Burlington, Ontario facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Burlington
City (lower-tier)
City of Burlington
Brant Street in Downtown Burlington
Logo
Motto(s):  Stand By
Burlington Location in Southern Ontario
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Region	Halton
Established	1874
City status	1974
Area
• Total	185.66 km2 (71.68 sq mi)
Elevation	74 m (243 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	186,948 (Ranked 28th)
• Density	946.8/km2 (2,452/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Burlingtonian, Burlingtonite
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Forward sortation area	L7L to L7T
Area code(s)	905, 289, 365, and 742
Highways	Queen Elizabeth Way  Highway 403  Highway 407 Former Highway 2 Former Highway 5
Website	www.burlington.ca

Burlington is a city in Ontario, Canada. It's located in the Halton Region, right on the western side of Lake Ontario. Burlington is about halfway between Toronto and Niagara Falls, making it part of the larger Greater Toronto Area.

History of Burlington

The Brant Hotel in 1902, a famous resort in Burlington.

Before the 1800s, the land where Burlington now stands was home to the Mississauga First Nation. In 1792, John Graves Simcoe, the first governor of Upper Canada, named the area "Burlington Bay". He named it after a town in England called Bridlington.

The British bought this land from the Mississaugas in several agreements between 1792 and 1818. One important purchase was the Brant Tract, a large area of land given to Mohawk chief Joseph Brant. He received this land for his help during the American Revolutionary War. Joseph Brant and his family settled here around 1802. Many people see Joseph Brant as the founder of Burlington, and the city still celebrates Joseph Brant Day every August.

After the War of 1812, more settlers arrived. The land was very fertile, and farmers grew many crops. They shipped their produce from busy docks in villages like Port Nelson and Wellington Square. Lumber from the surrounding forests was also a big export. Later, farmers switched to growing fruits and vegetables, earning the area the nickname Garden of Canada.

In 1873, the villages of Wellington Square and Port Nelson joined to become the Village of Burlington. It became the Town of Burlington in 1914. As larger ships and railways became common, the small docks were no longer needed.

After the Second World War, Burlington grew very quickly. Cheap electricity and new highways like the Queen Elizabeth Way brought more industries and families to the city. In 1958, Burlington expanded by taking in nearby areas like Nelson Township and Aldershot. By 1967, the last large farm in the city area was replaced by the Burlington Centre mall.

By 1974, Burlington's population was over 100,000, and it officially became a city. It has continued to grow, becoming a vibrant place to live.

Burlington's Geography and Climate

Burlington is located at the southwestern end of Lake Ontario. It's just northeast of Hamilton and the Niagara Peninsula. The city covers about 187 square kilometers. The main urban area is south of Highway 407. The land to the north is mostly used for farming and conservation.

The city's landscape includes the Niagara Escarpment, Lake Ontario, and the flat land between them. The Niagara Escarpment is a long cliff that runs through the city. Burlington is no longer a major port, but people enjoy sailing for fun at LaSalle Park.

Burlington at night

Weather in Burlington

Burlington has a climate with warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. This is called a humid continental climate. Being close to Lake Ontario helps make the winters a bit milder.

The average temperature in July is about 22.5°C, and in January, it's around -4.4°C. The city gets about 763 mm of rain and 99 cm of snow each year.

Because of the lake and the shelter from the Niagara Escarpment, some plants and animals that usually live in warmer areas can be found here. For example, you might see paw-paw trees or rare bats. Some white cedar trees clinging to the Escarpment are over a thousand years old!

Hamilton Harbour, at the western end of Lake Ontario, is separated from the lake by a sandbar. A canal cuts through this sandbar, allowing ships to enter the harbour. The Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway and the Canal Lift Bridge cross over this canal.

People of Burlington

In 2021, Burlington had a population of 186,948 people. This was a small increase from its population in 2016. The city has a population density of about 946.8 people per square kilometer.

In 2016, about 22.6% of Burlington's population were under 19 years old. About 19.2% were seniors (age 65 and older). The average age in Burlington was 43.3 years old.

Religions in Burlington

According to the 2011 census, most Burlington residents (70%) identify as Christian. The largest group within this is Catholics. Other religions practiced include Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jewish. About 25% of the population reported having no religious affiliation.

Languages Spoken in Burlington

The most common language spoken at home in Burlington is English (78.7%). Other languages include French, Spanish, Polish, and Arabic. Most people in Burlington (99.1%) know English.

Ethnic Backgrounds

The 2016 census showed that 16% of Burlington's population belonged to a visible minority group.

The table lists the top 11 ethnic backgrounds reported in the 2016 census. People could report more than one background, so the percentages add up to more than 100%.

