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A Community Hub With A Cultural Twist – What’s On At Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre

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Within the grounds of a high school, there are decades of memories within lockers and bathroom stalls, under bleachers and on the football field. There have been broken hearts and championships, school dances and graduations. With diploma in hand, many of us begin the quest for bigger opportunity, leaving behind the memories, likely never to see those four walls again – except for maybe at a reunion.

However, the alumni of Queen Elizabeth Park high school have a unique opportunity to walk those halls again – though the halls may look vastly different. In March 2012, the school re-opened after an extensive renovation under new ownership of the Town of Oakville, a community rich in arts, culture and heritage. The multi-use facility is housed inside the old QE Park high school north of Rebecca Street in West Oakville and features more than 144,000 square feet of activity space, making it one of the largest venues of its kind in Canada. It was purchased and renovated by the Town of Oakville at a cost of $27 million and, as far as they know, there isn’t another building of its kind in Canada that provides so many activities under one roof.

Since the opening, the facility has exceeded community expectations, offering a clay studio, wood shop, fibre arts centre, gallery, swimming pool, fitness studio, performance theatre, and dance studio, among many other amenities.

Susan Amaral, Manager of QEPCCC, says the next few months will be busy at the facility with rotating exhibits, drop-in classes, workshops, and more. Now is a better time than ever to visit this community gem.

Gallery and Hallway Exhibits

The gallery and hallway spaces have rotating exhibits throughout
the year. Entrance to the gallery is free of charge during gallery hours.

Main Gallery:

January – February 2019 : Children’s Photo Exhibit

February – March 2019 : Canadian Tapestry Centre

March – April 2019 : Ontario Society of Artists

April – May 2019 : ArtWorks Oakville

Corridors (Winter Exhbits):

White Oaks High School IB Visual Art program final exhibition, ArtWorks Oakville, Oakville Arts Society, Oakville Camera Club, Oakville Fibre Artists, Oakville Quilters’ Guild, Studio 3 Members, Youth Centre Exhibition, Lisa Rubic, Jay Park, Pam Read & Gina Morewood, Suzana Poposka, Laura Kay Keeling

Call for Exhibition Submissions

The Town of Oakville is developing a Public Art program to integrate artists and artwork into the development of applicable public projects. Art is to be acquired through a public process with the specific intention of being in the public realm. Public art may be temporary or permanent artworks and may include but is not limited to sculptures, mosaics, banners, earthworks, or street furniture.

The next deadline for submissions is September 1, 2019.

Drop-In Classes

All-Ages Ceramics Drop-In on Saturdays, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Check out the clay studio whether you are a novice or a pro, or just curious about clay! Children must be accompanied/supervised by an adult at all times.

Older Adult Centre
QEPCCC has an Older Adults Centre with a wide range of activities and programs for 50+. Upcoming events include:

March 13, St. Patrick’s Day Party
Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party in the Black Box featuring a Celtic trio called Erin’s Marlore. A light lunch will be served along with some good Irish tunes. Tickets are $15 per person.

April 10, Easter Bonnet Tea & Flower Arranging Workshop
Celebrate the start of spring with tea and a flower arranging demonstration by a local florist.
Wear your favourite Easter bonnet. Tickets are $8.00
which includes light refreshments.

Youth

Every year, Oakville celebrates National Youth Week with FREE activities, learning opportunities and events for youth
ages 11-19.

Throughout the week of May 1 to May 6, youth will have FREE access to all drop-in youth programs, open houses at all Town of Oakville youth centres, creative activities with the Oakville Public Library, and so much more!

School and Group Visits

With unique programming options, students can experience hands-on learning in performing arts, studio arts, recreation, youth education, heritage programs, and more.

Want to be added to the teacher’s email list about upcoming school curriculum events? Please email shelly.datseris@oakville.ca

by Annieliese Lawton

Local Link

Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre
Oakville.ca

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Alternative Health Methods
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Health is a Team Sport – Alternative Methods to Achieving Your Health Goals

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The Greek philosopher, Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine.” Today, the holistic medical world still follows this doctrine of healing the whole body when it comes to healing sickness. And, if you consider that we will eat more than 85,000 meals in an average lifetime, it’s no surprise that Hippocrates and today’s holistic practitioners still believe that what we eat matters to our health. So, how can we take steps to incorporate these natural living health-care regimes into our lives?

A well-rounded and natural approach to health care focuses on optimal wellness of an individual with a variety of techniques aimed at restoring a healthy balance to the body. In the past, most people would automatically seek out medical care, but holistic care is now one of the fastest growing areas of modern health care.

