50 years of Accounting for our Community - SB Partners

Being accountable means owning your actions and thinking about how those actions affect the people around you. At SB Partners, we believe that when you make choices that positively impact others, you are accounting for your community.

For our 50^th anniversary, we decided to shine the spotlight on some of the groups and individuals who have accounted for Burlington during that time. Download a compilation of stories to read and share.

How will you account for your community?

Share your pledge on social media, include #SBPartnersTurns50 #beaccountablewithSB, and make sure to tag @sbpartners so that we can share your stories across the community.

Art Through Space and Time

By the 1970’s, there were six guilds operating in Burlington including the Burlington Potters’ Guild, the Latow Photographers Guild, the Burlington Handweavers & Spinners Guild, the Burlington Guild of Sculptors & Woodcarvers, the Burlington Fine Arts Association, and the Burlington Rug Hooking Guild. The arts have always been a way of bringing people together to create, develop, and perfect their crafts together

Drury Lane Theatre

Volunteers and local theatre enthusiasts at Drury Lane Theatre have been generating laughter and joy on stage during live musical theatre performances. Their combined efforts showcase how community performance promotes a sense of connection among audiences through shared experiences, emotional contagion, non-verbal communication, social bonding, and collective energy.

All the World’s a Stage

Fred was “always around” the local theatre, helping to facilitate local groups, providing advice for younger performers, acting, directing, and caring about his community. He would eventually serve as a director of the Burlington Little Theatre and vice-chairman of the Hamilton and Region Arts Council.

A Score for the Community

Established in 1974, the Burlington Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is a volunteer-run, community-based organization that entertains and engages with the community at countless events throughout the year. In addition to performances, the members run outreach events where members of the public can try their hand at different instruments.

Striking a Chord with Gratitude

Andrea Battista has been a community volunteer for over 40 years. As a musician and a music teacher, much of her work is focused on supporting students through recitals, festivals, and scholarship opportunities. She is currently working on The Gratitude Project, pairing poetry and music that embody communal life experiences such as family, love, and nature.

Supporting the Arts

The Arts and Culture Council of Burlington has had a huge impact on the city. Whether facilitating their own programming through interactive workshops or partnering with the City on Culture Days, they are always focused on supporting local artists and increasing
awareness of the importance of arts and culture for a vibrant city.

The Streets are Alive with the Sound of Music!

The Sound of Music Festival has been running in Burlington since 1980. From parades and concerts to dancing in the street, this festival brings the Burlington community together and offers a celebration we can all be proud of.

Raising Money with Ribs

Ribfest has engaged loyal volunteers for over 28 years, bringing together community members from across the city. Last year, the event boasted 400 volunteers contributing a total of 4800 hours. The event also brings thousands of people to Burlington’s downtown, supporting local tourism and hospitality hot spots.

Burlington Helping Burlington

Burlington’s “CareMongering” Facebook Page started during the pandemic, and quickly became known as Burlington Together. It was a place to share information about how they were coping, as well as offering practical support. In September 2023, they took some of the positivity off screen and on to the streets of Burlington, with Burlington Helping Burlington, where the philosophy of local community helping each other came to life.

A Fund for Today and Tomorrow

The Burlington Foundation has been engaging residents and businesses to be part of the solution for over 25 years. Through generosity planning and endowment building, the Foundation is not just thinking about supporting our community today, they are planning for the future.

A Philanthropic Business Approach

Don and his staff take intentional steps to build community relationships, and find ways to make meaningful contributions to services that make a difference in the lives of their neighbours. From supporting agencies who focus and help people with
disabilities and organizations working to end food security
issues to the arts and local trail systems – Smith’s holds themselves accountable for helping build our community.

Paying it Forward

Chase’s Gift began in October 2014, when a local family whose son had battled cancer wanted to find a way to support others. Community initiatives like this demonstrate how compassion and connection are part of accounting for our community. The impact this group of people have had on local children and their families has been tremendous.

Engage in Belonging

For over 10 years, the Lowville Festival has been inspired by a deep desire for community. The festival uses the arts as a way to gather and engage rural neighbours, and to foster a sense of belonging and is built on Lowville hospitality and generosity. For participants and observers the festival offers an opportunity to share what you love with others.

Community Dinning

Dinner Night Out with North BurLINKton helps individuals and families stretch their budgets and offers a chance to get to know one another over a good meal. In the words of one of the lead volunteers, “We want Burlington to feel cozier! We want to know each other’s names. And, when we see each other in the grocery store, we want to be able to stop each other and see how the other is doing.”

