Residents from the City of Oshawa and the Town of Whitby are being invited by the Oshawa-Whitby branch of Big Brothers Big Sisters to dance the night away in style and enjoy ‘A Night to Remember.’ However, not only is the event a good excuse for people to party and have a fun night, it’s also for a noteworthy cause.

Proceeds of the event will be used by the local Big Brothers Big Sisters, an organization that encourages volunteers to mentor youths of all ages. The organization is the biggest child and youth assistance program in Canada today. A large chunk of the organization’s budget comes from donations, so any way for them to raise funds is crucial to the continuance of their offered services.

Back to the event this time, ‘A Night to Remember’ will take place on February 26 at the Jubilee Pavilion in Oshawa. Cocktails and wine tasting will kick off at around 5:30 in the afternoon, while dinner will begin at 6:30. And while guests are busy feasting on the sumptuous food, The Brian Rose Little Big Band will be providing musical entertainment.

So what’re you waiting for? Score your tickets by calling 905-579-2551, and look for Kelly Lloyd.

When residents in Oshawa mill about at the city’s facilities and government buildings, they are usually forced to throw apple cores, soda cans, and other waste items in regular garbage receptacles, instead of the required blue or green bin.

This often leads to problems in recycling and segregating waste to minimize pollution and trash buildup.

However, that problem might be solved if Oshawa’s city council chooses to add “multi-sort containers”, which have areas for recyclables and organics, to municipal buildings.
Councilors and government officials discussed the idea on January 19, going over reports on how much the containers would cost, and recommendations of a 4-month dry run at the Legends Centre.

The multi-sort containers are designed with a slot for paper materials, one for soda cans and liquid bottles, one for organic waste like fruit peels & the like, and finally another one for regular trash.

Oshawa Councilors Joe Kolodzie hopes that the bins take off, leading to city-wide distribution in the future. And while these multi-sort containers come at a price, the savings the city would make on recycling and segregating waste materials would also be significant, he added.

Council will come to a final decision on the first day of February.

While unemployment rates for the whole of Canada and the Province of Ontario remained stable and stagnant throughout the months of November and December last year, things in Oshawa were a bit different to say the least.

Records show that unemployment increased in the city during these months.

According to a report by Statistics Canada, the numbers indicate that the Oshawa Census Metropolitan Area’s unemployment rate for December rose by as much as 9.8 percent, that’s more than 500 percent from last year’s low rate of 0.6 percent. The Metropolitan Area includes the town of Whitby and the municipality of Clarington Clarington.

That 9.3 percent translates to over 19,400 residents who are out of jobs in the region.

Canada’s national employment rate hovered at 8.5 percent in November and December, while Ontario’s was at 9.3 percent on both months.

All in all, 2009 was a bad year for employment in Canada, with over 22,000 Canadians losing their jobs last year

Yes, it’s a grim picture indeed. But with signs of the economy getting back on its feet and plans of numerous projects in the Oshawa vicinity which are sure to generate jobs and revenue for the city, things look to a bit brighter in the future.
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Residents in the Durham Region have something to look forward to this month, as a non-profit group based in the area will be holding a fun event to kick off 2010 this January 23, Saturday. The event also happens to come with a significant cause behind it.

Before the winter season comes to an end, Durham Region’s John Howard Society is organizing a skating event for charity at the General Motors Centre located in the City of Oshawa, taking place from 3 to 5 in the afternoon.

Residents and locals alike can get in by paying the $2 entrance fee at the gate. All proceeds for the event will be used by the John Howard Society in organizing helpful community events and programs like job fairs, counseling, housing services, and more. Those living in Ajax, Oshawa, Bowmanville, and Whitby are the prime targets for these activities

The John Howard Society in Durham has helped over 50,000 people last year, and its workload only looks to increase in 2010.

Aside from great fun for the entire family, those in attendance have a chance to win great freebies, and prizes will also be given away for lucky game winners.

For details and information, you can log-on to www.jhsdurham.on.ca.

This 2010, why not put your singing skills to the test?

The Durham Region’s Philharmonic Choir is currently looking for new voices to join their roster of tenured talents. Folks from Oshawa and other surrounding areas are encouraged to kick off the year by joining the choir for some good and clean fun.

Of course, it goes without saying that it’s not all fun and games. The Durham Philharmonic Choir did not get to where it is now without hard work and determination. The choral group has won various prestigious awards, and each of its 70 male and female members have put in some serious hours for practice and performances.

