“Cinderella”, A Family Musical for the Christmas Season in Oakville
December 6th, 2011 Categories: Lighten Up, Oakville Events, Things to Do in Oakville, Why Move to Oakville?
Looking for something special to do with kids, grand-kids, the whole family over the holidays?
“Cinderella”, a pantomime, is being performed right here in Oakville.
A pantomime, according to British tradition, is a fun musical performed over the holiday season. I remember going to pantomimes as a child in Scotland.
Rikki Wright, Oakville resident has written and directed this musical. The Meeting House, in Oakville, has a large auditorium that is the venue for this theatrical performance. Showtime runs December 16-18 and 27-31, 2011.
You can order tickets here and find out more about the show here.
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Kerr Village Art Gallery Opens in Oakville
December 1st, 2011 Categories: Around Kerr Village, Downtown Oakville, Oakville Events, Things to Do in Oakville, Why Move to Oakville?
Luigia Zilli, owner of Kerr Village Art Gallery, with Wayne
There’s a new art gallery in Oakville!
Tonight Wayne and I went to the Grand Opening of a new art gallery in our neighbourhood.
Located in Kerr Village, the gallery displays works of Canadian and International artists, starting from the owner, Oakville resident Luigia Zilli (www.luigiazilli.com) Working in acrylic, she is mostly known for her Italian landscapes and bright flowers, and also for her popular bicycle art.
Claudia Gonzalez, from Oakville as well, born in Venezuela, makes beautiful jewellery pieces in silver using Svarovsky glass, cultured pearls and other semi-precious stones.
Des Bell, trained as illustrator, he’s expressing himself through photography. He is a Waterdown’s resident.
James C. Swartz, from Toronto, working in oil and mixed media mostly using a wide palette knife.
Jorge Luis Ballart, from Cuba, painting in oil, communicating through his work what is his view of life in Cuba, the people dreams and frustrations.
Maria Teresa Febres, Venezuelan born from Toronto, sculpting beautiful pieces in ceramic.
Franco Anselmi, a very accomplished artist from Italy, painting in oil and offering high quality screen print mixed media depicting cats, owls, elephants and horses in a very unique style.
Marthy Nasato, a sculptor from Aurora, ON with her beautiful dancers and acrobats. Marina, another Italian artist, painting acrylic abstract landscapes on a textured ground.
The gallery is a great addition in the upcoming neighborhood of Kerr Village in Oakville, which in few years is forecast to be as booming as the Downtown area.
Luigia, owner of Kerr Village Art Gallery, The Shantz Team
“Our intent is also to cater good quality and affordable art and custom framing to the new residents that will come to live in Kerr Village when the new condos will be built, which will also increase pedestrian traffic on Kerr Street giving more exposure to all the businesses in the area.” says Luigia.
Looking to buy or sell real estate in Kerr Village or Oakville, call The Shantz Team, 905 599 3311 now!
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A Flat White at Kerr Street Cafe in Oakville
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Oakville residents: You’re all invited to a party to celebrate power plant victory
October 13th, 2010 Categories: Green Trends, Oakville Events, Oakville Town Planning & Development, South East Oakville
Oakville Harbour
As a C4CA street captain, I want to get the word out that a party, a night of music, fun and food is being planned for:
Friday, October 15, 2010 (6:30 – 9:00 p.m.)
Chisholm Education Centre Parking Lot (1484 Cornwall Road).
This event willl take place rain or shine, so we are encouraged to dress appropriately for fall weather.
To recognize the collective efforts of our amazing community, the evening will be compliments of C4CA (Coalition for Clean Air), the organization of local residents that has successfully lobbied for stopping the power plant from being built in Oakville and GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
FOOD BANK: our local food bank can always use our help as there are currently 5,000 residents relying on it.
Priority needs are canned fruit and vegetables, brown and white rice, canola oil, healthy cereal and diapers. If you bring these items to the event, they will be transported to the food bank.
