Guest blog by Mark McGuire and Chris Ritsma, Co-Chairs of the Mayor’s Millennial Advisory Committee. Originally posted on Mayor Rick Goldring’s Blog on 22 August 2016.
Mayor Rick Goldring’s Millennial Advisory Committee met on Thursday, Aug. 11th at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre. The committee met to discuss responsible growth and housing options for millennials, part of the city’s 25 year strategic plan to Grow Bold. The group was given a presentation of the Planning and Building Department’s goals by Director Mary Lou Tanner and Senior Planner Leah Smith.
Mary Lou Tanner and Leah Smith touched on goals and strategies for millennials’ housing options. Other goals included the vision for creating a livable and enjoyable community throughout Burlington, and pushing for increased density in strategic areas, such as around mobility hubs and the downtown core. Examples of this planned growth can already be seen with the developments around the GO Train stations and cycling infrastructure, and Tall Building Design Guidelines are in the works.
After the discussion about the building plan for Burlington, Emily Beijes, Recreation Programmer for Canada 150 with the City of Burlington, asked the committee for their feedback through a roundtable discussion on a draft proposal focused on fostering opportunities for young people as part of the Ontario 150 Partnership Grant program.
After the presentation and discussion, the Millennial Advisory Committee broke out into three fluid subgroups for (1) community engagement, (2) political advisory, and (3) communications. The groups committed to drafting action plans and a scope. In turn, each group will have members filling ad-hoc or permanent issue-related subcommittees to deal with topics affecting millennials in Burlington. Immediate action goals focused on what is to be achieved within the next 60-days, including attending young professional focused events.
The committee discussed engagement practices to foster millennial influence in the community through events, traditional media, and social media. Present engagement can be followed on Twitter by searching #burlennials. The committee also discussed growing bold in Burlington, touching on affordable housing.
The next meeting is on Thursday, Sept. 8 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Appleby Ice Centre in the Multipurpose Room in Arena A. The September meeting will focus on Millennial Futures presented by Federal Member of Parliament Karina Gould. Guests are asked to RSVP to mayor@burlington.ca.
Read the July update by committee’s co-chairs, Chris Ritsma and Mark McGuire. You can keep up to date on news from the Mayor’s Millennial Advisory Committee by visiting Burlington.ca/millennials.
The Mayor’s Millennial Advisory Committee was created to develop initiatives and provide input on how to keep and attract residents aged 18 to 35 in Burlington. It will also concentrate on creating opportunities to engage millennials with their community.
All meetings are open to the public, especially millennial-aged residents. Meeting attendees are encouraged to bike, bus or walk.
For more information about the committee, contact the Office of the Mayor at mayor@burlington.ca.
Mark McGuire 