By Sydney Alexandra, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
On Saturday, September 14, 2024, the City of Burlington is hosting its fourth annual “Food for Feedback” event — a unique opportunity for residents to voice their opinions on important municipal issues and upcoming projects that will shape the city’s future. This year, Food for Feedback will feature 38 booths covering a wide range of topics, providing a one-stop shop for city engagement in an accessible and exciting format.
“The goal of Food for Feedback is to engage audiences who don’t normally interact with the city. Everyone is welcome,” says Michelle Dwyer, Manager of Engagement and Volunteers. “We strive to continuously improve and grow this event each year.”
Diverse booth topics and timely issues
The 38 booths at this year’s event will address a variety of topics including budget, transit, development projects, and community services. Dwyer notes that these booths are selected to align with current city priorities and ensure that residents can voice their opinions on pressing issues affecting Burlington. There are no overarching themes, but certain topics, such as the city budget and public transit, consistently spark high levels of interest among attendees.
In addition to ongoing concerns, the booths will also tackle new and timely issues. The city is also committed to ensuring that the booths reflect the needs of Burlington’s diverse communities, and this year, the city has worked with the Halton Multicultural Council to reach underrepresented groups. Promotional posters for the event were translated into several languages to encourage participation from all segments of the community.
Inclusive engagement for all residents
Food for Feedback is designed to be inclusive, offering a space for people of all backgrounds to share their perspectives.
“We’ve made sure to offer a wide array of food options, including halal, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free, to appeal to as many people as possible,” Dwyer explains.
The event, which is located along a public transit route, is accessible to a wide range of attendees. Halton Multicultural Council’s involvement has been key in encouraging attendance from communities that are often underrepresented in civic engagement.
Growing participation and meaningful conversation
Since its launch, Food for Feedback has grown steadily, with last year’s attendance peaking at 2,000 participants. The city hopes to surpass that number this year.
“The great thing is that people are having genuine conversations with staff, visiting multiple booths, and not only giving feedback but also learning about city projects and services,” Dwyer notes.
Local organizations also play an important role in the event, partnering with the city to engage the community. While Food for Feedback is just one part of the public engagement process, the input gathered from the event is used alongside online surveys, in-person events, and other methods to ensure that all feedback is considered.
Impact of feedback on city policies
Feedback collected from past Food for Feedbackevents has directly influenced city policies and initiatives. The city carefully tracks and analyzes the feedback to identify trends and areas of improvement. Dwyer emphasizes that resident input plays a critical role in shaping future city projects.
“We evaluate the success of the event through the number of booths, participants, and the level of engagement,” Dwyer says. The City of Burlington remains committed to growing this event and ensuring that it continues to be a valuable platform for community engagement.
The Food for Feedback event takes place on Sat., Sept. 14, 2024, from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell (2299 New St.). Burlington residents are encouraged to bring family and friends to join the conversation and contribute their ideas for making Burlington an even better place to live, work, and play.
