Latest news with #MeedWard
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
A Village of Volunteers: Aldershot's Honour Roll Recognizes Community Builders in Burlington Neighbourhood
This week, the Burlington Golf and Country Club hosted the 16th annual Aldershot Community Honour Roll. The event recognizes important and influential members of the Aldershot community and their commitment to volunteer work. Four citizens were named to the honour roll this year, along with two youth recipients, and an Aldershot Business Community Award winner, presented by the Aldershot Village BIA. Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith, attended the event on behalf of the city. Galbraith was also one of the event's sponsors. Meed Ward said that she has been coming to the Honour Roll events since before she was a politician, and described the importance of recognizing volunteers. 'I learn more about the community when I come to these events because I always meet new people and hear what they're doing,' Meed Ward said. 'It teaches us what people are doing to make our city a better place, things we wouldn't have known otherwise.' Meed Ward also noted the event is a great networking opportunity, encouraging relationships between people and local organizations. 'We can also partner…it's an opportunity to work together, to celebrate, to support each other and keep that good work going,' Meed Ward said. 'Because government can't do everything, and we're so grateful for the volunteer efforts of so many people in our community.' The ceremony was emceed by Don Thorpe, president of the Burlington Historical Society, who introduced each award presenter. Each Honour Roll inductee was introduced by fellow Honour Roll members from years past. Margaret Sweetlove, chair of the committee that selects inductees, spoke about the meaning behind the Honour Roll. 'The purpose of the Honour Roll Committee is to perpetuate Aldershot's sense of community by telling the story of Aldershot's history through the stories of the people who lived here,' Sweetlove said. 'From poets to architects, athletes to artists, teachers to entertainers, volunteers and politicians, Aldershot has been home to some great people.' Sweetlove described inductees as 'People whose leadership, vision, creativity, innovation, and initiative positively impacted Aldershot and beyond.' Thorpe then introduced Sonia Pagliuso, chair of the Aldershot BIA, to hand out the Aldershot Business Community Award. According to Thorpe, the award is 'in recognition of a business that has supported and fostered community engagement in Aldershot.' The award was given to Cam Robbins, owner of the Tim Hortons Aldershot location. 'Whether it's supporting local charities, organizing community events, or offering resources to those in need, Cam's efforts have consistently reflected a deep-seated belief in the power of community and the importance of lifting others up,' Pagliuso said. Pagliuso highlighted his donation of hot chocolate to the Aldershot Tree Lighting, involvement in creating murals in Aldershot high schools, and efforts during the Smile Cookie campaign. In his acceptance speech, Robbins highlighted the many people who have helped him along the way. 'The award is not solely about me,' Robbins said. 'It represents the collective efforts of the BIA, family and friends, the team members, and my staff who work very hard… I'm very happy that Tim Hortons has provided me with a platform to contribute to our thriving community.' 'Any positive impact I've made within the community is due to the inspiration I draw from all of you,' Robbins continued. 'As I accept the award, I'm committed to continuing my efforts to contribute positively to this community.' Thorpe then took the opportunity to thank all of the sponsors of the Honour Roll, which included the Aldershot Lions Club, the Aldershot Village BIA, and Kelvin Galbraith, among others. After the acknowledgments, Thorpe introduced the first inductee of the night, Karen Maerz. 'Karen is a retired elementary school teacher from the inner city schools, where she applied her many skills for handling children with learning disabilities,' Thorpe said. 'She also spent two years teaching at a military base in Germany and two years at a NATO base in the Netherlands. Karen still volunteers in the classroom at Greenleaf Elementary School in Waterdown and East Plains United Church.' Thrope told a story about how Maerz tutored a young Ugandan immigrant with special needs and helped the boy participate in summer camp. She later facilitated his transition to McMaster University and a co-op placement in Sudbury. Maerz was also part of a group that provided transportation to a Hamilton man who needed dialysis treatment three times a week at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. 'Karen was involved in helping this person find a guaranteed income apartment in Aldershot, where he would live for many years,' Thorpe said. 'She was very involved with his move and helped him set up his apartment. As his health declined, he had to enter a hospital and was there for quite some time. Karen would visit him in the hospital and his wife in long-term care.' 'When he was able to leave the hospital, but not well enough to live on his own, Karen assisted him in a move to Tansley Woods long-term care,' Thorpe continued. 'Later that year, when his wife died, Karen was there to help him with the decisions for what he wished to have for a celebration of life at East Plains United Church.' Thorpe said that Maerz also tends to an Indigenous monument at the church dedicated to those who worked on farms in the area and were buried in unmarked graves. 'She did all these things in spite of the challenges of caring for her husband, who had health issues, and babysitting her grandchildren,' Thorpe said. In her acceptance speech, Maerz acknowledged that she prefers to go unnoticed. 