The heart and essence of Burlington is our neighbourhoods and communities. It's about people and places and how they work in partnership to make great places to live and play.
The City of Burlington's community support programs were created to encourage people to actively champion for their community. The programs provide support to communities and neighbourhoods to build, improve and strengthen Burlington and to enhance the quality of life for everyone. Bringing people together to create a sense of belonging is as important as the project itself.
Funding is available to support the following areas:
- Diversity: Embracing, celebrating and recognizing difference within the community
- Civic Interests: Events or service promoting Burlington
- Place Making: Creating public spaces that promote health and well being
- Sport: Team-based activities to enhance well being
- Recreation: Activities to promote healthy and active living
- Environment: Proactive initiatives to support a healthy environment
- Culture: Program and services that support the development of arts and culture
Community Investment Programs
| Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund |
| Inspiring community connections through community led projects.
With the support of the City of Burlington, the Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund allows neighbourhood and community groups to initiate, manage and implement projects that make a difference to the neighbourhood or community group. The projects are initiated, planned and implemented by community members in partnership with the City of Burlington. Approved projects receive up to 50 per cent of the funding for the project from the city. The neighbourhood or community group would match this funding with an equal contribution made up through any combination of volunteer hours, donated service, donated materials and supplies or other funds raised, such as cash donations. Learn more or email matchingfund@burlington.ca |
| Community Development Fund |
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Inspiring vibrant organizations through community led initiatives. Vibrant organizations provide valuable opportunities to enhance the quality of life for residents. Community development funding is available to support community organizations on a one-time only basis in building capacity to provide programs, services and events for the residents of Burlington. This funding supports organizations by offsetting costs related to training opportunities, equipment purchases or rental, marketing and advertising, and program start-up costs. Funding will be considered if the applicant can clearly demonstrate the request will improve the organization's ability to deliver sustainable services to the community. If applicable, please include the name of the City staff person your organization has been dealing with so the review committee can seek additional information in determining the outcome of the application. Apply now or for more information email communitysupport@burlington.ca |
| Neighbourhood Rinks Program |
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Inspiring community connections through outdoor neighbourhood rinks. The City of Burlington is working in partnership with local residents to support neighbourhood outdoor rinks in city parks. The city will work to install the rink boards (providing boards, water etc.) in each park and local residents agree to work together in their neighbourhood to maintain the rink throughout the winter season. Each outdoor neighbourhood rink is open to all City of Burlington residents. Learn more or email skating@burlington.ca |
| Love My Hood |
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Inspiring community connections through community led activities or events. The Love My Hood program works to inspire neighbourhood connections through community led events or activities. Neighbours get together to plan the event and invite the neighbourhood to attend. Love My Hood program breaks down the barriers to make it easy while providing toolkits and resources (i.e.: how to instructions, planning ideas etc) to make it a success. Apply now, learn more, email lovemyhood@burlington.ca or call 905-335-7600 ext. 7391 |
| Facility Fee Waiver |
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Inspiring sport, recreation and culture programs through facility fee waivers. The City of Burlington supports the development of community based programs. Facility fee waivers are available to offset a portion of the rental fee for a facility permitted through the City of Burlington utilized by non-profit organizations offering a program, service or event for Burlington residents. Funding is available on a one-time only basis to support new initiatives or assist organizations in providing sustainable programs. Applications can be submitted at anytime throughout the year and are reviewed within 30 days. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their funding request. Apply now or for more information email communitysupport@burlington.ca |
Community Champion Stories - 2016
#whatdoyouinspire
| Inspired - A Community BBQ For A Great Cause |
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"My wife and I hosted a community BBQ called "Grill Out for Gordie". The event included children's games and a screening of the Tragically Hip's last concert in August 2016. We brought our community together and we raised $2,000 for Sunnybrook Hospitals' Brain Cancer Research. Thanks to the support of the Love My Hood program, we brought our neighbours of all ages together for a great cause." Matt Noad
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| Inspired - Community Park Festival and Ball Hockey Tournament |
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"With support of the Love My Hood Program, we held a neighbourhood park festival and ball hockey tournament. The city provided us with a variety of resources to offer some fun games and activities for the neighbourhood to participate in such as a large parachute, bean bag toss, soccer balls and sacks for sack races. On the paved court beside the field, we held a ball hockey tournament at the same time. It was great to see the adults and kids interacting together in activities and getting to know their neighbours in a fun and relaxed environment." Sharon Loaring
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| Inspired - Jack-O-Lantern Stroll |
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"People in the neighbourhood were asked to bring their carved pumpkins, a candle and canned food donations to Lions Optimist Park Soccer Field at Martha and Maria Street to create a candlelit scroll amongst the Jack O'Lanterns. A truck load of canned food donations were given to Burlington Food Bank and all of the pumpkins were picked up after the event by Halton Region for composting. The Love My Hood program helped to make it so easy to organize and assisted with setup, costs and park permits. Tim Horton's also helped out by providing hot chocolate for the kids. It was great meeting new people in the neighbourhood. The Love My Hood Program helped to inspire some great ideas and helps make Burlington a great place to live. I would inspire others to get involved and help make the city better by bringing people together in your community." Michael Jones
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| Inspired - Neighbourhood Co-Operative Block Party |
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"Last June, Applemead Co-operative Homes Inc. held our annual block party and BBQ to celebrate the community. With the support and generousity of our own co-op members, local businesses and the City of Burlington, we had an amazing and fun day and evening of water slides, bouncies, entertainment, prizes, treat, music and a street dance. This awesome event was made even better with the contribution from the Love My Hood Program." Gail Wareham |
