Find your Ward here here and your Council Members here | |
Oakville Transit Youth Ridership up 85% and Senior Ridership increases by 127% in May | |
Free transit for youth and seniors off to an excellent start in first month of program | |
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Initial data from Oakville Transit show tremendous increases in ridership during the first month of the free transit for Youth and Seniors program:
- The largest increase in ridership is represented by seniors with an increase in ridership of approximately 127 per cent, or 4,700 additional boardings a week.
- Youth boardings increased by 85 per cent or approximately an additional 7,600 boardings a week
- Adult boardings increased by approximately 5.4 per cent, just over 2,300 additional boardings a week
- Initial results show an increase in weekly system-wide transit boardings of approximately 19 per cent as compared to boardings in the last week of April, 2023.
Two weeks ago I received an e-mail from a resident who wrote: “Thank you for free public transit for seniors. Personally, you have enlarged my world…enriched my world.”
I’m proud to have advocated for free transit for Youth and Seniors at the 2023 Budget Committee and at the Council Meeting where this initiative was included in Budget 2023 with the support of Council colleagues.
Free transit for youth 13 to 19 and seniors 65+ requires the use of a valid PRESTO card. Oakville Transit has been offering free transit for kids 12 and under since March 2021.
PRESTO cards are available for a one-time fee of $6 at various locations throughout the community.
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Town Staff Provide Bill 23 Revenue Losses | |
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Legislative changes can often have far-reaching consequences, and one such change affecting town revenue streams is Bill 23. The amendments to development charges (DCs), community benefits charges (CBCs), and parkland dedication have resulted in revenue losses for the town. As of the end of April, the town has experienced a shortfall in revenue, which is summarized above.
Bill 23 brought about a series of alterations to the town's growth funding tools, primarily focusing on DCs, CBCs, and parkland dedication. These tools are vital sources of revenue that enable the town to finance infrastructure development, community projects, and the provision of essential services.
Premier Ford has consistently indicated that municipalities will be made whole as a result of Bill 23. Town staff will continue to monitor the changes in accordance with the implementation of Bill 23.
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Participate in free programs and activities across Oakville throughout June | |
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Get ready to welcome the summer season with a month packed with exciting opportunities for residents to learn, participate and engage in free programs and activities.
Join the Town of Oakville and community partners as we come together to celebrate National Indigenous History Month, Pride Month, Recreation and Parks Month and Seniors Month.
“There are so many reasons to celebrate June! As we welcome the warmer weather and the summer season, I hope residents will enjoy the opportunity learn, participate and engage in the fun activities offered in recognition of the many education public awareness campaigns offered throughout the month.”
– Mayor Rob Burton
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Mayor welcomes Housing Minister Hussen to discuss Housing Accelerator Fund, faster approvals and greater density | |
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Federal Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen provided an overview of how the Federal government is looking to increase housing supply and their need for greater density, faster and as of right approvals to meet the housing supply emergency.
Mayor Burton welcomed Minister Hussen to Town Hall along with Minister of Defence Anita Anand and MP Pam Damoff with Ward 6 Town and Regional Councillor Tom Adams.
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Oakville celebrates Bike Month
throughout June
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Bike Month in Oakville and across the GTHA will kick off with Bike to Work Day on June 1 and residents are encouraged to choose cycling to commute to and from work for the day (and every day!)
“During Bike Month, I encourage all residents to consider cycling as a transportation option and take advantage of the kilometres of cycling paths and the active recreational trails that the town has to offer. Whether you bike to get to school, work or to run errands, or just to have fun and stay active, biking is a sustainable way to travel, enjoy the outdoors and explore the beauty of Oakville.”
- Mayor Burton
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Splash Pads and Lion's Outdoor Pool Open for Summer Fun! | |
Get ready to beat the heat and dive into the summer season as our town's splash pads are officially open! Kids and families can now enjoy a refreshing water play experience at various parks throughout the community. The only exception is Postridge Park, which will open its splash pad on June 9th.
In addition, Lion's Outdoor Pool is welcoming all swimmers for recreational swimming. Please note that the opening of swim programs will be determined based on weather conditions, as town staff continuously monitors the forecast.
For a complete list of parks featuring splash pads and information on swim programs, we invite you to visit the town website. Stay updated on schedules, safety guidelines, and any additional announcements to ensure a fun and enjoyable summer for everyone.
So, grab your swimsuits, pack a towel, and head over to our town's fantastic water play destinations.
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Black Music Month
Town Hall raised the Black Music Month flag on June 1st.
The flag-raising ceremony serves as a symbol of recognition for the profound impact of Black music genres, from jazz and blues to gospel and hip-hop.
Residents celebrated together in admiration of the cultural heritage and influential force of Black music.
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Town raises Pride Month Flag
The Pride Intersex Rainbow Progress flag will fly at Town Hall June 5 to July 1 in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and we have two rainbow crosswalks on Lakeshore Road at the Navy Street and Bronte Road intersections.
Following extensive community consultation, the rainbow crosswalk at Lakeshore Road and Kerr Street will be updated with the progress rainbow flag design as soon as possible in the summer of 2023.
