In Community

Prancing with the Stars coming to Oakville this November!

October 2, 2019 No Comments

The Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) held a Media and Influencers Launch Event on September 10^th, providing an exclusive preview of Prancing with the Stars taking place November 6th at the Oakville Conference Centre. The premiere event features community leaders paired with a professional dance instructor to compete for the title of “Best in Dance Show.” The trophy will be awarded at the event to the highest-scoring dance duo based on technical ability, entertainment value, and popular vote.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the reaction we’ve had from the community and organizations that have been reaching out to learn how they can be part of this unique event,” says OMHS executive director Rick Perciante. “I am pleased to announce that our premium tables have already sold out, but there still remain a few standard tables.”

Oakville resident Cari MacLean chairs the Prancing with the Stars committee and participated as a dancer in a similar event in 2018 in support of the Canada Winter Games. “I’m not a dancer so the whole experience proved to be a life-changing event for me,” explains MacLean. “This time around I’m giving the opportunity to someone else and I know our dancers will put on an amazing show. I’m particularly proud of being part of an event that brings the community together while supporting the amazing work the OMHS does in championing animal welfare.”

Dancers are: Oliver Matas, president of the Oakville and Milton Real Estate Board; Elissa Landsdell, Canadian TV personality and writer; Clayton Shold, OMHS board chair; Lana Hockey, community connector, philanthropic activist; and Che Marville, Mindfulness, Leadership & Mental Wellbeing Coach

The judges are Richard Thibault, Canadian freelance dance instructor holding fellowships in the four dance styles (International Latin and Standard, American Rhythm and Smooth) and is an adjudicator for the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF)., and Tanya Turschic-Carbone, a performer, choreographer, teacher and adjudicator.

For more information about Prancing with the Stars and to follow the journey of our dancers please visit: www.omhs.ca/pwts and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) is dedicated to protecting and making life better for animals and connecting the communities that care about them in Oakville and Milton to help create a more humane world. Founded in 1936, the OMHS is an independent, non-profit charitable organization that provides care and shelter for approximately 3,000 homeless, stray, injured and abused animals each year. OMHS relies 100% on donations from the public and corporate sponsors to provide animal care and support within the shelter.

In Articles

Healthy Starts – The Busy Family Breakfast Challenge

October 1, 2019 No Comments

Mention early mornings and everyone gets the jitters. When you’re trying to get a busy family out the door – and on time – breakfast often is the last thing you think about. School bags, briefcases, sports bags, school lunches, and now they want breakfast too? Folks, believe it or not, it is possible to achieve a healthy nutritious breakfast. Here are a few ideas to gain superhero status in your family.

The key to success is to start breakfast preparation the night before. Alleviating most of the morning pressure is what makes a healthy grab-and-go breakfast suddenly possible. Make-ahead breakfast cookies are a way to ensure the most important meal of the day is consumed willingly. Many recipes are gluten-free, and can also be vegan or refined sugar-free. They are also freezer-friendly. Adding chia seeds and hemp hearts will provide omega 3, fibre, antioxidants, and protein. Protein powder can be added to give an extra boost of energy and leave you feeling full for longer. Play around with flavours like carrot cake or chocolate peanut butter. No one will resist your temptations or realize you’ve tricked them into a healthy start.

Yoghurt and fruit cups can be prepared and layered in a glass jar the night before. Add some granola or seed mix to create interest and texture. The jar can be washed and reused, making it great for the environment and cost-effective, too. Layer fresh seasonal fruit with Greek yoghurt or even make your own compote from fruit that is ripening faster than you can eat it.

Egg muffins (also called mini frittatas) are a high-protein, easy to eat breakfast. They can be made the night before and stored in the fridge for the next few days. Beat eggs with any flavour of your choice: cheese, spinach, peppers, bacon, or mushrooms and bake in deep muffin cups until they are set. Super quick and so nutritious you won’t even be hungry by lunchtime.

Healthy granola bars can come in any flavour with additions of nuts, seeds, or protein to make you feel more satisfied. They can provide a great breakfast and can also be used for school lunches. Freezer breakfast sandwiches are another great solution and can be pre-made and grabbed as you rush out of the door. Once you’ve perfected the breakfast sandwich, switch it up with frozen breakfast quesadillas, filled with scrambled eggs, black beans, corn, and cheese.

