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Oakville Comes Alive with Holiday Cheer This Season

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The holiday season is about to sparkle in Oakville. The twinkling lights will go on,  Santa is coming to town, and Oakville is getting ready for the holidays. From festive markets  and tree lightings to live performances, local shopping, waterfront strolls and delicious places to  gather, Oakville offers plenty of ways to make the season memorable. Come for a favourite  holiday tradition, discover something new and turn a festive outing into an overnight stay or  weekend in Oakville.  

“There’s something special about experiencing the holidays in Oakville,” said Rebecca Edgar,  Executive Director, Visit Oakville. “Whether you’re coming for a favourite annual tradition,  looking for unique gifts, meeting friends for dinner or simply want to enjoy some time together,  Oakville offers so many ways to make the season feel special. We invite visitors to come for the  festivities, make a day of it or better yet, stay for the weekend.” 

Here are the top holiday highlights in Oakville this season: 

• Oakville Santa Claus Parade – November 14, 9:00 a.m. – A beloved Oakville tradition  featuring festive floats, music and plenty of holiday cheer. There is a complimentary  Oakville Transit Santa Shuttle from the Oakville GO Station to the Trafalgar Park Community  Centre parking lot. Shuttles will run every 10 minutes starting at 8:00 a.m. 

• Light up the Night – November 20, 5:00-9:00 p.m. – Kick off the holidays in downtown  Oakville with festive lighting, carollers, horse-drawn carriage rides, hot chocolate and live  entertainment and the annual tree lighting in Towne Square. Tree lighting at 6:00 p.m. 

• At Home in Bronte for the Holidays – November 21, 3:00-7:00 p.m. – Bronte’s charming  Market Square will sparkle as the village hosts its annual tree lighting, a perfect way to kick  off the holiday season. Tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. 

• Kerr Village Tree Lighting and Holiday Market – November 28, 1:00-6:00 p.m. – Join the  festive spirit in Kerr Village for a joyful tree lighting event that’s been happening for more 

than 30 years. Enjoy the Holiday Pop Up Market and the live musical entertainment that will  take place including a visit from Santa. The tree lighting ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. 

• Holiday Lights by the Lake – December 4 – February 2027 – Take a festive stroll or drive  through Coronation Park and enjoy one of Oakville’s most beloved seasonal traditions as  the waterfront is transformed with thousands of sparkling lights.  

• Downtown Oakville’s Hometown Holiday Cheer – December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 from  2:00-6:00 p.m. – Enjoy family-friendly activities including: Holiday Carollers, Photobooth,  Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides, Santa, Hot Chocolate and so much more!

Holiday Traditions at the Oakville Museum – The Oakville Museum is bringing the magic of the holidays to life with a series of seasonal experiences including:  

➢ Christmas Craft & Tour – November 27 – You and your child can create a special craft and enjoy a guided tour of the museum.  

➢ Visit with Santa – November 28 – Don’t miss Santa’s special visit! Start your  adventure at Oakville’s First Post Office, where you can write a letter to Santa. Then,  take a tour of the Erchless Estate, beautifully decorated for Christmases past. Create  magic in the Coach House before meeting Santa in his cozy sitting room.  

➢ Christmas Tour & Treat – December 5 – Enjoy the historic Erchless Estate  beautifully decorated for an 1800s Christmas, ending with a festive treat and hot  beverage. 

➢ Winter Craft & Tour – December 30 – Create a special craft and enjoy a guided  tour of the museum. 

• Holiday Shows & Performances – various dates. Enjoy a lineup of seasonal concerts and holiday performances at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts throughout November and December that capture the spirit of the season. Highlights include: The Nutcracker,  Rowdymen Christmas, Oakville Symphony’s Holiday Family Concert, A Wicked Christmas  Carol – A Holiday Pantomime, Grand Illusion: Edllusion and more.  

• Holiday markets – Check out local makers, artisan and small businesses at the various  holiday markets across town to get that perfect gift:  

➢ Holiday Market Sip & Shop – November 4, 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Marine Tavern

➢ Holiday Market at Film.ca Cinemas – November 14, 10:00- 4:00 p.m. 

➢ The Bronte Historical Society’s Christmas Art Show – November 21, 10:00-4:00 p.m.

