March 20, 2024 Newsletter

Find your Ward here and your Council Members here

Ride on-demand app set for April 10

Oakville Transit is gearing up for a major upgrade in customer convenience with the launch of its new Ride On-Demand app. Building on the success of its pilot program, Oakville Transit is set to introduce a user-friendly mobile application for both Apple and Android devices on April 10, 2024.

This innovative app will streamline the booking and tracking process for all Ride On-Demand services, including care-A-van and Home-to-Hub trips.

With this technological leap, Oakville Transit aims to enhance the overall experience for its customers, providing a modern and efficient solution for on-demand transportation needs.

Read the full memo

Oakville's plan for 40% tree canopy

by 2057

Watch the upcoming Council Meeting on March 25, 2024

At the upcoming council meeting on March 25, 2024, the Parks and Open Space Department will present the Urban Forest Strategic Management Plan (UFSMP), outlining crucial steps to enhance Oakville's urban forest sustainability and mitigate climate change effects.

This plan consolidates previous forestry management strategies into a unified framework, aiming to achieve a 40% canopy cover target by 2057.

Read the full report

Ontario Liberals push for "four as of right" across province

The Bill amends the Planning Act with respect to official plans and by-laws.

The amendments state that official plans and zoning by-laws may not have the effect of prohibiting the use of four or fewer residential units on specified parcels of urban residential land. They also may not impose a floor-to-area ratio on residential buildings or residential structures that contain three to six residential units, may not prohibit residential buildings or residential structures from being four or fewer storeys in height and may not require parking spaces to be provided in connection with residential buildings or residential structures that contain at least four residential units.

Read the proposed Bill

Community indicator dashboard steers strategic action plan

The strategic plan reflects Oakville’s dedication to four strategic priorities: Growth Management, Community Belonging, Environmental Sustainability, and Accountable Government. Under each priority, specific actions and initiatives have been identified to address key community needs and aspirations.

Crucially, the plan emphasizes transparency and accountability. To track progress, a key community indicators dashboard has been developed, offering real-time data on the town’s performance in achieving shared goals. This dashboard, set to launch on Oakville.ca by the end of March 2024, will empower citizens and stakeholders to engage actively in the town’s development proces

Read the full report

Service Oakville Soars

Service Oakville, the town's centralized service hub, has reported impressive performance metrics for the year 2023, showcasing its commitment to efficiency and customer satisfaction. Over the past five years, the annual average of Service Oakville requests across all channels has stood at 150,878 demonstrating the significant demand for town services.

In 2023 alone, several key achievements were highlighted, including a 92% service level target met by consolidated town departments, a notable 4% increase in page views following the updated Oakville.ca, and a 1,845% surge in the use of the search function on the website. Additionally, the town saw a commendable 9.7% rise in its overall social media followership, further extending its reach and engagement with the community.

Read the full report

Oakville youth award nominations

now open

The Town of Oakville, in collaboration with the Oakville Youth Action Committee (OYAC), is thrilled to introduce the Oakville Youth Awards, designed to recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of young individuals who are making a positive impact in our community.

The Oakville Youth Awards feature four distinct categories, each highlighting different areas of excellence:

Emerging Leader Award
Youth Artist Award
Youth Involvement Award
Youth Sports Award

Nominations for the Oakville Youth Awards are now open and will be accepted until April 2, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. To submit a nomination, please complete the online form available on the Oakville Youth Awards page.

Nominate Here

Unlocking the Planning Act for Affordable Housing

The Town has prepared a white paper that charts a path forward for our community's housing landscape. This document supplements our Town’s Housing Strategy and Action Plan (HSAP) and offers a comprehensive strategy to address the pressing need for affordable housing in Oakville.

The white paper delves into several key tools authorized by the Planning Act, including Inclusionary Zoning (IZ), Community Planning Permit System (CPPS), Community Improvement Plan (CIP), Community Infrastructure and Housing Accelerator (CIHA), and Community Benefits Charge (CBC). Each of these tools plays a vital role in facilitating the development of affordable housing within our town.

Read the full white paper

March for meals

March for Meals is coming! This is an annual campaign that Oakville Meals on Wheels takes part in, and it celebrates the impact of local meals on wheels programs, raises awareness and promotes community engagement. YOU can make a difference in Oakville.

Encourage your followers to #SponsorLunch as well and make #MarchforMeals2024 a big success! Visit oakvillemealsonwheels.com for more information.

Public Consultations

Draft plan and guidelines of Old Oakville heritage conservation district

The first draft of the new Plan and Guidelines for the Old Oakville Heritage Conservation District is now available online! This document has been eagerly anticipated by many in our community, and we are eager to hear your thoughts and feedback.

The Old Oakville Heritage Conservation District holds significant cultural and historical value for our town, and it is essential that any plans for its preservation and development align with the wishes and needs of our residents. We invite you to take some time to review the draft document and share your thoughts with us.

You can access the draft plan here. We encourage you to peruse it thoroughly and provide your feedback either at the upcoming public meeting or via email.

Public Meeting Details:

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Knox Presbyterian Church, 250 Lakeshore Road East

At the public meeting, we will also provide an update on the residential zoning by-law review, illustrating how your feedback is being incorporated into new zoning provisions for the heritage district. These two projects are interconnected, and your input is invaluable as we work to enhance and preserve the character of Old Oakville.

Read the Draft Plan

Participate in the public engagement policy survey

The Town of Oakville is committed to ensuring that every voice in the community is heard. As part of our ongoing efforts to update the Public Notice and Engagement Policy and Public Engagement Procedure, we invite you to participate in our upcoming community engagement sessions.

When and Where:

Monday, March 18

Glen Abbey Community Centre, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Trafalgar Park Community Centre, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, March 20

Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday, March 21

Sheridan College, B Wing, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

These drop-in events are designed to provide you with the opportunity to engage directly with town staff, ask questions, and share your thoughts on how we can improve our public engagement practices. Whether you have specific concerns, ideas for improvement, or simply want to learn more about the policy update process, we welcome your input.

Complete the survey

Local News

Buses will replace GO trains in Burlington, Oakville and Clarkson this month

Starting late in the evening on Friday, March 22 until Sunday, March 24 GO Train service will be replaced by buses along the Lakeshore West line while construction work takes place.

Read the full story

Provincial News

Ontario Investing More than $270 Million To Support New Innovations and Discoveries

The Ontario government is investing over $278 million in research projects at universities, colleges, research institutes and research hospitals across the province. The funding is being delivered through the Ontario Research Fund and the Early Researchers Awards and supports researchers in making discoveries that help advance the development of innovative new products and technologies.

Read the full release

Federal News

Working together to protect democracy and defend human rights

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering commitment to protecting and strengthening democratic institutions at the Summit for Democracy, hosted by the Republic of Korea. This year’s theme, “Democracy for Future Generations,” reminds us of our commitment to protect and promote democratic values so our children and grandchildren have a more prosperous and peaceful world.

At the Summit, the Prime Minister announced over $30 million for new projects to strengthen democracy in Canada and around the world: