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

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 12, 2014 | 16 `Borrowing a cup of sugar' works at OPNC by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff The Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre (OPNC) was established on the principle of lending a hand to its neighbours. Now, the organization is getting some help in fulfilling its mission. OPNC is among three Ontario non-profits honoured with a Donner Canadian Foundation Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Social Services. "The awards recognize non-profit organizations that excel in service delivery despite limited budgets and resources," said Jason Clemens, executive vice-president of the Fraser Institute. Volunteer withus! The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts has launched a new volunteer program. We're looking for enthusiastic people with a passion for the performing arts to volunteer in our front of house positions (ushers and coat check attendants). Interested? Visit www.oakvillecentre.ca for details or contact Mike Lee, Volunteer Coordinator at 905-338-4161 ext 3237 or volunteer.ocpa@oakville.ca. The Oakville Centre is located at 130 Navy Street in downtown Oakville. OPNC was honoured in the The award comes as OPNC celcategory of services for children. ebrates its 15th anniversary. EstabIt provides a five-day-a-week lished in 1999 as Oak Park Moms Learn, Share, Giggle and Care and Tots, the community-support drop-in program, a child developorganization has grown both in the ment resource centre, social skills number of families it serves and in programs, Baby Rhyme Time, its scope. It began providing servicchildren's reading and tutoring es for 25 families and today serves club, speech therapy, a homemore than 500. schooling club, parenting supThough the award recognized its port and workshops and an afterservices for children, the Oak Park school program for Grades 4-9. Neighbourhood Centre serves the "We're a smaller agency in the entire community. Its most recent Michelle Knoll grand scheme of things, and peoeffort was providing a place neighple are more and more concerned bourhood seniors could meet withabout administration costs when in walking distance of home. It was they donate," said executive director Michelle a need identified by the community. Knoll. "We've been very conscious of that. It's all The variety of services OPNC was able to propart-time staff and we really rely on our volun- vide was greatly enhanced two years ago when teer contributions and our neighbours to make it moved into its current home at 2200 Sawgrass us run." Drive. The $5,000 award that comes with the prize Among the other programs it operates are a represents 2.5 percent of the organization's an- food bank, a community garden, support for nual $200,000 budget. Knoll said the money families with disabilities, financial literacy and will be valuable in helping with the costs of support, Spanish circle, Japanese circle time and OPNC's drop-in program as well as helping Muslim swims. complete its renovations to create a youth loft. Knoll said the idea is to provide a neighbour"We have the largest concentration of youth hood support option that brings the community in Halton but there are no (local) programs for together. them," Knoll said. "I'm proud of our after-school "We've moved from reliance on our neighprogram. It focuses on fitness and nutrition and bours to reliance on institutions," Knoll said. making quality food choices, which is impor- "We'd like to bring it back to when you walked tant in reducing obesity." down the street to borrow a cup of sugar." Holiday inn & SuiteS oakville @ Bronte PURE MAGIC! Christmas Day Buffet Thursday, December 25, 2014 Adults Seniors $ Seatings: 11:00am, 2:00pm, 4:00pm Chilled Ruby Red Grapefruit, Orange, Apple Juices Danish, Croissants, Muffins & Breakfast Breads Bagels & Toasting Station Yogurts & Cereals, Fresh Fruit Platter Eggs Benedict, Waffles with Blueberries & Cinnamon French Toast Farmers Breakfast Sausage, Bacon Home Fries with Peppers & Herbs Omelet Station / Pasta Station Shrimp & Mussels Tower Assorted Salads, Domestic & Imported Cheese Platter Butternut Squash Soup Boneless Chicken in Pesto Cream Sauce Carving Station Featuring Top Sirloin of Beef with Horseradish Jus Roasted Ontario Turkey with Trimmings & Stuffing Roasted Sliced Ham in Pineapple Au Jus Atlantic Salmon with Shrimp & Lemon Dill Sauce Pasta Primavera Garlic Mashed Potato, Medley of Vegetables Chef's Festive Dessert Table Children (4-12) $14.95* The Nutcracker performed by the National Ballet of Cuba Music by Tchaikovsky, choreography by Alicia Alonso. This holiday season don't miss The Nutcracker performed by one of the world's greatest classical ballet companies, the National Ballet of Cuba. An exciting unique style of ballet with the passion and fire of Cuban Culture. 31.95* $ 28.95* *plus applicable taxes & gratuity Dec 18, 7:30 PM I Dec 19, 7:30 PM Dec 20, 2:00 PM I Dec 20, 7:30 PM Remember to ask about VIP tickets! For reservations call the Holiday Hotline 905-847-1000 Ext. 6200 VIP TICKETS BALLET TALK by GARY SMITH Dance Critic arrive 45 min early to enjoy Ballet Talks and Sugar Plum Fair BOX OFFICE 905-681-6000 www.burlingtonpac.ca Ph: 905-847-1000 Ext: 6200 for Reservations F: 905-847-0032 Toll Free: 1-800-880-3188 www.hioakvillebronte.ca 2525 Wyecroft Road (at Bronte) · Oakville