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Film.ca wins Best Family Entertainment ‘Talk of the Town’ award

December 1, 2020 No Comments

Note: Each business listed below has made changes and are taking precautions to ensure customer and employee safety during this time. Please contact the businesses directly to confirm up-to-date products, offers, hours and safety procedures.

Looking for safe ways to support local and have fun with your household? Visit our Best Family Entertainment Talk of the Town Award-winner, Film.ca Cinemas!

This community theatre has been a mainstay of Kerr Village since 2005, bringing big box office hits to Oakville for affordable prices. This retro theatre also screens many Canadian and independent films, highlighting up-and-coming filmmakers from all backgrounds.

Looking for a more private experience? Rent out a screen and get the theatre all to yourselves! It’s a safe and fun way to enjoy new films and old favourites on the big screen with your entire household.

Play in the arcade, grab a bite at Zuzu’s Pizza or send the kids to filmmaking bootcamp at this beloved Oakville theatre.

Try for the turkey at Best Family Entertainment runner-up, Hopedale Bowl!

This family-run 5-pin bowling alley is a great destination for families of all ages, as bumpers and coaching tips are always available with help from the friendly staff. Book a time on the weekend to enjoy their glow-in-the-dark sessions and dance along with some of your favourite party tunes from the past and present.

Looking to challenge your household? Take on the escape rooms at Best Family Entertainment second runner-up, Narrow Escape!

You’ll need to work together at this local escape room hub to solve puzzles and riddles that will eventually lead your entire family to the exit. Narrow Escape hosts rooms for all levels of difficulty, including Claustrophobia (moderate), Baker Street Mystery (hard) and Hacked (beginner). This is a great safe way to get the entire family out of the house and working together.

Thank you so much to everyone who voted! We will be announcing our next category on November 7, 2020 over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

2020 Talk of the Town Awards: Best Family Entertainment

Film.ca Cinemas
Hopedale Bowl
Narrow Escape
Aerosports Trampoline Park
iFLY Toronto

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Downtown Oakville Partners with TELUS Small Business and DMX Marketing to Offer Local Giveaway this Holiday Season

November 30, 2020 No Comments

It’s time to support our local business, it’s time to shop local!

This year has been especially tough on local businesses in Oakville Downtown. We have faced unprecedented times, which none of us in the community could have predicted. The impact on our local businesses has been huge. Combined with the redevelopment of Lakeshore Road, it has been an extremely tough 2020 for businesses in Oakville.

But now is the time for small businesses to recover, for all of us to shop local. To help with getting local stores back on their feet, and help promote them, Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area (BIA) has launched their Hometown Holiday Campaign to support local and has teamed up with TELUS Small Business Solutions and DMX Marketing, who are sponsoring the promotion to spread the word and reach all residents of Oakville. The campaign is all about getting you connected with the local stores you love and help get them up and thriving once again.

For the campaign, a virtual gift guide to Downtown Oakville’s businesses has been created, to help you find exactly what you are looking for this holiday season, whilst also helping support local businesses. And to make it even better, as part of the campaign, TELUS Small Business has supported (3) $500 gift cards to be won, that can be redeemed at your favourite downtown Oakville business of choice! For the chance to win one of these cards, head to our website, signup and view our Gift Guide! And you might be a lucky winner!

With the gift guide, you have a fantastic guide to Oakville’s local businesses, where you can find a wonderful selection of Christmas products from small businesses in Oakville, such as fantastic skincare products with Rosewater Spa or wonderful jewelry at Bluboho.

Finishing on November 20th, the renovations on Lakeshore Road have been completed, fully opening the downtown once again. After plenty of hard work, the road construction is complete and it looks simply beautiful. And with the newly laid roads, traffic can flow smoother than ever, making shopping in Oakville even easier.

