jenn, Author at Look Local - Celebrating Community

In Blog

A Dinner in Gairloch Gardens

August 11, 2017 No Comments

A Dinner in Gairloch Gardens hosted by chef Grant Van Gameren in support of Oakville Galleries.

On September 7, Oakville Galleries and Project and Construction Management Inc. (PCM) will present Cocina: featuring acclaimed chef Grant van Gameren. The event will raise essential funds for Oakville Galleries’ educational and artistic programming. Oakville Galleries’ signature fundraising event, A Dinner in Gairloch Gardens is a landmark culinary experience, bringing together the area’s most respected leaders, patrons and arts enthusiasts for a lavish six-course meal under late summer skies. Held in southeast Oakville’s beautiful Gairloch Gardens, a 12-acre garden along the shore of Lake Ontario, this year’s dinner will be prepared and hosted by celebrated chef Grant van Gameren of Toronto’s Bar Isabel and Bar Raval, paired with wines from Niagara’s Vineland Estates.

For the fifth year running, this artisanal feast will be served al fresco among the 15,000 blooms of Gairloch Gardens. Proceeds from the event support Oakville Galleries’ award-winning artistic and educational programming in our community.

Through exhibitions, collections, public programs, and a broad range of in-school and on-site arts education activities, Oakville Galleries’ programs foster creative engagement and community development in equal measure.

The evening will begin in Gairloch’s rose garden with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before moving to the clear-top tent for dinner with chef van Gameren. Following the main course, there will be a live auction featuring VIP travel packages and exclusive private dining experiences.

Tickets are $395 per person, a limited number are available; to reserve yours, please visit oakvillegalleries.com.

EVENT SPONSORS

Lead Partner:
PCM Project and Construction Management Inc.

Premier Partners:
Higgins Event
Rentals
Tamarack Lumber Inc.

Event Partner:
Victor Dries

Signature Partners:
Chubb Insurance
Company of Canada
Cornwall Wealth Management Group

Decor Partner:
Richard Lubbers
Media Partner:
West of the City

Presenting Partner:
Sutton Quantum Realty Inc. Brokerage

Supporting Partners:
Best Choice Imaging Solutions
Direct Response Media Group
Skin Vitality
Medical Clinic
Vineland Estates Winery

ABOUT CHEF GRANT VAN GAMEREN:
Credited with revolutionizing the Toronto dining scene, Grant van Gameren’s rise towards one of Canada’s most celebrated chefs began shortly after opening the Black Hoof in 2008.

His next two establishments, Bar Isabel and Bar Raval also garnered acclaimed reviews in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

Delving into a new business venture in 2017 with long-time friend, chef Chris Brown (formerly of Perigee and Citizen Catering), Grant and Chris have created an elevated and unparalleled catering experience in the GTA with their new catering company, Victor Dries. Bringing their benchmark of quality directly to your homes and businesses, Victor Dries offers full service event planning with a long-standing adherence to the classic elements of service: graciousness and efficiency, affability and respect.

Chefs van Gameren and Brown cook impeccable food, with ingredients as superb as their reputation and tenure within Toronto’s culinary community.

For more information, visit www.victordries.com or @vicdriesevents on Instagram.

Oakville Galleries in Gairloch Gardens is located at 1306 Lakeshore Road East, 2km east of downtown Oakville.

For more information about Oakville Galleries, exhibitions or programs, visit
www.oakvillegalleries.com or call 905.844.440.

In Community

Art in the Park

July 27, 2017 No Comments

Art in the Park is renowned for being one of the best run art shows in southern Ontario. And it’s coming up soon! Presented by the Oakville Art Society, this year’s event is on Monday, August 7. Show hours 10am – 5pm.

This year marks the annual event’s 52nd year running. There will be 175+ exhibitors, live music and a chance to sit and relax at the food & beer garden, hosted by Yolanda’s Spuntino Casa.

Admission is just $5/adult. Children under 12 are free – bring them along and introduce them to the wonderful world of art (and enjoy the beauty of Oakville’s waterfront – and get some fresh air too).

Visit artintheparkoakville.com or the event page on Facebook.

Located at: Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park, Bronte Road and Ontario Street.

About the Event:

In 1965 the Society created Art in the Park to promote local artists and artisans, and today this show has blossomed into Oakville’s major art event.

Every medium is represented, from traditional oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings to glass, ceramics, photography, mixed media, sculptures and fine jewellery.

As you browse, meet and chat with the artists and learn about their work.

