Oakville council is expected to approve the town’s 2026 budget on Dec. 15, with a planned 1.96% property tax increase and a new stormwater fee. The fee will replace part of what residents currently pay through taxes and will be phased in starting next year, with discounts to ease the transition. Together, these changes are meant to keep tax increases below inflation while still funding key town projects.

Some of the big spending items include $70.6 million for a brand-new Central Library downtown and $13.6 million to fix up parks and trails across Oakville. The budget also puts money into widening Wyecroft Road and North Service Road, and sets aside funds to upgrade the Falgarwood and Brookdale pools. Residents can still give their feedback before the final vote at a special council meeting on Dec. 11.

Oakville’s own Tatin Bakehouse has landed a spot among the top five new bakeries in the world, according to Beli’s 2025 global rankings… That’s right, Oakville is making it’s presence on the global stage. Based on over 50 million user reviews, the list celebrates standout newcomers in the food scene, and they made the cut at number three. Just a year after opening, Tatin is making huge waves for its creative blend of Indonesian and French-inspired pastries.

Led by pastry chef Lili Linda, formerly of Oakville’s Michelin-starred Hexagon, Tatin has become a go-to for locals and food critics alike. It’s no stranger to praise in this newsletter either, having been highlighted just last week we covered Chef Imrun Texeira’s top Oakville spots. Congrats to chef Linda and Tatin Bakehouse!

A shortage of school bus drivers is causing delays and occasional route cancellations across Oakville, Burlington, Milton, and Halton Hills, according to Halton Student Transportation Services (HSTS). The organization says about 40% of all delays are linked to the need for more drivers. While most delays are around 15 minutes, full cancellations can happen, especially when driver illness spikes.

HSTS, which manages transportation for both public and Catholic school boards in Halton, is ramping up hiring efforts to improve service reliability. The region currently runs 467 school bus routes for the 2025-26 school year, and updates on delays are posted daily at haltonbus.ca.

🎵 Oakville Symphony Holiday Concert Dec 14th

🏊 White Oaks Pool Closed Dec 15-19

Bird lovers in Oakville and across Ontario are invited to take part in the 126th Christmas Bird Count, running from December 14 to January 5. The event is North America’s longest-running wildlife census, where volunteers spend a day counting birds in their area to help track populations over time. Started in 1900, it offers a fun and meaningful way to enjoy nature while supporting real conservation science.

Organized locally by Ontario Nature and part of a Canada-wide effort led by Birds Canada, the count welcomes all ages and skill levels. Whether you're a first-time birder or a seasoned pro, you’ll be part of a community helping scientists monitor bird species and spot environmental trends. Some counts are even geared toward kids, making it a great family activity over the holidays.

Peel-Halton has their count happening on December 20th, reach out to the contact [email protected] to join, and check out the full map here.

Oakville’s Michael Misa has officially been invited to Hockey Canada’s World Junior training camp ahead of the 2025 championships in Minnesota. Despite early doubts about his availability due to his NHL commitments, the San Jose Sharks have cleared the 17-year-old to join Team Canada for the two-week tournament.

While injuries and lineup scratches have limited Misa to just seven NHL games this season, he’s expected to be a key player at camp and beyond. He scored 134 points in the OHL last year and will now face players closer to his own age, rather than seasoned NHLers. Camp begins soon in Niagara as Canada looks to rebound from two straight early exits.

Wednesday, December 10
🌨️ Windy, snow + rain mix
High: 2°C | Low: –7°C

Thursday, December 11
🌫️ Cloudy with flurries
High: –3°C | Low: –7°C

Friday, December 12
⛅ Clouds and sun, a few snow showers
High: –2°C | Low: –5°C