With the reconstruction finished and the gift guide ready and waiting, all you need to do is get shopping! After the hardships of this year, it’s time for the community to come together and rally behind our local stores. Oakville is ready for business once again and just in time, as the Christmas season is nearly upon us. Whilst the current situation means we cannot celebrate how we normally would, we can make sure it won’t dampen our Oakville spirit! So it’s time to get out and shop local.

With the new gift guide, you can make sure that you find exactly what you are looking for. Across the downtown core, there are a variety of fantastic stores, each of which will have a special something for the holidays. Maybe your secret Santa is quite the fashion enthusiast, in which case Must Boutique has what you are looking for! If you are looking to get back on the bike this Christmas, then a trip to Racer Sportif is in order. Or maybe you are looking to buy a bouquet for that special someone in your life. If so, FIORI can help make that special moment all the more perfect.

And in such a time of cheer and festivity, you cannot go wrong with a fine place to eat and drink. In Oakville, we are in luck to have many catering to both! For those looking for something sweet, then you are in luck, with Sugar Suite Cakes and Black Forest Pastry Shop baking up some utterly delicious treats. Looking to dine in, then you have options aplenty! Seasons Restaurant, Borgo Antico-Cucina Bar, Paradiso Restaurant and Riyasat Indian Restaurant and Bar are just a few options when looking to grab a bite to eat!

Don’t want to head out? Don’t worry, as many of our restaurants, bars, cafes, bakeries and more deliver! Get the tastes you want to deliver right to your door, giving you the satisfaction of knowing you’re not only helping the local community but also getting some amazing food too!

This Christmas season, let’s go from the big box store to the small business in our community and make a real difference by supporting our families. By supporting our Oakville. It’s time for local small businesses to shine, so let’s shop local!

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Oakville Firefighters Launch Annual Holiday Toy Drive

November 30, 2020 No Comments

The Oakville Professional Firefighters Association is proud to launch its annual holiday toy drive for the 28th year, with the goal of giving every local child an opportunity to enjoy a gift of their own this holiday season. The drive will kick off at the Oakville Virtual Santa Claus Parade on November 21 and will continue through Friday, December 18. This has been a challenging year for many in our community. Based on emerging information, the need is expected to be 30 percent higher than in prior years. Oakville’s firefighters are hopeful that together with the community, we can meet this rising challenge in a safe, responsible way.

The collection, sorting and distribution of physical toys and gifts involve large amounts of contact. Normally, volunteers spend hundreds of hours in close proximity sorting and packing items. To help protect the safety of our donors, our volunteers and the children we support, this year we ask for donations of gift cards and monetary contributions. For those wishing to donate a physical item, we encourage you to order your gift online or arrange delivery.

“While we all aim to remain physically apart, the holiday season is an opportunity for our community to come together in spirit and celebrate our traditions in new ways that respect the safety of this wonderful community,” said Kurt Merriman, Toy Drive Chair, Oakville Professional Firefighters Association. “In this time of tremendous need and challenge, I am confident that the generosity of Oakville residents will help ensure every local child can receive a gift this year.”

“The holidays are a special and important time for families, especially as many face additional challenges and hardship this year,” said Pam Damoff, Member of Parliament; Oakville North—Burlington. “We are grateful for the support of the Oakville Professional Firefighters Association and to the entire Oakville Community, as we anticipate this will be one of the most critical years in toy drive history given the need we are seeing.”

The toy drive has no expenses or overhead, 100% of all donations are converted to gift cards and provided to children in need in our community.