'I will be very honest, this kind of recognition doesn't come naturally to me, and being in the spotlight is really outside of my comfort zone,' Maerz said. 'I prefer and always have contributed quietly in the background. With that said, I am truly humbled to have been nominated and even more so to have been chosen for the Aldershot Honour Roll, especially considering the calibre of the other individuals being recognized tonight, and also those who have been honoured in the past.' She also spoke about the things that volunteering has provided to her. 'When someone helps to clean up a park, or to mentor a child, or to support a local charity, their efforts ripple outwards, helping to build a stronger, more connected, and more vibrant community for everyone,' Maerz said. 'But volunteering isn't just about helping others. It's also a gift that we give ourselves. I started volunteering to make a difference, but I've gained a lot in return.' 'It helped me grow,' Maerz said. 'It reminded me of what really matters. It allowed me to live out the values of my faith in a very practical and everyday way. Through volunteering, I've met people from different cultures and I've learned to see the world from new perspectives.' Louise Cooke, a 2018 inductee, introduced the next recipient, Mae Radford. 'Mae is a graduate of the McMaster School of Nursing, and her volunteer management activities were recognized in those early years by receiving the Gold Award of Excellence for Management with VON Canada, the Victorian Order of Nurses, in 2009,' Cooke said. 'Her career path included membership on the VON National Human Resources Self-Assessment team, supervisor of the social service worker program at Mohawk College, supervisor in the gerontology program at McMaster University, various leadership roles in the United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton, and the pilot study for the VON Meals on Wheels.' Radford, named Burlington's Senior Person of the Year in 2017, was recognized for her extensive community service. She has served as a commissioner with the Ontario Human Rights Commission for five years, sat on the boards of Carpenter Hospice and Joseph Brant Hospital, and has been a dedicated member of the Rotary Club of Burlington Central for 26 years, where she became the first female president and was named Rotarian of the Year in 2018. 'She founded Circle of Friends in 2016 for socially isolated seniors to come together, enjoy a nutritious meal, and improve their wellbeing with crafts, music, and safety through educational opportunities when other seniors, with other seniors as volunteers,' Cooke said. Radford said that she was very familiar with the Honour Roll before being inducted herself. 'As a recipient of this award, I feel honoured to be recognized as an inductee to the Aldershot Community Honour Roll,' Radford said. 'For several years. I have attended this event and was always in awe of the contributions made by residents. I appreciate the knowledge gained as I have served our community, and I express my gratitude to the selection committee. Thank you for considering that I am worthy of this award.' Galbraith introduced the next inductee, Jim Young. 'I'd like to read what O'Neill Edwards, the executive director of Compassion Society, has said about Jim,' Galbraith said. ''Jim's dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment have made a profound difference in the lives of countless individuals and families in our community.'' ''Jim has been a dedicated volunteer at the Compassion Society for over eight years, consistently going above and beyond to support our mission of providing essential resources such as food and clothing to those in need,'' Galbraith continued. ''His willingness to step in whenever help is needed, whether it's sorting donations, assisting clients directly, or inputting client intake forms, reflects the deep sense of responsibility and care for the community.'' Young has been volunteering in Aldershot since the 1990s. He joined the city of Burlington Senior Advisory Committee in 2015 and was elected chair of its advocacy subcommittee in 2016. Young has long been an advocate of free public transit for seniors and joined Burlington For Accessible Sustainable Transit (BFAST) in 2017. 'Jim's advocacy efforts paid off when City Council adopted free off-peak seniors' transit in 2022 and expanded it to free seniors transit 24/7 in 2024,' Galbraith said. ' It is quite embarrassing to hear Kelvin, O'Neill, and Aldershot Honour Roll say nice things about you when you volunteer, because there's a dirty little secret involved in volunteering. It's nothing about giving back, it's actually a very selfish thing that volunteers do because we're out there enjoying it,' Young said. 'We're having a blast, and not only that, when you volunteer, you get to work with some of the best people in Aldershot and in Burlington, some of the best people your community has to offer.' Young said that the friendships he has made with fellow volunteers, as well as the people that he is supporting, are some of his favourite parts of volunteering. Young spoke about what he has learned from his journey to make public transit free for seniors. 'What it proves is that if you volunteer, if you're persistent, if you stick at it, you can change the way the community works,' Young said. 'But it's not enough to go on Twitter and tweet about it. It's not enough to be on Burlington Together and Aldershot Insider [Facebook groups], going on about how terrible your community is and how traffic's so bad on Saturday on Plains Road. You've got to get off your butt and go do something about it. Get involved, volunteer.' Judy Worsley, an inductee from 2024, introduced the final recipient, Connie Price. 'Connie received the Burlington Civic Recognition last year, as well as the Order of Niagara, for outstanding work within the Niagara Diocese, in 2009,' Worsley said. 