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The City of Burlington, in partnership with the Region of Halton Public Health Department and the University of Waterloo – Faculty of Health has been selected as one of four Canadian municipalities to join the conversation about healthy cities in Helsinki, Finland. This opportunity is part of the Healthy Cities Research Initiative and has been made possible thanks to support from 8-80 Cities and funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research.
Helsinki Workshop
The grant includes all costs for a small group to travel to and stay in Helsinki, Finland from May 16-24, 2025. The group will participate in a workshop to learn about Helsinki’s smart growth strategies, including mixed-use developments and efficient public transportation, healthy urban policy, protecting green spaces, sustainable growth, public spaces and more.
The group includes Mayor Meed Ward, two staff from the City of Burlington, one staff from Region of Halton Public Health and one faculty member from the University of Waterloo.
Helsinki is considered a global leader in complete communities. The workshop provides an opportunity for staff to see new perspectives and potentially broaden their approach to better serve our community through new ideas, strategies and proven concepts.
Burlington Workshops
The city will benefit from the Helsinki learning through two future workshops to inspire new ideas and foster collaboration to implement healthy urban policy in Burlington by adapting Helsinki’s strategies for improving/managing infrastructure, promoting health, and improving Burlington residents' quality of life.
One workshop will be held with community partners and elected officials and the other will be held with residents. Dates and times of the workshops will be shared once details are finalized.
The end goal is to move towards the creation of more complete communities that meet people’s needs for daily living throughout an entire lifetime by providing convenient access to an appropriate mix of jobs, local services, a full range of housing, transportation options, inclusive spaces and public service facilities including affordable housing, schools, recreation and open space for their residents.
For more information about the Healthy Cities Research Initiative, visit cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/51570.
Burlington is a city where people, nature and business thrive. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at burlington.ca/subscribe and follow @CityBurlington on social media.
Quote
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
"Helsinki is a leading example of a healthy, walkable, green city that provides inclusive housing and social services to all community members. With similar challenges and goals in Burlington, we can learn from their example. Along with other city participants in this conference, generously paid for by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research through the Healthy Cities Research Initiative, I look forward to learning and bringing home invaluable insights and ideas to support our community’s growth and well-being."
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