A Green Thumbs Up

In 1919, a small group of twenty-five residents formed a group that was intent on “beautifying vacant street corners, placing flower beds at entrances to our town and generally assisting our citizens to produce plants, seeds, and trees, as well as instructing them on practical horticulture.”

Sharing the Highs and the Lows

Karen Phelps is a connector of people, organizations, and ideas. She gives back to the community by taking on everyday battles and holding “the powers that be” accountable for their actions. Her pride and joy is the Aldershot Press, which keeps the community connected through the city’s only remaining print newspaper!

Be Passionate and Get Involved

Ancilla Ho-Young has been an active member of the community from the day she arrived in Canada. She knows what she is passionate about and doesn’t hesitate to act on an issue that’s dear to her heart. She believes that when we volunteer, we have a significant impact and make a lasting difference.

Use Your Voice

When a child is living with a disability, their parents are often described as their best advocates. Dianna Bower took that role even further and stepped up to be a voice for all children with disabilities in the Halton District School Board.

Bound for the Hall of Fame

What started out as love of hockey and a childhood pastime turned Dean into an unwitting historian. With a goal of inspiring the next generation, he set out to highlight the growing impact of players of colour in hockey.

From Isolation to Belonging

What started with a Badminton Night to raise awareness around issues of integration and isolation, and brought together like-minded individuals, has developed into Redleaf Cultural Integration. This organization provides opportunities and support for people in the Burlington community who are struggling with the challenges of adapting to a new culture.

Parent Involvement in Education

Amy Collard’s enthusiasm for diversity and inclusion is hard to miss. As a longtime resident of Burlington, a member of the School Board, and an avid volunteer, she creates spaces where all students belong, learn, and thrive!.

A Record for the Future

The publication’s purpose was to share the oral and cultural history of the community. Brass Tacks set out to represent the true diversity of the community and the experiences of the people – a region that has been described as rural, urban, suburban, industrial, quaint, and modern – all at once!

Healing Through Community Awareness

Kai Ruhl is a Burlington resident and the heart and soul behind Supporting Survivors in Schools. As a survivor of gender-based violence, who found that activism helped them heal from their trauma, they decided to bring awareness of gender-based violence into schools, and the community, through education and awareness.

Speaking Up for the Environment

Gloria Reid visited and lived in various communities throughout her career. Being able to see so many different societies and understanding how they worked and addressed challenges, sparked an interest to look more closely at her own community. In 2013, Gloria began pursuing her passion for the environment as a volunteer with Burlington Green.

Getting from A to B

Doug Brown is tireless on the issue of transit. He is an active listener, and when he speaks, people listen. In any conversation Doug has wise, well-researched thoughts that shine a light on community issues. His commitment to gathering others around him and making space for their voices to be heard is a large part of the secret of Burlington for Accessible Sustainable Transit (BFAST).

Making Homes from Waste

What began as a father-son recycling project blossomed into a community-wide endeavor to benefit their local hospital while learning about the importance of reusing and community values. According to Tim Withers, “All it takes is a little idea and one person with passion to push it forward. When you start doing a good thing, you just can’t stop.”

Protecting the Escarpment

Together, PERL and CORE have worked tirelessly to protect our Niagara Escarpment. They are speaking up for the ecosystems that cannot fight for themselves. Their tenacious advocacy work has seen them defeat corporations and garner support from all levels of government.

It all Started with a Pickle Jar

In 1970, amid growing public concern and anxiety about the environment, Robbie McGregor and a group of local women started a movement that was the beginning of the first sustainable recycling program in Canada. The group found that by reconnecting individuals with nature they could see a more positive future for our planet.

Bring It – Fix It - For Free!

The Burlington Repair Café is one of 3,100 Repair Café’s around the world. At the café, volunteers help residents fix small household items that are broken or damaged, allowing them to remain in use and keeping them out of landfill.

Nourishing the Community

Mary Gowan has been a familiar face at the Burlington Food Bank for over 14 years. She is a firm believer in the judgement free space they offer, reminding us that people come to the food bank under many circumstances and need understanding and support to make ends meet.

Advocacy Through Protection

Protecting the rural community requires advocacy. Led by Vince Sowa, the Burlington Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee reviews policies, gets involved in land use planning, and advocates for the interests of rural communities. Their commitment to protecting the diversity of the City’s geography and our rural assets is commendable.

