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Time To Tee Up! A Guide to Local Golf Courses

May 19, 2023 No Comments

As Canadians, we reluctantly accept that we have long winters and too-short summers. And it means we all understand that we have to pack in as much outdoor activity as we can in the summer months. So as the first spring shoots poke through in the garden and the ice and snow finally melt away, we are READY….. to spend some time lingering in the sun on a patio, open the pool, clean up the yard, make the first trip to the cottage, and if you are a golfer, to dust off the clubs and get out there for the first round of the season.

We are fortunate in Halton to have an amazing selection of great public golf courses to choose from, all within a 45-minute drive of home. They offer a vast diversity of terrain and degree of difficulty, so you can choose to experience them all, or pick a couple of favourites and focus on those.

If you are planning to play a lot this season, then it will make sense to take advantage of a coupon book. For example, the Greens Fee Passport available from www.golfpassport.com offers savings at 170 golf facilities in Ontario and upstate New York. Golf Fore All is another program that offers savings at about 120 courses in Ontario (www.golfforeall.ca). You will find the savings from these programs usually pay for the upfront cost within a couple of rounds.

Most golf courses in Ontario offer discounts for seniors playing on weekdays. Make sure to call ahead or do your research online, and book your tee times early. The popularity of the game has surged since the pandemic, and it may be difficult to get the tee time of your choice at
many courses.

With so many great local courses to choose from, it is not easy to pick our favourites. But here are a few courses we recommend. You won’t be disappointed at any of them.

Tee it up and have fun this summer!

Carlisle Golf Club

523 Carlisle Road, Carlisle
Kaneffgolf.com/golf/courses/carlisle

Part of the Kaneff Golf group, in the beautiful area between Carlisle and Kilbride. A cozy collection of three nine-hole courses, with rolling greens, tall pine trees, and generous fairways. This is a shot-maker’s course, so accuracy is key. Watch out for the signature 6th hole on the North course, a par 5 with a dog leg to the right and a very narrow fairway. Lots of balls have been lost in the farmer’s field to the left of the fairway!

Lowville Golf Club

2662 Brittania Road, Burlington
Lowvillegolf.com

In the picturesque village of Lowville, locally owned and operated, this 18-hole course is built into the side of the Escarpment. It may be helpful to have one leg longer than the other as you will need to play lots of side of hill shots! You can drive a mile from the long downhill par 5’s, but be prepared for a good workout if you choose to walk this course. The sunset views across the valley on a summer evening are spectacular.

Mount Nemo Golf Club

5377 Walkers Line, Burlington
Mountnemogolfclub.ca

Formerly known as Indian Wells, this 18-hole championship course is in a spectacular setting beneath the towering cliffs of Mount Nemo, with beautiful views from many of the holes. This is a challenging course with water hazards on 6 of the holes on the front 9, and narrow fairways and mature forests on the back 9.

Hidden Lake Golf Club

1137 # 1 Side Road, Burlington
Hiddenlake.clublink.ca

Just north of Burlington, and now part of the Clublink family, Hidden Lake has been in operation for over 60 years, and offers two distinct 18-hole championship courses. The Old Course is a more traditional tree-lined course with small greens, that allows glimpses of the “hidden lake” on the 16th and 17th holes. The New Course has larger greens, more generous fairways, and plenty of water.

Burlington Springs Golf & Country Club

5235 Cedar Springs Road, Burlington
Burlingtonsprings.com

This is a great course to play early in the season. The gently rolling fairways drain well, and they pride themselves on offering great value and a challenging experience for novice and experienced golfers alike. The back 9 is a bit more challenging than the front.

Oakville Executive Golf Course

4414 Fourth Line, Oakville
Oakvillegolf.ca

Located just north of Oakville, Angel’s View is a 9-hole regulation length course, and Mystic Ridge is a shorter 18-hole par 63 course. Both are ideal to introduce new players to the game and the par 3 is perfect for kids just starting out. Choose your club carefully on the 9th hole heading back to the club house – the hydro wires cross the fairway and present an interesting additional hazard!

