, but of course this year is different from most others. That would be true except for 2014, when on August 4th we had torrential rainfall that caused flooding to around 3,500 Burlington homes. This time our entire world is dominated by the pandemic. Our hearts go out to everyone who has lost loved ones and to all those who have been unwell during this challenging pandemic. Most people believe the preventative measures taken by every level of government in Canada were prudent. Some feel they went too far, others feeling not far enough. My family and I are grateful for having, so far, sustained good health and remained financially viable resulting from government actions, coupled with our own common sense. Indeed, my youngest daughter Ashley and her husband, Paul, enjoyed the delivery of their first baby, a boy, Amari on August 1st at 7:30 a.m. Amari, weighed in at 7lbs 9oz, and both he and Ashley are in great health. Even though the pandemic continues to accelerate and increase the number of infected people and fatalities around the world, Canada has done relatively well. Now we have entered Phase 3 of the recovery process. With only 4 active cases in Burlington at the time of writing, we have every right to be pleased with our situation in comparison to many other places around the world. Of course, it is those other places that remain a potential threat to all of us because we know that it takes relatively few people to initiate a chain of new infections. Working through Phase 3, I believe that the face covering bylaw is a useful preventative step, hopefully a conscious and often present reminder to be vigilant. Please help our businesses get back to work. Vulnerable businesses to look out for in Burlington include retail, tourism, healthcare, and hospitality sectors, which comprise 1,897 organizations and over 29,000 employees. Of these businesses, 498 are independently owned retail outlets. Please enjoy the remainder of summer and stay well. As always, if you see me around the city, please say “hi”. Regards,
Welcome to Stage 3
As you know, the Province has allowed Halton Region to enter Stage 3 in Ontario’s phased
reopening, as of Friday, July 24. What does that mean locally?
Gatherings Limits in Stage 3:
• Indoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 50 people (so long as social distancing
can be maintained with those outside of your circle);
• Outdoor gathering limits will increase to a maximum of 100 people (2 metre distancing required
with those outside of household or social circle);
• All businesses, services and public spaces when hosting an event are subject to indoor or
outdoor gathering limits and ensuring physical distancing can be maintained.
Business Re-openings include:
• Facilities for sports and recreational fitness activities;
• Convention centres, meeting and event spaces;
• Playgrounds and play structures;
• Live shows, performing arts and movie theatres;
• Restaurants, bars and nightclubs for indoor dining; and
• Tour and guide services.
Businesses that will remain closed for the time being (due to the likelihood of large crowds
congregating, difficulties with physical distancing, or challenges maintaining the proper cleaning and
sanitation required to prevent the spread of COVID-19):
• Amusement parks and water parks
• Buffet-style food services
• Dancing at restaurants and bars, other than by performers hired by the establishment following
specific requirements
• Overnight stays at camps for children
• Private karaoke rooms
• Prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports
• Saunas, steam rooms, bath houses and oxygen bars
• Table games at casinos and gaming establishments.
For more information on Stage 3 reopening, please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/framework-
reopening-our-province-stage-3
Ontario Releases Plan for Safe Reopening of Schools in September
The Ontario Government has announced the safe reopening of schools for in-class instruction
beginning this September. The government unveiled a plan that prioritizes the health and safety of
students and staff and provides school boards with unprecedented resources and flexibility while
accommodating regional differences in trends of key public health indicators. This plan was
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developed in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the COVID-19 Command Table
and pediatric experts.
Elementary schools (Kindergarten to Grade 8) will reopen provincewide, with in-class instruction five
days a week. Secondary schools with lower risk will reopen with a normal daily schedule, five days a
week, while most secondary schools will start the school year in an adapted model of part-time
attendance with class cohorts of up to 15 students alternating between attending in-person and
online. Students from Grade 4-12 and school staff will be required to wear masks.
Parents will continue to have the option to enroll their children in remote delivery, which respects their
fundamental role in making the final determination of whether they feel safe with their children
returning to school.
