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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, May 16, 2013 | 10 BIA still seeking Canada Day party sponsors continued from p.1 in 2011 and $20,000 in 2012. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton has previously stated the Town came to the aid of the Bronte BIA when it needed help paying for the celebration, but with the understanding that the assistance would not be permanent. "Council and I are very pleased with the way the Bronte BIA and its Canada Day celebration has developed, and when we did the Town budget last year, we felt they had gotten to the point where we could step back and let them fly on their own," said Burton. The 2012 event featured the traditional evening fireworks display off Bronte Pier, a vendor village, the Kinsmen Beer & Burger Garden, a Safari Science reptile show and musical performances. In Westjet's recent Best Festivals Contest, Oakville's Canada Day celebration was ranked the sixth best event across Ontario and the 25th best in Canada. In 2011, the Bronte BIA reported the event drew an estimated 50,000 people. With this increase in notoriety and size, however, comes increased budgetary pressures, particularly in the area of safety with fireworks, traffic control, road closures, etc. To keep the event running, Sargent said the Bronte BIA has had to undertake some cost cutting measures, but insisted the downsizing would not be in areas that would diminish the look or feel of the celebration. "The event is going to be a success. We know it is going to be a success now ," said Sargent. "Every extra bit that comes in helps defray the cost from the BIA's operating budget. Anything else in sponsorship is going to go toward the event directly." Sparks recently flew over funding for the Bronte BIA Canada Day celebration when Young sent e-mails to constituents in which he blasted Burton for `arbitrarily' pulling the Town's funding for the event. Young characterized the action as undemocratic, claiming it was not debated publicly , alleged Burton has a special $50,000 budget allowing him to fund events he chooses, and asked residents to write the mayor and demand the The event is going to be a success. We know it is going to be a success now. Every extra bit that comes in helps defray the cost from the BIA's operating budget. Anything else in sponsorship is going to go toward the event directly. Bronte BIA executive director Ann Sargent issue of a Town contribution towards Canada Day celebrations be brought before council for a proper vote. "I felt I had to defend Canada Day in Oakville," said Young. "If the Member of Federal Parliament doesn't defend Canada Day , who will?" Burton dismissed all the claims and said the matter has already been before council twice and stated he does not have such a fund. "All funds in Oakville are appropriated by council in a publicly-conducted budget process," he said. Burton said council is continuing to support the Canada Day celebration to the tune of $25,000 for fireworks. These funds, he said, were not taken from the general tax levy -- which all businesses and residents pay -- but the levy paid just by Bronte BIA members. "The reason council preferred to put that levy on the members of the BIA instead of on the general (tax levy) was because when you put it on the general (tax bill), the other BIAs are subsidizing the event conducted by one of their competitors," said Burton. "It seemed to council it was fairer to do it that way." Sargent is continuing to look for sponsors so the Canada Day event can remain free to all those who attend. Anyone interested can contact Sargent at 905825-3258 or e-mail her at asargent@brontevillage. net. With a new year comes a new location and new beneficiary for the fourth annual culinary event, Oakville Taste. This year art invades Oakville as Oakville Taste shows off everything with an artistic twist and encourages sponsors, exhibitors and attendees to let their inner artist out and indulge every one of their senses. Smell the food and flowers, touch the sponsor exhibits, see and taste the food presentations while you sip and savour your way through over 24 food and beverage stations. What began in 2010 as a casual backyard conversation between husband and wife has grown into one of the most anticipated culinary events for local food enthusiasts. Dave and Noreen Higgins saw the natural connection between food and community and, with the help of a number of local sponsors, were able to create an event that allowed restaurants and caterers to dish up some of their best food alongside local breweries, distillers and wineries. Last year the event showcased a dozen local restaurants and caterers at Appleby College. This year that number has doubled and even includes local food expert, caterer and award winning author Nadine Hughes. With a new local charity selected each year, Oakville Taste has raised almost fifty thousand dollars to date for charitable organizations in the community. This year's beneficiary is The Oakville Galleries "Art for All" initiative that sees to it that children of all economic backgrounds have access to highquality art education. With this program, lowincome families have free access to the Galleries' Oakville Galleries Hosts This Year's Oakville Taste FROM PALATE TO PALETTE Oakville Taste takes place on Sunday, May 26th from 3pm-7pm at Oakville Galleries in Gairloch Gardens at 1306 Lakeshore Rd. East. Tickets can be purchased online at www.oakvilletaste.com and at the gallery. Early Bird pricing runs until May 14th After May 14th, tickets will be $85 each with a special group rate of a book of10 for $650. Junior Taste tickets are $35. full range of art classes, camps, PA day programs, after-school and Saturday morning workshops and more. Studies have shown that not only does childhood involvement with art programs help create lifelong relationships with art and culture but that early art education encourages problem solving, critical thinking and collaboration skills. "These are benefits we believe all young people should have access to. With the proceeds of Oakville Taste 2013, we will be able to ensure hundreds of local children are provided with the kind of enriching art experiences that will impact them for years to come. We could not be more grateful for this support from Oakville Taste." Says Gallery Director Matthew Hyland. Like art, food is a passion that people tend to share with one another and so it seemed like a natural step to showcase Oakville's culinary talent in its very own contemporary art gallery while raising funds for their art education programs. The very process of creating food--combining textures, flavours, scents and colours--is artistic and creative. In this event chefs and mixologists show that they deserve a place at the table with painters, sculptors, photographers and performers as they artfully dish out samples of their own creation. Also new this is year is the very first Junior Taste where, with the purchase of a regular priced ticket, parents can purchase tickets for a special Food/Art camp run by the Oakville Galleries art instructors for kids 5-12 years of age that will run at the same time as the event in the Studio Cottage and includes lunch from Whole Foods.