'She also received Ontario's 150 Community Builder Award and the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Community Hero Award for 55 years of service in the community.' Price organized a drive-through drop-off point for food banks during the COVID-19 pandemic, working with the city, church groups, Partnering Aldershot, and the Aldershot BIA. The drive-through drop off is still running, and is located in the St. Matthew On The Plains circular driveway. Food collected is given to the Compassion Society and the Burlington Food Bank. 'The other issue Connie identified was the lack of services for seniors,' Worsley said. 'Connie played a leadership role in advocating for five years with City Hall and the recreational department for programs for seniors in Aldershot. Now seniors can attend over 15 programs offered by the city's recreation department at the Aldershot Arena, and an additional number of programs at the Aldershot pool.' 'Over 250 seniors in Aldershot receive 'What's Up, Aldershot Seniors?', a newsletter which lets seniors know what's going on in their community, how to access programs, how to access government services, and other community activities,' Worsley continued. Price said that she was very honoured to receive the award, and was surprised when she was nominated due to the fact that she does not technically live in Aldershot. 'This recognition from my community friends means a lot to me,' Price said. 'Over the years, I've had the joy of working alongside many of you. From the creation of the Fullest Heart playground, organizing Alderfest, rallying to save the number four bus route together, cleaning up garbage in Indian Creek, and decorating Smile Cookies, to sharing ice cream sundaes after church on the front lawn of St. Matt.' 'That's just some of the happenings of how, together, we continue to maintain the unique flavour of Aldershot,' Price continued. Price said that her greatest joy has been helping to renovate St. Matthew On The Plains as the church's liaison with the architect and construction company for their $1.4 million renovation project. 'You are the spirit behind the name etched in stone at the Plains Road entrance from Hamilton, 'The Village of Aldershot,'' Price said. 'They say it takes a village, and I'm proud to say that you, Aldershot, are my village and have gifted me so many memories. I sincerely thank you all.' Karen Phelps, a 2012 inductee, introduced both youth recipients, the first of whom was Marcus Hamlet. It is the first time any youth recipients have been male. 'We're here tonight to present the Aldershot Community Honour Roll to a student who embodies excellence, not just in academics, but also inspiring selfless service,' Phelps said. 'His unwavering commitment to making our world a kinder, safer, and more inclusive place sets him apart.' Hamlet is a member of the Bullying Prevention Plan and the Safe School Committee at Assumption Catholic Secondary School. He was handpicked by the Assumption principal for the latter. 'On the baseball diamond, he's both a dynamic first baseman and a genuine mentor, whether representing his school on the varsity team or volunteering his time to coach younger players,' Phelps said. 'Marcus leads by example. His relentless pursuit of excellence has even earned him the affectionate moniker of 'Coach Marcus' from his teammates and coaches on the Ontario Rockies baseball team.' Hamlet also advocates on behalf of students with special needs. After an acceptance speech in which Hamlet thanked his parents, brother, and educators, Phelps introduced the second youth inductee, Anthony Silvestri. 'As a student at Assumption School, he has sustained an exemplary academic record while balancing a multitude of extracurricular and volunteer commitments,' Phelps said. 'His impressive grades have got him on the honour roll for the last four years, alongside his roles on the Student Council, where he has served for three years and has risen to vice president, and his dynamic participation in the Model UN Club speaks volumes about his commitment to excellence and the ability to inspire others.' Silvestri also volunteers with the Burlington Food Bank and Food for Life. He also sat on Assumption's prom committee and organized Senior Sunset, which, according to Phelps, 'Invited all Grade 12 students to sit by the lake to reflect on the year to come last September, and then in June at the end of their high school experience.' Thorpe then called on Nicola Thomson, vice president of the Burlington Historical Society, to present the Rick Craven Historical Recognition, which was awarded to the Easterbrook family. Thomson spoke about the history of the family and the genesis of the Easterbrook Hot Dog stand, which opened in 1926. Ray Easterbrook, Sr., grandson of Mabel Easterbrook (founder of the stand), accepted the award on the family's behalf. Easterbrook spoke about Mabel in his acceptance speech. 'She worked like a dog to keep everything together that she got in life,' Easterbrook, Sr., said. 'And I never thought she got the recognition she deserved, but she would be thrilled to death with this because she dedicated her whole life to Aldershot.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Burlington gets slight reprieve from bad traffic weekend that had mayor calling for ‘better co-ordination' of projects
