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

We have a warm and sunny week ahead of us, it’s been a long cold winter - I hope everyone enjoys this week’s glimpse of spring. ☀️

Here is what to expect in today’s issue:

• 🎬 Oakville swimming pool turned film set

• 🏆 Award season in Oakville - nominate someone you know

• 📅 Some plans to keep you busy this week

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

🎬 Oakville’s Centennial Pool Becomes a Hotspot for Filming

Oakville’s decommissioned Centennial Pool has found a new purpose in the film industry. Since closing to the public in 2020, it has been transformed into Ontario’s only dedicated water tank for filming, providing a controlled space to mimic oceans, lakes, and canals. It has already been used in hit productions like Reacher, Fubar, Wayward, and Brilliant Minds.

The pool recently received special accreditation, making productions filmed there eligible for higher tax credits. Filmmakers have also invested in upgrades, improving the space without any cost to the town.

While the pool is still available for filming this is not the long-term plan. Its long-term future is tied to Oakville’s Downtown Cultural Hub project, which aims to enhance arts and cultural spaces. With 73 productions filmed in Oakville last year, the town continues to be a popular destination for the industry.

Locals with unique properties can also list them for filming. Learn more on the Filming in Oakville webpage.

🦴 Pet Spotlight: Meet Diesel!

Diesel is a 10-year-old male Labrador Retriever looking for his forever home! This friendly, food-motivated senior loves attention, walks, and playing with balls. He’s housetrained and would do best in a home with a yard and family members aged 10+. He may also get along with a well-matched dog.

🌲 Ways of the Woods Summer Camp Registration Opening Soon!

Get ready—registration for Conservation Halton’s Ways of the Woods (WOW) Summer Camp opens next week! Early access details and a registration link will be shared soon, giving families a chance to secure spots before the general public.

WOW 2025 offers a variety of exciting camps, including Adventure Camp, Mountain Bike Camp, Survivalist Camp, Raptor Camp, and many more. Now is the perfect time to start exploring the different programs and opportunities available to find the best fit for your camper.

For full program details and registration info, visit the WOW website:

Community Spotlight

🏆 It’s Awards Season in Oakville!

Oakville is celebrating the incredible people who make our community better! Whether it’s dedicated volunteers or inspiring young leaders, now is the time to recognize their hard work.

Honouring Volunteers in Halton

Volunteer Halton is accepting nominations for the Cheers to Volunteers and Heather Thompson Volunteer Excellence awards. These awards celebrate outstanding volunteers in Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills, and Burlington. The Heather Thompson Award specifically honours older volunteers who have made a lasting impact.

🗓 Nomination deadlines:

• Heather Thompson Award – March 21

• Cheers to Volunteers – March 24

• Winners will be recognized during National Volunteer Week (April 27 – May 4).

Recognizing Oakville’s Young Changemakers

The Oakville Youth Awards highlight youth (ages 11-19) who are making a difference in leadership, arts, sports, volunteerism, STEM, and the environment. Two winners will be selected per category, with an awards ceremony on May 7 at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts.

🗓 Nomination deadline: March 16

🏐 Oakville Trafalgar Wins Bronze at OFSAA Girls’ Volleyball

The Oakville Trafalgar High School girls’ volleyball team secured bronze at the OFSAA tournament, held from March 3-5 at Frank J. Hayden Secondary School in Burlington.

Entering the tournament as Ontario’s top-ranked team, OT had high expectations and dominated the round-robin stage with wins over Bishop Strachan, Ursuline, St. Marcellinus, and Jacob Hespeler. They continued their strong run with a quarter-final sweep against Westmount Collegiate before falling to Dunbarton High School in the semi-finals.

Determined to finish strong, OT faced Thornlea Secondary School in the bronze medal match, winning 3 sets to 1. Congratulations to OT on an incredible season!

Weather

Monday, March 10
☀️ Abundant sunshine; great day to be outside.
High: 11°C | Low: 3°C

Tuesday, March 11
🌤️ Partly sunny, breezy, and mild.
High: 12°C | Low: 0°C

Wednesday, March 12
☁️ Cloudy and colder.
High: 4°C | Low: 1°C

Events

• Town of Oakville March Break Programs | March 10 - March 16 (more info)

  • Location: Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, 2302 Bridge Rd, Oakville

  • Description: Various events and programs hosted by the Town of Oakville to keep you busy this March Break!

