Finding a way to recognize those that truly serve the community - city hall wants your ideas.

By Pepper Parr

August 10th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

 

The City of Burlington has amazing residents that do incredible work to support the  community.

Through the years, the City has had a variety of programs designed to celebrate and recognize community champions. In 1965, a program called Civic Recognition was started and evolved most recently into Burlington’s Best, where individuals were nominated by the community and recognized in several categories. A volunteer committee assisted in evaluating the nominations and determining the recipient of the award in each category.

As the City continues to evolve, we are looking for your input about the best way to celebrate and recognize the significant contributions of those who do work to support our community.

The city administration is looking for community input on what this new initiative could look like.

Click HERE to get the survey. Share your thoughts and ideas. It will take approximately five minutes.

Having monitored and attended these events for years the Gazette would like to make the following suggestions.

Parents should not be allowed to nominate and have their children accepted as worthy of recognition, the person nominating cannot be related tto the nominee.

The event should be free.

There should be a lot of food available.

It should be held in a location where hundreds can show up

Don’t have members of council involved in the decision making process – let them approve the program and then get out of thee way – Oh – maybe a photo op if they insist (they will) and let it go at that.

Gordon Schottlander – D Day landing survivor who came to Canada at the end of the ward and has served his community ever since.

The closest event we have seen that got close to what can and should take place is the recent Jubilee awards that were handed out to 73 people.  The problem there was people asked others to nominate them and a lot of people that seem to “collect” awards were once again recognized.  At the Jubilee event there was a single standing ovation given to 104 year old Gordon Schottlander .

Everyone who stood knew what they were standing up for – it was a wonderful moment.

These events are important but they should not become stepping stones into a political life.

For those who do complete the survey – think about what can be done.

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1 comment to Finding a way to recognize those that truly serve the community – city hall wants your ideas.

  • Penny Hersh

    I have volunteered for many years and have always felt that volunteering should be anonymous. This is my personal opinion. I know that recognition for many is important.

    Behind every person that is recognized for the good work they have done there are a myriad of people involved to make it happen. Why then should only the one person who might be the face of the group have the recognition?

    When these people received their award did they take the opportunity to thank everyone involved or mention that they could not have done it without all the support they received?

    A true volunteer ( in my opinion) is one that receives no salary, and Burlington’s Best should recognize the groups or organization that work tirelessly, and give their time, to make Burlington a better place for the people of Burlington.