April 16, 2026: Connection is a vital and important part of community belonging, especially for seniors.
Charitable experts and community members gathered recently at the Tansley Woods branch for the second of three Vital Community Conversations being held by Burlington Community Foundation (BCF), in collaboration with Burlington Public Library.
Participants heard about findings from BCF’s 2025 Vital Signs research report, presented by FirstOntario Credit Union, around health and wellness and community belonging including that:
• 70% of residents know where they can find community services or resources
• A little more than half – 51% – participate in community activities
• When it came to health and wellness, nearly three-quarters of residents provided good or excellent ratings
• Retirees and those born outside Canada were especially positive about health and wellness in Burlington and were more likely to provide positive ratings for most health and wellness related elements.
• Men, residents aged 55+, and those with a university education also tended to be more positive about specific health and wellness elements.
Community members heard directly from, and about, charitable agencies providing specific programming targeting seniors. Participants were also able to break into small groups and discuss what community belonging meant to them.
Community organizations that were highlighted:
• YMCA Hamilton Burlington Brantford: The Social Prescription Program at the Ron Edwards Family YMCA allows seniors to be prescribed access to the YMCA. This can be through a doctor, self-referral, or a community partner, and they will get a 12-week membership to the YMCA. The program addresses social isolation, a risk factor comparable to smoking and physical inactivity.
Genevieve Hladysh, Vice-President of Health, Fitness & Aquatics also shared that the YMCA will be launching a Gait Speed Screening program, as gait speed is emerging as a key indicator of future health outcomes. These screenings will be free and use radar-based technology.
• Acclaim Health: Acclaim supports about 35,000 seniors in Halton Region, with a focus on aging well at home. One of the supports it provides is dementia care. There has been a sharp increase in demand for dementia programs and 79% of dementia clubs have waitlists. Art and music programs are added through grant funding. Creative programs support function and participation, improve quality of life and help people live well with dementia.
• Cycling Without Age – Burlington/Hamilton: A volunteer organization founded in 2012 that has a guiding philosophy of: “The right to wind in your hair.” The Burlington/Hamilton chapter has been active for three years, operating five days per week. They provide free trishaw rides to seniors and individuals with mobility challenges and are currently looking to acquire a trishaw wheelchair to expand Burlington accessibility.
• Burlington Public Library (BPL) – Digital Accessibility: The digital divide has been identified as a growing issue for seniors. There are new technology-accessibility programs, including Tech Cafés at BPL and community hubs and volunteer support for device troubleshooting. The library is also launching a new pilot project to create “accidental collisions” to foster connection among community members.
• Thrive Counselling: Provides free mental health support for seniors and offers low-cost therapy options.
• Burlington Symphony Orchestra: The organization has an initiative to record two live concerts and make the recordings available to all seniors’ residences in Burlington that wish to participate.
All of these organizations have been supported by grant funding from the Burlington Community Foundation through its annual Community Granting Program.
Participants at the conversation shared about the discussion they had in small groups about what community belonging meant to them. Some key actions were saying hello to neighbours, making eye contact and building informal connections.
Takeaway actions to strengthen community:
• Encourage friendliness and small daily interactions
• “Smile and say hello” as a simple action
• Creating neighbourhood lists (names of people and pets) as a resource for community members
• Promoting hospitality and relationships over fear
• Participating in initiatives like GenWell’s Talk to a Stranger Week
• Practice everyday neighbourliness (e.g., greetings, conversations)
• Connect with agencies/charities to build relationships and learn more
The Burlington Community Foundation will be hosting its final 2026 Vital Community Conversation on Thursday, Oct.8, from 6:30-8:30 pm at the New Appleby branch. Registration is now open at www.BurlingtonFoundation.org or call 905-639-0774 ext. 1.
Helpful Links
• Nextdoor: A website to connect to people in your neighbourhood
• BCF’s 2025 Vital Signs Report, presented by FirstOntario Credit Union
• Vital Community Conversations Series information and registration for October 8
• Sign up for the Burlington Community Foundation newsletter to stay informed about conversation events and more
• Sign up for the Burlington Public Library eNewsleter to receive information about new and updated library services and upcoming events.
• Sign up for Councillor Shawna Stolte’s newsletter to stay connect about community updates and events