Burlington's Economy

Burlington has a strong and varied economy. This is because of its great location near major industries in Southern Ontario. It's also close to Hamilton and has good transportation links, including the Port of Hamilton. This mix of strengths has helped the city grow steadily.

No single type of job or employer controls Burlington's economy. The main job areas are food processing, packaging, electronics, and transportation. Other important areas include business services, chemicals, and environmental services.

Some of the biggest private employers are Fearmans Pork Inc, Cogeco Cable, and Evertz Microsystems. Large public employers include the City of Burlington and the local school boards.

Burlington Centre and Mapleview Centre are popular shopping malls. The city also hosts fun summer festivals like Canada's Largest Ribfest and the Burlington Sound of Music Festival, which bring many visitors.

Arts and Culture in Burlington

Music and Performance Groups

The Burlington Teen Tour Band has been active since 1947. It includes members aged 13 to 21. This marching band often performs in big international parades. They are known as "Canada's Musical Ambassadors" and have represented Canada worldwide. For example, they performed in the 2018 Rose Parade for the fifth time.

The Junior Redcoats are a younger version of the Teen Tour Band, for children aged 9 to 12.

The Burlington Concert Band (BCB) is the oldest band in Burlington, started in 1908. It's made up of local volunteers who play many different styles of music. The band's main goal is to raise money for local charities. Anyone who can play the music well can join without an audition.

The Burlington Symphony Orchestra, formed in 1973, is a community orchestra.

Fun Things to Do in Burlington

Spencer Smith Park on Burlington's waterfront

Burlington has 115 parks and over 580 hectares of parkland. Spencer Smith Park is a popular spot on the shore of Lake Ontario. It has a walking path, an observatory, a water play area, and a restaurant. The park also has the Burlington Rotary Centennial Pond, used for model boats and ice-skating. Many festivals happen here, like Ribfest and the Sound of Music Festival.

The Brant Street Pier opened in Spencer Smith Park in 2013. It's a great place to walk out over the lake.

"Royal Canadian Naval Association Naval Memorial" (1995) by André Gauthier, Spencer Smith Park

The Art Gallery of Burlington has both permanent and changing art exhibits.

The "Royal Canadian Naval Association Naval Memorial" is a bronze statue of a World War II Canadian sailor in Spencer Smith Park.

Royal Botanical Gardens

The Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington is the largest botanical garden in Canada. It's a National Historic Site with over 2,700 acres of gardens and nature areas. You can explore outdoor display gardens, a Mediterranean Garden under glass, and enjoy special festivals.

The Village Square

The Village Square in downtown Burlington has historic buildings, shops, and restaurants.

Mount Nemo Conservation Area and Bronte Creek Provincial Park offer outdoor activities. The local parts of the Bruce Trail and the Niagara Escarpment (a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve) have great hiking trails. Kerncliff Park, in a former quarry, also offers trails and views from the Escarpment.

The Joseph Brant Museum teaches about Burlington's history. Ireland House at Oakridge Farm shows what family life was like from the 1850s to the 1920s. The Freeman Railway Station, built in 1906, is now a history center.

Burlington has many sports facilities, including four indoor and two outdoor pools, splash pads, ice rinks, community centers, and golf courses. The Appleby Ice Centre has four ice pads used for skating and hockey all year.

The Burlington Performing Arts Centre is a large theater that opened in 2011.

Shopping Malls

Burlington Mall (Now Burlington Centre)

Burlington Centre is a two-story mall that opened in 1968. Mapleview Centre is another two-story mall that opened in 1990.

Sports in Burlington

Burlington doesn't have any professional sports teams, but it is home to several minor league teams.

Appleby Ice Centre has four ice rinks for sports.

International Games

Burlington, Ontario, started the Burlington International Games (B.I.G.) in 1969. The goal was to create a sports and culture exchange for young people. For many years, the games were held between Burlington, Ontario, and Burlington, Vermont in the United States. Later, athletes from other cities and countries like Japan and the Netherlands also joined. The games stopped in 2010.

City Services and Transportation

Getting Around Burlington

Major highways that pass through Burlington include:

• Road QEW
• Road 403
• Road 407ETR

Burlington Transit provides bus service throughout the city. The bus routes connect to three GO Train stations: Appleby, Burlington, and Aldershot.

Commuter rail service is offered by GO Transit at these stations. For longer trips, Via Rail also serves Aldershot station, which connects to Hamilton. Freight trains are operated by both Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific.

Burlington Airpark, in the north of the city, is used for general aviation. It does not have regular passenger flights.

Emergency Services

Halton Regional Police Services car

The Halton Regional Police Service handles law enforcement in Burlington.

