Sweet potato fries, french fries and onion rings

We were there for an hour and there were line-ups for lunch the whole time.  According to the manager, business has been brisk since “The Works” opened 17 days ago.  A new gourmet burger bistro in Downtown Oakville.  There is another gourmet burger restaurant in the Whole Foods Plaza.

Granted the new restaurant opened during the busy Yuletide season, but it is quite notable that this bistro is full, while other more traditional restaurants on Lakeshore Road in the heart of Downtown Oakville, have only a few patrons.

Families, older folks, young adults, there was a real mix of people checking out the new eatery.  If you like burgers, fries and onion rings, you will like this place.  Oh and if you like beer and loud music too.

A concept that started in Ottawa, The Works is opening up across Southern Ontario. Oakville needed a more casual joint in the downtown area.

The Works, new gourmet burger bistro in Downtown Oakville

Love the mural of the Oakville lighthouse, and the burgers named after Mayor Rob Burton, local athlete Donovan Bailey and Appleby College.  Our Sheridan College waiter was well trained.  Drinks were served in measuring cups.  I like that it is all Canadian.

This place is going to do well, for sure.

For the fourth year in a row, Halton region (which comprises Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Acton) has been ranked the safest regionial municipality in the Greater Toronto Area, and in Canada.

This distinction, according to Maclean’s magazine, a major Canadian magazine, in its 2010 rankings. These rankings are based on crime data from Statistics Canada. Conversely, Prince George, B.C. was given the title of Canada’s most crime-ridden city.

According to the Oakville Beaver today, Regional Chair Gary Carr said “This achievement is the result of our residents, businesses and local municipalities, working together with Halton Regional Police to ensure that this is a safe place to live, work, raise a family and retire.”

Wayne and I attended a recent meeting of the West Kerr Residents Association, the neighbourhood where we live, and the local police officer assigned to our community spoke on pro-active work that he is doing to ensure safety in the area.  This is one of the reasons why so many people that are moving to Canada from other countries choose to settle in the Oakville-Burlington-Milton area.

Call Wayne or Hilary Shantz  NOW at 905 599 3311 to find out more about moving to Halton Region.

“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.

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

Oakville lighthouse at dusk

Just received this unsolicited note today, from Donna Joyce, our new friend and client who moved here a year ago from Victoria, B.C., with her family.

I do write a lot of positive things about living in Oakville, but thought readers might like to hear directly from an Oakville newcomer, whom we met from her contacting us on this blog.

“Hello Hilary and Wayne:

We are enjoying all the fall colours and the change of season, though we certainly have been spoiled lately with the lovely continuing warm weather.  Every morning when I wake up I remark that it is another beautiful day in Oakville.

Thus far our experience has been wonderful – including trips to the medical clinic, hospital and medical specialists.  We had no problem getting a wonderul family doctor.  People have such passion for what they do and make you feel so welcomed and at ease.  It is farily easy to get around and I just love the downtown core.  The ambience and beauty as well as the lovely shops give that small town feel.  I can certainly see that Oakville is becoming the most livable town in Canada. It is a very clean and safe community.

George's Square downtown Oakville. Pedestrian friendly!

With walking and hiking trails and cross-country skiing too,  one forgets that we are also close to a major city as well as other beautiful places to visit for a day trip.  The international airport is approximately a 20 minute drive on the toll highway and we noticed how family-oriented this community is – with wonderful sports facilities, outdoor recreation,  shopping, plenty of schools and the brand new hospital which will be built within a couple of years.  When you see people out jogging and walking their dogs, it makes you feel safe.

Thank you again for welcoming us and for helping us find this wonderful home and area in which to live. Happy to hear that your move went well and someday when I downsize,  I know I will have many choices from the different types of homes that Oakville has to offer and I can count on your expertise again.

Always looking forward to your informative newsletters,

Best Regards,

Donna Joyce”

If you have moved to Oakville recently please share what you like about living in this wonderful town.

Outdoor Oakville Festival - Midnight Madness

Come on down to Downtown Oakville tonight! Midnight Madness starts at 7 p.m.

Last year over 50,000 people came out. It was a lot of fun as we went down with our two teenagers.  The bands were great and there were soooooo many Oakville residents out.

