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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, December 11, 2013 | 8 Time to do urgent and important work: Mayor continued from p.1 Once the roadwork is complete, the chance to reimagine the downtown would not come again for another 50 years, Burton explained. "Right now, Downtown Oakville is a more vibrant, cultural and commercial area than it has ever been," said Burton. "Now, can it stay successful? Can it be more successful? These are the questions that we have the opportunity to answer. We must ensure it continues to be a place that inspires us, connects us, protects our past and provides for our future." Burton noted no redevelopment ideas have been set in stone and there will be intense community engagement in the shaping of the Downtown Plan, which is comprised of two studies. The Downtown Cultural Hub Study will explore opportunities to create a downtown cultural and performing arts space, including: a performing arts centre, art gallery, library, outdoor program space, and digital space -- all intended to become the cultural, social and economic heart of the community. The Downtown Transportation and Streetscape Study is expected to improve downtown streets, pedestrian and cycle ways, and the Towne Square by introducing a cohesive look and feel, while increasing "connectivity, mobility and accessibility." The evening began with each member of the panel being asked to provide three words to describe what makes a good downtown. Joe Berridge, a partner with Urban Strategies Inc., weighed in with "People, walking, and food." Anne McIlroy, a principal at the firm Brook McIlroy said, "Memorable, flexible and eclectic." The panel then answered a variety of questions, which ranged from, `What is it gotaurants and a grand theatre in Picton, Ont., has gone a long way to creating a cultural life in that community's downtown. Berridge said Guelph's River Run performing arts centre has also been a great success, creating that city's downtown nightlife and drumming up business for local restaurants. The successful cultural hubs, he noted, pull people in from the surrounding area to the benefit of the downtown. McIlroy said in the best downtowns, new culture and new abilities in architecture and new technologies can be introduced strategically and layered over time so they can fit with the historical feel of the area. John Bowker, vice-chair and chair of beautification for Toronto's Roncesvalles Village BIA, talked about the revitalization of that downtown. He said the reconstruction of the downtown streetscape, which didn't cost a huge amount of money, has resulted in increased business for merchants. Some of the changes included better facilities for the planting of street trees, decorative paving tiles along widened sidewalks and patios set up at TTC stops to turn the areas into neighbourhood hubs. While Roncesvalles endured around two years of street reconstruction, Bowker maintained it was worth it. "There is a light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "It did make a difference. Business is way up. The amount of money being spent is way up. This has been enormous for Roncesvalles." Bowker pointed out since the reconstruction, Roncesvalles has hosted a Polish festival, which attracts 250,000 people annually. see Discovering on p.10 Oakville Mayor Rob Burton speaks at the official launch of the Downtown Plan, A Time to Dream, at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Thursday. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or www.facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) ing to take to make a strong cultural hub?' to `How do we incorporate good design and function into an area that is predominately historical?' Berridge said enthusiasm from a lot of people is the key ingredient as new and improved facilities are not built unless the community and political leaders make them happen. He noted the combination of really good food, great res- Global, Henckel, Victorinox Professional Chef's Knives M.S.R.P. "Where the Professionals Shop!" · "We also sharpen knives" 4391-12 Harvester Road, Burlington, ON L7L 4X1 Tel: 905.637.8428 · info@haltonfoodequipment.ca website: haltonfoodequipment.ca Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm 25% Off SEXUAL ASSAULT & VIOLENCE INTERVENTION SERVICES (SAVIS) OF HALTON · Free anti-violence presentations to businesses/associations/schools · Free confidential counselling · Free 24-hour support line - anyone may call: 905.875.1555 905.825.3622 · Toll free: 877.268.8416 · www.savisofhalton.org www.oakville.ca Notice of Nominations for Town of Oakville 2014 Municipal Election ­ October 27, 2014 Nominations open January 2 to September 12, 2014 Nominations will be accepted for the offices of: · Mayor · Councillors (Local and Regional) · Trustees, Halton District School Board · Trustees, Halton Catholic District School Board · Trustee, Conseil scolaire Viamonde (Nomination forms to be filed with the City of Hamilton) · Trustee, Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud · Regional Chair (Nomination forms to be filed with the Regional Municipality of Halton) Nominations, on the prescribed form, may be filed at the Town of Oakville Clerk's department, 1225 Trafalgar Road, from January 2, 2014 to September 11, 2014, during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), and on Nomination Day September 12, 2014, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The term of elected office will be from December 1, 2014, to November 30, 2018. Under Section 29(1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 ­ "A person may be nominated for an office only if, as of the day the person is nominated: a) he or she is qualified to hold that office under the Act that creates it; and b) he or she is not ineligible under this or any other Act or otherwise prohibited by law to be nominated for or to hold the office." Nomination and the required Declaration of Qualification forms will be available in the Clerk's department or on the Town website on or before January 2, 2014. The following must be provided at the time of submission: · A completed nomination paper · A declaration of qualification by the candidate · The prescribed filing fee in cash, certified cheque or money order payable to the Town of Oakville, in the amount of $200 for the office of Mayor, or $100 for all other offices · Candidate identification (Driver's Licence or other government issued photo identification) Please note: A person who proposes to be a candidate may not accept contributions for election purposes, or incur expenses, until that person has filed a nomination paper with the Town Clerk. For further information as to filing requirements, please visit the Town of Oakville website at www.oakville.ca or contact the Clerk's department at 905-815-6030. La version Française de cet avis est affichée sur le site Web de la Ville d'Oakville et peut également être obtenue auprès du Bureau de la secrétaire municipale dont l'adresse et le numéro de téléphone sont indiqués ci-dessus. Cathie Best, Town Clerk