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Oakvillians asked to look west at garden By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Burlington's Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) staff know that Oakvillians can easily look east to Toronto for entertainment. However, they want the people of Oakville to take a look west, as well. To encourage this, the RBG is holding its Oakville Days this weekend (Friday to Saturday). During the three-day event, Oakville residents will get a two-for-one admission. "Oakvillians can look east or they can look west," said Lee Oliver, communications manager at the RBG. "They can look down the road to Toronto, they can look down the road to us for things to do and we want them to look down the road to us. It's that simple." The RBG is a museum of the plant world and nature. It features walking trails and exhibits. "Oakville is just down the road from us. We have 400 Oakville members, we'd like to have 4,000 quite frankly," Oliver said. "It's a great city and we don't have enough of a connection with Oakville so what we've decided to do is a bit of an outreach and see if we can connect a little bit better with Oakville." Oliver said both the municipalities of 33 · Friday, August 6, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com "They can look down the road to Toronto, they can look down the road to us for things to do and we want them to look down the road to us. It's that simple." Lee Oliver, Communications Manager Royal Botanical Gardens Oakville and Burlington worry about environmental awareness with issues such as anti-idling laws and protecting water quality on the lake. "We're on the same page and if we're on the same page it makes sense that Oakville should be connected with us a little more than it is," he said. General admission is $12.50 and there are student, senior and family discounts available. To receive the two-for-one admission just show your identification with an Oakville address. Mayor Rob Burton was expected to kick off the event Friday morning at 10 a.m. Memberships are about $50 for individuals and $90 for families. The RBG is located at 680 Plains Rd. W. For more information visit www.rbg.ca. NIKKI WESLEY/OAKVILLE BEAVER ANNUAL SHOW: The Central Ontario Art Association's Oakville artists Marvin Olson (Red Chicks), Joanne Lucas Warren (Cabin Fever-Lake O'Hara) and Mae Giroux (the large green painting hanging) are displaying their art on the walls in the front foyer of Town Hall. The entire group boasts artists from Hamilton-Niagara, Peel, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo and London. The exhibit is on until Sept. 9. Royal Botanical Gardens to host bonzai exhibit from Aug. 14-15 The Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) in Burlington is hosting the Bonsai exhibit the weekend of Aug. 14, 15. The exhibit is the first invitational bonsai exhibit in Canada and will feature some 60 potted trees, some of which are more than 200 years old. Bonsai is a Japanese word for an ancient art form of growing trees or woody plants in containers. Bonsai trees are often miniatures. The event takes place in the Camilla and Peter Dalglish atrium of the gardens. Entry into the exhibit is included in the price of admission to the gardens, $14.50. There are student and senior discounts available. The RBG is located at 680 Plains Rd. W. For more information about the exhibit, visit www.bonsairbg.com. FREE FAMILY SHOWS SNUGGLES! FIESTA & CARNIVAL! Back by popular demand! It's time to for a family fiesta again with MADERAZ LATIN MUSIC. THE SATURDAY NIGHT Saturday AUGUST 21st, 7:00 pm OLD TIME WAYS SHEESHAM AND LOTUS introduce your children to indigenous cultures using traditional instruments. Saturday SEPTEMBER 25th, 7:00 pm All shows will be held at Town Hall, South Atrium, 1225 Trafalgar Road and are approximately one hour in length. So bring blankets, cushions to sit on and enjoy these shows with the whole family. Spaces are limited! Please call 905-815-2021 and leave your name and number of family members. ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Although these shows are free, a $5 per person donation would be appreciated. HORIZONS: Connie James and Mona Pykala have a joint art exhibit at the Sovereign House titled Horizons. Here, James, right, and Pykala pose with their respective pieces. The show runs until Aug. 11. Sovereign House, 7 West River St., is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 p.m. For more information, visit www.oakvillecentre.ca