A family favourite is peanut butter and banana overnight oats. It’s vegan and gluten-free and can be pumped up to superfood status by adding chia seeds. Pop it into reusable glass jars and you’ve got a budget-friendly, healthy, enviro-friendly meal.

Smoothies are another easy choice and the flavour possibilities are endless. Green Press (greenpress.ca) in Oakville and Bodhi Bar (bodhibar.ca) in Burlington produce freshly pressed organic juices and shots (such as ginger or turmeric) and will deliver to your home. With blends including kale, spinach, cucumber, celery, green apple, parsley, ginger, and lemon,it’s a great way to load yourself and the kids up with antioxidants and vitamins A, C, E, and K.

For other busy homes, Savor Living (savorliving.ca) in Oakville produces healthy breakfasts delivered to your door. You can order a la carte or sign up for a meal plan. All their food is vegan (and delicious). Try any of their jars or waffles, you can’t go wrong.

A little organization and preparation the night before will ensure you and your family eat a full balanced breakfast, leaving you ready to take on the day.

by Jenny Ratcliffe-Wright

In Articles

Meet The Maker – Christy’s Gourmet Gifts

September 30, 2019 No Comments

When Christy first called her husband, Bernhard, and told him she was going to sell buttercrunch at a craft show, he replied, “That’s great, just don’t expect me to help.” Sixteen years later, he’s the master chocolatier at their gourmet gift shop in Burlington, traveling all over the world to meet farmers and source ingredients.

How did you first get started?

C) We started very small, experimenting with my grandma’s recipe (which was my “Crunch”) and doing craft shows while I was on maternity leave.

What’s the division of labour now?

B) I do all the heavy lifting, Christy does all the mind work. When I’m in the back and I see Christy walk in, I tend to cringe.

C) It usually starts with “I have an idea” and he tries to run!

How do you keep the creativity going?

C) We both love to travel, try new food, and see new things. We’re always inspired by something and try to put our spin on it.

B) My goal is to create something that doesn’t exist—something that’s new and innovative and tastes good. That’s always my focus, and then Christy jumps in and tweaks it. We’ll even go through several types of butter to find the right one. It may be a bit more expensive, but to us, it’s worth it. If you’re going to eat those calories, you might as well go for the good stuff.

Christy and Bernhard Mueller
christysgourmetgifts.com

Catch the full video interview at
burlingtonmade.com/blog

by Stephanie Finn

Stephanie Finn is the founder and creative director of Burlington MADE handmade and foodie markets, and a small business coach serving creative entrepreneurs at Stephanie Street Co. We’re excited to welcome Stephanie’s voice and her new features on local makers to Look Local Magazine.

In Articles

The Modern Classroom – Engaging Learners Through Technology

September 26, 2019 No Comments

Do you remember the thrill that came with pencils racing across a piece of paper as a teacher scribbled notes across the chalkboard? And by thrill, we mean panic. There was never a guarantee one could scribble fast enough to gather that day’s lesson. Then there was the collective moan that came with the sight of an overhead projector – a sure sign students were in for some lengthy notetaking…followed by a hand cramp. Before Dropbox, there was the floppy disk, before iPads – a notebook, and long before the classroom technologies of today, there was the clunky technology of the ‘90s that paved the way.

For students of today, technology has come a long way from colourful, original iMac computer labs and the infamous rolly-cart TV. Modern students have access to everything from virtual field-trips, video conferencing, digital portfolios, online guest speakers, and more. Their technology is a broad term and encompasses many things such as computer hardware, software, and applications as well as large and small machinery including laser cutters, smartphones, iPads, and digital cameras.

Julie Hunt Gibbons, superintendent of secondary program and student success for Halton District School Board, says parents, teachers, students, staff, and community members expect the use of technology in the classroom to enhance both teaching and learning – after all it is the 21st Century and young people today are often described as ‘digital citizens’.

