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Follow the updates from Connectoshawa.ca

Follow the updates from Connectoshawa.ca

  • Congratulations to local student Teela, winner of the Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee’s tree contest

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    The Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee (O.E.A.C.) has announced 12-year-old Oshawa student Teela as the winner of its tree contest.

    In fall 2015, the O.E.A.C. invited students between the ages of 10-14 in Durham Region to submit a piece of art, poetry, multi-media, photo or essay that answered the question “What does a tree mean to you?”.

    Teela’s winning entry included a painting and a description of her artwork.

    “To me, a tree is the center of life,” Teela wrote. “In my picture I show a sunrise, meaning that the tree was there supporting life ever since the first sunrise. All the black silhouettes are animals still forming inside a bud on the tree. The coloured ones are animals that had grown in the buds, but once fully grown, the leaves opened up releasing the animals.”

    “Teela’s artwork and words beautifully describe the power that trees have to capture our imagination and enrich our lives,” said Councillor England, O.E.A.C. Council Representative. “Trees provide oxygen for us to breathe, protect us from the summer’s sun and winter’s storms, and give us a safe sanctuary.”

    The O.E.A.C. thanks Veridian Connections which ?has sponsored the tree contest as part of the launch of Veridian for Life.

    The O.E.A.C. is an advisory committee of Council that assists, advises and educates City Council, staff and the community on issues related to the environment. For more information, visit www.oshawa.ca/environmentor call 905-436-3311 ext. 2132.


  • Oshawa hosts World Religion Day

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    Residents are invited to explore a variety of faiths as World Religion Day is celebrated in Oshawa. This free annual event is hosted in a different city each year. This year it will take place at the Northview Community Centre (150 Beatrice St. E., Oshawa) on Sunday, January 17 from 12:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. This year’s event will focus on “Faith, Understanding and Embracing Diversity.” Residents can look forward to exhibits and demonstrations of music, spiritual dance and will feature a variety of religions including:

    · Christianity

    · Islam

    · Judaism

    · Baha’I Faith

    · Hinduism

    · Sikhism

    · Buddhism

    · Zoroastrianism

    · Native Spirituality

    · Unitarianism

    · Jainism


    “Durham Region is home to a wondrous diversity of cultures and ethnic groups, many of whom express their faith as members of the varied religious and faith groups invited to come together on this 10th annual celebratory day of Unity in Diversity in fellowship and prayer. As the host of this year’s World Religion Day gathering, The City of will play a meritorious role towards cultivating a requisite harmony and understanding that naturally evolves from sincere and respectful celebrations of this nature, and which serves to nurture and secure peaceful relations among its participants, the city and Durham Region in general. Attendees will enjoy an enriching and entertaining day”, said Donald Igbokwe, Chair of the Durham Region Multi Faith World Religion Day Committee.

    The Durham MultiFaith World Religion Day Committee has hosted celebrations of World Religion Day on the third Sunday of every January since 1950. Its goal is one of fostering the establishment of interfaith understanding and harmony by emphasizing the common denominators underlying the world’s great religions. To learn more about World Religion Day visit www.wrdd.org.

    For inquiries about faith group participation, please email wrd.durham@gmail.com or contact Donald Igbokwe at 416-848-7420. For updates on the City of Oshawa, visit www.oshawa.ca or follow “OshawaCity” on: Twitter and Facebook.


  • City of Oshawa receives final installment from Ontario’s Ice Storm Assistance Program

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    Oshawa to recoup December 2013 ice storm costs

    The City of Oshawa is pleased to report that the Province of Ontario will be providing the final installment of Oshawa’s request of $1,643,181 from Ontario’s Ice Storm Assistance Program. The $1,071,562 is the second installment from the Ontario government, and follows the $571,619 interim installment the City received in February 2015.


  • Oshawa appoints Ron Diskey as the new Commissioner of Community Services

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    The Corporation of the City of Oshawa is pleased to announce the appointment of Ron Diskey as Commissioner of Community Services, effective immediately.

    “We are very excited to announce Mr. Diskey as the Commissioner of Community Services. We look forward to working with Mr. Diskey in his new capacity as his team continues to advance Oshawa as an amazing city to work, learn, live and play,” said Mayor John Henry.