➢ Local Love Christmas Market – November 25, 12:00-8:00 p.m. at Verace restaurant. 

➢ Holiday Inn Oakville Centre Christmas Market – November 28-29, 12:00-4:00 p.m.

➢ Oakville Art Society Christmas Art Market – November 28-29, 11:00-4:00 p.m. 

➢ Appleby College Holiday Market – November 28, 10:00-4:00 p.m. 

➢ Local Love Christmas Market – December 1, 12:00-8:00 p.m. at Tabule Oakville. 

➢ Square Treats Art Show – December 3-7, 334 Lakeshore Road East.

➢ The Atelier: Craft Fair – December 5, 11:00-6:00 p.m. and December 6, 11:00-4:00  p.m. at Oakville Galleries Gairloch Gardens.  

➢ SV Christmas Market – December 5-6, 10:00-4:00 p.m. at St. Volodymyr Event  Centre. 

➢ Bronte’s 9th Annual Handmade Christmas Market – December 13, 10:00-4:00 p.m. at  the Bronte Legion. 

➢ Oakville Christmas Market – December 13, 11:00-4:00 pm. at Hilton Garden Inn. 

The holiday experience doesn’t end when the events do. Visitors can explore Oakville’s  amazing boutique shopping, enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants such as 7 Enoteca,  recently recognized as a Bib Gourmand by MICHELIN, or take a winter waterfront stroll and  enjoy Oakville’s scenic Lake Ontario waterfront views and enjoy the magic of the holiday  season. 

Planning an overnight escape for you or visiting friends and family? Oakville offers a range of  hotel options perfect for holiday stays. Learn more here.  

About Visit Oakville: 

Visit Oakville is an incorporated, not-for-profit, destination marketing organization (DMO). It is  led by a volunteer Board of Directors representing the community. Visit Oakville aims to drive  economic impact through marketing and partnerships, curating visitor experiences and  advocating on behalf of Oakville’s tourism industry. 

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RBG’s Winter Wonders Returns with Beloved Traditions and New Seasonal Installations

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One of the region’s most beloved holiday traditions returns on November 26 as RBG’s Winter Wonders transforms Hendrie Park into a sparkling winter wonderland. Available Thursday to Sunday evenings through January 3, 2027 (some exceptions apply*). Discover dazzling light displays, festive music, glowing campfires, seasonal treats, and immersive experiences. 

Returning favourites such as The Singing Tree and Lantern Alley are joined by new art installations from Canadian and international artists. New this year, Aestivatic Aesthetic, created by Hamilton-based light and projection art collective OPTICKS, transforms Kippax Trail into a nocturnal world filled with luminous creatures, a nature-inspired soundscape, and ultraviolet elements that can only be revealed using custom-designed “scout scopes.” Toronto-based artist and creative technologist Jordan Shaw presents Seed Bank, a series of interactive sculptural forms representing scattered seeds. As guests move through the installation, the seed collection comes to life through light. Meanwhile, The Light Within, by Australian artist Matthew Aberline with The Beautiful and Useful Studio, invites visitors to wander, gather, photograph, and pause in an immersive inflatable garden of colour, pattern, and light. 

Also returning this year is the popular artisan market, where visitors can browse a rotating selection of local vendors offering handcrafted, one-of-a-kind goods.

The festivities extend beyond the garden paths into RBG Centre, with seasonal décor and vibrant plant displays bringing colour and warmth to winter. The Mediterranean Garden and Breezeway offer a lush escape. The Botanical Train Display features model trains winding through miniature Canadian-inspired landscapes surrounded by more than 2,500 plants. Guests can continue their holiday shopping at the RBG Gift Shop, featuring nature-inspired gifts, books, home décor, and exclusive RBG merchandise.

“Every year as the days grow shorter, Winter Wonders transforms the Royal Botanical Gardens into a magical, festive destination that delights visitors of all ages,” said Zee Hamid, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “RBG has once again created a stunning holiday masterpiece with a beautiful and unique blend of nature, art, culture and community.  It’s a joyful way to experience the holiday season with your friends and family.”

Whether it’s a cherished annual tradition, a festive date night, or a first visit with family and friends, RBG’s Winter Wonders offers an unforgettable way to celebrate the season.

