Community Engagement on Burlington's Bateman Redevelopment Project Continues with Naming & Sponsorship Options
Burlington Council has approved staff to proceed with engaging with the community during Q3 2023 on naming options for the building at the former Robert Bateman High School site.For the approach to naming, staff recommended naming the facility through community engagement. For revenue generation linked to sponsorship, staff recommended reporting back to Council on the future of sponsorship by Q4 2025.
MY TAKE:The community engagement piece continues for the redevelopment of the former Robert Bateman High School site with the naming of the facility. It makes sense to decouple the two processes: the naming and sponsorship opportunities -- and I do not believe we'll have any issues generating interest from sponsors for this new facility. I look forward to the next upcoming phase where we’ll be engaging with the public on potential uses for the remaining community spaces on this site.
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To read the Council-approved motion, staff report and related supporting documents, please click/tap the links below:
- Staff report: RCC-14-23 Former Robert Bateman High School - Naming and Sponsorship Update
- Staff presentation: RCC-14-23 Former Robert Bateman High School - naming and sponsorship presentation
COUNCIL-APPROVED MOTION:Direct the Director of Recreation, Community and Culture and the Director of Corporate Communications and Engagement to engage the community during Q3 of 2023 on naming options as outlined in recreation, community and culture department report RCC-14-23 “Former Robert Bateman High School – Naming and Sponsorship Update” for the location formerly known as Robert Bateman High School; and
BACKGROUND:At its regular meeting on December 13, 2022, City Council approved the overall proposed Phase 1 facility design for the adaptive reuse of Robert Bateman High School (“Bateman”), and further directed staff to report back in Q2 2023 on, among other considerations, the “process for naming and branding inclusive of sponsorship opportunities of the new facility.”Staff looked to City policies, recent experiences, and experiences of neighbouring municipalities to inform conversations on the process and approach of naming and sponsorship of the facility.The City has a naming policy that provides guidance. Sections are excerpted below:Naming of Corporate Assets“There are several instances when the naming of a corporate assets may be considered:
- When honouring a person, persons, a family, person, or group;
- Educating residents about a historical figure or event;
- Providing recognition of donations, sponsorships, and joint ventures;
- Recognizing International, National, or Provincial events/ competitions/ participants
- Opening of a new corporate asset or re-opening of corporate assets following refurbishment;
- When circumstances dictate the renaming of an existing asset.”
“Preference will be given to names that:
- Give a sense of place, continuity, and belonging reflecting the geographic location, community, neighbourhood, or street where the corporate asset is located and/or:
- Reflects those who have or are advancing anti-racism and equity;
- Reflects cultural, ethnic, racial and gender diversity by honouring historically under-represented groups such as women, Black and Indigenous communities, people of colour, LGBTQIA2S+, and other communities;
- Recognizes the historical significance of the area and/or;
- Reflects the unique characteristics of the site and/or;
- Reflects the type of service offered and/or;
- Is in keeping with a selected theme and/or;
- Honours a person, persons, a family, or group, living or deceased, who have made a significant contribution to the community.”