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  • 10 Apr 2024 11:35 AM | Bernadette Ward (Administrator)

    Established in Canada in 1998 by the League of Canadian Poets, National Poetry Month encourages communities to celebrate poetry and its vital place in Canada's culture.

    This year’s theme, set by the League, is weather. From the website of the LoCP:

    “Celebrate National Poetry Month 2024 with the theme of WEATHER. Through sun, snow, rain, wind, fog, and many other iterations, we find the captivating presence of weather. With poetic flair, weather dictates the rhythms of our lives from coast to coast.”

    The poem below is brought to you through the Poetry Café, a program that was originally run through the OAC. The OAC has a large archive of chapbooks from the Poetry Café, and we are in the process of adding them to the Digital Arts Archive. Please visit! If you wish to use any of the material in the archive, please contact the OAC. Materials are copyrighted and you will need the artists permission to use the work.

    WARMING ©ERNIE ENOLA 

    Denial

    Is it warmer? Has it changed? Doomsayers or valid science?

    examine evidence, fear the consequences Cataclysmic climatic events
    Not in a year, so why bother
    Not in a decade, so why do anything Not going to happen to us
    We have the money, the science
    No, not to us.
    Watch documentaries, read the journals Attend a lecture. Yeah, nod your head, they should do something
    but fifty years from now I'll be dead So who cares, leave it to my kids they'll survive.
    Too bad if Bangladeshis drown
    or Africans starve
    Can't be bothered, drive me home
    Turn up the thermostat
    switch on the lights.
    Turn on the T. V.
    Famine in China!
    That's them, not me.

    Awakening

    That's quite a drought on the Prairies No water in California. Crops fail
    One hell of a series of hurricanes smashing oil rigs. Flash floods
    Storms so bad planes can't fly
    Hey! Supermarkets short on food,
    no gas to drive elsewhere
    can't eat my lawn or my bushes
    Arctic meltdown
    Oceans acid, few fish to eat
    Dried out fields, cattle dying
    No water in taps, or rivers
    money and cars useless
    the weak and old die of heat
    while air conditioners sit idle
    impotent
    we swelter in our homes
    pleading for help, but
    no one left to fetch or carry
    Helpless, millions start to die.

    Aftermath

    What happened to our civilization?
    Simple
    We didn't believe, did nothing
    Couldn't affect us only them
    Wouldn't demand our leaders "Do"
    not just make a plan, not just make a profit,
    not hold a conference, not delay
    but DO
    Pity, many cities are under water
    Pity, forests have burned
    Pity the temperature is still going up
    Pity, the oceans are flooding crop lands
    Pity, we are out of fuel
    Pity millions of animals died
    Billions of humans died
    but they created the apocalypse
    If only! If only we had listened
    I
    f only we had acted.

  • 28 Mar 2024 4:24 PM | Bernadette Ward (Administrator)


    Now accepting nominations for Oakville Community Spirit Awards!

    The Town of Oakville invites residents to nominate community champions who have made a significant difference in Oakville during the last year for a 2024 Community Spirit Award. 

    Online nominations will be accepted until Friday, April 26 at 4 p.m. in the following award categories.

    • Arts, Culture & Heritage Award – sponsored by Oakville News/Village Media Recognizes those who have made a significant voluntary contribution to the artistic and/or cultural community of Oakville. This includes the development, support, conservation or promotion of local heritage, culture, music, visual, performing, or literary arts.
    • Climate Action Award – sponsored by FirstOntario Credit Union   Recognizes those who have demonstrated environmental leadership. This includes significant voluntary contributions to the sustainability, protection, conservation, or beautification of Oakville’s natural and built environments.
    • Good Neighbour Award – sponsored by Chartwell Retirement Residences Recognizes those who have made significant contributions in their neighbourhood. Neighbourhood contributions include showing kindness, instilling community pride, or ensuring public safety to make Oakville a better place to live, work and play.
    • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility Award – sponsored by Access Abilities  Recognizes those who have made significant voluntary contribution, beyond legislated requirements, to make Oakville a more inclusive community.
    • Inspiration Award – sponsored by RBC Royal Bank  Recognizes those who advocate for others, motivate the community, or have had an inspirational influence on others.
    • Leadership & Innovation Award – sponsored by Amica Senior Lifestyles Recognizes those who exemplify leadership or innovation, and inspire others to work collaboratively and respectfully to enhance the quality of life of others.

