Good morning! This is The Oakville Digest, your trusted guide to everything happening in the beautiful town of Oakville, Ontario.

Here is what to expect in today’s issue:

• 🗳️ Polls open for Ontario election

• 🏢 Updates for Oakville’s midtown plan

• 📅 A list of events for the weekend

Thanks for being part of our growing community. Let us know what you loved in today’s issue by replying to this email, and….

Let’s dive in!

News

🗳️ Advance Polls Now Open for 2025 Provincial Election

Advance polls are now open in Oakville for the upcoming provincial election, giving voters the opportunity to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Oakville Riding
There are three locations available for advance voting in the Oakville riding, open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

• Oakville Town Hall (1225 Trafalgar Road)

• Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre (325 Reynolds Street)

• Oakville Corporate Centre (710 Dorval Drive, Unit 310)

Advance voting is also available at the Oakville Corporate Centre's returning office until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, with extended hours from Monday to Saturday (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and Sunday (12 to 5 p.m.).

Oakville North-Burlington Riding
Residents in Oakville North-Burlington can vote at the following locations from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

• River Oaks Community Centre (2400 Sixth Line)

• Sixteen Mile Sports Complex (3070 Neyagawa Boulevard)

• Appleby Ice Centre (1201 Appleby Line, Burlington)

• Oakville North Burlington Election Office (5353 North Service Road, Burlington)

The returning office for this riding is also open for early voting until Feb. 26.

Election Day Voting
On Feb. 27, voting will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.. All eligible voters will receive Voter Information Cards with details on where to vote.

🏠 Steady January for Ontario Real Estate

Ontario’s real estate market kicked off 2025 with a steady performance, according to the latest numbers from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). The average price for a single-family home was $960,300 in January—up a modest 1.3% from last year. Condos, however, took a slight dip of 2.5%, while townhouses nudged up by 0.9%.

So, why the lukewarm market? CREA’s senior economist Shaun Cathcart points to uncertainty around U.S. tariffs, which put a damper on sales in late January. Meanwhile, a surge in new listings kept prices from heating up, especially in Ontario and British Columbia.

Here in Halton, the market showed some interesting twists: single-family homes climbed 6.3%, townhouses rose by 4.1%, but condos dropped 5.1% compared to January 2024.

With spring just around the corner, CREA is expecting a busier season ahead.

Community Spotlight

👶 Canada’s Top Baby Names of 2023

Once again, Olivia and Noah reign supreme as the most popular baby names in Canada for 2023! According to Statistics Canada, these names continue to capture the hearts of new parents across the country.

For girls, Olivia held the top spot for the eighth year in a row, followed by Emma, Charlotte, Amelia, and Sophia. Mia, Chloe, Mila, Sofia, and Alice rounded out the top ten.

For boys, Noah remained the favorite, with Liam in second place. Theodore climbed to third, pushing William to fifth, while Leo held steady at fourth. Completing the top ten were Oliver, Lucas, Thomas, Benjamin, and Jack.

In 2023, 351,878 babies were born in Canada, a number virtually unchanged from 2022. As these little ones grow up, they’ll carry names that blend classic charm with modern appeal.

🏢 Oakville Says ‘Yes’ to Midtown Plan, ‘No’ to Tower Overload

Oakville has given the green light to a bold new vision for the Midtown area—but now the real challenge begins: convincing the province to ditch its plan for towering 50-storey skyscrapers.

The town’s newly approved Official Plan Amendment (OPA 70) aims to bring nearly 30,000 residents and jobs to the one square kilometre zone around the Oakville GO station by 2051. While the plan still allows high-rises over 20 storeys, developers will need to offer community perks to get the extra height.

But here’s the catch: Ontario’s Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) proposal would allow 11 massive towers in the 50-storey range near the GO station, a plan that Oakville’s councillors and residents say is just too much. Even local MPP Stephen Crawford called it “excessive and out of step” with what the community wants.

