Mayor Marianne Meed Ward of Burlington Joins the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cites Initiative

Press Release

Chicago, IL – June 26, 2025– The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Ci5es Ini5a5ve is pleased to welcome Mayor Meed Ward and the City of Burlington, ON to its growing coali5on of more than 325 mayors and top elected local leaders working to advance the socioeconomic and environmental health of communi5es in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region.

As a member of the Ci5es Ini5a5ve, Mayor Meed Ward will work collabora5vely with members from across the basin in the United States and Canada to support healthy lakes and rivers, safe and affordable water for all residents, climate resilient communi5es, and economic transforma5on throughout the region.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward of the City of Burlington, ON: I’m honoured to join the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Ci9es Ini9a9ve on behalf of the City of Burlington. As a waterfront community on the shores of Lake Ontario, we see firsthand how our freshwater resources are essen9al not only to our environment, but also to our economy and quality of life. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region is one of the most economically powerful in the world, and by working together, we can ensure it remains prosperous, resilient, and sustainable. Burlington is proud to collaborate with municipal leaders across the basin to protect our shared waters, prepare for climate impacts, and support a strong economy for the future.”

Located on the north shore of Lake Ontario, the City of Burlington is posi5oned along the Niagara Escarpment. With an accessible waterfront, world-renowned aPrac5ons like the Royal Botanical Gardens, and key industries, such as advanced manufacturing, clean technologies, and food and beverage, Burlington is a great place to live, work, invest, and play.

Mayor Mat Siscoe of St. Catharines, ON, Canadian Co-Chair of the of the CiKes IniKaKve: “It’s great to welcome Mayor Meed Ward and Burlington to our growing coali5on. We need to work together to ensure the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Region remains one of the top global economies and con5nue to deliver prosperity for our residents. That means collabora5ng on building a vibrant blue economic corridor, modernizing our water infrastructure, and protec5ng the lakes and rivers that are the founda5on of our success as a region The Ci5es Ini5a5ve is a key player to deliver on those priori5es.”

Every new member of the Ci5es Ini5a5ve is a testament to the importance that local governments in this globally significant basin place on preserving our freshwater resources, preparing our communi5es for the impacts of climate change, improving our aging water infrastructure and building sustainable local economies that aPract new industries and good jobs.

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About the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence CiKes IniKaKve

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Ci5es Ini5a5ve is a mul5na5onal coali5on of municipal and Indigenous government execu5ves represen5ng communi5es in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region who are working to promote economic prosperity in our communi5es and protect our fresh water for the benefit of current and future genera5ons. With more than 325 member communi5es, the Ci5es Ini5a5ve is leading the way in advancing the environmental, economic, and social health of the region by addressing issues impac5ng its residents.

For more informaKon, please contact:

Chris5ne Maydossian | Leliken Public Affairs| cmaydossian@leliken.com

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