Mystic Golf Club

1707 Jerseyville Road West, Ancaster
Golfnorth.ca/mystic

Located not far off the 403, just beyond Ancaster, is this very different and special gem. Set in beautiful countryside with no houses to be seen, this Tom Pearson designed course offers a unique wide-open experience for the serious passionate golfer. Most notable is the 10th hole – a par 6 (not a typo) which requires you to hit over 3 ravines! Beautifully maintained, carts only.

King’s Forest Golf Club

100 Greenhill Avenue, Hamilton
Hamilton.ca/things-do/golf-hamilton

Owned and operated by the City of Hamilton, and located in the picturesque Red Hill Valley at the foot of the Escarpment, this municipal course is long and challenging. There are some terrific elevated tee shots, lots of interesting dogleg holes, and six holes requiring you to navigate the Red Hill Creek which traverses the course.

By David Mosley and Tim Root

In Articles

Hockey Life In Canada: What To Know When Your Kid Wants To Hit The Rink

April 20, 2023 No Comments

Hockey: it’s the game that unites our country (and pits neighbours against each other over favourite teams). This stick-and-puck game is widely considered our national pastime, from Hockey Night in Canada to ball hockey on the street. Car!

Between Oakville and Burlington, a total of 36 players have made it to the NHL so far. While that may not be your child’s end goal, our local leagues are known to offer incredible skills training. But before we anticipate our region’s next draft picks, let’s start with the basics.

Getting Started

It really begins with one thing, learning how to skate – and learn-to-skate programs are a great way to fast-track your skills. “You want to make sure you have the fundamentals of skating,” says Anthony Miele, former Vice President of Wave Hockey and the Program Development and Marketing Consultant at Burlington Lion’s Optimist Minor Hockey Association (BLOMHA).

Once your little one is comfortable on the ice, you can graduate to a hockey skills program. Children usually hit the ice in full equipment as they learn to handle a stick and pass the puck. Oakville Hockey Academy and Wave Hockey Academy offer introductory programs, while the Oakville Hornets and Burlington Barracudas specifically cater to girls.

Founded in 1996, the Oakville Hornets Girl’s Hockey Association is one of the largest girls-only hockey clubs in the world. Now in their 18th season, they have consistently reached over 1,100 registered players. Their program boasts 34 House League teams from U7 to Senior, plus the Development Stream (DS) in younger divisions. With similar offerings, The Burlington Girls Hockey Club recently announced their “Grow the Game” initiative in addition to their existing Initiation Program for girls aged four to six.

House League (Rec)

For friendly competition and the experience of playing on a team, try House League. This recreational league is low-stress (no tryouts) and designed for fun. Players can even request to be on the same team as their friends. With one practice and one game per week, families find this option relatively easy to fit into a busy schedule – though it does come with a cost: league fees range from $500 – $700 per season.

For more intensity, house leagues offer ‘Select’ – also known as Development Stream (DS) in girls’ hockey. This level of play is for higher-skilled players and requires tryouts.

Rep Hockey

Players with an appetite for more competitive hockey may want to explore rep (short for “representative”) hockey.

Burlington and Oakville have rep hockey teams for boys and girls, with annual tryouts. With more practice, training, games, and tournaments, this competitive level of hockey requires a significant commitment from players (and their families). “Rep hockey becomes time-consuming,” says Miele. It’s at least twice the time commitment of house league and involves traveling to tournaments. But rep comes with a cost (nearly four times that of house league hockey) ranging from $2,000 to $3,800, depending on the player’s skill level and commitment. When deciding whether to pursue rep hockey, Miele says, “You have to be realistic.”

Parents with children enrolled in the sport quickly learn that hockey is far more than athleticism and NHL dreams, regardless of the level played. Many parents say that hockey has allowed their kids to feel more comfortable and confident, and has resulted in great friendships, trust, responsibility, and sportsmanship.

From learn-to-skate to rep, you can’t go wrong with the programs in our community. Check them out:

Learn to Skate Programs

Burlington

Wave
wavesports.ca/learn-to-skate

Burlington Skating Centre
burlingtonskatingcentre.ca

The Pond
thepond.ca/introductory-programs

Oakville

Cutting Edge Hockey Development Centre
cehockey.ca

Skate Oakville
skateoakville.ca

House League and Rep Hockey

Boys

Burlington Lions Optimist Minor Hockey Association (BLOMHA)
blomha.com

Minor Oaks Hockey Association (MOHA)
oakvillerangers.ca

Girls

Burlington Girls Hockey Club
bghc.ca

Oakville Hornets Girls Hockey Association
oakvillehornets.com

by Lisa Evans

In Articles

A Super Summer: Unique Summer Camps For Every Kid

April 18, 2023 No Comments

Summer camp registration creeps up earlier every year. Sometimes the hottest camps are at capacity before the snow has even left the ground. And while planning summer activities months in advance can feel daunting, it can be especially challenging if your child doesn’t enjoy traditional camps.

If your child isn’t interested in making friendship bracelets at art camp or kicking a ball in sports camp, there’s no need to worry! Today, dozens of innovative programs engage children in play and learning. From coding to circus performing, cooking, and even farming, you’re sure to find something for your hard-to-please summer camper in this list.

CookSmart

Oakville and Missisauga
Cooksmart.ca

Imagine a summer camp where your child learns important life skills and brings home a delicious meal. COOKSMART offers a unique opportunity for children as young as five to get into the kitchen as a chef. Offering six camps for ages 5-12, your little one will learn cooking and baking basics while making their snacks and lunch for the day (bonus, no packed lunch required)! Plus, hands-on art, science, and Indigenous activities, outdoor adventures, drama, and more. Your camper will end the session with a report card, so you can help them use their skills in your very own kitchen.

Code Ninjas

3410 Mainway ActivityPlex, Burlington
Codeninjas.com

Who says learning takes a break in the summer? Code Ninjas summer camps teach kids to code while building their own video games. Kids gain problem-solving, critical thinking, and STEM skills through their programs. But don’t worry; they’ll have so much fun that they won’t even realize they’re exercising the left side of their brain.

Evolve Skateboarding and Scooter Camp

Norton Skatepark, Burlington
Evolvecamps.com

For an epic, adventurous, thrilling, and different summer sport, try one of the many camps through Evolve. With skateboard, scooter, and BMX camps for ages 6-14, your child will hit the pavement while learning important life skills like goal setting, perseverance, and teamwork. Skateboarding through summer – can you think of anything more fabulous?

Zorbit Sports Camp

3410 Mainway ActivityPlex, Burlington
Zorbitsports.com

Who doesn’t enjoy a good Nerf(™) battle? Especially when it’s not in your living room. Zorbit sports is an indoor Nerf(™) battle facility with a unique offering of camps. Children ages 5 to 12 can take on their peers in Zorb, Archery, Nerf, and Dodge Ball. Morning and afternoon camp sessions are available.

Brigs Youth Sail Training

Hamilton
Brigs.ca

A’hoy matey! Spend the summer on board a Tall Ship with Brigs. Kids ages 13+ become active crew members as they live, eat, and sleep onboard the boat. Learn the fundamentals of sailing a Tall Ship while exploring ports and anchoring throughout the Great Lakes. Plus, enjoy swimming, singing, campfires, and so much more!

Focus on Nature Photography Camp

Locations in Oakville, Guelph and Hamilton
Focusonnature.ca

Aspiring photographers ages 7 to 13 have an incredible opportunity to explore nature through the lens this summer. Campers are encouraged to be visual artists, see the beauty in the details of nature, and learn how to capture it with their cameras while on guided walks and other nature activities.

