Civic Recognition

Ai-Ri Brown 

Ai-Ri is responsible for creating one of the most cherished gathering places in her neighbourhood, the Orchard Community Garden. In 2021, Ai-Ri formed the Orchard Community Garden Committee. Through a combination of grants, donations, and teamwork, the garden came to life, built by the hands of neighbours during some of the most isolating days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, the Orchard Community Garden is a source of local pride, cared for collectively by the neighbourhood. It hosts seasonal events like the Last Harvest Celebration each fall, donates fresh produce to the Food for Life food bank, and serves as an outdoor classroom for local schools and senior care homes.

Ayden Zbikowski 

Burlington Dads

Burlington Dads is one of Canada's largest fatherhood communities, made up of more than 7000 members. Founded in 2013, they have raised over one million dollars in support of local organizations and families in need. Four times a year, Burlington Dads brings the community together by hosting major events, including a golf tournament, a toy drive, a holiday party, and a family barbecue picnic. These events are opportunities for neighbours to become friends and for families to create memories.

Beyond their fundraising, they have shown leadership in bringing awareness to the Capillary Wave group for men – a safe and supported space for men to have conversations about mental health and wellbeing.

Chris Carter

Chris is one of the driving forces behind the success of Burlington Dads. Since 2020, he has led the planning, development, and execution of numerous volunteer initiatives and charitable events for Burlington Dads. Chris is hands-on in developing partnerships with local businesses and community organizations, securing sponsors and recruiting and managing volunteers. By creating opportunities for residents and businesses to give back, collaborate, and support one another, Chris has not only helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for families in need but also created a genuine sense of belonging in the city.

David Craig

David has made many contributions to the thoughtful preservation, interpretation, and celebration of Burlington’s history. Since 2010, David has been a driving force behind historical interpretation initiatives across Burlington. This includes the transformation of ten traffic signal boxes along Plains Road in Aldershot – each wrapped with historic images that highlight the area’s agricultural and community roots. As Image Specialist for the Burlington Historical Society, David has designed and produced more than 20 large-scale outdoor historical posters, prominently displayed at the entrance to Spencer Smith Park during Heritage Week celebrations each year. Each of these installations provide residents and visitors with a meaningful connection to the past, fostering a deeper appreciation of local heritage and its relevance today.

Julie Neal

Since January 2021, Julie has worked to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our community, including food insecurity, mental health, and family support. In the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, Julie organized a large-scale food and bottle drive over four consecutive weekends raising $8,000 and more than 2,000 pounds of food for the Burlington Food Bank. A second one-day drive raised $7,800 and collected another 2,000 pounds of food for the Compassion Society.

In 2022, she identified a critical gap in youth mental health resources in our community and organized the Honky Tonk for ROCK, an event that raised $11,000 in support of Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK).

As the co-founder of Burlington Helping Burlington, Julie played a central leadership role in planning, organizing, and executing over 60 community events in one calendar year and helped the organization become a registered charitable foundation in Canada within one year of being founded.

Lee-Ann Meyer

As a volunteer at several animal rescue organizations in Burlington, Lee-Ann has spent ten years advocating for cats in need. Lee-Ann wears multiple hats, helping to process adoption applications, interview prospective adopters, manage volunteers, organize fundraising and adoption centre events, and oversee animal care and intake. Lee-Ann displays endless patience and compassion for every cat that comes into her care and never stops advocating for the cats by sharing photographs and videos of each one on the rescue’s social media accounts to help them find their forever homes.

Liz Harrigan

In every season, Liz can be found volunteering her time and lending her energy and enthusiasm around Burlington. As a support for seniors in the community, she leads recreational activities, organizes events, and creates opportunities for connection. Liz proudly supports the Salvation Army, dressing up every Halloween to collect food donations in her neighbourhood and working the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign. Over the years, Liz’s Halloween drive has collected thousands of pounds of food, including as much as 500 pounds in a single campaign. Through her involvement with Port Nelson United Church, Liz has helped raise funds for the Carpenter Hospice and also volunteers for the Terry Fox Run.

Miles Ross

Miles has been showing up for his city in many ways for almost 40 years. As an active member of the Burlington North Rotary Club for 20 years, Miles helped establish Interact Clubs at local high schools, working with students to organize community service projects. As the Rotary Advisor for the Nelson High School club, the group assists with registration and clears tables at the monthly Breakfast at the Bistro and Senior Supper events at the Burlington Seniors Centre.

