Celebrating its 40th year, Canada’s largest free music festival known as the Sound of Music is famous for its long list of local and internationally renowned musicians as well as its “something for everyone” musical assortment.
Generating more than $12 million in economic activity and drawing more than 200,000 people, there are reasons why the festival has become so popular.
This year the festival will run from June 8th to the 16th – and once again, there is no shortage of great entertainment. You will be able to enjoy the country sounds of Terri Clarke, who has toured internationally and sold more than five million albums; the classic folk-rock style of the Skydivers; and the Toronto band Goodnight, Sunrise who describe themselves as an “indie-rock-and-roll-super-fun-dance-party band.”
Other musical acts include Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion, as well as David Wilcox and The Spoons, a Burlington band who formed in 1979 and became popular with their hit song Nova Heart. The international lineup includes the British rock band Bush who play alternative rock, post-grunge and grunge.
They will join Headstones and other bands on Saturday, June 8th for the ticketed kick-off show.
The Sound of Music is held in Spencer Smith Park and also includes a carnival, vendors, and children’s villages. On June 15th at 1 p.m., there will be a Grande Festival Parade that includes marching bands from across Canada and the United States, plus floats and performers. It will begin at Central Park and end at Central High School.
The festival’s success depends on a small staff and hundreds of volunteers.
For more information on getting involved and full details of the line-up for this year, go to the festival website at soundofmusic.ca
You probably don’t think twice when asked, “Would you like a side of fries with that?” But it’s time to give this popular accompaniment the attention it deserves. Despite their seeming simplicity, it’s shockingly easy to get fries horribly wrong. Often, they’re greasy, pale, and as alluring as the cardboard box housing your morning cereal. Yet, served hot, golden, and just kissed with salt, properly-made French fries are one of life’s grandest pleasures. Here’s our guide to help you find some of the best fries being dished out in Oakville and Burlington.
Get back to basics at one of Oakville’s premier chip wagons. Once you spot the bright yellow exterior, prepare to pull over for made-to-order, hand-cut fries topped simply with salt, Chippy’s seasoning or gravy.
Knowing that nothing goes with a great burger like equally delicious fries, the team here works with Yukon Gold potatoes, cutting them thin, frying them to order and serving them as-is or as poutine, smothered in peppercorn beef gravy. An assortment of sauces, from chipotle mayo to garlic aioli, make great alternatives to Heinz.
Killer gourmet sandwiches draw crowds but Just Braise’s fries are the sleeper hit at this Fortino’s plaza denizen. Russet potatoes are hand-washed and cut, the skin left on for added texture. Then, they’re double-fried to a deep golden brown. Made to order, these beauties are always fresh and give Just Braise’s unique, gourmet sandwiches some serious competition.
Bronte landmark, Sammy’s Famous Old Fashion Chip Wagon is a family favourite. With potatoes cut into fries in-front of mouth watering guests – it doesn’t get fresher than this.Crisp and crunchy, they make a perfect evening snack or casual lunchtime treat.
Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. What more do you want when it comes to the perfect fry? Always freshly cut and browned with the skin left on, these french fries, served in a heap, have the perfect balance of smoothness and crunch. Severed with a with a side of roasted garlic aioli, they may be just too good to share..
Featuring farm-to-table cuisine, Spencer’s is known for local plates and tranquil lakeside views. Choosing between mains can be tricky but a side of fries is a must. Cut from fresh Yukon Gold potatoes, Spencer’s fries are first blanched, then finished in hot oil until deeply bronzed. Finished with pine salt and presented with house mayo, they’re a perfect match to whichever main you choose.
A local landmark, “The Big Pit” has been dishing out robust, Greek-Canadian diner classics since 1969. Hand-cut, and twice fried, potatoes arrive superlatively crisp and lustrous. Served simply salted or Greek-style, with feta, oregano, and lemon juice, they’re habit-forming, french fry nirvana.
