October 11, 2023 News

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Special Council Meeting: Housing Affordability Task Force Recommendations

The agenda and reports have been posted on Oakville.ca for the Special Council meeting Mayor Rob Burton called for tomorrow Thursday, October 12 at 6:30 pm.

This meeting is in response to the request from Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra to 50 Heads of Council requesting feedback on the recommendations of the Housing Affordability Task Force.

The Minister has asked his Ministry to renew its efforts to review and, where possible, implement the Task Force’s remaining recommendations with minimal delay.

The Minister requested that Mayors prioritize their top five recommendations for consideration.

Over the last two weeks, Mayor Burton distributed the Minister's letter and the Task Force Report and asked for advice on his draft response from Staff, community groups, residents associations, and the thousands of readers of the weekly newsletter from the Office of Mayor and Council.

The mayor's draft letter to the Minister has taken the responses received into account. The Mayor will finalize his answer to the Minister after the Council meeting on Thursday. The Minister's deadline is Monday, October 16. Residents are invited to attend the Meeting in the Council Chambers or watch on Livestream.

"Our resident's feedback is invaluable in shaping the future of our community. I encourage all Oakville residents to join us on October 12th, review the Housing Affordability Task Force recommendations, and share their insights. Together, we can build a more affordable and inclusive Oakville for all." - Mayor Rob Burton

Read the full report

Discovering Midtown Oakville: Join in the Conversation

Oakville is buzzing with excitement as we unveil a transformative opportunity for our town: Midtown Oakville. This underdeveloped area sits centrally around the Oakville GO Station, covering 103 hectares—equivalent to over 200 football fields. Surrounded by natural and man-made boundaries, Midtown is set to become a livable, connected, and mixed-use urban community.

Save the Date: On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., we invite you to join us at the Oakville Town Hall South Atrium for a public information session that will shape the future of our town.

Our interactive booths will guide you through key aspects of the Midtown Oakville project, answering crucial questions and fostering meaningful conversations. Prepare to be inspired! Our agenda includes an educational keynote, an overview of Midtown Oakville's current status and vision, and a moderated Q&A session.

Our plans aim to offer diverse and affordable housing options, improved connectivity through pedestrian, cycling, transit, and street networks, additional parks and open spaces, and enhanced infrastructure to support our growing population.

Phases Ahead: The project is divided into three phases.

Phase One: Reviewing existing conditions and opportunities.
Phase Two: Developing and evaluating growth concepts.
Phase Three: Presenting draft planning policy recommendations and more.

Oakville is evolving, and we need your insights to shape this vibrant, walkable, and future-ready community. Join us, and let's make Midtown Oakville's potential a reality.

"This is an exciting step forward for the town as we look to reimagine what’s possible for Midtown Oakville. Council, our dedicated town staff, and I rely on public input when we develop our by-laws, our policies, and our plans. With this event, we want to engage residents and discuss how together we can evolve the space into a vibrant, walkable, and future-ready community." - Mayor Rob Burton

Read the full release

Oakville's Annual Loose Leaf Collection begins October 23rd

With the leaves falling gracefully from the trees, it's that time of the year when the Town of Oakville's annual fall loose leaf collection program kicks into action from Monday, October 23 to Friday, December 1.

To help keep your community clean and beautiful during this season, here are the key guidelines you should follow:

Collection Timing: Leaves can be picked up at any time during your designated collection week. To ensure timely collection, place your leaves on the boulevard or shoulder by 7 a.m. on the first day of your zone's collection.
Early Placement: Avoid placing leaves out more than seven days before your zone's scheduled week to prevent them from blowing around.
Proper Placement: Place leaves on the boulevard or shoulder, not over catch basins, in bicycle lanes, or in front of your house's ditches. If leaves block catch basins, clear them.
No Contaminants: Ensure leaves are free of garbage or other yard waste materials.
Separate Piles: Keep leaf piles separate from woody debris. Late or contaminated piles won't be collected.

Note that bagged leaf and yard waste service is separate and provided by Halton Region. They collect these items on regular garbage pickup days. Visit their website or call 311 for information on your waste collection schedule.

For more details on Oakville's fall loose leaf collection, visit oakville.ca, or reach out to ServiceOakville at 905-845-6601 or service@oakville.ca.

Registration for Windrow Clearing for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Open!

Winter is on its way, and the Town of Oakville is here to help make it more manageable with our Snow Windrow Clearing Program.

What You Need to Know:

Running from December 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, this program is designed to assist residents who have difficulty clearing snow at the end of their driveways:

Timing: After a snowfall, it might take up to 36 hours for our team to clear your driveway's end.
One-Time Service: We clear snow windrows only once per snowfall event.
Snowfall Threshold: Our plowing begins after 7.5 cm (3 inches) of snowfall.
Exclusions: This service doesn't remove windrows created by sidewalk plows, and it focuses solely on clearing the snow at the end of your driveway.
Safe Clearing: About 80% of the snow windrow is removed to prevent curb or sod damage.

Eligibility:

This service is available to:

Residents aged 65 or older.
Residents with physical disabilities or medical conditions.
Residents with no able-bodied person under 65 living at their residence.

Cost:

For the 2023-24 season, the program fee is $115.26 ($102+HST). Note that this fee is non-refundable once processed.

Don't let snow become a hassle this winter. Stay warm and safe while we help you tackle the snow.

Oakville Museum's Halloween Season of Fun

The Oakville Museum invites residents to embrace the Halloween spirit with some fantastic events scheduled for this month. Join us on Saturday, October 28, and Wednesday, November 1, for some spooktacular family-friendly activities that are sure to create cherished memories.

