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Follow the updates from Connectoshawa.ca

Follow the updates from Connectoshawa.ca

  • Launch your festive spirit at Oshawa’s Christmas Tree Lighting - Fri. Nov. 20

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    It's a tradition that began more than 30 years ago, and the City of Oshawa is pleased to once again host the Christmas Tree Lighting with presenting sponsor Oshawa PUC Networks.

    Residents can kick-start their holiday spirit at this annual event that will take place on Friday, November 20 from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at City Hall Civic Square (50 Centre Street South). Our exclusive radio sponsor CKDO Durham’s Classic Hits station will also be kicking off their all Christmas music live from the event.

    “The tree lighting has been a tradition in Oshawa for many years and this year we are bringing it back to our beautiful Civic Square,” said Councillor Bob Chapman, Chair of the Community Services Committee. “Join us for an evening of family fun.”

    Bring the family and enjoy free hot chocolate, see the lighting of the City’s Christmas tree, plus Santa and his elves will be making a special appearance. Make sure you remember to bring your letter to Santa! The Oshawa Civic Band and the O’Neill Choir will provide the sounds of the season with traditional holiday carols and live entertainment will get the whole family dancing. The church bells ringing from St. George’s Memorial Church will bring the evening to a close.

    The City is also excited to welcome some new partners to the event including the Oshawa Community Museum, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, the Livingroom Art Studio and others. Following the event, the McLaughlin Branch of the Oshawa Public Libraries will be hosting an After Party from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. that will feature holiday jazz performed by the Bruce Gorrie Trio and children’s holiday games.

    The City encourages participants to be environmentally conscious by bringing their own hot chocolate mug. Event participants are also asked to bring a non-perishable food item and an unwrapped toy donation for the Stuff the Audi Owasco Toy Drive.

    For more information about the event, visit www.oshawa.ca/events



  • Grade 5 student, Patrick, wins Mayor for a Day contest

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    The City of Oshawa is pleased to announce that the winner of the Mayor for a Day contest is Patrick. Patrick is in Grade 5 and attends a school in Oshawa.

    To celebrate Local Government Week (October 18 – 24, 2015), students in grades 5, 6, and 7 who live or study in Oshawa were invited to participate in the Mayor for a Day contest.

    “Congratulations to Patrick, for being selected as the Mayor for the Day in Oshawa,” said Mayor John Henry. “Municipal government is about caring for our community. Patrick’s winning essay displays his compassion for our community. His kindness is a great example of why the City of Oshawa is the ideal place to live, work and grow.”

    Participants were asked to submit a letter to Oshawa’s Mayor explaining why they would like to be “Mayor for a Day”, and to describe their vision for the future of Oshawa. Patrick’s winning essay is attached.

    On Thursday, November 26, Patrick will be “Mayor of Oshawa for the day” and experience a full agenda, including guided tours of the new Consolidated Operations Depot, Animal Services, an Oshawa Fire Hall, and City Hall with Mayor Henry. He will have lunch at his favourite Oshawa restaurant and wear the Chain of Office.

    “I am confident in the abilities of our next generation of Mayors and Councillors. Thank you to all the students who took the time to share their ideas; and to the schools, teachers and parents who continue to support this initiative. It is important that we engage our youth to learn about the important role local government plays in our communities,” said Mayor John Henry.

    This year’s Local Government Week initiatives invited residents young and old to engage and celebrate. Staff Snapshots featured on the City’s website and social media gave a behind the scenes look into the lives of the Oshawa public servants who support our community on a daily basis, and frequently asked questions regarding City services were made available on the City’s social media accounts this week.

    For more information on Local Government Week and the Mayor for a Day contest, visit the Local Government Week webpage.



  • Film Night: Free admission to award-winning film Revolution on Nov. 12

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    The Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee (O.E.A.C.), in partnership with the Region of Durham and University of Ontario Institute of Technology, invites you to a free showing of the award-winning feature documentary “Revolution” on Thursday, Nov. 12 at the Regent Theatre.

    “Revolution”, by filmmaker Rob Stewart, brings the audience on an adventure 3.5 billion years in the making – from the evolution of life on earth to the revolution underway needed to save it. Filmed over four years in 15 countries, “Revolution” captures some of the most remarkable wildlife spectacles ever recorded. The feature documentary has already won 10 awards at top film festivals around the world.

    The event will start with a Meet and Greet with community leaders and elected officials at 6:30 p.m., followed by a brief presentation by Dr. Stephen Hill, Associate Professor of Environmental and Resource Studies at Trent University. Dr. Hill’s expertise is in understanding policies and actions for preventing climate change. The film screening will begin at 7:45 p.m.