Tickets are available NOW at rbg.ca/winterwonders
Timed-entry tickets are required and capacity is limited. Winter Wonders event tickets grant access to RBG Centre and Hendrie Park for the date and time on your ticket. Tickets include access to RBG Centre’s seasonal displays, the indoor Mediterranean Garden, Breezeway, and The Botanical Train Display. 

Visit rbg.ca to learn more about seasonal daytime offerings, including festive décor, the Botanical Train Display, the Imagination Playground (Big Blue Blocks), rides aboard the RBG Express, the Gift Shop, and more. 

Stay up to date on the latest happenings at RBG, follow @rbgcanada on Instagram, Royal Botanical Gardens on Facebook, and join the eRBG Newsletter at rbg.ca/erbg-newsletter.

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In Food & Drink

Oh Là Là! Local restaurateurs on the heart and soul of French cuisine 

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The French way of cooking and eating is to slow down. To peruse local markets, instead of buying groceries for the week en masse. To enjoy an extended lunch — perhaps with a couple glasses of wine — just for the sake of it. To simmer sauces on the stovetop all day until they’re thick and rich. It’s all part of that European lifestyle, the idea of organizing your day in a way that prioritizes feeling good and eating well over being hyper-productive. Here in Canada, we may not have access to as many fresh ingredients as people do in France, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get a taste of authentic French food. 

At Le Tambour Tavern in Hamilton, chef Teo Paul aims to bring a slice of Paris to diners. Here, you’ll find some of the best steak tartare in the city, bavette frites with peppercorn sauce and escargot. 

“I was inspired by those old French taverns on a busy street,” says Teo. “The ones with red and white tablecloths, round wooden tables and a big fireplace at the back for cooking steaks.” According to Teo, the menu is “approachable French food” — it’s not meant to be strict, fussy or intimidating in the slightest. Fusion dishes like polenta gratin (inspired by both his time cooking in Italy as well as in France), and crowd pleasers like the burger and frites, bring a playful lightness to the tavern. 

Over at The French Lunch, a cafe and bakery in Oakville, a similar sentiment drives owner Nina Zaitseva. Nina keeps things as authentic as possible, and without unnecessary frills. Her most popular plates are the mushroom and brie crepes, vegetable quiches and the croque monsieur. “We do everything like they do it in France; our croque monsieur, for example, is made with butter, ham and cheese,” says Nina. “I have a few French customers that tell me it’s just like the real thing.”  

The classics are cool again, according to Teo. While some cuisines shine for their constant reinvention, French food is best when it tastes and feels like it came from a grandmother’s kitchen. The chef has seen this shift happening in Paris, and it’s finally trickling over here. 

“There are new roots coming up, and young cooks are drawing from their own impressions and memories,” says Teo. As opposed to a technical recipe with a handful of different purees, reductions and garnishes, diners are craving authenticity and simplicity.  Le Tambor keeps things comforting and cozy. We want to make food that people crave and want to eat again and again.”

The French Lunch’s prepared meals also do exactly that: satisfy peoples’ cravings. Beef bourguignon, coq a vin — a chicken stew cooked in red wine — and Tartiflette, a dish that originated in the French alps which Nina considers the “grandfather of poutine,” are all available at the eatery. “We also have a very good gluten free offering, which is not typical in most French restaurants.” Nina draws much of her culinary inspiration from the south of France, where meals are hearty and paired back. 

Pay a visit to Le Tambour for the moody ambience and fire-roasted proteins, and stock up on meals for the week from French Lunch. And, if you want to bring a little French into your own cooking, look to Teo’s new cookbook, Done Right, featuring over 70 recipes from the chef’s several French restaurants. Lead with confidence, and don’t get distracted by tackling the most challenging technique; French food is best when it comes from the soul. 

LOCAL LINKS

French Lunch
349 Kerr Street, Oakville
frenchlunch.ca

Le Tambour Tavern
345 James Street North, Hamilton
letambourtavern.com

By Lauren Medeiros

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In Health & Wellness

Pilates Vs Tai Chi: Two gentle ways to keep moving

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We all know that staying active can help us maintain strength, flexibility, mobility and balance, especially as we get older. But if pumping iron or pounding the pavement isn’t your jam, low-impact exercise may be worth exploring.

