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Ward 2 News - Nov/Dec 2026

Image by Ylanite Koppens from Pixabay

Hello Everyone,

This is our final 2026 issue before resuming our usual schedule in January/February 2027.

This is also Cathy's last issue and it comes with warm wishes and the assurances that she will remain engaged in our community, just as she has her entire life.

Don't forget to pass our news along to neighbours who might like to sign up for future updates. And, if you choose, you can always read this newsletter in your browser online, which makes it easy if you want to share it as a link. You'll find the link at the top of each newsletter, right under the Oakville logo.

Best wishes,

Cathy & Ray

I'm a new reader! Sign me up for future Ward 2 newsletters

Our Representatives 2026-2030

On October 26th, Ray Chisholm was re-elected for another term as our Ward 2 Town Councillor.

Joining him as our new Regional & Town Councillor, the seat vacated by long-term Councillor Cathy Duddeck, is Stacey Saunders. Welcome!

All members of the new Council will take their oath of office at Council's inaugural meeting on Monday, November 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

Service Area Responsibilities

Town of Oakville Council

Local planning and zoning

Local storm sewers

Local roads, streets and sidewalks

Local transit services

Libraries

Local museums

Fire protection

Local parks and recreation services

Collection of taxes

Halton Regional Council's Inaugural Meeting will be held Wednesday, December 9th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m at Regional headquarters,

1151 Bronte Road, Oakville

The Region still awaits news of the Appointed Chair (see Regional Update article below)

Service Area Responsibilities

Region of Halton Council

Region planning

Water and waste water

Solid waste

Regional roads and storm sewers

Police services and emergency planning

Social and public health services

Debt financing

Regional museum

Tourism promotion

Election Performance

Readers may recall our alert on the poor performance of eligible voters in our 2022 election - JUST OVER 28%

In this most recent election Oakville's number stood at just over 34% which is a poor level of improvement.

Voter turnout is the lifeblood of a healthy and vibrant democracy. Low turnout is often attributed to political disengagement and the widespread belief that voting for one candidate/party or another will do little to alter public policy.

Municipal government is the one that is closest to our everyday lives. Let's make it a priority over the coming 4 years to "turn up the turnout"!

Loose Leaf Collection is Underway

Loose Leaf Collection is now underway throughout several of Oakville's neighbourhoods.

Due to disruptions caused in past by early winter storms, this year, there will be overlap of zones to provide the Roads and Works department with the ability to maintain the schedule should weather delays occur.

Week 1 - Zones 1, 2, 3, 7 – October 26 – October 30

Week 2 - Zones 4, 5, 6, 8 – November 2 – November 6

Week 3 - Zones 1, 2, 3, 7 – November 9 – November 13

Week 4 - Zones 4, 5, 6, 8 – November 16 – November 20

Week 4 and 5 - Zone A – November 16 – November 23 (Overlap into week 5)

Week 4 and 5 - Zones B, C – November 20– November 27 (Overlap from week 4)

Week 5 - Zones 1, 2, 3, 7 – November 23 – November 27

Week 6 - Zones 4, 5, 6, 8 - November 30 – December 4

Ward 2 Residents are covered by Zone 2 and areas within Collection Area A as shown on the map below or view it online here.

You can track the progress of the collection online here.

BE PREPARED FOR COLLECTION:

Collection might occur any time during a scheduled week. To ensure your leaves are collected, put them out by 7 a.m. on the first day of collection in your zone.

Help keep leaves from blowing around your neighbourhood! Put out leaves no more than seven days ahead of the scheduled pickup day for your zone.

Place all loose leaves on the boulevard or on the shoulder to ensure traffic on the road/bike lanes can pass safely.

Do not place leaves over catch basins/storm drains, in bicycle lanes or in the ditches in front of your house. If there are leaves blocking a catch basin/storm drain, please clear them away.

Ensure leaves are free of garbage or other yard waste materials such as brush, branches, large twigs or stones.

Contaminated piles of leaves or leaves put out after the pickup dates will not be collected. Homeowners are responsible for removing uncollected leaves or bagging them for Halton Region yard waste collection.

