By Pepper Parr
August 13th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The City of Burlington invites residents to its fifth annual Food for Feedback event on Saturday, Sept. 13, from noon to 4 p.m. at Central Park (2299 New St.).
This popular community event offers residents a unique opportunity to enjoy a free meal in exchange for sharing their thoughts on City projects and initiatives, while supplies last. It’s a chance to have your voice heard while connecting with neighbours, Council and City staff in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.
Line-ups at Food Truck Stattions
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, members of Council, City staff, and representatives from advisory committees will be on site to listen, engage, and gather valuable feedback that helps shape the future of Burlington.
Council members set up their tents at the 2022 event. Not all participated.
The free drop-in event features 35 booths and five food trucks. There is a reserved area called the ‘Kidz Zone’ where children can have fun while family members provide feedback on City projects.
Feedback collected at the event is used to help the City continue to improve programs, services and initiatives.
If it rains, the event will move to the Burlington Seniors’ Centre.
I have one question for the Mayor and Councillor Kearns, who laud the event in their comments below:
Will you name one thing that you learned as a result of the surveys you did that was used to change a city program? Just the one thing.
This year, the City will be seeking feedback and sharing information on topics including:
- Burlington Transit
-
The different colours meant absolutely nothing. If you thought the focus on Heritage issues changed – do let us know. The programs put on during the recent Heritage were not only disappointing but dismal as well.
Vision 2050
- Culture Plan
- New Zoning Bylaw Project
- 2026 Budget
- Recreation
- Parks
- Official Plan, and more!
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward: “Food for Feedback is a great way for the City and residents to connect directly in a relaxed and welcoming setting, and to share your perspectives on the City’s priorities. Your input matters—it helps guide the direction of our city, from how we build and move around, to property development, budgeting, and how we engage with the community. I’ll have a booth at the event and invite you to stop by and share what’s on your mind. Come out, grab a bite, and let’s talk about Burlington’s future—together.”
Lisa Kearns, Deputy Mayor of Community Engagement & Partnerships: “Your voice is vital to shaping Burlington’s future. The Food for Feedback event is a cornerstone of our commitment to community engagement, providing a platform for residents to share insights that directly influence our planning, investments, and connections. Join us in this meaningful initiative—your feedback drives impactful results and strengthens our shared vision for the community.”
My views on “Food for Feedback” are well known. I certainly have not been shy
about expressing them. In short, it is:
– needlessly expensive
– actually useless as a feedback mechanism – there is no way of
collecting/aggregating the opinions received or ensuring that those giving them
are actually from Burlington and/or ‘of voting age’. It is a game of pin the dots on
the dummies!
– the feedback options are carefully scripted to support/reflect COB priorities or
directions. Have never seen a “none of the above” or “Do Nothing” option.
– there is no possible feedback mechanism except anecdotal which certainly can
not be trusted.
– Councilors are there for brief periods and are not always approachable. When
the photo op is over, they quickly exit.
When this event was held in 2022, there were objections that it gave incumbents
an unfair exposure to the public and should not be held. The City Manager, Tim
Commisso, admitted that it was a mistake and should not have been held. But
that was 2 Grand PooBahs ago and, dollars to Kelly’s hockey puck muffins, it will
be held next year – as close to October as they can comfortably make it.
But Food for Feedback does have value if looked at through another lens. It is a glaringly wonderful example of the real value of feedback to a Mayor and a Council that simply do not listen. I have not seen one seriouscomment yet that applauds the event. Most, if not all, reflect much the sameopinion as mine. Yet, Food for Feedback is not only held every year, it getsbigger and more brash with each ‘feedback season’. Perhaps this year theMavor will have two personalized tents or drones that write her name across theskies in trails of orange and blue. In the face of criticism, this Council closes itshearing portals and doubles down – and it conscripts key City staff in theprocess. As an example of totally entitled arrogance, Food for Feedback is worthremembering on the last Monday in October 2026. That will be the “feedback” that truly matters.
Is there any vetting to ensure it is local community members giving feedback?
Editor’s note: The registration is done at Swim Ontario. They report to the clubs on what the registration is for each club.
No vetting is done for either the Feedback or the Food that I am aware of, but there definitely should be prior to anyone giving feedback or anyone getting free food from the mutiple Food Trucks.
A simple Drivers Licence would show proof of a Burlington address.
There should definitely be a lot more scrutiny at this event as it is a very costly and it is all paid for by Burlington Property Tax Payers.
Hopefully our mayor and or council members see these comments and initiate a vetting protocol prior to this even taking place in September 2025.
Swim Ontario has many functions. Registering “eaters” at the Food for Feedback event is not one of them.
Waste of time and taxpayer dollars.
“Food for Feedback — free lunch for you, free photo op for them, and the same old nothing for Burlington.”
The food at last year’s event was terrific. Put up a few dots and get a free lunch. What a great way to spend the afternoon. I did have trouble figuring out what the city was asking. If you look closely at the picture above, “What is most important to you for preserving Burlington’s heritage?” The dot categories are “Architecture”, “Famous Person”, “Age”, “Landmark”, and “Good condition”. Apart from architecture and perhaps landmarks, I have no idea what the other categories mean, but I’m sure the feedback was useful to our council and staff. I’m looking forward to another free lunch this year.