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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, May 1, 2014 | 16 Oakville marks National Youth Week with free events by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff A beach party swim, dodgeball tournament, skateboarding competition and carnival games are just a few free activities in store for those aged 1119 as National Youth Week celebrations are held May 1-7. "The Town offers a wide variety of facilities and parks for young residents to enjoy sports, art and cultural events, or just have fun with friends," said Mayor Rob Burton in a press release. Events include: · an open house at all three Oakville youth centres from 4-6 p.m. today (Thursday) · Discover the Ridge at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre, 1051 Glenashton Dr., from 7-10 p.m., featuring gym games, crafts, cartoonists and beach party swim tomorrow (Friday) · a dodgeball tournament at Glen Abbey Community Centre, 1415 Third Line, from 7-10 p.m. Friday (May 2) · a skateboard competition and urban art design workshop at Kinoak Arena, 363 Warminster Dr., at noon Saturday (May 3) · Tune Up Music Night featuring local bands and singers at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) Black Box Theatre, 2302 Bridge Rd., from 7-10 p.m. Saturday. Free with a Youth Week Passport or $6 per person · a youth fair at QEPCCC from 1-4 p.m. featuring a barbecue, carnival games and music Sunday (May 4) · a drop-in basketball game at Glen Abbey Community Centre from 4:30-10 p.m. and Youth Artz at all Oakville youth centres from 4-8 p.m., both Monday (May 5) · Skateboarding at Iroquois Ridge, Glen Abbey and Shell Park from 4-6 p.m. Outdoor activities at Bronte and Queen Elizabeth Park youth centres from 4-6 p.m. all on Tuesday, May 6 · a Youth Week Wrap-up Party at all Oakville youth centres takes place from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 7 A full listing can be found online at www.oakville.ca/culturerec/ programs-youth.html. Age restrictions may apply to some events. A Youth Week passport and event schedule is available for pick up at any of Oakville's youth centre at 2296 Lakeshore Rd. W., 177 Cross Ave. and 2302 Bridge Rd. They're also available at the community centres. Youths are encouraged to attend as many events as possible and collect at least five stamps on their passport for a chance to win a $300 gift card. Additional prizes will be awarded at selected events. In addition to the scheduled events, Oakville secondary school students will have free access to the fitness centres at Iroquois Ridge, Glen Abbey and River Oaks community centres during Youth Week. Students must be at least 14 years old and have a valid school identification card. Other perks include free Oakville Transit tickets for youth who need transportation assistance to get to and from Youth Week events. Tickets are available at the youth centres. Grandmothers pumping up to Turn the Tide Halton grandmothers want the community to get pumped up for the fifth annual Stride to Turn the Tide Walk. Members of local grandmothers' groups support, through the Stephen Lewis Foundation, grandmothers raising grandchildren in Africa, who have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Locally, Oomama, Bronte Grandmothers for Africa, Ubuntu Grandmothers and Blooms for Africa are hosting a pre-stride pump-up party at the Kensington by Revera, 25 Lakeshore Rd. W., on Thursday, May 8. Running from 6-9 p.m., the event features guest speaker Yasmin Mussa. Mussa is the grandmothers' campaign officer for the Stephen Lewis Foundation and will share her recent experiences in Africa and describe the work being done there by the foundation. The cost to attend is $10 and includes appetizers, desserts and a glass of wine. Tickets are available by contacting any of the participating groups or Wendy Belcher at 905-844-4194 or wendypan@usa.net. Proceeds from the event support the Stride, which takes place on Saturday, June 7. Grandmother groups across Canada will be walking for the grandmothers of Africa who are helping to raise the 16 million AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. In the first four years of the Stride, Canadian grandmothers and grandothers have raised $1.3 million. For more information, visit www. grandmotherscampaign.org/events/ national-events/stride-to-turn-thetide. MEMBERSHIP CARD Ladies Out Laughing to get the last laugh on cancer Seventh annual event set for Friday, May 9 at the OE Conference Centre 100 per cent volunteer-driven by passionate Oakville women who are determined to make a difference in the fight against cancer," stated a press release. This year's event supports the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and the Tour for Kids, which raises funds for children's cancer camps and family-support programs. Last year, LOL became a supporter of the Oakville-based Wellspring Halton-Peel, which provides a wide range of cancer-support programs. This year's comedy night will feature Laurie Elliot as emcee and headlining comedian Debra DiGiovanni. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Operating Engineers' Conference The saying goes laughter is good for your health. The seventh annual Ladies Out Laughing (LOL) fundraising event on May 9 hopes the chuckles will raise enough money all the way to a cure for cancer. The event has fundraised more than $190,000 since its inception in 2008. "Ladies Out Laughing is proudly and Banquet Centre, 2245 Speers Rd. -- the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $75 -- individual and tables of 10 are available -- and includes a gift bag, photos by Snapshot Photobooth, and complimentary snacks and dessert. To purchase tickets or for more information, email contact@ ladiesoutlaughing.ca or visit www. ladiesoutlaughing.ca.