    Nominees will be celebrated on June 6, 2024, at the annual Community Spirit Awards event at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre. More details will be shared in May when the nominees are announced.

    For more information on how to nominate an individual, organization, business and/or community group who has demonstrated ongoing leadership, dedication and involvement in Oakville, visit the Community Spirit Awards page.

  • 23 Mar 2024 10:20 PM | Bernadette Ward (Administrator)


    For Immediate Media Release

    OC Announces Artistic Director’s Departure

    Oakville, Ontario (March 14, 2024) – The Oakville Choral Society announced today that its Artistic Director David Bowser will be leaving upon the completion of this season, marking 15 years with OC.

    “David has provided tremendous creativity, musicality, and professionalism as the artistic leader of the Oakville Choral,” says Board President Sandra Litt. “We wish David all the best in his future endeavours. A new Artistic Director will build on the reputation David and our choir have achieved.”

    Bowser has been the Artistic Director and Conductor of Oakville Choral for the past 15 years. He has seen the organization through many changes, including continuing to keep us viable during and after Covid19. His commitment to artistic excellence and building relationships in the community has been evident over the years. He has overseen many successful collaborations with local organizations and artists, and offered us a wide variety of musical experiences.

    The OC Board of Directors has initiated the process to hire a new Artistic Director/ Conductor beginning in the 2024-25 season.

    The job posting and information about how to apply can be viewed here.

     - 30 -

    For inquiries related to this media release, please contact Sandra Litt, OC President at oakvillechoral@gmail.com or 905-517-2885.

    The Oakville Choral Society, a dynamic and long running community choir, was founded in 1960. As a non-profit cultural organization, the non-audition choir promotes choral singing and music appreciation to the wide and wonderful communities of Halton and beyond. Our mission, “Everyone can join, everyone can learn, everyone can sing!” is foundational to our choral success.


  • 30 Jun 2023 1:24 PM | Bernadette Ward (Administrator)

    Carlene Ling (right) as a Community Spirit Awards nominee with Mayor Rob Burton


    An interview with Carlene Ling aka Vanda Li
    By Joanne MacNair


    As Black Music Month wraps up for this year, I thought I might take some time before the end of my internship with the Oakville Arts Council to chat with Carlene Ling, the woman determined to bring awareness of the value of Black Music and Black culture to Halton region and Canada.

    Recently Carlene, also known as Vanda Li, found allies in local mayor’s Rob Burton (Oakville) and Marianne Meed Ward (Burlington) to hold flag raising ceremonies on June 1 at their respective Town Halls. Quite an achievement, and a colourful musical addition to June’s culture calendar of events and the successful and lively Black Music on the Block which took place at Town Square on George Street. 

    When Ling refers to Black music, she has Afro-Caribbean music in mind. It’s a genre that’s a fusion of different cultures, sounds and styles. Dating back to the 1500’s, it’s influenced by African, Indigenous and even European cultures and includes sub-genres such as ska, reggae, calypso, salsa, merengue and more.

    Born in the Caribbean herself, her parents were professionals from Trinidad who immigrated to Burlington under Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s ‘Open Door Policy. Activism in the arts seems to run in the family with Ling’s late uncle having been a founder of the Hamilton Caribana and her late aunt, Juliet Hamilton involved in bringing multicultural events to Spencer Smith park in the 1990's and early 2000’s.

    After graduating from MM Robinson High school in Burlington, Ling studied at Sheridan in the musical theatre program. She left before graduation to have her oldest daughter and moved to Oakville. As a young, single mother she added two more daughters to her family along with diplomas from the Halton Business Institute in Administrative studies with specialization in Medical Office and another in Social Service Worker from Humber College - graduating from both with Honours.

