Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Feb. 6, 2023 – Does Burlington Offer Support in Accessing Recreation Programs?
Welcome to the Mayor’s Monday Mailbag, an initiative Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Mayor’s Office launched to share weekly answers to questions from the public we’ve received through our main email inbox at mayor@burlington.ca or the Mayor’s social media platforms.At the end of the month, we publish a roundup of those most pressing questions we’ve received in the weeks prior.
Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Feb. 6, 2023QUESTION:"Does the City of Burlington help families afford access to recreation programs and other activities?"ANSWER:The City of Burlington strives to remove as many obstacles as possible to help all families and children access recreation programs and other activities -- and three programs currently help do that.Recreation Fee AssistanceThe City offers financial assistance to individuals or families who qualify when registering for recreation programs. Non-profit community organizations can also apply for fee assistance on behalf of their participants. Fee assistance can be used for:
- Registered programs; and
- Passes and memberships.
To qualify for recreation fee assistance, you must:
- Be a resident of Burlington and provide proof of residency, such as a driver's license, Ontario photo ID card, utility bill, property tax bill or tenant agreement;
- Have a total net individual or combined family income below the low-income cut off (LICO) and provide current official documentation that shows combined family income, such as a Notice of Assessment T451 form for adult all family members, a Canada Child Tax Benefit Notice or proof of an Ontario Disability Support Program; or
- Be a refugee within your first year of settlement and provide proof of permanent residency and Burlington residency.
Ukrainian newcomers and visitors with federal documentation also are eligible to apply for Recreation Fee Assistance funding. Please call 905-335-7738, ext. 8501 to leave a voice mail, or email feeassistance@burlington.ca to start the application process.Non-profit community organizations focused on social services may also apply for fee assistance on behalf of their participants, for example a local women's shelter seeking swim passes for residents.To apply for recreation fee assistance, you can complete the online Fee Assistance Application Form. You will receive notification when your application has been processed.For more information or questions about applying for fee assistance, call us at 905-335-7738, ext. 8501 to leave a confidential voicemail message. You can also use a fee assistance calculator at burlington.ca/feeassistance to help determine your eligibility. The calculator will help determine whether a family is eligible to apply for the fee assistance.Community Access PassThe Burlington Public Library offers a Community Access Pass. With your library card, you can borrow passes to gain free general admission entry to various local and provincial tourism destinations, such as the Art Gallery of Burlington; Conservation Halton; Joseph Brant Museum; Ontario parks; and the Royal Botanical Gardens.Passes are available at all library branches and it is recommended to always call ahead to the participating organization before your visit to find out if any restrictions are currently in place related to the Community Access Pass.For more details, please visit bpl.on.ca/services/CAPActive5 PassBurlington residents in the Grade 5 and Grade 6 can take advantage of the City of Burlington's Active5 Pass to help them stay active throughout the year.The pass gives free access to drop-in recreation activities including:
- Open gym time;
- Skating; and
- Recreational Swimming.
You can visit any recreation customer service location with your child to get them an Active5 Pass. You'll be asked to complete a membership application and for proof of their grade, age and Burlington residency.For more details and information on applications and any exemptions, please visit burlington.ca/active5
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