Once the street has been collected, we will not return until the next scheduled pick-up.

Entrance roads and/or the cul-de-sac may be completed separately and on different days during collection week due to the various types of equipment used.

There are areas where the program is not offered since the number of mature trees does not warrant the bulk leaf pickup service. The Town of Oakville assesses these areas on a regular basis to review if they should be added to the program.

NEWS FROM HALTON REGION

U-Turns: Everything You Need to Know

When is the last time you saw a confused driver trying to negotiate a U-Turn? To help keep everyone in our community safe, it’s important to know where U-turns are permitted in Halton and how to make them properly while sharing the road with other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

Halton Region has created an area within the Halton.ca web site that's full of information, facts and a video on how, where and when U-Turns can be made.

Check it Out!

Looking for a Doctor?

Halton Region Can Help

Did you know Halton Region can provide personalized assistance in finding a family doctor?

The Support House Find Your Family Doctor Team offers personalized support to you or your family to connect with a family doctor or nurse practitioner that matches your needs. Interpretation services available. To get started, email FindYourDoctor@SupportHouse.ca or call 833-845-9355 ext. 500.

As well, you can Register with Health Care Connect and a care connector will search for a doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients for you. This is a provincial registry where a care connector searches on your behalf for a doctor or nurse practitioner accepting new patients.

Halton.ca offers a section "Halton Physicians Accepting New Patients" where you can find an Interactive Map showing locations of doctors AND a full list of family doctors broken down by municipality within Halton who are accepting new patients. The list provides the name of the health practice, street address and telephone number as well as the names of the doctors at those locations taking new patients.

Halton Region Publishes

Waste Diversion Update

In 2025, residents help divert 134,686 tonnes of residential waste from the landfill—that’s 59 per cent of the community’s waste.

The total garbage landfilled at the Halton Waste Management Site was 85,358 tonnes but the Region maximized waste diversion by re-using material and re-directing it through programs and public participation.

How we diverted waste in 2025

Blue box: 46,837 tonnes

Green cart: 34,477 tonnes

Yard waste: 26,850 tonnes

Household hazardous waste: 731 tonnes

Electronic waste: 314 tonnes

Other waste: 25,477 tonnes

You can access additional information and stats online here.

New Wycroft Bridge Nears Opening

Photo by David Lea/Metroland

Halton Region's Commissioner of Public Works is reporting the Wycroft Bridge is anticipated to open November 30, 2026.

The project was approved for funding by Halton Region in 2019, and construction officially began in October 2023. It will serve as an additional crossing between Burlington and Oakville and provide motorists with another route, thereby relieving traffic congestion on local roads and the QEW. The project includes a new four-lane roadway, multi-use pathways and new on-road bike lanes. Additional benefits are the reduction of time to commute to Appleby and Bronte GO stations and better connections to adjacent employment lands, which will provide business owners, employees and customers with easier access to work and commercial operations.

The project is on budget and will meet its timetable if it opens successfully in late Autumn 2026.

The Climate Corner

The Nature Conservancy of Canada and Credit Valley Conservation remind us we can make small changes in our gardening behaviour in Autumn to help urban wildlife survive Canadian winters.

Here's How We Can All Help

Leave a layer of fallen leaves in your yard throughout the winter. Leaves provide an insulating blanket that can help protect wildlife from cold temperatures.
Create spaces in your yard for native bees to nest and overwinter by placing dead tree branches among your garden plants and having open areas of soil in your garden.
Leave leaves that fall in your garden as free mulch. If there aren't enough to provide a 10-15cm of coverage, use the leaves you collect from your lawn. Beneficial insects such as butterflies, beetles and bees spend the winter hiding below the leaves waiting for the warm sun to wake them in Spring.
If you have a compost bin, mix some leaves in with your food scraps. Turn the compost once a month and use the compost on your veggie garden next summer.

Vaccine Reminder

Free Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines

Ontario opened free flu and COVID-19 vaccines to the general public on Oct. 26, just as cold and flu cases continue to rise across the province.