With technology an increasing requirement in almost every industry, it only makes sense that our schools are also effectively deploying mobile technology in the classroom. However, for many schools, implementing the latest technology is a difficult strategy to navigate.

“The biggest challenge in the use of technology in school, as it is globally, is protecting the privacy of all engaged,” says Lisa M. Duranleau, Executive Director at MacLachlan College. Hunt Gibbons agrees, “ensuring the privacy of our students is a priority for our Board. That is why our Board has implemented a software catalogue for our teachers to use. The catalogue identifies “green” tools that teachers can use in their classrooms.” At MacLachlan, acceptable use policies are continuously updated while teachers and students are constantly educated on how to navigate their way through emerging technologies. Other challenges include the choice of tool, equity of access to tools, safety concerns, and staff development.

Despite the challenges, both Lisa and Julie agree technology is an essential component of today’s classroom tool kit. “Utilizing new approaches through inquiry and participatory technology inspires students to ask questions, research, and think critically to find solutions for an evolving world,” says Lisa. Students are exposed to real-world, authentic experiences.

Through virtual field trips, they can travel around the world, understanding and resolving problems as a reflective citizen. Technology has become an incredible tool for critical thinking and problem solving, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, and self-directed learning. While technology is the tool, the success of its use is dependent on the facilitators that guide students in their learning – because it’s not just the technology a school has in its classroom but the application of the technology and the learning outcomes.

From kindergarten through to grade 12, Halton students are being exposed to the wonderful benefits of learning through technology. The future of education relies on building a community of collaborators – students, teachers, and parents – and technology is central to community building. While there is no way to predict where technology will go from here, educational leaders are required to morph their practices to best prepare children of today to be global citizens of tomorrow.

by Anneliese Lawton

In Articles

Fly Fishing on the Sixteen

September 25, 2019 No Comments

Fishing has been a love of mine for as long as I can remember. My first experience was at a local pond in Sheffield with my grandfather, where we spent the day fishing with some string and bread-dough bait. Without a single nibble, I was hooked nonetheless. Over the years, I’ve fished a wide variety of methods but come to appreciate the nature of fly-fishing best. With the perfect cast, you can almost sense a strike before it happens.

Historically both Sixteen Mile and Bronte Creek were important fishing and hunting grounds for the Mississaugas and their predecessors. When Europeans settled the area, they continued to fish the creeks for both sustenance and sport. At the Oakville Museum, there are records, photographs, and accounts of fishing parties on the Sixteen. The Museum even holds a photograph of Oakville’s Dr. George Brock Chisholm, (the first Director-General of the World Health Organization), holding what appears to be a fly rod and Sunfish. The odd time I’m able to wander to the creek, fly rod in hand, I feel I’m participating in a long tradition.

If you’re new to fly fishing, the jargon may seem daunting – but the main difference between fly fishing and other kinds of fishing is the weight of the line used to cast the lure. To start, you’ll need a decent light rod, a small reel, fly line, and leader, as well as a basic selection of flies.

The flies themselves have some pretty unique and catchy names, including Royal Wulff, Adams, Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail Nymph, and Woolly Bugger. The Woolly Bugger is my go-to and personal favourite.

When it’s time to hit the water, learning to cast a fly line is the biggest hurdle for most beginners. Grindstone Angling in Waterdown has a full-service fly shop, fishing guide services, fly fishing school, and fly-tying classes. For beginners or even those who want to learn more about fishing in the area, Grindstone is a great place to start.

Surprising to some, Oakville, Burlington and surrounding areas are great fishing destinations. Many nearby lakes have good populations of Sunfish (along with Pumpkin Seed, Rock Bass, Perch) and you can find them through the summer in the deeper pools of the local creeks. Lions Valley Park and other public access points along Sixteen Mile Creek in Oakville are good places to go prospecting. Conservation Halton allows fishing in Kelso, Mountsberg, and Hilton Falls. You can also try the upper reaches of Bronte Creek for pitching dry flies to Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout.

Casting, hooking, retrieving and landing fish all become more natural with practice and the skills built catching smaller fish like the Sunfish can be transferred to fishing bigger quarry later.