Burlington motorists have received a slight reprieve this weekend with only one of three planned major road closures going ahead. There is also a GO train service disruption to be aware of. The partial closure of two Niagara bound QEW lanes over the Skyway Bridge, originally planned May 23 to 26, is now anticipated from Friday, May 30 to Monday, June 2. Updates will be available at the ministry's 511 traffic alerts website . The City of Hamilton also announced May 22 that a planned full closure of the Lincoln Alexander Parkway was also moved from this weekend to the May 30-June 2 weekend. Both projects were apparently conditional on weather and delayed due to rain. A full closure of Burloak Drive, between Prince William Drive and Harvester Road, is moving ahead this weekend starting Friday, May 23 at 8 p.m. and continuing to Monday, May 26 at 6 a.m. The area will be closed to all traffic, including cyclists and pedestrians, during construction work for the Burloak Grade Separation. For more information on the project, go to the Metrolinx website . There will be no GO train service Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, between Oakville station and West Harbour station in Hamilton, impacting all three Burlington GO stations. GO buses will run between Aldershot and Oakville stations. For schedule updates visit the GO Transit website . The previously scheduled three simultaneous area road closures, and lack of GO train service, prompted Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward to post a statement on her Facebook page noting 'the city does not have approval or control over these closures.' Meed Ward stated the closures were expected to create congestion and delays on Burlington roads, and city staff shared concerns with Metrolinx, the Ministry of Transportation and the City of Hamilton. 'We are advocating for better co-ordination of planned construction projects,' Meed Ward said. The mayor noted several more lane closures on the Skyway Bridge are expected this summer as the Ministry of Transportation continues restoration work. According to the statement, city staff planned to help mitigate impacts by adjusting traffic signal timings, and working with other agencies, including Halton Police, OPP, and Halton Region. 'We continue to advocate for improved planning, co-ordination, and mitigation of these impacts in the future,' Meed Ward's statement continues. 'We encourage you to share your driving experiences during these periods of road work directly with the Province and to your MPP. Public input helps them better understand the local impact of the lane closures.'
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal, provincial tariff relief should include municipalities, Ontario big city mayors say
Mayors of Ontario's big cities are calling on the federal and provincial governments to include them in any stimulus packages they launch to offset the impacts of U.S. tariffs, saying the money could be used for infrastructure projects. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said the group unanimously passed a resolution at its meeting on Friday, asking to be included in any federal or provincial tariff relief funds. As the chair of Ontario's Big City Mayors, Meed Ward said the group believes municipal infrastructure projects could help put people to work at a time when many are facing job losses due to the tariffs. "We believe that infrastructure funding not only provides sustainability for projects into the future, but it gets our people to work at a time that there is great uncertainty," Meed Ward said. "In terms of how much, we will take whatever the federal and provincial governments want to give us." Meed Ward said changes to the global trading system will affect businesses, communities, workers and municipalities. If people are laid off, stimulus packages could get them working again, she said. "We will have an active and ready labour force. And so, if we can get them working on infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, schools, community centres, all of the things that we need in community, that's what we want to do." Toronto to convene meeting on procurement in June Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who has indicated that she would like to work with other municipalities to reduce reliance on U.S.-based suppliers, told reporters that she is convening a discussion on June 6 in Toronto to work out the "fine details" of such a partnership that will look at procurement. Chow said the federal and provincial governments can also help to lower municipal costs of building affordable housing. "We need partnership with the federal and provincial government. We welcome their partnerships," Chow said. Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said municipalities are trying to make sense of the tariffs. "I'll just say I don't think we've ever seen such a consistent level of inconsistency. And so that really, I think, says it all in terms of how we're trying to react," he said. "That being said, there are very strong bonds between communities, first and foremost in Canada and the United States. And we want to make sure that we continue to foster an environment that not only says you're welcome, but we want you to stay and continue to be part of our economic success." Canada launching 'tariff economic response plan' Ontario's municipal affairs and housing ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, however, said the federal government is launching a "tariff economic response plan to protect jobs, support businesses and stabilize Canada's economy while laying the groundwork to secure Canadian competitiveness and prosperity." As for money for infrastructure projects, the federal department said: "Federal investment in housing and infrastructure can be a catalyst for change in communities across Canada. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) will continue to work with project owners and partners in all orders of government to invest in projects that create jobs, stimulate local economies and make a difference for communities." Last week, Canada was spared when U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his widespread so-called "reciprocal" tariffs, but Canada continues to be subject to a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian-made automobiles. On March 12, the U.S. imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian steel and aluminum products.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal, provincial tariff relief should include municipalities, Ontario big city mayors say