How to donate:
Fire stations are currently closed to the public due to COVID-19, however, the following donation options are available:

1. Donate by sending an Interac eTransfer at oakvilletoydrive@gmail.com
Autodeposit is enabled – no password required

2. Donate by mailing gift cards or cheques addressed to:
OAKVILLE PFFA TOY DRIVE
Oakville Fire Station 7
2010 Joshua’s Creek Drive
Oakville Ontario
L6H 6E5
(Make cheques payable to “Oakville PFFA Toy Drive”)

3. Drop off a gift card or physical gift at:
• Oakville Town Hall
• Town of Oakville Community Centres
• Town of Oakville Public Library Branches (Downtown Oakville location: 120 Navy St.)
• Budds’ Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC

4. Order items from any retailer online and have them shipped to our receiving point:
Re: Toy Drive
Budds’ Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC
410 S Service Road West
Oakville, ON
L6K 2H4
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Taste of Burlington’s #TakeOutToHelpOut

November 20, 2020 No Comments

Did you know that Burlington has over 400 restaurants offering a variety of delicious food options for all tastes and budgets?

These businesses have appreciated the patronage of locals through restrictions and are asking you to continue this support through take out, gift cards and dine in options (following health guidelines). With the most recent announcement that the Halton area is now in the red zone as per provincial guidelines, most of our restaurants are open to provide food services with your safety their utmost concern. Restaurants are able to extend their patios into the colder months and many have set up heated spaces to extend their seating capacity.

In an effort to encourage residents to continue this important support for restaurants, the Taste of Burlington is launching the Take Out to Help Out campaign via social media. Diners are encouraged to post pictures of themselves getting take-out or of their take-out meal and post on social media using #TakeOutToHelpOut. They should then tag a friend to have them do the same, so that the message spreads and the restaurants see and feel our support. Taste of Burlington will be giving away restaurant gift cards randomly each week to social media users who post using the hashtag.

Kelly Harris, Marketing Specialist at Tourism Burlington and Coordinator of the Taste of Burlington program states: “In the first phase of the pandemic we sadly saw some of our local restaurants close. Our restaurants need our continued support now more than ever to ensure your favorite spot keeps their doors open. If you are able, please get take-out, as often as you can, to help our restaurants through this difficult time”.

We are also asking people when they order take out to pick up directly from the restaurants to avoid the use of third party delivery companies.

Tourism Burlington has launched a Holiday Savings Pass until January 4 with a number of restaurants providing tasty savings for you. Sign up for this pass, it is easy and FREE! Don’t forget to consider ordering gift cards from restaurants, they make a great holiday gift.

For more information on the Take Out to Help Out campaign, the Holiday Savings Pass or Taste of Burlington please visit tasteofburlington.ca & tourismburlington.com, or call/email: 905-634-5594 kelly.harris@burlington.ca

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Remembering Together, Honouring our Veterans

November 8, 2020 No Comments

When people think of Veterans, many immediately picture someone who served in the First World War, Second World War, or the Korean War. While many Canadians recognize these traditional Veterans, some Veterans have served Canada in other conflicts and peace-keeping missions throughout the world. Many continue to walk among us today.

Each year at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians pause in a moment of silence to honour and remember the men and women who have served and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict, and peace. And nothing can stop that.

This year, Remembrance Day events are going virtual, and in doing so, you can still join your friends and neighbours in paying your respects. Due to changing circumstances, the Town of Oakville (www.oakville.ca) and City of Burlington (www.burlington.ca) will post information on their websites as soon as plans are finalized.

Wherever you are at 11 a.m. on November 11, pause in a moment of silence to honour and remember the more than 2,300,000 Canadians who have served throughout our nation’s history and the more than 118,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice.

You can also join the conversation online and share stories of pride and remembrance far and wide with the hashtag #RemembranceDay. Sharing stories is a unique way to spread messages of gratitude and hope that will unite us all.

Last but not least, it is important to still support our Legions and purchase a poppy. The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day. Replica poppies are sold by the Royal Canadian Legion to provide assistance to Veterans.

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we remember. And this year, we will come together ensuring that doesn’t change.

Written By: Anneliese Lawton

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It’s Still The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

November 5, 2020 No Comments

At this time of year, you would typically find our events section overflowing with news of upcoming holiday cheer. From tree lightings to Santa Claus parades, our BIAs know how to deliver on holiday favourites. Many of these events have become longstanding traditions in our families and communities. While we don’t have to remind you that this year will be different, we do want to remind you that the holidays are still a special time – and worthy of making new traditions.

