Community Development Halton Blog

"We truly drive care into the community we live in” By Jacqueline Nadeau   I am the Program and Communications Manager at Oakville Meals on Wheels. I took on this role 5-years-ago, as I live in Oakville and wanted to make a positive impact in the community in which I live. I have seen through other volunteering activities, that there are pockets in Oakville that need assistance. Being part of an organization that ensures those who need access to a hot, nutritious meal have th

It’s not just arts skills. It’s learning how  to be a good human. ArtHouse Team By Don Pangman I am honoured to be the Founder of ArtHouse and over the past 17 years I’ve had the pleasure of watching so many of our children and youth flourish in an environment that ignites their curiosity, embraces their creativity and brings them together in a safe, non-judgmental and supportive environment. Our mission is to support young people who may have no access to any extra-curricula

“…creating the safe space that the 2SLGBTQ+ community needs.”     By Melanie Tremills     Image from the Halton Pride parade   I am the founder of PRISM Halton, and we’ve just changed our name to Pride Halton because we’re known for doing - the Pride events. It was getting confusing for people to understand we had the two entities.    The reason I started Prism was because I saw the need in schools. It was originally for youth. I came out very late in my life—about 11 or 12 y

An expressive arts platform for communities to connect, share, unwind and recharge.    By Jennifer Jalal   Group photo of a Creative Community Hive Program As Founder-Executive Director, I am happy to share the story of Creative Community Hive, how it came to be and the journey thus far! What started off as an informal community-based group in 2017, with a crafter friend and few other volunteers, now operates as a registered not-for-profit, promoting programs for mental, emot

“…come in and see the joy in the schools where through nutrition community is built”   By Aliya Khawari I’m the lead of a mighty team of five. Being a mother and being somebody who comes from a very persecuted background—people who look like me get killed in my native country for being a minority in every sense of the word—I don’t take the privilege of this work for granted. That’s what makes this organization so important to me. What I love most about our work is that we don

How local volunteers are connecting newcomers and long-time residents through learning, nature, and shared community pride.     By Kai Liu     I’m an immigrant, but I’ve been living in Canada for over 25 years. Although Oakville is a mature community, it continues to attract more newcomers and individuals relocating to one of the most livable cities in Canada.  We want to connect people, share information, and help one another. That’s the purpose of our organization.  We are

Building belonging, cultural exchange, and unity through arts, education, and community celebration.   By Jean Assamoa   “Akwaba” means welcome. When you go to the African coast, people say Akwaba — very welcome. It tells you; we accept your visit, we accept that you come to our country, our place . For me, Akwaba is more than a project. It is a commitment to fostering positive change and community building.  When I came to Canada on July 15, 2008, my main idea was to get in

From the very step we made into the Congress hall, Isabelle and I realized how much care the organizing team put in all their preparations ! For us to see the signs with the invite to the 100 Seeds of Joy meditation (and with our logo) being placed in the center (literally :-)), of every table all around us, made our hearts expand with Joy! Later on we realized that also on all tables was placed our “The Power Lies within You” flyer with the free meditation classes offered

Creating connections across cultures so everyone feels seen, valued, and at home in Halton.   Jean Assamoa, Founder and Director, Akwaba Cultural Exchange By Jean Assamoa   I am the Founder and Director of Akwaba Cultural Exchange, and this organization represents both my personal journey and my life’s purpose. When I arrived in Canada from Côte d’Ivoire, I carried with me a deep desire to build bridges between cultures and to help others find the same sense of belonging that

Creating a community where everyone, regardless of mental health or past challenges, has the opportunity to contribute, belong, and succeed. By Anita Lloyd picture of Anita Lloyd As the Executive Director of Stride, my connection to the organization runs deep. I’m continually inspired by the courage of the individuals we serve and the dedication of our team who help people overcome barriers to employment while managing mental health and addiction challenges. Stride’s mission

St. Jude’s Pantry Program: cooking up delicious meals for those in need in Halton through collaboration and connection. Tell us your name and the project or initiative you are involved with.     St. Jude’s Pantry Program.   What have you most loved and appreciated about the community project/initiative you are involved in?     Making and providing delicious, wholesome, homestyle cooked meals for individuals most in need in our communities.  What is your connection to the proj

Interview by Rishia Burke Welcome, tell us who you are and where you are from. I am Ashley Stevenson, from Oakville, one of the co-chairs of the Halton Youth Voices Council. How did Halton Youth Voices Council come together? We started with an organization called Our Kids Network. They had a project on youth called the Halton Youth Initiative. That project had four different groups; a group called North Oakville Youth Development Council, Seven Somebodies (Acton Council), Mil

Curated by Takyrah Anderson Tell us your name and the name of the project or initiative you are involved with. My name is Ioana Popa and my initiative is 100SeedsofJoy.com What have you most loved and appreciated about the community project/initiative that you are involved in? Early this year we were inspired to make our love for meditation somewhat more mobile, creative and accessible for our communities. At the same time, this year we have a 100-year birthday milestone to c

Curated by Takyrah Anderson Tell us the name of the project or initiative you are involved with. Halton Small Business Advisory Group Inc. or Business Advisory Group (BAG). What have you most loved and appreciated about the community project/initiative that you are involved in? For over 40 years, we’ve helped more than a thousand small businesses and volunteer groups, in the Halton Region, find solutions to business and management problems that are common to most groups. “Bei

Tell us your name and the name of the project or initiative you are involved with Shazia Wall with the North BurLINKton Dinner Night Out. What have you most loved and appreciated about the community project/initiative that you are involved in? What I like most about Dinner Night Out is the sense of belonging when walking through the doors. Because of BurLINKton Dinner Night Out, I have the opportunity to meet neighbours and share our life experiences. What I appreciate most i

Curated by Takyrah Anderson Tell us your name and the name of the project or initiative you are involved with. My name is Jess Lowe and I am the Supervisor of Empowerment Programs at Milton Community Resource Centre (MCRC). MCRC’s Empowerment Programs are designed to overcome barriers and meet the unique needs of families, girls, and women. These services are free of charge, accessible and reach some of the most disenfranchised and marginalized members of our community. These