Wayne and I look forwarded to seeing you all there!
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No Oakville power plant! Victory party at Julia’s in downtown Oakville!
October 8th, 2010 Categories: Downtown Oakville, Green Trends, Oakville Events, Oakville Real Estate News, Places to Eat, South East Oakville
No Oakville power plant: Mayor Rob Burton, Hilary Shantz, Karen Khoury celebrate.
The mood was JUBILANT as C4CA (Citizens for Clean Air) members and locals streamed into Julia’s last night!!
For me it was still sinking in: How AMAZING a victory this is for Oakville, and for those of us who live in South East Oakville!
The possiblity of this dangerous and environmentally hazardous 900 megawatt power plant had certainly cast an ominous cloud over the area, and impacted property values.
Folks, not only is this a victory for Oakville, but for all the GTA, as the Premier has said there will not be a plant of this kind in the GTA area.
Wayne and I chatted with Mayor Rob Burton as we walked into the party together. Astute legislation on the municipal level by Mr. Burton along with intense and unrelenting lobby efforts by C4CA made all the difference!
This one-year long fight has been like David going up against Goliath.
Having Erin Brokovich come to Oakville last week (read Toronto Star article on her visit), along with the appointment of a full-time executive director, showed that Oakville residents were redoubling their efforts, AND NOT BACKING DOWN!
No Oakville power plant! Wendy Burton (wife of Mayor) Wayne Shantz
A huge big thank you to all those who gave time and resources to this fight.
Karen Khoury, Brenda Potter-Phelan, Nancy Robertson: as busy professionals and mothers, you sacrificed a great deal of personal time. We appreciate your hard work.
Rob Burton, thanks for your excellent leadership in fighting this.
My question is : When they make a movie about this, who will play the key roles? 
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OAKVILLE POWER PLANT STOPPED!
October 7th, 2010 Categories: Green Trends, Oakville Events, Oakville Town Planning & Development
Great news for Oakville residents!
It’s official!
We will not be having a power plant built in south east Oakville.
This is amazing news for all residents and a great example of how powerful grass roots community efforts a la Erin Brokovich can be.
To read more about the announcement this afternoon from MPP Kevin Flynn, click here.
C4CA is to be commended for an amazing job and probably the most organized and effective lobby and campaign effort at the residents level ever sustained in Ontario.
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Oakville Candidates for Mayor Answer Questions
October 6th, 2010 Categories: Oakville Events, Oakville Town Planning & Development, Things to Do in Oakville, Why Move to Oakville?
Wayne and I attended an all-candidates question and answer session last night at Glen Abbey United Church, hosted by the Oakville Chamber of Commerce. It was an opportunity for townsfolk to ask questions of our 2010 Oakville mayoral candidates.
Four Oakville mayoral candidates answer questions
The church was packed, with standing room only (about 450 attendees). Incumbent Rob Burton (who lives on my street), previous mayor, Ann Muvale, John McLaughlin and Raymond Ray are this year’s candidates.
I have attended quite a few Town of Oakville sessions where Mayor Burton and his staff have talked about all the “state of the art” improvements (more extensive bus system, sports complexes, community centre, etc. ) that have already and will be added, under his administration. All of these new initiatives have positively impacted Oakville quality of life over the last 4 years. This cannot be denied.
Some 450 or more Oakville residents attended
But the main thrust of last night’s debate was the other three contenders accusing Mr. Burton of “fiscal irresponsibility”. How will all this get paid for? Is it not inevitable that our property taxes will go up?
Also the portion of the cost of the new hospital for which the Town is responsible is going to be a burden on us and our kids.
Another point raised by Mr. McLaughlin and Mr Ray was that businesses are not being attracted to Oakville because it costs so much to operate a business here, versus, say Markham. This will mean that residents will bear the brunt of the costs incurred going forward.
With respect to the proposed power plant, there was, as you can imagine, much discussion. Ms. Mulvale said “this would not have been a possibility, under my watch!” While Mayor Burton contended “I am convinced it will never get built”.
