Environmental Programs

The Yellow Fish Road^TM program is a national environmental education initiative launched by Trout Unlimited Canada in 1991. The program is a fun, participatory way to teach the importance of clean water and to demonstrate how decisions made by one person can make a difference to a whole community.

Download the Yellow Fish Road Program Guide (PDF)

Participation Guidelines

Choose a Burlington neighbourhood along with possible dates for painting and contact the City of Burlington at 905-335-7600, ext. 7580 or 7931 or by email at yellowfishroad@burlington.ca. The city has up to five painting kits available to community or school groups that wish to participate in the program.

Complete these forms:

• Volunteer agreement (PDF)
• City of Burlington waiver (PDF)
• Kit booking form (PDF)

Please submit forms by email, mail, fax or in person at City Hall:

City Hall
426 Brant St.,
Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6
Attention: Capital Works Department - Sustainability staff

yellowfishroad@burlington.ca
Fax: 905-681-9342

Why is the Yellow Fish Road Program Important?

In most municipalities, water and hazardous materials such as pesticides, soap, motor oil and fertilizers entering storm drains do not get filtered at a wastewater treatment plant before entering our streams and rivers. This can create an unhealthy environment for aquatic animals, such as fish. Household hazardous wastes can also affect water quality and result in unsafe drinking water in our homes.

Unlike the drains in our sinks and toilets, storm water drains directly in the local water body without any pre-treatment.

Why use Yellow Fish?

Fish, and in particular rainbow trout, are remarkable indicator species. Rainbow trout can act as the "canaries in the coal mine." Once trout are unable to frequent an area, it is an indicator that the water in that area is unsafe for human use.

Program Components

• Learning. Participants find out about their local water supply then explore how hazardous wastes can find their way into this water source.
• Action. Participants make a difference by painting yellow fish near storm drains to serve as a reminder that any materials entering the storm drain affect our water sources. Participants also distribute fish shaped brochures on doors in the neighbourhood to educate the community about their actions and the rationale behind the Yellow Fish Road^TM program.

The Halton Forest Festival runs yearly in the month of October.

During the educational days, the festival welcomes students in grades six and seven from the Halton Catholic District School Board, the Halton District School Board, homeschoolers and Halton's private elementary schools. The festival aims to engage students through fun programming with links to the current curriculum to create a memorable and educational field trip, fostering young forest stewards. The outdoor activities relate to at least one of six educational themes:

1. Forest Resources
2. Forest Ecosystems and Interactions
3. Climate Change
4. Biodiversity and Species at Risk
5. Stewardship and Conservation
6. Urban Forestry

During the Public Day, all members of the community are welcome to attend and bring their families.

Learn more about the Halton Forest Festival.

The Stream of Dreams program is delivered to local schools by Conservation Halton staff. Make a difference by creating public art with your group for our community. Learn about the importance of water, threats to it and actions we can take in our communities to protect it. Participants can then paint their fish in a relaxed, inspiring workshop. Following the workshop, the fish will be installed on a fence to be enjoyed for 10 years or more.

Learn more about the Stream of Dreams program.

The annual community Clean-up Week and Green-up Day events are organized by BurlingtonGreen. Groups and individuals can organize or take part in clean-ups across the community throughout the week around Earth Day.

As part of the Earth Day celebrations, a tree planting event is also organized, usually in May. And, since 2019, a follow-up Tree Loving Care event also takes place in the Fall.

For more information on any of these events, please visit the BurlingtonGreen website. 

The city supports groups that organize local clean-ups with neighbours and/or community groups on city property. Here are some tips to help you in organizing your clean-up event:

• Select an area you wish to clean up, such as a city park or ravine.
• Pick a date and time.
• Post the information on the community calendar if it is open to the public.
• The city can provide a limited number of gloves and garbage and recycling bags for the clean-up, and pick-up the garbage collected by volunteers (on city property only).
• Contact the Roads, Parks and Forestry Department at 905-333-6166 to arrange for pick-up of supplies at 3330 Harvester Rd, as well as a location to place collected garbage for pick-up.