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D-Day Parade
Mayor Burton attended the annual D-Day Parade organized by the Bronte Legion, where he joined the community in paying tribute to the brave heroes of World War II.
The parade served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our veterans for the sake of freedom.
Mayor Burton expressed his gratitude to the Bronte Legion for their dedication in organizing this meaningful event and emphasized the importance of honoring our veterans' contributions.
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Town seeks public input on Urban Mobility and Transportation Strategy | |
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To prepare for future growth and address the evolving mobility needs of the community, the town is establishing a comprehensive transportation plan in two stages of work – through the Urban Mobility and Transportation Strategy (UMTS) and an update to the town’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP).
Open House details
Thursday, June 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road
South Atrium
Members of the public can also review the UTMS policy document and provide input to the town by email before August 13, 2023. Comments can be sent to Eric Chan, manager, Transportation Planning at [email protected].
A staff report including a summary of public feedback gathered through the consultation process will go forward to Council this fall to help inform Council on the strategy for approval
“We look forward to input from residents on the Urban Mobility and Transportation Strategy as we plan for the town's future growth and look at ways to help people travel in more sustainable ways. Public feedback will help inform Council and staff in the development of viable travel choices for our vibrant and livable community.” - Mayor Burton.
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Annual Mayor's Picnic this Sunday! | |
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The Annual Mayor's Picnic is back! Join us on Sunday, June 11 from Noon to 4:30 p.m. at Lakeside Park for an afternoon of music and activities.
For more information visit https://www.oakvillehistory.org/
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Drifting wildfire smoke pushes air quality risk 'off the charts' | |
Air quality risks are ‘off the charts’ in Ottawa as smoke and haze cover large sections of central Canada. Toronto, Kingston, Ont., and Montreal are also feeling the effects as Environment Canada warns the air could be dangerous to human health for most of the week. | |
Netflix premieres new shot-in-Oakville series starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
Netflix series Fubar, stars Schwarzenegger as a globe-trotting CIA spy, though much of the show shows the main character in his domestic life, making the Oakville suburbs an ideal shooting location.
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Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Local Government Working to Strengthen Communities
Ministers Responsible for Local Government held their annual meeting in Ottawa this week and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting local governments, collaborating on shared priorities, and building strong and vibrant communities.
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Ontario Taking Action to Address Risks Posed by Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells
The Ontario government is investing $23.6 million to develop a province-wide strategy that includes identifying and plugging old oil and gas wells to keep communities safe.
An additional $2.5 million will be allocated to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to assist with costs associated with emergency management from the 2021 explosion in the community of Wheatley.
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Cyber gang behind N.S. breach says it erased stolen data, but experts urge caution.
The ransomware group behind an attack on a file-sharing service that resulted in the theft of personal data from as many as 100,000 Nova Scotians claims it has deleted the stolen information
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Ottawa looking at options for a national disaster response agency as wildfires rage | |
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The federal government is studying options for creating a new national disaster response agency.
A senior government source told The Canadian Press that discussions on a new approach are already well underway and include analyzing the merits of creating a Canadian version of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the United States.
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Ex-TikTok executive says Chinese government used app to locate, identify Hong Kong protesters
A former executive at ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns the popular short-video app TikTok, says in a legal filing that some members of the ruling Communist Party used data held by the company to identify and locate protesters in Hong Kong.
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Swiss regulator finds FIFA made false claims about 'carbon neutral' World Cup in Qatar
Advertising regulator, Swiss Commission for Fairness, said FIFA was “not able to provide proof that the claims were accurate,” in its judgment into complaints filed from five countries.
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OFFA is thrilled to be back in theatres this year with over 100 film screenings at this year’s annual Oakville Film Festival from June 21st-27th, 2023. With an outstanding roster of local, national and international feature films, docs, shorts and animation, film buffs will be able to access some of the most buzzed about releases both in person and through select virtual screenings from June 21st through June 27th, 2023.
Films will be shown at 5 Drive-In, Film.ca, and the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. For more information on attending red-carpet Gala nights, film schedules, and to purchase tickets, visit OFFA.ca
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$2,500 Digital Transformation Grants NOW available | |
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Applications are now being accepted for the $2,500 Digital Transformation Grants! Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2023, or until funds are fully exhausted. There are a limited number of grants available, so businesses are encouraged to apply early!
It is free to apply and the process is simple:
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Register your business at digitalmainstreet.ca/ontariogrants/ and complete the digital assessment.
- Pass the pre-qualification quiz, complete the 2.5 hours of online training, and develop your Digital Transformation Plan.
- Apply for a $2,500 grant.
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Food Banks experiencing record demand
Oakville's food banks are in record-breaking demand. If you can donate anything, please do. Your help is needed.
Fareshare Food Bank Oakville:
905-847-3988
[email protected]
Kerr Street Mission
905-845-7485
kerrstreet.com
The Salvation Army Oakville
salvationarmy.ca
Food 4 Kids Halton
food4kidshalton.ca
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