The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Nominate a community champion The Town of Oakville is encouraging residents to nominate a community champion they admire and appreciate for the 13th annual Community Spirit Awards. "We want to honour the great people who are making a difference in our community," Mayor Rob Burton said in a news release. "Let's share their stories, celebrate their achievements and recognize their dedication to making Oakville even more livable." Eight awards are up for grabs, including: · Access Award, sponsored by MEDIchair Halton · Arts Award, sponsored by the Oakville Beaver · Environmental Award, sponsored by Tim Hortons · Group Volunteer Award, sponsored by Sun Life Financial · Heritage and History Award, sponsored by Genworth Financial Canada · Individual Volunteer Award, sponsored by Paradiso Restaurant · Senior Award, sponsored by Chartwell Oakville · Youth Award, sponsored by RBC Royal Bank The awards recognize individuals who have dedicated countless hours volunteering at an Oakville organization. Winners will be chosen by a selection committee comprised of Town council members and community leaders, and will be celebrated at the annual Community Spirit Awards presentation on June 11 at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC), 2302 Bridge Rd. Award-winning illustrator/artist Soyeon Kim has been commissioned to design and create the 2014 Community Spirit awards. An art instructor at QEPCCC, Kim's art has been featured at national exhibitions and in children's books. To nominate someone, send a 250word statement summarizing the nominee's contribution or achievements in one of the eight categories, a completed nomination form and two letters of support or testimonials. Forms are available for pick-up at all Town recreation facilities, Town Hall or Oakville Public Library branches. The form can also be completed online. The deadline for nominations is April 14 at 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.oakville.ca/residents/ community-spirit-awards.html. Prepare to vote in pet look-alike contest It's soon time to vote for the person you think looks most like their pet. Voting in the `I Look Like My Pet' Photo Contest -- sponsored by Metroland Media's Oakville Beaver, Burlington Post, and Milton Canadian Champion -- will begin Thursday, March 20 at 9 a.m. The insidehalton.com contest invited Halton residents to enter their best photo showing a resemblance between them and their pet. Only one vote per IP address is permitted. Three winners will be selected by online voting. The top three entrants, whose photos garner the most online votes, will be declared the first-, second- and third-place winners. Voting will end at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26. Cast a ballot by going to insidehalton.com and clicking on the contest voting button and following the instructions. The first-place winner will receive a $75 gift certificate for Ren's Pet Depot. Second-place will get a $50 gift certificate for either the Lake House Restaurant in Vineland or Stone House Restaurant in Burlington. The third-place finisher will receive a $25 gift certificate for the Ivy Bar and Kitchen, 3330 South Service Rd., in Burlington. 9 | Wednesday, March 19, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com www.oakville.ca Public Meeting InZone Zoning By-Law 2014-014. If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Town of Oakville before the proposed official plan amendment is adopted: a) the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the Town of Oakville Council to the Ontario b) the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board unless, in the opinion of the board, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party. Any submission to the Planning and Development Council, either in hard copy or in electronic format, must be forwarded to the Clerk's department for receipt no later than noon on Monday, April 14, 2014, to ensure its availability to the Members of Council at the meeting. Individuals making oral submissions at the public meeting are requested to submit a written outline of the submission to the Town Clerk. All submissions should include the full name and address of the presenter. If you wish to be notified of the adoption of the proposed official plan amendment, or of the refusal of a request to amend the official plan, you must make a written request to the Town Clerk at the Town of Oakville, Clerk's department, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON L6H 0H3. The public may view planning documents and background Want to learn more about exciting sports that will be represented at the Pan Am Games? Our Road to the Podium program introduces participants to badminton and soccer. With an emphasis on FUNdamentals, each session will focus on teaching families with children ages 5+ the basic skills and rules of one of these sports. Cost for this parented eight-week program is $16 per person. Each class is one hour long and both the child and parent/ guardian must register. Spaces are limited. Soccer will be offered at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre starting Friday, April 4. Badminton will be offered at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre starting Saturday, April 5. Visit oakville.ca for additional information and registration information. Official Plan Amendment Merton Planning Study Town Initiated Study File No. 42.23.003, Ward 4 Monday, April 14, 2014, at 7 p.m. Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Council Chamber You are invited to attend and provide input at this meeting hosted by Planning and Development Council. The purpose of the proposed official plan amendment is to incorporate into the Livable Oakville Plan certain modifications to the text and schedules necessary to implement the recommendations of the town's Merton Planning Study. The official plan amendment would have the effect of: space uses and future residential, commercial and mixed the above. The subject land is generally bound by Upper Middle Road to the north, Fourteen Mile Creek and Third Line to the east, the QEW to the south, and Bronte Road to the west. The Merton Lands are also currently subject to the new material at the Planning Services department between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or on the Town's website at http://oakville.ca/business/merton-planningstudies.html. Questions or written submissions may be directed to Charles McConnell, Manager, Current Planning - West District, Planning Services department at 905-845-6601, ext. 6042 (TTY 905-338-4200) or at cmcconnell@oakville.ca. If you have any accessibility needs, please advise Charles McConnell one week before the meeting. The personal information accompanying your submission is being collected under the authority of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, as amended, and may form part of the public record which may be released to the public. Questions about this collection should be directed to the records and freedom of information officer at 905- 815-6053. Dated at the Town of Oakville Wednesday, March 19, 2014