At the Burlington Baptist Church, Miles supports the Circle of Friends program that provides a weekly hot lunch and friendship to isolated seniors in the community.

Since 1988, Miles has been a member of Burlington’s Mundialization Committee, helping to bring a global perspective to local life through events such as the Model UN 101 Conferences, citizen exchanges with Burlington’s twin city Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, and the annual Canada Netherlands Friendship Day event.

Formed in 2023 to fight food insecurity, Burlington Helping Burlington began as a food drive and quickly grew into a powerful movement—raising 15,000 lbs of food and over $20,000 in just three months. Now a registered charitable foundation, they connect businesses, residents, and organizations to support local not-for-profits. Through fundraising events, donation drives, and volunteer mobilization, Burlington Helping Burlington continues to make a lasting, positive impact in the community.

Jenna is a passionate advocate for animal welfare. As the Executive Director of Save Our Scruff – Rehome & Rescue, Jenna has helped to build a dog rescue organization that has facilitated over 3,000 dog adoptions across Ontario, Canada and beyond. Jenna leads a team of 100 staff and over 300 volunteers, coordinating programs focused on rescue, rehoming, education, training, and advocacy. Her leadership not only saves dogs but also raises awareness about responsible pet ownership and inspires others to support animal welfare initiatives.

Michelle has spent over 30 years advocating for equality in Canada. In 1992, she launched a landmark legal challenge that ended the Canadian Armed Forces’ ban on 2SLGBTQI service members. Since then, she has remained a dedicated human rights advocate, testifying before Parliament and serving as Chair for organizations like the Foundation for Equal Families and Toronto’s 519 Community Centre. In 2023, she was appointed the first Honorary Colonel for Professional Conduct and Culture by the Minister of National Defence.

Sonia Robinson is a passionate advocate of change to protect women and children. Her efforts were instrumental in the passage of Keira’s Law – both federally through Bill C-233 and provincially through Bill 102. This legislation, named after Keira Kagan, mandates that judges and justices of the peace receive training on intimate partner and gender-based violence. Recently, Sonia was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of her work.

WhiteEagle is a respected urban Indigenous Elder and a powerful advocate for reconciliation. A residential school Survivor, she stepped forward as a voice of truth, healing, and education following the discovery of 215 children’s graves in Kamloops, B.C. Each month, WhiteEagle leads Full Moon Ceremonies at Burlington Beach, creating inclusive spaces for learning and community-building through Indigenous teachings. She also contributes to countless civic events with land acknowledgments, opening prayers, and blessings— offering her guidance to City Council, the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Joseph Brant Hospital, Burlington Food Bank, and many more.

As a resident of Burlington for 58 years, Grace Anne is a lifelong volunteer whose unwavering dedication to community service spans over five decades. She began volunteering as a teenager with programs supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities—an experience that inspired her to become a Developmental Service Worker. Grace Anne supports numerous community initiatives, including more than 16 years with the Sound of Music Festival, where she serves as Parade Team Co-Chair, and the Partnering Aldershot drive-through drop-off collection.

As the Student Nutrition Program Leader at Clarksdale Public School for over five years, Andrea ensures every student starts their day with a nourishing breakfast. Beyond providing a meal, Andrea has built a community that promotes wellness, learning and kindness. She demonstrates every contribution, no matter how small, has value. Her efforts have made a lasting impact on the school community and Burlington.

Each summer, Burlington Able Sail provides sailing opportunities and instruction for individuals with a physical or cognitive disability. With a dedicated team and specialized boats, Able Sail has been enhancing the quality of life for Burlington residents for over 20 years by making sailing accessible to all. The program is a place where participants experience the freedom of being out on the water and build valuable friendships.

Started by university students Iman Nemar and Olivia Netto, the Pink Project provides free feminine hygiene products in public washrooms throughout Halton Region. The Pink Project believes period products should be available to all those who need them, and conversation surrounding menstruation should never be an embarrassment nor something we hide. Their work is helping to shed light on issues that are often overlooked when it comes to periods and menstrual health, not just in Burlington but around the world.