Families in Burlington can explore one of the country’s largest green spaces for less this summer. Starting June 19, the Royal Botanical Gardens will offer free daytime garden admission for children and teenagers 17 and under, along with a 50 percent discount for young adults ages 18 to 24, through the Canada Strong Pass program.
The offer, running until September 7, is part of a federal push to make travel and culture more affordable. No sign-up or pass is needed. Visitors just need to show up at a participating location to get the savings, said the Department of Canadian Heritage, which runs the program.
At the Royal Botanical Gardens, the discount covers daytime access to RBG Centre, Hendrie Park, and the Rock Garden. It also includes the current outdoor sculpture exhibit, ANCHORBALL: A Curious Art Journey. Special events such as Concerts in the Garden, RBG After Dark, and the Enchanted Garden are not part of the deal, nor are programs, group visits, or membership purchases.
The Canada Strong Pass first launched in 2025 and saw noticeable bumps in visitor numbers. Federal figures show a 6.5 percent increase in VIA Rail ridership, a 13 percent jump at Parks Canada sites, a 15 percent average increase at national museums, and a 6.3 percent rise at participating provincial and territorial museums and galleries. The Royal Botanical Gardens is one of many sites across the country taking part again this year.
Spanning approximately 980 hectares of nature sanctuary and 130 acres of cultivated gardens across Burlington and Hamilton, the Royal Botanical Gardens is Canada’s largest botanical garden. It earned its “Royal” title in 1930, the only garden in the country with that distinction, and was named a National Historic Site in 1994.
