City of Burlington Invites Residents to Shape Local Decisions Through Community Panel

By: Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Burlington Local-News.ca

The City of Burlington is inviting residents, business owners, and property owners to take a more active role in shaping local decisions through its Community Panel, an ongoing public engagement initiative designed to capture a wide range of perspectives on city projects and priorities.

Created in response to community feedback calling for more meaningful involvement in local decision-making, the Burlington Community Panel provides residents with a direct opportunity to share ideas, opinions, and lived experiences on issues that matter most to them. Panellists are invited to participate in engagement opportunities related to city initiatives and can choose the topics they are most interested in, ensuring participation is both relevant and manageable.

“Being part of meaningful public feedback is easy. Any Burlington resident over 14 years old, business owner, or property owner can apply to join the Community Panel,” City of Burlington’s communications team said in a statement. “Applications are open year-round at getinvolvedburlington.ca/communitypanel, where participants can select topics of interest and submit their application.” While past meeting minutes or notes are not shared publicly, each final report will be posted to Get Involved Burlington and is intended to outline how public feedback influenced project decisions.

Recent Community Panel engagements have included input on major city initiatives such as the Asset Management Plan, the Horizon 2050 Strategic Plan, the Ward Boundary Review, and the city’s annual budget. No subject-matter expertise is required to participate. Panel members are provided with background materials in advance of meetings, allowing them time to review information and feel confident contributing to discussions.

One of the key messages city staff want residents to know is that participation is designed to fit into real life. There is no fixed time commitment, no requirement to attend every engagement, and no limit to the number of panel members. Residents can participate when it suits their schedule and simply opt into topics that align with their interests. This flexible approach removes common barriers to civic engagement, making it easier for people to get involved.

The city’s Community Panel attempts to reflect the diversity of Burlington. According to the city’s communications team, outreach efforts are supported through collaboration with a range of community and advisory groups, including the Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee, Burlington Inclusivity Advisory Committee, Burlington Seniors’ Advisory Committee, the Burlington Youth Student Council, Indigenous groups, and the Halton Multicultural Council.

The city says it continues to explore ways to reach underrepresented voices and reduce barriers to participation, with the goal of ensuring everyone in Burlington has an opportunity to share their perspective. Inclusive participation, city staff note, is fundamental to local democracy and leads to better-informed decisions that more accurately reflect the community as a whole.

For those looking to make a difference close to home, the message from the city is simple: your voice matters, your time is respected, and getting involved has never been easier.