The City is inviting Durham Region artists to transform Oshawa’s cultural landscape. The 88 Keys Project, a piano public art project, will see three upright pianos placed throughout the city. The pianos will enhance Oshawa’s vibrancy and culture, and will be available for passersby to play.

Three artists will be selected and each designated an upright piano that, once transformed, will be placed at either City Hall/Civic Square, Northview Community Centre, or the South Oshawa Community Centre. While there is no specific theme set, artists are encouraged to draw inspiration from the surrounding community to transform the piano into a piece of art. Each successful artist will be awarded an honorarium of $1500.00.

"We are looking for artists to bring the three pianos to life visually,” said Councillor Bob Chapman, Chair of the Community Services Committee. "The hope is to have the art fit with the local community and attract people to them where some will bring the ‘88 Keys’ themselves to life."
The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 15. Submitted proposals must meet the following criteria:
• Cover letter (maximum one page)
• Letter of Interest/Design Intent (maximum two pages) that answers the questions laid out in the project outline
• Resume (maximum two pages), including a link to online portfolio (if applicable)
• Examples of past work (maximum five) indicating the style in which the artist would execute the artwork on the piano.

The 88 Keys Project follows the City’s Public Art Policy, and connects to the Culture Counts: Oshawa’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Plan key strategy of “creating vibrant places and spaces.” Originally conceived as part of the Civic Square revitalization project, the pianos will bring as much enjoyment to the eyes as to the ears in their new homes. Recent accomplishments of the Civic Square revitalization project include the addition of new tables, chairs and umbrellas, increased electrical components, the installation of the Culture Counts pinwheel logo and soon, the public art mural designed by Durham College artist Allanah Larsen.

Additional details and submission requirements are available online at: www.oshawa.ca/publicart.

The completed pianos will be unveiled in their new homes in early July of this year.

The City of Oshawa has been recognized by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (F.C.M.) for achieving its greenhouse gas (G.H.G.) reduction goals through the Partners for Climate Protection Program (P.C.P.). The City focused on its corporate plan to reduce its environmental impact, to demonstrate the City’s leadership, to enhance the overall quality of life in our community, to create a culture of conservation within the City, to promote the wise use of energy resources and to save energy costs.

The City exceeded its goal of a 20 per cent reduction in G.H.G. emissions by 2020, and achieved a remarkable 33 per cent from 2007 to 2014.

Now it is the community’s turn. The City’s Energy Conservation Challenge, in partnership with Oshawa P.U.C. Networks and the Oshawa Public Libraries, kicks off on Earth Hour, Saturday, March 19, and runs through to Earth Day on Friday, April 22.

On Saturday, March 19 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Earth Hour, Oshawa households and businesses are encouraged to turn off their lights and non-essential power sources for one hour. The Challenge begins when the lights go back on.

Oshawa residents are invited to submit their tips on how to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions online at www.connectoshawa.ca/EnergyCC or in person at Service Oshawa; the top three tips will be awarded prizes.

“The Energy Conservation Challenge supports the Oshawa Strategic Plan’s goal of environmental responsibility and is a fun way to get the community involved in thinking of how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use,” said Councillor John Aker, Chair of the Development Services Committee.

“Looking beyond Earth Hour, there are several everyday ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Share your tips and ideas on the Connect Oshawa website,” said Councillor Amy McQuaid-England, Council Representative on the Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee.

The Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee, a committee of volunteers that advises Council with respect to certain environmental matters, will review all submitted tips. Gift certificates for Oshawa restaurants, donated by the Oshawa P.U.C. Networks, will be awarded for the top three best tips: $100 (first place), $50 (second place) and $25 (third place).

The Challenge aims to inspire ideas on reducing energy consumption and G.H.G. emissions, provide energy saving incentives and information, and help save money on energy bills.

During the Challenge, energy saving information will be available at all branches of the Oshawa Public Libraries. Additionally, during the month of April, Oshawa P.U.C. Networks will provide coupons for a wide range of energy-efficient products (e.g. L.E.D. bulbs and power bars with integrated timers); the coupons will be available at library branches, Service Oshawa, selected retailers and on the Oshawa P.U.C. Networks website.

The City of Oshawa has demonstrated leadership in achieving its goals to reduce its corporate G.H.G. emissions and energy consumption by:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions at City Hall by over 75 per cent
• Participating in the annual Earth Hour since 2008 by reducing energy use and turning out all non-essential lights at City Hall and other City facilities
• Calling on City staff to reduce energy consumption in the workplace with the staff Energy Conservation Challenge (Earth Hour to Earth Day, 2016)

Visit www.connectoshawa.ca/EnergyCC to participate in the Energy Conservation Challenge.

For energy saving tips, including online coupons for energy-efficient products, visit the Oshawa P.U.C. webpage.

The City of Oshawa recently received the 2015 Healthy Workplace Award for the first time from Durham Region Health Department. Oshawa received silver level of excellence in the areas of cancer screening and mental health and a bronze level in the area of healthy eating.

“We are excited that the City has been recognized for providing a healthy workplace as our employees are the most important asset of the City,” said Mayor Henry.

A healthy workplace makes it easy for employees to be healthy at work and has an environment that is supportive of healthy choices by promoting awareness internally through different avenues.

“Supporting our employees to make healthy choices is a benefit to not only the individual employee but to our entire workforce,” said Councillor Amy McQuaid-England, Chair of the Corporate Services Committee.

Visit the Region of Durham Healthy Workplace webpage for more information.