    Mr. Diskey has been at the City for over 27 years in a variety of roles within the Recreation and Culture Services Branch. Throughout his tenure at the City, Mr. Diskey has demonstrated a strong commitment to customer service as well as cultivated numerous partnerships within the community. Mr. Diskey has also demonstrated his leadership skills through strategic initiatives such as the Arts, Culture and Heritage Study and the Parks, Recreation, Libraries and Culture Facilities Needs Assessment.

    “Mr. Diskey is an experienced and successful leader in municipal government. His collaborative approach, dedication and commitment to teamwork will support the City of Oshawa in realizing its strategic goals,” said Jag Sharma, City Manager. “On behalf of staff, I congratulate Mr. Diskey on his appointment to his new role.”

    Mr. Diskey will oversee four branches that provide a wide range of services to improve the quality of life for Oshawa's residents and visitors: Fire Services; Operations Services; Recreation and Culture Services; and, Strategic and Business Services.

    Mr. Diskey holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Administrative Studies from York University as well as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.


  • Rogers Hometown Hockey comes to Oshawa, Dec. 26 and 27

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    Canada’s ultimate hockey festival is making its way across the country and stopping at Oshawa City Hall for a holiday weekend celebration on Saturday, Dec. 26 (12 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 27 (11 a.m. to approximately 9 p.m.).

    The free hockey-themed weekend will be jam-packed with activities for all ages, including:

    • appearances by NHL on Sportsnet analyst and Stanley Cup winner Glenn Healy, as well as former Maple Leafs favourites Gary Roberts and Darcy Tucker
    • unique interactive experiences – including virtual autographs with NHL players
    • hockey stories delivered by host Ron MacLean
    • Sportsnet Be a Broadcaster
    • Playmobil KidsZone – includes face painting, magazine cover shoot and sign-making
    • McDonald’s® Ball Hockey Rink – includes pick-up games and hockey skills competitions, personalized hockey cards, and free McCafé® coffee
    • local entertainment
    • give-a-ways
    • warming lounge with free hot chocolate

    On Sunday, Ron MacLean will host the broadcast of the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. the New York Islanders game from live on site in Oshawa beginning with a special pre-game show at 5:30 p.m. and an outdoor viewing party. The festival will conclude on Sunday evening at approximately 9 p.m.

    “Oshawa, let’s show our hockey spirit on live national TV. Wear your favourite jersey and come down to City Hall on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. for the live broadcast, give-a-ways and our community stories told to a national audience,” says Oshawa Mayor John Henry.

    Join Oshawa hockey associations at the festivities – Oshawa Church Hockey League (O.C.H.L.), Oshawa Girls Hockey Association (O.G.H.A.), Oshawa Minor Hockey Association (O.M.H.A.) and N.A.S.C. Hockey. Bring a non-perishable food item to support Feed the Need in Durham for the chance to win some great prizes, including a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, Oshawa Generals tickets and more.

    There are plenty of parking options in the downtown during the two-day event.

    Public parking at City parking lots and on-street parking spaces will be available at no charge at the following locations:

    • On-street parking spots in the downtown
    • City parkade on the west side of McMillan Drive (between King and Bond Streets)
    • City parkade on the east side of Centre Street (between King and Bond Streets)
    • City parkade on the east side of Mary Street (between King and Bond Streets)

    Accessible parking is also available at no charge at the following locations:

    • Lot on the north side of City Hall will be designated for accessible parking only on Dec. 26 and Dec. 27 (the lot is on the east side of Centre Street, just south of King Street)
    • Designated on-street parking spots throughout the downtown
    • City parkade on the east side of Centre Street (between King and Bond Streets)

    Leading up to the Hometown Hockey celebrations in Oshawa, local hockey teams have an opportunity to win the ultimate hockey experience as part of the Cheer Like Never Before contest. The video submission deadline for Oshawa teams is Monday, Dec. 21.

    For more information about Rogers Hometown Hockey and the Cheer Like Never Before contest, visit the Hometown Hockey website.

    For more information about the Rogers Hometown Hockey tour stop in Oshawa, visit our webpage or call 905-436-3311.


  • Celebrate the arrival of 2016 at the City of Oshawa’s free family event

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    The City of Oshawa invites residents to ring in the New Year at the Oshawa Celebrates 2016 event on Thursday, December 31. This fun, free, family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Legends Centre (1661 Harmony Road North, just north of Taunton Road).