Bronte Village

Bronte’s official kick-off to summer usually begins with At Home in Bronte – an annual event where 60 local organizations, artists, businesses, and families are invited to paint a Muskoka chair. These chairs are installed for public viewing and enjoyment in Bronte Village on Canada Day for the duration of the summer. This summer, the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 – but Bronte BIA is excited to announce a winter instalment of this event. This winter, visitors to Bronte Village will find dozens of professionally painted Muskoka chairs along sidewalks and the waterfront. There will be hidden icons on the chairs, designed to get families outside and to encourage them to participate in a winter scavenger hunt.

The Village has also designed new banners and plans to line the streets with lit snowflakes and decorations for the holiday season. While there won’t be a Christmas Tree or official lighting, Bronte offers exquisite views and scenery, the waterfront an obvious one.

Downtown Oakville

You’re invited to Downtown Oakville’s Hometown Holiday festivities! Stroll safely along the brand new, extra-wide sidewalks and support your local specialty stores, services and restaurants throughout the holiday season.

The highlight of Hometown Holiday will be the spectacular 30 foot Instagram worthy ribbon tree of lights, being installed in Towne Square on November 28. Be sure to come and visit, take a photo with family and friends, and enjoy the extraordinary lighting installations in Centennial Square as well as throughout the Downtown core. Follow @oakvilledowntown (on FB or Instagram) for the details.

Don’t miss out on the best gifts of the holiday season. Subscribe to the Downtown Oakville e-newsletter to gain early access to the NEW Virtual Gift Guide here: http://explore.oakvilledowntown.com/

Downtown Burlington

Santa will not be parading in Downtown Burlington this year. The annual tree lighting and candle-lit stroll have also been cancelled. But – some wonderful things have been planned in exchange.

Celebrating 25 years of magic, the Burlington Lakeside Festival of Lights will be returning. Sixty magical lighting displays will be set up at Spencer Smith Park from November 27th, 2020 to January 8th, 2021.

The lights will turn on at 4 p.m. every day and run until midnight – with exceptions on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Orthodox Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, where the lights will be lit all day and night. This outdoor event is a perfect way to experience the holidays in Burlington and also grab some fresh air.

In addition to the Festival of Lights, Downtown Burlington has invested in a unique plug n’ play technology that transforms traditional lighting displays into interactive experiences. The display is powered by a real-time sound-to-light mapping system called Aurora. Located next to Scrivener’s along the Elgin Promenade, visitors can interact with the lighting in real-time by singing, clapping, or yelling. There will also be a canopy of lights in other areas of the promenade.

Waterdown Village

Waterdown has become a holiday hot-spot thanks to their annual evening Santa Claus parade. The parade, which typically begins at 6 p.m. lights up beautiful Downtown Waterdown with floats decked out in lights. Unfortunately, this year’s parade, along with their ‘Made for You’ market and Christmas Tree lighting have been cancelled. However, there are plans to host a virtual tree lighting via Facebook and Instagram, with special guests to be announced. Follow @waterdownbia (on FB or Instagram) for details closer to the event.

While many aspects of these events are changing week-to-week, one thing is for certain: all of the BIAs want to ensure the holidays bring magic!

Stay tuned for merchant sales. And word on the street – there’s talk of winter patios. It doesn’t get more Canadian than that, eh?

Written By: Anneliese Lawton

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Pumpkin Pop-Up Experience in #DTOakville

October 29, 2020 No Comments

With the ever-changing COVID-19 situation, Downtown Oakville has made the difficult decision to cancel their Tiny Tots Parade, but they will still be bringing some Halloween spirit to Downtown Oakville in a way that’s safe and fun.

