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:

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Let’s dive in!

Oakville just released its annual economic report, giving a look at how the local economy changed in 2024. The report covers what kinds of businesses opened, which ones closed, where money was invested, and how the town is growing.

Some new companies moved in, like an electric vehicle maker and a medical tech firm, while others like Coles and The Stout Monk shut down. Ford made a massive $3 billion investment in its Oakville plant, and other companies got government funding to support innovation.

Commercial development went up, but industrial construction dropped sharply. Office and warehouse vacancy rates both increased. The report also compares Oakville to other GTA towns, showing it's still a competitive place to start or grow a business, especially for commercial projects.

In 2025, the town plans to support small businesses, expand its film industry, and launch a five-year economic growth plan.

Waterdown couple Anshul Goel and Kanika Dev opened Studio Pilates Oakville on April 5, offering 45-minute reformer Pilates workouts. After running a successful gym in Burlington, they became franchisees of the global Studio Pilates brand to bring a safer, low-impact alternative to traditional fitness.

Their Oakville location broke company pre-launch records with over 2,300 signups and $40,000 in early sales. With hands-on management and a team of highly trained instructors, the couple says both the local community and the franchisor have been incredibly supportive.

Twelve Oakville students took home medals at the 2025 Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto, including seven gold. Winners stood out in areas like animation, IT, mechanical engineering, and more—highlighting the growing strength of skilled trades and tech programs in local schools.

Standout wins included gold in 2D Character Animation for Garth Webb students Bella Zhao and Tegan Tao, and a top prize in IT Network Systems for Neel Shah from Abbey Park. In total, 27 Halton students medaled, with several now advancing to the national competition later this month.

Oakville is getting ready to celebrate the everyday heroes who make our town a better place. The 2025 Community Spirit Awards shine a light on those who have gone above and beyond through acts of kindness, creative contributions, and efforts to make Oakville more inclusive, sustainable, and connected.

The celebration takes place on Thursday, June 12 at 7 p.m. at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Guests can look forward to sweet treats, heartfelt moments, and stunning mosaic awards created by local artist Elena Martoglio.

Friday, May 16
🌤️ Warmer with decreasing clouds.
High: 27°C | Low: 14°C.

Saturday, May 17
🌦️ Breezy with morning showers, chance of afternoon thunderstorm.
High: 20°C | Low: 12°C.

Sunday, May 18
☁️ Cloudy and breezy with some sun.
High: 16°C | Low: 8°C.

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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