Halton Hills Chooses Northern Cardinal as Official Town Bird

HALTON HILLS, ON –The people of Halton Hills have spoken! After more than 4,000 votes through two rounds of community voting, the Northern Cardinal has been chosen as the official Town Bird of Halton Hills.

The announcement was made on October 18, 2025, during the closing celebration of the Art for the Birds exhibition at the Helson Gallery. Nearly 70 people, including residents, artists, musicians, and councillors, gathered to honour the connection between art, nature, and community. The event had an incredible energy—filled with music, poetry, and conversation—and highlighted how creativity can inspire stewardship and pride in Halton Hills’ growing Bird Friendly City movement.

Mayor Ann Lawlor shared her excitement about the announcement, noting, “The Northern Cardinal is a perfect choice. Bright, resilient, and easy to spot in every season. It’s a beautiful reminder that nature is all around us, even in our backyards. I’m proud of the community for embracing this initiative and for continuing to make Halton Hills a haven for birds.”

Councillor Chantal Garneau, co-lead of the Bird Friendly Halton Hills team, added: “It was thrilling to see so many people come out on Saturday in support of the Town Bird project. I’m so grateful to the team who made it possible, and to the artists, musicians, and residents who took part and cast their votes. We all contributed to the success of this initiative, and I’m looking forward to the rollout of the Bird Friendly Pledge next year, which will show once again that shared contributions create the best results. Our Early Bird Champions will play a key role in that next chapter, helping inspire others to take bird friendly action across our community. Anyone who feels called to get involved can learn more or sign up at haltonhillsnature.com.”

The Northern Cardinal is known for its distinctive whistling song, and it is one of the few bird species in which both males and females sing. While males are bright red, females are a soft tan with red highlights—together they symbolize harmony and partnership in nature.

The name for Northern Cardinal in Anishinaabemowin is Amesikoowabineshiinh (A-mey-si-koo-bi-nay-sheenh). “Meskwa” is the word for red, and “bineshii” means flying animal. This name literally translates to “red bird.” Joseph Pitawanakwat and Junaid Khan from Creators Garden, who were in town on October 4 for a guided public bird walk and the Art for the Birds opening, shared about the Anishinaabe Bird Name Project and explained the meaning behind the Cardinal’s name.

The Naming of the Official Town Bird project was a collaborative effort of the Bird Friendly Halton Hills team, with support from the Town of Halton Hills, Halton Hills Public Library and Cultural Centre, and Credit Valley Conservation. The initiative supports Halton Hills’ ongoing certification with Nature Canada’s Bird Friendly City program, which recognizes municipalities taking action to protect and celebrate local and migratory birds.

• Halton Hills Nature  - learn how to become an Early Bird Champion and Bird Friendly Halton Hills
• Halton Hills Public Library - for information, resources, and programming.
• Helson Gallery – exploring arts and culture including programming

Town of Halton Hills - Get Involved.

About the Town of Halton Hills

The Town of Halton Hills, with a population of approximately 64,000, consists of two urban centres, Georgetown and Acton, the Halton Hills Premier Gateway employment area, three hamlets – Glen Williams, Stewarttown and Norval – and several smaller settlements. Halton Hills has long been recognized for its natural beauty, active agricultural community, high quality of life and proximity to major centres, including Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto. The Town is ranked as one of the top small communities in Canada by a national magazine.

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