Read the full media release.
New Mobile App to Help Notify Canadians of Potential COVID-19 Exposure now
Available
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, announced last week
that COVID Alert, a new national mobile app, is now available to Canadians for free download. The
app, first developed in Ontario, helps notify users if they may have been exposed to someone who
has tested positive for COVID-19. Read the full media release.
Paul’s Comment: I downloaded the App immediately. I hope it never signals me that I have been
close to someone found to be infected.
Stage 3 in Burlington: Playground equipment now open and changes to
Beachway parking
Summer is in full swing as Burlington entered Stage 3 on July 24, which means playground
equipment is open for use.
Parents and caregivers should note that the playground equipment is not being sanitized and
standard health practices with heightened awareness such as staying home if sick, washing hands
and not touching faces should be strictly followed. Parents and caregivers are reminded to bring hand
sanitizer with them to the park.
Anyone using the playground equipment should still practice physical distancing of two metres with
anyone not from their household or their social circle.
If a playground structure is busy, residents may want to consider one of Burlington’s many other
parks or come back at another time.
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Other Summer Activities
• Parks are open for casual use, such as exercising, picnics, kicking or throwing a ball
• Mountainside, Nelson and LaSalle Pools are open for leisure swims and lap swims with online
pre-registration and payment only. Splash Parks at Nelson and Mountainside Pools are now
open as well
• Spray pads at parks are open
• Lowville Park is open. New, as of July 30, entry to Lowville Park will require pre-registration
through parkvisit.ca/burlington. Reservations and use of the park remain free
• Redesigned summer camps are open. View camps at burlington.ca/summer
• Redesigned Adult 19+ and Adult 55+ programs are open. View programs at
burlington.ca/summer.
Safety Precautions
All City recreation programs are operating with public health safety precautions including increased
cleaning (outdoor amenities like playgrounds are not sanitized), screening and reduced program
capacities in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19
• Permits for picnics will not be issued in an effort to mitigate large gatherings at this time
• Physical distancing of two metres is still in place on public property with anyone not from your
household or social circle and in groups of less than 10
For more information, including safety measures, facility videos, program information and registration
dates, visit burlington.ca/summer.
Beachway Parking
Because of an abundance of illegal parking near Beachway Park, the beachway lots have been
reconfigured with one entrance and one exit to maximize legal parking spots, add a drop-off area and
block off areas that are not available for parking. Parking ambassadors are available on weekends to
help direct drivers and will close parking lot entrances when they are full.
Drivers are encouraged to continue to abide by all signed parking regulations such as no stopping
and no parking in loading zones.
Amendments Made to Temporary Mask By-law
Burlington City Council has approved amendments to the temporary Mask By-law which regulates the
use of face masks and coverings within enclosed spaces open to the public. The amendments were
made for consistency with Halton Region’s Mask Bylaw.
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The By-law was implemented in an effort reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and
safety of the community. The changes are now in effect and include:
• Exempting children under the age of five from wearing a mask (previously children under
three).
• Requiring parents/guardians of children over five years of age to make a ‘best effort’ to ensure
the children wear a mask
• Removing face shields as an acceptable face covering. Public Health information indicates that
face coverings need to cover the nose and mouth without gapping
• Updating wording related to ‘employee only areas’ which are not regulated under the by-law
• Applying the mask by-law to City recreation facilities.
For more information about the Mask Bylaw, visit burlington.ca/masks.
Free Masks Available at City Hall and Select Burlington Public Library Locations,
as of Aug. 4; Donations being accepted
To assist people in complying with the temporary Mask By-law and to help contain the spread of
COVID-19, the City of Burlington is offering free packs of disposable masks from City Hall and as of
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, individual re-useable masks will be available from City Hall and Burlington
Public Library’s (BPL) Tansley Woods, New Appleby, Aldershot and Central branches.