Easterbrooks Hot Dog Stand
A retro diner, tailor-made for Instagram pics, Canada’s “2nd Oldest Hot Dog Stand” serves more than two dozen varieties of foot-long hot dogs and fast-food style French fries. Crisp and thin, these are the fries you want close by when cravings hit.
The French Fry Guy
It’s lucky this nondescript food truck is somewhat off the beaten path or there’d be line-ups down the street. Here, PEI’s finest russet potatoes are sliced down to steak-cut size, then double-fried. Golden and delicately crisp yet perfectly tender at their core, they’re what every potato aspires to be.
A menu infused with international flavours keeps locals returning to this popular spot. Here, the kitchen gives russet potatoes the frite treatment — cutting them thin, then frying them twice to maximize crunch. Tossed in truffle oil and herbs, then finished with salt, pepper, and parmesan they’re a gourmet choice well worth the calorie splurge.
Grief in the wake of the death of a family member can be a difficult time of change and uncertainty for children and their families. Often isolating, grief needs time, space, and connections to others so that children and families can begin rebuilding their lives. The Lighthouse for Grieving Children is such a place, such a community.
Lighthouse was started 20 years ago in Oakville by Jo Fallon. Having lost her own mother as a child, she knew the need for an environment where children could come together to talk about their grief.Jo says, “Twenty years ago there was the commitment to the knowledge that grief, being a natural and healthy reaction to loss, requires a non-judgmental, safe environment to be digested into our being”, and she talks about our need “to become comfortable with the uncomfortable”. Talking specifically about Lighthouse, Jo says, “our community has embraced and created a Lighthouse that shines brightly and is now acknowledged as a leader in its field across Canada”.
Lighthouse is run by a small team, with just five full-time staff, a number of contract workers, and an amazing, dedicated volunteer force. As Jo says, where Lighthouse is now “is the result of the true grit and openness of so many volunteers, staff, Board Members and supporters… without each one of them we wouldn’t be celebrating 20 years”.
Each week, group sessions are held Monday-Thursday and children and teens attend every second week.They can start at any point throughout the year and come to sessions for as long as they need to – some for 6 months, others for a number of years.The children range in age from 3 to 19 and there is a concurrent parent group for the parents of those children.The sessions have an open forum discussion, art activities, some age-appropriate break out time from play time through to music and even the padded ‘Volcano Room’, complete with a punchbag.
The services that Lighthouse provides are free.Each year, 350 families benefit, at a cost of $1,700 per participant.There is a strong fundraising ethos well supported by the community to raise funds to cover these costs: annually a 5km Run 4 Lighthouse (with 1000 participants!), the Power of 10 cycling event, and the pre-Christmas Bring & Buy sale amongst many others.This year, as Lighthouse celebrates 20 years, a 20 for 20 fundraising initiative was launched asking anyone and everyone to host an event, big or small, to help raise funds for Lighthouse: from bake sales, poker nights, lemonade stands, neighbourhood BBQs, every little bit helps!The first few events are now underway with the hopes of many more to come throughout the 20th year!
Thousands of families have benefitted from the services that Lighthouse provides.“Without this place, I would be lost, I would be floundering, I wouldn’t know what to do to support my kids. They are my number one concern and I feel like Lighthouse is the safety net. When something is going on, we can turn to the Lighthouse, we have people we can talk to, books we can read, other resources that are available. If there was no Lighthouse, it would be a lot tougher trying to normalize things without having some proof that you aren’t the only one,” commented one family.
At The Lighthouse, families find and create a community of understanding, stability and support during a very difficult time.
Congratulations from all of us at Look Local for your achievements over the last 20 years.
