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With the repeal of both the mask bylaw and the physical distancing bylaw, the City is continuing to follow the direction and guidance of the Province and the Regional Medical Officer of Health in making its decisions. For more information on what to expect at City facilities, visit our Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs page. |
COVID-19 Response - Community Support Fund
This program is now closed.
Thank you to all the applicants, organizers and participants in the Community Support Fund (CSF). We have wrapped up this program and are no longer accepting applications.
Recreation, Community and Culture will continue to provide financial support to residents and community groups who want to enrich and connect the Burlington community through sport, recreation, art and cultural experiences through funding programs such as the Arts and Culture Fund. Visit Neighbourhood and Community Support for City funding opportunities.
Thank you again to all those who helped to support Burlington’s communities during these challenging times.
| Community Support Fund Objectives |
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| Community Support Fund Completed Projects |
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The City of Burlington would like to thank all residents who organized and participated in this program. All participants followed the Ontario, Halton and Burlington COVID-19 orders, bylaws and restrictions at the time of their project. Organizers and participants took the necessary precautions to maintain physical distancing from those of outside their household, wore masks, limited numbers to the provincial gathering capacity and hosted projects outside as much as possible. Name of Project: African Caribbean Council of Halton– Launch Event "Be an Ambassador; Be an Ally" Date of Project: Aug. 29, 2021 Total Funding: $5,000 Goals: The council launch is the beginning of new era of collaboration, dialogue and inclusiveness. It will allow for upliftment of people of African descents/Caribbean and all their allies. It will be a time of storytelling to educate everyone. It will support neighbourhood connection and neighbourly care. It will showcase the African Caribbean community Professionalism, with a fusion of Arts and Culture. This is what they said… “There has been multiple postings on social media handles by various attendees and speakers, and word on the streets was that it was an amazing event yet thought provoking and reflective.” Name of Project: Spruce Ave Street Party Date of Project: Aug. 29, 2021 Total Funding: $1,306.92 Goals: The primary goal of this event is to offer an inclusive opportunity for neighbours to meet and get to know each other and foster a better sense of a community. This is what they said… “Having an opportunity for the kids, teens to interact and play on the street is a fantastic way to promote community connectivity. We had many people from adjacent community and streets come by and interact. Kids loved riding their bikes, scooters on the street, bouncing balls, skip ropes or just simply decorating the street with chalk.” Name of Project: Judson/Guire Common Street Party Date of Project: Aug. 28, 2021 Total Funding: $502.30 Goals: Street party to celebrate going back to school and celebrate the number of front-line workers that live in their complex. This is what they said… “Thank you to the City of Burlington for giving me the opportunity to host this event. Our neighbours all had a wonderful time and enjoyed a beautiful evening. With COVID, we have all been through so much. As we have many nurses and doctors living on our streets it was nice to take a night off and spend time with each other. I truly enjoyed watching the kids smile and play while the adults socialized and laughed! It was a memorable evening!” Name of Project: Montego Street Party Date of Project: Aug. 28, 2021 Total Funding: $1,250 Goals: Street party to build community with our existing and new neighbours. One unique feature of our street is the number of young families and this event will connect everyone again, ensuring our kids feel safe and build a sense of belonging. This is what they said… “While we host this event annually, the extra funding from the City of Burlington allowed us to take the event to the next level. While maintaining COVID safety protocols, we were able to provide a more fulsome experience for our neighbours. After the past 18 months, our community needed and appreciated the event more than before.” Name of Project: Local Artist Bell Box Mural Project Date of Project: July 19 to 31, 2021 Total Funding: $4,500 Goals: This Community Support Fund project supported local artists Poonam Sharma and Tamara Kwapich. The theme of the project is resilience, unity, and gratitude, and the murals seek to establish a sense of connection to support mental health and well-being. The proposal for the Bell Box Mural Project centres around the community concept ‘It takes a village.’ Since 2009 artists from the Bell Box Murals Project have painted 360 murals on Bell Canada outdoor junction cabinets across Ontario. The Bell Box project encourages community members to create new ways of connecting by providing an outdoor art exhibit on Bell boxes throughout the city. Burlington Bell Box Mural Locations:
This is what they said… “Many people honked their car horns and commented ‘Good job!’, ‘Awesome painting’, ‘ It’s beautiful’, ‘Thank you!’. A group of interested residents stopped by every day to see and appreciate the progress of each mural’s completion. Many people thanked me for beautifying the neighbourhood and were pleased that this painting would be in place for them to be enjoy every day.” - Poonam Sharma, Local Artist “A variety of local residents stopped by to say thank you, take photos, and comment on what a great idea painting Bell boxes was. Residents mentioned that the murals made them smile and that their children were so excited by it they couldn't stop talking about it. It was definitely a community confirming experience. Thank you!” - Tamara Kwapich, Local Artist Name of Project: Hiscott Canada Day Celebration Date of Project: July 1, 2021 Total Funding: $800 Goals: Neighbourhood party and celebration for Canada Day 2021 This is what they said… “It was a great event that made everyone have a feel of some normality, kids and adults had a great time. Thank you again from everyone! With such short notice, amazing efforts helped make this happen for us.” Name of Project: Christmas in the Creek Date of Project: Dec. 10 to 25, 2020 Total Funding: $4,278 Goals: Bring smiles and Christmas joy to many people in the Sheldon Creek neighbourhood both young and old, from young babies waving to Santa, to our senior citizens in the two care homes in the area. This is what they said… "Thank you to all the volunteers and to the City of Burlington for funding so many activities for our community this holiday season! What might have been a challenging Christmas, has made our community join together and rediscover what the true meaning of holiday spirit. On a personal level, my children have said this was one of the best holidays - walking in our neighbourhood looking for our Sheldon the Elf, participating in the car parade, having Santa visit our porch with a personalized message, virtual arts and crafts, having a personalized Santa letter delivered to our door, decorating the tree of hope and their first experience in helping organize food for the Burlington food bank. I am truly grateful for all these amazing experiences. The little lights of joy it sparked in my girls alone meant the world to me. And hearing the stories from our other neighbours that it did the same for their families is very powerful. Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Name of Project: Into the Wild Date of Project: Nov. 6, 2020 Total Funding: $4,500 Goals: Our project was an outdoor theatre show about the environment and our relationship to it. The characters in the show represented the four elements and others were fantasy creatures. Through music and movement, we tell the story of the history of the downtown core area and how we have arrived. Bringing people together (but separate) on their lawns, porches, and balconies to witness the same event gives people a sense of community, belonging, social stability and sense of well-being. This is what they said… "It was lovely to hear people shouting from across the street and waving from patios or inside their homes as we passed. Passengers in cars waved and honked as they passed by and the people who followed us on our complete journey were so happy to be a part of the project and to dance." Name of Project: Sheldon Creek Spook Fest Date of Project: Oct. 31, 2020 Total Funding: $4,160 Goal: This project, a Halloween Festival, raised the ‘spirits’ of our community. Most of the activities were offered virtually and included: A costume parade that passed by the long-term care facility, virtual craft activities, pumpkin carving, costumes and decorating contests. Everything was designed to allow children and families to enjoy the Halloween season safely, while fostering positive relations in the neighbourhood. This is what they said… "Sheldon Creek’s Spook Fest brought so much excitement to our household. The dedication, planning and organization that went into this event is so recognized and very much appreciated. The amazing team of volunteers planned safe, yet fun, ways to celebrate this Halloween holiday. Spook Fest kept all of Sheldon Creek’s spirits high for both young and old. We are proud to be a part of such a caring and compassionate community!" "Hands down this brought our community together, safely, in an unprecedented time. COVID has taken so much from so many this year and something as simple as a community event like our Spook Fest brought some badly needed joy to people of all ages. A huge tip of the hat to all our organizers and the City of Burlington for making this happen." Name of Project: Boothman Play Street Date of Project: Oct. 18, 2020 Total Funding: $2,000 Goal: To get more children playing outside and building relationships within the community. This will create a stronger sense of community as well as giving the children a safe place to play together. This is what they said… "This project was amazing! It was truly awesome watching neighbours young and old come out to learn and play a new