Burlington residents who need a mask can come to City Hall or a library branch listed above during
operating hours to pick up a mask for themselves or their family.
A staff member located at the entrance doors can direct inquiring residents to take a mask home for
use. We recommend that residents follow Public Health Guidelines and wash their re-useable cloth
masks before and after use.
Locations and Hours
City Hall
426 Brant St. (Elgin Street Entrance)
Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Burlington Public Library - Central Branch
2331 New St.
Burlington Public Library - Aldershot Branch
550 Plains Rd. E.
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Burlington Public Library - New Appleby
676 Appleby Line
Burlington Public Library - Tansley Wood Branch
1996 Itabashi Way
Burlington Public Library branches are open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information about masks and the temporary Mask By-law, go to burlington.ca/masks.
Accepting Donations
The City is also collecting re-useable cloth masks (preferred) and disposable face masks from
anyone who would like to donate them. For those who wish, monetary donations are also accepted in
the form of debit, e-transfer, credit card and cheque to help the City purchase more masks for
residents. Cash is not being accepted at this time.
All donations are greatly appreciated and will help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• The City will issue a tax donation receipt for donations of $25 or more. In order to issue a
donation receipt, include your name and full address
• Donations can be taken to Service Burlington in City Hall or mailed to City Hall, attention:
Service Burlington, 426 Brant St., Burlington, ON, L7R 3Z6 with a note “Mask Donation” and
your name and full address
• Monetary donations can be e-transferred to accounting@burlington.ca with a note in the memo
for “Mask Donation”. Please note, that e-transfers can only be done if the donor’s bank allows
automated deposits. If you can send the e-transfer without entering a password or question,
then your bank allows automated deposits
• Businesses wanting to donate masks should ensure the masks are not branded with their logo.
Drive-thru testing clinic now open at Joseph Brant Hospital
Joseph Brant Hospital has increased its COVID-19 testing capacity by opening a new drive-thru clinic
to better serve the Burlington community.
The clinic is dedicated to testing individuals who are not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, but
who are concerned they may have been exposed or require testing. The Joseph Brant Hospital
COVID-19 Assessment Centre will continue to operate as a testing centre for individuals who are
experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
The Drive-Thru Testing Clinic is located on the hospital grounds, easily accessed off of Joseph Brant
Hospital’s entrance on North Shore Blvd. Appointments are required and can be booked online by
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visiting covidtesting.josephbranthospital.ca or calling 905-632-3737 x 6550. To fast-track
appointments, you are encouraged to book your testing online. Testing is available seven days a
week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The clinic will operate as follows:
• signage will direct patients upon arrival;
• the health care team will perform the COVID-19 swab test while individuals are in their car;
• children under one year will not be swabbed at the drive-thru clinic and should be referred to
their family health-care provider for testing; and
• patients will be sent home with information on self-isolation and how to view their test results.
More information is available at Joseph Brant Hospital’s website.
Service Burlington counter at City Hall now open for in-person payments: online
payments and services also continue to be available
The Service Burlington counter at City Hall, at 426 Brant St., is now open to the public to offer in-
person payments for the following services:
• Parking permits and tickets
• Property taxes
• Freedom of Information requests
• Garbage tags
• Dog licenses
• Property information requests
• Recreation services.
The counter will be open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Service Burlington will continue to offer marriage licenses and commissioning services by
appointment. Please call Service Burlington at 905-335-7777 to schedule.
Anyone entering City Hall must wear a mask or face covering unless exempted from by the
Mandatory Mask Bylaw. Residents are asked to bring and wear their own masks.
Payment methods accepted
At this time, customers can use debit or credit card payments for all payments except property
taxes. Customers can pay property taxes by debit or cheque. If cash is the preferred method of
payment for property taxes, please visit your bank to make the payment. Residents can also use the
drop box outside City Hall, located at the Elgin Street entrance for cheque payments, letters, or small
packages.