| Inspired - Changing Invitation Only Event to a Neighbourhood Block Party |
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"In 2016, we replaced our annual Invitation Only - Golf and Barbecue Event, with a Love My Hood Neighbourhood Block Party Event with activities for kids, a pot luck and community barbecue. It's hard to get volunteers to help bring the community together when costs may never be recouped, or the process to organize is too complicated. The Love My Hood program made it so easy and provided free access to toolkits with activities and games and made the permitting process simple. Our neighbourhood is a mix of younger and older, families and empty nesters and this event brought the community together to build a stronger community. We inspire others to bring their neighborhoods together with the help of the Love My Hood program." Heather Miller |
| Inspired - Neighbourhood Street Party - Dunlop Crescent |
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"We held a street party on Dunlop Crescent in Burlington. The Love My Hood program helped us to continue our street party for its seventh year! We brought together many generations of neighbours and fostered a sense of pride and community. We are proud of our street and very happy to live in Burlington. Burlington is an amazing City and we are truly lucky to live here! Make the most out of everything that it has to offer, meet your neighbours and don't be afraid to plan community neighbourhood events. No matter how big or small they are, the will make a difference." Melissa Peters
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| Inspired - Youth Pride Event |
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"We held a youth-led Halton pride event in Burlington Central Park in June 2016. It was a family-friendly event with fun educational booths, community booths, a BBQ, a DJ and a performance by LGBTQ and Halton youth. Halton Pride is an opportunity for the community to gather and honour our LGBTQ+ neighbours, friends, and family. The funding from the Love My Hood program allowed us to have the cost of tents and chairs covered so that we could ensure no matter how hot it was, people had a fun day. Many youth have told us how much it meant to see so many adults attend this event with their kids, as well as how much it meant for them to have an event to support their LGBTQ+ identities. Burlington is a thriving city that is really looking to expand its service and events and connect people. It's a fantastic focus for a city to have and being a part of that vision is an incredible experience." Jess Kiley
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| Inspired - Neighbourhood Rink - Sheraton Park |
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"We built and maintained a rink in Sheraton Park. We celebrated the rink with a Winterlude Festival on Family Day inviting the community, Mayor and Councillor to attend. The neighbourhood rink has seen many kids learn to skate and move on to play hockey and figure skating thanks to donated skates and equipment being shared with those who need the gear. We inspire others to take the time and effort to invest in the community in which they live. It's hard work and commitment, yet so rewarding. If anyone is looking to learn how to build a great rink, we are available to help you build one for your neighbourhood." Paul Manning
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| Inspired: MAKE - A Community Where Everyone Is An Artist |
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"I was inspired to create a safe place and opportunities where people could create and connect. A community where everyone is an artist. MAKE Burlington was granted funds through the City of Burlington's Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund. MAKERS sign up to attend free monthly craft workshops the third Friday of each month at St. Stephens United Church. The Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund has provided financial support to MAKE Burlington. Before starting these workshops, I believed that people were craving to create and to connect. I was right. The workshops are hugely popular. There is space for 25 participants and each month I have more people wanting to register than I have room for."
Quotes from Participants: "MAKE has been an opportunity to create together. I have met new people and enjoyed the company of friends. The chance to make something new has resulted in making a community space where mistakes are ok and encouragement flows freely. Thanks for leading and MAKING Trish!" "Be part of something bigger than yourself." "We rise by lifting others." "Help the life of one person and you can help the community." "Using your creativity is therapeutic, not because we need to be fixed, but because we need to be expressive."
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| Inspired - Woodlot Cleanup Project |
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"Neighbourhood residents coming together... to participate in "work bees" throughout the year to improve the woodlot located at the parklands of the former General Brock High School. The forested area has become a very popular spot for the community to enjoy but was experiencing signs of tree die off as a result of crowding trees and vandalism. With funding support provided by the City of Burlington's Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund, community members have been taking action to help transform the area into a healthy forest by donating volunteer hours to remove dead trees, invasive plant species and improve the area's walking trail. This Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund project serves as a positive, impactful example of the local community and project contributors coming together with a shared aim to improve local biodiversity and enhance a community asset for current and future generations to enjoy. Amazing how dedication and ingenuity is demonstrated when community members come together to tackle a shared objective. The focus and energy comes from a place of "we can do this" versus "how on earth are we going to do this?" One example was in regards to the challenge of removing the 40+ unsafe t-bar posts that had been in their location for likely 40 years. Project participant John fabricated a custom t-bar removal tool by welding a steel plate together with a car jack to lever them all out! Genius and efficient! This project really brought members of the community together who had not previously interacted with each other. Even passerby's not directly participating in the forest project work, became engaged by chatting about the project with the active participants. Everyone was so kind with their comments, incredibly grateful for the work being done and the best part has been seeing more people enjoying the area than previously, and now greeting each other as new found friends. Community spirit is fantastic and we need more of it within our neighbourhoods in Burlington." Amy Schnurr |
Other Support Programs
| Other Non-City Funding Programs |
| Recreation Fee Assistance |
| Inspiring access to recreation through program fee assistance.
Financial assistance is available to support registered or drop-in programs offered directly by the City. You will be required to provide information related to your financial situation. Funding applications will require five business days for processing once all financial information has been received. Please submit your application as early as possible to avoid classes filling up during the approval period. Submit your application online. Learn more about Recreation Fee Assistance and how to apply for funding. |
| Windrow |
| A windrow is the snow pushed back into a driveway by a passing snow plow. The City of Burlington offers a Windrow Clearing Program for persons with disabilities.
Learn more or call Roads, Parks and Maintenance at 905-333-6166 |