Join Downtown Oakville for their Pumpkin Pop-Up Experience on Saturday, October 31. Stroll the brand new, extra wide sidewalks (costumes encouraged!) to see all of the creative pumpkins that merchants will be putting on display. Enter their CONTEST by voting for your favourite pumpkin for a chance to WIN 1 of 2 $150 gift cards to a Downtown Oakville retailer of your choice.

Here’s how it works:

Take a photo of your favourite pumpkin at Downtown Oakville’s Halloween Pumpkin Pop-Up Experience and post the picture on social media using the hashtag #DTOPumpkinExperience (make sure to tag @oakvilledowntown + the merchant)
Subscribe to our e-newsletter here
Follow @oakvilledowntown on Instagram and Facebook

Contest closes Monday, November 2, 2020 at noon. Contest open to local residents only. All contest submissions must be of a participating business listed above.

*This contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Instagram or Facebook.

A list of participating businesses is coming soon at oakvilledowntown.com

DONATE TO OAKVILLE READY’S LET’S HAUNT HUNGER FOOD DRIVE

Be sure to stop by Towne Square between 9 am and 1 pm to drop off (contactless) a non-perishable food item for Oakville Ready’s Let’s Haunt Hunger Food Drive in support of Kerr Street Mission.

Best dressed or best dresses car will WIN a $150 gift card donated by the Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Association (us!). Click here to learn more.

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The Oakville Museum wins ‘Best Cultural Experience’ Talk of the Town Award

October 27, 2020 No Comments

…Note: Each business listed below has made changes and are taking precautions to ensure customer and employee safety during this time. Please contact the businesses directly to confirm up-to-date products, offers, hours and safety procedures.

Indulge in a little history this month at our Best Cultural Experience Talk of the Town Award-winner, the Oakville Museum!

The Oakville Museum resides in the restored Erchless Estate, the former home to Oakville’s founder Colonel William Chisholm. This historic home usually hosts touring exhibits throughout each year, as well as two permanent exhibits about Oakville’s Black History.

Though select exhibits are currently closed, you can still book a 45-minute guided tour of the estate, including information about Oakville’s founding family as well as time spent in the exhibit, Freedom, Opportunity and Family: Oakville’s Black History.

Celebrate Culture Days at the Oakville Museum with a self-guided walking tour of the outdoor grounds and garden, or one of their free guided tours available every Sunday in the month of October!

See your favourite plays, musicals and famous faces at Best Cultural Experience runner-up, The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts!

Though operations at this performing arts centre have currently halted, its stages have been known to host great Canadian and international artists such as Steve Hackett, The Barenaked Ladies, Margaret Atwood and Serena Ryder. It’s a can’t-miss feature of any Oakville visit.

Looking for a little art? Set your eyes on the works of established and emerging artists at Best Cultural Experience second runner-up, The Oakville Galleries!

The Oakville Galleries hosts travelling exhibits through both of their locations at Centennial Square and Gairloch Gardens. Book a time slot now and come see their latest installation, Show Up, by renowned Canadian contemporary painter, Elizabeth McIntosh. Don’t forget to spend some time among the gorgeous flowers at Gairloch Gardens during your visit.

Thank you so much to everyone who voted! We will be announcing our next category on October 19, 2020 over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

2020 Talk of the Town Awards: Best Cultural Experience

To see all of the Visit Oakville 2020 Talk of the Town Award-winners, click here: visitoakville.com

Article provided by Visit Oakville

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Our Bronte Brunch List 2020 – The Best Breakfast and Brunch In Bronte Village

October 17, 2020 No Comments

Whether you’re nursing a hangover or needing some fuel for the day, here is our 2020 list of the best local breakfast & brunch spots in Oakville – newly updated with notes on the Covid measures in place at each restaurant.

For indoor dining/patio, take-out or delivery, #SupportLocal and enjoy a sweet or savoury breakfast that is sure to delight your tastebuds and cure your cravings.