Zacada Circus School Summer Camp

687 Barton Street #101, Stoney Creek
Zacadacircus.com

This summer, children ages 6+ can learn to become circus performers with Zacada. From aerial hoops to trapeze, acrobatics, and tumble track to juggling and hula hoops, kids will develop skills in body awareness, flexibility, and strength, all while having fun.

Andrews Scenic Acres Farm Camp

9365 10 Side Road, Milton

Learn to live the life of a farmer! Kids will experience life on a real working farm during this unique summer camp. In addition to learning how to grow fruits and vegetables, little ones will learn the ins and outs of farm operations, all while exploring Andrew’s 165 acres of land.

by Lisa Evans

In Articles

Have A Laugh At The Burlington Comedy Festival

March 29, 2023 No Comments

There’s nothing better than laughing until your belly aches – and the comics at the Burlington Comedy Festival will make you do just that. A hilarious celebrity line-up of seven comedians will hit five stages over four days, promising a unique experience with every show.

Opening night kicks off on Thursday, April 20th, with three-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee Dave Hemstad at the Pearle Hotel. In addition to his CTV “Comedy Now” special and performances at the Just for Laughs Festival Gala in Montreal, Dave has many acting credits to his name. He starred in the Showcase comedy series “Almost Heroes” and is a regular on CBC’s smash hit The Debaters (and a contributing writer on the CBC series “Still Standing”).

On Friday, April 21st, guests can enjoy dinner and a show at one of two intimate pop-up events featuring Sandra Battaglini, Rob Bebenek, Arthur Simeon, and Zabrina Douglas. Doors open at 7 pm at The Block & Co., followed by an 8:30 pm show at Paradiso. Enjoy your favourite dish and drinks while special guest and celebrity magician Billy Kidd wows. Tickets are limited!

The “big” show hits the stage Saturday and Sunday when Canadian actor, writer, and comedian Jon Dore headlines at The Art Gallery of Burlington. Jon’s television credits include a memorable guest star role on the CBS Emmy Award-winning series, How I Met Your Mother, and a lead role on ABC’s How to Live with Your Parents. Jon has appeared on Conan, Inside Amy Schumer, Hart of Dixie, and his own special on Comedy Central.

Need help deciding which show to attend? Visit Burlingtoncomedy.com/shows to find a clip of each comic. Doors open for all shows at 7 p.m. (except Paradiso, which opens at 8:30), leaving plenty of time to explore Burlington’s beautiful downtown.

The Burlington Comedy Festival has your back for laugh-out-loud, mature content (perfect for a night out with friends or a date night).

For a full list of complete acts and to buy tickets online, please visit: www.burlingtoncomedy.com

By Anneliese Lawton

In Articles

Sweet, Salty and Smooth: Treats For Any Occasion

November 29, 2022 No Comments

With an abundance of colourful lights and family celebrations, the holidays have officially arrived – all 12 of them. That’s right. Within the month of December, there are over 12 celebrated religious holidays. And while they’re all different in their own unique way, many share a common theme centred around food, family, and of course, gifts. Whether you’re leaving a stocking by the chimney for Santa, a wooden shoe out for Sinterklaas, or celebrating one of the many other holidays, you can never go wrong with adding a sweet treat.

Get Baking!

Baking cookies is a holiday tradition my family started just a few years ago. We gather in the kitchen, make a giant mess, burn cookies, and then hand them out to the neighbours. It’s a treat. Thankfully, Christy’s Gourmet Gifts has fresh, homemade dough, making it easier for my three little chefs to bake from scratch. We love the sugar cookie and gingerbread mix – and since it comes already as a dough, we simply create holiday shapes with our cookie cutters and bake!
And if that’s even too much, The Sweetest Thing in Oakville creates holiday cookie decorating kits. Each kit contains six cookies, two piping bags of icing, and two sprinkle pods.