Maryellen Tedeschi is a naturopathic graduate and soon to be doctor at NEX Wellness in Burlington. NEX Wellness is one of the many holistic clinics throughout the country that offer holistic medicine, personalized nutrition, and lifestyle medicine plans such as regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and stress management.

Maryellen explains that patients should expect their first visit to the clinic to take anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes. The time is needed to discuss the patient’s health history, any illnesses diagnosed by their medical doctor, any physical, mental, emotional or digestive issues, lifestyle habits, sleep patterns, and levels of energy. Once all the information has been collected, the doctor will then ask more specific questions into areas of concern. Following a general physical exam, the patient and doctor determine the patient’s personalized health goals and design a plan to achieve them.

Holistic medicine treatments can help manage many health challenges such as arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes management, multiple sclerosis, migraines, back pain, chronic pain, hypertension, hormone imbalances, anxiety and depression, thyroid issues, autoimmune diseases and digestive issues such as heartburn, bloating, food allergies and sensitivities, and irritable bowel diseases.

Like traditional medicine, holistic care can use a variety of diagnostic tools which includes blood work. However, they may also use additional measures such as acupuncture treatment, herbal medicines and preparations, personalized nutrition and  lifestyle counseling, IV therapies, nutrient infusions and hair analysis to develop a deeper understanding of their patients’ needs. All of the techniques are designed to evaluate various states of the body. Some of these diagnostic tools as well as the costs of the naturopathic doctor are covered by most extended health insurance packages. It is best to contact your individual provider for details.

It is becoming more common for traditional medical doctors, naturopathic doctors and other health experts to work together on patient care. “Being healthy is a team sport and involving outside practitioners onto a patient’s health team is always a decision for the patients”, says Maryellen who sees only better care when all of the experts collaborate.

NEX Wellness is but one of the many holistic care clinics in a growing industry and no two offer the same services. Some holistic clinics focus on nutritional management and offer cooking classes, food education, grocery store tours, pantry audits, and therapeutic meal planning with recipes. Others include services such as traditional Chinese medicine, herbal medicine, massage treatment, weight and lifestyle management, women’s health, pain management, stress reduction and body movement. What they all have in common is their approach to the whole body rather than managing symptoms.

A decade ago there were two distinctly different camps of health care; traditional medicine and holistic care. Today these two industries are crossing over for comprehensive patient care that respects each unique individual, the combination of symptoms they present and the best treatment for the individual. Being healthy is definitely a team sport.

by Lynn Ogryzlo

Lynn Ogryzlo is a food writer and holistic nutritionist. She has founded FOOD 101, offering food education and healthy eating classes in Niagara and Toronto. www.FOOD101.ca

Local Links

NEX Wellness
Nexwellness.com

Oakville Naturopathic Clinic
 Oakvillenaturopathicclinic.com

Healing Arts Acupunture
 Healingartsacupuncture.ca

Abaton Integrative Medicine
 Abatonim.com

Balance Point Health Centre
Balancepointhc.com

Burlington Natural Health Centre
Burlingtonnaturalhealth.ca

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Firebat Coffee Roasters
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Meet The Entrepreneurs – Gustavo & Leena, Owners – Firebat Coffee Roasters

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…

Where do you source your beans?

We source our beans directly from quality driven small-scale producers in El Salvador. By engaging in a Direct Trade model we can offer an additional level of transparency to our customers of the specific farm the beans come from, the bean varietal, drying method, altitude. To the coffee producers direct trade enables them to be independent of the disastrous commodity market that for decades has kept the coffee prices low therefore not allowing sustainable production. 

What is your philosophy behind farming?

We promote sustainable farming which is an integral concept that takes into consideration not only the protection of the forest and water resources by growing coffee under the shade of the trees, but also the protection of local economies by paying fairly and employing local people, predominantly women, to harvest and process the coffee by hand.

What was the inspiration behind the Firebat brand?

We started this journey in El Salvador which is part of a bigger region called Mesoamerica once known as the Mayan empire. In the Mayan mythology the bat means change; letting go of the old to create space for new to come. In the coffee farms, bats are also an integral part of protecting coffee forests by keeping insects at bay. El Salvador is known as the land of fire with numerous active volcanoes and coffee thrives on volcanic soil, hence our name Firebat.

What’s your favourite roast that you carry?

