Virtual Recreation Programs

Mondays

Get Healthy and Stay Balanced with Dyanne Dumas at 10 a.m. (60 minutes)

Enjoy the knowledge shared by health enthusiast Dyanne Dumas. This program includes information about healthy life choices with live food demos and more. Each week will cover a new topic with tips and strategies to help you live your best.

Instructor Bio: Dyanne Dumas is an accomplished musician who graduated from the Royal Conservatory of a music with an A.R.C.T. in Voice and Piano. Her unique ability to teach others with passion, patience and a sense of humour has been a success throughout the past two decades.

In addition to her musical career Dyanne is passionate about Health and Wellness. She became a Health Minister in 2014 and a Raw Food Chef in 2016.

Get tips about healthy living from Dyanne. New advice is shared every week.

Travels with George Sanford at 3 p.m. (60 minutes)

Seeing and hearing about the cities and arts of the cities of the world. Join this gifted, articulate presenter as he takes you around the world, right from the comfort of home. Take a journey with George each week.

Instructor Bio: George has been involved in all aspects of the arts since the age of nine. He has taught at all grade levels and has been around the world giving tours. George has an education that permits him to have a large perspective.

Explore the sights and sounds of beautiful cities like Prague with George. We'll have a different destination weekly.

Tuesdays

Live….with Julie Pennal & Nicole Wedgerfield at 1:30 p.m. (30 minutes)

Join the Colborne team for an interactive chat where you never know what’s going to happen! Live cooking demos, book and movie reviews, a painting class, special guests or a coffee and catch up. Be there or be square.

Instructor Bios: Julie loves all things cooking, crafting and entertaining. A lover of travel, small dogs, books and tacos!

Nicole loves painting, creating, and travel. A lover of baking, big dogs, and chocolate!

Missed one of our chats? We post earlier conversations with Julie, Nicole and guests on YouTube.

Wednesdays

Art All Around Us with George Sanford at 1:30 p.m. (60 minutes)

Come and enjoy weekly presentations from a brilliant presenter as you see and hear about the great composers and artists of the world. A unique story-telling opportunity available to Oakville residents.

Instructor Bio: George has been involved in all aspects of the arts since the age of nine. He has taught at all grade levels and has been around the world giving tours. George has an education that permits him to have a large perspective.

Check out George's talk about the works and worlds of composers like deBussey, Tissot and other painters, etc. Join us every week for more.

For the Love of Cooking with Chef Laura Strath at 7 p.m. (45 minutes)

Make every meal, treat or snack a successful one by attending this session, watching the demonstrations and asking questions!

Join us for a fun, lively discussion and take away some handy tips that you can apply in your own kitchen right away. Each week will feature a new topic.

Instructor Bio: Chef Laura Strath is bursting with cooking and baking knowledge. With a Red Seal certification in Pastry and Baking Arts, she loves to share recipes, discuss useful kitchen tools, and demonstrate cooking techniques.

Make an apple pie with Laura. Click on the heading that follows for recipes and links to Laura's demos on YouTube.

Thursdays

Chair Yoga for Everybody with Kristeen Sopeju at 10 a.m. (40 minutes)

Great for all levels! Join this class to move the body with slow focused movements. Increase circulation, move muscles that may feel sore, reduce stress. Benefit from a great healthy stretch in the comforts of your own home.

With an emphasis on breathing, participants are able to remain seated and engage the whole body during this class. Makes a great class for everyone!

Instructor Bio: Kristeen is a movement and mindfulness educator. She believes there is a deep connection between the practices of mindfulness, yoga, and living a life of joy and peace. She teaches yoga that is uplifting while working to bring balance to one's body and mind.

Try Chair Yoga with Kristeen. New tips and routines every week.

Community Corner with Nabeel Rahman & Daniel Ridsdale at Noon (30 minutes)

Join Nabeel and Daniel for a weekly dive into community issues, events, organizations, and services. The town’s Community Development Specialist host this weekly discussion to help residents, and themselves, better understand the community landscape of Oakville. Community discussion is always welcome!

Instructor Bios: Nabeel is a TEDx speaker, social worker, and one-half of the town’s community development team. Nabeel offers a critical perspective on all matters of the community – including the best spots to eat.

Daniel is a critical youth worker, grant guru, and one-half of the town’s community development team. It’s hard to know if Daniel was ever actually cool, but we give him credit for still trying – really, really hard.

Each week the boys will unpack and explore Oakville in a unique and engaging discussion, examining social concerns like COVID-19's impact on inclusion.

Fridays

Mindfulness and Gratitude with Kristeen Sopeju at 9 a.m. (45 minutes)

Join Kristeen for a “feel good” 45-minutes, packed with information/tips and a Mindful Practice focusing on gratitude. Gratitude helps us to adopt a more positive mindset thereby affecting both the mind and the body in fabulous ways.