The Burlington Fire Department provides fire and rescue services from eight fire stations. They have both full-time and volunteer firefighters.

Paramedic services are provided by Halton Region Paramedic Services.

Joseph Brant Hospital is located in downtown Burlington and provides medical care.

Education in Burlington

Burlington's public schools are part of the Halton District School Board. Catholic schools are part of the Halton Catholic District School Board. There are also French public and Catholic schools, and several private schools.

M. M. Robinson High School

Nelson High School

Elementary Schools

Burlington has 29 public elementary schools and 14 Roman Catholic elementary schools.

High Schools

There are six public high schools and three Catholic high schools in the city.

Public High Schools

• Aldershot School (opened 1964)
• Burlington Central High School (opened 1922)
• Frank J. Hayden Secondary School (opened 2013)
• Gary Allan High School Burlington Campus (for adult learners)
• M. M. Robinson High School (opened 1963)
• Nelson High School (opened 1957)

Catholic High Schools

• Assumption Secondary School (opened 1977)
• Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School (opened 2008)
• Notre Dame Secondary School (opened 1989)

Colleges and Universities

Mohawk College plans to expand its presence in Burlington. Currently, it offers training for healthcare support roles.

Media in Burlington

Online News

BurlingtonToday.com is an online news source for Burlington. It provides local news, weather, entertainment, sports, and business updates.

Print Publications

Historically, the Burlington Post was a local newspaper, but it is no longer printed.

Radio

Burlington is part of the Hamilton radio market. Two radio stations, FM 107.9 CJXY and FM 94.7 CHKX, are licensed to Burlington or Hamilton/Burlington. Listeners can also tune into stations from Toronto, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Buffalo, New York.

Television

Burlington mainly receives TV channels based in Toronto. However, YourTV operates from the Cogeco Cable Headquarters in Burlington. Yes TV also has studios in Burlington.

Famous People from Burlington

Many talented people have come from Burlington!

Artists and Writers

• Robert Bateman (born 1930), a famous painter.
• Nicole Dorsey, a film director and screenwriter.
• Sylvia McNicoll (born 1954), an author who writes many novels for children and young adults.

Musicians

• James Anthony (born 1955), a Hall of Fame Blues Guitarist.
• Finger Eleven – an alternative rock band.
• Sarah Harmer (born 1970), a singer and songwriter.
• Jordan Hastings (born 1982), the drummer for Alexisonfire.
• Melissa McClelland (born 1979), a singer and songwriter.
• Silverstein – a post-hardcore band.
• Spoons – a popular 1980s new wave band.
• Tebey (born 1983), a country music artist.
• Walk Off the Earth, an alternative rock band.

Athletes

• Josh Anderson (born 1994), an NHL player for the Montreal Canadiens.
• Steve Bauer (born 1959), an Olympic Silver Medalist in road cycling.
• Melanie Booth (born 1984), a soccer player for the Canadian team.
• Cory Conacher (born 1989), an NHL player.
• Angela Coughlan (1953–2009), an Olympic bronze medalist swimmer.
• Renata Fast (born 1994), a professional ice hockey player and Canadian Olympian.
• Tony Gabriel (born 1948), a retired CFL player and Hall of Famer.
• Frank Hayden, who developed the Special Olympics.
• Becky Kellar-Duke (born 1975), a hockey player and four-time Olympic medalist.
• Jesse Lumsden (born 1982), a former CFL player and Olympian in bobsleigh.
• Mark Oldershaw (born 1983), an Olympic bronze medalist in sprint canoeing.
• Dave Ridgway (born 1959), a CFL Hall of Fame placekicker.
• Melville Marks Robinson (1888–1974), the founder of the Commonwealth Games.
• Shane Wright (born 2004), an NHL and AHL player, and captain of Team Canada at the 2023 World Juniors.

TV, Film, and Stage Personalities

• Jillian Barberie (born 1966), an actress and television host.
• Jim Carrey (born 1962), a famous comedian and actor.
• Ryan Gosling (born 1980), a well-known actor.
• Torri Higginson (born 1969), an actress.
• Myles Erlick (born 1998), an actor and dancer.
• Katherine Barrell, (born 1990), an actress known for Wynonna Earp.

Sister Cities

Burlington has special relationships with other cities around the world, called twin cities or sister cities.

• Apeldoorn, Gelderland, Netherlands (since 2005)
  • Both cities have a park or garden named after each other. Burlington has Apeldoorn Park, and Apeldoorn has Burlington Garden.
• Itabashi, Japan (since 1989)
  • Itabashi Way, Itabashi Garden, and Itabashi Bridge in Burlington are named after this city. The bridge was a gift from Itabashi.

See also

In Spanish: Burlington (Ontario) para niños