Data Centre Proposed for Burlington

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Ward 2 councillor and mayoral candidate Lisa Kearns is pushing for a municipal framework on AI data centres after learning a 60,000-square-foot facility is planned near Guelph Line and South Service Road. The proposed centre would draw about 20 megawatts of electricity and use air cooling instead of water.

Kearns says Burlington has no zoning rules specific to data centres, meaning the project could move forward without public input or council review. She's calling for a one-year pause similar to Hamilton's, giving the city time to develop standards before approving any applications.

The urgency stems from the election calendar. After July 21, lame-duck rules limit council's ability to act until the next term begins. Three councillors are running for mayor, and Councillor Stolte has announced she won't seek re-election.

A Quebec-based grilled chicken bowl chain is opening at Mapleview Centre's food court this week, marking its first Burlington location.

Poulet Rouge aims to open Friday at the Mapleview, though customer service staff cautioned the date could shift if delays pop up. The restaurant, which started in Joliette, Quebec in 2012, has grown to 70 locations across Canada and specializes in customizable bowls built around grilled chicken.

The company already operates three locations in Mississauga and Brampton, and has plans for more sites in Hamilton and Stoney Creek.

Halton Region is rolling out automated waste collection with wheeled carts across the region, and Ward 4 will be the first area fully switched over this fall.

Every household will get a 120-litre organics cart with a gravity lock and a 240-litre garbage cart that holds about three or four bags. Residents who generate less waste can request a smaller 120-litre garbage cart (one to two bags) online until August 15.

The program follows a successful pilot and will reach all Halton households with curbside collection over the next two years. Information sessions are running through August.

🏆 Burlington Ranked Second Safest North American City

🌊 How to Prepare for Summer Storms

The Royal Botanical Gardens just landed two grants worth $300,000 combined from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, funding upgrades that make the gardens easier to visit both online and in person.

The first grant, $100,000, went toward overhauling RBG's website with easier navigation and a new interactive map. The second, $200,000, paid for four mobile accessible bathroom units now stationed near outdoor events at the RBG Centre and Hendrie Park.

The portable units are staying through summer to support outdoor concerts and the ongoing Anchorball exhibition. Local MPP Natalie Pierre visited Tuesday morning to congratulate staff, calling the gardens "an oasis in an urban area" and praising the work to make them welcoming for all abilities.

Star, a one-year-old cat at the Burlington Humane Society, recently finished raising her kittens and is now looking for a home of her own. All her babies have been adopted, and she's ready for her turn.

She's a little shy at first but thrives in calm, quiet spaces where she can settle in at her own pace. Star is FIV-positive, which means she needs routine vet care and an indoor home, but FIV-positive cats can live long, healthy lives.

The shelter is hoping to find her a patient owner who'll give her the time she needs to let her sweet personality come through.

Wednesday, July 15
⛅ Mix of sun & cloud
High: 32°C | Low: 19°C

Thursday, July 16
⛅ Mix of sun & cloud
High: 30°C | Low: 18°C

Friday, July 17
🌦️ Cloudy, chance of showers
High: 28°C | Low: 17°C

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~ Nick