To be able to effectively love, engage and pray for our city it helps to know some about it. So, with that in mind here are a few things to know about Burlington, Ontario (according to the internet!):
1. The Burlington slogan is “City of Opportunity.” And the motto is “Stand By.” 
2. Burlington’s official colours are blue, green and yellow and we have a city flag (with a horse, a ship, a bee hive and an apple).
3. In 1792, John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, named the western end of Lake Ontario “Burlington Bay.” And the land there became commonly called Burlington as a result.
4. In 1798 Captain Joseph Brant received a grant from the Crown for 3,450 acres of what is now Burlington. Joseph Brant or Thayendanegea as he was also named (March 1743 – November 24, 1807) was a Mohawk military and political leader. In his later years he made the Burlington area his home. Joseph Brant Hospital, is named for him and built on land he owned.
5. Alton Village, where St. George’s is located, was built in north Burlington in 2006. It was named after Thomas Alton who was born in the Appleby region of England in 1795 and immigrated to Nelson Township (modern day Burlington) in 1819. He and his family had a farm where Alton Village now stands. You can read more about Thomas Alton here.
6. In 1874, Wellington Square and Port Nelson were incorporated into the Village of Burlington. Most of downtown Burlington was the village of Wellington Square.
7. Burlington became officially a town in 1914 and a city on January 1, 1974.
8. In the 2011 census, Burlington’s population was 175,779.
9. Currently (2014-2018) the mayor of Burlington is Rick Goldring. And the city councilors are:
- Ward 1: Rick Craven
- Ward 2: Marianne Meed Ward
- Ward 3: John Taylor
- Ward 4: Jack Dennison
- Ward 5: Paul Sharman
- Ward 6: Blair Lancaster
10. There are currently 67 schools in Burlington – 29 public and 14 Roman Catholic elementary schools, 8 public and 3 Catholic high schools and 13 private schools.
11. In the 2011 Census 59% of Burlington had a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. And 87% of Burlington had a high school diploma.
12. According to the 2011 National Household Survey 70% of Burlington residents identified themselves as Christian – 29% Catholic, 11% Anglican. Of the remaining 30% – 26% identified as having no religious affiliation, 1.3% Muslim, 0.7% Hindu, 0.4% Sikh, 0.4% Buddist, 0.4% Jewish, and 0.3% other.
So, there is a little about Burlington, Ontario. Remember to pray for your community, seek its good and love your neighbour as we share the good news of Christ Jesus with the world.
Very interesting,, thank you for sharing.
Praying for the city and the neighbourhood we live in.