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Health and Safety procedures for visiting City Hall in person
To protect the health and safety of staff and residents and prevent the spread of COVID-19, visitors to
City Hall will see a number of precautions in place, including:
• One entrance to City Hall through the Elgin Street doors only, exit will be through the doors
facing Brant Street
• COVID-19 screening questions
• Plexiglass screens at the counter
• Floor markings to support physical distancing requirements of no less than 2m
• Signage to assist with the number of visitors at one time and the movement of visitors through
the main floor. Maximum of four people being served in City Hall at one time
• Visitors must wear a non-medical face covering unless exempted from by the mandatory mask
bylaw – please bring your own mask.
Online Services
While all other customer service counters within City Hall, including planning, building and the Clerks
Department, remain closed at this time, the City encourages businesses and residents to use its
online services:
• Development Applications - The City is able to accept all types of development applications
digitally including development applications for pre-consultation, committee of adjustment,
demolitions, site plan control, zoning clearance and many more. Please visit
burlington.ca//developmentinfo
• Online Services at burlington.ca/onlineservices – includes business licensing, marriage
licenses, dog licenses, reporting form for street lights, signs and signals, and many more
online services.
As the City of Burlington continues to resume
services during COVID-19, payment will be
required in the downtown for on-street parking
and in municipal parking lots as of Tuesday,
August 4, 2020.
Recent observations, review of occupancy data
and feedback from the public indicate that
parking is steadily increasing to pre-COVID
levels. It is anticipated the increase in parking
demand will continue as most businesses reopen
since Halton Region entered Stage 3 on July 24.
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Visitors using downtown parking are encouraged to use the HONK Mobile app. Honk offers touch-
free payment and reduces the number of people touching the same parking machines throughout the
day.
Residential on-street parking permits (throughout the city) still aren’t required until further notice,
allowing parking staff to focus on emergency situations during COVID-19. Please continue to follow
all parking rules, laws and signage to make sure you and the community stay safe. For more, please
visit www.burlington.ca/parking.
In My Hood Program Launches with Aim to Promote Community Connectedness
The In My Hood program has launched with the intention to connect Burlington residents through
kindness – random or planned and to increase social connectedness amongst one another.
Residents are encouraged to collaborate and implement changes or make new opportunities happen
at a neighbourhood level, especially during this isolation period by building relationships and getting
to know neighbours. Residents are encouraged to join the discussion and share ideas, actions or
kudos on getinvolvedburlington.ca/in-my-hood.
Examples of ways to participate include:
• Offer to pick up groceries
• Write a kind note for a neighbour
• Walk someone’s dog
• Check-in on someone
• Bake cookies or other treats
More ideas can be found on getinvolvedburlington.ca/in-my-hood.
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Notice of Planned Road Closure – New Street at Appleby Line
The City of Burlington is making improvements to
New Street from Walkers Line to Burloak Drive
as well as Shane Court, Patrick Place and Bower
Court
The asphalt within the intersection of New Street
at Appleby Line requires removal and
replacement. In order to complete this work a
closure (all four directions) of the intersection is
required.
This work is to be completed from Friday August 28 beginning at 7:00 p.m. to Monday August 31, at
6:00 a.m. Work will continue overnight and during the day until complete.
Appleby Line will be closed from Spruce Avenue to Longmoor Drive/Pinedale Avenue. New Street will
be closed from Longmoor Drive to Timber Lane.
A detour will be in place for trucks and transit.
Vehicle and pedestrian access to and from businesses and residences will be maintained. The
closure points on Appleby Line and New Street will provide access to local residences and
businesses.
Please review the project website at burlington.ca/new. As new information becomes available, it will
be added to the page. “Subscribe to the page” to receive update notices.
Burlington Transit Service Update
Fare Collection – Sept. 1, 2020
Starting Sept. 1, Burlington Transit will be collecting fares on all Burlington Transit buses. Pay your
fares using a PRESTO card. Visit the Fares page for more information.