We had to duck out near the end to pick up our daughter.
I have yet to make up my mind about who will get my vote on October 25th. But I am certainly more informed about the issues, having attended this session. This is why the democratic process is so important! When I only listened to Mr. Burton speak over the last few years, I had not thought about the issues from another point of view.
I was impressed by all the candidates, and their knowledge of the issues that are at the forefront of most of our minds, whether the new Oakville hospital, power plant, property taxes, environmental issues, attracting businesses to Oakville, creating more world class festivals that draw visitors and fostering the arts.
What are your thoughts?
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Outrage in Oakville over Power Plant
February 12th, 2010 Categories: Green Trends, Oakville Events, Oakville Town Planning & Development, South East Oakville
Locating power plant near homes and schools "pure folly"
“This is not a NIMBY issue” says local South East Oakville resident
What started as disapproval and concern has turned to OUTRAGE over proposed Transcanada power plant to be built in South East Oakville.
The Middleton Connectiut expolosion which killed five and injured 12 workers Sunday morning has local residentss group Citizens for Clean Air (C4CA) calling for an immediate moratorium.
At a residents rally a couple of weeks ago, Oakville Mayor Burton told me that if we were not able to stop the plant, the Town would work to minimize its potential fallout on the community by restrictive bylaws. But most of us who live within vicinity of the site now feel that line of thinking is no longer good enough!
Locating a plant just 400 metres from homes and schools is “pure folly”, were sentiments expressed in Oakville Beaver article.
Mayor Burton has invited Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, to take a personal tour of the site, formerly owned by Ford Motor Company, along with Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn.
Talking last night to Brenda Phelan Potter (who along with her young son Quinn were helping us at the warehouse pack the last few boxes of relief items for Haiti), “Finally people outside of SouthEast Oakville are beginning to see that this is not merely a NIMBY issue”.
Here is part of a note that Brenda emailed me this morning, which I include with permission:
“From the beginning, we have been fighting the perception outside of our local area that the opposition to this massive gas fired power plant was really just a NIMBY issue.
People have a pre-conceived notion about South East Oakville and so it was considered by many that this was just some rich folks from Oakville whining about their neighbourhod.
In fact, we are not all rich, and the fact is that this proposal could be facing any other local community in Ontario. Gas fired power plants do not belong in residential neighbourhoods. It is ridiculous to think otherwise. The Clarkson air shed is already over taxed with pollution. Our air shed is 14% more polluted than the Ontario average because of the 57 local emitters that we have currently including St. Lawrence Cement that runs their coal furnaces 24 hours/7 days a week and the traffic that passes by us every day on the QEW. Adding additional toxins to any air shed that is already over-taxed makes no sense.
Unfortunately, the tragedy in Middletown last Sunday also showed everyone that ….Accidents happen.
The Middletown plant was a much farther distance away from a residential neighbourhood than the plant proposed for Oakville and yet, 5 people died and a dozen were injured.
We have 11,000 residents within a 3KM radius and 16 schools. The Middletown Gas Fired Power Plant is 50% smaller than the proposed plant for Oakville. No one can guarantee us that a tragic accident will not happen here.
Brenda also highlighted a John Tory interview on CFRB 1010 Newstalk this week.
”The Mayor was interviewed and did a good job highlighting the issues related to safety and health.
John Tory said that in his opinion our opposition to the Oakville Generating Station does not qualify as NIMBYism because of two factors:
1-There is most definitely a health and safety factor with this plant especially after the Middletown tragedy
2-The Clarkson Air shed community has already taken on more than their fair share of burden in terms of emissions (57 other local emitters plus the QEW).”
So there! I join with Brenda, and John Tory, in saying this is not a NIMBY issue.
Why is the Premier, the Ontario Government, TransCanada and Ford willing to put our community, or any community for that matter, at risk ?
Your thoughts?
