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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 2, 20 20 | 10 It's in your hands. Make sure your favourite business or professional is nominated for the Oakville Beaver's 2020 Readers' Choice Awards. The Oakville Beaver Readers' Choice Awards were created so you can tell us which local businesses and service providers are the best at what they do. Once the nominations close on July 26, 2020, the nominees will be shortlisted and you will have the chance to vote for your favourite. Help make your favourite local business become a Oakville Beaver Readers' Choice. NomiNatioNs NowopeN Start nominating now at insidehalton.com/oBRC Oakville's mayor and mem- bers of council are encouraging residents to shop and dine local as more businesses reopen. The Halton Region officially entered Stage 2 of the province's reopening framework on Friday, June 19. This stage permits the open- ing of restaurant patios, hair sa- lons and barber shops, shopping malls and markets. Mayor Rob Burton and sever- al members of council were in downtown Oakville just after midnight on Friday to experi- ence the first patio reopenings of the season. "After three months, many Oakville businesses will be able to reopen tonight at 12:01 a.m., and welcome customers back to patios, stores and services," said Burton earlier that day. "I, along with members of council will be out, visiting pati- os and safely and responsibly celebrating their return to busi- ness. I hope you will, in the near future, do the same, when youfuture, do the same, when youf feel comfortable with it."feel comfortable with it."f Town staff said local busi- nesses have been busy imple- menting measures to welcome patrons back in a way that pro- tects the health and safety of res- idents and staff. Burton noted the Mayor's Economic Task Force also pre- pared for this moment by sup- porting local businesses through the launch of a patio program, which allows restau- rants to register for use of adja- cent town land so they can ex- pand their patios. This initiative permits the restaurant to seat more custom- ers while still observing social distancing rules. The mayor said the task force is also helping businesses through implementing free parking in municipal lots and on-street parking in commercial districts, deferred property tax payments for local businesses, extending business licenses that required renewal and advocat- ing on behalf of local businesses. "Like our businesses, the town has been actively prepar- ing our commercial districts for the lifting of provincial restric- tions," said Burton. "I encourage residents to sup- port local businesses in a safe and responsible way." Residents can visit the prov- ince's reopening Ontario web page for a full listing of the busi- nesses permitted to open under Stage 2. Town staff noted that while some local businesses may have been given the green light to re- open, they may have their own timelines, modified hours and guidelines, such as a reservation only policy for patios. Residents are encouraged to contact individual businesses for specific details.for specific details.f Town staff area are also re- minding the public to continue to follow proper health precau- tions, including the use of face coverings, hand sanitizer, and practicing physical distancing. For more information about the work of the Mayor's Econom- ic Task Force visit investoakvil- le.ca. MAYOR CALLING ON RESIDENTS TO SHOP LOCAL AS BUSINESSES REOPEN Oakville Mayor Rob Burton and councillors Dave Gittings, Pavan Parmar and Sean O'Meara attend one of the first restaurant patio openings in town shortly after midnight on June 19. Pavan Parmar Twitter photo. DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com NEWS