When you are ready for larger game, consider the spring Steelhead run and fall Salmon run. Head to either Sixteen Mile Creek or Bronte Creek during October and November, when a few days of rain have caused the rivers to rise. Luckily, techniques, gear, and flies for Steelhead and Salmon are similar. However, you will need to upgrade to at least an eight-weight rod, reel, and line. You should also invest in a comfortable set of chest waders and a landing net.

Fly fishing has a reputation for being exclusive and mysterious, but it’s often the best way to catch fish and a way that allows a closer connection to the water. Let’s dispel the mystery.

by Julian Kingston

Our thanks to Julian Kingston, who is the Museum Supervisor at the Oakville Museum, and a passionate fly fisherman.

Local Links

Grindstone Angling
grindstoneangling.com

Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club
iwffc.ca

Tourism Burlington
tourismburlington.com

Oakville Museum
oakville.ca/museum

Conservation Halton
conservationhalton.ca

In Articles

Managing Stress is a Family Matter – 5 Tips to Relax and Reconnect this Fall

September 25, 2019 No Comments

With summer now a distant memory, temperatures continuing to dip as days get even shorter, and back-to-school and work schedules well underway, is your family starting to show the signs of stress?

Stress can impact everyone in the family both psychologically and physiologically, from young children with tummy troubles over a challenge at school to adults with tension headaches juggling the multiple facets of home and career.

Managing and preventing stress and anxiety involves everyone in the family too. Connection, communication and family support are key to identifying, minimizing and relieving stress before it becomes a bigger concern.

Look, listen and get curious

Everyone gets busy but we can always make time for the things that really matter. This begins with family connection. Breakfast, dinner time, evenings and weekends are prime time to check in with family members, observe, listen and get curious. Ask open-ended questions that encourage open and honest dialogue about anything they’re struggling with and invite the whole family to get creative about possible ways to help minimize stressors. For more serious concerns related to school, reach out to your child’s teacher, and if needed, consult with your health care professional.

Get a good night’s sleep

It’s not just the kids that need a consistent bedtime and adequate sleep – did you know even teenagers still need up to 10 hours of sleep per night to maintain optimal concentration at school? While adults tend to slough off the importance of getting some extra shut-eye in favour of checking one more item off the to-do list, even an extra 15-30 minutes of sleep per night can be enough to ward off the effects of stress and keep you clear-headed for the day ahead. Couples can also benefit from some quality time together after the kids are tucked in bed.

If possible, aim for that consistent sleep routine all seven days of the week, as late weekends make it hard to transition back to your regular schedule come Monday morning.

Plan ahead

When you map out schedules and activities in advance, it’s easier to figure out how to best manage your time and anticipate potential challenges before they occur, resulting in less stress for the entire family. Set up a visual schedule and put it in a common area of the house — a great tool for both adults and kids to help with tracking and monitoring. Work together with your child to design a homework agreement that manages their time and stress level, builds their confidence, and invites them to come to you if they run into difficulty.

Build in time for play

We’ve all seen the stats — children are spending less time playing and more time in front of the screen. Play and downtime are no less important to adults. While having a plan for the week is a great idea to manage stress, don’t forget to build in time to play for every member of the family, both separately and together. Turn off your devices and take turns choosing a weekly or bi-weekly family activity. From board games to bowling, there are many options for screen-free fun.

Get outside

Crisp and colourful, fall is one of the best times of the year to get outside and enjoy some fun time as a family. Our local area offers a wide array of parks and trails, whether you’re into frisbees and picnics, walking, hiking, or even canoeing. Being in nature has multiple health and stress-busting benefits and as an added bonus you’ll be reconnecting and strengthening your relationship as a family, which further reduces stress. Visit conservationhalton.ca to learn more about all the Halton Region has to offer.

by Jerry Balice

Article provided by NEX Wellness. You can find them at NEXWellness.com

In Articles

The Beautiful Benefits of Living Walls

September 23, 2019 No Comments

These days you don’t need to go outside to get yourself a breath of fresh air. Prevalent in Japan for years, living walls quickly picked up popularity in Canada starting around 2010. Commonly found in shopping malls, office spaces, and now, even in homes, these green fixtures of art and vitality are an eco-friendly design trend that brings the outdoors inside.

Accurately named, a living wall – or green wall – is a self-sufficient vertical garden that attaches to the exterior or interior wall of a building. Not to be confused with ivy walls, living walls are installed and fastened directly to the wall. The plants receive water and nutrients from the structure they’re grown in rather than ivy which grows directly from the ground. Besides the numerous benefits, living walls are easy to care for, especially with the support of local companies who specialize in the installation and plant selection.

“They’re excellent for both residential and commercial applications,” says Christopher Curtis of Living Wall Concepts in Oakville. “They provide so many mental and physical benefits, especially in places like schools, dentist and doctor offices, nursing homes and hospices. They’re like living artwork.”

Lighting is a vital component for the ongoing success of these installations, and Curtis suggests contacting a company like Living Wall Concepts that is well-versed in the process to help you choose plants and set up a maintenance schedule.

“Our system uses no hard water lines or pumps, so it’s a little bit easier,” he says. The size of the living wall can vary greatly, from two by two feet to 10 feet by 20 feet. Some plants that work well include Pothos, Peace Lilies, Janet Craigs, and Dracaenas.

With a living wall, air purification and air quality are unparalleled, says Amanda Matfin of Greenteriors of Burlington. She adds space isn’t an issue. Even apartments can handle smaller versions of the walls with as few as 10 plants.

“Herb walls are also a great idea, perfect for foodies who want fresh herbs year-round and through the harsh Canadian climate,” she says. “The key ingredient is proper care, and that’s something we as a company can do for the owner.”

There are a number of professional buildings that can benefit from installations, she says, including restaurants, which are a popular place for living walls to enhance guests’ experiences.

Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, living walls offer numerous health benefits.

“In places of care, like hospitals, living walls can greatly reduce anxiety, stress, and depression, and are proven to enhance and speed up healing,” Amanda says. “There’s lots of room for creativity.” Amanda has seen the walls used as interior design additions, and acoustic or sound absorption trappings in high-traffic areas. Any chance to go natural and get rid of plastic, she stresses, is a good step forward.

Before any installation takes place, a consultation is needed to determine what space is available, the level of commitment and other requirements a customer may have. Then, you will need to find the best and most appropriate living wall system to ensure both aesthetics and top functionality are equally addressed, followed by irrigation and lighting needs, plant selection and desired maintenance. Finally, trained installation professionals will install your living wall system filled with specific plant species.

The key to success with any living wall is maintenance, says both Curtis and Matfin. Based on the species of plants selected for your living wall, it will require weekly, bi-weekly or monthly attention to ensure the plants thrive. Plants should also be monitored to ensure there are no damaging pests and that both the irrigation and fertilizer systems are working properly.

Beyond residential spaces, living walls can provide huge benefits to a work environment. When you consider just how much time you spend at your place of business, living walls can brighten even the dullest interior and improve employee retention by creating a positive and stimulating workplace. Research has found that blood pressure levels are lower when plants are present and they can also help combat fatigue, throat irritation, dry and itchy eyes, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, and irritability.

If you need any further incentive to bring a living wall into your life, consider these proven benefits: plants are shown to increase productivity, enhance test grades, reduce stress and anxiety, improve air quality, provide humidity regulation, and improve the general quality of life. People surrounded by living walls have been found to have improved mental and physical health, feel more content and relaxed, and are more creative in general.

This is a design worth getting behind. Breathe deeply, relax and enjoy your own little pocket of greenery.

by Allison Dempsey

Local Links

Living Wall Concepts
livingwallconcepts.com

Greenteriors
greenteriors.ca

In Articles

Mad for Maddie

September 20, 2019 No Comments

Maddie Smith will be turning seven next month and in those few short years, she’s lived a lifetime. From living with and battling two serious illnesses to raisings funds for others walking in her shoes – Maddie encompasses the very meaning of resilience.

Maddie’s fight started when she was born with cystic fibrosis, a disease that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. It’s the most common fatal genetic disease affecting children and young adults in Canada, and sadly there is no cure. Her parents, Keri-Lyn and Brian of North Burlington, say they don’t let Maddie’s illness define their family. With two other children and Maddie’s needs, it’s been a challenge given the time it takes to treat her condition and keep her healthy.

