Burlington

Burlington (Canada 2011 Census population 175,779), is a city located in the Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment. Economically, Burlington is strategically located near the geographic center of the Golden Horseshoe, a densely populated and industrialized region home to over 8 million people.

 

Some of the city's attractions include Canada's Largest Ribfest, Sound of Music Festival, Art Gallery of Burlington, and Spencer Smith Park, all located near the city's municipal offices in the downtown core. Additionally, the city attracts hikers, birders, and nature lovers due to the Royal Botanical Gardens located on the border with Hamilton, as well as its proximity to a part of the Niagara Escarpment in the north end of the city that includes the Iroquoian section of the Bruce Trail.

 

Burlington is home to the Royal Botanical Gardens, which has the world's largest lilac collection. Ontario's botanical garden and National Historic Site of Canada features over 2,700 acres (11 km2) of gardens and nature sanctuaries, including four outdoor display gardens, the Mediterranean Garden under glass, three on-site restaurants, the Gardens' Gift Shop, and festivals. There are 115 parks and 580 ha of parkland within the city. Lasalle Park located in Aldershot is owned by the city of Hamilton but is leased by Burlington, which also assumes responsibility for maintenance. On the shore of Lake Ontario, Spencer Smith Park is newly renovated with an observatory, outdoor pond, water jet play area, and restaurant.

 

"Royal Canadian Naval Association Naval Memorial (1995)" by Andre Gauthier (sculptor) is a 6'4" high cast bronze statue of a WWII Canadian sailor in the position of attention saluting his lost shipmates, which was erected in Spencer Smith Park. The model for the statue was a local Sea Cadet wearing Mike Vencel's naval service uniform. On the black granite base, the names of the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Merchant Marine ships sunk during WWII are engraved. On the granite wall, the names of all Royal Canadian Navy ships and Canadian Merchant Marine vessels which saw service in WWII are engraved. A monument commemorating the Korean War was erected in the summer of 2014 to mark the 61st anniversary of the armistice to end the war.

 

Several conservation areas are minutes away and feature year-round activities. Mount Nemo Conservation Area is the only area in Burlington that is operated by Conservation Halton. Bronte Creek Provincial Park is located along the eastern boundary of the city and features a campground and recreational activities and events year-round.

 

Kerncliff Park, in an abandoned quarry on the boundary with Waterdown, is a naturalized area on the lip of the Niagara Escarpment. The Bruce Trail runs through the park, at many points running along the edge of the cliffs, providing a clear overlook of Burlington, the Burlington Skyway Bridge, Hamilton, and Oakville. On a clear day, one can see the CN Tower in Toronto, approximately 50 kilometers (31 mi) from the park.

 

The Art Gallery of Burlington shows various exhibits throughout the year from local to national and houses the largest collection of Canadian ceramics. The Gallery's exhibition spaces, which feature new exhibitions every eight to ten weeks, are fully accessible and are free of charge to visitors.

 

The Joseph Brant Museum and Ireland House are also popular attractions. Joseph Brant Museum has ongoing exhibits on the history of Burlington, the Eileen Collard Costume Collection, Captain Joseph Brant, and the visible storage gallery. Ireland House at Oakridge Farm is a history museum depicting family life from the 1850s to the 1920s.

 

Burlington offers four indoor and two outdoor pools, four splash pads, nine ice pads, four community centers, and nine golf courses. Some of the best hiking in the world can be done in the local sections of the Bruce Trail and the Niagara Escarpment, which is a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve, as well as along the Waterfront Trail that runs along the northern shore of Lake Ontario.

 

In 2008, the city council approved the construction of a Performing Arts Centre on Locust Street, in the downtown core. The Performing Arts Centre was designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects who also designed Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. This 750-seat facility opened in 2011.

 

Many annual free festivals take place in Spencer Smith Park, including Canada's Largest Ribfest and the Sound of Music Festival, Canada Day, Children's Festival, and Lakeside Festival of Lights. There is also the semi-annual prix fixe Taste of Burlington dining event.

 

The Brant Street Pier was officially opened during the Sound of Music Festival in Spencer Smith Park on Father's Day weekend, 2013. Thousands of people from Burlington and beyond flocked to the pier to enjoy the sunshine and breathtaking views. The Brant Street Pier is a signature destination and attraction in Spencer Smith Park at The Waterfront at Downtown Burlington. The pier extends 137 meters over Lake Ontario and provides breathtaking views of the lake and Burlington's shoreline.