Something to Sip On

Whether you’re at home or out on the town, hot chocolate – with a festive twist – seems to be the drink of choice this time of year. Lola Choco Bar and Sweethouse in Downtown Burlington is famous for its drinking chocolate. Made with coconut and 100% dark Ecuadorian chocolate, this smooth, warm chocolate drink is a local favourite. Back at home, hot chocolate bombs are all the rage. Filled with cocoa mix, marshmallows, sprinkles, and other edible baubles, they are a truly over-the-top way to level up your cocoa game. Once plopped inside a mug full of warm milk, the bombs open up, revealing the goodies inside and creating a decadent cup of hot cocoa once stirred together. Grab a box of seasonal flavours at Sweet! Bakery Oakville in Bronte.

Tiny +Thoughtful Gifts

For stockings, wooden shoes, or Hanukah gifts, smaller treats such as candies or chocolates can be a perfect fit. The Organic House in Oakville, owned by a mother-daughter duo, handcrafts organic, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, fair-trade, and kosher chocolate bars. These bars meet nearly every dietary restriction, and since they’re also kosher, they’re the perfect gift for Jewish friends, family, or hosts. A Chocolate Lab, also in Oakville, has a large selection of chocolates and handcrafted treats (specifically involving Oreos) perfect for the holidays. They have chocolate-covered Oreo Christmas trees, chocolate-dipped Oreo mints, along with chocolate-covered Oreos that look like ornaments. These items make great stocking stuffers for
any age.

Let Them Have Cake

The Yule Log, Chocolate Swiss Roll, and Fruit Cake all peak during the holiday season, but other cultures bring a little something extra to the dessert table. Sweet potato pie and coconut pie are traditional desserts at this time of year for our friends celebrating Kwanzaa. That Pie Place in Burlington has a large selection of both fresh and frozen savoury and fruit pies. They can also accommodate customizations. And if you’re not completely set on cake, why not try a beautifully decorated gingerbread house from Molly Cake? Available in small, medium, and large, these gingerbread houses make a beautiful hostess gift or dinner party centrepiece. The large house even comes with plug-in lights that shine through several delicious poured sugar window panes.

However you’re celebrating this time of year, we hope you create some sweet memories.

By Anneliese Lawton

Local Links

The Sweetest Thing, Oakville
thesweetestthing.com

Molly Cake, Burlington
mollycake.ca

Sweet Bakery, Oakville
sweetbakery.ca

Christys Gourmet Gifts, Burlington
christysgourmetgifts.com

Lola Choco Bar, Burlington
lolachocobar.com

That Pie Place, Burlington
thatpieplace.com

The Organic House, Oakville
theorganichouse.ca

A Chocolate Lab, Oakville
achocolatelab.com

In Articles

Ha-Ha-Ha, Kick-Off The Holidays With The Burlington Downtown Comedy Festival

October 31, 2022 No Comments

Rejoice! The holidays are just around the corner – and so is Burlington Downtown’s beloved Comedy Festival. Working around the clock to bring you the best in comedy, Burlington Downtown Comedy Festival is excited to announce that they will be bringing two special shows as previews of the full comedy festival in 2023. They will hit the stage at the Art Gallery of Burlington (1333 Lakeshore Road) on December 2nd and 3rd, featuring special headliners DeAnne Smith and Nile Seguin consecutively. Festival goers will enjoy hilarious star-powered stand-ups, including Ted Morris, Heather Mariko, and Mark Debonis, hosted by Just for Laughs comedian, Christophe Davidson. Expect laugh-out-loud, mature content perfect for a night out with friends or a date night.

Doors open at 7 p.m., leaving plenty of time to explore Burlington’s beautiful downtown. Amp up the date night romance with a stroll through twinkle lights along downtown streets and Spencer Smith Park. You can also curate your own unique “dinner and a show” experience at one of over fifty downtown Burlington restaurants, or stroll through Burlington’s downtown shopping district featuring an array of chic clothing and high fashion boutiques, and one-of-a-kind accessory and gift shops. Note: the cobblestone path in The Village is Insta-worthy.

Are you gifting the festival tickets? You can easily add a Downtown GIFT CARD (a creative new way to shop local and give the gift of over 60 retailers, personal services, and eateries in the downtown core. Grab yours at burlingtondowntown.ca/gift-cards).

