Meet Mary and her team!
Meet Mary Dilly!
Mary has been a resident of Burlington since 1990. Her career has spanned from a legal assistant to events/fundraising/marketing and advertising. Her 40+ years of event planning have given her experience and logistical, time, and project management skills. Mary has been the sole organizer of an annual Christmas Day Dinner since 2006. Her attention to detail in the planning and execution – from fundraising, working with volunteers, food, and presents for approximately 500 guests – ensures the success of this tremendous endeavour each year. Mary has been helping families to downsize for years. She enjoys the challenge of dispersing items compassionately while donating to worthwhile local charities. The main priority for Mary is keeping things out of the landfill.
Mary Serves as a Volunteer on The Board Of Directors With:
Carpenter Hospice is a home in the heart of Burlington that offers both residential-based care to people in the last stages of their lives, and community-based programs for people dealing with grief or a life-limiting illness. It lets residents spend their final days together with loved ones in an environment that is peaceful, comfortable and meaningful. It is staffed by a dedicated team of professionals and volunteers who provide compassionate palliative care to meet residents' every need and ensure that each moment matters.
Carpenter Hospice has been an integral part of Burlington since 2002 thanks to the generosity of the community and is committed to providing support services for those going through life's transitions.
Mary Served as a Volunteer on The Board Of Directors (2023 - 2025) With:
The Willow Foundation enhances the lives of seniors and adults with disabilities living in Halton Region’s three long-term care homes through a variety of programs and activities.
Established in 2002, The Willow Foundation is a non-profit registered charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of directors.
Accolades, Awards & Recognition for Mary
✅ 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 - Platinum Award - Community Burlington Votes for Downsizing Solutions
✅ 2025 - Unsung Hero Award - Burlington Today Community Builders Awards
✅ 2025, 2024 - Diamond Winner - Best Moving Company/Services - Burlington Post Readers' Choice Awards
✅ 2021 - Paul Harris Award Burlington Rotary North
✅ 2021 - MP Karina Gould's Community Volunteer Award
✅ 2020 - Rotary Burlington North Paul Harris Award
✅ 2018 - MPP Eleanor McMahon's Canada 150 Award
✅ 2017 - MP Karina Gould's Sesquicentennial Citizenship Award
✅ 2010 - Rotary Paul Harris Award
✅ 2008 - City of Burlington Community Service Award
Mary Is Committed To The Community
In early 2020, Mary learned about a project that was supporting families moving out of shelter and new immigrants with donations of household items. What was lacking was furniture donations so she and a friend decided to do something about that! Three years later, Mary and her friends have now outfitted over 50 families with household items such as couches, beds, dressers, tv’s, kitchen tables/chairs and so much more. Thanks to the Burlington community who donate all the items! This endeavour could never have been possible without the tremendous and generous support of Access Storage for the donation of three storage units.
Mary Raises & Fosters Service Dogs
Since 1996, Mary Dilly has been raising and fostering service dogs in training. She is presently raising her 15th puppy. Fostering a service dog in training is a lot of work but is also a lot of fun. Dogs are taken everywhere – stores, malls, church, movie theatres, etc. to socialize them and teach them proper behaviours in public settings. Mary is proud that all of her dogs, except one, graduated and are working service dogs.
Mary's Annual Christmas Day Dinner
Since 2006, Mary has been organizing and hosting an annual Christmas Day Dinner held at East Plains United Church in (Aldershot) Burlington. It started with 45 volunteers and 35 guests and has now grown to 100 volunteers on December 24th to set up and wrap presents and approximately 100 volunteers on Christmas Day to serve dinner to 350 - 500 guests and then clean up and takedown. It is an enormous endeavour and one which gives Mary such joy.
She says this is her "ticket to Heaven"! Every guest is served a full turkey dinner (or veggie option), enjoys carolling by the volunteers, great companionship and a visit and present from Santa! It is a magical day and couldn't take place without the amazing volunteers!
Meet The Downsizing Solutions Team
Rita brings resilience, warmth and a touch of fun to everything she does.
Whether coordinating clear-outs, planning gatherings, she ensures people feel supported and included. Her empathetic nature shines through in her love of reading and decorating, which brings creativity and warmth into every space she touches—making environments feel welcoming and inspiring for others.
Jane brings boundless energy to her work as a Dilly-ette. She is compassionate and creative. Clients feel very welcome and comfortable around her - maybe it's because she loves exploring and learning new things. Ask her about her goal of visiting 7 continents and her pursuit of a degree. And, if you're looking for a recommendation for a good book, Jane probably has a suggestion for you; she is an avid reader and has been part of the same book club for over 20 years.
Kirsten brings a warm and steady presence to her work as a Downsizer with Downsizing Solutions. With a background as a former police officer and personal trainer, she understands both the practical and emotional sides of life transitions.
Kirsten is a proud mom to an adult son and values staying active through regular gym workouts, hiking outdoors, and travelling...her favourite trip so far being a river cruise along the Danube.
When she’s not working with Downsizing Solutions, Kirsten is a certified life coach specializing in grief recovery, helping people gently resolve what feels emotionally incomplete so they can move forward with greater freedom and peace. Her compassionate, grounded approach helps clients feel supported, respected and confident throughout the downsizing process.
Trish is a hardworking, upbeat and positive, energetic person.
Dedicated to her family, she has raised two daughters and is enjoying her first grandchild immensely.Trish has volunteered in the Burlington community for over 30 years. Her career in thesenior retirement living sector is a great fit for her and Trish continues to devote herself to seniors and their families.
Trish is a hardworking, upbeat and positive, energetic person.
Krista is a mom of two boys, a proud dog mom to a high-energy Bull Mastiff/Boxer/German Shepherd mix and has worked with the Halton District School Board for over 21 years.
She enjoys gardening, quiet summer mornings with coffee and a good book and has recently found joy in Pilates and making time for herself.
Ian is a devoted father of two daughters and a proud dog dad. With over 20 years as an electrical engineer specializing in airport lighting, his career took him around the world before a six-year break to travel with his daughters; he’s now back at work at Temple Steel. Working shift work gives him time to shine as the newest Dilly-ette.
He enjoys being outdoors, discovering new places, attending concerts and sharing stories from a life well travelled—One day your life will flash before your eyes - make sure it’s worth watching.
Deb, a part-time Dilly-ette, met Mary at a fundraising event for the local food bank in the Spring of 2022 and they hit it off. Their shared passion for helping others fostered not just a fond friendship but a mutually, respectful working relationship. Clients love Deb's high energy, sense of humour and innate ability to ease the anxiety that comes from downsizing/moving.
When not on duty as a Dilly-ette, you will find Deb following her passions as a coach, mentor, inspirational author and facilitator of humanitarian retreats in Mexico. Ask Deb about her favourite pastimes, and you'll learn she can tap dance, she loves mountain-biking, is a proud Mom of two adult children, is married to a retired police officer and loves animals. Deb enjoys the odd glass of wine, but prefers Prosecco whenever she can.
Brian & John are the primary Downsizing Solutions lead movers.
They've been a dynamic moving duo since the inception of the company. You'll not likely see one without the other.
They may be quiet, but they are hard at work being professional to get the job done, no matter how big or small.
When they're not hauling boxes or furniture you will find them working on one of their many "hobby" cars.
We're always interested in expanding our team.
If you, or you know someone, interested in joining the Downsizing Solutions team, please contact Mary Dilly directly.