A community discussion on charting a new direction for our city.

Join us on Tuesday, January 20th, 7 pm, Lions Club Hall.

Our Panellists

Mark Carr

Mark is the retired Executive Director of not-for-profit agencies and has been involved in politics and public affairs through his program The Issue, on YourTV for 28 years. 

 He has been a campaign manager for successful provincial and federal elections and has moderated debates, including provincial, municipal, and mayoral debates on Cogeco television.

Mark is a former member of the Burlington City Council, where he was Chair of the Planning and Development and Budget and Strategic Planning committees, and is the recipient of the Ontario Public Service Award and the Government of Canada Medal of Volunteerism.

He has volunteered his time with Community Cares Halton (Police Services), Community Conflict Resolution Services Halton, Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation, and Bereaved Families of Ontario. 

Mark is an honours graduate in Communications and Conflict Management from the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies at Conrad Grebel/University of Waterloo and is a long-time resident of Burlington.

Brad Harness

Born in Toronto, raised in Oakville & Burlington, Brad was educated at McMaster University, Sheridan College & Fanshawe College.

His first career was as a naval officer (1980-98), and his second career has been in journalism (1998-present). Brad is the publisher/editor of The Burlington Independent and The Oakville Independent community newspapers.

He has had a keen interest and involvement in politics at all three levels since the mid-1980s.

Brad and his wife have three married sons and four grandchildren.

Alan Harrington

Alan has lived and been actively involved in the Burlington community for 23 years.

Born in Toronto and grew up there.

Education: Business Administration – College Diploma(s)

Currently employed as the Finance Controller for an industrial manufacturing operation.

Community: 20-year volunteer member of the Burlington Historical Society.

Currently a member of the Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee.

Founder and member of the Friends of Freeman Station – to conserve the 1906 Grand Trunk Railway Burlington Junction station.

Member of: Burlington Canal Lighthouse Group, Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum,

Burlington Performing Arts Theatre – and a former CFO of the local Burlington Riding Association.

Leisure: travelling + recently experiencing Canadian War memorials: Juno Beach, Vimy Ridge, Menin Gate, Flanders Field, Ypres, Holland, Imperial War Museum London, and more.

Travelled twice around the world – from the Sahara Desert to South American rainforests.

Married with five grandchildren. Cat owner. Blood donor.

Wishes to live in a peaceful, nature-friendly environment with social programs for health and education. Where normal people can have employment, buy a home and raise a family.

Respecting the culture, history and heritage of the people who built this great country.

Pepper Parr

Pepper Parr came to Burlington in 2009. In 2010, he formed Our Burlington, an online newspaper that was quickly renamed the Burlington Gazette.

It was the first online newspaper to be recognized by what was then the Ontario Press Council, now the National Newsmedia Council. Parr has published books (11), magazines (2) and newspapers (2). He founded what was originally the Toronto Ward 9 News (now Beach Metro), the oldest community newspaper in Toronto, serving the Beach community – delivered free to every household in the Beach. He was awarded for publishing the Best Juvenile Science book in 1986, Canada in Space.

Our Moderator – Stephen White

Stephen is an experienced Human Resources professional and Career and Executive Coach with over forty years of experience in both the public and private sectors.

Both events are free and open to all members of the Burlington community. We look forward to your participation as we work together to inform, engage, and help shape a stronger future for Burlington.

Please take a minute to RSVP