If you are a SPLIT customer, you can pick up your SPLIT pass starting Aug. 19, at the Downtown
Terminal, 430 John St. One customer will be allowed in the building at a time. You may want to add
extra time for COVID-19 measures.
10Downtown Terminal Re-Opens Aug. 19, 2020
Burlington Transit's Downtown Terminal, 430 John St., is reopening on Aug. 19, 2020 with limited
services. The Terminal will be open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Burlington Transit is following provincial and City COVID-19 safety procedures. Please work with us
to keep everyone safe and:
• Wear a mask,
• Use hand sanitizer often and
• Give us your name and phone number for contact tracing
They are offering:
• SPLIT Passes
• ePurse Loads
• Free Seniors Pass
• Lost & Found
Right now, they are not selling:
• Monthly Passes
• U-Pass Add-ons
Payment Options
• Debit and Credit Only
ePurse Loads also available at prestocard.ca and GO Stations.
Schedule Changes – Aug. 23, 2020
More service will be added on all Burlington Transit routes starting Aug. 23.
11Updated Schedules
• Ride Guide - all schedules
• Individual schedules
• Service information - route frequency and hours
Peak service is between 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Route Monday to Friday Saturday Sunday
1 15 minutes (10
15 minutes 15 minutes
minutes during peak)
101 Not in Service
2/3 20 minutes 30 minutes 30 minutes
4 60 minutes 60 minutes 60 minutes
6 60 minutes 60 minutes 60 minutes
10 15 minutes 15 minutes 30 minutes
11 30 minutes 30 minutes 30 minutes
12 30 minutes 60 minutes 60 minutes
25 30 minutes 30 minutes 60 minutes
48 School Service
80 30 minutes
81 30 minutes
87 45 minutes (peak
only)
50, 51 & 10:55 p.m. to 1:30 10:55 p.m. to 1:30
52 a.m. a.m.
Great News from the Library
Thank you to library patrons for your ongoing patience and cooperation as staff get library items
safely back into circulation and gradually reopen branch services through the summer months.
Starting now –
• Fine-free loans for the rest of 2020
• Borrow movies & TV series longer (up to three-week loans & renewals) until Dec 31
• Self-serve holds pick-up & check-out at Central branch
Starting soon –
• Tue Aug 11: Aldershot & New Appleby branches open for limited occupancy walk-in services,
including browsing shelves, self-serve holds pick-up, and computers by appointment.
12• Tue Sep 1: Limited occupancy walk-in services start at Alton, Brant Hills & Tansley Woods
branches
• More open hours in September
Have questions about overdue notices, returning items, reserving a computer? Read Frequently
Asked Questions about reopening.
Read more about the library’s phased reopening at bpl.on.ca.
Local residents and visitors can now take
advantage of savings and discounts at over 40
Burlington based businesses by signing up for
the FREE #BurlON Fun Pass that has unique
offers for passholders only. This free mobile
passport is available until November 1, 2020.
Take advantage of the savings by signing up
yourself. If you missed out on getting your offer
added to the program contact Tourism Burlington
to participate. Watch for more passports at www.tourismburlington.com.
Halton Region launches public consultation period on Regional Official Plan
review
Halton Region is reviewing its Regional Official Plan, which guides land-use decisions to ensure new
development continues to meet the needs of current and future residents. To gain input from the
community, Halton is asking residents to participate in the review process through a variety of public
engagement opportunities. The consultation period is starting with an online questionnaire that
residents are being asked to complete by September 28, 2020.
Halton reviews the Regional Official Plan every five years to ensure it is aligned with Provincial
policies and remains responsive to current social, economic and demographic conditions. There are
five areas currently under review:
• Natural Heritage: Natural heritage system policies to preserve the natural environment and
protect source water.
• Rural and Agricultural System: Agricultural policies to preserve agricultural land and
supporting farming in Halton.
