BPAC Announces Upcoming Lineup

Kickoff: The Beautiful Game on Screen Gala is tonight at Burlington Performing Arts Centre!

The 13th annual Oakville Festivals of Film & Art (OFFA) returns June 17–27, bringing 10 days of film, galas, and special events to Oakville and Burlington.

This year’s festival features 100 Canadian and international films, including romance, comedy, documentaries, and shorts, hosted by Oakville media personality Tyler Collins and Mississauga director, producer, writer, and actor Cynthia Crofoot.

OFFA opens in downtown Burlington with “Kickoff: The Beautiful Game on Screen,” a special launch event exploring how soccer brings communities together around the world.

After opening night, the festival continues in downtown Oakville at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, with three red carpet galas on June 18, 19, and 20.

A selection of films will also be available online during the festival.

The Burlington Performing Arts Centre launched its 2026, 27 season last week with a packed crowd at the downtown venue, marking 15 years since opening its doors in 2011.

The lineup includes Jim Cuddy (Sept. 18), Burlington's own Sarah Harmer (Nov. 28), Trooper (Nov. 11), and Men Without Hats (Feb. 10), alongside theatre, dance, comedy, and family programming.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward praised the centre for hosting world-class performers like Rick Mercer and Jully Black, and for nurturing young talent through youth programs and summer camps. The season also includes The Secret Path Cushion Concert (Oct. 17), a pay-what-you-can event featuring Indigenous storytelling and drumming.

BPAC is inviting residents to become members for early ticket access, discounts, and entry to the Members' Lounge.

Burlington council has asked staff to look into speeding up construction of a new cricket field at Sherwood Forest Park, currently planned to open in 2029. The city's only field at Central Park, is closed for the summer while it's realigned to address neighbours' concerns about errant balls and noise.

Local players are travelling outside Burlington this summer since there's nowhere to play. The Central Park field won't reopen until September or October at the earliest.

Council also wants staff to investigate restricting Central Park to youth and recreation play, limiting unpermitted pickup games, and expanding cricket facilities citywide. The motion passed committee of the whole on June 12 and needs final approval at the June 23 council meeting.

A stretch of Prospect Street between Ashley Avenue and Wesley Street is closed until Friday, June 26 for sewer work. Detours and signage are in place.

The closure is part of an ongoing street renewal project that started in late 2024 and is expected to run through the end of this year. Last summer, a section of Prospect between Robinson and Pearson streets was closed for about four months for the same project.

The city's project webpage has updates as the work continues.

🛣 Burlington Skyway Faces Final Lane Closures This Month

🌳 Park Renewal Project Blows Past Budget by $170K

Carter Young, a Grade 12 student at Aldershot High School, placed third in Best Buy Canada's national AI Art Video Challenge and is donating his $5,000 prize back to the school's multimedia program.

His video, titled The Digital Greenhouse, used AI-generated clips to show how technology still needs a human hand to create something meaningful. The four-week competition required participants to storyboard, plan, and edit on their own time.

Carter's multimedia teacher Warren Hutton said the student's attention to detail and ability to work autonomously gave him the edge. The prize money will likely go toward a new camera for the program.

Carter graduates in the next few weeks and plans to study engineering and computer science at Wilfrid Laurier University this fall.

Stevie is a 2-year-old cat with a sweet and affectionate personality. Having lived with other cats in the past, he may enjoy sharing his home with a feline friend.

Stevie is a little shy when meeting new people at the shelter, but once he feels comfortable, his loving nature quickly shines through. He enjoys gentle attention and is looking for a patient family who will give him the time he needs to settle in.

With kindness and understanding, Stevie will make a wonderful companion. This handsome boy is ready to find a forever home where he can feel safe, loved, and cherished.

Wednesday, June 17
🌦️ Variable clouds, showers
High: 23°C | Low: 16°C

Thursday, June 18
🌧️ Rainy & windy
High: 22°C | Low: 14°C

Friday, June 19
⛅ Partly sunny, slight showers
High: 20°C | Low: 14°C