After 20 years at the helm, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton says he is considering retirement and has not yet decided if he will run in this fall’s municipal election. Speaking publicly for the first time, Burton confirmed he is reflecting on his future after becoming the longest-serving mayor in the town’s history.

In a statement and follow-up interviews, Burton said the Aug. 21 registration deadline gives him time to consult with residents and consider what is best for Oakville, his family, and himself. If he steps aside, it would mark Oakville’s first change in mayoral leadership in two decades.

Hospitals serving Oakville and the wider Halton area are set to receive $4.9 million in provincial funding aimed at cutting wait times for CT scans and surgeries. The investment will increase diagnostic imaging hours and help hospitals complete more procedures during the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Funding will support Halton Healthcare Services facilities in Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills, along with Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington. Local leaders say the added capacity should mean faster diagnoses and quicker access to care close to home.

February is Black History Month, and Oakville residents have several local ways to recognize Black Canadian history and culture. Highlights include Out of Many Cultures, One People, a month-long Afro-Caribbean art exhibit at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, featuring themes of heritage, migration, and identity.

Other events include an Underground Railroad tour at the Oakville Museum, a screening of Brother at Film.ca Cinemas, and a virtual history seminar hosted by the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton. Plenty of chances to learn, reflect, and celebrate close to home.

Meet Luxe, a 2-year-old Domestic Longhair with a gentle heart and a soft, quiet charm. Once shy, he has blossomed with patience and kindness, now leaning into pets, purring loudly, and proudly making biscuits when he feels safe and happy.

Luxe loves wand toys, adores a good brushing session, and bonds best with someone who understands that trust takes time. When he settles in, he’s deeply affectionate and wonderfully rewarding to love.

The Rotary Club of Oakville and Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar have donated $10,885 to St. John Ambulance to fund new emergency equipment for local use. The donation will cover two scoop stretchers and two portable stretchers.

The equipment will support volunteer medical responders at festivals, sports events, and community gatherings across Oakville and Halton. A strong show of community spirit, and a well-earned congratulations to the local Rotarians whose fundraising continues to make a real difference close to home.

Friday, February 6
🌨️ Snow showers, partly cloudy
High: -2°C | Low: -19°C

Saturday, February 7
⛅ Partly sunny
High: -16°C | Low: -22°C

Sunday, February 8
⛅ Partly sunny
High: -14°C | Low: -25°C