Halloween Craft and Tour on October 28

For a purr-fect Halloween experience, we've got something special in store for families with children aged four to nine. You can craft your very own paper cat mask and embark on an exciting journey into the mysterious world of the Chisholm family who resided at Erchless Estate. Join us for this hair-raising adventure with two sessions available, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Don't forget to pre-register for this unique adventure.

Oakville Pumpkin Parade on November 1

Extend the life of your jack-o'-lantern by participating in the Oakville Pumpkin Parade, in collaboration with the Oakville Public Library and Oakville Historical Society, on Wednesday, November 1. We encourage residents to bring their creatively carved pumpkins to Oakville Museum’s Erchless Estate. Settle in for some crafting, a spine-tingling storytime, and delectable treats while our staff illuminate the pumpkins and line the paths near the Coach House. Jack-o’-lantern drop-off is between 4 and 5:30 p.m., followed by a craft activity, stories, treats, and a lively parade. Halloween costumes are highly encouraged for a fa-boo-lous time.

After the parade, the pumpkins will be collected and given to local farms to feed their animals.

Inclement Weather

In case of inclement weather, such as rain or thunderstorms, the Oakville Pumpkin Parade may be postponed or canceled for the evening. Stay updated by following our town on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook for the latest updates. Please note that parking at the Oakville Museum is limited, so plan your visit accordingly and consult the town’s map with real-time parking information to find available parking in the area.

For additional details, visit the Oakville Museums Programs and Events page.

Healthier Halloween Treats

This Halloween, we encourage residents to offer a healthier alternative to trick-or-treaters. Purchase ten active Halloween swim, skate, or sport passes for just $5. These passes are available for purchase at the Oakville Museum (Tuesdays to Sundays between 1 and 4:30 p.m.) and at community centers throughout October. The passes are valid for children aged 2 to 14 years old, and they can be used from November 1 to December 31, 2023. Redemption is only possible in-person.

Learn more by visiting the Drop-In Programs page.

Local News

Town hosts open house for Housing Strategy and Action Plan

On Wednesday, October 18, 2023 provide your input on the housing strategy and action plan.

The open house will be at Town Hall, at 1225 Trafalgar Road. Meetings will take place in the Oakville room. Times for the events are:

Drop in at 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Drop in at 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Read the full release

Sheridan to help local entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses with a nearly $1.6-million Government of Canada investment

Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced an investment of nearly $1.6-million for Sheridan College to strengthen programming at Sheridan EDGE a social venture accelerator that supports entrepreneurs and change-makers from across the region.

Read the full release

New meal program at Oakville Hospital earns industry-wide recognition

Halton Healthcare’s innovative Tray in Motion – Positive Patient Identification with Meal Tray Delivery has been recognized as a Leading Practice by the Health Standards Organization.

Read the full story

Provincial News

Ontario makes additional supportive housing investment in North Grenville

The Ontario government is providing over $250,000 in a 10-unit supportive and affordable housing project in North Grenville. This funding is in addition to the province’s prior contribution of over $1.3 million for this project, bringing Ontario’s total investment to nearly $1.6 million.

Read the full release

Ontario Training Indigenous People for In-Demand Jobs

The Ontario government is investing $7.3 million in eight innovative training projects to support Indigenous people across Northern Ontario. The programs will prepare 1,700 workers for rewarding careers in their communities in critical sectors like mining, logging, construction, healthcare, and tourism, and help fill the region’s 17,000 vacant jobs.

Read the full release

Province seeking public input and comments on the definition of an "Affordable Residential Housing Unit

The province is proposing to amend the Development Charges Act, 1997 to change the definition of an affordable residential unit for the purpose of discounting and exempting these units from municipal development-related charges.

Read the full proposal

National News

Nova Scotia plans community of 'tiny homes' to give unhoused people a place to live

The government in Nova Scotia is planning an experimental community of so-called tiny homes to house people in Halifax with nowhere to live, according to a news release Wednesday.

The province says the pilot community will have 52 units, including 10 double occupancy homes, to house 62 people. Rent will be no more than 30 per cent of the tenant's income, and residents will have help finding more permanent housing and employment, if needed, the province said.

Read the full story

5 Canadian authors shortlisted for $100K Scotiabank Giller Prize

Sarah Bernstein, Eleanor Catton, Kevin Chong, Dionne Irving and CS Richardson are the five writers vying for the 2023 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Read the full story

World News

As strikes devastate Gaza, Israel forms unity government to oversee war sparked by Hamas attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined with a top political rival on Wednesday to create a war-time Cabinet overseeing the fight to avenge a stunning weekend attack by Hamas militants. In the sealed-off Gaza Strip ruled by Hamas, Palestinian suffering mounted as Israeli bombardment demolished neighborhoods and the only power plant ran out of fuel.

Read the full story

New earthquake flattens homes in area of Afghanistan where earlier quake killed over 2,000

Another strong earthquake shook part of western Afghanistan on Wednesday morning after an earlier quake killed more than 2,000 and flattened whole villages.

The latest magnitude 6.3 earthquake was about 28 kilometres outside Herat, the capital of Herat province, and 10 kilometres deep, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Read the full story

Upcoming Events

Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market is the Town of Oakville’s longest running farmer’s market. Our market operates from 8:00 a.m. till 1:30 p.m every Saturday from May until the end of November. All proceeds earned by the market stall rentals are donated to local Oakville charities.

oakvillefarmersmarket.ca oakvillecivitan.ca