Pilates and Tai Chi take very different approaches to movement and provide different fitness benefits. Which one is right for you?

Pilates

Pilates is a low-impact exercise characterized by controlled movement, strength, balance and flexibility. Exercises are often performed slowly and deliberately, with an emphasis on alignment, breathing and control. It tends to be known for its ability to build core strength.

Lindsay Gordon, who co-owns Yogashala Wellness Centre in Waterdown alongside Cheri DeMenna, explains that the core means more than just our abdominal muscles. “It includes the deep muscles that support our spine, pelvis, and overall stability,” Gordon says. “What makes Pilates unique is that we’re not simply isolating the abs with traditional exercises. We’re teaching the body to engage and strengthen the core through a wide variety of movements, often while challenging our balance, coordination, and control.”

The rest of the body also gets a serious workout. “Your core does get a lot of attention, but we’re also working your back, hips, bum, legs, arms and shoulders,” says Marion Duffield, owner of Pilates on Plains in Aldershot. “It might look easy when you’re watching someone else do it, but then you try it and think, ‘Oh! I didn’t even know I had a muscle there.’” 

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise consisting of a series of 108 movements. It’s often referred to as a moving meditation due to its slow, continuous movements. “The slowness of the moves and focused concentration encourages both physical and mental relaxation,” says Sandy Hansen, who teaches Tai Chi. 

Paul Garvey has been practicing Tai Chi for three years with the Taoist Tai Chi Society. “I used to do karate when I was younger,” says Garvey. “As I got older, I didn’t need to be breaking boards.”

For Garvey, Tai Chi offered a gentler way to stay active and he has noticed improved balance, flexibility and strength. “It’s a very non-aggressive form of stretching and movement and twisting,” says Garvey. 

But don’t let the slow pace fool you. “When I focus and move slowly with muscle control, it’s a really good workout,” he says. 

Tai Chi also provides cardiovascular benefits. “During a warm-up set, the repetitive squatting increases the circulation of blood and oxygen to all parts of the body, strengthening the cardiovascular system,” says Hansen. 

Balance and movement are key components of Tai Chi. “The movements tend to flow gently, with an emphasis on shifting weight, maintaining balance, coordinating the upper and lower body, breathing and staying present,” say Robert Tang and Beverley Cayton Tang, owners of danceScape in Burlington. They developed the danceFLOW Qigong/Tai Chi program, which places less emphasis on memorizing a long sequence and more on understanding fundamental movement principles and experiencing flow.

Athletic vs. Zen

While both Pilates and Tai Chi are low-impact and adaptable, each offers different approaches to movement.

Pilates puts more emphasis on strength, core stability, posture, flexibility and controlled, repetitive exercises. Tai Chi involves continuous movement from one position to another by shifting body weight, while coordinating arms, breathing and posture, with emphasis on mind-body awareness.

Both of these low-impact workouts often involve slow, intentional movement, which is much harder than it looks.

“It’s not about how fast you move or how many repetitions you can do. It’s about how you move,” Gordon says. “When we slow things down, we take momentum out of the equation and ask our muscles to do the work. A great workout doesn’t always have to be fast-paced or leave you dripping in sweat to be effective.”

 In the end, it may simply come down to which style of movement you enjoy most. 

Fitness BenefitPilatesTai Chi
Core StrengthHighModerate
Muscular strengthModerate – HighModerate
Strength TrainingHighModerate
Flexibility/mobilityModerate – HighModerate – High
Balance/stabilityModerate – HighHigh
Stress reductionModerate High
Key FocusStrength, core control, posture, mobilityBalance, coordination, relaxation

LOCAL LINKS

Pilates:

  • Pilates By Yogashala – 5 Mill Street South, Waterdown
  • Pilates on Plains – 30 -100 Plains Road West, Burlington
  • Revity Pilates – 2180 Itabashi Way, Burlington
  • Studio Technique – 3325 Harvester Road, Burlington
  • Club Pilates – locations in Burlington and Oakville
  • Pilates Vitality & Wellness Studio – 1400 Cornwall Road, Oakville

Tai Chi

  • Taoist Tai Chi Society
    St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, 662 Guelph Line, Burlington, Wednesdays, 7-9 pm
  • Glen Abbey United Church, 1469 Nottinghill Gate, Oakville, 
    Fridays, 11 am-1 pm
    More information is available through Taoist.org
  • DanceScape – 2077 Pine Street, Burlington 
    Leung’s Yang Tai Chi – yangtaichi.ca

By Lisa Evans

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In Christmas

All That Glitters: Light Up The Night kickstarts the season of joy

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Dark, chilly evenings have a way of turning bright and warm at community gatherings. Downtown Oakville will usher in the festive season in full regalia on November 20th, when locals and visitors don their cozy apparel and head downtown for Light Up The Night. 