Mayors of Ontario's big cities are calling on the federal and provincial governments to include them in any stimulus packages they launch to offset the impacts of U.S. tariffs, saying the money could be used for infrastructure projects. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said the group unanimously passed a resolution at its meeting on Friday, asking to be included in any federal or provincial tariff relief funds. As the chair of Ontario's Big City Mayors, Meed Ward said the group believes municipal infrastructure projects could help put people to work at a time when many are facing job losses due to the tariffs. "We believe that infrastructure funding not only provides sustainability for projects into the future, but it gets our people to work at a time that there is great uncertainty," Meed Ward said. "In terms of how much, we will take whatever the federal and provincial governments want to give us." Meed Ward said changes to the global trading system will affect businesses, communities, workers and municipalities. If people are laid off, stimulus packages could get them working again, she said. "We will have an active and ready labour force. And so, if we can get them working on infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, schools, community centres, all of the things that we need in community, that's what we want to do." Toronto to convene meeting on procurement in June Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who has indicated that she would like to work with other municipalities to reduce reliance on U.S.-based suppliers, told reporters that she is convening a discussion on June 6 in Toronto to work out the "fine details" of such a partnership that will look at procurement. Chow said the federal and provincial governments can also help to lower municipal costs of building affordable housing. "We need partnership with the federal and provincial government. We welcome their partnerships," Chow said. Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said municipalities are trying to make sense of the tariffs. "I'll just say I don't think we've ever seen such a consistent level of inconsistency. And so that really, I think, says it all in terms of how we're trying to react," he said. "That being said, there are very strong bonds between communities, first and foremost in Canada and the United States. And we want to make sure that we continue to foster an environment that not only says you're welcome, but we want you to stay and continue to be part of our economic success." Last week, Canada was spared when U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his widespread so-called "reciprocal" tariffs, but Canada continues to be subject to a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian-made automobiles. On March 12, the U.S. imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian steel and aluminum products.
CBC
11-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Federal, provincial tariff relief should include municipalities, Ontario big city mayors say
Mayors of Ontario's big cities are calling on the federal and provincial governments to include them in any stimulus packages they launch to offset the impacts of U.S. tariffs, saying the money could be used for infrastructure projects. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said the group unanimously passed a resolution at its meeting on Friday, asking to be included in any federal or provincial tariff relief funds. As the chair of Ontario's Big City Mayors, Meed Ward said the group believes municipal infrastructure projects could help put people to work at a time when many are facing job losses due to the tariffs. "We believe that infrastructure funding not only provides sustainability for projects into the future, but it gets our people to work at a time that there is great uncertainty," Meed Ward said. "In terms of how much, we will take whatever the federal and provincial governments want to give us." Meed Ward said changes to the global trading system will affect businesses, communities, workers and municipalities. If people are laid off, stimulus packages could get them working again, she said. "We will have an active and ready labour force. And so, if we can get them working on infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, schools, community centres, all of the things that we need in community, that's what we want to do." Toronto to convene meeting on procurement in June Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who has indicated that she would like to work with other municipalities to reduce reliance on U.S.-based suppliers, told reporters that she is convening a discussion on June 6 in Toronto to work out the "fine details" of such a partnership that will look at procurement. Chow said the federal and provincial governments can also help to lower municipal costs of building affordable housing. "We need partnership with the federal and provincial government. We welcome their partnerships," Chow said. Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said municipalities are trying to make sense of the tariffs. "I'll just say I don't think we've ever seen such a consistent level of inconsistency. And so that really, I think, says it all in terms of how we're trying to react," he said. "That being said, there are very strong bonds between communities, first and foremost in Canada and the United States. And we want to make sure that we continue to foster an environment that not only says you're welcome, but we want you to stay and continue to be part of our economic success." Last week, Canada was spared when U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his widespread so-called "reciprocal" tariffs, but Canada continues to be subject to a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian-made automobiles. On March 12, the U.S. imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian steel and aluminum products.