They are currently in search for some voices to fill up their alto, soprano, tenor, and bass sections. This is in preparation for performances spread throughout the remainder of the winter season and upcoming spring.

Individuals who have been part of choirs and those who have undergone music and vocal training through high school, church, and college can check out the choir group’s official website at www.durhamphilharmonic.ca. Audition are set to take place early this month, so check the website every now and then for updates.

So go ahead, give it a try. Who knows, you just might be part of this talented group of singers.

2010’s looks to be a promising year for Oshawa’s Robert McLaughlin Gallery, as it kicks things off with a new CEO at the helm.

Jan Lean, who leads the RMG board of directors, has recently appointed Gabrielle Peacock to hold the gallery’s top position. According to Lean, the appointment of Peacock finally ends the extensive and tiring national 4-month search for a new CEO.

Peacock will officially head the gallery on the 18th of January, 2 Mondays from now.
In a statement released to the press, Lean states that Miss Peacock’s 20 years of experience in the world of arts and culture make her an excellent choice as the gallery’s CEO. Lean adds that Peacock’s tried-and-tested management skills will be crucial in improving and taking the gallery in a new and better direction.

Peacock has worked for Ritchies Auctioneers for 20 years, recently stepping down as its senior vice president to move her new job. She has largely been responsible for keeping an eye on the production and marketing of the firm’s fine art sales annually, giving her unparalleled insight into Canada’s art scene.

Even before working at Ritchies, Peacock had a successful stint at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, serving as its public relations coordinator.

One of our favorite things to do during the first few days of the New Year is to try and look up the proud parents of the city’s first official baby of the year.

Yes, lucky is the child who is born on the 1st of January. At least that’s what some say. To us, it’s just plain cool.

For the City of Oshawa, and the entire Durham Region for that matter, little Bradley Bonneau was this year’s first newborn. The bouncing little boy, who came to the world a bit later than expected, was born at exactly 12:02 in the morning of January 1.

According to proud parents Holly Bonneau and Patrick Doussept, baby Bradley was supposed to be delivered by their obstetrician almost two weeks earlier on December 22. However, they opted to have him born closer to the New Year, so as to separate his birthday from Christmas.

Mom Holly Bonneau was beaming with excitement and pride for her first born to be a New Year’s baby. According to the couple, they weren’t really concerned about Bradley’s due date; they just wanted him to be healthy.

Indeed, little Bradley was a bundle of health delivered by the doctors and medical staff of Lakeridge Health Oshawa.

While 2009 was an especially tough year for the City of Oshawa, federal Finance Minister and local Member of Parliament Jim Flaherty is expecting things to look up next year.

Flaherty is particularly hopeful of Oshawa’s employment rate.

According to him, job numbers have begun to stabilize, and General Motors has even started to repay its loans from the Ontario government and the government of Canada ahead of schedule.

For GM to make such a move is an encouraging sign of good things to come, he adds.
He hopes that 2010’s economic situation is more solid compared to the past years since the global economic crisis began. With signs being positive and promising, he thinks Oshawa is currently on the road to recovery.

That means more jobs, leading to a good economic chain reaction in the city.

Analysts note however, that 2009 was a better economic year than 2008 was. Due to the Canadian and U.S. deal to use a multi-billion bailout fund to save auto-manufacturing giants like Chrysler and General Motors, thousands of workers all over North America were saved from being unemployed.

Flaherty adds that if Oshawa survived the last two years, then they’re pretty much prepared to weather any storm in the future.

Happy New Year!

2010 brings with it lot of new things, activities, goals, and responsibilities.

Like humans needing their annual flu-shots and the like, pets also need similar attention! And with the arrival of the New Year, residents in the City of Oshawa are reminded to update their pet and animal licenses for 2010.

So if you’ve got a kennel or simply a household pet, listen up.

Details on the license fees in the city are list below:

• $15 lifetime with proof of spaying or neutering, annual rabies vaccination and microchip
• $25 annually with spaying or neutering proof, as well as annual rabies vaccination record
• $25 lifetime unaltered annual rabies vaccination record and microchip
• $40 annual unaltered with proof of annual rabies vaccine.

Licenses are now available for purchase at Oshawa’s pet Licensing Services office located at the 1st floor of 50 Centre Street South, at Service Oshawa (same address), or at veterinary offices scattered throughout the City of Oshawa.

Oshawa law requires that animal and pets in the city must be license and wearing a tag. By providing your pet a license, animal services in the city will do what they can to locate your pet if he/she is lost.