We are proud of all our coffees, each of them has a solid place in the coffee flavour wheel and their own target audience. If we had to choose, our favourites are coffees from Shangrila and La Roxanita farms because of their flavour complexity.

Firebat Coffee Roasters

407 Speers Road, Unit 7 Back, Oakville   |    firebatcoffee.com

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Hayley Verrall
In Articles

Hayley Verrall – Healing The Heart and Singing for Smiles

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Some people spend a lifetime trying to find their calling. Many never find it.

For Hayley Verrall, it came in a single moment as she looked into her grandmother’s eyes and saw the joy that she was feeling from hearing Hayley sing.

“I had always loved singing but in that moment, to see her eyes light up and see that she was trying to sing along, it was like a miracle that happened. I discovered then that my purpose was to sing,” said Hayley, who is now 21.

Hayley was born and raised in Burlington and, by the age of 13, was doing open mic shows as well as performing at restaurants and street festivals. She never took it seriously as a career option.

“I was just sort of exploring it,” said Hayley, who lives in Brant Hills.

In 2015 her grandmother had a stroke which paralyzed the right side of her body. She was also struggling with dementia. Both left her unable to speak. During one of Hayley’s visits, she decided to sing to her grandmother. 

“When I started singing and she tried to sing along, it was such a special moment. It was a really big moment for me and I knew then that it was my purpose to sing for people and inspire people.”

Afterwards, Hayley’s family noticed that her grandmother had more movement on her right side and less paralysis in her throat. That moment was so powerful that it stayed with Hayley into her college years when she was studying in the Music Industry Arts and Performance Program at Centennial College.

During a project, she came up with the idea of Singing for Smiles. She would use her talents as a country singer and songwriter to perform for seniors. She started out slow and the demand now has her performing at various retirement homes every month plus other venues.

“All of a sudden all of these other places started contacting me,” said Hayley, who graduated from college last April. The requests have come from as far away as Paris and Toronto.

One thing she noticed was that a lot of seniors’ homes were playing classical music for residents but it was the old country classics by performers like Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline, that got the biggest responses.

“It’s because they tell a story and for a lot of them, the songs bring back memories and take them back to their childhoods.”

For Hayley, it’s the response from people that is the best part.

“They’re just loving it. Even nursing home staff say they see a change. When I sang Jolene (by Dolly Parton), a guy was crying on the couch. Another time, I was singing and this lady was dancing.”

Photo courtesy of Jill Lunn (LUNN Music Media and Consulting)

Hayley also performed over Christmas for patients at Joseph Brant Hospital, local Canada Day celebrations, and during the Inauguration of City Council. Her dream is to develop a music therapy program to run concurrently with her music performance business.

Her talents haven’t gone unnoticed. Last November she won a place in the Ontario Country Music Association International competition. In March she will represent Ontario at the North American Country Music Associations International competition in front of music industry professionals in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Representatives from all over the U.S., plus three chapters in Canada, will be present.

Hayley’s mom, Kim Verrall, says she’s “very proud” of her daughter.

“She’s doing very well and I think she’s making quite a name for herself in the Halton region.”

Hayley will be performing her country rock and pop songs as well as some originals at:

Pepperwood Bistro, Burlington:
March 29 & 30 from 8.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.

Uncorked On Main, Georgetown:
March 28 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

by Denise Davy

Local Link

Hayley Verrall
Hayleyverrallmusic.com

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In Arts & Events

Unearth What Makes The Niagara-on-the-Lake Appellation So Special At Exclusive Dig Our Roots Events

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Mark your calendars as Dig Our Roots, the annual celebration of the Niagara-on-the-Lake appellation, is only three weeks away (April 12–14). During this weekend, avid wine lovers will have an exclusive opportunity to discover the rich history and unique terroir of this one-of-a-kind wine growing region.

The Dig Our Roots Winemakers Dinner will be the official kick-off to the Dig Our Roots weekend and will be held in the beautiful Upper Canada Hall Ballroom at the Pillar and Post on Friday, April 12. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to rub shoulders with pioneers of the Ontario wine industry. The evening will begin with a sparkling reception where you can mingle with winemakers from several member wineries. Following the reception you will enjoy an exceptional dinner curated by Executive Chef, Mark Longster. As you enjoy the locally-inspired dishes and the exceptional wines that perfectly accompany them you can interact with the winemakers seated at your table. You will have the opportunity to learn about their approach to winemaking and how the unique terroir of their vineyards results in wines of exceptional quality and diversity. It will be an evening to remember! Purchase your tickets today as capacity is limited.