Your $5 admission helps maintain the Oakville Art Society and affords the organization to raise funds to subsidize programming and act as a venue for furthering interest and knowledge of the world of art.

In Blog

Goat Yoga – It’s a Go!

July 26, 2017 No Comments

Goat yoga. Heard of it? There isn’t a pose named after these limber climbers but you can work on your Downward Dog or Mountain (goat) pose while the “goats do roam” at a few local places in Halton, Hamilton and the surrounding area. OK, they might try to scale your back or hop on your stomach.

Say ‘Yes’ to Goat Yoga!

Trinity Trotters goat yoga — Get a little hoof massage too.

It supposedly started as a simple whim of an activity in Oregon, and has grown in popularity just as fast as goats like to eat grass. I decided I had to give it a try and found Trinity Trotters Equine/TanMar in Burlington and recruited a fellow animal lover to join me.

Most of us are aware that doing yoga is peaceful and it creates an atmosphere of openness. Putting those cute little goats into the mix takes it to another level. Animals have healing properties – just being around them increases your level of dopamine and Oxycontin. Cortisol (stress-related hormone) decreases at the same time. It’s definitely a fun, unique activity, with obvious benefits. Classes are run by a fully-qualified yoga instructor.

newborn foal at Trinity Trotters — Stay after class to meet & greet the horses & learn about the organization’s rescue efforts.

It’s best to BYO yoga mat, they are available to borrow/rent onsite. You can also purchase a small bag of food for the goats, if you want to feed them a handful or two while you work out. Bonus: bring a bag of carrots or apples and you can feed the horses in the stalls afterwards and chat with the owners about their rescue program, all of which they operate out of their own pockets.

On a housekeeping note: if you don’t mind a little goat poop on or around your mat, this will be the most fun you’ll ever have practicing yoga. Spray solution is provided for you to clean your mat after, plus there are volunteers constantly sweeping during the class to help keep things tidy.

Check their Facebook page for event dates and times. They also hold a lot of other programs like camps, team sorting and trail rides.

Classes are $35 per person.

Other places where goat yoga is offered:

Hobby Hill Farm, Brantford

Red Barn Goat Farm, Hamilton-Niagara

Fox Den, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Grimsby Yoga & Wellness

by Becky Dumais

In Blog

Becky’s Colombian Coffee & Other Delights

July 17, 2017 No Comments

Much like finding a new favourite store, discovering an interesting new place to eat in an otherwise unassuming location is pretty rewarding. We stopped in at Becky’s for an impromptu lunch. Before ordering at the counter, we had all of the dishes and ingredients explained.

We sampled the Bunuelo while we figured out what to order, deciding on the Lechona, which was the daily special.

Bunuelo - fried cheese ball. — **Bunuelo – fried cheese ball.**

Lechona is rice with shredded pork and peas with a corn patty and crispy chicharron (fried pork crackling). Owner, Cristina Rueda admits jokingly that it’s not ‘health food’. That’s OK, it definitely tastes good.

Some of their other specialties include Patacon (plantain with shredded meat, cheese and sauce), Empenadas, Arepa, (corn patties with shredded beef, pork rinds, guacamole, cheese and sauce) and, of course, churros.

There are a handful of tables for sit down eating. It’s brightly lit and has a modern, rustic feel. There are also some Latin grocery items available. A full menu of espresso, macchiato, cappuccino, latte and other hot beverages are also available.

Becky’s
2152 Mountain Grove Ave., Burlington
Tel: 289.288.1631
www.mybeckys.com

In Arts & Events

MIDNIGHT MADNESS presented by Scotiabank

July 12, 2017 No Comments

Midnight Madness presented by Scotiabank is celebrating 40 years of fun! Come to downtown Oakville on Friday, July 14 from 6 p.m. until Midnight and enjoy all the madness: including incredible sales, fabulous finds, entertainment, delicious food and much more!

This year there will be three stages with local bands, four performance pitches positioned throughout the downtown and roaming buskers. There are also three separate Family Fun areas with interactive activities for all ages. Including hula hoop lessons, crafts, obstacle course and dance shows.

Stores will be open till midnight with great deals that are only available once a year and restaurants extend onto Lakeshore Road with exceptional food and drinks all night long.

The streets will also be jam-packed with community groups and local charities bringing their dunk tanks, robots and ice cream waffles for you to see and enjoy! Midnight Madness is Oakville’s largest retail event and an Oakville family tradition for 40 years; with amazing shopping, delicious food, live music and lots of community spirit it has developed into a signature summer event.

