2025: A Year in Review

Posted on by TakeActionBurlington

Happy New Year Burlington! In keeping with our annual tradition, we will be starting the new year with a summary of our achievements from last year.

In 2025, we published 29 posts to Take Action Burlington and had another record year for views and visitors. We also celebrated Take Action Burlington’s tenth birthday!       

Climate Mitigation

At the beginning of 2025, we announced that the City’s Climate Action Plan is getting an update  and held 22 community engagement sessions to collect your feedback on the proposed priorities for the updated plan. The new Burlington Climate Plan will be going to Council for approval in March 2026.

Cover page of the Burlington Climate Plan – coming soon!

Throughout 2025, the following were promoted on the Better Homes Burlington website:

Image of a house with the thermal image on top of the roof.
A house showing various levels of heat loss. Image courtesy of Enbridge Gas.

The City launched the Centennial Trail E-Scooter Pilot in July 2025. Through this two-year pilot, residents can rent a SCOOTY e-scooter and ride along the Centennial Trail between Brant Street, the Elgin Promenade and Burloak Drive, providing an alternative mod of transportation with connections to public transit. In December, Council approved a bylaw to allow electric kick scooters to be operated on the Centennial Trail between Brant Street and Burloak Drive. Construction also began on the City’s second protected bike lanes on Prospect Street, which are set to be completed this year.

Look out for SCOOTY parking zones across the Centennial Trail.

The City continued to invest in transit operations, including free Burlington Transit fares for adults 65 years and older, and children 12 and under. In 2025, Burlington Transit piloted free transit for youth 13-19 in July and August. Starting Sept. 1, 2025, youth riders using a PRESTO card on Burlington Transit before 6 p.m. on weekdays pay for a maximum of 20 rides a month. After that, every ride is free. Youth travel on weekday evenings after 6 p.m. and weekends continue to be free. Subsidized passes are also available for low-income riders.

Climate Adaptation

In July, City Council approved the 2025 Asset Management Plan which included ‘green’ infrastructure assets such as stormwater management ponds, rain gardens, and creek infrastructure. These green assets help protect our natural environment by mimicking the natural hydrologic cycle and providing additional stormwater control, filtration, and infiltration. Inventoried trees and woodlots were also included in the plan.

Cover page for the Asset Management Plan 2025.

In 2025, a consultant was awarded a contract to develop Burlington’s first comprehensive Stormwater Master Plan, due in 2027. Four stormwater/flood studies were started, and five creek rehabilitation projects were constructed. The City also started the Flood Hazard Mitigation and Infrastructure Improvements study in the Aldershot and Appleby MTSAs using the Housing Accelerator Fund to support future growth in these areas.

Significant Tree Maintenance Rebate Pilot promotion.

In March 2025, the Significant Tree Maintenance Rebate Pilot program launched to help residents maintain established trees, that are 75 cm or larger in diameter, on their property. The pilot program subsidizes residents up to 50 percent of tree-related maintenance costs to a maximum of $1,000 per tree.

Emergencies can occur in any season, and being prepared helps ensure your safety, as well as the safety of your loved ones and neighbours.

A second Specialist, Community Emergency Management staff position was added in 2025 to support the development of hazard specific emergency planning. Here on Take Action Burlington we celebrated Emergency Preparedness Week and promoted flood prevention:   

Partner Events and Initiatives

Conservation Halton hosted their popular in-person and online Healthy Neighboursheds workshops in the spring and fall to help residents design and create low-impact gardens to help reduce potential flooding. Conservation Halton also hosted an invasive species pull at Hidden Valley Park to support native plant growth and the connectivity of ecological corridors.

Group photo from previous Conversation Halton invasive species event – Photo courtesy of Conservation Halton

We celebrated many transportation events including  Winter Walk Day and Winter Commute Month in February, Bike Month in June, and IWALK Month and Smart Commute Month in September. In October, we also celebrated Circular Economy Month and Waste Reduction Week.

Smart Commute Month is an annual campaign about sustainable ways to get around. Image courtesy of Smart Commute Halton Municipalities.

BurlingtonGreen hosted a variety of events this year, including beach cleanups, educational webinars and workshops, and a zero waste drop off. BurlingtonGreen continued their 200,000 Eco Actions campaign where they track, report, and celebrate local actions that protect and care for our environment which can then inspire others to also take action. The goal is to track 200,000 eco actions by 2030. Use the online form by either checking off actions you are taking from a list or add your own actions. When you’re done, don’t forget to hit the submit button!

BurlingtonGreen is a local environmental organization that hosts a variety of community events throughout the year.

The Bay Area Climate Change Council (BACCC) hosted their annual Bay Area Climate Change Forum on October 15 at the Art Gallery of Burlington. The Forum included a keynote address, a panel discussion with energy experts, and an engaging breakout session on mapping energy needs in the Bay area, identifying opportunities, challenges, and barriers to a clean energy transition. 

The Bay Area Climate Forum is an annual event hosted by BACCC.

The City of Burlington was nominated as a finalist for the Burlington Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Business Excellence Awards in the Environmental Impact Award category, and was one of eight Canadian cities to be awarded an A rating for climate leadership reporting from the Carbon Disclosure Project for 2024.

Please Stay in Touch

Want to learn more about our annual climate mitigation and adaptation updates?

Let’s all work together to Take Action Burlington by reducing our carbon footprint, and preparing for our warmer, wetter and wilder weather. Collectively, we can make a difference!

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