The Run for Lighthouse is taking place Saturday June 1st at Lion’s Valley Park. Every individual who raises $25 or more is eligible for a voucher from Film.ca while larger fundraising amounts make individuals eligible to win a Royal Caribbean Cruise courtesy of Expedia or a ‘Fill a Theatre’ experience by Film.ca
Like daffodils in the spring, markets are a sure sign of summer. Growing in popularity due to a trend toward locally grown food and handmade items, you can get your hands on some artisanal goods at these wonderful summer markets:
MKRSMRKT
Centro Garden 437 Brant Street, Burlington
Centro will also host a MKRSMRKT again this year, held on Friday, July 5th from 4 p.m. till 10 p.m. This is a free pop-up retail experience that allows local artisans to sell their wares in Downtown Burlington. Last year it included more than 30 makers in the areas of wood, metal, food, wine, leather, jewelry and paper. As Centro manager Jennifer Klassen said, “It’s a great community building experience and brings people together to celebrate local artisans.”
Centro Farm Market
Centro Garden|437 Brant Street, Burlington
The market runs every Sunday morning from 9 a.m. to noon, starting on Mother’s Day until Thanksgiving weekend. Some vendors continue until the end of October.
Be sure to bring an extra-large basket when you visit the Centro Farmer’s Market in Downtown Burlington this summer. Located behind Centro Garden at 437 Brant Street, last year’s market was a huge success. It included more than 14 vendors including an assortment of artisans and farmers, and offeredhomemade ice cream, lemonade, tea, baked goods, and fresh cut flowers. There were also goodies from local farms including fruit and preserves.
Craftadian Made in Hamilton Market
McMaster Innovation Park 175 Longwood Road South #105, Hamilton
This market will be in full swing on Saturday, August 17th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at McMaster Innovation Park. It is a gem for anyone looking for handmade goods as it includes over 70 designers, creators, and artists who all live in Canada and make their products here. The event also features live music, food, and more!
Burlington MADE Second Saturdays in the Square
Village Square (Elizabeth and Pine St.), Burlington
June 8, July 13, August 10, September 14. 10am – 3pm Burlington MADE and Village Square are partnering this summer to bring you a monthly pop up market featuring some of the best makers in the GTA. Browse gourmet food and handmade goods for everyone in the family while wandering the quaint cobblestone alleys of historic Village Square, surrounded by independent coffee shops, cafes, and pubs. The market is rain or shine, pet-friendly, wheelchair accessible, and free to enter. www.burlingtonmade.com
There’s this girl I know. She has strawberry blonde hair that flows down her back and sandy coloured freckles on a peachy complexion. She is beautiful and she reminds me of a beautiful strawberry. Her name is Anna and she is the daughter of Niagara’s largest strawberry farmer, Tigchelaar’s Berry Farm.
Tigchelaar’s supplies Ontario’s wholesale market with ever-bearing strawberries throughout the spring and summer. Chances are if you see local strawberries in your grocery store, they’re Tigchelaar’s. In the spring, they also run one of the few remaining pick-your-own strawberry operations on Jordan Road, right next to their farm market appropriately called, The Red Barn Farm Market.
You can recognize a strawberry field by the lush, green, corduroy rows dotted with little, glistening spots of ruby red. For those who appreciate the seduction of the first sweet bite of the season, it signifies not just the return of our beloved strawberries, but the start of a 6-month long bounty of local food that begins right here among the straw-covered berry patch.
Tigchelaar’s pick-your-own season is much shorter than their summer-long wholesale business. They select the most delicious, choicest of strawberry varieties (which are also the most perishable and not easily transported to stores) to plant for their pick-your-own field and the season lasts approximately six weeks.
Strawberry picking is definitely a long-standing tradition, explains Fran Tigchelaar. “The best part of strawberry season for me is to see my regular customers again. We’re like a seasonal community, they come back year after year and they pick tons of strawberries in minutes flat for themselves, their friends and family and I love them all.” Traditional strawberry pickers are largely from an aging demographic. And with the changing demographics, comes change for Ontario farmers and their operations.
Springridge Farm in Milton is Ontario’s iconic pick-your-own strawberry operation, or at least they were until a few years ago. “We went from 90% pick-your-own and 10% value added activity to 10% pick-your-own and 90% value added,” explains Jessie Lauzon, Director of Food for Springridge Farm in Milton. “The market was sending us a message. We still get to be strawberry farmers and now we can value add to our crop – we’re loving the evolution!”