One of the things that makes this town so great to live in is all the downtown festivals that go on annually, and the Waterfront Summer Festival at Coronation Park on the lake.

Make sure to bring your family or special person down to hear some live music, eat some great food and meet some new people.

Check out oakvilledowntown.com for more info on bands and what’s going on this year.  See you  there!!  Wayne and I will be at the Royal LePage kiosk between 8 and 10.

Oakville, most livable town in Canada

Some of you may be aware that the Town of Oakville has finalized a comprehensive official plan called “Livable Oakville” to help keep plans on track for Oakville to deserve the moniker of “Most Livable town in Canada”.

In a recent survey of residents (conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights), 800 residents chosen randomly were asked:

“What are the greatest challenges facing Oakville in its goal of being the most livable town in Canada?”

Top challenges identified were:

Cost of living                       9%

Town expansion                8%

Public Transportation      8%

Parking                                8%

While in previous years growth and development were identified as the greatest challenges facing Oakville, the good news is that Oakville is dealing with growth in a responsible and sustainable way, according to the survey.

Environmental concerns are at the forefront, when making decisions.  Concern over growth has dropped substantially since 2004.

“Livable Oakville”, the Town’s adopted Official Plan, establishes a new policy framework and identifies the growth areas of Midtown (a provincial Urban Growth Centre), Uptown Core, Palermo Village, Kerr Village, Bronte Village and Downtown Oakville.  I will be reporting more on each of these growth centres in future.

The new plan also introduces new policies relating to:

• The mission statement and guiding principles
• General policies
• Land use designations
• Special policy areas
• Implementation tools and interpretation

For more details about this see the Town of Oakville website

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Oakville 2011 Citizens Survey – Oakville is tops in livability say residents

Oakville great place to live

What do Oakville residents think of living in this Town?

Most of us who live here agree that it’s a terrific place to live and raise a family.  If you go around town and chat with locals you are likely to come to that conclusion.

Need some more hard facts?

Pollara Strategic Insights conducted a telephone survey on behalf of the Town of Oakville.

A random sample of 800 residents were asked about their views on living in Oakville.

Thought I would report back on the latest results from the 2011 Oakville Citizens Survey.

Highlights:

Feelings of belonging/Being safe                    94%

Quality of Buildings/overall appearance       90%

Protection of heritage                                       90%

Information to residents                                   85%

Responding to community needs                     83%

Protection of environment                                83%

Public involvement in government                  77%

Managing tax dollars                                          67%

When residents were also asked whether or not they were satisfied with town services, Eight of the 11 services  received satisfaction levels of over 80%, with more details below:

Parks                              91%

Library                           90%

Recreation facilities     90%

Recreation Programs   88%

Haabour/waterfront    87%

Roads                               83%

Fire                                  82%

Cultural programs        81%

For more information on current and past survey results you can go to www.oakville.ca or contact the Strategy, Policy and Communications deptartment at 905-845-6601 ext. 3689 at the Town of Oakville.

New meat store in downown Oakville

Wayne and I were finishing up viewing new listings in Central Oakville when we noticed a gentleman in an apron in front of a BBQ selling gourmet mini-burgers.

We decided to try out the tantalizing little morsels being offered by the owner of  a new meat shop at 115 Lakeshore Road West, just west of Kerr.

From our chat with Tom Stasiuk, business owner, this is the first of a number of stores that he plans to open.  He is planning to open stores in Streetsville and Port Credit, with a view to franchising.

According to Tom, these meats are locally grown, fresh, free range and being retailed at 30%-50% of similar quality meats in other venues.

Here’s a photo of Tom and his BBQ.  If you want to check out this new addition to the downtown scene,  check out marbledoakville.com for hours of operation.

Those mini-burgers with gourmet bbq sauce were just what we needed for a tasty mid-day nibble!  See you around town!

 The average time that houses are on the market is up to 31 days versus 25 days in the same period a year ago – but  this is still very good turnover.  The outlook looks good for the second quarter with the Bank of Canada holding the prime rate at 3.00% and 5 year fixed mortagage rates staying below %4.00 with some short-term variable mortgage rates as low as 2.2%.  

If you are thinking of buying or selling please give me a call (905.599.3311) and I would be delighted to assist you.