By Scot Armstrong
May 21st, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Despite Burlington only being, according to a 2021 census, Canada’s 28th biggest city, many top-class Canuck sporting heroes from several sporting codes hail from within its borders. Although the City hasn’t any professional sports teams, it is a sporting hub for many aspiring young athletes seeking to break into the big leagues.
As a result of Burlington’s sporting tradition of nurturing potential future stars and supporting its home-grown talent as they establish their careers within pro sporting circles is unquestioned. This support includes wagering on these sports stars and their teams through the best sports betting sites Canada offers.
With Ontario being a pathfinder in Canada’s online gambling landscape, Burlington natives were some of the first to experience the country’s now-thriving regulated sports betting industry, which allows for wagering in a variety of betting markets, with online payments quick and easy to carry out through a wide-ranging selection of traditional methods.
As Betting Expert Neil Roarty of BestSportsBetting Canada explains: “The most popular traditional accepted payment methods at Canadian bookmakers are Interac, Instadebit, iDebit, Visa and MasterCard. Those options have always been available at grey market betting sites, and they are also available at the locally regulated new betting sites that have launched in Ontario over the past year. You should be able to use them for instant deposits and quick withdrawals, with no fees charged.”
As a result, Burlington residents can use these quick and efficient payment methods to back their favorite sporting sons, daughters, and the teams they represent without any fuss. Let’s look at three Burlingtonites who have done the city proud in their chosen professional sporting codes after breaking through as youngsters born and bred in the City.
The drive to lead can almost be felt in this thrilling photograph.
We’ll start with Mark Oldershaw, who has distinguished himself as one of Canada’s top sprint canoeists. Born into a family with deep roots in the sport, Oldershaw is a third-generation Canadian Olympic canoeist and the fifth family member to participate in an Olympic Games.
Mark became the first member of his family to win an Olympic medal when he claimed bronze in the C-1 1000m event at the 2012 London Games, adding two further third places at the Duisburg World Championships the following year. With these medals, Mark Oldershaw has earned a position as one of Burlington’s most celebrated athletes.
Melanie Booth debuted for the Canadian Women’s National Soccer team at 17 years old and progressed to earn 65 caps for her country. In 2007, she represented Canada at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in China before earning selection to the Olympic squad that won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Games.
Domestically, Melanie represented the Ottawa Fury, the Toronto Inferno, and Sky Blue FC, among others. However, it was her defensive prowess and leadership within the Canadian National team that stood out and has formed the inspiration for aspiring soccer players in Burlington and beyond.
Despite his underdeveloped frame as a teenager, Josh Anderson displayed the tenacity to earn selection to the junior ice hockey side, the London Knights’ roster in 2011/12. The following year, he was drafted by the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, signing a three-year contract. Despite incessant injuries, Anderson rallied to help the Blue Jackets to its first Stanley Cup second-round appearance in franchise history in 2018/19.
Josh Anderson – watching the puck.
Following a 2020 trade to the Montreal Canadiens, the now-191 cm right winger earned the moniker “Powerhouse” due to his ability to perform in “big” games. Still on the Canadiens’ roster, Josh has represented the franchise 268 times while also earning ten Canadian international caps. Through all of his trials and tribulations on the ice, Josh Anderson has tasted success and served as a role model for Burlington youth to succeed despite any perceived limitations.
Many other Burlington natives are instantly familiar in Canadian professional sporting circles, drawing support from the City’s fans and sports bettors alike. Burlington’s tradition as a breeding ground for some of Canada’s best looks set to continue long into the country’s sporting future.