This long-standing event absolutely dazzles, thanks to the generosity of the businesses of Downtown Oakville. Featuring live music, dancing, and the lighting of a 45-foot holiday tree, ‘tis the season’s most highly anticipated family outing, date night, solo stroll or hangout with friends. 

Due to the popularity of Light Up The Night, a street closure will be in place on Lakeshore Road East between Thomas and Dundas Streets to create a pedestrian-friendly area around the event site.

At the centre of it all is, of course, the tree. Maker of memories, bringer of joy, this spectacular specimen sets the tone for a joyous winter by enfolding the community in its green, forest-scented embrace. But how does it happen?

Generous helpings of skill, collaboration, and holiday spirit go into feats of such magnitude. Unlike Santa’s reindeer, this brand of magic doesn’t just dart out of the sky… 

GIANT SPRUCE IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

In early November, a massive Norway spruce tree will leave Drysdale’s Tree Farm in Egbert, Ontario. A long truck with trailer will haul the precious cargo southward down Highway 400, and eventually westward toward Halton Region, exiting at Trafalgar. The truck will meander through back roads of Downtown Oakville to its final destination, Towne Square. The Drysdale team, after securing the area for public safety, will use a large crane to hoist the one-ton tree onto a one-ton stand held in place by six discreetly camouflaged, one-ton concrete blocks.

Over the next several days, a magnificent transformation will occur. Once the evergreen’s branches have been eased down by gravity and fluffed back into their original, glorious state, Drysdale’s tree experts will string up 25,000 lights, carefully wrapping them around individual branches. 

At last, the panache! Darlene Janeiro Design, assisted by Oakville Hydro, will bring to life their “Symphony of the Stars” vision by adorning the tree with musical instruments, stars, as well as bows and baubles galore in blue, white and gold.

MAIN EVENT

At 5:00 pm on Friday, November 20th, Downtown Oakville becomes a winter wonderland. The evening’s festivities include roaming carollers, all-ages dance lessons, and live entertainment on George Street by classic-contemporary jazz vocal trio The Ault Sisters and their band. 

Guests can dine in the area’s beloved restaurants, while merchants extend their hours for holiday shoppers and gift buyers. Outside, pedestrians are invited to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa from a vintage Airstream trailer, with Santa himself presiding over a picture-perfect evening.

As the big “light up” moment approaches, crowds will gather around Towne Square (no need to jostle; there’s no bad view when the tree is 45 feet high!). All are encouraged to join the loud countdown to 5:30 sharp, when the tree will light up the night and fill Downtown Oakville with cheer.

It’s time to spread the word and mark calendars. No one should miss this opportunity to bask in communal holiday vibes at Downtown Oakville’s premier yuletide event.

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In Local History

Echoes of War: Two vantage points bring back a time when war was too close to home

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Modern life can make it hard to imagine that war has ever disrupted our comfortable communities. This Remembrance Day, you can make the memory more vivid by visiting two key spots: a local beach, and the George’s Square Cenotaph in Oakville. Here’s why:

Oakville and Burlington Beaches: The Burlington Races 

There was a moment in history when American forces almost seized control of Lake Ontario (and not just in name). In fact, the action that took place was pivotal to how the War of 1812 played out. 

From sailboats dancing on sparkling waters to ten-foot waves in a storm, the promenades of Oakville’s Coronation Park and Burlington’s Spencer Smith Park offer beautiful, ever-changing views of the lake. The view was altogether different, however, on September 28, 1813.

