The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, December 5, 2013 | 4 Photos & Videos WITH SANTA NOVEMBER 29 ­DECEMBER 24 TUESDAY­FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY, DEC. 23 CHRISTMAS EVE 10AM - 8PM 10AM - 6PM 11AM - 5PM 10AM - 8PM RESERVATIONS ONLY* Your memorable experience with Santa will be captured digitally by photo and video, which you can download, print or send to friends ­ all for free! You're also invited to bring your own camera! Donations will be accepted, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the organization Sleeping Children Around the World. free Time to Dream launches tonight As the Town of Oakville launches the Downtown Plan -- A Time to Dream -- tonight at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, the audience will hear from an expert guest panel. The launch will set the stage for intensive community engagement for the next six months on two studies of Downtown Oakville. The Downtown Cultural Hub Study will explore creation of a downtown cultural and performing arts space including: a performing arts centre, art gallery, library, outdoor program space, and digital space that will become the cultural, social, and economic heart of the community. The Downtown Transportation and Streetscape Study will improve downtown streets, pedestrian and cycle ways, and the Towne Square to increase connectivity, mobility and accessibility. The Downtown Plan launch is set to begin at 7 p.m. Panel speakers will address how culture, urban design, accessibility and commerce can take a community to new heights. They will answer questions from Oakville Mayor Rob Burton and the audience. "This is a great opportunity for residents and business owners to share their vision for our downtown core and to interact with professionals that have implemented similar plans across the country and the world," Burton said. Two panelists, Joe Berridge and Anne McIlroy, are the lead consultants on the two studies -- Downtown Cultural Hub Study and Downtown Transportation and Streetscape Study, respectively. Berridge, a partner at Urban Strategies Inc., has had an integral role in some of the largest and most complex urban regeneration projects in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and Asia. He was an advisor on the development of World Financial Center in New York and Canary Wharf in London and a master planner for the waterfronts of Toronto, Singapore, Cork, Ireland, London's East Docklands, San Juan, Puerto Rico and New York City's Governors Island. He has prepared campus master plans for the University of Waterloo and Western University -- and helped see Experts on p.16 PAWS & CLAUS PET PHOTOS DECEMBER 2, 9 & 16 2PM ­ 8PM RESERVATIONS REQUIRED* All four-legged furry friends are invited to have a free photo taken with Santa. Donations will be accepted with 100% of proceeds benefitting the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. *Space is limited. In-person reservations only, booked on a first come, first served basis. Visit Guest Services to reserve your time slot. Visit OAKVILLEPLACE.COM for more information.