By Noor Menhel and Hannah Menhel
The future of Burlington lies with the next generation of learning, growing and developing youth. The youth of today are who will determine the future of our roads, housing, greenspace, economy, and city. It is crucial for the betterment of what lies ahead that these youth’s voices are heard and their opinions taken into consideration. Through a survey shared amongst teenagers at Nelson High School, we were able to gather insight on these students’ perspectives regarding the future of Burlington.
Burlington, ranked the number one best mid-size city and the second lowest in crime rates throughout all of Canada, is one of the most sought-after places to reside. With many recreational opportunities, greenspace and the iconic downtown scenery, even the teenagers of Nelson High School appreciate these gifts.
Results from the survey showed that students commonly enjoyed the wide variety of recreational opportunities available to them across the city, ranging from sports like hockey, badminton and soccer to arts and cultural programs offered at the Art Gallery of Burlington. No matter the passion, Burlington can support and inspire anyone to pursue their dreams and hobbies. Creative engagement is critical, especially during difficult times such as this pandemic, where people found the time to follow dreams and hobbies and do their best to express themselves.
Additionally, the survey results confirmed that the teenagers of Nelson also value the large amounts of greenspace in Burlington. Yet another one of Burlington’s treasures are the immense amounts of greenery, parks, and clean, litter-free public space. Located all over the city, these parks are often taken for granted. These clean and green spaces provide a great natural environment and fresh air for all Burlington citizens, animals, and plants. Not only do these places showcase the amazing beauty of the nature around us, but they also provide great results for reducing stress and increasing happiness levels.
Furthermore, nothing can beat the amazing scenery of downtown Burlington. The teenagers of Nelson High School collectively agree that this is yet another important and iconic aspect to Burlington. Downtown Burlington provides a great experience for both tourists and citizens. The endless variety of restaurants, ice cream shops, and parks will never get old, it is a new experience each time. Without the tourist-attracting view of the lake and the great downtown businesses, Burlington would not be the same.
Change is a great tool that can bring many wonderful aspects to our city, if made properly. Many times, the best change is brought about through taking on existing issues or problems that cities may have. Although Burlington may seem perfect, we have learned, especially in the past few years within the pandemic, that there is always room for improvement. The most common issues brought up by the teenagers at Nelson High School were housing, public transportation, and cultural diversity.
According to several of the anonymous responses, housing prices in Burlington were “out of this world.” Even currently, the prices are so high that finding an affordable home with a Burlington citizen’s average salary of $93,588 per year is a struggle even for those who have been working most of their lives. Many teenagers are also predicting that the steady increase in the housing prices will continue to rise until purchasing any sort of home in Burlington will be nearly impossible.
Another housing issue brought up by teenagers is the increase of overpriced condos rather than single-detached homes. Despite the fact that condos and townhouses are considered efficient due to the number of families they house in a smaller space, many people find them inconvenient. One of the reasons condos and apartments are deemed inconvenient by many includes the high price of the condos and the high maintenance fees that come with renting or even owning a condo. Another major downside teenagers find when it comes to condos is the lack of privacy and small sizes for the amount they cost. When one purchases a house, they can expect to have their own laundry machines, workout spaces, etc. However, when it comes to condos and townhouses, many of those necessities are shared and the spaces themselves feel very crowded as you can almost always hear your neighbours, even if they are levels above/below you.
The other issue commonly brought up through the surveys was the lack of public transportation. Although it may seem as if Burlington has a lot already, public transportation is very limited in certain areas. By increasing the public transportation available to citizens of Burlington, not only will our city be even more environmentally-friendly, but it will also help the number of people who do not have access to their own transportation to get to places such as schools, libraries, and work.
Another major change suggested is an increase in the cultural diversity and education as a whole in Burlington. Slightly more than 93% of the total Burlington population is white. Due to the lack of diversity, many of the students at Nelson find that there is rarely any emphasis on the other cultures and religions found in other parts of Ontario, Canada, and the world. Students also find that not much is done in schools to promote other cultures to students. Through increasing Burlington’s diversity and educating students on the different cultures found all over the world, we hope to promote inclusiveness and awareness when it comes to cultural diversity.
Putting the futures of so many generations into the hands of teenagers may seem to be a terrifying concept at first. However, through the information gathered from this survey, it seems that our futures are in the hands of many open-minded and trustworthy future leaders who will strive to make Burlington a better place for us all.
Sources:
Townfolio. Burlington demographics. Url: https://townfolio.co/on/burlington/demographics (accessed April 27, 2022).
Burlington Neighbourhoods. Burlington is ranked as the #1 mid-size city in Canada…again! Url: https://burlingtonneighbourhoods.com/burlington-ranked-1-mid-size-city-canada/ (accessed April 27, 2022).
University of Minnesota. How does nature impact our wellbeing? Url: https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing (accessed April 27, 2022).
About Noor:
- Currently a student at Nelson High School.
- Enjoys writing about all sorts of topics that voice the opinions of youth.
- Interested in cars, movies, and martial arts.
About Hannah:
- Currently a student at Nelson High School.
- Enjoys writing about all kinds of topics that relate to how to make communities better and news that tell the stories of others.
- Interested in animals, reading/writing, TV shows/movies, and art & crafts.