On that morning during the War of 1812, a powerfully armed United States fleet of ten ships appeared from York (Toronto), led by Commodore Isaac Chauncey. These were schooners mounted with long guns, but they were slow and prone to capsize, compared to the more agile British naval ships. Even so, the Americans had the advantage in numbers and firepower compared to the smaller, British fleet they were about to fight.

Commanded by Commodore Sir James L. Yeo, the British fleet of six vessels was anchored in the Burlington Bay harbour. When Yeo spotted the approaching enemy ships, the fleet set sail to attack. 

A close chase ensued. The British and American squadrons exchanged cannon fire while sailing westward. Yeo’s flagship, HMS Wolfe, suffered sail and mast damage, leading him to seek safe anchorage in Burlington Bay. There he could take refuge under the batteries that were stationed at Burlington Heights (near today’s Dundurn Castle in Hamilton).

At this point, there are conflicting accounts of what happened. Legend has it that Yeo performed a dramatic maneuver over a precarious sandbar in Burlington Bay, but historians have debunked that legend, saying his ships couldn’t possibly have navigated such shallow water. The more accepted story is that the British ships secured close to shore, ready to deliver a broadside with their deadly short-range cannons. Chauncey, who was unfamiliar with local water depths, retreated.

Meanwhile, spectators had witnessed the action from a safe distance on shore. Military and civilian onlookers could clearly see the tall-sailed warships manoeuvre and fire. They would have heard cannon fire and seen the smoke. Someone said the spectacle resembled a yacht race, which is how the battle was nicknamed “Burlington Races.”

George’s Square Cenotaph (Oakville): Where Soldiers Said Goodbye

Oakville Cenotaph

At Trafalgar Road and Palmer Avenue in Downtown Oakville, a large cenotaph carries memories almost too sad to bear. This very spot was once a town square where countless emotional goodbyes took place.

During the First World War, when local residents enlisted to serve overseas, George’s Square served as a central point for the community where families walked with their loved ones, held farewell gatherings, and said their final goodbyes. From 1914 onward, soldiers gathered in the square before marching down Trafalgar Road to catch the Hamilton Radial Electric Railway or to the main Grand Trunk Railway station to be transported to training camps or deployment ports.

The town erected a cenotaph in the square to honour those who died in this conflict, carving the names of iconic battles like Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, and Ypres.

These poignant farewells continued during the Second World War. Between 1939 and 1945, the square was once again a major point of departure for a new generation of local recruits. 

The Town of Oakville would later build the Veterans’ Memorial Walls directly surrounding the original cenotaph. These walls specifically engrave the names of the hundreds of local residents who enlisted and departed from Oakville during WWI and WWII, while an adjacent wall extends this recognition to veterans of the Korean War and subsequent post-WWII active global conflicts.

This Remembrance Day, and whenever you pass George’s Square Cenotaph or gaze at a freighter on Lake Ontario, pause to reflect. Not so long ago, our own community was deeply affected by the devastation of war.

By Michelle Morra

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In Community

The Main Street Attraction: Burlington excels at creating a sense of place

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You know it when you feel it.

A great main street makes you want to slow down and wander; to stop for a coffee, browse the shops, have a conversation with someone, or simply find a place to sit and stay awhile. But what exactly creates that feeling?

That was the question behind the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association’s (OBIAA) Professional Development Day, where Burlington was selected as this year’s host city to showcase the importance of partnerships in placemaking. BIA leaders from communities across Ontario – from Exeter and Ottawa to Kerr Village and Thornbury – came together to see firsthand what happens when a community invests in its spaces.

“Local businesses are the heartbeat of a Main Street,” says Rachel Braithwaite, Executive Director at OBIAA. “BIAs give an area an identity, a look and feel that’s unmistakably its own. When that’s done well, people aren’t just walking down a street, they’re making memories and connections through enhanced experiences in their community.”

Burlington is home to two very different, but equally valuable BIAs: Burlington Downtown and Aldershot Village. 

“I was excited to showcase that Burlington’s main street experience isn’t just about one traditional downtown,” says Andrea Dodd, Executive Director at Aldershot Village. “Conference delegates were able to see how we approach placemaking, beautification and community building in very different environments while still working side by side.”

Jaclyn Jones, Membership and Community Engagement Consultant at Burlington Downtown, describes their core experience as the city’s front door, or perhaps its living room, where many people discover Burlington for the first time, and residents gather to celebrate important community moments. 