During the three-day weekend, the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake will open their doors to offer unique experiences that showcase our wines, our winemakers and our terroir like never before. At these exclusive events you can gain in-depth knowledge of the unique terroir in our four distinct sub-appellations – Niagara River, Niagara Lakeshore, Four Mile Creek, and St. David’s Bench. Wineries are offering a variety of formats to suit everyone’s preference – from vineyard walks to blending sessions, library tastings, dinners, interactive tasting flights, behind the scenes experiences and more. Visit our website to review the complete list of experiences available and download the Weekend at a Glance document and the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake map to plan your personalized itinerary for the full weekend. Purchase tickets to winery events today as spots are filling up quickly.

If you can’t make it down to Niagara-on-the-Lake this April you may still have an opportunity to learn about our unique appellation. This year the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake are hosting a special tasting in Toronto. Three member wineries – Inniskillin Wines, Reif Estate Winery, Strewn Winery – will be offering an exclusive tasting in the state-of-the-art wine lab at George Brown College on April 2nd. The theme of the evening will be Old Vines and Aged Wines. The winemakers will guide you through a tasting of exclusive back vintage and old vine wines that reflect the heritage and quality that Niagara-on-the-Lake is able to produce. Purchase tickets today as capacity is very limited.

Join us this April to discover the rich history of winemaking in this region and unearth what makes the Niagara-on-the-Lake appellation and our wines so very special.

Presented by Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake

Visit our website at wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com

Follow us on Facebook @wineriesofniagaraonthelake, Instagram @niagarawine, and Twitter @NiagaraWine

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Vegetarian Restaurants
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Oakville and Burlington’s Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants

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From concern for the environment to fierce affection for four-legged friends, there are plenty of reasons why vegan and vegetarian diets are more popular than ever. Instead of raising eyebrows, plant-based menus are now a major draw for restaurants looking to stay relevant and on-trend. Menus are being revamped, chefs are playing with their food to delightful effect, and animal-free ordering has become the norm. Hop on the bandwagon with a visit to Oakville and Burlington’s top destinations for vegan and vegetarian dining.

Boon Burger Oakville | Photo courtesy of @justinpluslauren

New to meat-free meals? Then start with something familiar and redone in a guilt-free way. From shakes and “Peace-za” to poutine and legume-based burgers topped with everything from peach chutney to pulled jackfruit, Boon Burger Café is the place for modern twists on comfort-food classics. With locations in Oakville and Burlington, Boon’s extensive menu can satisfy any craving. For lighter meals, Lettuce Love Café, also in Oakville and Burlington, is a vegan spot offering made-from-scratch, organic-when-possible soups, sandwiches, bowls and hearty weekend breakfasts.

Lettuce Love Cafe | in Oakville & Burlington

A dedicated vegetarian menu with plenty to savour is the perfect excuse to stop in to Paradiso’s Oakville and Burlington locations. With mouth-watering options such as phyllo-wrapped baked brie, sundried tomato arancini and spicy harissa pappardelle, vegetarian diners will feel as pampered and well-fed as their meat-eating companions.

Dar Nabati, Oakville

Oakville is also home to Dar Nabati and Stoney’s Bread Company, a place for substantial appetites with some of the tastiest vegetarian pizzas, sandwiches and salads in town. At Dar Nabati, customers can enjoy 100% plant-based food and drinks. Inventive takes, such as a Philly “cheeze” steak sandwich made with seitan, or “chick’un” fettucine alfredo prepared with cashew sauce, are better-for-you alternatives to the originals.

Maro’s Bistro, Oakville

For ethnic inspired foods, head to Maro’s Bistro or Coriander Green, where fine dining meets an appetite for veggie-packed plates. At Maro’s, Middle Eastern recipes result in flavourful, veg-friendly meals brimming with colour and spice. Coriander Green is where chef Harminder brings his much-loved, made-from-scratch Indian dishes to hungry diners. Vegetarian specialties, from curried potatoes and cauliflower in aloo gobi to spiced, stir-fried mushroom do piaja, offer satisfying ways to sample the flavours that make Harminder a local culinary star.

Rayhoon Persian Eatery, Burlington

At Rayhoon Persian Eatery in Burlington’s Village Square, a comprehensive menu includes tempting options for those avoiding animal-based ingredients. Among the offerings are vegan lentil and walnut stew peppered with raisins and dates, and Persian poached pears are perennial favourites.

