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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 11, 2015 | 32 Johnston to speak here Tuesday Governor General David Confederation, held a forum Johnston will be visiting at Rideau Hall in Ottawa to Oakville Tuesday, Dec. 15 bring together community to highlight the importance leaders to discuss how Canada of having a coordinated can meet the challenge of community effort in resettling a larger number of welcoming Syrian refugees to refugees. The forum had panel Canada. discussions that highlighted He will be delivering Canada's diversity, inclusion the keynote address at a and volunteerism efforts that dinner held at the Oakville are underway to prepare for the Conference Centre on arrival of the Syrian refugees. Wyecroft Road. The event, He strongly believes that a hosted by the Oakville smart and caring nation is built Community Foundation, in on giving. partnership with the Oakville Tickets to the event cost $75 Chamber of Commerce, Governor General David Johnston each or $600 for a table of eight begins at 5:30 p.m. people. For information on the Earlier this month on Dec. event, visit www.theocf.org or 1, Johnston, the 28th governor general since www.oakvillechamber.com. Time to book New Year's Polar Bear Dip In less than a month, people will plunge into Lake Ontario's chilly waters off Coronation Park to ring in the New Year. The Courage Polar Bear Dip, now in its 31st year, is an annual tradition that raises funds to support World Vision Canada projects. The Jan. 1 event runs 12:30-3 p.m. and features a costume contest, live entertainment and prizes. The dip will take place at 2 p.m. sharp. This year, funds raised have been dedicated to a clean water project in Rwanda. Residents are encouraged to register for $25 and start collecting pledges. With hundreds expected to attend as both participants and spectators, a shuttle bus will pick up passengers at South Oakville Centre, 1515 Rebecca St., beginning at 12:15 p.m., and will make a continuous loop. For information, visit www.polarbeardip.ca