Burlington Mundialization Committee

Home/Your City/Committees and Boards/Burlington Mundialization Committee

Mundialization: Connecting Burlington to the World

What is Mundialization?
Who are we?
What we do
Terms of Reference
Committee Members
Meeting Information
Upcoming events

What is Mundialization?

The definition of "mundialization" is the act of a city or local authority declaring itself a "world citizen" and being aware of global issues with a sense of shared rights and responsibility. The word itself stems from the Latin word "mundus" which means "world". The concept involves the twinning of cities from around the world, in the belief that peaceful cooperation depends on mutual trust and appreciation among peoples of different nations, races, cultures and systems. Mundialization encourages citizen connections as a way of fostering world peace and global understanding.

Who are we?

The Burlington Mundialization Committee is a committee reporting to Council through the Enviroment, Infrastructure & Community Services Committee.

In 1984, a Mundialization Committee of volunteer citizens was formed in Burlington to pursue twinning with another country. A by-law was passed in 1985 to declare Burlington a "World Community" dedicated to international co-operation (mundialization) and that the City of Burlington, as part of its Mundialization program, proceed: (a) to undertake a twinning program with a municipality in another country, and (b) to fly the United Nations flag with the Canadian flag from City Hall at all times.

On May 12, 1989, Mayor Bird signed a twinning agreement with Mayor Kurihara of Itabashi, Japan.

On May 6, 2005, Mayor MacIsaac signed a twinning agreement with Mayor de Graaf of Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.

Read about our Twin Cities: Apeldoorn, The Netherlands and Itabashi.
Want to find out about our up coming events
Read the latest United Nations news and activities.

What we do

Our mandate is to promote the City of Burlington as "A World Community" dedicated to the United Nations philosophy of peaceful co-operation among the peoples of the world and encourage community understanding of different cultures global issues by:

Maintaining our twin city relationships in accordance with the agreements
Promoting activities that celebrate our similarities and respect our differences
Organizing a celebration of the United Nations Day each year around Oct. 24
Providing advice and assistance on twin city relationships to Burlington City Council
Developing achievable annual action plans with assistance of City Staff
presenting an annual report to Council with assistance of City Staff

Each year on or around Oct. 24, Mundialization Committee members organize an event to celebrate the importance and achievements of the United Nations and its mandate to promote peace, understanding and tolerance among people of all cultures and backgrounds.

Terms of Reference

View the terms of reference (pdf) of this committee

Committee Members

Ed Dorr, Chair
Hassan Raza, Vice Chair
Rob Lyng, Chair, Itabashi Sub-committee
Miles Ross Chair, Apeldoorn Sub-committee
Shadi Salehian Chair, United Nations Sub-committee
Johanna Haan
Kristin Demeny
Siddhim Gupta
Anne Koopman
Mary Beth Curtin
Judith Genis
Brianna Jennings
Chuck Morris
Christa Papavasiliou
Michael Pavan
Shadi Salehian
Ryan Martin

Council Representative

Councillor Nisan

Staff Representative

Suzanne Gillies, Committee Clerk
905-335-7600 ext. 7862
suzanne.gillies@burlington.ca

Meeting Information

Agenda, Minutes and Meeting Dates

From January 2017 onward can be found on the City Meeting/Event Calendar.To access agendas, minutes for citizen advisory committees, follow the below instructions:

Visit burlington.ca/calendar
To find citizen advisory committee meetings, filter your search in the Search Criteria section.
Select "City Meetings" from the Calendar drop down menu.
Select "Citizen Advisory Committee" from the Category drop down menu.
You may choose to use the Start Date and End Date selections to refine your search.
To find a specific citizen committee meeting, type the name of the committee in the Keyword(s) textbox.
Click Search to display the results.
Click on the title of a particular meeting to view details of that meeting.

If you wish to request documents in alternative format or with communication supports, contact the Clerks Department at 905-335-7600, ext. 7698.

Upcoming Events...

Virtual Sakura Festival

The City of Burlington invites you to celebrate spring virtually with the Japanese Cherry Blossom this year. Enjoy a time lapse video of the Cherry Blossom trees.

Due to limiting the spread of COVID-19, the area with our Cherry Blossom trees at Spencer Smith Park is closed to the public. The City of Burlington will be posting daily photos of the Cherry Blossom trees across our social media channels (www.facebook.com/cityburlington, www.twitter.com/cityburlington, and www.instagram.com/cityburlington), as well as this virtual Facebook event page.

Please check back for new photos, and performance videos. This year’s Sakura Festival commemorates Burlington’s 31-year twin-city friendship with Itabashi, Japan.

For more upcoming event information, please visit the city calendar.

Past Events...

Sakura Festival, May 5, 2018 celebrated the Japanese cherry blossom.

Photo Gallery: Sakura Festival 2018 will appear here on the public site.

Celebration of Art - May 1-31, 2018

Art from Fujimidai School and Sir Ernest MacMillan Public School

koia fish decorated room

Canada Netherlands Friendship Day, May 5, 2018

A Poem for Apeldoorn was written by Dan Murray, 2016 Burlington's Best Arts Person of the Year Award winner, and was presented to the citizens of Apeldoorn, the Netherlands on May 4, 2018.

Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK) receive donation from Japanese philanthropist, March 5, 2018

Japanese philanthropist Taroo Enomoto, from Burlington’s twin city, Itabashi, Japan, has donated C$1,022 to the Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK). Enomoto has donated close to C$40,000 to Burlington over the past 29 years, including donating rhododendrons to Paletta Lakefront Mansion. His generosity towards
Burlington began in 1989 with the twinning of Burlington and Itabashi. The twinning agreement was signed at Burlington City Hall by former Mayors Roly Bird and Keizo Kurihura on May 12, 1989. The relationship has developed since that time through regular citizen visits, official delegations and memorable anniversary celebrations. The bond has been strengthened through the Burlington Mundialization Committee and multiple exchanges. Burlington is one of Canada’s best and most livable cities, a place where people, nature and business thrive. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at burlington.ca/enews.

Quotes

Mayor Rick Goldring
“Mr. Enomoto’s generosity over the past 29 years will have a lasting effect for many years to come. ROCK is a great organization with quality programs for today’s children and youth. I want to thank Mr. Enomoto for his continued support and love for the City of Burlington.”

Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster, City Council’s representative on the Burlington’s Mundialization Committee
“Mundialization is, in part, declaring ones self a "world citizen" and being aware of global issues with a sense of shared rights and responsibility. Mr. Enomoto definitely fits that description with his compassion and concern for the wellbeing of the youth in our city.”

Joanna Matthews, Vice-President of Strategic Development, ROCK
“ROCK is grateful to Mr. Enomoto and the Burlington Mundialization Committee for this donation in support of local children, youth and families. Not only are one in five youth battling mental health issues, we also know that families often have trouble meeting basic needs such as food, clothing and housing or accessing support systems and recreational activities. ROCK will use this generous donation for the Our Community Cares (OCC) program in Burlington.”

Model United Nations 101 Conference, Oct. 24, 2017

More than 200 students attended this conference with special guest Dr. Alistair D. Edgar, executive director of the Academic Council on the United Nations System. Students had the opportunity to develop their debating skills, global awareness, knowledge and problem-solving skills.

UN Committee Dr. Alistair Edgar un class

Our Twin Cities send Canada 150 Greetings

The City of Burlington's Twin Cities are celebrating and recognizing Canada 150 from across the world.

The City of Apeldoorn, The Netherlands created the video below for us to watch and a letter from Mayor Berends.

They city of Itabashi, Japan has also sent us a letter from Mayor Takeshi Sakamoto.

Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet and Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven visit to Burlington

Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and her husband, Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven, payed an official visit to Canada (May 13 to May 16, 2017).

Princess Margriet and Professor van Vollenhoven spoke to Burlington elementary students involved in the Mundialization committee's Apeldoorn art and letter exchange program. Also, the high school students from Burlington that connect with Apeldoorn students and exchange visits to learn more about each other's culture and history.

The princess and her husband live in Burlington's twin city of Apeldoorn in the Netherlands.

The official visit to Canada is to deepen and foster the valuable friendship between Canada and the Netherlands and to remember the anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands by the Canadian Armed Forces during Second World War.

See more details about the visit here.

Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK) receive donation from Japanese philanthropist, March 7, 2017

Cheque presentation ROCK

Japanese philanthropist Taroo Enomoto, from Burlington's twin city, Itabashi, Japan, has donated 450,000 yen (about C$4,753) to the Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK).

Enomoto, who is from Itabashi, Japan, has donated close to C$40,000 to Burlington over the past 28 years, including donating rhododendrons to Paletta Lakefront Mansion. His generosity towards Burlington began in 1989 with the twinning of Burlington and Itabashi, Japan. The bond has been strengthened through the city's Mundialization Committee and multiple exchanges.

Mayor Rick Goldring, Councillor Blair Lancaster and members of the Mundialization Committee l presented a cheque to ROCK at ROCKs Our Community Cares (OCC) Centre.

"Mr. Enomoto's many contributions can be seen and enjoyed throughout our city. His support of child and youth organizations like ROCK, invests in our future," said Mayor Rick Goldring. "We are thankful for his ongoing investment in the mental health and wellbeing of our youth."

Ward 6 Councillor Blair Lancaster, City Council's representative on the Burlington's Mundialization Committee, "I am very pleased that the Burlington Mundialization Committee is recommending that the funds once again be given to the Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK), in keeping with Mr. Enomoto's wishes that the money benefit children/youth in Burlington."

Joanna Matthews, vice-president of strategic development, ROCK, "One in five young people is battling a mental health issue. They deserve access to mental health services and supports that respond quickly and comprehensively to their needs, as close to home as possible. As a lead agency for child and youth mental health in our community, ROCK will use this generous donation to ensure immediate access to children and youth in need through our Burlington walk-in counselling clinic. We are grateful to Burlington's Mundialization Committee and to Mr. Enomoto for this support."