For a full list of acts and tickets, visit burlingtoncomedy.com.

by Anneliese Lawton

In Articles

Fun On The Farm: Fall Activities For The Family

October 7, 2022 No Comments

The hot sunny days of summer may be over, but the crisp cool air and vibrant fall colours make the perfect combination for family fun at the farm. Whether you’re picking your own pumpkin or apples, getting lost in a corn maze, petting a goat, or taking a hay ride, Halton region’s farms have tons of fun activities in store for the whole family.

Andrew’s Farm Market & Winery

9365 10 Side Road, Milton | andrewsscenicacres.com

This pick-your-own farm is a great place to get your apples and pumpkins this fall, but aside from the produce, it’s an excellent destination for family fun. From peaceful walking trails to wagon rides, playgrounds, farm animals, straw mountain climbs, and miniature straw mazes, the kids may never want to leave. Don’t forget to pick up a yummy pie for dessert at the Farm Store.

The Apple Orchard

1668 Highway 6, Hamilton | theappleorchard.ca

With over 10,000 apple and pear trees, The Apple Orchard is a great place to explore the beautiful agriculture of Southern Ontario. This farm offers way more than pick your own fruit. There are wagon rides, farm animals, a corn maze, retired tractors for kids to sit on, walking trails, a corn pit, and who can resist a candy apple and sweet apple cider?

Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm

9528 Regional Road 25, Milton | chudleighs.com

A full day of fall fun awaits at Chudleigh’s. Enjoy a scenic tractor ride, visit the farm yard’s pigs, goats, sheep, alpaca, and other animals, and enjoy the vast slides and hay bale jumps in the play area. Or, for some quiet family time, enjoy the scenic nature trail. Plus, there is an incredible outdoor kitchen featuring barnboard pizza’s, hard cider, and so much more. This farm requires pre-booking. You can reserve a 3-hour timeslot on the farm’s website.

Bronte Creek Provincial Park Playbarn

1219 Burloak Drive, Oakville | brontecreek.org

Located in Bronte Creek Provincial Park, this 150-year-old barn has been transformed into a play loft for kids to climb, jump and burn off some energy. The play barn is located across from the Nature Centre, which features interactive exhibits, live reptiles, hands-on displays, and even costumes. Gnome Road is also located nearby, where you’ll find little wooden fairy houses along a stroller-friendly path. Bronte Creek is home to many animals, including chickens, sheep, goats, cows, and horses. Staff often hold informative workshops where kids can learn how to milk a cow or groom a horse. Check with the park for details.

Hanes Corn Maze

1001 Highway 5 West, Dundas | thehanescornmaze.com

You can easily spend an entire day in this place! Take a trek through Canada’s largest corn maze – over 20 acres of cornfields shaped into a new challenging maze each year. Collect clues at various checkpoints to solve the puzzle as you make your way through the maze. Younger kids will love running through the maze to find the checkpoints, and older ones will enjoy decoding the clues at the end to win a prize. Visit the farm animals on your way to the farmland play area full of swings, slides, a sandbox full of diggers, and even pedal carts. Bring your lunch and camp out at a picnic table while the kids play. Don’t forget to visit their delicious bakery on your way out.

Springridge Farm

7256 Bell School Line, Milton | springridgefarm.com

Springridge Farm is packed full of fun farm adventures for younger kids. A newly renovated giant sandbox filled with diggers and buckets will surely be a hit with the little ones. Red Muskoka chairs surround the sandbox for adults to lounge in while the kids play. The farm yard includes tube slides, a spider web climber, farm animals, antique tractors, pedal tractors, farm hoppers, a singing chicken show, and a wagon ride. During Harvest Weekends (Sept 17th – Oct 30th), explore the 5-Acre Corn Trail (special admission prices apply). Springridge also serves delicious baked goodies and has a marketplace with country-chic home decor and gifts.