According to the latest statistics from Public Health Ontario, most flu cases in Ontario right now are Influenza A — and it is expected to increase in the coming weeks, while COVID-19 and RSV should remain stable.

Where can I get the flu or COVID-19 vaccine?

Anyone aged two to 64 years old can get their flu shot from a doctor or nurse practitioner, some local public health units, and at participating pharmacies.

Children six months up to 2 years old can only get their flu shot from a doctor, nurse practitioner or local public health unit. Children under 2 years old cannot get a flu shot at a pharmacy.

And anyone over 65 can still get a flu shot at a pharmacy, doctor or nurse practitioner.

COVID-19 shots are also available for anyone over the age of six months, and are at participating pharmacies, public health units or community clinics, Indigenous-led clinics and participating health care providers.

The flu and COVID-19 vaccine can be given at the same time.

To book an appointment, contact participating providers directly (such as your primary care provider or local pharmacy). Call ahead to confirm if vaccines are available before going.

For a full range of information on immunization, check out Halton Region's Online Website

Regional Government Update

As outlined in our past newsletters, the ability for voters to choose their Regional Chair has been taken away from Oakville constituents.

At time of publication, Minister Flack advised on October 27th, "he anticipates the new regional chairs will be appointed within “30 to 40 days” and that the process is being driven by the province’s civil service".

The provincial Better Regional Government Act, 2026, passed in May, allows the province to hand-pick regional chairs in Waterloo Region, Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Niagara, Peel, York and the warden of Simcoe County come November, after the 2026 municipal election.

The successful applicant will not only be responsible for presiding over Regional Council, but as well, to ensure regional priorities align with those of the provincial government.

(S)He will also be given 'strong chair powers' which will give the regional chair the ability to:

appoint a chief administrative officer,
bring forward matters for council consideration related to provincial priority,
propose bylaws prescribed for provincial priorities,
veto certain bylaws that could potentially interfere with provincial priority, and be in charge of the regional budget.

Added into the new act is a provision for weighted voting, where the chair can determine the number of votes given to each member municipality, providing each have at least one vote.

As well, there is nothing in the legislation that rules out an elected mayor who applied for regional chair, from holding both positions. No names of applicants have been released.

Residents who oppose the Bill should consider the following:

Join Municipal Coalitions: Support initiatives organized by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, which actively lobbies the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to reverse appointed chair rules. (You Can Read Halton Council's Position Here)

Contact Local MPPs: Write or meet with your Member of Provincial Parliament to object to "strong chair" powers and unelected appointments.

Raise community awareness and coordinate public pushback alongside local mayors and civic leaders demanding democratic accountability.

'News Bites'

Saturday November 14!!!

Santa Arrives

The annual Santa Claus parade starts at 9 a.m. and is expected to end around 10:30 a.m. If you arrive later in the morning, you may miss part of the festivities.

Free Santa Shuttle from Oakville GO

Skip the parking and take the free Oakville Transit Santa Shuttle from Oakville GO Station to the parade.

The shuttle operates every 5 to 10 minutes travelling directly along Dorval Drive to Trafalgar Park Community Centre with no stops in between. Santa Shuttle service runs from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Return shuttles to Oakville GO Station operate until 11:30 a.m.

Preparing to attend the parade

What time should I arrive?

Any time from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. to find parking and viewing locations. and avoid road closure impacts.

Parade start: 9 a.m.

The parade happens rain or shine! Remember to dress appropriately for the weather forecast. Bring your family, friends and holiday cheer! Pet Advisory: Crowds, loud music, and parade noise may be stressful for some animals. Dogs must remain leashed at all times.

Parade safety

Expect a big turnout at the parade! With big crowds comes the possibility that you and your child may get separated. Halton Regional Police Service recommends that parents and caregivers take a photo of their child or children on the day of the event. Should you become separated, the photo can help you and other searchers find them in the crowd.

See the map below for the parade's route and traffic detours.

