Province-wide stay-at-home order in effect
The Premier of Ontario has declared a province-wide state of emergency and issued a stay-at-home order in response to rising COVID-19 variant infection rates.
Get Active and Creative at Home
Click on the following tabs for fun resources and activities you can do without leaving the house.
Have ideas to share or want to be featured in our weekly social media posts?
Send your links, ideas, videos and more to public.art@oakville.ca for consideration. Please include your social media handle so that we can give you (or the content creator) credit.
Check out our NEW spring cultural programs online. Register now! Classes start soon.
We'll be coming to you live from QEPCCC Studios! Follow along at home to learn a new skill or discover a new passion.
One-time Workshops
- Coil Bowl Clay Sculpting Ages 6-12 on May 15
- Cooking with Kids – Berry and Chocolate Banana Scones on May 16
- Cooking with Kids – Nanaimo Bars on May 30
- Bird Feeder Clay Sculpting Ages 6-12 on June 5
- Cooking with Kids – Giant Cookie for Father’s Day on June 13
Two-class Sessions
- Drawing and Painting Ages 6-12 on May 18 and 25
Ready, Set, Spring! is here...
While COVID-19 continues to challenge us, there's still lots of fun to be had. Ready, Set, Spring! offers unique opportunities to focus on personal wellness through recreation and culture activities.
Check out these great suggestions that fall within the current province-wide stay-at-home order:
- A Fitness Challenge for all ages.
- Oakville Firefighters are reading No Dragons for Tea by Jean E. Pendziwol and Martine Gourbault in various languages.
- Starting April 10, pick up our Take and Make Yarn Octopus kit for a fun family craft that you can enjoy together.
Join our exciting Coffee & Conversation series using Zoom or by telephone.
The next guest in our virtual Coffee & Conversation series will be Tim Speed, an educator at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Join us at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18 for an informative presentation on the development (and cancellation) of the Avro Arrow, as well as the political environment in which it took place.
No internet? No problem. You can join by telephone.
These virtual events are free, however pre-registration is required. Email scww@oakville.ca or call Colborne Centre staff at 905-815-5960 and leave your name and telephone number to get more information.
Online registrants will receive an email 24 hours beforehand with a link to the Zoom presentation.
Register for our next Coffee & Conversation
We see you, hear you, and support you. Every day. No Days Off!
The Recreation and Culture department is collaborating with Kerr Street Mission, YMCA of Oakville, Oakville Public Library, and many more to provide daily virtual engagement via Instagram for Oakville youth.
One post will be shared* daily on our No Days Off Oakville account. Follow us for great activities and suggestions like fun workout sessions, virtual programs and tech for teens.
*Please note that you will need an Instagram account to access this content. It's free to join.
Check out No Days Off Oakville on Instagram
Explore a wide variety of topics with others in our Without Walls phone-based programs.
No special equipment or account needed.
Without Walls (WOW) is a series of free 30 to 60-minute multi-person phone conversations covering various topics, like Travel Talk with George, Vision Health and Wellness, and more.
You do not need to be a member of Oakville Seniors Services to participate. And no special equipment is needed, just a telephone.
Check out the Without Walls program calendar and pre-register for your preferred day(s) now. Morning sessions start at 10 a.m. Monday to Friday. An afternoon session is offered Mondays at 1:30 p.m.
Without Walls calendar and detailsGet social online!
You don't need an account to access most social media posts. But with an account, you can interact with others by sharing your favourite posts, uploading something yourself or leaving a comment.
The Town of Oakville strives to keep you up-to-date and stays in touch with residents and community partners on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Those interested in cultural updates, activities, and engagement are encouraged to visit:
- Oakville Museum’s Facebook and Twitter
- the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) Facebook page, or
- the Oakville Centre’s Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages.
Keeping in touch when you're 50+
Want to connect with other residents ages 50+? Visit the Seniors Centres Facebook page for engaging activities and updates.
Our Phone-A-Friend program continues to be a huge success. We currently have 200+ seniors receiving calls from 55 volunteers. And we have more great news! We have capacity to add more seniors to the roster, so if you know anyone who would appreciate a call, please share and encourage their participation. New friends can call 905-845-6601, press 0 and ask to be added to our Phone-A-Friend call list.
Hey, Oakville Youth!
Stay connected with us on Instagram. We want to hear about what you're doing now and what programming ideas you have for when we re-open!
Cartoon drawing is fun for all ages and abilities!
Grab a pencil, a piece of paper and Zoom in.
Learn how to draw your own characters using basic portraiture and figure drawing techniques in this one-hour program. Each week, a new series of hands-on sketching activities will be introduced and demonstrated by a professional local artist.
Pre-registration required. All family members (ages 6+) participate together and no art experience is necessary.
This class takes place entirely online using the Zoom platform. Visit the Virtual Programs page for more information and tips re: using Zoom.
Check availability and register onlineOutdoor self-guided tours of Erchless Estate
The grounds of Erchless Estate, the elegant family home of the Chisholm family, is ready for you to explore at your leisure! Text panels provide insights and highlights of Oakville history for an outdoor a self-guided tour. Information will be updated from time to time, reflecting special occasions or seasonal changes.
Celebrate Culture Days year-round
Every year, Oakville is an enthusiastic host of Culture Days, a nation-wide celebration of the arts. This year communities across Canada shared their activities online. The Culture Days website it bursting with virtual performances, demos, self-guided tours and so much more!
Move
Dance like no one is watching! Canada's National Ballet School (NBS) wants to share the power of dance and help you find creative ways to keep moving. Suitable for all ages.
Sing
Choir! Choir! Choir! turns the audience into the performers. A song list of popular rock, folk and pop songs, a guitar and two energetic musicians reach out to get everyone singing. Weekly live sing-a-longs from their couch to you on yours through Facebook and YouTube.