Mayor Rob Burton argues that Oakville’s plan is smarter and faster for bringing in housing without overwhelming the area. Now, he and the rest of council are on a mission to get the province on board. The battle for Midtown’s future is just heating up!

Weather

Friday, February 21
🌥️ Mostly cloudy.
High: -4°C | Low: -12°C

Saturday, February 22
☁️ Cloudy.
High: -1°C | Low: -9°C

Sunday, February 23
🌨️ Light snow. Overcast.
High: 1°C | Low: -5°C

Events

• Spring Flower Nest Workshop 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | February 22 (more info)

  • Location: The Floral Collective Inc., 335 Kerr Street, Oakville

  • Description: Beat the winter blahs by creating a beautiful seasonal nest filled with your favorite spring bulbs and blooms! Join The Floral Collective Inc. for this hands-on workshop where you'll craft a vibrant, springy planter to brighten up your space. Perfect for welcoming the new season with creativity and color!

• Oakville Galleries | Winter 2025 Exhibition Opening 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | February 22 (more info)

  • Location: Oakville Galleries in Gairloch Gardens, 1306 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville

  • Description: Mark your calendars for the winter exhibition opening at Oakville Galleries! Meet the artists and explore two captivating exhibitions: Karen Kraven: Bloemenlust at Gairloch Gardens, examining the politics of pleasure and pain in the cut-flower industry, and Kristan Horton: None of This is in My Mind at Centennial Square, showcasing an ever-evolving drawing project.

• Fundraising Walk - Coldest Night of the Year 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM | February 22 (more info)

  • Location: Incarnation Church, 1240 Old Abbey Lane, Oakville

  • Description: Bundle up and join the Coldest Night of the Year, a family-friendly fundraising walk supporting local charities that help those experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. Team up, fundraise, and walk together to make a difference. You can participate as a team captain, sponsor, or supporter—every step helps! Let’s warm hearts because it’s cold out there.

• Samba Dance Workshop 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM | February 22 (more info)

  • Location: Taste of Colombia, 67 Bronte Road, Oakville

  • Description: Join this lively workshop to learn the captivating footwork of Brazilian Samba. Perfect for beginners and those looking to refine their skills, this class is all about rhythm, joy, and movement. Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to groove! Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Samba.

• Aura Glow Up! A Sound & Music Healing Experience 7:15 PM - 10:30 PM | February 22 (more info)

  • Location: 151 Lakeshore Road West, Mississauga

  • Description: Elevate your energy and let go of stress at the Aura Glow Up event! Join G Studioz for an evening of live music, sound baths, ecstatic dance, and meditation.

• Oakville Chamber Orchestra Performance 7:30 PM | February 22 (more info)

  • Location: AEG Liebherr Auditorium, Oakville

  • Description: Enjoy an evening of exceptional music with the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Charles Demuynck. This concert showcases the remarkable talents of young soloists: Karen Kobayashi (flute), Adriel Sloss (violin), and Christie Cheung (violin).

• Glow Up - Makeup Masterclass 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM | February 23 (more info)

  • Location: Gouda Thyme, 550 Speers Road, Oakville

  • Description: Ready to master the art of makeup? Join Blush Studios for an interactive self-application makeup class! Bring your makeup and a friend for an afternoon of beauty. The session includes a live demo, hands-on practice, product recommendations, and a Q&A mingling session.

• UTM Dance Team Performance 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | February 23 (more info)

  • Location: Athletics and Wellness Centre, Outer Circle, Mississauga

  • Description: Celebrate the beauty of dance with the UTM Dance Team's latest showcase, Reverie: A Daydream. Each routine, crafted with artistic vision, invites you to explore the endless possibilities of imagination. Doors open at 2:45 PM. Don't miss this captivating experience!

Thank You!

Thank you for reading The Oakville Digest! We hope you found this edition helpful and insightful. We’d love to hear your feedback or any event suggestions you’d like us to feature in future issues. Don’t forget to share with friends and family, and we’ll see you Monday!

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