“The whole family goes through it. You’re spending all your nights in hospital and you’re not with your other kids. Maddie takes the brunt of it, but it affects the whole family,” said Keri-Lyn.

Maddie requires physiotherapy twice a day, morning and night, plus nebulizers to break up the mucus in her lungs.

Not long after her fourth birthday, Maddie began to feel unwell. After several visits to doctors and emergency wards, the Smith family was devastated to find Maddie would be facing a second battle – this time, leukemia.

For two and a half years, Maddie endured intense chemotherapy, which came with weight loss and hair loss, all at the vulnerable age of four. On top of that, she battled several bouts of pancreatitis, which required eight hospitalizations.

“It was excruciatingly painful. It took her out,” says Keri-Lyn. “But Maddie is a tough cookie and she has rolled with the punches.” Keri-Lyn also says Maddie has wanted to know everything about her illness, to the point where she now wants to become a teaching nurse.

After two and a half years and a heroic fight, Maddie is cancer free, lifting a huge weight from the family’s shoulders.

“This summer has been an opportunity for her to truly be a kid again and play with siblings and do kid things,” says Keri-Lyn, who was off work the last three years to focus on Maddie.

Despite her illnesses, Maddie still plays soccer, rides her bike, and jumps on the backyard trampoline. She’s also been engaged in many community events.

For Maddie’s fifth birthday, the family held a blood drive with the goal of getting 55 units donated. Instead, more than 250 units were collected. Then there’s the Mad for Maddie street party, an event the family has organized every July for the past three years to raise funds for the Children’s Wish Foundation and CF Canada. Last year’s goal was $10,000 and they raised more than $20,000.

At the most recent street party, which included the Burlington Teen Tour Band, they raised another $10,000.

The inspiration to give back came from the kindness of the community. When Brian needed to take time off work to be with Maddie, people stepped forward and donated cash as well as meals. Some even volunteered to clean their house.

“People stepped up in ways we never expected. It was so empowering and we felt like we had to spread the love,” said Keri-Lyn.

Have all of their fundraising efforts made a difference? They like to think so. When Maddie was first diagnosed, the life expectancy in Canada for a child born with CF was 30 years old. Today it’s 54.

“It’s great to think there’s a high survival rate but there’s still so much that needs to be done,” said Keri-Lyn, adding that less than four percent of cancer research funding goes to childhood cancer. “We have these kids who are clearly needing support which is why we’re always trying to bring awareness to childhood cancer.”

And when it comes to Maddie, she’s always stayed positive.

“Everyone has been so nice to me,” said Maddie. “It made me feel like I wasn’t the only one fighting and that everyone else was fighting along with me, too.”

by Denise Davy

Local Link

Mad for Maddie
facebook.com/Mad for Maddie

In Articles

Shop Local – Fall Fashion Finds

September 19, 2019 1 Comment

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Jeff’s Guy Shop

This cozy hoodie is perfect for date-night. Tailored to fit and luxuriously comfortable, this sweater pulls together an effortless look.

457 Brant St, Burlington
jeffsguyshop.com

L.L. Bean

Inspired by the traditional sweaters worn as a defence against the bone-chilling conditions at sea. This heavyweight sweater is made in Ireland with premium wool for outstanding warmth. The Katahdin Pom Hat is a cozy and colourful beanie featuring ‘sunrise over Katahdin’ logo.

240 Leighland Ave, Oakville
llbean.ca

C’est Naturel Boutique

Designed and made locally by C’est Naturel owner, Bemi, this outfit is lightweight, stylish and super versatile.

3300 Fairview Street – 6B, Burlington
cestnaturel.store

Joelle’s

Who doesn’t love a hoop? Handmade in Atlanta, France, Italy & other small studios around the globe – these earrings from Machete are sustainable, modern, and hypo-allergenic.

457 Brant St, Burlington
joelles.com

Posh Couture

You never know what you’re going to find at Posh Couture, with it’s rotating collection of luxury consignment clothing, purses, shoes, and jewelry. This funky Valentino purse is a perfect example!