• Climate Change: Land-use policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate
change.
• North Aldershot Planning Area: Implications of growth management, natural heritage and a
rural and agricultural system in the North Aldershot area.
13• Regional Urban Structure (Integrated Growth Management Strategy): Urban system and
growth management policies to guide population and job growth.
To help residents learn more about each area under review, Halton Region has created summary
webpages and posted discussion papers on their website. The Region is asking the community to
provide feedback by visiting halton.ca/ropr and following the links on any of the summary pages to:
1. Take the general questionnaire: Residents can provide high-level feedback on theme areas
relating to the Regional Official Plan.
2. Complete the technical questionnaire: Community members can provide detailed feedback
on theme areas relating to the Regional Official Plan. The technical questionnaire contains
questions on each of the five discussion papers. Residents can answer those questions that
they are interested in.
Responses will be collected until September 28, 2020. There will also be opportunities for residents to
share their thoughts through virtual Public Information Centres this fall.
Waste Management Events
Halton Region is cancelling waste events for the remainder of the year, including:
• the Fall Compost Giveaway at the Halton Waste Management Site, scheduled for Saturday,
September 19; and
• the remaining Special Waste Drop-Off Days scheduled for Saturday, September 26 in the
Town of Oakville and Saturday, October 24 in the Town of Milton.
Residents can continue to drop off hazardous household waste (such as paint, batteries, compact
fluorescent light bulbs, household cleaners, propane tanks and motor oil) and electronics (such as
computers, stereos, telephones, DVD players, televisions and computer monitors) at the Household
Hazardous Waste Depot located at the Halton Waste Management Site (5400 Regional Road 25,
Milton). Learn more at www.halton.ca/waste.
Unattended Cooking - A Recipe for Disaster
It’s lunchtime. Stomachs start to growl, and the kids announce, “we’re starving, what’s for lunch?” You
reply, “I just have one more email to send, as soon as I am done I will make you some lunch.” Small
groans from the little people while they settle at the kitchen table, devices in hand, ear buds in ears,
eyes on their screens.
You hit send and rise from your make-shift desk; this is working from home.
Pot goes on the stove with the burner set to high, lid on; no time to waste. From the corner of your
eye you spot the ever-growing pile of laundry. “I’ll just throw this in. It will be quick,” you think.
14Multitasking for the win! Distracted while deep in thought, one task leads to another, and another. Did
you remember there’s a pot on the stove? Sound familiar?
Unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires and injuries in Burlington and in Ontario.
On average, in Ontario, 1,239 fires per year are started by cooking. Over the past few months, the
Burlington Fire Department has seen an increase in cooking fires. We believe this is, in large part due
to an increased presence at home with more time to prepare meals. Cooking fires are considered
100% preventable, caused by human actions or behaviours.
Since we can’t eliminate cooking, then how do we eliminate cooking fires? First and foremost, always
stay present and in the kitchen when cooking and avoid distractions. Set a timer as a reminder.
In the event of a small, contained fire, keep a pot lid nearby when cooking. Slide the lid or a baking
sheet over the pot and turn off the burner. Remember; never pour water on a grease fire because it
will make the fire much bigger and more dangerous. Finally, keep things that can catch fire away from
your stovetop.
Most importantly, every home must have a working smoke and CO (carbon monoxide) alarm. Alarms
provide early warning in the event of a fire. Smoke alarms are required, by law, on every level of your
home. CO alarms are required outside sleeping areas.
If you have a fire in your home, get out and stay out. Call 9-1-1 once you are outside the home. Never
go back inside the home for any reason.
For more information on cooking safety visit Burlington.ca/cooking or follow on Twitter
@BurlingtonFire or Facebook @burlingtonfiredept.
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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
• Team Burlington - Burlington’s business organizations
• Other local parks: Conservation Halton, RBG, Bruce Trail
17You can also read