While downtown offers festivals, waterfront views, and cultural experiences, Aldershot feels more like an area built on generations of neighbourhood connections. Both areas recognize that great business districts are about much more than retail and restaurants. They’re about creating destinations and experiences that bring people together. During a virtual tour of Aldershot Village and a walking tour of Burlington Downtown, conference attendees learned about the beautification initiatives that help create their inviting environments. 

The tours offered plenty of examples of how community partnerships can change the way people relate to a street. In Aldershot Village, Connection Corner became the first placemaking project along Plains Road, creating a welcoming spot to sit, pause and connect. The Rooted in Aldershot “fruity fence” transformed an otherwise ordinary fence outside a local business into public art that pays tribute to the area’s agricultural roots.

As delegates strolled along Brant Street and through the surrounding downtown, they saw several creative approaches to placemaking, including partnerships with private businesses to turn blank walls into murals that visually animate the area. Branded chairs in the Village Square and outside the Performing Arts Centre add inviting places to sit, while way-finding baubles bring personality to lamp posts throughout the area. Delegates also stopped for a photo opportunity at the I (HEART) BURLDT installation on the exterior wall of Scrivener’s, which is an eye-catching conversation starter.

“A great main street is built through strong relationships, local entrepreneurship, community pride, and a commitment to creating memorable experiences,” says Jones. “Our two BIAs continue to excel because we embrace all of those elements, making our business areas not just places to shop, but places where people want to gather, connect and belong.”

Burlington demonstrated that the best main streets don’t just give us somewhere to go. They give us somewhere we want to be.

Local at First Sight
Here’s what BIAs from out of town had to say about Burlington:

“I had been to Burlington several times but never to the waterfront or downtown, and I’m surprised by how beautiful and quaint it is.” – Nathalie Carrier, Vanier BIA

“Burlington Downtown has done well integrating the different streets with signage and working with their private property owners to animate where they can’t in public spaces. Their public art initiatives are something we can really learn from.” – Susan Nicholson, Collingwood Downtown BIA

“The shop owners have done a good job in making their storefronts and patios unique. I also love that they created baubles instead of using traditional banners on lamp posts. It’s the first time I’ve seen that.” – Andrea Steenbakkers, Barrhaven BIA

By Nicole Hilton

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In Home & Garden

Art and Soul: Define Your Space With A Unique, Signature Piece by a local artist

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Long after the furniture has been arranged, a painting, photograph, or sculpture can breathe life into a room by sparking conversation and evoking memories. There’s something deeply personal about filling the walls of your house with original artwork that carries the unmistakable imprint of its creator. Every brushstroke, texture, and detail represents an artist’s vision, skill, and their own lived experience.

Choosing a piece of art isn’t just about decorating a room. As more people style their homes to reflect who they are rather than what is trending, original artwork offers authenticity. It’s an investment not only in an artist, but in creativity, culture, and the human connection.

Where to start with art

For someone who loves art but has never purchased an original piece, the first step when looking for yourself or for a gift is to take your time. Art is too special to rush.

“I always recommend starting with a large statement piece, which can transform a main living space, ‘the piece,’ the show stopper, then follow with smaller works,” says Joanna Tomal, Owner of Towne Square Gallery in Oakville. 

Julie Magner, Director of Sales at the Art Gallery of Burlington, says she’s the prime example of someone who doesn’t have an art background but knows what she likes. “I always suggest allowing your emotions to come through,” she explains. “Sometimes it’s simply about seeing something that makes you stop, makes you smile, or makes you feel one way or another. It’s the connection that makes art so special.”

Art Gallery of Burlington

Sungmi Kong, owner of Rainbow Studio Gallery and Café in Oakville, sees that initial connection happening in her gallery on a daily basis. “You can see an immediate, emotional spark when someone connects with a piece,” she says.

There are no rigid rules about art in the home. Tomal says it’s not about matching an exact shade, but about choosing art that connects everything in the room. In fact, she says, art can create healthy contrast. “If your furniture and walls are neutral, greys, beiges or whites, original art is the ideal way to introduce bold, contrasting energy or unexpected colour palettes and make some needed noise.”

