Parading the Streets

Currently, a small group of volunteers from Walton, Epiphany, and St. Dominic Churches and the with the support of Oakville Hydro, Bronte BIA and the Knights of Columbus, St. Dominic Parish CWL, are collecting winter coats. On Sunday, August 17th, we, with the assistance of the Bronte BIA, will host a Fill The Big Yellow Chair Event at the Bronte Farmer’s Market. If you haven't had the opportunity to declutter or even contemplated the need for new winter coats, hats, gloves, and boots during this pleasant summer weather, there are more opportunities to donate in September.  You can drop off your donations at St. Dominic School on Rebecca and Jones Street. Look for our sign. The collection will take place from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday, September 6, 13, 20, and 27. Last year, we distributed nearly 1,600 coats to over 1,000 individuals (families, individuals, and couples). The need this year will even be greater, as food and rent inflation is diverting limited financial resources awa...

In contrast, there is another post this morning in the Neighbours Facebook group titled “Oakville Must Plan Its Own Future.” This is another missive from residents opposing the development of the Mid-Town Core. This is the second which drew my attention. A week or so ago, it was more of someone somewhere is doing something illegal. In others, there was no proof, just unfounded accusations. Let us examine the recent post, “Oakville Must Plan Its Own Future.” Oakville is not an island; it must adhere to all applicable laws, regulations, and legislation. Under the Canadian Constitution, municipalities do not exist; rather, they are entities of the Provincial Government. This applies not only to Ontario but to every Province. The first Ontario Planning Act was enacted in the early 1930s under Leslie Frost. There is an intriguing connection to Oakville. The author of this legislation that established the foundation of planning in Ontario was Lorne Cumming. His son, Ed, subsequently became a...

Have you ever wondered about the true meaning of Victoria Day? It’s a holiday that’s been around for ages, but its significance has kinda faded over time. Nowadays, it’s more like the unofficial start of summer, with all the festivities and celebrations. This blog post started as a bit of a nostalgic trip down memory lane. I wanted to share my childhood experiences growing up in Bronte during this special weekend. But as I wrote, I realized that this wasn’t just about remembering the “good old days.” It was about understanding how things have changed and how social media has impacted our lives. Growing up, the lead-up to Victoria Day was filled with excitement. It was a long weekend, an extra day off school, which was rare compared to today. We only had a week off at Christmas and four days at Easter, and summer vacation was still months away. Just like today, it was the unofficial start of summer. The weather would warm up, and we’d bring out our bikes, shorts, and organize games of s...

Erchless Estate is historically significant as the home to six generations of the Chisholm family, and from the 1830s to 1910 was the site of Oakville's Customs House. Col. William Chisholm (1788-1842), a prominent Burlington merchant and shipbuilder, purchased the property as part of a 388.5-hectare tract from the Crown in 1827 to establish a port, shipyard and town. In 1977, the Town of Oakville made a significant acquisition by purchasing the house and land situated at the entrance to the Harbour. Since then, these properties have been transformed into the Oakville Museum and public lands, which are now freely accessible to all residents of Oakville. Of utmost importance is the building’s location, which serves as a direct link to the Town’s rich past and extensive history. It embodies an integral part of Oakville’s cultural heritage and identity. Similar to Oakville, Bronte’s history is intrinsically linked to the Lake, 12 Mile Creek, fishing, lumbering, stone hooking, and agri...

I I come from a public policy background.  I have worked with all three levels of government and understand the challenges in making good decisions.  I also understand the degree to which ideology and virtue signalling have moved to the front of the line as opposed to what is right and good policy. Every election has two elements.  The time in which it is held, the problems and challenges, issues of the day, and crisis. Second, are the leadership and platforms of the parties and how they respond. I believe leaders own the wins and the losses.  Harry Truman had a plaque on his desk: “  THE BUCK STOPS HERE.” Leaders run on their record, their background, and history.  Not just selected components; the wins or what looks good, but the whole thing.   Beyond the resume and policy, I look for truth, humility, the ability for self-criticism, to be introspective, and relate to the average person. Most leaders ascend to or are born into an ivory tower.  It...