    Oshawa Celebrates 2016, sponsored by the Oshawa PUC Networks Inc., will feature an action packed evening of free activities, including jumping castles, face painting, crafts, interactive entertainment and more. Complimentary hot chocolate will be available.

    A variety of free leisure swimming and skating options will also be available. Wristbands will be required to participate in the leisure swims and skates, and will be available when the doors open at 5:45 p.m. and handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. The evening will wrap up with a family countdown to the New Year beginning at 8:45 p.m.

    “It’s hard to believe that another year is almost finished and 2016 is just around the corner. City staff have planned another family fun filled evening for New Year’s Eve at Oshawa’s Legends Centre,” said Councillor Bob Chapman, Chair of the Community Services Committee. “There’s something for everyone, so come on out and welcome in 2016 with friends and family and still have time to get home and relax before midnight.”

    For more information about Oshawa Celebrates 2016, visit www.oshawa.ca/events or call 905-436-3311.

    Event parking will be available at the Legends Centre and at the adjacent Maxwell Heights Secondary School. Durham Region Transit (DRT) bus service is available to the Legends Centre. For further DRT information, visit www.durhamregiontransit.com.

  • High school donates Oshawa’s newest public artworks.

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    A plaque dedication ceremony today at the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens celebrated the city’s newest public artworks – steel sculptures created by high school students – and acknowledged the contributions of the artists.

    Students from the manufacturing class at St. Stephen Catholic Secondary School in Bowmanville designed and fabricated three steel mushroom sculptures (each approximately 4 feet in height) over a two-year period.

    The high school donated the sculptures to the City. The public artworks are installed in the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens on the east side of the Oshawa Creek, just north-east of the pedestrian footbridge.

    The City joins other organizations, including the Toronto Zoo, Town of Essex, Gerdau Steel (Whitby) and Harris Rebar (Windsor), who have also acquired sculptures from the school.

    On hand for the plaque dedication ceremony were members of Oshawa City Council, City staff, and students and staff from St. Stephen Catholic Secondary School in Bowmanville.

    “The donation of these mushroom sculptures is a good example of how art can enhance public space and it is a great addition to our Gardens and one I’m sure people will enjoy for years to come,” said Councillor Bob Chapman, Chair of the Community Services Committee. “Many thanks to the students and staff at St. Stephen High School.”

    The City’s Public Art Policy was approved by Council in March 2015 and guides the administration, selection and maintenance of public art in public spaces in Oshawa. The policy applies to any artwork placed in City-owned buildings or spaces, including parks, green spaces, trails, recreation facilities and other municipal buildings, sidewalks and roadways.

    The Public Art Policy was developed under the recommendations of Culture Counts: Oshawa’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Plan. For more information, visit www.oshawa.ca/culturecounts. To stay up-to-date on cultural news in Oshawa, follow @OshawaCulture on Twitter and CultureCountsOshawa on Facebook.

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


  • Oshawa Appoints Jag Sharma as City Manager

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    The Corporation of the City of Oshawa is pleased to announce Jag Sharma, Commissioner of Community Services for the City of Oshawa, has been appointed City Manager, effective Monday, December 7, 2015. The decision was passed following a special meeting of Council on December 2, 2015.

    Mr. Sharma has demonstrated his leadership skills as the Commissioner of the Community Services Department since 2011. He has led a dynamic team which has resulted in accomplishments such as the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games hosted at the General Motors Centre, and strategic plans such as Culture Counts, and the Parks, Recreation, Library and Culture Facility Needs Assessment.

    “It is a pleasure to announce Mr. Sharma as the City Manager. Mr. Sharma has been an asset to the Oshawa Team. We look forward to his continued contributions and innovative thinking that he brings to the City of Oshawa,” said Mayor John Henry. “We would also like to thank Ms. Beverly Hendry for her dedication, leadership and commitment over the past year as she served as Interim City Manager. Ms. Hendry will resume her position as Commissioner of Corporate Services and oversee five branches: Corporate Communications, City Clerk Services, Facilities Management Services, Information Technology Services and Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Services.”

