Burlington Mundialization Committee Meeting

Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Hybrid Meeting - Virtual and Room 305

1.
Members Present:

 

Hassan Raza (Chair), Rob Lyng, Marybeth Curtin, Chris vanDooren, Anne Koopman, Diana Tello

2.
Member Regrets:

 

Allan Dykstra, Mary-Anne Campanelli, Paula Hearn

3.
Others Present:

 

Councillor Rory Nisan, Lisa Palermo (Clerk)

4.
Declarations of Interest:

 

None

5.
Approval of Minutes:

 

6.
Delegation(s):

 

7.
Regular Items:

 

7.1
Apeldoorn Sub-Committee update

 

Anne provided an update:

  • 200 tulip bulbs were planted by students in the friendship garden at Nelson High school on October 24th. Students participated in the planting with committee and sub-committee members Allan Dykstra, Miles Ross, and Charles Minken, and community members Jack and Teresa van der Laan and Ed Dorr.
  • Trinity Christian and Tom Thompson schools have partnered with Heuvellaan school in Apeldoorn for a future exchange.  A second school in Apeldoorn is still to be confirmed.
  • Students from Trinity Christian and Brant Hills schools will be creating art for display at the annual Canada Netherlands Friendship Day (CNFD) event  The art will be created around the theme "what does freedom mean to me?"  This theme aligns with the 2025 commemoration activities regarding the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian soldiers.
  • The Apeldoorn sub-committee is actively coordinating a travel exchange for Burlington citizens to visit Apeldoorn from April 27 to May 10, 2025 to participate in 20th twinning celebrations and 80th liberation commemoration activities.  To date, 6 residents are confirmed.  Burlington residents are encouraged to reach out for information at [email protected].
  • The sub-committee is also actively planning for the 2025 CNFD event.  More details to come.

7.2
United Nation Sub-Committee update

 

Chris provided an update:

  • the Model UN event held October 24th at Burlington City Hall was a success. Committee members heard that the venue was a big draw for the 120 students that attended.  City Hall is a unique location for this event.   A limit was placed on attendance due to venue capacity - there were approx. 400 students that expressed interest. The livestreamed message from the Honourable Karina Gould and a recorded message from Mayor Meed Ward were great additions to the program. The flag raising in the morning was also a good addition to the program with representation from a number of city council members and local MP and MPP offices.
  • the sub-committee will have a debrief later this month and bring the information back to the next Mundialization committee meeting. 

7.3
Itabashi Sub-Committee update

 

Marybeth provided an update:

  • the official Burlington delegation trip to Itabashi, Japan to celebrate the 35th twinning anniversary of twinning was a great success.
  • pen pal letters have been distributed to the students at MM Robinson.  Two new classes will participate in the pen pal and art exchanges in 2025.
  • the sub-committee will reach out to the Japan Foundation to arrange another Japanese movie night in 2025, and continues to plan for other Japanese cultural events to present throughout the year.
  • sub-committee members requested an update to the Itabashi webpage.  Marybeth will review the content and provide updated content as required.
  • Members enquired about the gifts received from Itabashi over the years?  Will the city consider displaying these art pieces for the public to enjoy?  City staff will meet to consider locations to display the twinning related items and report back.
  • A citizen delegation was not arranged during the 35th anniversary celebrations due to timing.  Members suggest initiating a citizen exchange early in the year of travel when celebrating the 40th anniversary in 2029.

8.
Other Business:

 

8.1
Marketing materials

 
  • the committee continues to discuss ways they can create more awareness about the Mundialization Committee and the city's twinning relationships within the community.
  • committee members suggested creating a standardized post card or other handout that the committee can use at any event they attend.  Consideration should be given to incorporating a QR code that brings individuals to the Mundialization webpages.
  • Committee members would like to take more advantage of social media channels to promote Mundialization activities - including student exchanges and information about the different twinning related items that can be found across the city.

MOTION:  Historically the committee has noted the Mundialization reserve fund has trended upwards particularly due to lack of spending over the 3-4 year period around Covid.  This unspent money has accumulated to the extent that it is beyond anticipated long-term requirements.  Therefore, the Mundialization Committee supports the release of $80,000 from the projected 2024 ending reserves of the Mundialization Reserve fund back to the City for its budgetary needs.

Carried.

8.2
Annual reports, work plans and budgets

 

Sub-committee members will draft their 2025 work plans and budgets for consideration by the full Mundialization Committee in January 2025.

9.
Adjournment:

 

Chair adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.

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