33 · Friday, May 21, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com A little history of downtown Oakville Former Professional National Coach for Track and Field in Germany Call for more information and registration 213 Lakeshore Road East Downtown Oakville (905) 339-FOOT (3668) Open Tues.-Sun.|Closed Mon. Downtown Oakville is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ontario. There is something new to try and enjoy around every corner, on any day. However, Downtown Oakville is more than a relaxing atmosphere and soughtafter destination, it is a historic landmark with an interesting past. The Downtown core is home to many historic sites, one of which is the harbour. In 1827, Colonel William Chisholm (1788-1842) bought 960 acres of land from the Crown at the mouth of the Sixteen Mile Creek on Lake Ontario to establish a port, shipbuilding yard, and the village of Oakville. This location gave promise for a centre for trade, commerce, and travel. And so today the harbours of Downtown Oakville remain prominent and remind us of the goals for our town and the man who made a difference, Colonel William Chisholm. Today, the life and exploits of Colonel William Chisholm stand immortalized in Oakville's Erchless Estate. It is a four-acre estate home and gardens set on the shores Erchless Estate of Lake Ontario in Downtown Oakville. The Museum preserves and interprets the town's history through the heritage and home where William Chisholm himself raised a family. Erchless was home to six generations of the Chisholm family over a period of 130 years. Today, visitors to the Oakville Museum can take a guided tour of Erchless, the Chisholm Family Home, (c.1858), which is authentically restored to the elegance of its 1925 appearance. The Erchless Estate is not the only preserve from our town's history. The Custom House, built in 1856 by Robert Kerr Chisholm (1819-1899), holds museum exhibitions and a Pioneer Discovery Gallery for students to enjoy. Other heritage properties such as the Old Post Office and Thomas House are located in Downtown Oakville and stand to signify the birth of our town. The downtown core is not just a seasonal attraction, but a year-round spectacle. It is a productive, active, and central hub of Oakville life all 12 months of the year and no one knows this better then those lucky enough to live along its historic streets. Still standing are the homes dating back to the earliest settlers that make downtown the historic village that it is. Preserved in their glory, these homes tie us to our forbearers and remind us to conserve for the citizens of tomorrow. As Oakville continues to age, downtown will stay a main attraction for all those who visit. The harbours, museums, and historic streets are areas of emphasis within Oakville and reflect where we came from and where we are going. Public Meeting Notice DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE BIA JAZZ FESTIVAL ROAD CLOSURE DATE VENUE ADDRESS May 26, 2010 at 7pm O'Finns Irish Temper 136 Church Street, Oakville, ON L6J 1M9 owned properties by: Driving more traffic to Downtown Oakville, Continuing to build community among members of the Downtown Oakville BIA Enhance organizational efficiency and effectiveness DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE BIA JAZZ FESTIVAL FUNDING SOURCES Downtown Oakville BIA Event Contribution Downtown Oakville BIA Marketing Contribution Corporate Sponsorship In-kind Corporate Sponsorship Province of Ontario Grant Town of Oakville Support Services ***This figure does not include BIA staff resources. BENEFITS TO THE DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE BIA This road closure will become an opportunity for downtown retailers to get more involved with the festival, alleviate extensive set-up-tear down, currently experienced in the past with the two road closures on Friday and Saturday evening, allow businesses to set-up tables on the Lakeshore similar to Midnight Madness to showcase and engage the local jazz attendees and increase revenue opportunities, and open up more programming opportunities for the Jazz Festival. Furthermore, due to the by-laws and regulations surrounding a road closure, parking meters are bagged between 1 to 2 pm in the afternoon on Friday and Saturday. This would change to just Friday afternoon. FINANCIAL IMPACT The Jazz Festival is a significant revenue generator for downtown Oakville, Oakville and the Halton Region and helps the BIA brand the downtown area as a vibrant cultural and shopping destination. The BIA anticipates that the extended road closure will help increase total revenues generated by this event. Comments from the public/businesses shall be submitted to: Town of Oakville Bob deHoog, C.E.T. , Road Corridor Permit Co-ordinator, Engineering & Construction (905) 845-6601 ext 3337 Fax: (905) 338-4159 email: bdehoog@oakville.ca MAP OF ROAD CLOSURE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Additional costs to the BIA $10,000.00 Members of the public are invited to attend and provide input at a public meeting hosted by the Downtown Oakville BIA as directed by the Town of Oakville. PURPOSE The purpose of this meeting will be to inform residents and businesses about the Downtown Oakville BIA's request to close Lakeshore Road from Friday August 6 at 4:30 p.m. thru to Sunday August 8, 2010, to re-open at approximately 2:00 a.m. The public meeting will entail a presentation by BIA staff on the Jazz Festival Committee's plans as well as an opportunity for Q & A, as well as feedback forms to be submitted to Town of Oakville. ADDITIONAL ROAD CLOSURE REQUEST The Downtown Oakville BIA would like to get more downtown retailers involved in this event and feel that the businesses will benefit by way of changing the Road Closure from two evening road closures (Friday and Saturday Night - with the Lakeshore open on Saturday) to one road closure from Friday straight-thru to Sunday at 1:00 a.m. with the Lakeshore re-opening at approximately 2:00 a.m. and that Lakeshore Road would remain open all day on Sunday. HISTORY Over the past years, the Downtown Oakville BIA has hosted the Jazz Festival featuring over twenty-five free concerts over a threeday weekend in downtown Oakville. The Downtown Oakville BIA Jazz Festival is considered one of the premier jazz events in the Greater Toronto Area, and is a key event-marketing product that meets the mandate of the Downtown Oakville BIA to promote and enhance the downtown area and make improvements to municipally $55,000.00 $25,000.00 $51,000.00 $89,500.00 $40,000.00 $10,000.00 $270,500.00 For more information please contact: Downtown Oakville BIA Suzy Godefroy, Manager, Downtown Oakville BIA, r (905) 844-4520 ext. 11 e-mail: suzyg@oakvilledowntown.com Joe Giraldi, Chair, Downtown Oakville BIA, (905) 844-2504 e-mail: joeg@oakvilledowntown.com Joe Diodati, Jazz Festival Chair, Downtown Oakville BIA, (905) 844-1153 email: ejdiodati@rogers.com Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area, 146 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville, Ontario, L6KJ 1H4 (905) 844-4520