For the fourth year running, Oshawa’s Peony Festival has earned its place in the Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario (F.E.O.) for 2016. In addition, Woodland Disco and Glowfest, held at Parkwood National Historic Site as part of the Durham Festival, was named the Best New Festival or Event, with a budget of $100,000 or less, which comes as no surprise as the grounds were transformed into a glow-in-the-dark wonderland and was well attended by the community. This is a tremendous honour and accomplishment for the City of Oshawa as F.E.O. recognizes festivals and events in the province that excel within the industry.

“Oshawa staff present some amazing festivals and events and I’m incredibly proud of the work they do to both highlight our city and provide interesting and exciting opportunities for our residents and visitors,” said Councillor Bob Chapman, Chair of the Community Services Committee. “While recognition is not the goal it is great that their work be acknowledged, many thanks for a job well done!”

In 2016, the 12^th annual Peony Festival will take place on Saturday June 11 and Sunday, June 12 in the heart of the beautiful Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens located at 155 Arena Street. Hosted by the City, this free event displays 300 types of peonies in the gardens and attracts over 5,000 visitors. In addition, hundreds of peony blooms are displayed in Children’s Arena for the annual Canadian Peony Society - Ontario Region’s judged Peony Show. Artisans, live music, gardening advice, art competition and photo contest are all part of this remarkable flower festival. For more details about the Peony Festival, visit www.oshawa.ca/peony.

F.E.O. was established in 1987 as the provincial, not-for-profit tourism association devoted to the growth of the festivals and events industry in Ontario. For more information, including the complete listing of 2016 Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario, visitwww.festivalsandeventsontario.ca.

Oshawa City Council has approved the 2016 Operating and Capital budgets. The 2016 City Budget responds to unavoidable cost pressures, balances affordability with the delivery of quality services, and continues to invest in core infrastructure.

The City Budget is founded on the goals of the Oshawa Strategic Plan, Financial Strategy, and Council’s guiding principles of sustainability and financial stewardship. The annual budget is comprised of two components, which are operating and capital.

The operating budget provides funding to deliver efficient and affordable services to the Oshawa community such as snow removal, road maintenance, and fire prevention and response.

Capital represents investments in key strategic priorities for the City’s future and the budget provides funding towards constructing and renewing infrastructure necessary to service the needs of our growing city. This includes building renewal, parks and trails, and road/sidewalk reconstruction, as well as investing in key strategic priorities including completion of Highway 407 East related local road works and Fire Hall No. 6.

The 2016 budget also includes funding for external agencies (including Oshawa Historical Society, Oshawa Public Libraries, Oshawa Senior Citizens Centres, Parkwood Foundation and The Robert McLaughlin Gallery) and financial support for local community groups through the Partnership and Anchor Grant Program.

The budget:

• maintains base levels of services
• addresses volume growth
• provides for inflationary increases
• factors in rising maintenance and utility costs
• reflects the approved park, recreation, planning and engineering fee increases
• includes contributions to reserves to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the City

“This budget confirms Council’s commitment to be fiscally responsible not only for today, but for future generations. The budget process includes input from Council, City staff, and our community. It allows us to objectively maintain our programs, services and infrastructure for today and build our community of tomorrow,” said Oshawa Mayor John Henry.

“As we celebrate the tremendous growth in our community, we also recognize and have planned for the resulting increased demand for services. This budget ensures the same high quality of municipal services to all areas of the City,” said Councillor Nancy Diamond, Chair, Finance Committee. “We continually strive to undertake realistic long term planning while recognizing the requirement to deal with issues such as significant increases in electricity costs. Whether a business, home owner or the City, our challenges are similar. The City of Oshawa strives to meet those challenges in a financially responsible way.”

The City of Oshawa collects property taxes on behalf of the City, Region and School Boards. For every dollar collected, approximately 41 cents is allocated to the Region and 19 cents to local school boards. The City keeps only 40 cents from every tax dollar collected.

The 2016 City Budget includes a tax levy increase of 2.52 percent for residential properties. The Regional Budget includes an increase of 1.65 percent for Oshawa homeowners.

With the 2016 City and Regional budgets approved, this means that a residential property owner with a property assessed at $325,000 will pay an additional $93.24 per year in property taxes on the combined City of Oshawa and Regional portions of their tax bill.

To view the 2016 City Budget, visit our Budget webpage. The City welcomes comments and questions on the City Budget and budget process. Visit www.connectoshawa.ca/2016budget to share your feedback online, email budgets@oshawa.ca or call Finance Services at 905-436-3311.

For updates on the City of Oshawa, visit www.oshawa.ca or follow “OshawaCity” on Twitter and Facebook.

The City of Oshawa has developed a Tenant Information Guide, designed to help tenants in Oshawa understand their rights and responsibilities as renters.

The guide provides information and agency contacts that can assist in ensuring that tenants are being treated fairly under the law and that their rental unit is safe, properly equipped and maintained in compliance with established standards. The information brochure also informs tenants about some relevant City by-laws as well as certain rights included in the Province’s Residential Tenancies Act.

“This a huge step forward in communicating to our residents the rights that they have as tenants and how the city can support safe and healthy housing,” said Councillor Amy McQuaid-England, Chair of the Corporate Services Committee.

The guide is being delivered by Canada Post to multi residential properties and is also available for pick-up at City facilities, Service Oshawa, and local library and seniors branches. It is also available on the City’s website. For more information, visit www.oshawa.ca/tenants