A FREE shuttle bus will run between Oakville GO and downtown Oakville every 15 minutes. For more information please visit oakvilledowntown.com or our Facebook page.

In Articles

Best Local Burgers

July 7, 2017 No Comments

by Lynn Ogryzlo

Like architects, backyard barbecuists and beef lovers take burger building very seriously, each one trying to outdo the other for title of King of the Grill, each one understanding the complexities of a good burger foundation, textural support and flavour finishes that need to come together for one sensational experience.

Speaking on behalf of burger aficionados everywhere, Cameron Booth, Manager of The Works in Burlington says, “It’s all about the beef. Ours is 100 per cent quality Canadian beef, simply seasoned with a little salt and pepper, then it’s hand pressed. We have a guy that does nothing but hand presses burgers all day long.”

Ahmed Albeer, owner of the popular Gazebo Burgers & Grill in Oakville also believes a great burger is all about the beef, but his burger patties are freshly made with 100 per cent beef blended with a secret spice blend. Then the burgers are cooked in a proprietary barbecue sauce. “It’s big,” says Albeer who is insanely passionate about building lip-smacking, melt-in-your-mouth burgers.

Most people are astonished to hear that the bun is as important as the beef. With every bite of a burger there is actually more bun in your mouth than beef, so it makes sense that you should strive for the perfect beef-to-bun ratio. Buns come in a wide range of styles, textures and flavours from soft brioche or egg bun to thin sandwich buns in multi-grain or vegetable flavour. In between there is an entire range of buns from crisp crust and dense innards to soft on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

So what’s the third component to great burger building? The toppings of course! The Works offers 50 different toppings that make for over a million different burger combinations. Booth explains that balancing flavours is an art, and for anyone not sure how to put together a delicious burger, they’ve done it for you with ten of the more delicious combinations for you to try. The options include thick slices of house-smoked, maple bacon, melted chunks of tangy, old cheddar, black peppercorn aioli, smooth, spirited, bourbon barbecue sauce, char-grilled, meaty Portobello mushroom caps, creamy avocado, sloppy eggs, Kimchi and even peanut butter.

Lynn Ogryzlo is a food, wine and travel writer, international award winning author and regular contributor to Look Local Magazine. She can be reached for questions or comments at www.lynnogryzlo.ca

8 Best Burger Bites

(in no particular order)
There are so many places to choose from if you want to enjoy a divine burger in Oakville or Burlington this summer. Here are just a few to tantalize your taste buds:

Bru Restaurant, Oakville
House-made cheddar cheese melted on a house ground strip-loin patty with a bun from Cobs Bakery across the street. It’s as local (and delicious) as it gets!
brurestaurant.ca

The Gingerman Social Eatery,
Oakville
A glorious menu selection dedicated to the meal-on-a-bun, including salmon, AAA beef, bison and vegetarian choices.
gingermansocialeatery.ca

The Coop Wicked Chicken,
Burlington
For those who prefer chicken burgers over beef, Coop has you covered. Pictured here is the Crispy Chicken.
thecoop.ca

Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill,
Oakville
Pickled cauliflower, arugula and a harissa aioli make this lamb burger (served with Yukon gold fries) a must-try!
oakville.obcafegrill.com

The Works,
Burlington & Oakville
A restaurant dedicated to burger lovers – their menu also includes vegan options. Editor’s personal favourite: the Hunka Hunka.
worksburger.com

Lettuce Love Café, Burlington
For vegans and vegetarians who still value meals between buns, this sweet potato burger is delicious.
See the recipe here: Sweet Potato Quinoa Burger
lettucelovecafe.com

Plank Restobar,
Oakville
Bourbon braised onions, vintage cheddar cheese and a bacon aioli combine to give these sliders a fantastic flavour.
plankrestobar.ca

Turtle Jack’s, Burlington & Oakville
The French Onion burger, pictured here, features caramelized onions smothered in Canadian Swiss cheese – and it tastes as good as it looks!
turtlejacks.com

In Articles

Let’s Go To T.O. – Touring Toronto with kids!

July 7, 2017 No Comments

by Becky Dumais

It’s such a great city at any time of the year, but Toronto really hits its stride in the summer. There are so many exciting things to see and do, and the good news is Toronto is easily accessible from Oakville or Burlington. So for a special treat, why not plan on a couple of day trips to Toronto with the kids this summer? We’ve highlighted a few places that your kids are sure to love, and where you’ll create lots of long-lasting memories for you and your family.