Watch
Revisit Canadiana classics like the Log Driver's Waltz or explore films that take a stand on issues of global importance. The National Film Board of Canada's award-winning online Screening Room features over 3,000 films by talented filmmakers including documentaries, animations, experimental films, fiction and interactive works. Enjoy films for all ages, in both French and English.
Tour
Explore galleries around the world with Google Arts & Culture.
Go back in time and visit international exhibitions (now closed) that you may not have had the opportunity to see.
Travel around the world to check out interesting street art or play with creative apps on your phone.
Listen
The National Arts Centre is hosting their Canada Performs series on Facebook Live. Check their page daily for the latest lineup!
Tune in for the NACO Lunch Break every weekday at noon (EDT) when a National Arts Centre Orchestra musician will offer up a unique musical experience via YouTube.
Resources to support the community
COVID-19 community resources and information are available through the Halton Community Services Directory.
Learn how the Town of Oakville is managing the threat of COVID-19.
Stay informed
Visit the Halton Region website before calling 3-1-1 for information on symptoms, prevention and when to contact Halton Region Public Health.
Information is also available on dedicated COVID-19 pages on the Ontario Government and Federal Government websites.
As always, should you have questions about your family’s health, contact a medical practitioner immediately.
Take care of you! Mind, body and soul.
We've introduced new registered online drop-ins via Zoom to help bring recreation and culture to you, wherever you are. Check out our current offerings and book your spot on Active Oakville.
We also have free virtual programs for all ages and abilities that can be accessed via Zoom and by phone. Video recordings of these sessions are later shared on YouTube to enjoy whenever you like.
Please note: While the benefits of physical activity usually outweigh any risks, it is always best to seek specific advice from a medical professional to determine if a new activity is right for you.
Oakville Museum Website
Oakville Museum shares and celebrates the stories of the people, places and communities of Oakville.
History in the Making
We want to document the everyday lives of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Share your stories and help us capture how Oakville is experiencing history in the making. Let’s work together to preserve this chapter of our story for the future generations. Visit our exhibit open call page for details on how to participate.
Oakville Online Collections Portal
Explore the collections of the Oakville Museum, Oakville Trafalgar archive and Oakville's Public Art Collection from the comfort of your own home. Visitors can enjoy virtual exhibits or even create an account and make their own privately curated selections.
Take a virtual tour of Oakville Museum
You can experience Oakville Museum's online virtual tour on desktop, mobile and in 360 VR!
The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Museum Resources, E-Learning, and Online Collections
The Museum Computer Network has assembled a far ranging list of virtual exhibits, VR tours and e-learning resources. All are free and the list keeps growing!
Check out these 3D Tours of Ontario Museums!
Lookslike.ca hosts a site of numerous museums and cultural sites in Ontario for which they have produced high quality VR tours.
Education resources
The following learning outside the classroom resources are available to Oakville students. Please click on the applicable school board link for details.
Halton District School Board
Halton Catholic District School Board
Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud de l'Ontario
Conseil scolaire Viamonde
Oakville Independent Schools
Sheridan College
Ministry of Education Learn at Home
We also encourage you to visit your school website for additional direction on remote learning curriculum.
The Oakville Public Library (OPL) is a great resource for online content. Learn how to access e-books and more using your library card!
Check out their Learning with OPL online resources and virtual programs to support students, and Youth Online. They also offer virtual programs for preschoolers and adults.
Self-guided StoryWalks
OPL is excited to provide fun, self-guided walks based on a selected story. Leisurely stroll a trail and enjoy a tale that unfolds along the way in a safe and socially distanced environment. Scan the QR codes also posted for reading recommendations available at the library.
Kick off your self-guided StoryWalk at:
- Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park located at 2340 Ontario Street
- Tannery Park located at 10 Walker Street, and
- Waterworks Park located at 5 Kerr Street.
Oakville Ready
Intended to support the community in times of weather challenges, OakvilleReady has answered a new call to action – responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. OakvilleReady is working with our partners to create a Virtual Community that helps keep residents engaged while physical distancing.
OakvilleReady hosts webinars on a variety of topics from gardening to cooking, and more. Join them live or check out the library of past webinars available on their website for good tips and helpful advice.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart
Our community partner, Canadian Tire Jumpstart, has created a wonderful resource to help families play from home. See how athletes like Connor McDavid and Hayley Wickenheiser are staying active!
Recreational Respite
The organization Recreational Respite has built an entire team of recreation therapists on the premise that FUN changes behaviour! In light of COVID-19, many therapeutic offerings are now available virtually.
Boots on the Ground
Are you a first responder? Boots on the Ground offers peer support for first responders. You can also access toll free 24/7 peer support by calling 1-833-677-2668.
Jr. NBA
The Jr. NBA posts new basketball drills on their YouTube channel daily. Challenge yourself and sharpen your skills.
Safety for Elementary School Age Children
Elementarysafety.com is a great source for colouring pages, videos and fun activities that reinforce lessons and practices that help keep kids safe.
Play & Learn
Keeping toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners happy can be a challenge. Activities on the Play & Learn website are provided by McMaster University, the University of Toronto and the Province of Ontario to be fun and engaging at each stage.
Connect, Play & Learn Every Day Activity Book
Open the Connect, Play & Learn Every Day Activity Book (PDF) for more than 40 different activities that help young children learn through play. Lots of fun things for kids and their parents to do! Produced by the Our Kids Network Early Years Initiative.
Active for Life
The Active for Life website is bursting with ideas for energetic families!
Check out our Virtual Programs page for online and phone-based activities you can do anywhere.