It’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: Bonnie Glass – Wearable Art Show Bronte Historical Society Carlene Ling aka Vanda Li Grant Foster Margaret Catley Marie Decker Oakville Symphony Orchestra Steve Bysouth Sybil Rampen Oakville Festivals of Film and Art (OFFA) 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

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.

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

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.com. Registration Closes Friday, 3 March 2023

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

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

Join us as the Oakville Symphony celebrates a new season under the leadership of a new music director. Enjoy the Canadian premiere of Pivot, a lively short piece by English composer Anna Clyne.

In true celebratory fashion, we revel in the majestic strains of the last symphony ever written by Franz Joseph Haydn, No. 104 — the noble London Symphony. We welcome brilliant Anglo-Canadian cellist Paul Marleyn back to the stage to perform Elgar’s beautifully elegiac Cello Concerto in E minor. 

Date: Saturday November 5th, 7:30 - 9:30pm

Venue: Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, 130 Navy Street, Oakville Ontario L6J 2Z4

For tickets, visit www.oakvillecentre.ca/tickets

Enjoy the many benefits of creating soothing natural salves from botanicals and herbs in a half-day retreat, Soothing the Senses, presented by Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre. You will be immersed in a community circle, learn about abhyanga massage and make your own massage oil.

This massage oil is encouraged to be used every morning before you shower. It is a beautiful daily ritual to soothe you during the wintertime. Surrender into a restorative yoga practice, followed by deep meditation. You will create and take home a salve and massage oil.

Date: Sunday November 20th, 1 - 5pm

Venue: Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre, 1086 Burnhamthorpe Rd E, Oakville, ON L6H7B2 

For registration, visit www.joshuacreekarts.com

Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre presents Felting Spirit Guides with Steven Botelho. Join needle felting artist Steven Botelho for this 6-week workshop as you work step by step with him on this immersive and heartfelt course.

You will be guided in the delicate process of working with various wools and materials to create your own Spirit Buck which embodies leadership, virility, grace and regeneration.

Date: September 30th - November 4th, 2022 from 9:30am - 12pm

Venue: Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre, 1086 Burnhamthorpe Rd E, Oakville, ON L6H7B2

For registration, visit www.joshuacreekarts.com

The Eden Mills Writers’ Festival showcases the very best of Canadian writing in the beautiful village of Eden Mills. The main event will be held on September 11th, 2022 from 12 - 6pm. Come discover your new favourite author in an idyllic outdoor setting!

This Festival has something for everyone. Enjoy fiction writers, poets, young adult authors and a special children’s area with children’s authors and entertainers. 

Festival dates: September 9 - 11, 2022

Main event: September 11, 2022. 12 - 6pm

For tickets visit edenmillswritersfestival.ca