Mythos Greek Cuisine Wine Bar

Minutes away, Mythos Greek Cuisine deserves a mention for authentic Greek and Cypriot dishes paired with carefully selected wines. Indulge in vegetarian-approved staples like Saganaki opa, pan-fried cheese flambéed in ouzo, or delicate spanakopita parcels, served alongside rice pilaf and lemon potatoes.   

Kelly’s Bake Shoppe, Burlington

And, if you don’t think you can have your vegan cake and eat it too, guess again! At   Kelly’s Bake Shoppe in downtown Burlington, delicate pillows of vegan buttercream adorn an assortment of plant-based cupcakes. If you are in downtown Oakville head to Sugar Suite for a delicious assortment of gluten-free and vegan treats. For sweets of another sort, La Dolce Vita near Oakville’s downtown, has a selection of vegan gelatos that can’t be beaten.

Sugar Suite, Oakville

Whether you’re a self-professed carnivore curious to try something new, or a lifelong vegetable devotee, you’ll find numerous restaurants in Oakville and Burlington serving up delectable, meat-free fare. Try one or try them all; you’ll leave sated, pleasantly surprised and we promise, you won’t miss a thing.

by Christine Peddie

Local Links

Community Restaurant
343 Kerr St, Oakville
communityresto.com

Dar Nabati
333 Lakeshore Rd E B, Oakville
@DarNabatiOakville

Stoney’s Bread Company
325 Kerr St, Oakville
Stoneysbreadcompany.com

Rayhoon Persian Eatery
420 Pearl St, Burlington
Rayhooneatery.com

Boon Burger Café
497 Dundas St W unit 1, Oakville
399 Elizabeth St, Burlington
Boonburger.ca

Lettuce Love Café
326 Kerr St, Oakville
399 John St, Burlington
Lettucelovecafe.com

Sugar Suite
156 Lakeshore Rd E, Oakville
Sugarsuitecakes.com

Kelly’s Bake Shoppe
401 Brant St, Burlington
Kellysxo.com

La Dolce Vita
22 Lakeshore Rd W, Oakville
Ladolcevitaoakville.com

Mythos Greek Cuisine
3500 Fairview St, Burlington
Mythoscuisine.com

Maro’s Bistro
135 Kerr St, Oakville
Marosbistro.com

Coriander Green
342 Church St, Oakville
Coriandergreen.com

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Kitchen Countertops
In Articles

Cool Kitchen Countertops – Keeping It Classic With Quartz

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The kitchen is the heart of the home: where the party always ends up, where friends and family often gather to share good food and good stories. Creating a beautiful, timeless, and classic surrounding is essential – and easy to accomplish if you consult the experts. Your kitchen can set the tone for the rest of your home, so choosing the right style, colour, and material all go a long way to creating a beautiful, warm, and inviting space for everyone to enjoy.

“I always say countertops ground any space, and are the foundation of the kitchen, and any room, in fact,” says Danielle Blais of Chervin Kitchen and Bath in Oakville. She says quartz definitely “leads the pack” in terms of preferred material, leaving the old favourite granite in its wake. “While granite used to be hugely popular, it is too high maintenance with staining and watermark issues.” 

Chervin Kitchen and Bath

Quartz can be designed to resemble slabs of natural stone, such as granite and marble, which create veins in interesting patterns unique to every piece, allowing homeowners to let their personality and creativity shine. If you’re worried about pricing, Danielle says that there are realistic price points for all buyers and budgets.

When it comes to colours, Danielle sees a trend in black and white with gold accents, but it’s something that may not appeal to everyone.

“Black is very dramatic and I won’t push it on clients if they don’t want it,” she says.

As for finishes, there are a few to consider: a honed or matte finish has little to no shine and works well with marble, while a leather surface can be applied to granite, marble or quartz. The leather finish has become more popular recently and offers a softer sheen, while retaining a stone’s natural colour, and boosting sophistication. It can also help hide water spots and fingerprints if that’s a concern.

“We like to ask customers what their style is and what they’re looking for when they come in to see us,” says Susan Song of Royal Stone Gallery in Burlington. “We also get a feel for the colour scheme in the rest of the home, and flooring and kitchen cabinets, too.”

Susan says greys, whites, and neutrals are always a popular and timely choice for countertops, and natural patterning is widely sought after as well, especially in single-slab quartz.

“Quartz is strong and durable, and is very popular with customers.” And with good reason. 