    She was accepted to the BSW program at York and attended for a few years, but eventually decided to take a break. She worked contract jobs in employments services while raising her daughters but dreamt of a different direction for her life.

    Carlene Ling (left) at the Junos with daughter Adria Kain a Juno nominee.


    She took a swing at song writing, creating the song “
    Rise Up” with her friend and producing it with her oldest daughter Adria, now a Juno-nominated singer. Not finished with change, she started BLing Events International Entertainment Black African Caribbean Canadian Artists Unite to promote Black artists and Black musicians in Canada.

    A nominee for the Town of Oakville Community Spirit Awards, Carlene is driven to promote the younger generation of Black artists and performers and is looking to collaborate with others to move her vision forward.

    I love Halton. It’s a beautiful place to live but there is little to no representation of Black culture in the festivals and events so I decided to try to create something that more people can enjoy and experience the authentic music and culture that the Black and Afro Caribbean community and all residents can enjoy right here in our hometown,” said Ling via email.

    Carlene Ling/Vanda Li:
    Performing Artist /Singer, Event Curator & Executive Producer
    Founder /Director / CEO , BLing Events International Entertainment (BEI)
    Black African Caribbean Canadian Artists Unite (BACCAU) & CRAFT
    Business Line:(647) 572-4976

    Instagram
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS8_pLNScwb3Yuy_eHDRh1Q/videos
    https://blingeventsinterna.wixsite.com/bling

  • 15 Jun 2023 4:36 PM | Bernadette Ward (Administrator)

    I
    t’s so good to see people attending events in person again! The Oakville Arts Council (OAC) team was pleased to attend the annual Community Spirit Awards, held by the Town of Oakville on June 8, 2023, at Queen Elizabeth Park Community & Cultural Centre.

    Each year, we nominate an artist or arts organization for the Arts, Culture and Heritage Award  (thank you Oakville Beaver, many years the sponsor in this category!) and we pretty much always attend to applaud the incredible contributions these volunteers bring to the community. Also, we enjoy the desserts and the entertainment. Kudos to emcee Chris Mei and the Oakville Symphony Youth Orchestra.

    The awards gifted to the winners this year were an homage to the fibre arts. Created by local artist Rafia Shafiq (pictured below), who specializes in phulkari embroidery, each of the intricate, colourful works represented the values of each category. In this video, Rafia talks about her creative process when making each of the awards.


    Congratulations to The Oakville Diwali Committee and Reem Al-Rawi, winners in the Arts, Culture and Heritage Award for 2023 and also to those nominated:

    The winners in the remaining categories are:

    • Hannah Kohler and Mervyn Russell, Climate Action Award sponsored by FirstOntario Credit Union
    • Penny Smith and Kim Melhuish, Good Neighbour Award sponsored by Chartwell Retirement Residences
    • Gennile Thomas-Smith, Marlyne Van Exan and Nic Hotchkiss, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Award sponsored by Access Abilities
    • Lionel Latter, Lorna Van de Mosselaer and Patrick Gorman, Inspiration Award sponsored by RBC Royal Bank
    • Desmond Jordan and Grant Foster, Leadership and Innovation Award – sponsored by Amica Seniors Lifestyles


    For more information about the Community Spirit Awards, visit the Town of Oakville’s website: https://www.oakville.ca/town-hall/news-notices/2023-news-releases-archive/community-champions-honoured-at-the-21st-oakville-community-spirit-awards/

    To see more photos from the event: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAHErZ

  • 31 Mar 2023 1:11 PM | Anusha Rajeswaran


    The Oakville Symphony has entered a new and exciting chapter: beautiful venue, new season and new Music Director.

    We sat down with their Music Director, Lorenzo Guggenheim, to talk about what the Oakville Symphony (OS) has planned for the upcoming season. 

    The OS is a thriving community symphony orchestra aiming to bring a spectacular experience of music to an audience of all ages. The OS is composed of a diverse group of talented musicians along with guest artists from all over the world.