Casa Loma
Toronto’s famous 1914 castle took three years and 300 men to construct. Filled with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and beautiful five-acre estate gardens. Self-guided tours and special events throughout the summer.
casaloma.org

City Sightseeing Bus Tour
Hop on (and off) the bus while you tour the city. Ticket includes a harbour and islands cruise, 21 stops, a souvenir map and the luxury of sitting on the double decker bus taking in the sights throughout the day.
citysightseeingtoronto.com

CN Tower
A real ‘high point’ of visiting the city! Take the elevator up 112 stories and visit the observation deck, walk over the glass floor and look way down. Another 36 levels up is the SkyPod observation deck. Heights made you hungry? Restaurant options include The 360 for finer dining or Horizons for family-friendly crowds.
cntower.ca

Fort York
Explore a 19th Century military base right in downtown. This site was the location of a major battle during the War of 1812. Tour the buildings and view period artifacts, enjoy guided tours and guard re-enactments every hour on the half hour.
toronto.ca/fortyork

Food / Cultural Neighbourhoods
Adding food into the fun is easy, especially when the city is home to several cultural hubs: Little India (North America’s largest South Asian market), Chinatown (dim sum anyone?), Greektown (super souvlaki, spanakopita and more), Little Italy (pizza, pasta and lots of live music), Koreatown (kim chi and karaoke), Portugal Village (Brazilian drip coffee and tapas), and Little Poland (pierogies, please!). The St. Lawrence Market, home to 120 vendors, merchants and artisans, has been an authentic food destination for over 200 years.

Hockey Hall of Fame
Take a self-guided tour of the huge amount of memorabilia, participate in some skills competitions, see a replica Montreal Canadiens dressing room and of course: the Stanley Cup itself.
hhof.com

Rogers Centre Tour Experience and Toronto Blue Jays
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the stadium, which includes guided access to the press box, Blue Jays Hall of Fame, a luxury suite and more. Or, attend a Jays Saturdays game. These home games welcome the kids in fun activities on the 100, 200 and 500 levels, and also give them an opportunity to run the bases after the game.
rogerscentre.com

Medieval Times
Is this 11th Century Spain? Almost! Witness pageantry, jousting and knights in shining armor battle for your honour. Plus, you’ll be wined and dined, since your ticket includes a meal fit for a king, queen, prince and princess.
medievaltimes.com

Ripley’s Aquarium
One of the city’s newer attractions, the aquarium is home to 16,000 aquarium species, six play zones for children, 10 galleries, and the longest underwater viewing tunnel, at 315 feet. Go beyond glass observation and explore the four touch exhibits featuring horseshoe crabs, sharks, and rays. Live dive shows daily.
ripleyaquariums.com

Royal Ontario Museum
There are more than six million artifacts from all over the world and dating back thousands of years, but the kids especially love the dinosaur and prehistoric mammal exhibits and the Egyptian mummies. The CIBC Discovery Gallery offers activities for kids including digging for dinosaur bones, dressing up and more. The Schad Gallery of Biodiversity explores seven ecosystems and illustrates the planet’s diversity of life.
rom.on.ca

In Articles

To the Rescue – Saving animals, because every life does matter

July 5, 2017 No Comments

by Denise Davy

Nicole Paling snuggles two adorable kittens to her chest and smiles as she talks about the business of cat rescuing. Ben and Jerry, as she has named the kittens, are two of the 196 felines Nicole has rescued since setting up her group, Every Life Matters (ELM) two years ago.

ELM was born on impulse on a cold January night while Paling was reading Facebook and saw a post about a cat that had climbed into an old dryer outside of someone’s door. “I read through all the comments and saw no one stepping up to help so I commented on the feed that I would go get him and bring him to safety,” she recalls.

A few hours later, after fighting freezing cold temperatures and a stuck dryer door, Paling came home with a black and white male cat. What she didn’t realize was how many more would follow. Over the past two years, whenever she’s heard of an abandoned cat through social media or word of mouth, she has gone on a search and rescue through abandoned homes, woods, scrapyards…. you name it.

She recently hopped an eight-foot fence to grab five four-week-old kittens that had been abandoned. Her passion has opened her eyes to Burlington’s feral cat problem and it’s why she has all of the cats spayed and neutered before finding them homes. “I rely heavily on my village, and my followers who continue to encourage and support my efforts,” she notes. Animal rescue groups fill an important role in the community by overseeing the care of abandoned animals. They’re often run by volunteers, like Paling, who take on the medical expenses involved in healing the animals and having them spayed and neutered. According to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, there are at least ten million unowned cats across Canada. In 2015, 15,341 cats and 2,820 dogs were euthanized.