    “This event will provide community members with an opportunity to better understand the implications of climate change, as well as discuss environmental issues with community leaders and elected officials,” said O.E.A.C. Council representative Amy England.

    Admission and refreshments for the film night are free. There will be a cash bar and door prizes, including tickets for the Oshawa Generals. Donations of non-perishable food items would be appreciated.

    The Regent Theatre is located at 50 King St. E. in downtown Oshawa.

    Veridian Connections is a corporate partner for O.E.A.C.’s film event.

    This is the sixth year that O.E.A.C. has offered a fall event focused on the impacts of climate change, and the “Revolution” event is just one of the many community events that the O.E.A.C. hosts throughout the year.

    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/environment.

  • Oshawa named a Smart21 Communities of 2016 by the Intelligent Community Forum

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    The City of Oshawa is proud to announce that they have been selected as a Smart21 Communities of 2016 by the Intelligent Community Forum. This marks the seventh acknowledgment this year that the City has received for its economic development accomplishments.

    “Being recognized as one of the top 21 Smart Communities in the world is a tremendous accomplishment for Oshawa,” said Mayor John Henry. “Having the City acknowledged on the world stage is a testament to the partnerships that have been developed with business, education and other stakeholders who have helped contribute to the city’s revitalization and advancement.”

    The evaluation by the Intelligent Community Forum is based on six Intelligent Community Indicators:

    • Broadband Connectivity;
    • Knowledge Workforce;
    • Innovation;
    • Digital Inclusion;
    • Sustainability; and,
    • Advocacy.

    The Smart21 Communities of 2016 include eight communities from Canada, five communities from Taiwan, two communities from the United States, two communities from Australia, and one community each from Germany, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden. This select group of communities, including Oshawa, will now be in contention for the distinguished designation of Intelligent Community of the Year in June 2016. For more information, visit www.intelligentcommunity.org.

    About Smart21 Communities of 2016 and the Intelligent Community Forum

    The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), headquartered in New York, is a global movement of more than 140 cities, towns and regions. As an international think tank and Foundation, ICF studies and promotes the best practices of the world's Intelligent Communities as they adapt to the new demands and seize the opportunities presented by information and communications technology. To help cities and towns build prosperous economies, solve social problems and enrich local cultures, the ICF conducts research, hosts global events, publishes books, and produces its high-profile annual international awards program. Global leaders, thinkers, and media observers follow and participate in the ongoing global dialogue initiated by the ICF. For more information, go to www.icf-foundation.org.

  • Veterans honoured in northeast Oshawa subdivisions

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    The memory of Oshawa’s war dead and war veterans who have inspired street names in new Oshawa subdivisions were honoured today at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 43. The subdivisions, built by developers The Metrontario Group, Great Gulf, and Tribute Homes, are bounded by Conlin Road East, Townline Road North, Coldstream Drive and Grandview Street North and pay tribute to 15 Oshawa war dead and war veterans.

    “As a retired Army Colonel it was an honour to officiate at a ceremony honouring our war dead and veterans by naming streets after them,” said Councillor Bob Chapman, Chair of the Community Services Committee. “This gesture is only a small way to thank them and their families for their service to our country and community.”
    The ceremony honoured:

    • Badgley, V.D.;
    • Cheesewright, J.D.;
    • Docking, W.J.;
    • Finkle, N.;
    • Fudge, W.J.;
    • Goldsmith, H.F.;
    • Hunking, H.H.H.;
    • Kitchen, G.H.E.;
    • Kurelo, W.;
    • Magee, W.;
    • McCabe, B.;
    • McCabe, D.G.;
    • Salmers, E.;
    • Spencely, M.; and
    • Wallig, J.A.,


    all of whom were active in either World War I or World War II.

    “I am pleased to see the developers who are growing our City choose the names of Oshawa’s war dead and veterans for the street names in our new subdivisions,” said Councillor John Aker, Chair of the Developmental Services Committee. “Honouring these men and women in this way is but a small token of the appreciation we have for the sacrifices they made on our behalf.”

    On hand for the ceremony were members of Oshawa City Council, community dignitaries, members of the families of those honoured, and representatives from Oshawa Veterans’ Associations.

    In 2003, City Council adopted a Street Naming Policy to honour the memory of men and women from Oshawa who served in war or peacekeeping assignments, as part of Canada’s military, by the naming of new streets.

    For additional information about the Street Naming Policy in Memory and Honour of the War Dead and War Veterans, or to submit a nomination, visit Planning Services.
  • Oshawa, show your hockey spirit! Cheer Like Never Before video contest open to local teams

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    The City of Oshawa is calling on the community to show their hockey spirit and cheer like we never have before! Leading up to the Hometown Hockey celebrations in Oshawa, local teams have an opportunity to win the ultimate hockey experience as part of the Cheer Like Never Before contest.