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Oakville residents work together to collect and send supplies: Containers for Haiti
February 3rd, 2010 Categories: Burlington Beat, Containers of Hope for Haiti, Haiti Relief, Oakville Events
At Royalton International warehouse, volunteers Diana, Diana and Kelta help sort boxes
What a whilwind it has been the last ten days as folks come out of the woodwork, eager to lend a helping hand!
A Toronto Marriott hotel donated bags of used sheets and bedding. Melissa’s Grade 7 class at St. Bernadette’s School have been gathering and sorting items all week. A truckload of tents is being brought to the warehouse, from Fergus. 200 backpacks wtih soap and useful stuff arrived from Sew on Fire Ministries….
Oh, and Cogeco’s news program “The Source will be coming to the warehouse on Thursday to do a couple of interviews, do a bit of filming, and help spread the word!
Don’t forget 3rd organizing meeting: Saturday, February 6, 9:30 a.m at 30 Normandy Place, off Kerr St. in Oakville. All interested parties come on out. We are having a blast while making a real difference for needy folks far away.
A couple of new drop off points in Burlington:
4060 Fairview Street, Unit 6-8 (E of Walkers Line) 8:30 – 12 noon.
1383 Roxburgh Crescent (Headon Road/Palmer) – evenings 5-9, weekends 10-2.
For more info on Burlington drop off arrangements, call Christine Childs at 905-484-6907.
Below is another article printed by the Oakville Beaver TODAY
Containers of Hope for Haiti adds drop-off locations
“It’s exciting to see people responding from the heart,” said Hilary Shantz. “Since the article appeared in Friday’s Beaver, people in Oakville and beyond have been calling with offers of help and donations of supplies.”
Items needed include new or used shelter supplies (tents, sleeping bags, tarps, mattress pads, blankets, towels, buckets, basins, pots, towels); food supplies (rice, beans, canned goods); personal supplies (soap, diapers, toilet paper, toothbrushes); first aid supplies (crutches, canes, walkers, sterile gloves, slings).
Drop-off locations include Evangel Pentecostal Church, Knox Presbyterian Church, St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Shaarei-Beth el Synagogue, Clarkson Road Presbyterian, Oak Park Moms and Tots Centre, John Knox Christian School, St. Bernadette’s Public School and Royalton International warehouse.
For a complete list of emergency supplies needed, and addresses and times for drop off, see ContainersOfHopeforHaiti.blogspot.com. More details on how this grassroots effort got started and is being organized, see www.theoakvillebuzz.com or Facebook Fan Page: Containers of Hope for Haiti.
See also a video of how Rotary volunteers in the Dominican Republic are transporting these emergency supplies direct to Haitians living in makeshift tents outside Port-au-Prince.
The first container leaves Feb.12. The container will be shipped from donated space at Royalton International in Oakville. Boxes, packing material and tape have been donated by United Van Lines and Inapak. Funding for containers and shipping, was donated by Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, Rotary Club of Oakville Centennial and other private donors.
For more information, contact Judy Warrington, committee chair, at 905-338-2304 or [email protected].
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Saving lives in Haiti – Oakville community responds quickly to send supplies
January 30th, 2010 Categories: Containers of Hope for Haiti, Haiti Relief, Oakville Events
Haiti Containers logo
- Oakville residents’ second meeting for Haiti Containers
Such a great spirit at our second Containers of Hope for Haiti committee meeting! Everyone was excited about progress made in just one week. The group had grown, with new residents coming out to help.
“When I read about it in the Beaver I decided to come because I like working at the grass roots level” said Diana Spremo.
Next meeting set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday Feb. 6 at 30 Normandy Place community room, off Kerr, all welcome.
Quick update on what’s happening.
More specific roles identified.
Wayne Shantz: Liaise with contact persons at drop off centres, and determine precise drop off times.