sport together! Being active and spending time outdoors is so important for a healthy lifestyle and there’s no better way to encourage our children to be active then by leading by example. Our street was so excited to have a COVID-19 safe way to interact and play together. Families and children looked forward to pickleball night every week! This program has helped families get moving together while providing the opportunity to try a new sport without any financial commitment. Many families have taken on a love of the sport pickleball and are looking into continuing playing it going forward! This was such a special program for our street and community, truly something everyone looked forward to each week!" Name of Project: Neighbourhood Nature Play Group Date of Project: Oct. 14 to Nov. 25, 2020 Total Funding: $1,477.18 Goal: to inform local families on the benefits of nature through free programs and activities for children in Pineland Park. This is what they said... "I am happy for any chance to get the kids outside and to see some of their friends...it lets them spread out and choose different things. Keep us posted and stay well!!" "(B) was so happy when he ran around the corner and saw other kids playing! It’s been so long since we were able to all connect in the beauty of nature. Thank you thank you!!!!!" "The boys have loved all the messy play! They even asked for a mud kitchen for Christmas. Oh boy!!! Looking forward to the chance to reconnect once all this is over." Name of Project: White Pines Movie Night Date of Project: Sept. 25, 2020 Total Funding: $1,559.50 Goal: to have a neighbourhood Movie Night on the street, with physical distancing. This is what they said… "The objective of the project is to bring the White Pines Drive neighbourhood closer together and reach out to each family new and old to strengthen the core of the City of Burlington. This event during this time of isolation will be a small way of connecting with our neighbourhood families. In the past 6 years we have had a Love my Neighbourhood BBQ. These events help to strengthen our community our street and solidify relationships on White Pines Drive. From ages 85 to infants the community out reach is what Burlington is built on. This type of community spirit is a great feel good experience for our street and community." Name of Project: Get Fit for Free Date of Project: Sept. 15 to Nov. 13, 2020 Total Funding: $3,240 Goal: Free bootcamp-style classes in LaSalle Park for women with young children. Name of Project: Rudolph in Aldershot Date of Project: Sept. 12 to Nov. 29, 2020 Total Funding: $416 Goal: To hold a kick-off celebration for neighbours who participated in putting a blow up Rudolph on their front lawns. Name of Project: Bonnie Court Get Together Date of Project: Sept. 10, 2020 Total Funding: $1,395 Goal: to celebrate new friendships with an outdoor party. Allow kids to play outside and interact with each other while still maintaining social distance in the middle of the court. This is what they said… "A good time was had by all and we rotated who could come and join again to keep the numbers under the 25. We have the most amazing group of neighbours in our court. I couldn’t ask for a more loving and supportive group of people during “normal” times never mind during a global pandemic." Name of Project: Hadfield Court Movie Night Date of Project: Sept. 10, 2020 Total Funding: $2,686.50 Goal: to provide children and families on the street with an opportunity to connect with their friends and neighbours after a very long and lonely period of isolation. to foster a sense of community, connection and comfort while maintaining appropriate safety and social distancing measures. This is what they said… "The families on the street were thrilled to have the chance to reconnect with their neighbours after months of isolation. The children in the court all came dressed up as their favourite movie characters, and enjoyed cotton candy, and treats from our free concession stand. A wonderful time was had by all the neighbours. Neighbours gave generously to Halton Food4Kids and we raised over $800 for families in need." Name of Project: Yoga in the Park Date of Project: Aug. to Nov. 1, 2020 Total Funding: $681.49 Goal: to offer free exercise and stretching program Sunday mornings in Burloak Park for local residents. This is what they said… "We had one mom say that these classes were “the highlight of her week” and many of the kids looked forward to their park visits too!" Name of Project: Live at the Apollo Concert Series Date of Project: Select Fridays from July to Sept. Total Funding: $1,700 Goal: to provide the community residents with a family event with a wide variety of professional musicians playing live music. This is what they said… "This project was to provide the neighbourhood community with outdoor live music entertainment throughout the summer. We drew many families from the community, had physical distancing rules in place and received back many comments of thanks and appreciation for providing people with free family entertainment. The overall experience learned that residents love live music in this setting, outdoors in good weather and a time schedule that suited everyone." |