    Prior to joining the City of Oshawa, Mr. Sharma held management positions at Canada Post Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Fujitsu Consulting-Canada, General Motors of Canada, Maple Leaf Foods and Teleflex Energy. Mr. Sharma holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc), Electrical Engineering from General Motors, Engineering and Management Institute and a Masters in Business Administration from Queen’s University. Mr. Sharma also has a wealth of experience in continuous improvement methodologies such as the disciplines of Lean and Six Sigma.

  • Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour Heads to Oshawa for Holiday Weekend Celebration, Dec. 26 & 27

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    It’s a special holiday edition of the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour presented by Scotiabank and Dodge as the weekend hockey celebration makes its way to Oshawa on December 26 & 27. The ultimate hockey festival will feature appearances by NHL on Sportsnet analyst and Stanley Cup winner Glenn Healy, as well as former Maple Leafs favourites Gary Roberts and Darcy Tucker, all alongside Canadian icon Ron MacLean.

    The two-day hockey celebration gets underway Saturday, Dec. 26 at Noon ET in the heart of downtown at City Hall, and concludes Sunday evening following the Rogers Hometown Hockey outdoor viewing party. The game features the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. the New York Islanders, with a special pre-game show hosted live on site by Ron MacLean from the Sportsnet Mobile Studio beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet, alongside co-host Tara Slone.

    The free hockey-themed weekend will feature several new games, activities, live local entertainment and food trucks for the whole family, including:

    • Unique interactive experiences inside the Rogers Share Everything Zone, including virtual autographs with NHL players
    • Scotiabank Community Locker Room - featuring meet and greets with NHL Alumni, interactive games and a Scotia Hockey Club commemorative jersey giveaway for youth 16 and under
    • The Dodge Stow ‘n’ Go Challenge as well as a chance to win a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan and $5,000 for a local minor hockey association
    • Sportsnet Be a Broadcaster - call an NHL game highlight reel alongside Sportsnet Central anchor Evanka Osmak
    • Playmobil KidsZone with new Playmobil NHL hockey toys, face painting, Sportsnet Magazine cover shoot and sign-making
    • McDonald’s® Ball Hockey Rink including pick-up games and hockey skills competitions, personalized hockey cards, as well as free McCafé® brewed coffee on site
    • Free hot chocolate inside The Lodge, with a warming lounge, Adirondack chairs with built in Texture by Next Issue and more

    Location: City Hall, 50 Centre St S, Oshawa

    Saturday, Dec. 26 – Festival open from Noon to 6 p.m. ET

    Sunday, Dec. 27 – Festival opens at 11 a.m. ET and runs through end of Rogers Hometown Hockey outdoor viewing party

    • Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New York Islanders, 5:30 p.m. ET (Sportsnet)


    Rogers Cheer Like Never Before Contest

    Leading up to the celebrations in Oshawa, local hockey teams have an opportunity to win the ultimate hockey experience as part of the Cheer Like Never Before contest.

    Teams can upload a video of their team cheer, with the Top 5 vote-getters invited to take part in the festivities when the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour visits Oshawa on December 26 & 27. The winning team in each town will then be in the running to win the trip of a lifetime, including: a trip to an NHL game, VIP Game Day Experience, and perform their team cheer in an NHL dressing room. For full contest details visit www.hometownhockey.com.

    The Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour presented by Scotiabank and Dodge will roll into 24 communities across Canada this season with a weekend of free outdoor hockey festivities for all ages, culminating in an outdoor viewing party of an NHL game broadcast every Sunday on Sportsnet, with Ron MacLean hosting live on site from the Sportsnet Mobile Studio. Following Oshawa, the tour will visit Thunder Bay, ON on January 2 & 3, 2016 for the 13th of 24 stops. For more tour information visit www.hometownhockey.com.

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  • City of Oshawa Observes National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6

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    The City of Oshawa will observe the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, December 6, 2015.

    The day represents a time to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also a day for communities and individuals to speak out against all forms of violence against women and its impact on victims and their families and friends. Flags on the City’s municipal buildings will fly at half-mast in remembrance and action on violence against women.

    “Violence in any shape or form can never be accepted or justified. It is important that we, as a community make constant efforts to prevent violence and help the survivors of violence,” said Oshawa Mayor John Henry. “

    In 1991, the Parliament of Canada declared December 6th to be the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. It is also an opportunity to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence

    For more information on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, visit www.women.gc.ca.


Page last updated: 31 Oct 2023, 08:44 AM