Diana Spremo: Update wish list/info sheet to be disseminated this afternoon to local churches and groups, especially in time for Sunday service announcement. (Wayne and I stopped by Shaarei-Beh El Synagogue this afternoon, project had been announced at service today.) Start a Facebook fan page for the project.
Melissa Carnelos: Create a url for www.containersofhopeforHaiti.com and start a dedicated blog. Make labels for containers.
Ken Barkman: Deliver large containers for donated items to drop off sites today.
Hilary Shantz: On-going P.R. Oakville Beaver, Oakville Today, regular updates to www.theoakvillebuzz.com, liaise with Pat Mareno, United Van Lines, who has donated boxes, tape and packing material, and will dropoff to Royalton warehouse Mon. Feb 1, 5:30 p.m.
OTHER NEEDS
- We need more drop off centres, especially in North Oakville
- Volunteers to help sort and pack
- Vans and drivers to help transport supplies from drop off centres to warehouse
- Donate items on wish list (see previous post)
- Donate cash to fund container and cover shipping. Cheques made to “RCOT Foundation” (stands for Rotary Club Oakville Trafalgar), specify on cheque “Haiti Containers”. Mail to Containers of Hope for Haiti, 313 Beechfield, Oakville, ON L6J 5H9, or call Barrie Howie for more info 905 844 2760. Tax receipt will be sent to you by mail from RCOT.
WHERE AND WHEN TO BRING SUPPLIES:
- Evangel Pentecotal Church, 1450 Rebecca by Third Line (5:30-8:30 p.m. M-F; Sun 10-12 NOON)
- Shaarei-Beth El Synagogue, 186 Morrison Road (9-4 every day, leave inside front door otherwise, will be taken in next day)
- Howie’s Residence, 331 Beechfield Rd (Ford/Devon) Anytime, if no one home, leave items in breezeway
- Royalton International warehouse, 2880 Portland Drive (Winston Churchill/Dundas) (Mon. Feb 1, Thur. Feb 4, Mon Feb 8 Thur Feb 11, all 5:30-8 p.m., and Sun. Feb 7, 2-5 p.m.)
- Knox Presbyterian Church, 89 Dunn/Lakeshore (9-4:30 M-F, Sun 9-12 noon)
- St. Judes Anglican Church, 160 William St. (8:30-4:30 M-F. all day Sunday)
To view video of Rotarians from Dominican Republic working in tandem with Brazilian peacekeeping troops to transport and distribute needed supplies to displaced Haitians, click here (Keep watching and you will see supplies being distributed in orderly manner to women and children, not like the chaos being televised in Port-au-Prince on CNN, this week.):
Emergency supplies distributed to Haitians in need by Rotarians from Dominican Republic
FIRST CONTAINER WILL LEAVE OAKVILLE FRIDAY, FEB 12, NOON
Judy spoke about how encouraged Moca Rotary President was about our support, as well as Antony one of our connections in Moca.
Questions, suggestions, other ideas, call Judy Warrington, 416-543-4570.
Lives are being saved by our efforts here in Oavkille. Let’s keep the momentum and teamwork going!
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Oakville residents rally to send emergency supplies to Haiti
January 29th, 2010 Categories: Containers of Hope for Haiti, Haiti Relief, Oakville Events
Courtesy of Oakville Beaver, Photo and article in today's issue of Oakville Beaver
On Saturday, my husband Wayne and I joined a group of local residents for a meeting here in Oakville. This small group gathered to put their heads together to see if, and how, supplies might be sent from Oakville direct to earthquake victims in Haiti.
From that meeting “Containers of Hope for Haiti” was born.
Now, and over the next several months, residents of Oakville will be able to contribute much-needed supplies to Haitian earthquake victims in a direct, trusted and reliable way.
Heading the local committee for Containers of Hope for Haiti is Judy Warrington, a retired teacher. Judy has organized more than 20 volunteer trips to the Dominican Republic and sent several containers of used school furniture and supplies for Dominican and Haitian schools. This energetic Oakville resident knows how to work with D.R. and Haitian authorities to get supplies to folks in need!