Introduced as a high-end alternative to granite, quartz is non-porous and doesn’t require regular re-sealing treatments like granite, which is a natural rock. While granite once dominated the countertop market, it’s porous and can be easily stained and marked by water, wine, and oil, and can even breed dangerous bacteria if not cleaned and cared for properly and regularly.

Quartz, on the other hand, is highly resistant to staining and is one of the most hygienic countertop options for homeowners. It’s very strong, durable and low maintenance, making it the perfect choice for homeowners who want to focus on cooking and relaxing instead.

Soft neutral tones are definitely a theme in home décor trends overall, so finding them in the kitchen as well is a natural extension. But for the more adventurous, homeowners can experiment with other tones as well, creating a pop of colour against the neutral beiges, greys, light blues and off-whites that might run throughout the rest of the home.

“Waterfall edges for countertops are also a classic and timeless look,” says Danielle, referring to a style that extends past the countertop and down the side to reach the floor. Though they add to the overall cost, they also add overall beauty. She also says full-height backsplashes are very elegant, creating a smooth and seamless look from the counter up to
the cupboards. 

Larger slabs of wood, marble, copper, quartz, stainless steel or glass are other viable options and they can help elevate your kitchen from bland to beautiful. Upper cabinets seem to be losing their popularity as well, giving homeowners a lot more wall space to play with.

“A good, attractive and long-lasting kitchen is a big investment,” says Danielle, so making decisions about how best to enhance its beauty shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are plenty of options to choose from, so take your time, consult the experts and make sure your “heart of the home” reflects your heart’s desires as well.

by Allison Dempsey

Local Links

Chervin Kitchen and Bath
Chervin.ca

Royal Stone Gallery
Royalstonegallery.com

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Summer Camps
In Articles

Kids’ Summer Camps

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While there might still be snow on the ground when you’re reading this, it’s never too early to start thinking about Summer Camps. We are lucky to live in a community with an abundance of great options – but be warned, they fill up quick! Here are some local camp ideas to keep in mind when trying to decide how to keep the kids busy this summer.

Canadian Dance Company

Canadiandancecompany.com
Weekly July 2 to August 31  |  Times and fess vary  |  Ages 2 to 14

The Canadian Dance Company boasts a variety of camps with varying focus. Active Adventure Camps (ages 2-5), begin each day by hearing a fantastic story! Each new book will inspire movement exercised, unique crafts, original songs and one of a kind creations! Our Highly trained instructors will help your little one reach developmental milestones, all while fostering a love for creative arts. These tiny campers will explore their favourite storybook  characters while building independence.

Arts Fusion Camps (ages 5-12), These eager and enthusiastic youngsters will have a blast sampling the fundamentals of dance, drama, fine art and music! Exciting weekly themes will keep even the most accomplished artists on their toes, while kindly welcoming campers with minimal experience. Our diverse and encouraging faculty will offer alternatives to traditional training, allowing artists to build confidence, physical strength, problem solving skills and much more.

Lights, Camera…Actions! (ages 7-14), This camp is designed for the triple threat performer who is interested in taking their training to the next level! Performers will explore repertoire from Broadway musicals, film and television as they work to build a portfolio of audition material that flatters their skill set. These campers will have a blast working with guest choreographers, designing sets, having photo shoots and much more. 

Shake It Up! (ages 5-12), This camp will focus on our fantastic recreational dance classes and musical theatre programs, allowing campers to experience all of the different disciplines we offer at CDC Burlington! This is the perfect opportunity for an experienced dancer to warm up for the new season ahead, or for a new dancer to get a feel for the style of dance they may enjoy in the future. For more information, visit canadiandancecompany.com

Art Gallery of Burlington

Artgalleryofburlington.com
Weekly from July 4 to August 25

Just as art is unique and diverse, so are the summer camp programs at the AGB! The camps are designed to fit individual summer schedules – whether you’re looking for child care, art enrichment, or university prep, there’s something for every kid aged 4 – 17 at the AGB. Some highlights include Make A Splash with Yoga & Mindfulness (July 22 – 26), Making a Monster (July 29 – August 2), and Portfolio Development for Teens (August 26 – 20).  For a complete camp listing and more information visit artgalleryofburlington.com

YMCA of Oakville Summer Camps

YMCAofoakville.org
Weekly from July 2 to August 30 | Times and Fees vary  |  Ages 4 – 17