• March Break Events at Oakville Place | March 10 - March 16 (more info) 

  • Location: Centre Court, Oakville Place, 240 Leighland Ave, Oakville

  • Description: Enjoy a full week of family-friendly fun at Oakville Place! From exciting live shows to interactive activities, there's something for everyone to enjoy throughout March Break.

• Maple Syrup Festival | March 10 - March 16 (more info) 

  • Location: Bronte Creek Provincial Park, 1219 Burloak Dr, Oakville

  • Description: Celebrate the sweet arrival of spring at the Maple Syrup Festival! Take a guided tour of Maple Lane, watch fresh maple sugar or taffy being made, and enjoy farm animal visits. Kids will love the interactive Maple Show, and families can hop on a wagon ride to the pancake house for a delicious meal drizzled with fresh maple syrup.

• March Break at the Oakville Museum 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | March 10 - March 14 (more info) 

  • Location: Oakville Museum, 8 Navy St, Oakville

  • Description: Dive into a week of discovery and creativity at Oakville Museum! Kids will explore fascinating artifacts and uncover stories through themes like science, natural history, local heritage, design, and architecture. The week includes hands-on investigations, arts and crafts, and classic camp games, making for a fun and educational experience. Perfect for ages 6 to 10.

• Women in Business Networking 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | March 10 (more info) 

  • Location: Staples Studio, 320 North Service Road West, Oakville

  • Description: Celebrate International Women’s Day with Beyond Boundaries: Women in Business Networking! Step into a room filled with ambitious, like-minded women ready to connect, collaborate, and grow. This exclusive event is designed for female entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators looking to build powerful relationships.

• March Break Kids' Paint and Plant 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | March 11 (more info) 

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

  • Description: Let creativity bloom at this hands-on March Break event! Kids will paint their own plant pots and plant their favourite flowers or greenery, combining art and nature in a fun-filled session. A great way to keep little ones engaged while nurturing their artistic and gardening skills. Suitable for children of all ages.

• Slime Workshop for Kids 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | March 11 (more info) 

  • Location: Joshua Farm Gallery, 1086 Burnhamthorpe Rd East, Oakville

  • Description: Get ready for some gooey fun with Duran Place for Kids! This hands-on workshop provides step-by-step instructions and all the materials needed to create your very own take-home bag of fluffy slime. Choose your favorite color and enjoy a creative, sensory-friendly experience perfect for kids who love to get crafty!

• Make a Mini Magician Sculpting Workshop 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | March 11 (more info) 

  • Location: Staples Oakville, 320 North Service Road West, Oakville

  • Description: Get creative and craft your very own magical character in this free hands-on sculpting session! Participants will shape a mini magician complete with a hat, bubbling potion, and mushroom while learning basic sculpting techniques like rolling, pinching, and blending clay.

• March Break at Film.Ca Cinemas 9:30 AM | March 12 (more info) 

  • Location: Film.Ca Cinemas, 171 Speers Rd, Oakville

  • Description: Celebrate Heroes Day at Film.Ca Cinemas! Come dressed as your favourite hero and enjoy a day filled with exciting activities. Explore a real fire truck and meet the fire safety team (9:30 AM - 10:45 AM), decorate your own hero mask, and jump into the fun with a bouncy castle.

• Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM | March 12 (more info) 

  • Location: AEG Liebherr Auditorium, 130 Navy Street, Oakville

  • Description: Join Gobo Fraggle and his friends Mokey, Boober, Wembley, and Red on an exciting adventure to uncover the legendary Great Song Stone! Along the way, they discover that the greatest treasure of all is something even more special than they imagined. A delightful experience for Fraggle Rock fans of all ages.

• Fitness Class: Dance Essentials 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM | March 12 (more info) 

  • Location: Taste of Colombia, 67 Bronte Road #2, Oakville

  • Description: Strengthen your body, improve flexibility, and refine your movement in this weekly class designed for both dancers and non-dancers. Using ballet barre, core exercises, and posture techniques, this session helps participants build strength and enhance technique.

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 Wednesday!

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