Notes from the City of Brantford Council meeting, which was held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Declaration of a Food Insecurity Emergency in the City of Brantford
City of Brantford Council unanimously endorsed a resolution to declare a food insecurity emergency across the municipality during its Committee of the Whole, Planning and Administration meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
To read all about the declaration and what was involved, please visit: https://www.brantbeacon.ca/city-council-considers-declares-food-insecurity-emergency/
During this past Tuesday’s regular council meeting, councillors gave its final approval to officially declare a food insecurity emergency in the City of Brantford.
Before the vote, councillors approved an amendment, which was moved by Councillor Rose Sicoli, to add the following to the resolution:
“That staff be directed to consult with community organizations in the development of a Community Action Plan, to be provided to City Council prior to the end of Q3, and that this plan include:
i. Input from community organizations regarding needed resources to address the local food insecurity crisis;
ii. Hosting a Stakeholder round table event meant to drive innovation and efficiencies within similar organizations in the community
iii. Opportunities for Brantford City Council to support and advocate for community organizations that are addressing this crisis”
Balmoral Drive Neighbourhood Traffic Safety Review
Having supported a variety of traffic improvements to the Balmoral Drive neighbourhood during its Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Council gave its official approval to move ahead with the changes during last Tuesday, Council meeting.
To learn more about what’s planned for the neighbourhood, please visit: https://www.brantbeacon.ca/city-council-endorses-balmoral-traffic-improvements/
World Autism Day
Council declared Wednesday, April 2, 2025 as World Autism Day.
Autism is a complex, lifelong development disability that can impact a person’s social skills, relationships, communication and self-regulation. It’s defined by a set of behaviours and is a “spectrum condition” that affects everyone differently and to varying degrees.
Autism typically appears during early childhood, and getting a diagnosis then, can help a person to receive the support and services they need to lead an improved quality of life.
To recognize World Autism Day, members of the public are invited to a flag raising ceremony in Harmony Square on Tuesday, April 2 at 1:00 p.m.
As well, Harmony Square and City Hall will be lit up the lights of the spectrum for one full week to promote awareness and to acknowledge and honour the many organizations that support Brantford families with autism.
Youth Sport Appreciation Week
Council declared the week of Saturday, April 5, to Saturday, April 12, 2025, as Youth Sport Appreciation Week in the City of Brantford.
The week not only recognizes the thousands of young athletes throughout the city, but the countless volunteers who support the various sports programs and make it all happen like the Brantford Sports Council.
The sports council is an organization that promotes the development and delivery of youth sports in our community, advocates for local sport organizations and promotes sports tourism.
Working in collaboration with 22 Youth Sport organizations, together they provide a collective voice for the ongoing development, education and promotion of sport in the community.
In recognition of such efforts, members of the public are invited to join a number of members and community partners from the sports community for a flag raising in Harmony Square on Friday, April 4, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Earth Week
City Councillors once again declared the week of Sunday, April 20, to Saturday, April 26, 2025, as Earth Week in the City of Brantford.
Earth Day, which occurs on April 22, was first celebrated 55 years ago back in 1970.
It’s now a global, week-long, event that encourages citizens to come together and raise awareness of how important it is to protect the planet and its natural resources, as well as reducing dependence on non-renewable resources.
Given that the City of Brantford declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, and that climate change represents the greatest challenge to the future of humanity, the week is all about encouraging people through education to take positive action to protect the environment.
To honour Earth Week and to demonstrate the commitment to the protection of the local environment, the City of Brantford will be hosting the annual Clean Brantford Litter Pick Up event on April 25 and April 26, 2025.
National Volunteer Week
In order to help support the Brant Regional Association of Volunteer Administrators (BRAVA) in recognizing and encouraging citizens to participate in National Volunteer Week, City councillors declared the week of Sunday, April 27, to Saturday, May 3, 2025, as National Volunteer Week in the City of Brantford.
Noting that each individual volunteer brings strength, passion and connections to build capacity and cohesion in the community, this year, Volunteer Canada has declared the theme for National Volunteer Week as “Volunteers Make Waves.”
Daffodil Month
Council has officially declared the month of April as “Daffodil Month,” to recognize those in the community who have been either directly or indirectly affected by various forms of cancer.
Throughout the month, the Canadian Cancer Society will be raising funds to invest in lifechanging cancer research.
For those looking to support those living with cancer, members of the community are encouraged to donate to the cause, wear a daffodil pin in honour of a loved one, or volunteer with various organizations supporting those living with cancer.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
