By Allie Murray Raising a child with special needs is a role that Brenda Kerr never expected to face. That changed, however, when her son Ryan was born with autism and significant developmental disabilities. Ryan was three-years-old when Kerr was encouraged to add his name to the residential care waitlist. …
By Stephanie Hounsell Carolyn Meredith should have been at the top of her game. Active and involved, the Oakville resident was a Grade four teacher who loved her job. She had plenty of friends, three nearly-grown children and a nice house. She took care of herself the best she could. …
by Sherri Telenko What’s better than arriving home Friday evening and discovering your wine got there first? Well, that’s kind of how it works if you subscribe to Gargoyle Wine Club, which operates out of Toronto and Oakville. Sign up for a curated subscription and two, four or six bottles …
By Nelia Raposo People often take for granted what’s in their own backyard, and that’s something opera singer, David Scott Curry, wants to change. The world-renowned tenor, who hails from Oakville, admits he grew up unaware of the many wonders within his own community. He recently returned to Halton after …
By Danielle Leonard How does a child grieve the loss of a close family member? Although it’s a question that no family ever wants to have to face, the Lighthouse for Grieving Children is an invaluable resource for anyone forced to navigate those painful circumstances. This year marks the organization’s …
By Danielle Leonard As Canadians, we tend to consider ourselves experts on the weather. Knowing the forecast is serious stuff that impacts our plans, moods and conversations. So, when I meet with Chris Mei, the 13-year veteran host of The Weather Network on a cold morning in March, I’m hesitant …
Photography by Nikki Wesley It illuminates downtown Burlington, delivering pops of vibrant colour both day and night. Whether you’ve stopped to admire its beauty or merely caught a glimpse of it on your way down Brant Street, the sculpture better known as Portal is a definite conversation starter. The creation …
By Stephanie Hounsell When Susan Longley gave birth 32 years ago to a daughter with Down syndrome, a very wise pediatrician told her that if she never stopped teaching, Cheryl would never stop learning. Unfortunately, competing messages tried to drown out that hope-filled one. So Longley made it her life’s …
By Allie Murray Zonta International has been empowering women all around the world for a century, even inspiring women in Oakville to form their own club 46 years ago. The first Zonta group was formed in 1919 in Buffalo, New York. Years later in 1927, the first group outside of …
By Melanie Hennessey We’ve all heard the old adage “you are what you eat.” But there’s a movement afoot that would also argue “you are what you apply to your skin.” With increasing awareness about potentially harmful ingredients in skincare products, which are in turn absorbed through the skin and …