In Springridge’s giant farm market, you’ll find fresh strawberries picked that day as well as cooked into pies and tarts, grilled into brie cheese sandwiches and simmered into some of their award-winning jams and sauces. Like Springridge, Tigchelaar’s also value adds with their crop. In the Red Barn Farm Market, you’ll find fresh strawberries baked into pies and tarts, delicious jams and you won’t want to miss their famous strawberry scones.
The little, ruby red berries with more than enough juice to stain your fingers are dependent on sun, warm days and rich soil. We should see berry harvests begin in early June. However, the season varies depending not just on the weather, but also on location. For instance, strawberry fields in Niagara and Simcoe traditionally harvest first, around the end of May or the first part of June, while the fields in the Milton and Burlington area will harvest about mid-June. This is because the weather is warmer along the lake, coaxing them to ripen earlier.
Strawberries are one of life’s little luxuries and to get the most from them you need to find your own farmer who can supply you with strawberries so sweet they make you swoon. Ontario berries are more than just strawberries; they’ve become symbolic of local food – food that is more than what it appears.
Always pick up local Ontario strawberries in the produce sectionof your grocery store, but if you can, plan on a fullstrawberry experience at any of the following farms:
13682 Heart Lake Rd., Caledon, Open April 13, 7 days a week, 9 am – 5 pm. Pick-your-own: 7:30 am – 2 pm, weekends until 3:30 pm 905-838-2990 downeysfarm.com
Springridge Farm
7256 Bell School Line, Milton, Opens April 12, 6 days a week in season, 9 am – 5 pm springridgefarm.com
Tigchelaar Berry Farm and Red Barn Farm Market
4157 Jordan Rd, Jordan Station Open soon,6 days a week during the season. Closed Sundays Call 905-658-2265 for daily strawberry picking updates tigchelaarberries.com
by Lynn Ogryzlo
Lynn Ogryzlo is a food writer, culinary nutritionist and founder of FOOD 101, offering food education classes in Niagara and Toronto. (www.FOOD101.ca)
Love low-maintenance? This succulent arrangement is perfect for a coffee table or kitchen counter. Durable both indoor and outdoor with lots of sizes and styles available. Centro Garden, burlington centrogarden.com
The perfect tool for quickly adding fresh flavour to any dish. A few quick squeezes of the spring-loaded handles will cut and shred herbs quickly and easily. Locks for safe, compact storage and dishwasher safe. Nicetys, Oakville Nicetys.com
Adorable, handmade, rustic signs featuring various messages. These planters are perfect for herbs or flowers. Rustic Daisy’s, waterdown Rusticdaisys.ca
Light up your patio with these beautiful metal lanterns from Pure Boutique. Perfect for resting on the patio, or hanging. Available in different sizes. Pure Boutique, burlington pureboutique.ca
Looking for a one-of-a-kind planter? Create your own at Creative Insight, or buy from their handmade pottery collection in-studio. Creative Insight Pottery, waterdown Creativeinsightpottery.com
Greet your guests or customers with a display of colour for every season. Maximize your curb appeal at your home or business door with these beautiful planters and one of a kind seasonal exterior arrangements. The Garden Girls Thegardengirls.ca
Pssst, wanna know a secret?A big-time celebrity lives right here in Oakville. She shops at our grocery stores, she plays with her children at our parks, she even hits the town for a bite to eat every now and then (when she’s not whipping up something delicious in her kitchen). She’s a New York Times Best Selling Author, an award-winning blogger, Instagram mogul – and honestly, a downright charming and lovely individual. Can you guess who it is yet? We’ll give you one more clue: she’s vegan.
That’s right. We’re talking about Ms. Oh She Glows herself, Angela Liddon. We recently sat down and chatted with Angela about balancing work and motherhood, and even got the scoop on her upcoming third book. And truthfully, interviewing Angela was one of the most pleasant experiences. Take a look:
Give us the quick and dirty – how did Oh She Glows come to life?