Rotarians in the Dominican told Judy about the outpouring of Dominican help to Haiti, following the tragedy. From Moca and Puerto Plata, Dominican citizens and corporations are currently donating medical, shelter and food supplies in containers. (Video of volunteers in action to be posted shortly!)
Supplies are being taken by a convoy of trucks driven by volunteers and delivered direct to sites set up by the Haitian government just outside Port-au-Prince where displaced locals are living in makeshift tents.
“But Dominican Republic is not a rich country, and can only give so much. More supplies are needed.”
Judy will be travelling to Puerto Plata in a few weeks, and along with Rotary members in the Dominican, will meet the container at the port.
Cash donations from TWO ROTARY CLUBS IN OAKVILLE and other residents, including Mayor Rob Burton, will cover the cost of a 40 foot container and shipping.
Other Oakville citizens and business owners eager to help!
Already word of this effort is spreading in town. It has been heart-warming to see the quick response of fellow citizens in just a few days!
Victor Brewda, of Royalton International, donated his large warehouse and loading dock at 2880 Portland Drive, as the storage area where goods can be packed and loaded onto containers bound for the Dominican Republic.
Glen Moffat, owner of Eye Design Signz, quickly designed a banner and logo for us! 
Rotary and other residents fund containers
United Van Lines donate boxes, tape, packing material
Donations of medical supplies, tents, school backpacks, and other items have already been received. Atlas Van Lines, via KMG Royal Moving & Storage, has offered professional packers to help. United Van Lines in Mississauga has donated boxes, packing paper and tape.
HOW YOU CAN HELP!
Residents can donate items for Haiti.
Shelter Supplies:
Tents, tarps, sleeping bags, ground cover or thin mattress pads, blankets, towels, water purification tablets, buckets, pots (large) and spoons.
First Aid Supplies:
Sterile gloves, gauze, bandages, tape, cotton balls, swabs, slings, elastic bandage and antiseptic (Betadine type or Chlorohexidine soap type).
Personal Items:
Purell, soap, diapers, santary napkins, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Afro hair combs and hairibrushes.
Food items:
Beans, rice and other food items
Bags of rice, dried black beans, dried kidney beans, oil. (Black beans cooked with rice and a bit of oil, is staple diet for Haitians)
Canned beans, canned meat, canned tuna and sardines, crackers, cereal, milk tetrapacks, fruit juice tetrapacks and non-perishable food in general.
New or gently used items will be accepted. Residents are urged not to donate clothing, because it will not be allowed entrance by Dominican port authorities.
The first shipment is scheduled to leave February 12. As more donations come in, we hope to be able to send several more containers, as the need will be on-going.
DROP OFF POINTS IN OAKVILLE
St. Judes Church downtown is a drop-off point
Knox Prebyterian Church (Lakeshore Road & Kerr Street) February 1-10, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Evangel Pentecostal Church (Rebecca Street & Third Line) (when church is open)
St. Jude’s Church (William Street, downtown Oakville)
Howie’s residence (313 Beechfield Road, “If no-one home just leave items in breezeway”, say Oakville residents Barry and Mary-Jane Howie.)
Royalton International (2880 Portland Drive) Mon. Feb1, Thur. Feb 4, Mon. Feb 8, Thur. Feb 11 (5:30-8 p.m.). Sun. Feb 7, 2-5 p.m.
Shaari-Beth El Congregation, 186 Morrison Drive
Donations will be received at sites until Thursday, February 11. Container to be shipped February 12.
Next meeting of Containers of Hope for Haiti: Saturday, January 29 at 9:30 a.m., 70 Normandy Drive (off Kerr Street). All interested to help in any way are welcome to attend.
For more information, contact Judy Warrington at 905-338-2304 or [email protected].
Thanks to Oakville Beaver for taking photo and putting this news on the front page of today’s Oakville Beaver edition. More updates to come!
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