Renewed concern for public safety has become a feature of our post-COVID environment. And despite the perception that anti-social public behaviour is on the rise in the Golden Horseshoe, studies continue to rank Burlington as one of the safest (and happiest) communities in Canada.
It’s no surprise to those of us who live here. Burlington’s well-deserved reputation as a safe, congenial, mid-size city was recently reaffirmed by two studies.
Here at the Molinaro Group, we think they’re worth noting in our monthly roundup of all things B-Town because, after all, good news is always welcome, right? We love to pump the tires of this place we call home in hopes of sharing it with others via our real estate properties.
Our beloved family patriarch, Domenic Molinaro (September 23, 1934 – May 29, 2023) chose this gorgeous setting for his life’s work for many reasons, including the friendly residents of our landmark developments along the waterfront. And given the loyalty of our buyers, it’s clear that many of our former customers are now buying again as we complete the transformative, landmark condos at Paradigm in Midtown.
Studies Tell the Tale of Burlington’s Success
The Canadian real estate website Point2Homes ranked Burlington 5th in the province on its “happiness scale,” based on key criteria including “economy and real estate, location and demographics, health and well-being, and community and environment.”
Burlington scored high in satisfaction based on our headline features of a great waterfront, access to housing, public amenities, and close-knit community. Enough said, it’s a wonderful part of the country, and the world, to choose to live in.
Safety is in the Numbers
Wait, there’s more! The latest data on the fascinating and well-regarded *Numbeo website confirmed something else that we already knew; that Burlington is a place where residents feel safe, day and night. Over 80% of those surveyed reported feeling safe “walking alone during daylight,” while over 70% reported feeling safe “walking alone during night.” The overall national rankings, including all crime-related categories, placed Burlington in the top 5 of Canada’s safest cities.
Despite all the recent social stressors, including the pandemic and high cost-of-living, Burlington residents appear to be as content and well-adjusted as any in the country. So, enjoy this great city with this sampling of what’s happening in August:
- Heritage Week, August 5-12. Burlington’s 150th anniversary celebration is a reminder that the founding of our city pre-dates Confederation! The official launch event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 5 at St. Luke’s Anglican Church (1382 Ontario St.). Join city officials, dignitaries and guests for a 90-minute ceremony followed by a walking tour of historic landmarks leading to the Gazebo in Spencer Smith Park. Register in-person or online for the tour portion by sending an email to: hb@burlington.ca. All events during the week are free but some may require registration. Click here to see the entire schedule.
- Butter Tart Festival, Burlington Centre: Saturday, August 12, 10:00 am -5:00 pm. Whether you prefer soft and gooey, super-runny, or, with or without raisins or nuts, you’ll find your favourite style at this indoor tart-a-palooza (our knees are buckling in anticipation). The all-Canadian baked treat has never been more popular nor as open to experimentation. Sample flavours from among dozens of vendors and take home your favourites – while quantities last, of course.
Burlington VegFest, Burloak Waterfront Park: August 19, 12:00 pm – 6:00pm. Curious about the vegan lifestyle? Meet a local volunteer group of fellow citizens dedicated to plant-based living and sustainable health practices. Learn more about how your lifestyle choices impact the environment and what changes you can make to help protect it. Click here for more info.
Summer Music Series at Ireland House Museum (2168 Guelph Line): August 11-18-25, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. For the price of a modest donation, come, spread your blanket on the grass, and listen to live music in a relaxed outdoor setting. Local musicians perform on the grounds of Oakridge Farm on Friday evenings throughout the month.
There’s always something happening at The Royal Botanical Gardens. August is a great time to walk the 27km of nature trails and see what’s in bloom; the short answer is everything at this time of the year. Here’s a sampling of what’s on the event schedule:
Music in the Garden, Hendrie Park: August 6-13-16-20-27, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm. A ticketed event featuring local and accomplished musicians. Bluesman Little Magic Sam performs on the 6th and The Western Swing Authority from Waterloo delivers authentic versions of fiddle-centric Bob Wills-style Americana on the 13th. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and/or blankets for ground seating.
Shakespeare in the Garden: August 25-27. A ticketed event featuring the Driftwood Theatre Group presentation of “Living with Shakespeare,” a tribute to the Bard of Avon.
Movie Night in Hendrie Park: August 25, 6:00 pm. A family-friendly event including a barbecue followed by an outdoor screening of the new Super Mario Bros. Movie. Guests are asked to provide their own seating. Click here for ticket info.
Burlington is a blast in August. Get out and enjoy it!
* Numbeo is the world’s largest cost of living database. Numbeo is also a crowd-sourced global database of quality of life data including housing indicators, perceived crime rates, healthcare quality, transport quality, and other statistics.