Urban Farmers Unite

At Bunchberry Connections voluntary urban farmers work together to contribute to the common good. The farm connects people and organizations from all over Burlington. Whether they’re helping schools grow seedlings or participate in garden events, asking local grocery stores to make donations, or giving corporate groups the chance to volunteer, they are developing partnerships today that will support the community in the future.

Local Farm Products

The Burlington Centre Lions Farmers Market has been providing a community gathering space and access point to local food and other products such as flowers, and baked goods for the past 66 years. The market is supported by the Burlington Lions Club, who are celebrating 99 years of service.

Putting Ideas into Action

John is a gentleman who loves to get things started. He loves new ideas and challenges. He is a natural organizer and “the guy” at meetings with all the facts. He has made a number of significant contributions throughout his political career, and has continued to be a community champion throughout his retirement.

From Teen Tour Band to Local Politics

Raised in Burlington, Andréa Grebenc has been an active member of the community through initiatives such as the Teen Tour Band, The Sound of Music Festival, and advocating for education as a parent and Trustee with the HDSB. Every initiative reminds Andréa about what matters to new neighbours and what an amazing community she lives in.

Burlington’s Longest Serving Mayor

Roly Bird (1931-2004) was Burlington’s longest serving mayor and was in office from 1979 to 1991. He was so popular that worthy opponent, Walter Mulkewich, vowed he would not run for mayor as long as Bird was in office – True to his word, Mulkewich did not seek the job until Bird retired!

A Champion of Public Service

Walter Mulkewich (1940-2022) was involved with his community for much of his life. He was a history and geography teacher at Oakville Trafalgar High School, ran for the NDP, and then for Burlington City Council. Walter was a forward thinker, and, when he won Ward 1 in 1976, he was known for being able to change his colleagues’ minds on key issues, namely on improving awareness and access to mental health treatment and support.

A Brisk Wind of Change

In fall 2009, retired Halton School Board Superintendent, John Boich, and other concerned citizens, felt there was a need – and an opportunity – to lead an initiative that gave the residents of Burlington a closer connection to the decision-making process at City Hall.

Adovcating for Barrier Free Communities

From advocating for accessibility and democratic participation in decision-making, to working towards greater transparency, justice, and accountability within our systems, or finding ways to fill our food banks, Anne and Dave Marsden are glowing examples of
what it means to account for one’s community.

Giving Our Past a Place in the Present

Since 1899, the Burlington Historical Society (BHS) has been serving the community by making history accessible and relevant for today while cultivating interest in local history for future generations. Between the central repository for Burlington’s history at the Archives, speaking engagements, outreach efforts in community, and a monthly newsletter (the Gazette), the Society continues to engage residents in big ways.

Friends of Freeman Station

Transportation has long been at the heart of connecting communities. Freeman Station was established as a hub to connect the developing areas around Burlington with major cities such as Toronto, Chicago, and New York. Over the years, many of our ancestors rode the railway for business or leisure, and even soldiers to start their expeditions to the front lines. The Friends of Freeman station have made it their mission to preserve this piece of local history.

A Local “Restorian”

An exploration of old photos with a friend’s father, grew into a city-wide social history project. David has always had a strong interest in restoring old images and found a way to create narratives out of historical photos for everyone to enjoy and learn about their community.

Inclusivity in Sport

Chris Chandler developed an inclusive wheelchair basketball program that is supported by more than 100 volunteers. The Vipers provide children and youth across the Golden Horseshoe with and opportunity to play for fun or competitively, and ensure young people with disabilities are not treated as “different”, but as the athletes that they are.

Volunteers for the Win!

Committed to developing amateur youth hockey, the Burlington Lions Optimist Minor Hockey Association (BLOHMA) was formed in 1951 and remains one of the longest serving youth organizations in the City. Their recreation program is open to everyone and focuses on technical skills and developing the character of its participants fostering true sportsmanship.

Somersaulting Their Way Forward

What started as an after-school gymnastics club, 55 years ago, now trains over 3000 gymnasts at both recreational and competitive levels. The story of the Burlington Gymnastics Club is one of determination and commitment to a sport by a dedicated group of parents, volunteers, coaches, and staff.

All Round Advocate for Sports

Mary Nichol is a shining example of what can be achieved when you bring your passion to the community. Mary truly believes in the power of sports for youth development and the building of strong communities. Her contribution to sport in Burlington has been a clear demonstration of commitment and passion.

Get in touch with us

Do you have a question for SB Partners? Need help to understand your business financials or value? We’re here to help with all of your accounting needs, please get in touch today.

Email us at help@sbpartners.ca or give us a call at 905-632-5978 or toll-free at 1-866-823-9990.

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