By Lisa Evans

In Articles

Cool Libraries For Kids to Explore

September 14, 2022 No Comments

While a trip to the library certainly means getting some new books, Oakville and Burlington libraries have much more to explore than racks of books. From indoor play structures to programs and toys, you can spend a whole day at the library and not be bored. We’ve rounded up some of the best libraries in the region for kids.

Burlington Public Library, Tansley Woods Branch 1996 Itabashi Way

Here’s a place you could spend the entire day. The library is inside Tansley Woods Community Centre, home to a public pool and the “big blue water slide.” You’ll find a free indoor play area outside the library doors with a treehouse structure that looks out at the Centre’s swimming pool. “The Treehouse,” as it’s often referred to, is perfect for toddlers and young kids to climb, slide, and burn off some energy. Tansley Woods Community Centre also houses a beautiful garden outside that you can access from the indoor playground with a picnic area perfect for taking a snack break. The library houses a small kid’s section. There are no toys or activities available in the library itself, but the indoor playground makes the trip worthwhile for young kids. Behind the community centre is the Itabashi Garden – a beautiful Japanese garden to explore. There is also a fun trail into the woods and a playground a short distance away.

Burlington Public Library, Central Branch 2331 New Street, Burlington

Burlington’s Central Library branch features a dedicated kid’s area on the second floor. The play area features a giant wooden play structure with a big green slide perfect for burning off a little energy. Children will also love the train table and giant foam blocks on the floor. It’s a great place to come and meet other kids while getting the wiggles out.

The rest of the floor features plenty of seating for adults to enjoy reading a book or doing a little work while the kids play. There are also several computers with games and some toys and wooden puzzles on tables around the floor and a craft table for kids feeling a little artistic. The Central Branch offers many programs for children of all ages, from family story times to STEM programs for older kids.

You can head outside the library for fun in Central Park’s play structure on a nice day. The park has rubber flooring that the kids love to bounce on and is very toddler friendly.

Oakville Public Library, Central Branch 120 Navy Street, Oakville

Located in Downtown Oakville, the Central Library is a bright, kidfriendly space with an entire floor dedicated to children’s reading and play. There is no shortage of kid’s books in this library, with lots of cute reading nooks for kids to curl up in with a few books. Many windows let in natural light, and a few comfy seating areas overlook the gardens. There’s also a train table and several play stations with fun literacy activities.

Oakville Public Library, Glen Abbey Branch 1415 Third Line, Oakville

Oakville’s Glen Abbey library recently underwent a renovation. There is a lovely outdoor patio off the kids’ zone where you can enjoy a snack or picnic lunch. Glen Abbey library is also home to the Creation Zone, a space offering free access to maker technology. They also provide programs for school-age children who have an interest in creation. Families looking to explore and create using the Creation Zone technology can book an appointment for self-directed use or choose to work with the guidance of the Creation Specialist.

by Lisa Evans

In Articles

Taking Fun to New Heights

July 22, 2022 No Comments

If you’re afraid of heights, skip ahead a couple of pages. For those who find heights thrilling, this is for you! From rock climbing to sky diving and ziplining, our region has all kinds of activities that take fun to new heights. Grab your bucket list and check off these adventures of a lifetime.

Rock Climbing

We may not have the Rocky Mountains in our backyard, but Halton region does have some pretty stellar indoor rock-climbing facilities that offer several types of climbing for all experience and age levels.

Climbers Rock, Burlington (https://www.climbersrock.com)

This indoor climbing gym offers three types of climbing: bouldering (climbing on short walls without ropes and harnesses), Top Rope (climbing tall walls with a rope and harness as security), and Lead for experienced climbers who provide their own ropes and grigris. Climbers Rock offers youth programs as well as a summer camp.

Gravity Climbing Gym, Hamilton (https://www.gravityclimbinggym.com/)

This indoor climbing gym offers climbs for adults and kids starting at age five. This facility offers 57 separately roped climbs. The tallest routes are 50’ high. They also have a huge 100’ long bouldering area.