FAMILY HOLIDAY CONCERT

OAKVILLE SYMPHONY

DECEMBER 13 @ 1:30 and 4:30 pm

This is an annual family favourite for so many.

Visit the Ticket Box Online

THE HOLIDAY PANTOMIME

Dec 19, 20,22 & 27

Afternoon & Evening Performances

Bah, munchbug! Elphabeneezer Scrooge, the holiday-hating Wicked Witch of the West is hidden away in her castle trying to ignore Christmas but, on the other side of the yellow brick road, the secretly evil Wizard of Ozville is plotting to get rid of her. FOR GOOD.

Glinda is sure she can save her old friend from the nasty Wizard’s plans - three spirits and a little of bit of time travel should do the trick.

Oh, and you! The good guys are going to need your magical powers, cheers, and boos if they’re going to save the day.

Get More Information and Buy Tickets

Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts

AEG Liebherr Auditorium

130 Navy Street Oakville, ON L6J 2Z4

Box office: 905-815-2021 (toll free 1-888-489-7784)

Kerr Village

Walk-In Clinic

Monday Evenings

Leon Pharmacy & Kerr Street Medical Centre Care are offering expanded access to care.

Kerr Street Medical Centre now offers after-hours walk-in care on Mondays until 8 PM.

📍 344 Kerr St, Oakville, ON L6K 3B8

�🌐 www.kerrmedical.ca

Mark Your Calendar

Kerr Village

Christmas Tree Lighting &

Pop Up Market

The 32nd Annual Kerr Village Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Market will take place on Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The event is hosted at Westwood Park, located at 173 Kerr Street (at the corner of Kerr St. and Bond St.) and admission is the Holiday Market, which will also feature live music and a visit with Santa Claus!

📅 Event Date: Saturday, November 28, 2026

📍 Location: Westwood Park (Corner of Kerr St & Bond St, Oakville)

⏰ Event Hours: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM

KERR VILLAGE

Elf on the Shelf Contest

RETURNS: Nov 14 – Dec 14

The Kerr Village Elf on the Shelf Treasure Hunt is back!

From November 14th to Dec 24th, kids and their families can visit participating retailers in Kerr Village and try to find the hidden elf inside the store.

It's free to participate and winners will take home a small treat or gift if their sleuthing abilities are successful.

Look for the poster in the store window at participating businesses.

Ward 2

Supportive Housing Initiative Moves Forward

Halton Region is preparing to begin construction of a new three-storey residential building at 363 Margaret Drive, Oakville, that will provide 13 family apartment units as part of a supportive and assisted housing initiative. The development will welcome applicants from the Halton Access to Community Housing (HATCH) waitlist, helping to address the growing need for

supportive housing options for families in Halton Region.

Building summary

13 units (5 three bedroom, 5 four bedroom, 3 five bedroom)

Family units (including 2 fully accessible units)

~1,150 square feet of community programming space

Construction status

Shovel-ready

Zoned

Serviced

Funding status

Regional funding: $5.7 million

Visit this project online: updates and full details,

Remembrance Day Events

Across Oakville

Bronte Legion

Remembrance Ceremony

Date & Time: Sunday, November 8, 2026 (Walk at 10:30 a.m., Ceremony from 10:50 a.m. to noon)

Location: Walk is from Royal Canadian Legion Branch 486 (79 Jones Street) to the Chris Vokes Memorial Park cenotaph in Bronte Harbour.

Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre & George's Square Parade and Ceremony

Date & Time: Wednesday, November 11, 2026 (Parade at 10:30 a.m., ceremony to follow)

Location: Parade leaves from Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre (325 Reynolds Street) and heads to George's Square. Also live-streamed on the Town of Oakville YouTube channel.

Memorial Park Trafalgar Memorial Ceremony

Date & Time: Wednesday, November 11, 2026, from 10:50 a.m. to noon

Location: Memorial Park (Trafalgar Memorial), corner of Oak Park Boulevard and Central Park Drive inside Memorial Park (at 120 Oak Park Blvd, Oakville, ON L6H 0E3