Welcome to thespec.com's Burlington Life

I remember a sing-song I used to chant as a little kid about ten, growing up in Quebec: "I'm
glad I am who I am, where I am, when I am", and the same holds true today.
Smart people plan their lives - happy ones go along with the flow. Because my parents moved
17 times by the time I was 21, living then in Waterdown, I wanted a settled life.
Marriage brought me to Burlington. Two children later (who also live in Burlington) I became
active in the community. I attended my first Burlington council meeting when I read in the Spec
in 1972 that the Halton Wentworth Waterfront plan was to be discussed, and it might not be
passed.
As they say, the rest is history. Council was an eye-opener, providing the incentive for some
friends and me to work to elect a new ward candidate in 72. Flushed with our success, we sought
another candidate in 1973, when the advent of Regional Government changed the number of
Burlington wards, and moved to two councillors per ward. No-one we approached was available,
so I became the candidate by default, although that had never been in my plans (what plans?) I
won against a former councillor, who reminded voters I was a mere housewife, who had never
handled more than grocery money. That line didn't sell even then!
1973 to 1988 were fascinating years, with exposure to new ideals and problems first on
city council, and later on city and regional councils,.
A council benefit is the opportunity to sit on interesting committees, boards and commissions.
I was on several waterfront committees over the years. I loved my 19 years on the Halton Region
Conservation Authority (now called Conservation Halton) and my nine years on the Niagara
Escarpment Commission, to which I was re-appointed in 2004. The Joseph Brant hospital board
was fascinating - a whole new world.
How about the Halton Sewer rate committee, which I chaired - doesn't everyone at a
party want to talk about sewer rates? Countless hours, and uncountable dollars, were devoted to
finding a Halton landfill site, and plans for its sewage sludge disposal. Unlike Toronto, Halton
faced its responsibilities.
It was fun later, at the invitation of the Spec, to write a Burlington column. They told me they
were looking for someone familiar with the Burlington and Halton scene. I guess all that
knowledge about garbage and sewage impressed someone.
I'm looking forward to adding my two cents worth regularly on the Burlington Life blogs.

Joan Little

Readers are encouraged to comment on all Burlington Life blogs. Simply click on the "comments" link below.

Comments

[North Halton Region Under Siege]

There's a Series of Natural Gas Electricity Generators focused for Milton & Hornby areas but Nothing about the Public meetings already held in the local Metroland Newspapers except for a Toronto Star article this past Week on one of them

[Frank McKeown]

I am a Candidate in Ward 4. It has become clear to me that I will have to give up virtually all outside business and volunteer activities if successful in my campaign. It is not a part-time job.You raise an interesting point about judging candidates. There is limited media coverage in Burlington and getting people to attend functions is problematic. The public meeting for the appointment of a replacement for Mike Wallace could not have had more than a dozen unassociated residents.

[joanlittle]

Would like to check out your site for a short while before committing.

Joan Little

[Bernie Jansen]

Great first posting Joan. Could I add you to my site's BlogRoll (www.MyBurlington.info/blog)? Looking forward to your future postings.