372 Brant Street, Burlington
poshcouture.ca

Centro Garden

A good looking, functional market bag that packs down into nothing. Available in a variety of colours – pop by the store or buy online.

437 Brant St, Burlington
centrogarden.com

Styleyes Fashion Crate

Can’t decide what to wear to work? Subscribe to the Styleyes Fashion Crate and get a handpicked, curated box of clothes delivered to your home every quarter. Designed for the working professional, they take the time, stress and guesswork out of shopping.

styleyesfashioncrate.com

Zahara’s Boutique

The colourful Isle dress is made from soft, stretchy bamboo jersey material and pairs beautifully with a coat shawl.

321 Cornwall Rd, Oakville
zaharasboutique.com

In Articles

Flying Sky High – Learn to Fly!

September 5, 2019 No Comments

An experience like no other, the sky is truly the limit for those interested in taking flight lessons. Across Oakville and Burlington, there are many schools that offer the once in a lifetime opportunity of flying a plane yourself the very first time you get behind the controls.

At both Skyview Ultralights and Spectrum Airways in Burlington and at AeroCourse in Oakville, students will sign up and on their first day, fly the plane themselves with the help of an instructor. For first time flyers, the experience gives a whirlwind of emotions.

“When you finally fly solo for the first time, the feeling leaves you speechless. There’s nothing better than being in the sky, in an airplane,” Spectrum Airways business development manager Matthew Matecki explained. “It’s a feeling of accomplishment, passion, and love. It’s a feeling like no other, and something you can’t really get until you get in a plane and experience it on your own.”

All of these schools thrive on sharing their passions with their students. Wanting to pass on his love for flying with other local flight-enthusiasts, Mazhar Pirani opened Skyview Ultralights in Edenvale in 2016 before moving the school to the Burlington Airpark in 2017. Working as a pilot himself, Pirani possessed a lot of skills and knowledge that inspired him to open his own flight school, “I personally enjoy flying and having a school is a fun way to share the experience and pass on the knowledge to others,”
said Pirani.

Oakville’s flight school, AeroCourse, has its main office off of Dundas Street and offers courses across Canada. AeroCourse manager Dianne Powell explains the first flight lessons as “exciting but nerve-wracking, it’s a fantastic feeling when you are actually up in the air. For me and many of my colleagues who fly today, it sparked a lifelong passion for aviation,” Powell said.

For those wanting to learn, both Pirani and Matecki explain that there’s no prior knowledge or experience needed before your first lesson. The first lesson is thrilling and exciting, but Matecki notes there’s nothing you can do to prepare until after you’ve flown once, “It’s almost impossible to prepare for your first flight because you don’t really know what to expect. Until you get into a plane, you don’t know how you’re going to react in the air.”

Jokingly, Matecki says the one thing you can prepare for your first lesson is to make sure you’re wearing closed-toe shoes.

With a similar approach, Pirani says there’s nothing you can do to prepare other than doing pretend practices at home. “The biggest tip would be to do your homework and mentally practice the flight exercises on the couch, known as ‘couch flying,’” he said.

Offering not only flight lessons, Skyview Ultralights also offers sightseeing tours. Online, first-time flyers can purchase gift cards and e-gift certificates for introductory flights or one of the tours.

At any flight school, flyers will get an experience like no other and continue to grow their passion for flying. Striving to make a difference in the experience of its students, Spectrum Airways focuses on being a home away from home and a family to its students. Running out of the Burlington Airpark for more than 50 years, the instructors and staff at Spectrum Airways want all of their students to feel as excited as they did during their first lessons.

“We make sure we know everyone’s name and we know who’s coming in, we want to provide everyone with the best experience possible,” Matecki explained. “Some people might be scared out of their mind and some people might be so excited, but it’s our job to make sure everyone is prepared.”

Matceki says that there’s no feeling like flying and it’s a feeling everyone should experience at some point in their lives. Whether you are afraid of flying or just curious, in-flight lessons will teach you that there’s nothing to be afraid of, and it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

by Allie Murray