April 10, 2024 Newsletter

Find your Ward here and your Council Members here

Mayor Burton offers funding for youth-led climate action projects

Mayor Rob Burton announced the town's participation in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund.

Oakville is 1 of 100 cities across the globe to receive funding and technical support aimed at mobilizing youth aged 15 to 24 to spearhead climate solutions. The town will receive an initial grant of $50,000 to fund youth-led projects focused on addressing climate challenges.

As Oakville joins this global movement, young residents ages 15 - 24 years are encouraged to email mayor@oakville.ca to learn more about the Youth Climate Action Fund and how to submit ideas for the opportunity to receive funding.

By empowering its youth, Oakville is paving the way for transformative climate action and building a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.

Mayor Burton discusses local climate action successes with former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg at COP 28 in Dubai

Email your interest

Council approves Parks Plan 2031

Oakville Town Council has approved the updated Parks Plan 2031 and Parkland Dedication By-law 2024-034, setting the stage for vibrant greenspaces and urban parks. Following public consultations in fall 2023, revisions were made to align with provincial legislative changes, ensuring the townwide parkland standard.

The plan emphasizes a diverse system of active parklands, catering to various recreational needs. Future park designs and locations will be determined through the town's planning processes, offering opportunities for public input.

Mayor Rob Burton highlighted the importance of the plan guiding Oakville's future parks and open spaces. The Parkland Dedication By-law ensures new development contributes to community infrastructure, with acquisitions made through the development process.

Read the full plan

Ontario More Than Doubling Funding to Build New Schools

Mayor Burton speaking at funding announcement with Minster Bethlenfalvy (left) and Minister Lecce (right) in Oakville on April 4, 2024

The Ontario government's groundbreaking $1.3 billion investment in school construction and expansion marks a historic milestone for education in the province. With plans to construct 60 new schools and create over 27,000 student spaces alongside 1,759 child care spaces, this initiative signifies a crucial step towards enhancing educational infrastructure.

Mayor Rob Burton applauds this investment, recognizing its significance in meeting the educational needs of Oakville's growing population. By prioritizing the construction of modern schools closer to home, the government ensures that students have access to state-of-the-art learning environments conducive to their success.

Read the full release

Nominate your community champions

Nominate your community champions for the Oakville Community Spirit Awards 2024! These awards celebrate individuals, organizations, and businesses making a difference in Oakville through leadership and dedication. Recognize those promoting arts, culture, climate action, good neighborliness, inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, inspiration, and innovation.

Nominations are open until April 26. Help honor those enhancing Oakville's vibrancy and livability. Selection criteria include dedication to Oakville, contribution to town values, addressing community challenges, and making a positive impact. A committee will review nominations and select winners.

Nominate here

Tickets on sale for centennial cup

From May 9th to May 19th, the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex will transform into a battleground for hockey excellence. Nine CJHL champions, alongside the host team, will vie for the title of Canada's National Junior A Champion in what promises to be an exhilarating display of skill and determination.

Tickets for the Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, are already available for purchase. Don't miss your chance to witness the action firsthand – secure your seats today and be a part of history in the making!

Strike your pose with the Centennial Cup at the Sixteen Mile Creek Arena!

Get your tickets

Oakville Transit launches mobile app

Oakville Transit has unveiled its latest innovation, the Oakville Transit On-Demand mobile app, simplifying trip bookings for Home to Hub, care-A-van, and Ride On-Demand customers.

The app offers streamlined features including:

One tap booking
Seat reservation
Live Updates

For non-app users, bookings are available through the web portal or by phone.

Oakville Transit's on-demand services cater to various needs, including Home to Hub, care-A-van for persons with disabilities, and Ride On-Demand for shared rides within designated zones.

Learn more

Public Consulatations

Oakville transit's 5 year business plan

Councillors Adams, Knoll and Xie at Oakville Transit Talk drop-in

Oakville Transit is ramping up community engagement this April as it continues to shape its five-year business plan following initial consultations in November 2023, which focused on understanding transit service needs.

To facilitate discussions and gather feedback, Oakville Transit will host Transit Talk drop-in events on April 10 and 11 at various locations across town.

Additionally, residents can participate by completing a short online survey available until April 15.

Wednesday, April 10

Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, 2302 Bridge Road, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Glen Abbey Community Centre, 1415 Third Line, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, 3070 Neyagawa Blvd., from 6 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, April 11

Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre, 325 Reynolds Street, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Oakville Public Library, 120 Navy Street, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Iroquois Ridge Community Centre, 1051 Glenashton Drive, 6 to 8 p.m.

The final draft of the five-year plan is slated for presentation to Council in the fall.

Complete the survey

Short-term accommodations

regulations update

The Town of Oakville is seeking public input on potential revisions to its short-term accommodation regulations, with opportunities to engage available until April 26, 2024. Residents can participate by completing a brief questionnaire or attending an Open House event scheduled for April 25 at 6 p.m. in the South Atrium at Town Hall.

Currently governed by the Short-Term Accommodation By-law 2018-045, Oakville's regulations cover temporary stays of up to 28 consecutive days in exchange for payment. This encompasses bed and breakfast establishments and short-term rentals, excluding motels or hotels. However, it's crucial to note that certain short-term accommodations, like hospitals or couch surfing, fall outside this by-law's scope.

The feedback gathered from both the questionnaire and the Open House will be instrumental in shaping staff recommendations for updates to the licensing by-law later this year. As such, residents are encouraged to participate actively in this process to ensure that Oakville's short-term accommodation regulations align with the community's needs and expectations.

Complete the survey

Local News

Community groups in all seven wards invited to apply for one-time 2024 Community Events Funding

The Town of Oakville is pleased to announce the launch the 2024 Community Events Funding program — an events funding program aimed at encouraging and supporting outdoor community events.

In response to a growing demand for assistance with resident-led outdoor community events, Council approved $70,000 in one-time funding through the 2024 Budget process. The 2024 Community Events Funding offers $10,000 of funding per-ward for outdoor community events held on public property within each ward, with a cap of $3,350 per event.

Apply here

Provincial News

Ontario Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes

Today, the Ontario government introduced the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024, as part of its ongoing commitment to cut red tape, speed up government processes and build at least 1.5 million homes by 2031.

This spring 2024 red tape reduction package includes a variety of measures that would improve service delivery while saving people and businesses time and money. These targeted steps would build on the actions Ontario has taken to cut red tape to date, which are expected to save people and businesses over 1.5 million hours and $1.2 billion every year.

Read the full release

Ontario Building More Inclusive Communities

The Ontario government is investing $750,000 this year to help communities across the province become more age-friendly and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.

Applications for the 2024-25 cycle of Inclusive Community Grants opened today. These grants provide municipalities, non-profit organizations, and Indigenous communities with up to $60,000 for local projects that will help older adults and people with disabilities participate in community life.

Read the full release

Ontario awarded four cities millions for meeting housing goals after count tallied care beds

Four cities that are receiving extra money from the Ontario government for exceeding their housing targets only met the allocations because of the province’s decision to include long-term care beds in calculations.

Provincial data show the four municipalities – Peterborough, Brantford, Sudbury and North Bay – would have fallen short of their 2023 targets had the government relied on the criteria it listed when it launched its reward program last summer.

Read the full story

Federal News

New Canada Carbon Rebate estimator tells you how much you may get back in payments starting April 15

Today, the Government of Canada is launching a new Canada Carbon Rebate estimator tool to help families find out their potential rebate amount, based on their unique circumstances. No background information is needed: answer four simple questions to find out how much you could receive.

Read the full release