The YMCA believes in helping children and youth reach their full potential. Whether it’s sports, creative arts, horseback riding or adventure tours, all of their programs provide campers with a supportive environment to learn new things as they deepen their connection with the world around them. Weekly camp activities are planned around an exciting theme with games, characters and crafts, and Special Event Days are the most exciting of all, where campers and counsellors dress up based on the theme and celebrate with wild and wacky games! YMCA of Oakville camps take place in seven locations across Oakville, with extended camp care options and bus transportation included. For a complete listing, visit ymcaofoakville.org

Creative Insight Pottery

Creativeinsightpottery.com   |   Thecreativehub.ca
Weekly July 2 to August 30  |  9 AM to 4 PM  |  $295 per week  |  Ages 5+

The Creative Hub brings the best of Creative Insight Pottery and CreativeWorks together again this summer for the best Children’s Arts & Pottery Camp around! Art projects will vary from doodles to drawing, painting, sculpting, mixed media and printmaking – and in the pottery studio kids will be doing hand-built pottery, explore surface decoration techniques, and will also get to spend time on a real potter’s wheel. There are also plenty of daily outdoor activities to round out this full summer camp experience. Class sizes are small (no more than 12 per group), so there is plenty of individual attention. Each week has a new theme and projects, so you can sign up for more than one week and never do the same project twice.

Oakville Soccer Club

Oakvillesoccer.ca/camps 
Weekly July 8 to August 30  |  9 AM – 4 PM  |  $325 per week  |  Ages U5 to U14

Spend your summer sharpening your soccer skills, making new friends and having fun at OSC’s Oakville Wild Summer Soccer Camp! Appropriate for all skill levels, campers aged U5-U14 will have the opportunity to develop their soccer skills in a fun, play-based setting through upbeat development activities, and will learn how to apply these skills in game settings. Campers will also enjoy group, coach and volunteer challenges, two Off-the-Pitch Adventures (bowling and swimming), camp-wide games & tournaments and a Friday Pizza Pizza lunch. All campers will receive a camp t-shirt, a soccer ball and a commemorative team photo to take home along with memories to last a lifetime.

Oakville Museum

Oakville.ca/museum/museum-summer-camps.html
Half Day Camps July 2-5 and August 6-9
Full Day Camps Weekly July 8 to August 23
Times and Fees vary  |  Ages 4-6 and 8-12

The Oakville Museum offers a variety of camp experiences and formats, from half-day, week-long “mini” camps for 4-6 year olds to a specialized full-day camp for 8-12 year olds where they actually become curators and create their own exhibit. At the Oakville Museum, camps stand out for their ability to immerse the kids in another time, in the actual surroundings in which the events from that time took place.  The campers learn by doing and naturally absorb historical atmosphere along the way.  They don’t really notice how much they are taking in during the activities, it just seems like fun to them, which it is. Activities are drawn from museum collections and use real historical artefacts. When you can hand a child an object and tell them this actual thing was used right here, back before your Grandma’s Grandma’s Grandma was born, and we have it now because an archaeologist dug it out of the ground where you are standing, there is a magic that happens.

Party Like a Pop Star

Partylikeapopstar.ca/popstarcamp
July 15 – 19 and August 12 – 16  |  9 AM-12 PM  |  $225 plus HST  |  Ages 7-12

For something a little different and super creative, check out the Pop Star Camp, which is operated out of a professional recording studio in Burlington, B Town Sound. Kids get a chance to feel what it’s like to be a pop star in a professional setting creating a memorable week of musical fun! The focus of the camp spans vocals, dance, fashion, instruments and photography and performance. The camp culminates in a live show for parents. Visit partylikeapopstar.ca for more information.

Royal City Soccer Club

royalsoccer.com
Weekly from July 2 to August 30.  Times & fees vary.  Ages 5 to 13.

The Royal City Soccer Club is excited to host our 27th year of summer soccer camps this summer.  Having hosted over 300,000 campers in over 100 locations across Canada, we are the #1 grassroots soccer day camps in Canada.   Our program is designed to promote personal development, team building and of course, FUN!  The camp program is uniquely designed to offer a soccer focus in the morning and a leisure swim with other organized camp activities in the afternoons.  We encourage all boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 13 to register.  We offer full day, morning and afternoon sessions where each camper receives a camp soccer ball, tshirt, camp medal, excellent supervision ratios and much more. We offer no charge early drop off and pickup times fully supervised.  The camps operate during the months of July and August.  We look forward to a great summer of camp.  Check out our website at www.royalsoccer.com for more information or call 1-800-427-0536. 