In 2008, I started my blog Oh She Glows because I was unhappy with my career as a researcher (I had recently graduated with a Masters degree in social psychology) and needed a fun, creative outlet. I quickly fell head over heels in love with blogging, and discovered a passion for recipe creation, writing, and food photography that I never really expected to find. After a couple of years of blogging, I was approached by a major publishing house asking whether I’d like to write a cookbook. Almost 10 years since starting my blog, I’ve shared over 600 recipes online, written two bestselling cookbooks, and published an award-winning recipe app. I’m grateful every day that I get to wake up and live my passions.
Have you ever had a “wow, I’ve made it” moment, or several, or none?
Shortly after my first cookbook went on sale in 2014, I received a call from my editor. Lucia was bursting with excitement and yelled, “Angela, you’re a New York Times Bestselling Author!!” I think that was when I truly realized the immense support behind my work. To see how many people had gone out and bought themselves and friends/family a copy really blew me away. Another moment was winning a WXN’s Canada’s Most Powerful Women Award in 2018.
While building your brand, you’ve also been building your family. As a working mom, I’ve felt the pull so many of us feel to “do it all.” How do you find balance – or do you?
Almost 5 years into motherhood, I’m just starting to feel like I have some sort of balance in terms of my personal wellbeing. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to a good place of mental and physical health. In terms of feeling balanced in other areas, I honestly can’t say I’m there yet. I’ve had to temporarily give up a lot of things in my business because there is only so much time in the day! Being a parent of two little ones has forced me to embrace the chaos and also focus on which projects are the most important right now. Rather than trying to do a little bit of everything and feeling overwhelmed, I now focus on one main goal at a time. I’m learning that I really don’t need to do it all.
How do you build and create your recipes? Does it take a lot of trial and error – or does it come pretty naturally at this point?
Now that I’ve been doing this for about 10 years, I do find that recipe creation is a bit quicker than it used to be. I’m better at planning the recipe I want to create, from balancing flavours to knowing how much of each ingredient to use. I’ve learned a lot, but I’m a perfectionist at heart so I still tweak recipes even when the first attempt was great. It’s fun for me. Not everything works though – I still have some epic fails now and then, and when a recipe goes horribly wrong, I tend to abandon it and focus on something else for a bit.
How do you spend your free time in our beautiful little community?
We love finding new parks/playgrounds/splashpads. There are so many great ones in Oakville and the kids love scoping out new ones!
What’s next for Oh She Glows? and what’s next for you?
I’m currently immersed in the creation of my third cookbook – up first, is the writing, recipe creation, testing, etc, and then once my manuscript is handed in, I’ll be shooting the food photography. It took my creativity a while to “reset” after my second cookbook, Oh She Glows Every Day, and having my second baby. I was patient and didn’t force myself to dive into a new big project, and then one week the inspiration just struck me and I literally couldn’t get my ideas down fast enough. I’ve learned that being in a creative field has its highs and lows. There are super inspiring months when ideas and creativity are flying, and other months that leave me wondering if I’m ever going to create anything worthwhile again. Both are necessary parts of the creative process. After my cookbook is mostly complete, I’m going to shift back to my recipe app and work with my app team to consider expanding it in new and exciting ways.
Chocolate or vanilla?
No contest here – chocolate, hands down! My go-to snacking chocolate is Green and Blacks 85% dark chocolate.
Sweet or savory?
Oh, that’s tough…how about both? I love a little something sweet after a savory meal.
Choosing the best care for an aging parent can be one of the most difficult decisions you’ll have to make.
But knowing what questions to ask and what to look for can make the process easier, says Nina Hundtermark, who is the marketing manager at Palermo Village Retirement Residence in Oakville. Nina is in regular contact with people who are facing this decision and she also knows from personal experience that it can be tough.
A few months after placing her mother in a retirement home, she realized her mother’s dementia had progressed to the point where she needed to be in a nursing home.
“I had her with me for five days and I knew after day one she didn’t belong in a retirement home. Unless you spend some time with them, they can hide it and hold it together,” said Nina.