Frame of mind

Purchasing original artwork can feel intimidating, but collecting art is more within people’s grasp than many might realize. “Original art is accessible to everyone at every price point and can often be more affordable than commercial prints,” says Susan Cameron, Director of Gallery at Oakville Art Society. “A collection can be started by visiting art fairs, student shows, and galleries alike.”

Kong’s business model pairs it with the approachable, everyday ritual of a coffee shop. “We break down traditional gallery intimidation and invite people to engage with original works in a relaxed and casual environment,” she says. Her gallery and cafe is also home to a studio space for classes and workshops. 

Tomal believes that unlike “functional” investments like furniture and window coverings, art is an investment in our joy and personal well-being. “Collecting original art is a deeply personal journey, one where each new addition marks a moment in your life, a place you visited or an emotion you resonated with,” she says. “Over time, your collection becomes a visual diary, making your living space uniquely and undeniably yours.”

The collective canvas

Every decision to bring original art home not only supports local artists but also encourages creativity and helps build a stronger cultural community. It truly brings uniqueness into your space that no one else can duplicate. 

“Many artists develop relationships with their buyers, and these connections can grow and be strengthened at local art events that create a vibrant community,” Cameron says.

Magner remarks, “When visitors come to the gallery, I hope they leave with a personal connection to art. There’s something special about knowing an artist created a piece by hand and put something of themselves in it.”

Local Links:

Art Gallery of Burlington
Agb.life

Oakville Art Society
oakvilleartsociety.com

Rainbow Studio Gallery & Cafe
rainbowstudio.com

Oakville Galleries
Gairloch Gardens
oakvillegalleries.com

Town Square Gallery
townesquaregallery.com

By Nicole Hilton

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Burlington Festival of Lights

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The Burlington Lions Club is adding a 35-foot signature tree to this year’s Burlington Festival of Lights, giving the festival a new focal point in Spencer Smith Park and inviting residents to bring the lights to their own neighbourhoods through Burlington’s Brightest Lights Tour. The tree will be the centrepiece of the park’s display. The festival’s glow is also reaching further this year, with the Lions Club working with partners like the Aldershot Village Business Improvement Area to bring lighting to other parts of the city.

Burlington’s Brightest Lights Tour invites residents to decorate their homes and apply to be an official stop on an interactive map of lighting locations. Homeowners who take part will be showcased as one of Burlington’s lighting locations, and one will be crowned Burlington’s Brightest along with a $1,000 prize package.

Residents and visitors alike will be able to check in at Burlington lighting locations for a chance to win weekly prizes throughout the festival season.

“We want the Festival of Lights to be something every part of Burlington can see itself in,” said Olivia Duke, president of the Burlington Lions Club. “The new tree gives us a place to gather in the park, and Burlington’s Brightest Lights Tour puts the festival on streets and front porches across the city. Every display that goes up is a neighbour inviting someone else to enjoy the season.”

The additions are part of a multi-year plan by the Lions Club, which took over the festival in 2025, to
evolve the Festival of Lights as it marks its 31st year. The festival runs Nov. 27 to Jan. 3, beginning with
the tree lighting at Spencer Smith Park on Nov. 27. Residents are encouraged to apply to be an official
stop on the tour by visiting burlingtonfestivaloflights.com before the application deadline of Oct. 31.

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Cranberry Orange Muffin Recipe

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) melted butter
  • 1 cup (250 mL) brown sugar lightly packed
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla extrcact
  • 1/4 cup (60 mL) Milk
  • 1 cup (250 mL) orange juice
  • 1 1/4 cups (310 mL) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (250 mL) whole wheat flour
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) finely grated orange peel
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) baking powder
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
  • 1 cup (250 mL) frozen cranberries thawed and drained

Preparation

  • Preheat oven to 400 °F (200 °C). Line 2 muffin pans with paper baking cups. Blend butter and brown sugar using a wooden spoon. Whisk in eggs, one at a time, and stir in vanilla, milk and orange juice.
  • Combine the flours, orange peel, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in another bowl. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in orange juice mixture. Blend just until combined. Stir in cranberries. Divide batter between prepared tins.
  • Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until muffins spring back when lightly touched. Turn out onto a cooling rack.

 

Recipe Courtesy of The Dairy Farmer’s of Canada

 

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Cranberry Orange Muffins

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