    Local teams playing ice hockey, sledge hockey, field hockey, ball hockey or ringette are invited to upload a video (between 10 to 20 seconds in length) of their team cheer to www.hometownhockey.com/contest. Teams then share their videos and encourage friends, family and fans to vote for their cheer.

    The Top 5 local vote-getters will be invited to take part in the festivities when the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour visits Oshawa on December 26 and 27, 2015. The winning team 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 performing their team cheer in an NHL dressing room.

    “Oshawa is thrilled to be a host community for Canada’s ultimate hockey festival,” said Oshawa Mayor John Henry. “We’re calling on our teams to show their hockey spirit and submit a video of their cheer for the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime hockey experience. Good luck Oshawa teams and start cheering!”

    The video submission deadline for Oshawa is Monday, December 21, 2015. For full contest details, visit www.hometownhockey.com/contest.

    Oshawa is one of 24 communities that will host the 2015-16 Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour. Each stop will deliver a jam-packed weekend of free outdoor festivities that celebrate all things hockey, featuring NHL Alumni and hockey stories delivered by host Ron MacLean. The tour will stop in Oshawa on December 26 and 27, 2015. For more information, visit the Hometown Hockey website or our Hometown Hockey webpage.


  • Downtown Oshawa named Top 100 Neighbourhood for capital growth and investment

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    Downtown Oshawa continues to be an attractive place to invest. Downtown Oshawa was recently named a Top 100 Neighbourhood for investment in Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine’s annual neighbourhood report for 2016.

    In addition to placing in the list of Top 100 Neighbourhoods, Downtown Oshawa was also ranked as one of Canada’s Top 10 Highest Yield Neighbourhoods and as one of the Best Markets for Capital Growth. The full neighbourhood report is available in the magazine’s November/December 2015 issue.

    The report identifies residential markets expected to lead growth in 2016. Canadian Real Estate Wealth used data from The Teranet - National Bank House Price Index™ and industry analysis to form rankings on price appreciation, yield and rental values.

    The results pinpoint locations and property types investors should consider for both short- and long-term growth. Downtown Oshawa was named a top neighbourhood for its “growing economy, developments at its post-secondary campuses and transportation efficiencies.”

    “Downtown Oshawa is undergoing a renaissance and is well positioned for future growth,” said Councillor John Aker, Chair of the Development Services Committee. “Investment in the downtown includes a new hotel and conference centre, new mixed-use apartment developments and the addition of incubation and start-up space for entrepreneurs. More people than ever before are coming to the downtown to study at UOIT’s five university buildings, to work, and to enjoy concerts, sports events and restaurants.”

    The Top 100 Neighbourhood ranking marks the sixth acknowledgment this year that Oshawa has received for its economic development accomplishments. Others include:

    • Top Economic Group – City received an honourable mention as a Top Canadian Economic Development Group (Site Selection magazine, 2015)
    • Real Estate Hot Spot – Oshawa ranks Top 10 for real estate value in Canada (MoneySense magazine, 2015)
    • City of the Future – Oshawa ranks as a top Canadian city in the Top 10 Small American Cities of the Future for 2015 (fDi Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times UK, 2015)
    • Top Economic Developer – Oshawa economic developer recognized as one of North America’s Top 50 (Consult Connect, 2015)
    • Best Place to be a Woman in Canada – Oshawa ranked 10th best city in Canada (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 2015)

    The change that Oshawa is experiencing is undeniable, with a number of major commercial and industrial development projects, growth in post-secondary academia and record-breaking residential construction. Developments underway include:

    • Highway 407 East extension that is under construction
    • Oshawa Centre expansion and renovation project
    • new fire hall and residential subdivisions in the northern area of the city
    • new Holiday Inn Express and Conference Centre in the downtown
    • renovation of the historic Genosha Hotel in the downtown into a mixed-use apartment and commercial building
    • new 12-storey mixed-use building in the downtown with apartments, commercial floor space, underground parking and bike spaces

    Visit the Business & Investment webpage or follow @InvestOshawa on Twitter for up-to-date information on development news, business resources, site selection statistics and more.


  • Grounds Breaks on New Development Downtown

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    Oshawa is changing, and a new private-sector project, officially launched Friday, October 16, is clear evidence of a revitalized city.

    Atria Development, a Toronto-based company, is building a $60 million mixed-use project at 100 Bond St. E. A crane is on site, and work is well underway on the 12-storey structure, which will accommodate 239 upscale rental apartments, along with stores and restaurants at street level.