In Oakville, a large group of passionate volunteers form the backbone of The Dog Rescuers Inc. They’ve been rescuing and re-homing dogs since 2009, including their most “famous” rescue, a Great Pyrenees pup who was found a few months ago tied up in a bag inside a dumpster. Cupid – as they called him – was born with partial front legs and has now been outfitted with a prosthetic device that looks like mini-skis. They take in between 100 to 150 dogs a year, and facilitate more dogs getting into other rescues or humane societies. President Joan Znidarec said they cover all of their own expenses such as gas and phone bills and raise funds to cover the dogs’ medical bills through events like bake sales, art auctions and bowling parties.

In Hamilton, an abiding friendship combined with a love of animals lead to the formation of the Ladybird Animal Sanctuary back in 2011. Since then, Janine Stoll, Lisa Winn and Melissa McLelland have rescued 784 animals, including dogs, cats, rats and guinea pigs. The best friends also share a love of music and McLelland and her husband,

Luke Doucet, form the songwriting duo known as Whitehorse. “We’ve all shared a passion for animal welfare and we saw a need in our community,” says McLelland. Over the years, they’ve found 20 to 30 volunteer foster homes who they work with to rescue animals from high-kill shelters in the community. Every worker is volunteer, from the people who foster animals to those who adopt them.

They also rescue a lot of the smaller animals some shelters won’t take, like rats and guinea pigs. “We’ve seen an incredible difference in the six years we’ve been a registered charity,” she claims. McLelland says she and her friends felt they had no choice but to do something when they learned that high-kill shelters were bursting at the seams with unwanted pets who had been abused, abandoned and neglected. “It’s been amazing to see everyone come together to help animals in need.”

Local Links

Every Life Matters, Burlington
elmcatrescue.com

Ninth Life, Oakville / Mississauga
ninthlifecatrescue.org

The Dog Rescuers Inc., Oakville
thedogrescuersinc.ca

Ladybird Animal Sanctuary, Hamilton
ladybirdanimalsanctuary.com

In Articles

The Best Antique Shops in Burlington and Oakville

July 4, 2017 No Comments

Pieces to be treasured not trashed
by Becky Dumais

You can’t argue with the excitement many people experience when they find a unique item at a bargain price in an antique store or garage sale. That rush may even extend to suddenly stopping the car to pick something up off the side of the road (yes, it happens). One man’s trash is invariably another man’s treasure. With the diverse range of local antique and curiosity shops coupled with the ease with which you can sell unwanted stuff online, it’s easier than ever to find that perfect piece with the perfect patina.

Exploring an antique shop filled with a range of items from different decades or a store with a plethora of kitsch, knickknacks, vinyl records or art provides a great opportunity to learn about the past. Taking younger folks on these outings can lead to conversations about lifestyles during their parent’s era, their grandparent’s time, or even earlier. However we recommend that you do not take young children who may distract you from the relaxing process of browsing, rummaging, and conversing with the local shop owners.

Here are some places to explore in Burlington and Oakville:

Burlington

The Odd Spot
Since opening its doors in the summer of 2015, this downtown destination features everything that matches their slogan, ‘Where unusual is normal’. Those searching for vinyl and vintage items (even oddly-appealing artwork and curious quirky things) will likely find something here.
480 Brant Street, Unit #7 | oddspot.ca

Ryder Antiques
Specializes in Swedish antiques, Swedish Folk Art, Norwegian Folk Art, Scandinavian Folk Art, French antiques, painted furniture and decorative artwork. Also carries Dutch Folk Art, German Folk Art, and French Folk Art. By appointment only.
1460 Ghent Avenue | ryderantiques.com

Fly by Night Books & Antiques
Among the bookshelves are hundreds of timeless tomes and a large selection of vintage items. From floor to ceiling you might be surprised to find reading material on subjects such as travel, history, psychology, children’s literature and best sellers. If you’re a collector you may be able to locate a signed copy of a book you’ve been after.
792 Brant Street

Greystone Fine Furniture
Located inside a beautiful three-story home, shopping here is like shopping at your stylish grandparent’s house, picking out your own future heirlooms. The shop features vintage, mid-century, modern, retro, contemporary and antique pieces – everything from glassware and décor pieces, to impressive Persian rugs and furniture.
514 Guelph Line | greystonefinefurniture.com