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An Exceptional Jazz Series in Oakville: West End Jazz

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Jazz music knows no boundaries. Created from experience, thoughts, and wisdom of performers, this genre of music is a vehicle of expression for both musicians and dancers alike. For 26 years, the streets of downtown Oakville celebrated the distinct sound, richness, and diversity of jazz music over a weekend festival called the Oakville Jazz Festival.  The free event showcased hundreds of local and international musicians until it was canceled in 2016.

To fill the void created by the ending of the festival, a small but dedicated group of volunteers created West End Jazz. This year-round dinner theatre style event brings high-quality music to the region once a month from February to November. The 2017 and 2018 season had an unqualified success thanks to the public, the artists, and the community.

The jazz artists and the community were vital to getting a project of this magnitude off the ground. Many of the artists offered to perform in the initial seasons for well below their regular fees, while the Town of Oakville, Public Library, the BIA, and local merchants provided tremendous support and publicity for the event.

The 2019 season opener, held on February 16, was another great success and dedicated to one of the giants of jazz, Louis Armstrong.  Since he was inseparable to Ella Fitzgerald, they added a “sprinkle” of Ella.

West End Jazz is thrilled to announce upcoming shows:

March 9, “Two great composers” A tribute to Duke Ellington and George Gershwin

Link to ticket purchase: https://oakville.snapd.com/events/view/1223115

April 27, “Here’s to Life” Remembering Miss Shirley Horn

Link to ticket purchase: https://oakville.snapd.com/events/view/1216681

May 25, “The very best of Broadway” A big band show with a large cast. 

Link to ticket purchase: https://oakville.snapd.com/events/view/1228254

West End Jazz has fast become regular entertainment for a large number of local residents. Only about 30% of the audience is first-time attendees. Get your tickets before they sell out! 

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Dig Our Roots – A Celebration of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Appellation

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Niagara-on-the-Lake is the birthplace of the modern Canadian wine industry and home to some of Canada’s most renowned winemakers and iconic wines. Dig Our Roots is a weekend-long (April 12-14) celebration of the Niagara-on-the-Lake appellation. It will offer avid wine lovers an exclusive opportunity to discover the rich history and unique terroir of this one-of-a-kind wine growing region.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is classified by VQA Ontario as a distinct area and our wineries share a climate moderated by the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. A unique set of geographical elements create a specialty crop area where tender vinifera grapes thrive and flourish best. This expanse of land is comprised of four unique sub-appellations – Niagara River, Niagara Lakeshore, Four Mile Creek, and St. David’s Bench – each with distinct elements of terroir (geology, soil, elevation, temperature, precipitation) that result in wines of exceptional quality and surprising diversity. The Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake span across these four distinct areas and produce wines that reflect the unique terroir of their vineyards.

Wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake appellation have been growing and producing world-class wines from premium vinifera varieties for nearly four decades. Grape growers have a deep knowledge of what grows best in different locations and winemakers understand how to treat the grapes in the winemaking process to capture the best expression of terroir in their wines. During the Dig Our Roots weekend, participants will discover what makes this place and our wines so special from the renowned winemakers who have been instrumental in positioning Niagara-on-the-Lake as a premium wine growing region.

The Dig Our Roots Winemakers Dinner will be the official kick-off to the Dig Our Roots weekend and will be held at the Pillar and Post in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Friday, April 12. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to rub shoulders with pioneers of the Niagara Wine Industry while enjoying an exceptional meal expertly paired with an impressive selection of premium VQA wines from the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake. As you enjoy the delicious locally-inspired dishes prepared by renowned local chefs and the outstanding wines that perfectly accompany them, you will be able to casually interact with the winemaker(s) seated at your table. You will be immersed in their fascinating world and have the opportunity to learn about their background, winemaking philosophy and practices, and how the unique terroir of their vineyards results in exceptional and diverse wines. It will be an evening to remember! Tickets to this exclusive dinner are on sale now! PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS today as quantities are limited.

During the Dig Our Roots weekend our member wineries will open their doors and offer one-of-a-kind and unique experiences that showcase our wines, our winemakers and our terroir like never before. Winery events will be held at various times on each of the three days offering wine lovers plenty of options and a variety of formats to suit everyone’s preference. Details about these exclusive winery events will be available on our website soon.

Presented by Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake

Visit our website at wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com

Follow us on
Facebook @wineriesofniagaraonthelake
Instagram @niagarawine
Twitter @NiagaraWine

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