Burlington Mundialization Committee Meeting

Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Room 247, Level 2, City Hall

1.
Members Present:

Ed Dorr (Chair), Johanna Haan, Sabrina Yott, Rob Lyng, Bill Swybrous, Rory Nisan, Hassan Raza, Miles Ross, Anne Koopman, Eric Lim, Manuela Rotar and Karla Veites

2.
Others Present:

Arnold Koopman , Robert Missen and Jo-Anne Rudy (Clerk)

3.
Regrets:

Peter Bridger, John Coyle, Kristin Demeny, Siddhim Gupta and Councillor Blair Lancaster

4.
Declarations of Interest:

None

5.
Approval of Minutes:

6.
Election of Chair and Vice Chair

On motion, Ed Dorr and Hassan Raza were elected as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively for a term ending December 31, 2018.

7.
Delegation(s):

8.
Regular Items:

8.1
Apeldoorn subcommittee update

Miles provided the following update:

  • Miles and Anne will be Chair and Vice Chair, respectively  of the Subcommittee for 2018.
  • Elementary school links continue to be strong as they continue their pen pal program.
  • Ed, Judith and Miles to meet on February 13 with the HDSB Associate Director of Education to discuss the high school exchange program.
  • Charles and Anne hosted a Meet and Greet with the 22 folks who are going on the citizen exchange to Apeldoorn on February 5. Next meeting will be April 16 with DH Tours attending to discuss logistics of the trip.
  • Canada Netherlands Friendship Day is scheduled for May 5. Alexander P.S. concert band will be playing.  Looking for volunteers to assist with the event.
  • Dan Murray, local poet, attended the January 31 meeting and presented the poem he wrote about our twin relationship with Apeldoorn. He did an amazing job and will be asked to attend the next Mundialization meeting to present.
  • Johanna shared that many European cities/towns have designated poets who are asked to write poems for special occasions. Apeldoorn's city poet wrote a poem for Burlington in 2016 and this is a reciprocal poem for Apeldoorn that will hopefully be presented to them during the citizen exchange. 

8.2
Itabashi subcommittee update

Rob provided the following update:

  • Rob Peachey and Kim Napier provided an overview of the planned Itabashi Garden at Tansley Woods including possible design ideas, schedule and contracting process.
    Action - Rob and Chuck to draft a letter to Mayor Sakamoto from Mayor Goldring to inform Itabashi of this initiative and seek input on the design.
  • The sub-committee recommends that Mr. Enomoto's donation go to Burlington's Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK).
    Motion - that $1,022 donated by Mr. Enomoto, citizen of Itabashi, be given to Burlington's Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK).  
    Action - Jo-Anne to arrange media release and cheque presentation.
  • Proposed format and budget was discussed for the Sakura Festival, May 5, Art Gallery of Burlington, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
    Motion - Approve a budget of $2,500 to cover room rental, entertainment honorariums and refreshments for the Sakura Festival. 
  • The "Celebration of Art" from Itabashi and Sir Ernest MacMillan School will open on May 9 at the Art Gallery of Burlington, 7 p.m. and will be displayed for a month.
  • Second set of letters from Itabashi were received in early January and were delivered to M.M. Robinson.  Replies will be sent soon and the teacher is hoping to send a video about Burlington to the school in Itabashi.  Will be meeting with teacher adn principal in March to discuss expanding the pen pal program to other schools.
  • Three Sakura trees were cut down and the plaque indicating who donated them was damaged.  Would like to meet with City Arborist to enquire tree maintenance and what is done with trees that are cut down.
    Action - Jo-Anne to set up meeting with City Arborist, Rob, Chuck, Ed and Hassan and follow-up with RPM staff regarding damaged plaque.
  • Hoping to have a citizen exchange next year to Itabashi that will be arranged through DH Tours.

8.3
United Nations subcommittee update

Sabrina provided the following update:

  • Next subcommittee meeting will be held on February 15 at 7 p.m.
  • Gearing up for the conference in October and working on securing a speaker.  
  • Would like to have an outdoor family event in Spring/Summer that could perhaps piggyback on another event.  Would like to have booths where different UN topics are highlighted.  There could be a connection with the One Festival on August 6 or the Lowville Festival in June.

9.
Other Business:

9.1
2017 annual report

  • Ed asked Chairs of the Subcommittees to provide him with their 2017 annual reports.
    Action - Jo-Anne to email last year's annual report to the Subcommittee Chairs and Ed.

10.
Adjournment: 8:20 p.m.

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