The Rustic Rose
While technically in Hamilton, we had to mention this one. After a day at the beach, browse a store filled with barn lanterns, weathered milk crates and other unique peculiarities you’ll want to find a home for.
538 Beach Boulevard | appleroses.com

Oakville

Treasure Antiques
Located in Bronte Village is a quaint shop that’s a haven for hunters of museum quality antiquities. The store carries pieces from around the world, art, silver, rugs and high-end pieces from France, Germany and Russia.
2395 Lakeshore Road West | treasureantique.com

My Back Shed
Vintage treasures are transformed with a new coat of paint or new fabrics and many untouched pieces are also in stock, from dressers and parlour tables to benches and desks.
2359 Lakeshore Road West | mybackshed.com

The Millionaire’s Daughter
A treasure trove of mid-to-high end furniture and decor consignment pieces can be found here. Styles aren’t limited to a certain era; you’ll find a nice mix of modern and vintage, china, crystal and Royal Doulton.
427 Speers Road | themillionairesdaughter.com

Turner Chapel Antiques
Come in to browse the porcelain, paintings, silverware, furniture and art and also learn about the building itself. The chapel was built in 1892 by newcomers to Canada via the Underground Railroad.
37 Lakeshore Road West

In Articles

Come Gather Round the (Backyard) Campfire

July 3, 2017 No Comments

“The fire is the main comfort of the camp.” ~Thoreau
by Allison Dempsey

Whether you’re an outdoorsy adventurer or prefer a fancy all-inclusive resort, enjoy “roughing it” in the wilderness or lounging in a comfortable cottage, many can agree that the highlight of any relaxing getaway is gathering together in the evening to relax, chat and share some stories, often in front of an inviting, crackling fire.

There’s just something about a fire that attracts us, but unfortunately, for most city-dwellers, an open backyard fire is generally not permitted for a variety of safety reasons. That’s where an outdoor fire pit comes into play, adding warmth and atmosphere with the safety of propane and natural gas in a variety of styles designed to suit your personal aesthetic needs. “Nothing is selling stronger,” says Andy Paul, owner of Burlington’s Sun Country. He adds, pun possibly intended, “Fire pits are the hottest thing out there.”

Designed to mimic the effects of actual flames, fire pits are contained and as safe as a barbecue. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and many feature a built-in table ledge for added convenience. Strong, safe and weather resistant, fire pits are designed to mimic the look of metal, limestone, slate, marble, granite and stone, adding beauty and ruggedness to your patio. “Fire is a natural draw for people. We love campfires, but when we can’t have natural fires outside in our backyards, this is the next best thing,” says Paul. “It really gives you the same overall feeling.”

He says whether you’re looking for traditional or urban styles, there are models available for every taste, without the mess or upkeep of a real wood fire, and of course, without the fire risks. And even though our summer months are hot, evenings can sometimes still be cool. That’s where this product definitely comes in handy. “They lengthen the amount of time you can enjoy the outdoors and your backyard,” says Paul. “It’s definitely a focal point for any gathering. Congregate around and just relax.”

When deciding on the type and style of fire pit to install, Jeremy Kalapacz of Oakville Home Leisure emphasizes doing your homework when looking for what works best in your particular backyard, as there are so many different options available, depending on your personal taste and needs. He says fire pits are a very popular feature for a gathering space that highlights beauty, style and warmth while providing a central area for people to talk and relax during the diverse Canadian seasons. Oakville Home Leisure offers a wide variety of fire pits including an Oriflamme model, where flames emanate from underneath decorative elements that resemble stones or crystals which are both fireproof and colourful.

Bjorn Wilmot, owner of Backyard Retreat in Oakville also agrees with the benefits of extending the outdoor season. “They’re definitely a perfect solution to staying outside in the backyard later in the evening in a social setting. They’re a popular item every year. Both water and fire naturally draw people’s attention and create ambiance.”

Summer is fleeting and the need to maximize our outdoor enjoyment is paramount. So the next time you’re longing for a camping trip and the relaxing evenings spent singing or lounging around the fire but just can’t get away from the city, bring the beauty of the fire to you — safely. “These fire pits don’t need a lot of space but they create fantastic ambiance,” says Wilmot. “And any size backyard can accommodate one.”

Paul says whenever clients are considering re-doing their backyards and upgrading their patios, fire pits almost always come into play as part of the makeover. “There’s something about gazing into a fire,” he says. “It’s mesmerizing.”