City hopes $50,000 will cover the cost of a name change and whatever it takes to create an Alton Terrace

By Pepper Parr

April 7th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

The city is prepared to put up as much as $50,000 to anyone who can Reimagine the Alton Terrace.

The design of the outside was dated before it was opened to the public. Public buildings in Burlington seldom have much in the way of good design – pedestrian at best.

The Haber legal people who put up a pretty penny for the naming rights appear that were to exist for 20 years.  They appear to have decided there was no longer enough in the way of real benefits to having their name attached to the locale and found a way to get out of the deal. The site is seen to need some freshening up  It has a dated look to it – the original design didn’t have that much going for it in the first place.

While the outside of the building that houses a high school, a library and a recreation centre doesn’t do much to catch the eye -inside the place works.  The recreation facilities are usually busy in the evening and on the weekends.  The high school should have had a swimming pool included – the school had portables the year it was opened.  The library is busy with children, young people, parents and seniors making excellent use of the space

The budget for the art is $50,000- application deadline is Friday May 15, 2026

The application has to be submitted electronically.

The call for Expression of Interest (EOI) sets out the steps to be taken:

To mark the renaming of the Alton Community Centre (3040 Tim Dobbie Dr., Burlington, ON), the City of Burlington invites professional artists and artist teams to envision an immersive public artwork that celebrates civic identity, collective memory, and community life. This commission seeks to reimagine the Centre not only as a physical destination, but as a living symbol of connection, creativity, and belonging within the Alton neighbourhood.

Inside the library, a group of women gather to knit and get caught up on what is happening in their lives.

Alton Terrace Reimagined presents a unique opportunity for artists to shape an urban space in transition. The City is seeking bold and imaginative proposals that weave together artistic expression and functional design, transforming the terrace into a welcoming and dynamic gathering place. Proposals should invite participation, spark curiosity, and foster meaningful connections across generations and cultures, while thoughtfully responding to the site’s histories and character.

A name change and some polish to the dated look of the facade.

This Call to Artists is open to artists working across a wide range of styles and mediums who are inspired to create work that reflects the spirit of Alton and contributes to a shared vision of a vibrant, inclusive public realm.

Conceptual drawings are not required at this time. Applicants are asked to submit a high-level proposal outlining their approach to the project. The selected artist will develop a detailed design and community engagement plan in consultation with staff and the selection panel.

Important! Please download and read the full Call to Artists document as this contains important project information.

Download the Call to Artist document (pdf):

Alton Terrace Reimagined EOI – FINAL

Applications must include the following:

1. Expression of Interest Statement:

A high-level statement outlining your interest in this project. Please include the following:

• Describe your artistic practice and why you are interested in this opportunity.
• Please outline any relevant experience or qualifications relating to community engagement or education.
• A high-level outline of your proposed approach to community engagement for this project.
• A high-level description of your proposed design (i.e., your preliminary thoughts on how you would approach the project and how this connects to your artistic practice).
• Please note, design sketches are not required. 

2. Biography: A short biography outlining the relevant interests, experiences and qualification of the artist(s).   250 words maximum.

3. Curriculum Vitae (Artist Resume): Outline recent qualifications and artistic activities. If applying as part of a team / artist collective, please submit one consolidated C.V. Four pages maximum.

4. Artwork Samples: Submit up to ten (10) images of your past artwork which best illustrates a related body of artwork to the proposal.

5. Image List: A numbered list that corresponds to the Artwork Samples. Please include the following: title, date, materials, dimensions, locations, commissioning agent or client and budget (if applicable).

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To use the online application, you will need to create a free account for the online application system Submittable. Please click on the ‘Click here to Submit’ button below to start your application.

Related news story.

Haber deal was originally for 20 years