    Lorenzo Guggenheim is an expert conductor with an impressive career, spanning from his native Argentina to working on Canadian and International stages. It’s no surprise then that he has big ambitions for the OS. For instance, to make the shows more accessible for everyone, the OS has introduced free admission for anyone under the age of 18.

    The OS is committed to showcasing diverse voices and talents; in their upcoming season, composer Jessie Montgomery will be featured with the Canadian premiere of one of her latest work Overture and they are commissioning new works from Nadya Poklad, an artist who immigrated from Ukraine.


    There’s something for everyone to enjoy at their show but for some, there are misconceptions that linger.

    What if I don’t know anything about music? Where should I sit? What if I get bored? What should I wear?

    The Oakville Symphony wants to dispel these misconceptions: 

    • You don’t need any prior music knowledge to enjoy their shows. The Oakville Symphony play a wide range of music from renowned international musicians in addition to a classical repertoire. 
    • Every seat in their intimate, smaller-sized venue, Oakville Centre, has a great view of the stage. 
    • If you’re concerned about being distracted, don’t be. Each show is presented in two halves, each 40 minutes long, with ashort intermission to stretch your legs and check your phone. Drinks are served before the show starts and at intermission
    • As for a dress code, come as you are. Saturday evenings can be considered semi-formal and Sunday matinee shows are more casual, but there are no rules.

    You can get tickets here to enjoy a special evening of music from the Oakville Symphony.

  • 09 Mar 2023 1:00 PM | Anusha Rajeswaran


    The Oakville Symphony is delighted to present a Marimba Concerto by Brazilian composer Ney Rosauro, featuring Oakville Symphony’s own percussionist Bryan Allen. Along with this aurally and visually spectacular work for marimba and string orchestra, attendees will be able to enjoy Johann Strauss Jr’s masterpiece overture, Die Fledermaus. The concert will be rounded out with the magnificent Symphony No. 2 by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. 

    Dates: Saturday April 1, 2023 from 7:30 - 9:30pm | Sunday April 2, 2023 from 2 - 4pm.  

    Venue: The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts

    For tickets, visit oakvillecentre.ca


  • 21 Feb 2023 12:36 PM | Anusha Rajeswaran


    Young artists will be thrilled with Oakville Galleries’ March Break Art Camp. Designed to keep kids inspired while school’s out, participants will make lots of artwork using new techniques and creativity. 

    Each day will have a different theme with fun-filled projects for your budding artist. Kids will be able to expand their thinking, burn energy outside and get inspired by the winter landscape in Gairloch Gardens (dress warmly!).

    March Break Camp: Art Adventurers (Ages 6 – 9)
    March Break Camp: Art Masters (Ages 10 – 12)

    Member: $238.00 | Non Member: $280.00 

    Date: March 13 - 17, 2023 from 9am - 4pm

    Venue: Oakville Galleries, Main Floor Education Centre

    For registration, visit oakvillegalleries.comRegistration Closes Friday, 3 March 2023


  • 05 Jan 2023 2:58 PM | Anusha Rajeswaran


    Join us as the Oakville Chamber Orchestra celebrates its first show of 2023. Enjoy Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons performed by Joelle Crigger, the 2022 senior category 1st place winner! English favourites by Edward Elgar and Benjamin Britten round out the program.

    Date: February 25, 2023 at 7:30pm

    Venue: Oakville Centre, AEG Liebherr Auditorium

    For tickets, visit oakvillecentre.ca


  • 05 Jan 2023 2:30 PM | Anusha Rajeswaran


    Celebrate the uniqueness of Oakville through photography! The Oakville Camera Club invites you to submit your photos to the 17th Annual Capture Oakville Photography Competition.

    Categories include Street Photography, People and Portraits, Black and White, Landscapes, Nature & Wildlife, and Exploration. 

    Deadline: Feb 6, 2023 at 11:59pm EST.

    For more information and electronic submissions go to www.captureoakville.com


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Email: bernadette@oakvillearts.com
Mailing address: 2302 Bridge Road, Oakville, ON, L6L 2G6

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