Ps. Check out our separate articles for the best brunch spots in Bronte & Burlington!

La Parisienne Crêperie

Enjoy a Parisienne-inspired brunch any day of the week, Monday to Tuesday (11am-4pm) or Wednesday to Sunday (11am-9pm).

Options for indoor dining/outdoor dining (on the heated patio), curbside pickup, or delivery (via Uber Eats).

Due to limited capacity, guests are encouraged to either call or reserve a table online (via this link here), but walk-ins are invited if there is space.

laparisiennecreperie.com | 93 Bronte Rd, Oakville | 905-827-2378

Savour La France! Sophisticated crêpes and an outstanding brunch all prepared fresh by a husband and wife team. French-style crêpes, along with additional brunch options that include soup, salad and sandwiches. Keep an eye on the blackboard for the Patisserie Du Jour feature.

Covid measures in place:

Daily cleaning/sanitization of the restaurant, in-line with provincial regulations (surfaces sanitized between every seating)
Limited number of guests allowed and 6-feet or more between all tables
Masks worn by staff at all times, customers to wear masks when they are walking around
Guests asked to sanitize hands upon entry
Regular check-ins with staff to monitor their health (sick staff prohibited from the workplace)

El Spero Family Restaurant

All-day breakfast served seven days a week!

Dine-in hours: Monday (closed), Tuesday to Friday (11am – 8:30pm), Saturday (8:30am – 8:30pm) and Sunday (8:30am – 3pm). Call to reserve a table.

Take-out (curbside pickup) hours: Monday (closed), Tuesday to Friday (4pm – 8pm), Saturday (9am – 8pm) and Sunday (9am – 1pm). Click here to view the menu and order online.

Delivery available through Uber Eats.

elspero.ca | 2420 Lakeshore Rd W, Oakville | 905-827-4851

Lighter fare for less ravenous appetites (fruit salad, a single egg or a side order of toast), hearty plates like steak and eggs, meat lover’s meals or the classic Bronte Breakfast are served here. El Spero is a family-owned cornerstone eatery that’s been in the Town of Oakville for over 40 years. If you’re looking for a classic breakfast spot, this is it!

***Call to learn about Covid measures that are currently in place

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Harbourside Artisan Kitchen

Weekend brunch served Saturday and Sunday (9am-3pm), with options for indoor/patio dining, take-out (click here to view the menu and call to place and order) or delivery (via Door Dash).

harbourside-kitchen.com | 2416 Lakeshore Rd W, Oakville | 289-837-3383

Late risers can get a good meal for a great price. From Tuesday – Friday 9am-11am, Harbourside offers an early bird special, starting at $6. From the extensive brunch menu (Saturday and Sunday, 9am-3pm) we’re eyeing the chicken and waffles, the corned beef hash and the Brie and candied onion omelet.

***Call to learn about Covid measures that are currently in place

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Don’t see your favourite Brunch spot?
Contact us and we’ll add it to our list!

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The AGB’s Soup Bowl To Go: Oct. 15 to Nov. 30

October 16, 2020 No Comments

With the crisp Autumn breeze setting in and those hot Summer days swiftly drifting away, it’s time to cozy-up in our sweaters and enjoy the ultimate comfort food: soup!

And in most timely fashion, the Art Gallery of Burlington has brought back their annual Soup Bowl Fundraiser to warm our tummies and our hearts.

This year’s edition is “Soup Bowl To Go”, in true social distance style!

Interested participants are invited to choose and purchase a one-of-a-kind handcrafted ceramic bowl (from the AGB online store) and then bring their voucher to a participating restaurant to enjoy a bowl of delicious local soup.

Bowl sales run from October 15 to November 13 with voucher redemption from November 13 to November 30.

For all details to the fundraiser, click here.

Soup Bowl is an important fundraiser which supports AGB children’s programming, including vital education initiatives such as school outreach and financial assistance for youth. This event has become beloved by the community for over 24 years.

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