Before considering retirement home living, there are numerous home support options to choose from, including Home Instead, Senior Helpers, and Nurse Next Door. They can provide a Personal Support Worker to help with bathing, dressing, feeding and getting someone to an appointment as well as engaging their clients in activities.
But how do you know when home care isn’t enough? As Nina learned first-hand, it’s not enough to simply talk to one’s parent. She suggests you check their fridge and cupboards to make sure they have nutritious food, watch how often they change their clothes, and try and see if they’re getting their nails trimmed. If they’re making excuses for not going out, it may be because they’re depressed from being alone too often.
“Watch for things like if they start to lose weight or if they’re not taking care of themselves. There can be very subtle signs, like they may be nervous talking to others because they’re getting forgetful,” said Nina.
The benefit of a retirement home is that they offer meals, companionship, laundry service, exercise programs, weekly housekeeping, and other services under one roof. To begin your search, Nina suggests you make a list of things you want, like an indoor pool, or a balcony, or a kitchen to bake in, then narrow the choice in homes down to two.
Take a tour of them and ask to stay for dinner and talk to the residents. Watch to see if the servers are engaged, if the food is hot and how people are greeted at the door.
“Small things can make a big difference,” said Nina.
Nina has noticed that many people start perking up after they’ve moved into a retirement home because they’re getting balanced meals and more social interaction. However, the deciding factor is in the senior’s attitude.
“If they’re not open to moving, it’s a losing battle because you know they’re not going to assimilate when they get in there.”However, with patience and the help of a caring staff, retirement homes can definitely provide peace of mind to today’s busy families who are often trying to juggle work with caring for their kids as well as aging parents. Fortunately there are many options available in the Halton area.
by Denise Davy
Verve Senior Living
Palermo Village Retirement Residence 3136 Dundas Street West, Oakville Veveseniorliving.com
Our home becomes a reflection of our personality. Paintings, rugs, even kitchen hardware or throw pillows can reflect our sense of style in a unique way. Our windows are no different. Window treatments are an extension of your home décor – they can also be fairly pricey. So, if you’re ready to jump the gun and make this worthwhile investment, you should start with identifying your personal style and take it from there.
Over the last couple of years, Tori Brock, the owner of Fairhome Interiors in Burlington, has been noticing a resurgence in the popularity of well-made, custom drapery. She says, “We see trends towards pairing traditional styles with modern trends in everything from affordable mechanized hardware to highly advanced fabrics for the environmentally efficient home that no longer looks utilitarian.”
She also says sheers are making a big comeback – and they aren’t your traditional voile or lace.
Fabrics for this year consist of soft pallets with large scale botanicals or watercolour looks. “We are seeing everything from organic looking linens to nice embroideries and even simple embellishments to give a formal look,” Tori says. Fairhome’s favourite style is to layer an organic sheer with a beautiful print to really take your drapery to the next level.
As for colour, Melanie from Salnek’s Custom Window Treatments, also in Burlington, says pink is the latest and coolest trend. As for styles, she says “It’s about simplification. Automated window coverings are really popular right now. These are “smart” window treatments and can be operated directly through your phone. People are all about overall efficiency” – and access through an app is the way to go.
When it comes to finding the right treatment for your needs and style preferences, the options are really endless. However, it’s key to remember that while all window treatments serve the purpose – to block out sunlight and provide privacy – their installation can vary. It’s important to know what will work for your space while you shop. You will find plenty of local experts whoare there to help.
As for window treatment trends that are in the here and now, there’s a handful. Floor-to-ceiling drapery will make smaller spaces look larger and ceilings look taller, while sheers are perfect for letting in natural light while still providing privacy. Layering is also big right now. Not only can you layer with colour, but designers are also suggesting layering with materials as well – such as a bamboo blind over a sheer curtain. It’s eye-catching and totally on-trend. For those who have an eye for pattern, fear not – patterns are still in. Unlike the curtains from our childhood, patterns these days are bold and sophisticated, adding a special touch to any minimalistic room. Lastly, Tori says trim is making a huge comeback, whether it’s on curtains, shades, or valences. It’s a great way to take plain fabric and add texture – or even a pop of colour.
