Even in uncertain times, Oakville is doing well.
In 2024, The Globe and Mail said Oakville is the most livable town in Ontario. It’s also one of the top 10 places to live in all of Canada. That matches what people told us in our Community Survey. About 85 per cent of residents said they feel like they belong. Even more said they are happy with our parks, services, and waterfront.
Oakville is following the 2023–2026 Strategic Plan. We are planning for smart growth, better services, and strong finances. We are building more roads, paths, and parks. We are adding more electric buses. At the same time, we kept tax increases lower than most nearby towns. Our roads are still the smoothest in the region. We were also named one of Canada’s top 20 places to invest.
Oakville’s smart planning is working. We are building more homes. The Province of Ontario has recognized our progress by awarding Oakville over $7 million for the significant progress we have made in increasing our housing supply. We also made Ride-on-Demand permanent. It’s a shared ride service that picks you up at the curb. More people are riding the bus across town.
In 2024, Council approved a new IDEA Plan. IDEA stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility. It means we want everyone to feel welcome and included.
We also started the Oakville Data Hub. It’s a website that shows how we are doing. It tracks important numbers, like growth and performance. This helps us stay open and honest with the public.
Oakville was one of just three cities in Canada chosen for the 2024 Bloomberg City Data Alliance. This is a global program run with Johns Hopkins University. It helps cities use data to improve faster.
We also hosted big sports events. These included the Centennial Cup and top skating, curling, and hockey tournaments. These events brought fun and visitors to our town.
In 2024, I started the Youth Climate Action Fund. This new fund helps young people work on climate change solutions. We launched it with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies. This idea came from my time at COP28, a global climate meeting.
As your mayor, I will keep working to make Oakville a great place to live. We want Oakville to stay green, livable, safe, and full of opportunity. With help from Council and town staff, I know we can do it.
Oakville’s future is bright. We are moving forward, together.
Mayor Rob Burton, BA, MS
Head of Council and CEO