Burlington gears up to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2023
Published September 6, 2022 at 11:30 am
The City of Burlington is turning 150 years old in 2023 and council is beginning to look at the ways to celebrate.
Incorporated as a village in 1873, Burlington’s sesquicentennial can take lessons from celebrating Canada’s 150th in 2017. According to a staff report, the city can consider a wide range of activities from no/low cost which can be incorporated into existing workplans to more elaborate initiatives requiring an investment from council.
In the report, which is being submitted to the Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services committee meeting next week, staff reviewed many of the tactics used to celebrate Canada 150 that were already built into existing operating budgets and workplans.
Some of those items include:
- Theming the Canada Day Event to focus on Burlington 150 with talent, vendors, and recognition
- Encouraging 150 Love My Neighbourhood events
- Encouraging community and businesses to celebrate in their own way
- Focusing the Community Investment Grants towards celebrating Burlington 150 or the history of Burlington
- Adding a celebratory logo on staff uniforms
- Planting flowerbeds with the City’s colours
- Encouraging local culture boards to theme, educate and present artist, and displays about Burlington’s geography, history, people, culture, innovations
- Adding historical fun facts such as great Burlingtonians to digital displays
- Planting 150 trees
- Seeking community volunteers to support and engage in Burlington 150 celebrations
Most of the activities included in the report are no- or low-cost and can be incorporated into the existing city budget, but more grandiose plans can be considered.
Should committee want to see a more elaborate celebration or Burlington 150 program, staff would need time to review potential opportunities and provide a cost estimate of options for Council’s consideration during the 2023 budget approval process.