Truthfully, with all these options the process of choosing the right treatment can feel a little bit overwhelming. But we’re certain our local experts can help you find a look, colour, feel, and texture that meshes well with the overall design of your home. From farmhouse to glam and drapes to valences, window treatments have been around for centuries. With multiple styles and colours to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your home, your windows, and your personality.
Spring is the time of year whenDowntown Oakville streets come alive. Floral arrangements line sidewalks in oversized planters and shoppers come out to take in the beautifully crafted window displays. If you’re lucky, you may even find an open patio to grab a drink with friends on an exceptionally warm spring afternoon.
Downtown Oakville always will be an Oakville hot-spot. With access to lakefront trails, restaurants, shops, and a bustling employment centre, it may come as no surprise that the Lakeshore streetscape requires a boost to improve functionality.
If you’ve made your way to the main Lakeshore Road strip recently, you may have noticed that construction has already begun on the Lakeshore Road Reconstruction and Streetscape Project.
The project, which is to be completed in two phases over a two-year period, has closed vehicle access from Navy Street to Thomas Street. Improvements include new street furniture, a pedestrian crossover at Navy and Church streets, a two-way conversion of Navy Street, bike corrals, free public wifi, and redesign of the town square, among other exciting initiatives.
While the outcome of this project will have major benefits for the Downtown core, the two-year construction and disruption is troubling for local businesses and the Downtown Oakville BIA. Downtown Oakville boasts many wonderful events throughout the year, many of which have become family traditions and draw in large crowds. In addition, parking and road disruptions may discourage people from visiting this vibrant part of our community.
In 2017, Town staff were given the go-ahead to work on a plan to soften the economic impact of these two major construction projects. The Mitigation Strategy provided council with an outline of how to support the commercial business district, which may be impacted by the Lakeshore Bridge Reconstruction (complete) and the 2019-2020 Lakeshore Road Streetscape project.
In consultation between the Town of Oakville and the BIA, a lengthy list of mitigation measures have been developed to help keep the Downtown core vibrant throughout the duration of the construction period.
A Project Office has been opened and is located in the former Post Office at 193 Church Street. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and by appointment in the afternoon. This location is ‘information central’ for the reconstruction of Lakeshore Road. Staff are on-hand and ready to provide information and answer any questions.
When it comes to parking, additional spots have been created, plus customers, visitors, and residents who use the Honk Mobile app will receive their first hour of parking free anytime between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays by using promo code DOWNTOWN. Parking on weekends is FREE.
And there are plenty of reasons you’ll want to head down there. The Downtown Oakville BIA is very excited to be introducing a brand-new pop-up park for all to enjoy throughout the summer in the heart of Downtown. The pop-up park will be created on George Street and will include unique lounge furniture, bistro tables, greenery, rotating art installations and more! The park will be open throughout the week, free for all to enjoy starting in June and running through to September. Every Thursday evening, the pop-up park will be home to outdoor movies. On Friday evenings, TD Songs of Summer Series will be on, showcasing an artist on stage in the pop-up park from June 14 – Aug 30 (excluding July 19, when you can enjoy Midnight Madness instead) – One Stage, One Sound, Every Friday night!
The pop-up park will also host giant blocks and yoga on Saturdays and family games and activities on Sundays. And of course, the usual themed events will be happening, including Spring Bloom May 11 – 12, Sidewalk Sale June 6 – 9, and Midnight Madness on July 19. The pop-up park will be the perfect gathering place for the community to come together and enjoy all that Downtown has to offer throughout this exciting time of revitalization.
Technicalities and construction aside, the end result of this project is going to be impressive. And while teams are hard at work in the streets and in the stores, they require our support and patience. Don’t let this project stop you from enjoying all of the best shopping and dining experiences Downtown Oakville has to offer.
