By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Summer patios are once again taking centre stage in Burlington, but behind the city’s newest dining initiative is a broader effort to redefine how Burlington promotes itself as a destination for visitors, businesses, and entrepreneurs.
Discover Burlington, the newly launched brand representing Burlington’s unified economic development and tourism organization, has introduced its free digital Patio Pass, a program running from June 17 to Sept. 7 that encourages residents and visitors to explore 30 local restaurants through more than 75 special offers.
“Discover Burlington is all about bringing people to the city, supporting local businesses, and making Burlington an even better place to spend time with friends and family, and we think this is a fantastic way to get the summer started,” said Claire Green, director of destination development and marketing at Discover Burlington.
Green said the Patio Pass is designed to make exploring Burlington’s restaurant scene more accessible.
“Burlington has an incredible mix of restaurants, patios, and neighbourhoods to explore, and this pass makes it easy to get out, try something new, and make the most of the season,” she said.
The Patio Pass arrives as Discover Burlington completes the final phase of the 2025 amalgamation of Tourism Burlington and Burlington Economic Development. The merger brings tourism, investment attraction, business support, and destination marketing together under one organization with the goal of strengthening Burlington’s economic competitiveness.
For Green, the rebrand is about presenting Burlington in a way that reflects both its character and its potential.
“I am incredibly proud of where this process has taken us. We have been very intentional in developing this brand to ensure it authentically reflects our community, engaging with residents, businesses, and partners to understand what makes Burlington such a special place,” she said. “Our goal was to capture the experiences, qualities, and opportunities that make Burlington unique, from our waterfront and natural spaces to our welcoming community and balanced lifestyle.”
While promoting restaurants and tourism is one piece of Discover Burlington’s mandate, the organization’s role in supporting diverse entrepreneurs is also drawing attention.
Following Burlington and Oakville’s proclamations recognizing Black Business Month in August 2025, an initiative championed by Halton Black Voices, Burlington Local-News.ca asked how Discover Burlington’s existing relationship with the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) would translate into opportunities for Black-owned businesses locally.
Green said previous collaborations with the chamber were developed through Innovation Factory and Burlington’s TechPlace Innovation Centre.
“In terms of our partnership with the CBCC in the past, it has been in collaboration with Innovation Factory through our Innovation Centre, TechPlace, and included co-hosting events such as pitch competitions for members of the CBCC,” Green said. “While we do not have any events scheduled currently, we remain open to working with the CBCC on future initiatives that would support Black-owned businesses in our region.”
For Khadija Hamidu, founder of Melanin Market, national partnerships are an encouraging beginning, but lasting impact starts much closer to home.
“The fact that Discover Burlington is working with the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce is a first step in the right direction, but because it is a national coverage of Black entrepreneurs, it’s super important for Discover Burlington to also look at more local, ground-up businesses, and local organizations that are supporting local Black businesses,” Hamidu said.
She believes organizations already working directly with Burlington’s Black business community can help create stronger relationships and more meaningful economic growth.
“Local is really the key here,” she said. “Being familiar with businesses that are in your own backyard is a better way to support those businesses, but also to create better networking opportunities and really see the change and impact in your own local community.”
Hamidu added that organizations such as Melanin Market, which work directly with Black-owned small businesses throughout the region, can offer valuable insight into the needs of local entrepreneurs.
“It’s great that they’re doing national coverage, but focusing on more internal community impact work that is happening in our own backyards is key as well,” she said.
As Discover Burlington begins shaping the city’s identity under its new banner, initiatives such as the Patio Pass showcase Burlington’s hospitality sector while also opening conversations about who benefits from economic development and how future partnerships can better reflect the city’s growing diversity.
For residents, the Patio Pass offers an invitation to enjoy Burlington’s restaurant scene throughout the summer. For the city itself, the initiative also represents an opportunity to ensure that as Burlington grows, its approach to supporting local business grows with it.