    “It is the type of development that we want to see. The project will provide a downtown lifestyle in a brand new building, and we want more people living, as well as working, in the city centre,” says Councillor John Aker, Chair of Oshawa’s Development Services Committee. “It will also provide services and places to eat for all the people at the new provincial courthouse next door.”

    Atria principal Hans Jain says the time is right in Oshawa. “All around we see renewal; new shopping, restaurants, cultural amenity spaces, the symphony playing downtown, the GM Centre, so you have a community where people can live, work, shop, and be entertained.”

    This evolution, coupled with low rental vacancy rates of 1.7 per cent and the increasing interest of professionals, young families and empty nesters to live downtown close to work and services, led Atria to launch its ambitious development. A second phase of two towers and 500 more units is planned.

    “It’s probably the best piece of land in the city,” says Jain, pointing to the YMCA facilities next door, the new mall with Costco, a major grocery chain, Panera Bread and other retailers a block away, and convenient access to Oshawa’s new restaurants and cultural offerings.

    For more information on the 100 Bond St. E. development, visit the Atria website.


  • "What does a tree mean to you?" contest for local students

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    The Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee (O.E.A.C.) invites students between the ages of 10-14 in Durham Region to take part in a tree contest.

    Students are encouraged to submit a piece of art, poetry, multi-media, photo or essay (500 words or less) that answers the question “What does a tree mean to you?”; prizes will be awarded for the best submissions.

    “Trees help define our communities. They provide oxygen for us to breathe, protect us from the summer’s sun and winter’s storms, and give us a safe sanctuary,” said Councillor England, O.E.A.C. Council Representative. “This contest provides our students with an opportunity to celebrate the trees that enrich our lives.”

    The O.E.A.C. launched the contest at a tree dedication event at Attersley Park on Saturday, September 26 in support of National Tree Day.

    The deadline for submissions is Friday, November 6. All submissions will be reviewed by members of the Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee, and winners will be announced Monday, November 23. Prizes include a Treetop Eco-Adventure Park prize pack for one student and accompanying parent, and VISA gift cards.

    Submissions can be emailed to treecontest@oshawa.ca or dropped off during regular business hours at Service Oshawa located at City Hall (50 Centre St. S).

    Veridian Connections is a corporate partner for the tree contest.

    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 the webpage or call 905-436-3311 ext. 2132.


  • City of Oshawa to host second annual Cultural Summit

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    The City of Oshawa invites anyone interested in arts, culture and heritage to the annual Cultural Summit to take place on Thursday, October 22 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Arts Resource Centre located at 45 Queen Street (adjacent to City Hall).

    The evening is an opportunity for members of the creative community to meet and learn about arts, cultural and heritage initiatives in Oshawa, share ideas and ignite future collaborations. The City will also provide updates on what has happened to date and what new activities are upcoming under the Culture Counts: Oshawa’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Plan.

    A working group of the Cultural Leadership has incorporated the theme of “Creative Spaces” and all presentations support this topic. Highlights of the 2015 Cultural Summit will include:

    • Keynote speaker: Tom Potocic, Director – Hamilton Supercrawl will be presenting on the success of Hamilton’s Supercrawl
    • Local presentations:
      • Laura Suchan, Executive Director, Oshawa Community Museum and Dr. Helen Haines, Assistant Professor Department of Anthropology, Trent University Durham will present on the success of the archaeological dig on the museum’s grounds;
      • Carla Sinclair, Documentarian, Co-Owner Empty Cup Media will present on her experience directing “Heal Myself” – a documentary; and
      • Donna Raetsen-Kemp, CEO, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery who will present on the Gallery A exhibition space.
    • Local entertainment, refreshments and networking opportunities.

    “Whether you’re creative or just interested in art, cultural or heritage this is an opportunity to learn what Oshawa is doing in those areas and perhaps give us some ideas to look at for enhancement,” said Councillor Bob Chapman Chair of the Community Services Committee. “Please join us on October 22nd for an interesting evening of discussion.”

    Anyone interested in attending the Cultural Summit is asked to R.S.V.P. by Tuesday, October 20 by email or byregistering online using Eventbrite.

    Culture Counts: Oshawa’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Plan includes six strategic directions that provide a framework of strategies and actions. The “strengthen communication within the arts, culture and heritage sector” strategy identified that the City organize an annual Cultural Summit to sustain community engagement in implementing the Plan and to monitor and measure the Plan’s implementation.

    For more information on Culture Counts and the Cultural Summit, visit the webpage or follow #OshSummit on Twitter.

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