Both indoor climbing gyms offer day passes as well as membership options.

Kids Adventures

Treetop Trekking Hamilton – https://treetoptrekking.com/park/hamilton/

Kids will love tapping into their inner Tarzan at this adventure park high in the sky. Treetop Trekking offers various adventure courses for all ages and abilities.

Their Treewalk Village is for kids of all ages and allows them to climb from tree house to tree house through tall hammocks, nets, and wood bridges, then descend to the ground on slides.

The Discovery Kids Course for ages 5+ lets kids test their balance on wood bridges, balance logs, net walkways, and mini zip lines all suspended three to five feet above the ground.

The Zipline and Aerial Game Trek for ages 9+ offers the opportunity to swing from tree to tree on a suspended bridge, swinging log, cable traverse, or zipline. Participants are outfitted with a harness and helmet as they climb and zip through the forest canopy.

Hot Air Ballooning

Whether you’re looking for a romantic adventure in the sky, or just want to soar above the trees, a hot air balloon ride might be for you.

Skyward Balloons, Kitchener/Waterloo – https://skywardballoons.com

Skyward Balloons offers riders a bird’s eye view of the gorgeous Kitchener-Waterloo landscape while floating at 500 – 3,000 feet over forests, ponds, and lakes. Enjoy a sparkling beverage celebration upon your landing, a ballooning tradition. Skyward Balloons offers individual rides as well as romantic rides for couples; many a proposal has happened in these balloons!

Skydiving

If sky diving is on your bucket list, check out these locations for your sky-high adventure.

Skydive Swoop, Dundas – https://www.skydiveswoop.ca

This skydive school offers a learn-to-skydive program as well as a tandem skydive. The tandem jump provides first-time skydivers and bucket-listers with the adrenaline rush of a lifetime. In a tandem jump, both the student and instructor are attached to the same parachute system, meaning training is minimal and done on the same day as your jump. If you become addicted and want to jump on your own, Skydive Swoop offers a Progressive Free Fall Course where you can learn to skydive independently.

If you want to get the feeling of falling from the sky without actually jumping from a plane, IFly World, Oakville (https://iflyworld.ca) offers indoor sky diving where you can enjoy the adrenaline-pumping experience of a freefall without a parachute; just you in a wind tunnel flying on a cushion of air.

With so many exciting options to choose from, is this YOUR summer to fly high?

In Arts & Events

Show Yourself a Little Love – It’s Solo Date Days!

July 6, 2022 No Comments

The Burlington Downtown Business Association (BDBA) is preparing to launch its exciting new Solo Date Days digital passport program.

The Solo Date Days pass takes you through Burlington Downtown on a journey of self-discovery and appreciation. Stop in at 11 different downtown businesses and enjoy some shopping and pampering while discovering and supporting local.

The pass is free to sign up for and easy to use. Once you have signed up for your pass, you will receive an email or text notification to your phone, allowing you to easily save the pass to your phones home screen. Simply open the pass when visiting a participating business to check-in and start your experience! Participating businesses include retail businesses, personal and wellness services, casual dining and more.

Contest prizing is available to those participating in this pass. The first user to complete all 11 check-ins and / or redemptions will win a $100.00 Burlington Downtown GIFT CARD. The second and third users to complete all 11 check-ins and / or redemptions will win a $25.00 Burlington Downtown GIFT CARD each.

“The Solo Date Days pass encourages residents and visitors alike to enjoy some pampering and self-love while supporting downtown businesses,” says Alison Policicchio, Marketing Manager for the BDBA, adding “whether you’re ending a long week, getting ready to start a new one, or just looking for some quiet personal time, there is a stop on this pass for everyone. You get all the feel-good vibes while making a powerful impact in your community, and that’s really something.”

The Solo Date Days pass will run from July 4th, 2022 to August 7th, 2022. Sign up today for free at: https://burlingtondowntown.ca/the-solo-date-days-pass-is-here/