Included in this lecture is an opportunity to join in and focus on gratitude, appreciation, and self-acceptance. Kristeen's wish is that you leave this presentation feeling wonderful. Those new to practicing mindfulness are welcome.

Instructor Bio: Kristeen is a movement and mindfulness educator. She believes there is a deep connection between the practices of mindfulness, yoga, and living a life of joy and peace. She teaches yoga that is uplifting while working to bring balance to one's body and mind.

Follow along as Kristeen leads the way to a more relaxed mind and body. Join us every week for more.

Red Lentil and Kale Soup with Garlic Bread – November 25, 2020

Makes:        4 servings

Prep time:  15 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

Red Lentil and Kale Soup:

• 2 tbsp olive, grapeseed or coconut oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste (start at 1/4 tsp)
• 6-7 cups vegetable stock
• 1 cup dried red lentils
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp cilantro, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups kale, de-stemmed and chopped

Garlic Bread:

• 1 baguette
• Butter (or vegan substitute)
• Fresh parsley
• 2-3 cloves of garlic

Directions

Red Lentil and Kale Soup:

1. Follow along with Laura as she heats the oil and carrot in a large pot. Once the onion has softened, add the garlic
2. Stir in tomato paste, cumin, salt and pepper and lentils. Saute for about two (2) min.
3. Add stock and stir. Bring to just above a simmer and let cook, partially covered for 30 minutes or until lentils are soft. Check for seasoning.
4. Remove from heat and puree.
5. Stir in lemon juice, kale and cilantro. Wait a few minutes for kale to soften then serve.

Garlic Bread:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Add minced garlic to butter. Add parsley.
2. Slice a baguette lengthwise and spread the mix across the inside.
3. Bake on a tray until golden.

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Pomegranate Fruit Salad with Baked Biscuits – November 18, 2020

Makes:      4 servings

Prep time: 15 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

Pomegranate Fruit Salad:

• 2 Fuyu persimmons
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 apple (Granny Smith or Fuji)
• 1 Bosc pear
• 1 orange
• 7-8 mint leaves
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1-2 tbsp honey

Biscuits:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup cold, unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar

Directions

1. Follow along with Laura on YouTube as she peels and chops persimmons into 1/4-inch pieces.
2. Peel and separate 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds.
3. Peel and chop apple into 1/4-inch pieces.
4. Peel and chop pear into 1/4-inch pieces.
5. Peel, segment, and chop orange into 1/4-inch pieces.
6. Thinly slice mint leaves.
7. Mix it all together in a large bowl and add lemon juice and honey.
8. In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients for the biscuits together.
9. Add the cold butter and mix until it resembles coarse meal.
10. Add milk and mix until just combined.
11. Knead the dough on a floured surface.
12. Cut biscuits out with a round cutter.
13. Spread on a cooking sheet and bake at 450 degrees Farenheit for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown.

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Ricotta Gnocchi with Brown Butter Sage Sauce – November 11, 2020

Makes:       4 servings

Prep time:  45-50 minutes

Total time:  60 minutes

Ingredients

Gnocchi:

• 1 cup ricotta cheese (squeezed dry)
• 2 tbsp parmesean
• 1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1 egg yolk

Brown Butter with Sage:

• 6 tbsp salted butter
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 4 sage leaves, thinly sliced
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Follow along with Laura on our YouTube channel and mix all gnocchi ingredients in a food processor until combined.
2. Chill mixture in fridge for 30 minutes.
3. Roll into desired shape and size.
4. Blanch in salted boiling water until floating to the top.
5. Cool immediately in an ice bath.
6. Melt butter in a large skillet over med-high heat. Cook, stirring until brown flecks appear and it begins to smell nutty. WATCH CLOSELY so that the milk solids don't burn.
7. Take off heat and add sage.
8. Cook gnocchi.
9. Put butter back on the heat. Add cooked gnocchi plus a few tbsps of cooking water. Toss gently. Add cheese and mix together carefully.
10. Serve in a bowl with the remaining cheese.

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Small Apple Pies – November 4, 2020

Makes:       2 mini pies

Prep time:  45 minutes

Total time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Ingredients

Filling:

• 5-6 large apples (Granny Smith or Gala), peeled and sliced (1/4-inch thick)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Pastry:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 cup cold unsalted butter
• *egg white is optional to coat the pastry for a golden colour

Directions

1. Follow Laura’s instructions on our YouTube Channel to prepare the pastry and chill it.
2. Once chilled, cut the pastry into four and roll out circle shapes on a floured surface. Put your pastry on a lined cookie sheet and chill again, if needed.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
4. Gently combine filling ingredients in a bowl. Arrange half of the mix in each pastry-lined mini pan. Leave a one-inch border and brush with water.
5. Gently place the second circle of pastry on top. Trim and crimp the edges. Cut vents.
6. If desired, brush egg white on the crust and finish with a sprinkling of sugar.
7. Bake until crust is golden and apples are tender, around 40 minutes.